Orlando Science Schools Lynx Campus
Issue 8
Weekly Newsletter: October 1st, 2021
Principal's Corner
Greetings Orcas,
Happy October! I hope you are all enjoying the somewhat cooler weather and looking forward to the activities in the coming weeks and months as we head into the second quarter of the school year. We are so excited to have our students back on campus and participating in events such as Hispanic Heritage Month, food drives, clubs, competitions, and more.
We appreciate everyone’s continued efforts to make smart choices with regards to protecting one another from the spread of COVID. To continue to keep you informed, please take a moment to review the latest update to our policies and procedures below which has been based on the Florida Surgeon General’s latest recommendations.
I hope you all have a nice weekend and look forward to updating you on our students’ continued success next week.
Dr. Yalcin Akin
Executive Director/Principal
Orlando Science School – Middle/High
OSS LYNX CAMPUS CURRENT COVID NUMBERS
COVID Policy Update
Parents and Guardians,
I wanted to take a moment to go over the new COVID policy sent from the DOE and the new Surgeon General. Effective immediately upon being notified of a positive case at our school, we will continue to do contact tracing and notifying parents that their student was exposed to COVID. Instead of having 3 options you will only have 2. If your student has no symptoms, they can return to school the next day, monitor them for the next 14 days and report if any symptoms appear. Your next option is to keep them home for up to 7 days in quarantine, while in quarantine they will be required to do live lessons on teams following the same schedule as the students in school. They may return if they have no symptoms.
Positive students will follow the same protocol as before, they will quarantine for 10 days, do live lessons on teams, and can return on their designated date or earlier with a doctors note or clearance from the department of health. We ask that you report any positive results as soon as possible, including those in your household. If your student is exposed to someone at home, we will keep record in case symptoms start with them as well.
We encourage every parent to keep their student home if they are having COVID like symptoms, runny nose, congestion, cough, headaches with nausea, high fever, or sore throat and let the school know right away if this happens.
The OSS face mask policy has not changed. Masks are required and parents may opt out with a signed note or email.
We thank you all for working with us during this time when things are changing and adapting. If you have any questions, please reach out to me by email or phone.
Sincerely,
Jenna Foley
COVID Coordinator – Lynx and High School Campuses
Facilities and Assistant Admin Coordinator
407-299-6595 ext 3207
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ESSAY CONTEST
“There are thousands of Hispanic-American community leaders and champions across Florida, and I’m proud that as a state we will honor them this month,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “This Hispanic Heritage Month, I encourage every student in our state to take the time to recognize and thank the Hispanic-American leaders in their community and take part in these contests. Governor DeSantis and I are proud to offer this opportunity to recognize outstanding students and educators for their unique efforts and talents.”
First Lady DeSantis invited students to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award.
About the Student Essay Contest
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest is open to all 4-12 grade students in Florida. Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school student (grades 4-5), one middle school student (grades 6-8) and one high school student (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
About the Excellence in Education Award
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school teacher (grades K-5), one middle school teacher (grades 6-8) and one high school teacher (grades 9-12). Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student.
Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.
Volunteer Florida
Hispanic Heritage Month Committee
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
All entries must be received by 5 pm (ET) on Monday, October 11, 2021.
Tuesday, October 12th is picture retake day!
If your student missed picture day OR they wish to retake their photo, they will be able to do-so on Tuesday, October 12th.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Science Fair Update
The deadline for science fair forms has passed. All students are required to complete the following forms: Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1), Student Checklist (1A), and Approval Form (1B). Many students will need to fill out the Risk Assessment Form (3) for different chemicals (ex. vinegar, bleach, etc.), tools (scissors, knives, etc.), and/or disposal (throwing out moldy food, lake water, etc.). There may be additional forms that some students need to fill out for their experiment and be approved by the county first before starting. All forms MUST be typed out OR filled out in blue or black ink pens. If students have questions about science fair forms, they can ask their science teacher or see Ms. Cramp in room 151 after school.
9/23/21
- 15 in attendance for AM Session – Started at 9:30am / Ended at 10:33am
- 21 in attendance for PM Session – Started at 6:27pm /Ended at 7:25pm
- Updates on current fundraising efforts. Mrs. Foley gave an update in the morning session as to the current number of tables and umbrellas we have at both campuses. We are still raising funds to order at least 3-5 more.
- The Air Purifiers we still are in need of. She did inform us that school installed a filtration system in the ventilation so we are getting some cleaner air to the classrooms and buildings already. The additional individual air purifiers in each room will give our kids that extra layer of protection.
- Our dreams for the school year – Jayme Gottschall and Lisa Proto brainstormed some ideas then brought these to the PVO group to get a few more ideas generated. End of year party – It is too late to plan for a full festival. We are looking for some out-of-the-box style ideas for an event at the end of the school year. Please email any ideas to the PVO email.
- Monthly teacher appreciation (stock the breakroom) – There is a link set up on the schoolpay site. We accept any amount you are willing to donate. The teachers loved this last year and it would be nice to continue with this again.
- Greater sense of Community example; Seniors Tea / Informational sessions ect – Everyone liked the idea, just have to wait and see when we can host in person events.
