OVCA High School Bison Blast
January 2017 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions:
- Get Organized
- Help Others
- Learn Something New
- Get Out of Debt
- More Family Time
- Enjoy Life More
- Quit (insert bad habit)
- Lose Weight
- Exercise
- Give to Charity
In this edition...
COLLEGE CORNER: Lots of great information about getting to college and available scholarships!
Student Learning Fun
Learning Coach Resources
Get Connected with OVCA
Teacher Shout Outs
Box Tops for Education
GRADUATION INFO
Booster Club Meeting - Tue., Jan. 10th @ 4pm
Here is what's coming up!
January 16th- Martin Luther King day – no school
January 21 - Oilers Game (details below)
January 24 - Tulsa Community College Campus Tour
February - Arts outing in Tulsa *new date coming soon!
February 13-17 - Spirit Week (online)
February 20- Presidents Day – no school
March 3- Teacher professional day- no school
March 9/10- Parent Teacher conference – no school on Friday 3/10
March 13-17 – spring break – no school
April – state testing- look in email for information on locations/times/days
May 20 - Graduation *Cap and gown below
May 25th – last day of school!
Outing Location: Oilers Game at the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave W., Tulsa, OK 74103
Outing Date: Saturday, January 21st
Outing Cost: $12 per person
Outing Time: Meet outside at 6pm. We will walk into the game as a group at 6:45pm. The game starts at 7pm.
Pick up time: Games last about 2 ½ hours. Pick up time will be between 9:30 and 10pm. All students will need to be picked up by 10pm. All students must sign out with a teacher when leaving.
RSVP link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe83Oyo9VfW3LO7e7qjlzzec0bI930Y-3UzGC_44jb33hmjTw/viewform
Link to purchase tickets:
Family Fun in Oklahoma
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FREE First Mondays for Kids at Sam Noble
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FREE Art Adventures at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on Tuesday
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FREE Monthly Mini Model Build at the Lego Store in Penn Square Mall on Tuesday & Wednesday
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FREE Reading Wednesdays Story Time at Myriad Gardens
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FREE Whole Kids Club Story Time on Thursday
- http://www.tulsakids.com/Things-To-Do/
Oklahoma City Thunder - 2017 Black History Heroes Challenge
As you know, the Thunder is committed to providing opportunities for Oklahoma teachers to incorporate the Thunder into the classroom. To that end, I want to invite your students to take part in the 2017 Black History Heroes Challenge.
Presented by Sprite, this contest challenges Oklahoma students in kindergarten through 12th grade to use their creativity in honoring an outstanding individual in black history or an impactful African-American in their lives. Students are encouraged to create an essay, art piece, collage or video describing their hero and how they've had an impact on their life.
Winners in each of five age groups will receive a Thunder prize pack, including four tickets to the Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans home game on Feb. 26, recognition at center court prior to the game, an autographed Thunder item and an award plaque. Select entries will be displayed on the concourse at Chesapeake Energy Arena during the Feb. 26 game.
Your student must mail or deliver their entry, along with a completed entry form, to the Thunder offices no later than Feb. 16, 2017.
Click here for entry form.
COLLEGE CORNER!
Wondering about graduation? More information below.
Keep scrolling!
Setting Goals & Sticking With Them!
Ahhh, it’s a brand new year. Full of promise and fresh starts! We always start a new project with the best of intentions, but it’s easy to quickly fall off the wagon. Life gets in the way, and slowly but surely we end up back at square one.
Here are a few tips to help you Set and Stick to your goals this year:
Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals!
The acronym S.M.A.R.T. means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-sensitive.
Specific:
Your goal should be clear and specific, this way you can focus your efforts and be truly motivated to achieve it.
Measurable:
It's important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Tracking progress helps you to stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goal.
Achievable:
Your goal also needs to be realistic and achievable to be successful. In other words, it should get you out of your comfort zone, but remain possible.
Realistic:
The root word of realistic is “real.” A goal has to be something that we can reasonably make “real” or a “reality” in our lives. There are some goals that are simply not realistic. You have to be able to say, even if it is a tremendously stretching goal, that yes, indeed, it is entirely realistic—that you could make it. This is in no way to say it shouldn’t be a big goal, but it must be realistic.
