FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
OVCA High School ~ September 25th, 2020
Hello families!
Here we are in our groove of the school year. Star360 score reports have been sent to learning coach email accounts two weeks ago. Our goal is that every student grows at least one full academic year, which we measure between August and May Star360 tests. Reach out if you have any questions about these assessments or your student's score report.
Fall Break is coming up which means a break from school but also a checkpoint. All assignments that are teacher-graded, including labs, essays, CC quizzes, and discussion boards will be closed. Students should be following the daily plan and attending their live sessions with teachers. Communication is key, so when struggles arise, please do not hesitate to reach out for more help!
Upcoming Dates:
10/15-10/16 No School - Fall Break
10/18 - Late Date (All teacher-graded items & CC quizzes from 1st semester are due by midnight)
10/19-10/23 USA Test Prep Assessments - Interim 1
Mrs. Allison Miller
OVCA High School Principal
Calling All Seniors!
Did you see the grad info session from Mrs. Powell?
Class of 2021,
You are receiving this email because you are a potential graduate having earned 16 credit hours or more. Please refer to your grad plan if you have questions about your credits and what classes you need. All students must be full time enrolled students to attend OVCA unless you are attending a career tech or concurrent(college) enrollment. Students must have 23 credit hours to graduate (see grad plan for exact courses the state of Oklahoma requires).
You are almost to the finish line! I encourage you to finish strong! We would like to invite you to a virtual graduation meeting on Friday, October 2nd, at 8:45am.
The presentation will cover:
- Preparing for graduation- ensure you will graduate
- Time, place and date of graduation
- How to get your cap/gown, announcements, graduation pictures, class rings, prom, etc.
Student’s will find the link in your CC area of our school. All Learning Coaches, Students and Legal Guardians are invited to attend. Link is HERE.
There will be a drawing for the NEW OVCA mousepads we’ll be getting soon! They have a gel wrist rest so you can be comfortable while schooling! I’ll draw 5 names of students who attend!
After the live presentation, we will send out the recording for review. Another presentation will be given during parent teacher conferences on November 2nd at 6:30pm.
See you Friday!
Mrs. Sandra Powell
OVCA Graduation Coach
405-259-9478 ext 2034
Check out OVCA Clubs!
OVCA High School Students of the Month - September 2020
9th Grade Student of the Month
Sonia D.
Notable achievements:
- Excelling in English 9, Oklahoma History, French I
- Valuable and impactful Class Connect contributor
- Classroom leader
What the teachers are saying:
· “Sonia embodies the 7 mindsets in live CC. She brings sunshine to all lifting and encouraging others up while making sure she is understanding herself.”
· “Sonia shows that everything is possible. By motivating and appreciating classmates while pushing herself forward, she shows how much one can accomplish.”
About Sonia:
In her first full year at OVCA and first year at the high school, Sonia has started in a strong fashion. Sonia has managed to impress both teachers and classmates alike with her consistent activity and positive nature in live sessions. Her courageous performances in math classes and her encouragement of others have created an environment for sincere academic exploration and generosity.
Beyond fostering a welcoming culture in the classroom, Sonia continues to challenge herself academically. Taking advantage of extra help sessions and various academic programs, she is positioning herself for a strong year that is full of growth.
10th Grade Student of the Month
Jacob W.
Notable achievements:
- Excelling in English 10, World History, Geometry
- Valued CC participant and discussion leader
- Comic and Multiverse Enthusiast
What the teachers are saying:
· “Jacob has great attendance and participation during CC's. He comes to class each day, ready to go, ready to learn, and ready to help.”
· “Jacob's positive and welcoming to others. He always has something nice to say to others and is usually willing to jump into each discussion and help it progress.”
About Jacob:
While his teachers and classmates remark on his kind nature, Jacob naturally turns it around. He states, “I am enjoying getting to know all the new students.” That enjoyment and appreciation for others and discussion has left an indelible mark on his classes.
Whether it’s staying after class with math teachers, wowing his English teacher, or going to an extra review session in World History, Jacob is an enthusiastic learner, a fighter for academics. He pushes himself and has stayed on top of things at the beginning of the year. Still, he does have plans beyond this year and beyond high school. He tells us, “After high school, I want to work on becoming a computer engineer.”
11th Grade Student of the Month
Markelle N.
Notable achievements:
- Excelling in American Literature, AP Biology, and Pre-Calculus
- Top performer and contributor in classes
- Working/learning concurrently at Southwest Technology Center
What the teachers are saying:
· “Mars is the model of a great student. She always stays on top of her course work.”
· “Mars works hard and reaches out when she has questions. I'm glad I get to have her in class!”
· “Her ambition and enthusiasm for learning set her apart.”
About Markelle (Mars):
In just her first month at OVCA, Mars has been the embodiment of the “everything is possible” mindset. On top of participation in live sessions that has made her a standout classmate, she’s doing it in some of the more rigorous courses at OVCA. While her instructors note what energy and insight she brings to classes, her outstanding performances in and out of class are even more impressive as she shortens the learning curve that normally comes with the start of the year.