- School Dances and social events. Same with dances, once we get an all clear to host this style of event, we will reach out and be in touch. Mrs. Foley did say the Senior Prom will be a go this year for at least now, hopefully nothing changes that. The PVO will oversee decorations. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Prom Coordinator.
- Immediate PVO Needs: PVO President at the Lynx Campus – I am very excited to introduce our new PVO President for the Lynx Campus – Teresa Linn. Teresa is a new parent to the OSS family with her son in grade 6. I am looking forward to working with her. Thank you Teresa, and WELCOME! Lameih, PVO President for the Elementary campus joined the meeting in the evening and we will be joining forces with her as well to create a PVO Community to share ideas, volunteers and simply help each other.
- TEAMS master to assist with monthly meetings.
- If anyone is interested in running the technical side of the monthly meetings, please feel free to email me and we can connect.
- Someone to manage the sponsor side of the festival. I will be announcing the Fall Festival Planning Committee Meetings in the upcoming PVO Monthly meetings. To have a successful Fall Festival for the 2022/2023 school year, we need to start planning and calling on Sponsors in December. More information coming soon.
- Some great ideas were shared, and we will investigate all our options and discuss in the October meeting when we have more details to share.
- The Elementary school has a Facebook page and we will be having one for the HS and Middle School as well. We had a parent volunteer to set this up and help manage it. I will be reaching out to them directly to confirm before announcing their name here. This will help keep parents informed and updated on everything going on with the PVO.
- Mary in the AM session had a fantastic idea that we will start as soon as possible, specially for next year. She recommended we set up Mentors to partner with new incoming parents. Paring together a new parent with a seasoned parent to help navigate OSS and be a point of contact for questions and begin building that community.
- Thanksgiving Baskets/Lunch
- PVO Social Media page and/or website
- ADDITIONS – Mrs. Foley reminded all of us to either get approved through ADDITIONS or get renewed before volunteering. When you go onto the website, there is not a separate OSS High School, just select the Orlando Science Middle Charter. Thank you, Mrs. Foley, for the reminder.
- Wonderful turnout in both sessions – Thank you to everyone who attended and I can wait to work with all of you.
OSS NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Hello Orca Families!
First, we would like to say thank you to parents and students for their flexibility and commitment during these unprecedented times. There have been challenges for us all, and we hope you’re in good spirits and health! Right now, we’re doing everything possible to sustain daily operations and provide a safe learning environment for students and staff.
Air Purifiers:
We would like to request donations of air purifiers for Lynx and the High School, which can be purchased and brought directly to the campus locations. Air purifiers are a great addition to our school and will provide additional protection for classrooms and walkways.
Preferred Choice for maintenance purposes:
Medify MA-25 Air Purifier with H13 True HEPA Filter
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086T3RJV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_DRHXDE2ACV1GSBC1BCW7
High School Air Purifier:
https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/High-School-Campus-Air-Purifier-/SbmTiSd
Lynx Air Purifier:
https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/Lynx-Campus-Air-Purifier-/SbyDqQvvvv
Picnic Tables:
We also would like to purchase outdoor picnic tables to help distance our students, and we will be accepting monetary donations to go toward the cost. Please make donations through our SchoolPay links:
Lynx:
https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/Lynx-Campus-Outside-Lunch-Tables/SbP029Q
High School:
https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/High-School-Campus-Outside-Lunch-Tables/Sc132LP
We want to extend our gratitude to all of the parents for helping in any way that you can, and any donations are appreciated!
Orlando Science Schools
OCTOBER LUNCH MENU
EOC/FSA PERFECT SCORES for the 2020-2021 school year!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SEPTEMBER TEACHER & SUPPORT STAFF OF THE MONTH!
Mr. Bautista
Ms. Lavoy
Congratulations to Atreya M, one of Broadcom Masters Top 30!
Finding the Best Novel, Safe, and Organic Treatment to Attract Small Hive Beetles and Improve Honey Bee Strength (Year 2 Study)
Project Background: Two years ago, while fishing with a friend and the friend’s grandfather, Atreya learned about the plight of the honeybee. Tearfully, the 80-year-old beekeeper told him about the dramatic decline of honeybees and honey production. Committed to helping, Atreya became more dedicated to finding a solution to honeybee death when he learned that bees pollinate 80% of all crops and that their decreasing numbers could affect food production worldwide. He began his research last year at the University of Florida where he studied whether protein supplements could boost bee immunity and improve their health.
Tactics and Results: Atreya focused on the small hive beetle, a predator from Africa first found in Florida 20 years ago. In large numbers, the beetles can cause bees to abandon their hives. He learned that there are two in-hive ways to get rid of the beetles; to trap them or to poison them with a chemical, which requires extreme care to protect the bees and the beekeeper. Atreya preferred the organic trap approach. So, he tested apple cider vinegar (the currently used organic option), mango puree, cantaloupe puree, active dry yeast, peanut oil, dry grape seed and beer, with an empty trap as a control. Each attractant was tested at three hives. Every week for six weeks, he collected trapped beetles and counted them in his kitchen lab. He found that the beer was 33 times more effective than the vinegar. The USDA has granted funding for him to conduct additional research on this approach next year.
