OCT Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Pedevilla
February 3-7, 2020
(BE SURE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND READ THE OCT PTA SECTION!)
Dear OCT Families,
First, thank you to our OCT PTA and our Dads' Club for the memory-filled events they have hosted the past two weekends! The snow hill and breakfast was a blast, especially here in Texas where don't see much of the white stuff. Thank you also for the OCT Talent Show! Wow! The amount of talent our students have is amazing. The children stood in front of their peers and adults with confidence and performed with ease. We have many Tiger leaders at OCT. Thank you to the adults who work behind these scenes to provide these opportunities! We have a special community.
We have seen the flu and other illnesses at O.C. Taylor. As Nurse Katy has been saying, our district policy is to keep your child at home until they are fever and/or symptom-free for at least 24 hours without any medication. In GCISD, a temperature of 100 degrees is considered to be a fever. We have seen multiple children come back to school too early after being ill and have to go back home. Please help us to keep all healthy by following this policy. Encourage healthy habits at home to help prevent the spread of illnesses. Thank you!
Finally, please encourage your child to wear their OCT camo shirt tomorrow and the following Monday! We will be taking photos in their shirts showing our Tiger spirit!
To the BEST of days,
Principal Pedevilla
Stay Connected at O. C. Taylor Elementary School
We have a number of ways to keep in touch with our school. Be sure to read, subscribe to and join these resources to get all the latest news.
Facebook: If you’re a Facebook member be sure to join the O.C. Taylor Elementary Facebook Group to get updates in your feed. This group is meant to provide another way to get news and updates.
Website: The school’s website has the latest news, updates, and calendars, as well as general information about the school, resources for parents, volunteer opportunity information, event information and ways to donate.
Twitter: We regularly post events and upcoming news on Twitter. Follow me on Twitter: @OCTYoung and follow our hashtag #OCT4U.
Email: lisa.pedevilla@gcisd.net
Website: https://oct.gcisd.net/
Location: 5300 Pool Road, Colleyville, TX, United States
Phone: (817) 305-4870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OC-Taylor-Elementary-School-361871583888299/
Twitter: @OCTYoung
OCT Vision: To empower our children today to create a better tomorrow.
OCT Mission: To create life-long learners and develop servant leaders through authentic, real-world experiences.
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 3
Tigers, wear your Tiger shirt and jeans today!
8:15 a.m. PTA Executive Board Meeting
National School Counselors Week
Tuesday, February 4
7:50 a.m. 100th Day of School Parade
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Spring Creek BBQ, Grapevine
Wednesday, February 5
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
Thursday, February 6
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, February 7
National Go Red Day
Kids Can Dress in 50s/Sock Hop Attire for School!
Positive Proof
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Running Club
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. PTA Sock Hop
Monday, February 10
Tigers, wear your Tiger shirt and jeans today!
Tuesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 12
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. TTT
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. NEHS
Thursday, February 13
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, February 14
2:00 p.m. Class Valentine's Day Parties
Monday, February 17
Student Holiday - No School
Tuesday, February 18
Wednesday, February 19
2:55 - 3:45 Yearbook
Thursday, February 20
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
Friday, February 21
3:00 - 3:45 Running Club
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Grade Level Newsletters
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Important Links
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OCT and GCISD Updates
Assistant Principal Points from Mrs. Bailey
Welcome to February!!
These next few months will begin to feel very busy; full of learning, a variety of experiences, and upcoming testing. Our focus here at OC Taylor is on student growth and achievement. This year GCISD is utilizing AimsWeb as our Universal Screener for all students to track reading and math progress. If your child needs additional intervention supports in either area, your child's teacher will contact you. Students in grades 3-5 will have opportunities to take practice STAAR tests this month. These Interim Assessments will be administered in their classrooms on their devices. Below are the dates:
5th Math Feb. 18
5th Reading Feb. 19
3rd/4th Math Feb. 24
3rd/4th Reading Feb. 25
5th Science March 2
I look forward to supporting the students and staff during these next few months of learning and progress!
Please reach out with any questions or concerns,
Assistant Principal Bailey
(817) 305-4870
@OCTBailey
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Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
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Updates from Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
Our O. C. Taylor Tigers LOVE to read! Thank you for continuing to encourage your child to reach his or her GCISD reading goals. If you need copies of the Recording Documents for the 2019-2020 GCISD Reads challenge they can be found at https://www.smore.com/n06z7-2019-2020-gcisd-reads-challenge (scroll way down to the bottom of the page).
