Orlando Science Schools Lynx Campus
Issue 30
Weekly Newsletter: April 4, 2020
Principal's Corner
Dear Orca Families and Students,
Congratulations on completing the first week of Distance Learning! I would like to remind everyone that we, as OSS family, should bound each other and work together to overcome every difficulty. Your school is here to support you and help you in any way.
Before you go to the important items, reminders and the exciting news of this week. I would like to remind our students and parents about the Distance Learning checklist. Your perseverance and dedication to education play a key factor in your success as much as your teachers and school.
Orcas, please remember that,
-Have login information to all online resources, OSS Connect, MicrosoftTeams.
-Download all essential software and applications
-Prepare your individual schedule based upon the school’s given sample schedule
-Obtain your teachers Office Hours and Pre-recorded or Live Virtual Class sessions
-Familiarize yourself with all online resources and develop a self-paced study habit based upon the virtual class and office hours
-Adjust yourself to follow the new daily schedule created by yourself and/or parents
-Learn your daily routines and adjust yourself according to your teachers’ expectations
-Follow the Student Code of Conduct and online civility.
Parents, please try to accommodate the following steps for your students.
-Create a daily schedule you and your student can follow to keep your day organized
-Get familiar with your student’s course schedule and teachers’ office hours.
-Provide a meaningful learning environment for your student during individual study times, especially pre-recorded or live virtual class sessions and teachers’ office hours.
-Dedicate a time every day for a family meeting to discuss concerns, wins, plans — and just to bond and have fun!
-Adjust to your new role as a LEARNING COACH for your students.
-Setting up technology for your students to have a productive distance learning experience and help them become familiar with the technology if needed.
-Reach out to your teachers and school should you need help or support during Distance Learning
During the break, we continue to receive great college acceptance results from our seniors. Please join me congratulate Class of 2020 seniors’ college acceptances and their scholarships. Welcome to see more information below.
Please take time and review your entire newsletter with updates and important information. I believe that every student and parent will continue taking initiatives in their learnings and work collaboratively with their teachers! Have a great day and stay safe Orcas!
It's great to be proud Orca!
Respectfully,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed
Principal
Orlando Science Schools-Middle/High
Follow OSS MH on Social Media
Dear Parents and Students,
The Florida Commissioner of Education has announced that schools will be closed through at least May 1st. Education for all students has begun through distance learning and will continue until at least May 1st. Please make sure your student access every course in OSS Connect every day, follow their teacher-led schedules, ask questions to their teachers during available office hours, and complete their assignments given through OSS Connect.
Our Distance Learning Student Code of Conduct has been shared with parents and students through Microsoft Forms. It is also linked below for your reference. Please review the document with your students and make sure they understand the new Distance Learning Student Code of Conduct and Netiquette. All students receiving distance learning are subject to the OSS Student Code of Conduct and any applicable OCPS policies and Code of Conduct.
As an online student, there are additional rules and expectations regarding proper distance learning conduct and etiquette, which are in place to protect all students, teachers, and staff. Distance learning resources must be used in a responsible, safe, efficient, ethical, and legal manner. With access to distance learning materials, and responsible use, these educational tools will be highly effective. We appreciate partnering with parents to teach responsible internet use and distance learning responsibilities. Please review the below link and sign “Orlando Science Schools-Distance Learning Behavior Guidelines and Student Code of Conduct” by Wednesday, April 8th.
We will overcome these challenges as we work together. You can reach out your campus phones Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. should you have any questions or inquiries. We will all work together to ensure that our children’s education will continue.
DL Attendance
Dear Parents and Students,
Thank you for your continued support during our transition time to our distance learning platform. OSS Connect is still our primary platform for digital learning and we are using MicrosoftTeams as a platform to allow for pre-recorded/live sessions and teacher office hour sessions.
Students enrolled in Distance Learning must meet compulsory attendance requirements. During this period of school closures and the implementation of Distance Learning, schools and districts are reminded by the Florida Department of Education that we are required to take attendance, per Florida Statute. A period by period attendance must be taken for the secondary school (Grades 6-12) per FL Statue as well.