Other Interests: Atreya, who holds a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, also enjoys fencing for “the adrenaline rush that comes with a swift defense or powerful attack.” Interested in the interaction of living things and their ecosystems, he hopes to change the world in “great ways” by pursuing a career in biology.
Orbits Character Corner
INITIATIVE
Initiative is the ability to begin a plan or task.
"Organization can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgement." Louis D. Brandeis
A MESSAGE FROM MS. PEREZ
10/1/21
Hello Friends!
Welcome back to Counseling Corner! This week we’ll be discussing the concept and practice of gratitude. One simple word, usually used once a year in public (November), yet has significant benefits to our lives overall. Let’s get into it!
Gratitude is a practice. It is considered as such because it is most helpful and effective when practiced daily/weekly (like training for a sport, dance, gymnastics, drawing, singing, acting etc.).
First, I’ll share with you some benefits of practicing gratitude.
· Practicing gratitude helps us disconnect from toxic, negative emotions and the ruminating that usually accompanies those emotions.
· Practicing gratitude has been linked with better sleep! It has shown to improve not only the duration of sleep but it’s quality too. This effect is heightened when gratitude is practiced within 15-20 minutes of bedtime (i.e. writing in a gratitude journal among other ideas).
· When someone expresses or receives gratitude, dopamine is released in the brain, thus leading to a connection between the behavior and feeling good! The more people practice gratitude, the more often dopamine is released.
· Practicing gratitude is linked to lower blood pressure.
· Practicing gratitude can increase self-esteem and energy, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and improve our mental and emotional health overall.
· Practicing gratitude has been shown to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation and self-harm thoughts.
· Practicing gratitude helps us even when we don’t share it with someone! We’re happier and more satisfied because we’ve completed the exercise.
· Practicing gratitude can increase feelings of connectedness with others.
· Practicing gratitude has been show to improve overall physical health, so it seems practicing gratitude can lead to practicing healthier choices for ourselves in general.
“Okay okay, we get it Ms. Perez, Gratitude is great, now what?”
I’m going to list a few different ways you can practice gratitude; it’s recommended to use these practices at least twice a week to begin seeing benefits. Obviously the more you practice, the easier it becomes, but at least 2-3 times a week is the sweet spot. You can always practice more than that though!
· Writing in a gratitude journal daily (or at least 2 to 3 times a week).
· Write a gratitude letter weekly (you can mail it if you want, but you don’t have to. Just writing it at all is helpful).
· Meditate on gratitude (you can find guided gratitude meditations on YouTube for free).
· Create visual reminders to practice gratitude (post-it notes on your mirror or wall, art pieces, small notes in your planners).
· Acknowledge yourself: Take some time to express gratitude for the things you’ve done or the things you’re proud of. It can be as simple as, “I’m grateful I made it through the day, it was tough but I did it,” or “I’m proud of myself for finishing my to-do list this week!”
BONUS: expressing gratitude for the qualities you admire about yourself can be a huge boost for your self-esteem. This can mean statements like, “I’m grateful that I’m funny,” “I’m grateful that I’m thoughtful with my family and friends,” or “I’m grateful that I can draw.”
· Practice saying “thank you,” in a meaningful way. Include what exactly you’re saying thank you for and how it makes you feel. Here’s an example: “Thank you so much for sharing my fundraising post with your family. It makes me really happy to know I have your support!”
· Write thank you notes 😊
· Make a list of the things, people, and places you are grateful for and either leave it as is or make a collage out of it. Keep the gratitude list in a place where you can easily access it in case you want to add to it or if you need a pick-me-up.
· Practice giving affirmations to people you care about (bonus points if you give them to yourself too!). An affirmation is a positive, short phrase that provides emotional support or encouragement. Here’s a few examples of affirmations: “You are so thoughtful,” “You always make me laugh,” “You always come up with the best solutions,” and, “I admire how open you are about your feelings.”
Practicing gratitude has a ton of benefits and it’s extremely easy to try. I urge you to practice gratitude in any of the ways listed above for 2 weeks, and notice how it affects your mood, your energy levels, your relationships with others, and your relationship with yourself. Ready, set, go!
And as always, I’m here if you need anything!
All the best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez's Quote of the Week
IMPORTANT PARENT RESOURCES
In an effort to reduce length and better streamline new content in our weekly newsletter, we have created a separate page for Parent Resources. This page will be available here each week, and can be accessed with one easy click. Access the link below to view:
Parent Skyward/OSS Connect Access
Parent Teacher Conference & Report Card Dates
Bell Schedule
Orange County Public School Calendar
PVO Information
Weekly Tutoring Schedule
Public Library Resources
And much more!
FOLLOW OSS MIDDLE HIGH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Orlando Science Lynx Lane Campus
Email: info@orlandoscience.org
Website: www.orlandoscience.org
Location: 2427 Lynx Lane, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407)253-7304
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandoscience/
Twitter: @OrlandoSciMH