If you are interested in learning more about how you can help your child to read check out this article by Reading Rockets- Top 10 Things You Should Know About Reading
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/top-10-things-you-should-know-about-reading
Thank you SO much for all you do. Your precious children radiate the love you have poured into them!
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Updates from our Nurse Katy
- Battle of the tabs: I want to continue collecting aluminum tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth. Collecting tabs is a great way for all of us to really make a difference in the lives of families and children in need. The Battle of the Tabs is a competition between schools to see who can donate the most pounds of pop tabs to RMHFW. The winner will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2020. Please save all of your aluminum tabs and have your student bring them to school. I will have labeled jars for collection.
- Lions Recycle for Sight: If you have any old glasses or sunglasses, please consider donating them. The Lions Club cleans them and sorts them by prescription and then gets them to people who need them around the world! There is a donation box located in the front office.
- Donations: If you are doing Spring cleaning or shopping, I am needing a few items in the clinic. Size 4T, 5T, and 6 boys underwear. All sizes in girls shorts/pants/leggings. Thank you SO much for your help! :)
- Re-screens: I am still working on re-screening any students who failed their vision and/or hearing tests. If you see envelopes in your student's folders or backpacks, these are the referral letters. These letters need to be taken with you to the appointment, signed by the appropriate physician, and then returned to me for my records.
- If your child is sick: Please keep students at home until they are fever and/or symptom-free for at least 24 hours without any medication. In GCISD, a temperature of 100 degrees is considered to be a fever. Encourage healthy habits at home to help prevent the spread of illnesses. Washing hands with soap and water (sing Happy Birthday song or ABCs twice!) Coughing and sneezing into elbows or a Kleenex instead of hands. Not touching the face- especially the T-zone. Getting plenty of rest. Staying hydrated.
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Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night - Tues., Feb. 4
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Kids Heart Challenge (Formerly Jump Rope for Heart)
Our students will be learning all about heart disease, exercise, and healthy eating over the next few weeks, and on February 14th we will have our Kids Heart Challenge event! We hope you will join us as we work to support the American Heart Association’s mission of saving lives. Sign up through the App – search Kids Heart Challenge or online at http://www2.heart.org/goto/OCTaylorElementary.
Last year we raised over $13,000; this year we have set a goal of $14,100 to help fight heart disease! To help us reach our goal, we are taking a SLIME CHALLENGE!!! Any student who raises $150 in donations will get to SLIME COACH MESTER OR COACH MAC!!!
Check out our Heart Hero Alexa explaining more about this fun experience: https://youtu.be/mJYbsNji1QA
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Parent Tech Academy
The next Parent Tech Academy will be Hour of Code: Parent Addition. It will be hosted on February 12 from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM at the Professional Development Education Center at 5800 Colleyville Boulevard.
Come experience hands-on coding as the GCISD Instructional team brings the hour of code activities to our parents and community.
Please pre-register here so we can have enough materials for hands-on activities for everyone.
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Geography Bee
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CMS Information Night - February 18
https://www.facebook.com/colleyvillemiddlepta/
https://twitter.com/cmscoltspta?lang=en
https://www.instagram.com/cmscoltspta/?hl=en
You can also find information on our website cmscoltspta.org
In addition to these links the school also has a Facebook account, Twitter, an Instagram. It’s under Colleyville Middle School. The PTA and the school are big on communication, so like both the schools links and the PTAs links.
CMS PTA President
2019-2020
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Transportation Services Survey
Transportation Services wants to hear from our student bus riders! A student survey will be available through Classlink this week in order to gather feedback regarding their experience riding GCISD buses. If they are a bus rider, they can click on the bus icon in Classlink to complete the survey. This information will help the transportation team plan for the future and identify any trends. If your student is a bus rider, please encourage them to complete the online survey from their student device.
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Spring Interim Assessment Window February 18 - March 6
February 18- March 6
English I
English II
Grades 3-8 Math and Reading
Algebra I
Bio, Grade 5/8 Science - OPTIONAL
US HISTORY, Grade 8 Social Studies - OPTIONAL
During the window, February 18- March 6, all district-issued student CHROMEBOOKS (grades 5-8) will be placed in KIOSK mode for test security purposes. To exit KIOSK mode, students will need to hold down the CTRL-ALT-S key combination.
