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Totem Talk: January 19, 2026

Posted Date: 01/19/26 (08:31 PM)


Orange County Public Schools Top Talent Live 2026 Casting Call for Student Stars, accepting applications Jan 5 - Feb 13.
The words 'TOTEM TALK' are displayed in large white letters on an orange background.

Community Brief

January 19, 2026
Boone High School Principal, Dr. Maestre, in a gray suit smiles at the camera, wearing an orange patterned tie.

Message From Dr. Maestre

While we are still in the month of January, we want to make sure that our community was aware of Orange County Public School's Vision and Mission Statements. 

OCPS Vision: Every student graduates inspired and prepared for a thriving future.

OCPS Mission: Together with our families and the community, we empower students with a superior academic experience, essential life skills, and boundless opportunities.

Most large organizations will have a Vision Statement, a Mission Statement, or likely both. However, the ones that are consistently successful in achieving their objectives put these into practice daily. At Boone we work towards this end goal every school day and often, long after that last class bell rings. This is possible in no small part due to the active involvement of our families and the extra mile traveled by so many teachers, school counselors, coaches, support staff, and leadership team members all along. We also benefit from the donated time and financial contributions from some tremendously valuable volunteers and partners in education. 

Please be sure to join us Tuesday, January 27 as we host our annual Curriculum Night. If you will have a student at Boone in 2025-2026, here is an evening well worth your time. 

Do you have a talent you want to share with the world? OCPS has an open casting call for Top Talent 2026. Check out the graphic at the top of this page for information on the event and a QR code to scan for the complete application.

Finally, today is Martin Luther King Day. Dr. King inspired our entire nation with his achievable dream. Martin Luther King Day has now become one of America's great holidays, unique in beckoning us all to live by honorable principles that include tolerance and empathy.

As always, thank you for reading!


Forever Brave,

Hector Maestre, Ed.D.
Principal
 

Senior Information

Graduation Information Released!

We are excited to announce that the Boone High School Class of 2026 graduation information is now available! The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 7:30 pm. It will take place at the Addition Financial Arena at UCF.

More information regarding senior check out and graduation tickets will be shared later this semester.
Boone High School Class of 2026 graduation ceremony announcement.

Seniors - Order your Cap & Gown!

You can order online by scanning the QR code in this post. Any questions, email michelle.rojas@ocps.net

highschool.herffjones.com
 

College & Career

Attention all SAT and ACT testers!
Every Wednesday you can attend tutoring in the College and Career room for these important tests after school. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Gurley at nicole.gurley@ocps.net.
An advertisement for SAT/ACT tutoring services, featuring a cloud-shaped design and book illustrations.

Scholarships

Money is everywhere right now for seniors that are looking to help pay for postsecondary options. Number 1 priority would be completing the FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. https://studentaid.gov/ If students have not completed this form yet, they will be sent down from an elective to complete it with Mrs. Gurley starting on Monday. They will need to know their SSN. After their process is complete, the parent will receive an email in order to complete his/her portion. If a student does not have a SSN or the parent is unwilling to submit the FAFSA, here is a link for the student to complete https://tinyurl.com/FAFSAoptout2026 Please email nicole.gurley@ocps.net with any questions.

For scholarships, there are a ton out there right now, students just have to apply. They can stop in the College and Career Center for any assistance. 
 

OTC Dual Enrollment Applications for 2026-27 Now Avaiable

Current sophomores and juniors are invited to apply for Orange Technical College (OTC) dual enrollment for the 2026-27 school year. If you are interested in applying you can sign up to attend an informational session at www.tinyurl.com/boonehsde. If you have any questions you can reach out to our CTE Career Specialist, Ms. Borden, at seante.borden@ocps.net.
Flyer for Orange Technical College dual enrollment program, with details and contact information.
 

Winter Sports: Senior Nights

As the winter chill settles in and the regular season winds down, the Boone High School fans have gathered for one of the most poignant traditions in high school sports: Senior Night.

These evenings are more than just games; they are a heartfelt "thank you" to the athletes who have dedicated to their craft, their teammates, and the pride of our school. Thank you to our senior athletes for your participation in our athletic programs!

Photos below are from girls soccer, boys soccer, girls basketball, boys basketball, and boys and girls wrestling.
Six young women wearing crowns and 'SENIOR' sashes stand on a football field at night.
A coach and three soccer players in orange uniforms stand on a green field in front of a scoreboard.
Three young women in basketball uniforms and crowns stand on a polished wooden court, holding bouquets of orange flowers.
Eight young men in basketball uniforms stand in a line on a polished wooden court, with bleachers in the background.
A group of high school seniors in wrestling attire pose for a photo with a coach and a woman.
 

Curriculum Night

Calling all rising 9th–12th grade students and families! Join us for an essential evening exploring the incredible academic opportunities available at Boone High School.

Whether you are looking to earn college credit early or gain hands-on technical skills, we have a pathway for you. Learn more about:
*Advanced Placement (AP)
*Cambridge AICE
*Dual Enrollment
*Orange Technical College (OTC)

Bonus: Don't miss our dedicated breakout session specifically for College Planning to help you navigate the road to higher education
Boone High School Curriculum Night flyer with event details and school logo.
 

They are so DOPEY!

Named after the iconic Seven Dwarf, the Dopey Challenge is widely considered the "everest" of runDisney races. It isn’t just one race. It’s a cumulative test of physical and mental grit across four consecutive mornings: 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and Full Marathon (26.2 miles). To complete the challenge, participants must complete each of the 4 races in 4 consecutive days.

Congratulations to Ms. Rodriguez and Dr. Maestre for completing the combined 48.6 miles challenge and earning 6 medals! Next time you see them in the hallways, be sure to congratulate them on this incredible achievement. They have shown us all that with enough "faith, trust, and pixie dust" (and a lot of hard work) any goal is reachable.
A smiling man and woman proudly display multiple Disney race medals, wearing orange long-sleeved shirts.
 

Student Journalism by Hailey Garcia

Students boarded the OneBlood bus during one of several blood drives held throughout the year, with new incentives encouraging participation. Donors received small rewards, including Chick-fil-A items and OneBlood merchandise, helping boost turnout amid ongoing blood shortages. “My grandmother always had blood problems, so I wanted to donate to help people going through what she did,” said senior Jacob Zarrate. The drive showed how incentives motivate students to give back while making a lifesaving impact.
 

Sports 4 the Kids Equipment Drive

Please consider donating new or gently used sports gear to kids who aspire to play sports. There is a collection box available in the main office through January 30, for anyone who would like to help out!
Poster for a 'Gear Up Drive' by Sports 4 the Kids Club, featuring various sports equipment like a basketball, football, baseball glove, soccer cleat, and baseball.
 

Brave Run 2026

Lace up your shoes! It’s that time again! Sign up now at runsignup.com/BooneBraveRun and designate half of your registration fee to your favorite Boone team or club.



 
The Boone High School logo is also referred to as the Brave Head. An orange and white graphic of a profile with a feathered headdress.

Contact info

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Administration
  • Principal: Dr. Hector Maestre - 60998@ocps.net
  • Assistant Principal: Mr. Daniel Abalo - 34823@ocps.net
  • Assistant Principal: Ms. Denine Brown - 54177@ocps.net
  • Assistant Principal: Dr. Timothy Flynn - 100795@ocps.net
  • Assistant Principal: Ms. Kristen Gillespie - 105208@ocps.net

General Contact
  • (407) 893-7200
  • boone_hs@ocps.net
  • www.boonehs.ocps.net