OVCA Middle School Bison Blast
August 2017
In this issue...
Checkout our New Website
Upcoming Events
Help Desk is OPEN!
Gifted and Talented Info Session
Getting Started Help
Learning Coach and Student Resources
A Message from the Principal, Mrs. Powell
Dear OVCA Families,
Welcome back to school! Summer has flown by and we’re so excited to have you join us for a new school year. I know you are excited to begin the school year and have committed to doing your very best this school year.
Our school theme this year is Oh, the Places You’ll Go! I am very excited to watch you GROW as this year progresses! One thought- you will get out of this year what you put into this year so commit with us to do everything you can to help yourself be the best YOU!
Teachers have begun contacting student to welcome them back to school and answer questions. Each teacher is busy calling—so be patient as they work their class list. August 14-18 will be BISON BLAST-OFF WEEK! Monday -Friday, teachers will hold daily Welcome Sessions for students and families. We will be working on a slower schedule this week so PLEASE plan to attend WOL live! They will be offered twice daily as we encourage every family to attend live. We want you to get started out GREAT and knowing what to do is the first step in this process.
OVCA will also be hosting a LIVE Help Desk this year. It will be open each school day between August 7th-Sept 15th from 12:00pm-2:00pm. The link to enter the online Help Desk is in your Class Connect session list each day.
Materials – these will be shipping soon if they haven’t already done so. If you are new to our school, you may have a slight delay as hundreds of shipments are being sent during this busy time. Remember, our school system can function without books and materials so you can be ready to start school August 14th with or without materials. Many courses do not have materials. Please check your dashboard for items that will ship. These shipments come directly from k12 warehouses, not our OVCA office. Please call customer service at 1.866.512.2273 for questions about your shipments.
Remember--The first day of school is August 14. On this day all students will need to log into their student account, attend a welcome to online learning live course and complete assignments in that course. I have attached a school calendar to help you plan your year.
Week of August 14-18- Welcome to online learning sessions- held twice daily- you attend one live session daily and complete assignment from that course.
Week of August 21-25- All students will attend live orientation sessions in courses at the same time. A cc schedule is attached.
Week of August 28-Sept 1- Students individualized cc schedules will be sent the week of August 21 by teachers. These schedules will be based on data we receive from readiness assessments, last year’s grades, engagement in WOL sessions, etc.
Looking forward to a great school year,
Mrs. Powell
MS Principal
405.259.9478 ext 2034
Upcoming Events
August 25: Tech Help Day
In-person computer help at libraries across the state. Watch student email for details.
September 22: Regional Outings
Woolaroc Museum in Bartlesville; Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid; Wildlife Expo in Guthrie; Chaddick Park in McAlester; Greer Park in Lawton; Broken Arrow Roller Sports in Broken Arrow; Virtual Field Trip online
October 6: Meet the Teacher Day
Mohawk Park in Tulsa, OK
November 3: Regional STEM Showcase and Rubik’s Cube Competition
Bartlesville Public Library, Enid library, OKC Metro Public Library, Ada Public Library, Lawton Public Library, Hardesty Library in Tulsa
*A full Calendar of Events will be sent in email in the next couple of weeks and will be posted to okvirtual.net website.
Hope you will plan to join us for some fun at our outings this year!
Check out our new website!
Have you had a chance to check out the awesome new OVCA Website? www.okvirtual.net
You can find some great information here and even log directly into the online school. Check out things like school calendars, purchase spirit wear, parent resources, and more. If you have ideas for improving the website feel free to email Nicole Ellison at nellison@okvirtual.org with yours ideas!
Wonder where to get started with your classes?
This video provides an overview of the Online School Platform for Middle School and High School Students!
https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/ka90B000000kA1mQAE/Online-Middle-and-High-School-Tour
Attention: Use Firefox Browser
For the best user experience, we recommend accessing your online classes using the Mozilla Firefox browser. To download the most recent version of Firefox, please visit: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/.
UPDATED Help Videos for you!
Blackboard Collaborate Download_UPDATED!
Audio Set Up for Class Connect _ UPDATED!
OVCA Help Desk is Open!
Our LIVE Help Desk is open every school day from August 7th-September 15th
Link to session is in your Class Connect sessions list or use the link below.
Elementary: 10am-12pm
Middle School: 12pm-2pm
High School: 2pm-4pm
1-866-512-2273
Course Questions?
Contact your teacher by phone or email
Preparing for iReady Readiness Assessment
Attention OVCA families!! Your student will be taking the readiness assessment in iReady. This diagnostic assessment helps staff know what skills your child has mastered as well as skills that can be worked on this school year. In preparation of this assessment, we ask you take a few minutes to ensure your Internet browser will work with the iReady program. If you use Google Chrome on Windows, Chromebooks, or a MAC device, please continue with the below directions to adjust your Adobe Flash. It is imperative that this update is done before your child begins the iReady assessment next week. All other browsers are set up correctly and are ready for iReady next week.
*****************Critical Flash Settings for i-Ready*****************
Due to upcoming changes to the way browsers handle Adobe Flash, we are proactively making districts/schools aware of the necessary setting(s) needed to run Flash content in i-Ready.
The following document explains the settings needed to run Flash in Chrome on Windows, Chromebooks, and MAC devices (the document is also attached to this email):
http://www.curriculumassociates.com/FlashGuide
The settings/configurations in the guide above are 100% critical/required for this coming school year.
If you need any support in adjusting these settings, our customer support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can be reached at 866-512-2273. If you have any additional questions please let us know. Have a great weekend!!
OVCA Learning Coach Connections - Find us on Facebook
Click here to request to join the group.
