FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
OVCA High School ~ October 9th, 2020
Hello families!
I hope you are finding joy in the lovely fall temperatures that are upon us. Between football, pumpkins, and cooler temperatures, fall is my most favorite season! Along with enjoying the fall festivities, we have some exciting items coming up this month. We have our interim in USA Test Prep, which will be mimic state assessments. (As of now, state testing is on as scheduled, though we will update families as soon as we receive further guidance from the State Department of Education.) We also have Fall Break and Parent-Teacher Conferences around the corner.
Please be aware that the Sunday concluding Fall Break (10/18) is a late date checkpoint. All assignments that are teacher-graded, including labs, essays, CC quizzes, and discussion boards will be closed 10/18 at 11:59 pm. Students should be following the daily plan, checking their grade books, and attending their live sessions with teachers. Communication is key, so when struggles arise, please do not hesitate to reach out for more help!
As the learning coach, please take the time to sit with your student to look at grades and the grade book for each class. If there are any zeroes, please go back to complete those missing items. If you need help with navigation, reach out to your teacher or attend an office hour. We are here to help you.
Also, below you will see a staff directory. Please save and print this document so you have all extensions available to you to reach staff.
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
11/2 & 11/5 6-8pm, 11/6 8am-noon Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/6 No School
Mrs. Allison Miller
OVCA High School Principal
Interim Coming Up - Save the Date!
How to talk to your kids about bullying
By Joy A. Hermansen, M.ED., CPS
Certified Prevention Specialist
Bullying has become a public health epidemic affecting 1 out of 7 K-12 students who are bullies or victims of bullying. In the United States that equals more than 2 million bullies and 2.7 million victims of bullying in our schools.
Studies indicate that bullying peaks during the middle school years because it is one of the most difficult transitional times for students.
Here is a great resource from Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center geared toward this vulnerable age. It is written directly to the student regarding prevention in real-life terms.
As school begins, use this resource as a talking point to discuss bullying and what students can realistically do about it. The guide is designed from the students’ perspective and uses best practices in effective bullying prevention.
Click here for the resource guide to 101 Basics of Bullying for Students in Middle School and High School.
For more information please visit our OSDE website here or email me.
Check out OVCA Clubs!
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:
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.
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
Staff Member of the Month Survey Link
Show Support, Give a Shout-Out, and Vote for Staff Member of the Month
2020 K12 Photo Contest
The 2020 K12 photo contest is now open for submissions!
Winning photos will be featured on your online school’s homepage. The contest is open to all school employees and students ages 13 and up. The top six school employee and student submissions will win a $50 Amazon gift card. There will be an additional three school employees and student honorable mentions awarded a $30 Amazon gift card.
Please visit https://www.thedesignsystem.com/k12_photo_contest/2020/ to submit your photo.
Submissions will be closed on Oct 23rd. May the best photo win!
Check out your grad plan each semester!
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.
ACT FEE WAIVERS AVAILABLE FOR OVCA STUDENTS!
Any Junior or Senior that qualifies for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program is also eligible to receive an ACT Fee Waiver for up to 2 tests. This is separate from the above mentioned waivers. Students should email their school counselor for more information regarding the Free/Reduced Lunch ACT Waivers.
Any Native American student in grades 10, 11, or 12 may also qualify for an ACT fee waiver or reimbursement. Students should contact their specific tribal office for more information.
The ACT is offered nationally multiple times per year. The National ACT takes place on a Saturday, typically from 8am-12pm. There are various test locations around the state. To register for the National ACT, students need to visit www.act.org to create an account. During the registration process, you will be able to select the test date and test location of your choice. Fee Waiver Codes are entered on the payment screen during the registration process.
*The National ACT is separate from the State ACT that is required for all 11th graders in the State of Oklahoma for graduation. The State ACT is scheduled to happen in April 2021 pending any changes mandated by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
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
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
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.
Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy
Email: almiller@okvirtual.org
Website: okvirtual.net
Location: 1160 South Douglas Boulevard, Midwest City, OK, USA
Phone: 405-259-9478
Ready, Set, Grow
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.