The school board rejected the proposal to rename our building. Colonial High remains our name because we fought to protect our history and our identity. Keep a close watch on future board agendas to ensure this issue stays buried for good.
December 19, 2013
Final supporters
Guzman states: "What does this mean, Colonial? Most people think it's a lousy highway with a lot of traffic or think of the South and Colonial times. It doesn't mean something that will be appealing to the public."
Their solution? To rename the school Roberto Clemente High. Clemente, who was born in Puerto Rico and was a Major League baseball player for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, died in 1972 while en route to deliver equipment and food to earthquake victims in Nicaraqua.
Though Clemente has NO TIES to Colonial High, Guzman and his group feels that because the current student population is largely Hispanic, this will resonate with them, and somehow fix any PR issues the school has.
Guzman states: "If we do a name change, that may help with morale, and may help us market the school better."
The name "Colonial" may not mean anything to Guzman - and it probably shouldn't, as he never went there. However it means A LOT to the 55 years of alumni, many who have sent their own children there. My parents; my brother; my aunts; my uncles; my cousins -- ALL have graduated from Colonial High.
The name "Colonial" means something to the AMAZING teachers who have given their all over 55 years. What a slap in the face it would be to give in to the whims of a total stranger and rename the PRIDE and the GOAL of these teachers!
Every morning, former Principal Dr. Mitchell would get on the television and declare loudly: "IT'S GREAT TO BE A GRENADIER!" At a time when he was new to the school, this endeared him to the current student population that he chose to take PRIDE IN US as we were and encouraging us to rise to the occasion, rather than merely repackaging us as something different. Dr. Mitchell never tried to polarize the population as Mr. Guzman seems to want to do.
We, the undersigned, petition the members of the Orange County School Board to KEEP Colonial High's name as-is, and to not humor any petition by Mr. Guzman to devalue the tradition and name of Colonial High. We are alumni; we are current students; we are teachers; we are parents -- and the name of "Colonial" may not mean anything to Guzman, but it is OURS and we are NOT CHANGING IT.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 6, 2013
October 4, 2013
The momentum behind our fight to keep our school name is growing faster than I ever expected. Please take a moment to post this link on your Facebook wall today. You must also call your local representative to tell them that our legacy is not for sale.
October 4, 2013
We are approaching one thousand signatures and need a final push to force the board to acknowledge our history. Post this link on your Facebook page right now. Text three people who went to Colonial High today and tell them to sign.
September 30, 2013
We hit our first 100 signatures today. Post this link to your Facebook page right now so we can show the school board that this community stands behind our history. Call your local representative and tell them the school name stays as it is.
Reached 100 supporters
September 29, 2013
10 Comments
This school is an established school for many years as Colonial High that with a change, all the memories go away with it. Don't change the name
I feel like it would be an injustice to the past students of colonial to change the name of the school. If you feel compelled to give a school a spanish name you should change the name of university high or one of the newer schools that has less history
I graduated from Colonial High School in 1969. Don't know Carlos Guzman; don't know Roberto Clemente. They have no meaning for me or to me. I would hate to see "my school" name changed.
Colonial high school is what it is and should remain so but I agree with the discussion there are far more fitting things and people to rename the school after than some base ball player. Larry C. Payne was principal while I was there and had a huge influence on my life as well as the lives of many other students
Kenneth R. Cox was a much loved and respected teacher from1959-1962. He passed away suddenly during the school year. The 1963 year is dedicated to his memory. If Colonial is renamed, Mr. Cox should be considered before Clemente. I was never in his class, but he was always friendly to everyone.
Please do not change the name.
We must stay vigilant about this as those who want to change our heritage, our history by changing our schools name will not rest until they succeed. The man in question who attempted this back in September was arrested for trespassing at city hall. One must wonder what became of that arrest?
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The school board rejected the proposal to rename our building. Colonial High remains our name because we fought to protect our history and our identity. Keep a close watch on future board agendas to ensure this issue stays buried for good.