The purpose of this memo is to clear up some of the questions about attendance. Students should still be attending all seven of their classes each day, by accessing each of their class pages on OSS Connect between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday. It is imperative that your students check their OSS Connect courses daily as teachers will be posting their announcements, assignments, and other pertinent information on their pages.
The first period survey link that is located in your student’s homeroom classes is a way for the school administration to ensure that students are checking in and will allow for us to easily track who is attending virtual school during the first week of the Distance Learning. Starting from Monday, April 6th, students will NOT complete this form. They will continue to check in by accessing their OSS-Connect courses, following their regular school day course schedules.
If you need assistance during this transition time, you may e-mail DL@orlandoscine.org for technical assistance or your campus administrators.
We thank you for your understanding, support, and patience during this transition. We will continue to monitor communication from the Florida Department of Education and inform our students and parents accordingly.
Sincerely,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed.
DL Student Sample Schedule
OSS Families: Consider putting in place a schedule for your student, see the sample schedule below for guidance and modify it to suit your student's needs. A schedule is an important part of establishing a healthy routine in this new distance learning experience.
OSS EVENT CANCELLATIONS 2020
Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School will continue to follow the guidance and best practices of Orange County Public Schools regarding the threat of COVID-19. OCPS has developed a Coronavirus Disease 2020 (COVID-19) information page located at the below link.
In accordance with the best practices, the following OSS events have been cancelled:
Prom
GradBash
GradVenture
At this time, 8th and 12th grade graduations are still scheduled. We will keep all of our families up to date as local authorities make decisions for large gatherings.
We are so sorry for any disappointment this causes our students, however their health and safety are our utmost priority. We will continue to communicate changes and new information as quickly as possible.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING
We hope all of our Orca families are well and safe. In preparation for Distance Learning to begin on Monday, March 30th, here are three internet resources to help ensure everyone has access to the internet:
Xfinity hotspots are available for FREE, click here for the interactive map: https://wifi.xfinity.com/
AT&T: https://m.att.com/shopmobile/internet/access/
Spectrum/Charter: https://www.spectrum.com/b…/content/spectrum-internet-assist
FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING
Florida Commissioner Fried activated the Summer BreakSpot text line & call center for families in need of free meals for kids under 18 during COVID-19.
OSS families can find support via:
- text "FLKIDSMEALS" to 211-211
- call 2-1-1 to speak with live operator 24 hours/day
- visit http://SummerBreakSpot.FreshFromFlorida.com
Hello Friends!
Welcome back to Counseling Corner! Today, I’ll be sharing some tips to help you sleep. I know dealing with all the stress of the times can affect sleep in a negative way. If that’s you, then read below for 4 helpful hints for better sleep.
- Clear your space:
Your space for sleeping should NOT be the space where you do homework, read, eat, watch tv, play video games, etc. Your sleeping space should be just that: your space for sleep. It’s been scientifically proven that doing non-sleep activities in bed weakens the association you have between your bed and sleep. For example, if you take work phone calls from the comfort of your bed, you may find it harder to sleep there because over time you will associate your sleeping space with waking activities. If you use your bed for sleep only, you are more likely to fall asleep faster once you get into your bed.
- Reconsider how you think about falling asleep:
If you lay in bed for hours and think to yourself, “Great, now I only have 5 hours before I have to wake up,” or “Ugh, I’m never going to fall asleep,” or “Tomorrow, I have to do laundry, 4 assignments, call that person back, etc,” then you’re allowing yourself to become frustrated, anxious, mad, or even disappointed. Normally I would say you have a right to your feelings, however, in this case, those feelings aren’t very conducive to helping you fall asleep easily. If you find yourself in bed and thinking about these kinds of things, GET UP. Seriously, get up and do some relaxing or mindless activity until you feel tired, such as reading, coloring, making tea, make a to-do list of the things you’re worried about, etc. Don’t do anything with a backlit screen though, that will just activate your mind more. When you’re sleepy again, then go to bed.