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Yearbook Order Information
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Doodle 4 Google 2020
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O.C. Taylor Staff Shout-Outs
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GCISD Holding Inaugural Career Expo, February 5th
All middle and high school students are invited to GCISD’s inaugural Career Expo on February 5. Additionally, the District is looking for local professionals to participate.
Sign-Up Form for Professionals
GCISD will host its inaugural Career Expo on Wednesday, February 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Grapevine High School. All GCISD secondary students and families are invited to this event, and local professionals are asked to sign up and be a part of the event. The event is organized by GCISD DECA (a Career and Technical Student Organization) and GCISD CTE (Career and Technical Education) students.
Information for Students
Join fellow students and families for a night filled with many activities geared at preparing you for a successful career. Students will have the opportunity to speak with professionals from various industries about careers and educational pathways.
The expo will also include breakout sessions that explore entrepreneurship, employability skills human resource professionals value, and dressing for success presented by Men’s Warehouse.
Additionally, GCISD Career and Technical Education will host an open house for students and parents to learn about the programs offered to high school students at the Technology Education and Career Center (TECC).
Information for Professionals
GCISD DECA and GCISD CTE are seeking individuals and businesses to host informational tables to educate students about different career pathways and opportunities. To take part in this special event, please complete this short sign-up form.
Each presenter will be provided with a 6-foot table and two chairs and will be separated into career pathways to share information about careers, education required, certifications, job perks, interactive demos, summer job, and internship opportunities.
It’s not always easy for students to connect their daily core classes, electives, and extracurricular activities with possible jobs and career paths of the future. We believe that the more we expose our students to the many different trades, jobs, and careers that are available, the better informed they’ll be to set goals towards them.
We would like to ask professionals in our community to share their knowledge and expertise with all of our students!
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You're Invited! Thursday, February 13th
GES PTA invites you to a presentation by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an adults only PTA program on Thursday, February 13 at Grapevine Elementary from 6:30pm-8pm.
This presentation is for parents, educators, and any professionals working with children discussing the apps and websites kids are using, how to identify warning signs of kids engaged in risky behaviors online, and how to discuss appropriate online behavior with kids. Topics include cyberbullying, sexting, sharing too much information online, online privacy, and abduction prevention.
Please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/internet-safety-for-parents-grapevine-pta-tickets-86943730037.
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Take Care of Texas Art Contest, by March 6th
2020 Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest (Elementary Only)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Chemical Council are excited to kick off the 2020 Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest. Sixteen students—and one lucky teacher—will win a tablet or laptop! Prizes are provided by Texas Chemical Council.
To enter, K-5th grade students should create a unique piece of artwork portraying the positive ways people can Take Care of Texas by keeping the air and water clean, conserving water and energy, and reducing waste. You can see the winning artwork from previous years.
All entries must be postmarked on or before March 6, 2020 to be eligible. Please read our contest rules and complete the entry form to return with the artwork. Winners will be announced on April 15, 2020.
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Math Telescoping Exams (Elementary and Middle School), opens February 14th
Testing opportunities for telescoping in math for the 2020-2021 school year are available in the spring and summer for GCISD students who are completing Grades K - 7.
The Math Telescoping Information Packet will be available on the district website under the For Parents and Students Directory by selecting the link for Acceleration Exams, Math Telescoping, Grades K - 7.
Parents will find information about the requirements to qualify for Math Telescoping and instructions about the TWO STEP Online Registration Process. There will be links to print the Information Packet, begin the TWO STEP Online Registration Process to register for the spring exams, view the TEKS on the TEA website, and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from UT-Austin.
The online registration form will go live on February 14th for the April 18th test administration.
The online registration form will go live on May 4th for the June 17th test administration.
The exam dates and registration deadlines for each exam date are listed below:
Spring Exam Date: Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 9:00 am | Colleyville Middle School
Online Registration Opens – Spring Exam Date: February 14, 2020
Online Registration Deadline – Spring Exam Date: March 2, 2020
The online registration form will not be available on March 3, 2020
Exam Fee Payment Deadline – Spring Exam Date: March 3, 2020
Summer Exam Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 9:00 am | Colleyville Middle School
Online Registration Opens – Summer Exam Date: May 4, 2020
Online Registration Closes – Summer Exam Date: May 18, 2020
The online registration form will not be available on May 19, 2020
Exam Fee Payment Deadline – Summer Exam Date: May 19, 2020
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LEAP into Wellness, Feb. 29
Join us for a Safety, Health and Wellness Conference geared towards students of all ages and families on February 29. Please view the flyer for more information.