In addition to standard OVCA classes, Mars is enrolled and excelling in both concurrent courses and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. With a supportive family, curious nature, and respect for the tasks at hand, Mars has shown a remarkable ability to balance high-level responsibilities. Not bad and pretty great for a first month.
12th Grade Student of the Month
Natalie R.
Notable achievements:
- Excelling in British and World Literature, Criminology, Image Design and Editing
- An OVCA representative on the state’s Student Advisory Board for school choice
- National Honor Society Member
- Taking concurrent courses at OSU
What the teachers are saying:
· “Natalie always greets and acknowledges other students in the chat. Is always pleasant and encouraging. A joy to have in class.”
· “I don’t know how she does it all. She’s the hardest worker in the room but does it all with a great attitude.”
· “Natalie is the complete scholar and an amazing person.”
About Natalie:
Natalie is a multiple-time year-end award winner and a longtime leader at the high school. She has advocated for school choice, she has helped lead prom, she volunteers on behalf of OVCA’s chapter of the National Honor Society, and this year, she’s even helping out and participating in school clubs (she’s highly recommending the murder mystery club). Her commitment to excellence may be unparalleled as she strives to achieve academically and culturally every year.
While not able to be as active in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, she has kept busy. She admits, “During this unfortunate time, I have found a way to have some fun by picking sewing as my new hobby. I started in the beginning of summer by making masks for my friends and family, dog bandanas, bows, scrunchies, and finally a dress for my half-sister Dalary. Sewing is like therapy to me and I am hoping to learn and get better by the day. I have fun drawing and painting when I can fill my portfolio with all sorts of landscapes and things that I have a heart for. I love to play the ukulele and guitar with YouTube as my teacher for any song I want to learn next. Currently I volunteer at my church as a teacher's assistant for Children's ministry and share the Word of God.”
As she looks to graduate in style this year, she’s also looking to the future. She says, “One of my goals after graduating high school include to graduate with a bachelor's degree in whatever major that I am passionate about. I have so many interests it is hard to choose but I like Special Education, Film, Art, Communications, Political Science, and Marketing at the moment (I know, it is a lot). I want to find the best career for me that I will never tire of where I can express my creativity and be a leader for those who need a voice or extra hand. I believe that God has a plan for me, and I will do whatever I need to make a difference in this world whether big or small and make whatever I thought impossible, possible.”
College and Career Tech Calendar
October 1- FAFSA Applications will open for students to apply - https://studentaid.gov/
October Scholarships : https://www.ucango2.org/scholarships/deadline.html#10
Okcollegestart Scholarships- https://secure.okcollegestart.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/Scholarships/_default.aspx
Oklahoma Promise Applications ( 8-10th grade students are open)- https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/about.shtml
Upcoming Virtual College and Career Tech Workshops:
September 29- Tulsa Community College – 12:00 PM
September 30- Autry Technology Center – 12:00 PM
October 1- Oklahoma State University – 12:00
October 2- US Army recruiter- 10:00
October 2- US Air Force recruiter – 2:00
October 6- Tulsa Technology Center – 12:00
October 8- Metro Technology Center- 12:00
October 9- Oklahoma City Community College – 11:00
October 9- Southwestern Oklahoma State College- 2:00
October 12- Oral Roberts University – 12:00
October 13- US Marine Corp Recruiter- 12:00
October 14- Oklahoma Baptist University – 12:00
More emailed info and links will come over the next week from OVCA's Career and College Readiness Coordinator, Katie McAskill.
Check out your grad plan for this year!
To view your course schedule for Fall, please review your Grad Plan for Semester 1 of the 2020-2021 school year. If you have any questions or concerns, email your school counselor.
Access to courses will not be available until the first day of school, which is August 12th.
Oklahoma Promise
Free college - What?!
Students in grades 8th-10th who qualify based on family income may earn free college tuition to a public school in Oklahoma after graduation. More info can be found at this Oklahoma Promise site:
https://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/
You can also reach out to our College and Career Readiness Coordinator, Katie McAskill for additional information. 405-835-2133 Ext 3011 or kamcaskill@okvirtual.org
Website Trouble Shooting
NEW School Attendance Policy
As a public charter school, consistent attendance is expected for all students. For the purposes of attendance, instructional activities are defined as:
• Completion of course assignments that are used to record a grade for the student that is factored into the student’s grade for the term in which the assignment is completed;
• Instructional meetings with a teacher;
• Testing;
• School-sanctioned field trips; and
• Orientation.
For the purposes of attendance, on pace for course completion is completing weekly course work as assigned in order to have successful completion of the course by the end of the grading period.
1. For the purposes of attendance, a student attending OVCA shall be considered in attendance for a quarter if the student:
a. Completes instructional activities on no less than ninety percent (90%) of the days within the quarter;
b. Is on pace for on-time completion of the course as defined by the board of education of OVCA; or
c. Completes no less than seventy-two instructional
2. For a student who does not meet any of the criteria set forth in paragraph 1 of this policy, the amount of attendance recorded shall be the greater of:
a. The number of school days during which the student completed the instructional activities during the quarter;b. The number of school days proportional to the percentage of the course that has been completed; or
c. The number of school days proportional to the percentage of the required minimum number of completed instructional activities during the quarter.
