Colonial High School
Encyclopedia
Colonial High School is a high school located in Orlando, Florida
. As of August 2008 the school serves over 3,500 students in grades 9 through 12, making it one of the largest schools in Florida. Colonial has one of the biggest production studios in Orange County, Florida
, headed by Nathan Whaley. From 1999-2002, the school received a large ($49 Million) facelift. The graduating class of 2003 was the first class to have graduated from the new campus; however the commencement took place in the then-called TD Waterhouse Arena (now the Amway Arena). In 2008, they celebrated in their 50th anniversary. The class of 2009 was their 50th graduating class. The school's principal is Douglas Loftus. Colonial High School has a large Hispanic
population, at 65%, 21% White
, 10% Black
, 3% Asian
, and 1% multicultural.
In November of 2011, Head Coach Rene Plasencia and Assitant Coach Casey Calhoun led the boy’s cross country team to a sweep of team titles culminating with the first State title of any sport in Colonial High School history. The team was led by junior standout Andres Arroyo who also won the individual title of 4A state champion. He was joined by seniors Cody Decker and Jared Lopez; juniors Caleb Licht and Raul Ramirez; sophomores John Profitt and Kyle Decker. Moise Diodonet and Anthony Hurd were alternates.
In 2007 Coach Steven Breitbeil led the Colonial football team to a 4-0 start and finished the season 5-5, led by 30 seniors and standouts such as; Cedric Griffin, Alvis Graham, Kevin Elliott and Colson Marsh. This was the most athletic group of student athletes to come through Colonial in years. That year Colonial sent 3 athletes to the state championship in track.
Kevin Elliott won the triple jump (48'6") and the high jump (6'8")becoming the first athlete at Colonial to win two state championships in one year. Elliott also broke the schools triple jump (48'6") and high jump record (6'11"). Alex Wills also won the mile and place third in the two mile and also broke Colonial's record in both events. Colson Marsh, who played running back and place kicker for the Grenadiers, placed 3rd in the pole vault that year and was named Athlete of the year at Colonial. He also lifted for Colonial's Weight Lifting Team, who won back to back District and Regional Championships.
Each year, Colonial High School and its rival, University High School, vie for possession of a stylized leather boot, the eponymous symbol of the much-hyped annual football
game known as "The Boot Game". The winning school gets to display the boot in a trophy case until the following year, when the next Boot Game is won. The Fall 2002 season was the first time in thirty three years that the Grenadiers won the boot from West Orange High School. As of the Fall 2011 season, University is in possession of the Boot.
The fall 2002 boys swim team meldey (400 Medley) made it to the state championship. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the boys couldn't attend and they were disqualified. Among them were Michael Rodriguez, Raúl E. Fernández, Kyle Gartley, and a fourth.
, National Honor Society
, and National FFA Organization
.
On August 27, 2009 WCHS News debuted with a new set, graphics and news theme.
On October 2009, WCHS news inaugurated a new webpage using wix.com's flash platform.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. As of August 2008 the school serves over 3,500 students in grades 9 through 12, making it one of the largest schools in Florida. Colonial has one of the biggest production studios in Orange County, Florida
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
, headed by Nathan Whaley. From 1999-2002, the school received a large ($49 Million) facelift. The graduating class of 2003 was the first class to have graduated from the new campus; however the commencement took place in the then-called TD Waterhouse Arena (now the Amway Arena). In 2008, they celebrated in their 50th anniversary. The class of 2009 was their 50th graduating class. The school's principal is Douglas Loftus. Colonial High School has a large Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
population, at 65%, 21% White
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
, 10% Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
, 3% Asian
Asian
Asian refers to an inhabitant of Asia, or someone of Asian descent.In the Americas, the term refers almost exclusively to those from the Asia pacific region, such as China, Japan, South Korea or Vietnam....
, and 1% multicultural.