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GCISD Walk of Honor, by Apr. 30
The GCISD Walk of Honor seeks to identify and recognize individuals who have become an important part of the GCISD story. Anyone may complete a nomination form and submit the required documents to the Walk of Honor Selection Committee. Each fall, new honorees are honored at a recognition event, and a permanent display of all honorees is housed at Mustang Panther Stadium in the Walk of Honor area. Nominations for next year’s class of honorees are now being accepted. The deadline to submit a nomination for consideration is April 30, 2020. Please visit the Nominate page for details.
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GET TO KNOW THE O.C. TAYLOR STAFF
OCT 2nd Grade Team
Mrs. Jessica Martin
Her greatest strength as a teacher is differentiating her instruction to meet the needs of her individual students. She is always learning more about the profession and was selected by GCISD to be a part of our VALOR program to observe other teachers and learn more about teaching effectiveness. Her greatest accomplishment has been being a Teacher of the Year nominee.
She loves authentic Mexican food, especially street tacos! Mrs. Martin's unique hobby is backpacking around the U.S. One cool fact about Mrs. Martin is she has been fortunate enough to have traveled to five different continents!
She lives in Grapevine with her husband and two daughters, a 5th grader and one born in December! She is on maternity leave with her baby and will return soon. If she were a cookie, she would be a Snickerdoodle because she is sweet like sugar loves to draw and doodle.
She is currently rereading Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. We often talk about the growth mindset at O.C. Taylor!
If she could have a superhero power, she would like to be able to fly! Well, you fly to us, Mrs. Martin!
Ms. Ashley Pettit
Ms. Ashley Pettit
Her greatest strength as a teacher is building relationships with her students and encouraging them to use a growth mindset! Instead of saying, "I can't do it," she teaches her students to say, "I can't do it YET!"
She has an adorable two-year-old daughter named who is full of spunk and sass! She is a little mini-me of Ms. Pettit!
Turquoise is her favorite color because it is soothing and reminds her of the ocean.
Currently Mrs. Pettit finds herself reading every night with her daughter. Her current favorite is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Her advice to O.C. Taylor parents is, "Enjoy every moment because it goes by way too fast!" I could not agree more. These are the BEST of days!
Her favorite school memory growing up is when she dressed up as Princess Diana in the wax museum in 3rd grade. Her favorite food is pizza because there are so many options!
We are thankful to have Ms. Pettit at OCT!
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United States 2020 Census
The 2020 Census is closer than you think! The census counts every person living in the U.S. once, only once and in the right place. It's mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2: The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790. For more information and how to complete the census, visit 2020census.gov.
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School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
We think your kids are..... G-G-G-G-reat!
Sock Hop - THIS Friday night! February 7th
Volunteers for Sock Hop Needed!
Does your teenager need volunteer hours? We would love to have teenage volunteers at the Sock Hop Friday night.
Please see the Sign-Up Genius for what we need.
O.C. Taylor Talent Show
We had two incredible performances, filled with so much talent from so many of our 3rd - 5th Grade Tigers, this past Friday, of our O.C. Taylor Talent Show! Thank you to our staff, who surprised our kids in the morning performance and the audience in the evening performance, with an entertaining skit!
We also want to thank Liz Payne and Stephanie Wilkerson who take on the role of Talent Show Coordinators, in addition to their officer positions on the PTA Executive Board! This talent show takes many hours to put together, and the success of this show is because of their hard work, their dedication, many long hours and their love and devotion for our kids! They truly enjoy watching them work on their talents, so thank you to Liz and Stephanie for putting this show together!
Also, thank you to Lindsay Harrison for hours and hours spent on the "Tigerbill" program and to Alison Williams for cutting all of the music for each act. Thank you also to Dino and Cristina DiFabio for running the Concession Stand during the show to benefit our 5th Grade Continuation.
This show couldn't come together without the work of so many individuals, so thank you!!
Show Some LOVE - February 13th - Staff Appreciation Event!