K12 National News
Staples #ThankATeacher Contest
Know a teacher who has gone above and beyond for students? Of course you do! Now's the time to nominate that teacher for Staples' #ThankATeacher contest. Twenty exceptional teachers will be selected to receive $5,000 in Staples gift cards.
All you have to do is visit the Staples Website to fill out their short form with a brief explanation why your teacher should be chosen.
Teachers should always be celebrated for their important role, but this is even more true right now. Staples will accept nominations through September 26, so you have plenty of time!
Submit a teacher HERE!
The K12 App - Do You Have It?
- Link to K12 App on iOS
• Getting Started Resources
• Track Student Progress
• Check Your Daily Schedule
• Contact Teachers & Support
• Get Timely Notifications
The Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access educational programs and activities. As required by Title IX, the Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy does not discriminate on the basis of gender, in its educational programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Title IX non-discrimination matters:
- Angie Foust, Title IX Coordinator, afoust@okvirtual.org, (405) 259-9478 ext 2069, 1160 S Douglas, Midwest City, OK 73130
- Additionally, you may contact the Office of Civil Rights by calling 1-800-421-3481.
Project Elevate: Do you have a story to tell?
Do you have a great story to tell about your student(s) and the role that online and blended school has played in their lives?
Are you interested in sharing your story with local reporters and media outlets?
If so, please submit it to Project Elevate, our story-collection tool, and we’ll contact you for possible media opportunities. You can submit your story online or via the free K12 Project Elevate app for iOS and Android devices.
Open Letter to K12 Families from President of Academics, Policy, and Schools
Dear Families,
Welcome to the start of a new school year!
As a parent, I know one of the most important decisions you will ever make is choosing a school for your child. At K12, we don’t take this decision lightly.
We realize the first few days of the new school year have not had an ideal start, and we greatly appreciate your responses and feedback. However, I want you to know that now more than ever, the dedicated teachers and staff at every K12-powered school are committed to providing a high-quality, engaging, and personalized academic experience.
As you can imagine, we are seeing unprecedented interest in our online programs and services from families and school districts across the country. Based on this increased demand, teams have been hard at work strengthening operations to better serve each student’s learning needs. Onboarding processes for both students and staff are ongoing. As such, we’re experiencing some intermittent technical issues, which we are working to resolve as quickly as possible.
During this process, we are asking for your patience with possible delays in logging into your online classes and potential issues accessing your courses in the online school. Students may experience these events sporadically through Monday, September 14, as we are currently in high volume start of school weeks. To minimize impacts to students, our internal teams are working around the clock, in close coordination with our strategic partners, to strengthen our systems, infrastructure, and technological resources for all K12-powered schools.
For the start of school, and throughout the year, I encourage you to keep open communication with your students’ teachers. If you’re unable to access the online school, log into your school email account at portal.office.com. Note that your username and log-in information are the same as your online school username and login.
Please keep in mind that your amazing teachers are also providing additional resources to ensure students are getting the support they need. These include but are not limited to: conducting live sessions on complementary online platforms, sharing pre-recorded instructional videos and creative hands-on learning ideas with students, holding additional office hours to provide one-on-one support, and extending due dates for assignments and projects.
In the days ahead, please continue to check the K12 Help Page for updates at: https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/Service-Disruption. All updates will be added to this link as they are made available.
Each and every day, K12-powered faculty and staff focus on delivering a rigorous, dynamic, and inspiring learning program for students. This year, that includes:
Enhanced class sessions with new technology that includes the integration of NewRow, a built-for-education video-based virtual teaching tool, and ClassLink LaunchPad—an award-winning platform that gives students single sign-on access to the entire K12 library of apps, links, and school resources from one location and on any device.
An expanded version of K12’s English/language arts and math curriculum that’s providing students with more engaging, interactive lessons
Through a partnership with Newsela, students in grades 6-10 will have access to hundreds of informational texts at five different reading levels. This program uses an adaptive algorithm to quickly determine and adjust students’ reading levels and match them with appropriate reading resources.
Please know, that by choosing a K12-powered school, you’re choosing a world-class education services provider with more than two decades of experience. You’re choosing an expert in interactive online curriculum, assessment tools, and teacher training. And you’re choosing a leader in technological innovation and researched-based learning platforms.
Each of these priorities highlight K12’s commitment to keeping students learning, regardless of the classroom setting.
This week and throughout the year, we welcome the opportunity to hear from you. Whether you have challenges, suggestions, or positive feedback—it all matters. Please send them to WhatsOnYourMind@k12.com.
We couldn’t be more excited about the start of a new school year, and we appreciate your patience and support as we continue to serve the growing online learning community.
Regards,
Kevin
Kevin P. Chavous
President of Academics, Policy, and Schools
Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy
Email: almiller@okvirtual.org
Website: okvirtual.net
Location: 1160 South Douglas Boulevard, Midwest City, OK, USA
Phone: 405-259-9478