Timely:
Every goal should have a timeframe attached to it. One of the powerful aspects of a great goal is that it has an end—a time in which you are shooting to accomplish it. You may even want to break down a big goal into different parts of measurement and timeframes—that is OK. Set smaller goals and work them out in their own time!
Introducing Wednesday Workshops
Click HERE to watch a 2 minute video from Nicole Ellison explaining what Wednesday Workshops are!
Check out the calendar to see which topics will be offered this school year @ http://ovca.k12start.com/calendar/
Are you an expert at one of the topics being offered? Or do you have vast experience as an LC and you would love to share your knowledge with others? PLEASE email Nicole Ellison at nellison@k12.com She is always looking for LC’s to share the mic!
Wednesday, January 11th 4pm
Elementary: What is Good Writing
Middle School: Motivating My Student & Creating 2nd Semester Plan
Links in OLS
Wednesday, January 18th , 4pm
Creating a Schedule/Time Management
Wednesday, January 25th , 4pm
Computer Refresh (Clearing Cache, Saving Files, and More)
Learning Coach University - Motivate 2 Activate
Motivate 2 Activate
NEXT UPCOMING SESSIONS IN THE SERIES
Practice Makes Progress
Tuesday, January 17
7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/5:30pm MT/4:30pm PT
Did you miss the last session on motivating your student? Click here to watch the recording.
Learning Coach University
K12 Learning Coach University™ was created to support the Learning Coaches who guide the schooling of their children at home. Online classes provide a clearer understanding of the developmental process of learning as well as effective strategies and resources to use at home to help every child succeed. Click here to view the upcoming sessions.
Come Join the OVCA Booster Club!
Sign up for our email list here
Thank you for supporting OVCA students and families!
Get Connected!
Want to meet other families in your area? Get connected with our Co-Op’s around the state. Click here to sign up for additional information on OVCA Co-Op’s.
OVCA Military CO-OP https://www.facebook.com/groups/385954058264501/
OVCA CO-OP South Central https://www.facebook.com/groups/1426537394234389/OVCA CO-OP Northeast https://www.facebook.com/groups/168538123342038/
OVCA CO-OP North Central https://www.facebook.com/groups/547015578702224/
OVCA CO-OP Tulsa https://www.facebook.com/groups/1396437950590840/
OVCA CO-OP OKC https://www.facebook.com/groups/ovcacoop/
OVCA CO-OP Southwest https://www.facebook.com/groups/678593742152182/
Students and families in the OVCA Military Co-Op were interviewed and photographed recently by the k12 marketing team! They will be featured in future advertising to military families nationwide! Join us today to be a part of what we are doing! Email OVCA's Military Base Site Coordinator at chnichols@okvirtual.org for more information!
Let's show our teachers some love!
Click on the link below and give your teachers a special shout out!
McDonalds Teacher of the Month contest - Make your submissions on Twitter!
McDonalds of Central Oklahoma is proud to announce their sponsorship of the “Teacher of the Month” program beginning Oct. 17.
Every month a teacher will be selected based off of a submission on why they are deserving of this recognition, submissions can be made by anyone.
Submission will be received via Twitter, @McDCentralOK using #McDTeacher.
Winners receive a $100 Gift Card, $25 McDonald’s Arch Card, School Supplies for their classroom and featured on our Twitter page.
Keep your Computer Running Smoothly
OVCA Graduation Info
2017 GRADUATION INFORMATION
Our 2017 graduation ceremony will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 20th, 2017 at the Choctaw High School Performing Arts Center. The Performing Arts Center is located at 14300 NE 10th Street, Choctaw, OK 73020. The building labeled Choctaw High School Performing Arts Center is a separate building from the high school and is located toward the back of the school property. All graduating seniors need to arrive at 11:00 AM in preparation for our 1:00 PM ceremony.
>>>> Facility will be closed to all until 11:00 AM. This will allow OVCA staff to set up and prepare for your arrival. As a courtesy, you should remind your guests that the ceremony does not begin until 1:00 PM. Only the graduates are to check in at 11:00 AM.