Happy February, O.C. Taylor parents!
Help us show our OCT teachers and staff some LOVE with some delicious treats!
This is one of the staff's favorite events, as we treat them to a buffet of yummy chocolates and other sweets and treats to enjoy throughout the day.
Please sign up to bring an item for our wonderful staff. Also, please list what your item will be so that we have a variety.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4DA8A72CABFF2-welove
Please drop off your treats between 7:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2020 in the front office.
Thank you,
Juanita Priesand
512-573-3282
New Online Directory!
The PTA is very excited to launch our NEW online class directory and app. We are using the software from Membership Toolkit. Parents are asked to create an account and enter your information for your children. You are allowed to designate what information is seen by others (address, phone numbers, emails), and you can edit your own information at any time. Information on setting up an account is included in the below link, and printed directions will go home next week.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jbI60Fjp8kTIn9v94fkuCbQoFkMofPEX/view?usp=sharing
Sara Stricherz, Paw Prints Directory Chair
Grace Food Drive - Second Graders!
CALLING ALL SECOND GRADERS…
DO YOU WANT EXTRA RECESS?
FEBRUARY is your month SECOND GRADE
ITEMS IN NEED: MAC-n-CHEESE
GRACE is in need of some good ole Mac-n-Cheese. As soon as these boxes hit the shelves, it is gone. Collection baskets will be outside the 2nd Grade Classrooms and will stay there until the end of February! The next time you are in the grocery store, please consider supporting your community by picking up a box of Macaroni and Cheese. Thank you in advance for your support.
Dads' Club Golf Tournament February 28th!
Registration is open - $400 per foursome or $100 for individual player.
Holes are available to purchase for sponsorship! For more information, please contact Brad Haga, Dads' Club Golf Tournament Chair at brad.carlton.haga@gmail.com.
Registration includes cart rental, lunch, dinner, raffle tickets. Signup link here.
Game On - Thursday February 27th
Game On is Thursday, February 27th from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the CMS South Gym! This is such a fun event! Purchase your child’s spot to play in the Second Chance Auction. Students in PreK through 2nd grade will play fun games of Trash Your Neighbor's Yard, and the 3rd through 5th graders will face off in games of Newcomb! Do you have a 6th-8th grade student who wants to come back and challenge their favorite OCT teacher?!?! Purchase a spot for them in the alumni game! We hope to see you there.
Box Tops
It's a new semester, so we're starting a new Racing to Recess Challenge. New collection bags will be sent home this week. Keep clipping those Box Tops when you see them. If you haven't already, be sure to download the Box Tops App so that you can scan your receipts and earn money for our school instantly! We're only a little more than $250 away from raising $1000 in Box Tops this year!!
AMAZON SMILE
Be sure to shop smileamazon.com so that .5% of all your purchases will go to the OC Taylor PTA. Log on to smileamazon.com and select PTA Texas Congress 1610 O C Taylor Elementary as your preferred charity. It's an amazingly easy way to earn money for our school!! Remember, you must log on to smileamazon.com every time you shop Amazon to ensure that your purchases earn money for our school.
Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program
You can now earn money for our school simply by shopping for groceries at Tom Thumb or Albertson's! Designate O.C. Taylor PTA as your organization by completing a Reward Application at any courtesy booth. Fill in the top portion and the "Good Neighbor Program" section, indicating account number 8332 to link your grocery purchases to O.C. Taylor. If you already have a Rewards Card, simply stop by a courtesy desk to link our school to your existing account. Pharmacy, fuel, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products do not count toward the purchase amount credited to the Good Neighbor Program accounts. 1% of all eligible purchases made at Tom Thumb & Albertson's will be given back to our school! So far this year we've raised over $70 for our school just by shopping for groceries!
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Stay Connected at O. C. Taylor Elementary School
We have a number of ways to keep in touch with our school. Be sure to read, subscribe to and join these resources to get all the latest news.
Facebook: If you’re a Facebook member be sure to join the O.C. Taylor Elementary Facebook Group to get updates in your feed. This group is meant to provide another way to get news and updates.
Website: The school’s website has the latest news, updates, and calendars, as well as general information about the school, resources for parents, volunteer opportunity information, event information and ways to donate.
Twitter: We regularly post events and upcoming news on Twitter. Follow me on Twitter: @OCTYoung and follow our hashtag #OCT4U.