Athletics
The school's athletic teams are known as the Grenadiers. They have one of the state's best athletic traditions, having won 34 Metro Championships.In November of 2011, Head Coach Rene Plasencia and Assitant Coach Casey Calhoun led the boy’s cross country team to a sweep of team titles culminating with the first State title of any sport in Colonial High School history. The team was led by junior standout Andres Arroyo who also won the individual title of 4A state champion. He was joined by seniors Cody Decker and Jared Lopez; juniors Caleb Licht and Raul Ramirez; sophomores John Profitt and Kyle Decker. Moise Diodonet and Anthony Hurd were alternates.
In 2007 Coach Steven Breitbeil led the Colonial football team to a 4-0 start and finished the season 5-5, led by 30 seniors and standouts such as; Cedric Griffin, Alvis Graham, Kevin Elliott and Colson Marsh. This was the most athletic group of student athletes to come through Colonial in years. That year Colonial sent 3 athletes to the state championship in track.
Kevin Elliott won the triple jump (48'6") and the high jump (6'8")becoming the first athlete at Colonial to win two state championships in one year. Elliott also broke the schools triple jump (48'6") and high jump record (6'11"). Alex Wills also won the mile and place third in the two mile and also broke Colonial's record in both events. Colson Marsh, who played running back and place kicker for the Grenadiers, placed 3rd in the pole vault that year and was named Athlete of the year at Colonial. He also lifted for Colonial's Weight Lifting Team, who won back to back District and Regional Championships.
Each year, Colonial High School and its rival, University High School, vie for possession of a stylized leather boot, the eponymous symbol of the much-hyped annual football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game known as "The Boot Game". The winning school gets to display the boot in a trophy case until the following year, when the next Boot Game is won. The Fall 2002 season was the first time in thirty three years that the Grenadiers won the boot from West Orange High School. As of the Fall 2011 season, University is in possession of the Boot.
The fall 2002 boys swim team meldey (400 Medley) made it to the state championship. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the boys couldn't attend and they were disqualified. Among them were Michael Rodriguez, Raúl E. Fernández, Kyle Gartley, and a fourth.
Extracurricular Clubs
Colonial High School hosts many extracurricular clubs, among which are chapters of the National Beta ClubNational Beta Club
The National Beta Club is an organization for 5th-12th graders in the United States, recognizing academic achievement, leadership, character and service....
, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, and National FFA Organization
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
.
Ninth Grade Center
The Ninth Grade Center was established as part of an effort to lessen the crowding at Colonial High School's main campus. The campus has recently (the process finished in 2006) been renovated, complete with new classrooms, offices, basketball courts, lockers, a gymnasium and a cafeteria. The students can also take a bus over to main campus after school for sports, drama, and other extra curricular activities. The gym was dedicated to Robert C. Allen, Jr., the [Assistant] Principal of the Center for many years.WCHS News
WCHS News is the name for Colonial High School morning announcements. Morning announcements are produced every morning during first/second period under the supervision of Nathan Whaley, then announcements are broadcasted every third/fourth period and the duration of the broadcast last around 5 to 10 minutes. In recent months, WCHS News has gone under a major transformation involving changes to the studio news set, graphics and newscast pace.On August 27, 2009 WCHS News debuted with a new set, graphics and news theme.
On October 2009, WCHS news inaugurated a new webpage using wix.com's flash platform.
Student Government Association
Colonial High School's Student Government Association (SGA) is one of the most committed in Orange County. SGA organizes and overlooks all school events, such as pep rallies, fundraisers, dances, and community service. They have held positions in the district, state, and national offices. Club sponsor, Cynthia Andrews is a Colonial Alumnus.Notable Alumni
- Delta BurkeDelta BurkeDelta Ramona Leah Burke is an American television and film actress. Her television work includes a leading role as Suzanne Sugarbaker in the CBS sitcom Designing Women...
(1974), film and television actress - Joel PiñeiroJoel PiñeiroJoel Alberto Piñeiro is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He is right-handed and made his major league debut on August 8, .-Career:...
(1996), current MLB Pitcher (Los Angeles Angels) - Casey Anthony, Class of 2004