All students may view and order graduation supplies online at www.jostens.com. When searching for our school, please enter “Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy” and we are listed under “Mid-West City, Ok” for our location.
Students wishing to participate in the graduation ceremony are required to purchase the $33.25 Black cap and gown unit. The cap and gown unit may be ordered online any time now through Friday, January 20, 2017. If you wait to order the unit until February or later the price will increase and orders will have to be made through a representative in the Oklahoma City area. *It is not guaranteed that you will receive a cap/gown in time for the ceremony if you wait to purchase one. We encourage you to order early online. All other supplies located on the website are optional.
>>> Do not delay to order after deadline as your cap and gown may not make it to your home by the ceremony. ***You must have a cap/gown to participate in the Graduation Ceremony.
If you have a problem ordering online with Jostens please call them at: 1-800-JOSTENS (1-800-567-8367)
Please note – Students must continue to pass their courses and gain the necessary credits to be eligible for May graduation in addition to attending the required State Testing. Participating in a graduation ceremony does not mean you have officially graduated. All students will need to continue to meet these requirements in order to be eligible to participate in May.
Again, if you have questions regarding your status this should be discussed with your HS Counselor (Counselor's list provided above).
****Honors Graduates/ Valedictorians and Salutatorians: Cumulative grade point average through the fall semester of the senior year will be used to determine all graduation honors. If you have questions you should contact your HS Counselor.
Upon arrival seniors will need to:
- Check in at the front table.
- Use the restroom/put on cap and gown.
- Be prepared to take an individual photo (if desired).
- Be seated in the auditorium by 12:30 PM in designated section. We will complete a brief walkthrough explaining the ceremony and will need all seniors seated and present at 12:30 PM. It is imperative you remember to bring your cap and gown to the ceremony as they are required to participate.
- You should remind those you invite to attend that the ceremony does not begin until 1:00 PM. >>>> Only YOU are required to be there early for pre-ceremony sign-in and walk-through. Again, the facility will not open until 11 AM for graduates.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- How do I order my cap and gown?
Information has been sent to you via e-mail and will be placed in Bison Tracks. Our vendor is Josten’s. You will order online from their website and it will be sent to the mailing address you provide when ordering. You need to order early to ensure you get it by graduation as it is required to participate in the ceremony. There will be a Josten’s cutoff date regarding ordering to receive by graduation date. >>> Ways to order: Online: www.jostens.com Phone: 1-800-JOSTENS (567-8367) Deadline to order: Friday, January 20, 2017 (Orders placed prior to the deadline will ship to the home by April 8,2017) Do not delay to order after deadline as your cap and gown may not make it to your home by the ceremony. ***You must have a cap/gown to participate in the Graduation Ceremony.
- Can I decorate the top of my graduation cap?
No, students are not permitted to alter the appearance of their cap or gown.
- How many people can I invite to the ceremony?
An RSVP survey will be sent to you via e-mail for you to complete around the end of February. Once we receive an estimated number of invites we will determine if a limit must be set. However, we ask that it be 10 or less.
- May I bring food and/or drink (such as bottled water) to the ceremony or in the theater?
No, the Choctaw Performing Arts Theater has a strict no food/drink policy (including bottled water). You will not be permitted to enter the facility with these items.
- Will there be a photographer at the ceremony?
Yes, students will be asked to take an individual picture prior to the ceremony.
- Glitter is NOT allowed inside the PAC center. NO GLITTER!
- Will students be permitted to throw their caps in the air at the close of the graduation ceremony?
No, the Choctaw Performing Arts Theater has a rule that will not allow us to do so as the caps may get caught in their lighting/ceiling.
Your teachers and families are excited to share in this special day with you. We look forward to seeing you there!
Got Box Tops?
OVCA Office
Box Tops- Attention: Sondra Callaway
1160 S. Douglas Blvd.
Midwest City, OK 73130
Want to check out previous newsletters?
OVCA High School - September Bison Blast 2016
OVCA High School - Back to School Newsletter 2016