•Open to all current OVCA Learning Coaches grades Kindergarten – 12th grade
•Share your tips for successfully schooling at home in a positive environment
•Please include your students grade level in your posts. There is a progression of learning through the grade levels so each school has different requirement to meet the needs of students.
•Contact your student’s teacher if you have specific questions or concerns about courses and grades. They are the BEST source for those answers.
Gifted & Talented Info Session
On Tuesday, Aug. 22nd at 10:00 am, Mrs. Conder will be holding a virtual information session regarding the gifted and talented program. She will be discussing how a student is identified as gifted or talented and the enrichment opportunities available for students in the GT program at OVCA.
To attend the session on Aug. 22, click here.
Calling all LC’s! Check out Wednesday Workshops! You will NOT regret it!
OVCA understands learning the “how to” of virtual schooling is not easy for everyone! We also understand LC’s need a community to learn and talk to one another. Therefore, we offer WEEKLY sessions for Learning Coach’s to come connect and discuss a variety of topics. (High School students are invited to attend also) These are every Wednesday school is in session from 4-5pm. These are online in the Blackboard Connect classroom and the links can be found under the links for the Learning Coach.
Check out this video to understand more about Wednesday Workshops and why we should see YOU there weekly this year! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVP0Eq6uw2I
If you have questions or need the link emailed to you please email Nicole Ellison, nellison@okvirtual.org
Upcoming Topics:
August
08/23/2017 Setting Up A School Space
08/30/2017 Creating a Schedule/Time Management
September
09/06/2017 Computer Basics
09/13/2017 Help! 9-1-1 Being an LC is not easy!
09/20/2017 How to Get to Know Other OVCA Families
09/27/2017 Creating a Schedule/Time Management/Managing Long Days
OVCA Military Co-Op
OVCA offers additional support to our students who are connected to the military. If you have access to Tinker Air Force Base, please contact the coordinator Christine Nichols at cnichols@k12.com.
Got Box Tops?
Help us earn Bonus Box Tops between now and August 31st!
When you buy five Box Tops for Education products between 8/1/17-8/31/17 and scan your receipt with the Box Tops Bonus App, you automatically earn 50 bonus Box Tops - that's $5 for our school!
Click here for more info on the app
If you don't have the app, you can mail you box tops to the office or bring them to one of our outings. We appreciate your support!
OVCA Office
Box Tops- Attention: Sondra Callaway
1160 S. Douglas Blvd.
Midwest City, OK 73130
Share the Love
Sharing is easier than ever! With one click, let everyone know how much you love online schooling with K12. Share today!
Keep your Computer Running Smoothly
Resources just for you!
OFFICE 365 SET-UP
Click Here To Download Office 365 (Free) and Set Up Your Student Email Account.
Learning Coach Resources: https://www.help.k12.com/s/topic/0TOU00000000jxEOAQ/Learning%20Coach%20Resources#?tabset-26361=2
Troubleshooting Support:
Class Connect Support:
https://www.help.k12.com/s/topic/0TOU00000000jx2OAA/Class%20Connect%20Support#?tabset-26361=2
School Email Support:
https://www.help.k12.com/s/topic/0TOU00000000jx3OAA/School%20Email%20Support#?tabset-26361=2
K12 National Online Clubs
K12’s ’17-’18 Club signup is set to launch on August 16th. A mass email will be sent out to families announcing the opening of club signups, and announcements will be placed. Families can find the list of clubs and signup links by visiting www.k12.com/k12-student-clubs.
For a flyer of all the national clubs being offered this school year visits: http://www.k12.com/content/dam/k12/sites/default/files/pdf/K12_National_Clubs_17-18.pdf
A few points of reminder about national clubs:
· National Club sessions will not begin until September 18th
· National Club sessions will appear on the student Events schedule with other Class Connect sessions
· National Club teachers will send emails approximately 1 week in advance of the club session to let students and families know when to watch for the scheduled session
· In the beginning it may take up to 4 weeks to hear from their club leaders
· Families can email clubs@k12.com for questions regarding clubs
· Grade ranges are closely observed
Notification of Language Assistance Services
Any parent/legal guardian who is limited in speaking, writing, or reading English may request the school to provide access to services such as interpreter and/or translated documents. To request services please email or call the ELL Coordinator, Nicole Ellison, at nellison@okvirtual.org or 405.259.9478 ext. 2064. Nicole Ellison will coordinate prompt access for the parent/legal guardian to the appropriate services and/or translator service.
Parents Right to Know
At the beginning of each school year each Title I school must notify parents of students that they can request information regarding their child’s teacher, including, at a minimum:
(1) whether the teacher has met the state requirements for licensure and certification for the grade levels and subject-matters in which the teacher provides instruction; and
(2) whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or their provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
(3) the college major and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree; and
(4) whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.
In addition, each Title I school must provide each parent timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.
To receive any of this information please contact Nicole Ellison, Title I Coordinator, at nellison@okvirtual.org
OVCA is proud to provide your student the best possible educational experiences. OVCA strives to recruit the most qualified, experienced, and passionate educators to work with our students. All teachers employed at OVCA for the SY17-18 are highly qualified as defined by the State Department of Oklahoma. For more information regarding highly qualified criteria or other public school related matters you may go to the Oklahoma State Department website at http://ok.gov/sde/.
Sincerely,
Nicole Ellison
Title I Coordinator
405-259-9478 ext. 2064
Important Information about Special Education Services
Click here for information on Special Education Services at OVCA.
Please complete this Child Find Survey for Special Education
To reach all families, this information has been sent through multiple avenues, however you only need to complete it once.
2017-2018 Academic Calendar
K12 Customer Support
K12 Customer Support https://www.help.k12.com/s/
or call 866-512-2273
Find us on Facebook
Click here to request to join the OVCA Learning Coach Connections group.