December 19, 2013
Final supporters
Guzman states: "What does this mean, Colonial? Most people think it's a lousy highway with a lot of traffic or think of the South and Colonial times. It doesn't mean something that will be appealing to the public."
Their solution? To rename the school Roberto Clemente High. Clemente, who was born in Puerto Rico and was a Major League baseball player for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, died in 1972 while en route to deliver equipment and food to earthquake victims in Nicaraqua.
Though Clemente has NO TIES to Colonial High, Guzman and his group feels that because the current student population is largely Hispanic, this will resonate with them, and somehow fix any PR issues the school has.
Guzman states: "If we do a name change, that may help with morale, and may help us market the school better."
The name "Colonial" may not mean anything to Guzman - and it probably shouldn't, as he never went there. However it means A LOT to the 55 years of alumni, many who have sent their own children there. My parents; my brother; my aunts; my uncles; my cousins -- ALL have graduated from Colonial High.
The name "Colonial" means something to the AMAZING teachers who have given their all over 55 years. What a slap in the face it would be to give in to the whims of a total stranger and rename the PRIDE and the GOAL of these teachers!
Every morning, former Principal Dr. Mitchell would get on the television and declare loudly: "IT'S GREAT TO BE A GRENADIER!" At a time when he was new to the school, this endeared him to the current student population that he chose to take PRIDE IN US as we were and encouraging us to rise to the occasion, rather than merely repackaging us as something different. Dr. Mitchell never tried to polarize the population as Mr. Guzman seems to want to do.
We, the undersigned, petition the members of the Orange County School Board to KEEP Colonial High's name as-is, and to not humor any petition by Mr. Guzman to devalue the tradition and name of Colonial High. We are alumni; we are current students; we are teachers; we are parents -- and the name of "Colonial" may not mean anything to Guzman, but it is OURS and we are NOT CHANGING IT.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 6, 2013
October 4, 2013
The momentum behind our fight to keep our school name is growing faster than I ever expected. Please take a moment to post this link on your Facebook wall today. You must also call your local representative to tell them that our legacy is not for sale.
October 4, 2013
We are approaching one thousand signatures and need a final push to force the board to acknowledge our history. Post this link on your Facebook page right now. Text three people who went to Colonial High today and tell them to sign.
September 30, 2013
We hit our first 100 signatures today. Post this link to your Facebook page right now so we can show the school board that this community stands behind our history. Call your local representative and tell them the school name stays as it is.
Reached 100 supporters
September 29, 2013
10 Comments
Im from Orlando. Grew up on Curryford Rd between Chickasaw and Econ. I went to Liberty and Colonial. My parents and many other family members went to Colonial. Colonial has deep deep roots in Orlando. Im against changing the name.
This school is an established school for many years as Colonial High that with a change, all the memories go away with it. Don't change the name
I feel like it would be an injustice to the past students of colonial to change the name of the school. If you feel compelled to give a school a spanish name you should change the name of university high or one of the newer schools that has less history
I graduated from Colonial High School in 1969. Don't know Carlos Guzman; don't know Roberto Clemente. They have no meaning for me or to me. I would hate to see "my school" name changed.
Colonial high school is what it is and should remain so but I agree with the discussion there are far more fitting things and people to rename the school after than some base ball player. Larry C. Payne was principal while I was there and had a huge influence on my life as well as the lives of many other students
Kenneth R. Cox was a much loved and respected teacher from1959-1962. He passed away suddenly during the school year. The 1963 year is dedicated to his memory. If Colonial is renamed, Mr. Cox should be considered before Clemente. I was never in his class, but he was always friendly to everyone.
Please do not change the name.
We must stay vigilant about this as those who want to change our heritage, our history by changing our schools name will not rest until they succeed. The man in question who attempted this back in September was arrested for trespassing at city hall. One must wonder what became of that arrest?
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Im from Orlando. Grew up on Curryford Rd between Chickasaw and Econ. I went to Liberty and Colonial. My parents and many other family members went to Colonial. Colonial has deep deep roots in Orlando. Im against changing the name.