- Sleep Restriction:
If you’re one of those people who gets in bed at one time but doesn’t fall asleep until hours later, this one is for you! Set your bed time for the time you ACTUALLY fall asleep and do not get into bed until that time comes (for example, if you get in bed at 11pm and don’t fall asleep until 12:30am, now only get in bed at 12:30am). This causes you to be fully tired before getting into bed, making it easier to fall asleep quickly. Once you have about a week of going to bed at that time, push up your time by a half hour or so, and then aim to be asleep by that new time for a week or two. This trains your body to associate your bed with being completely tired or worn out. Do this until you find yourself falling asleep at the time you need to (i.e. 11pm).
- Restrict Screen Access:
There are studies showing that phone screens, TV screens and laptop screens are not helpful to use before going to bed. This is because the blue light emitted from the screens tell your brain not to fall asleep yet, it’s time to be awake. Refrain from using a phone or laptop for the last 30 minutes before you go to bed. For example, if you plan to go to bed at 10pm, at 9:30pm set your alarm, put your phone on the charger, and then go do something that doesn’t require your phone. This could be showering, brushing your teeth, drinking a cup of tea, meditating, reading, journaling, drawing, washing dishes, writing in your gratitude journal, etc. At 10pm, make your way to bed, and enjoy the sleep!
Thanks for visiting Counseling Corner and as always, let me know if you have any questions!
Wishing you all the best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez's Quote of the Week
DOWNLOAD THE NEW OSS APP FOR ANDROID AND APPLE
Orlando Science Middle/High has a new mobile app! It is currently available in the App Store® and in Google Play®. You can download the app for free, for access to our school's news, calendars, volunteer opportunities, push notifications and much more!
Download for Free - visit your tablet or smartphone's storefront and search for "Orlando Science Schools"
- For Android, visit Google Play
- For Apple iOS, visit the and App Store or iTunes
If you have any questions or feedback please email info@orlandoscience.org.
2019-2020 YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDERS L. FOR WINNING 3RD PLACE IN THE "IF I WERE ELECTED MAYOR" CONTEST!
The "If I Were Elected Mayor" contest is sponsored by the Florida League of Cities and Florida League of Mayors. The contest was open statewide to all 7th graders in a Florida school.
There were more than 250 essays submitted across the state. From that number, the judges selected OSS student, Anders' essay.
As the third-place winner, Anders will receive a $25 gift card, as well as a joint resolution from the Florida League of Cities and the Florida League of Mayors to be presented by the mayor at a hometown commission meeting.
Anders will also be highlighted in a news release, featured in the statewide QC magazine, and have his essay presented on the Florida League of Mayors' and Florida League of Cities' websites, Facebook and Twitter pages.
The goal of this contest was for Florida's youth to step into the role of mayor and present their ideas and commitment to their community. Students were required to describe what they would do if they were elected as mayor of their city, town or village to make their community a better place to live. Great job, Anders, we are so proud!
High School Senior Class of 2020 College Acceptances
Please join us to congratulate the following seniors for getting accepted to the University of Florida! According to the US News Colleges and Universities ranking list in the 2020 edition, University of Florida is ranked #34 in the Nation. We are proud of these following 24 Seniors for their acceptance to the nation's one of the top universities.
Kenneth A.
Saardhak B.
Ann B.
Ilias B.
VishnuGopalan C.
Hector M.
Wayman D.
Miscia F.
Daniela Garcia M.
Haydn H.
Tony H.
James K.
Dylan M.
Valeria Marin O.
Mitik M.
Jenny N.
Sebastian N.
Abraham O.
Peter P.
Esha R.
James S.
Devin S.
Harshitha U.
Join OSS Middle High PVO
OSS Middle High Parents: Welcome back to school! We have some wonderful events planned to make this year a memorable one for our Orcas. Join us in helping to make these events a huge success and register below. We look forward to working with you!
Easy Ways to Give Back to OSS Middle!
The Box Tops Program is all new for 2020!
BoxTops has a NEW way for schools to earn money from your purchases! See the details below. Thank you for your support of OSS!
AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Orlando Science Schools via Discovery Education Services, Inc. whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
OfficeDepot Gives Back
Office Depot provides the school with 5% back in credits for FREE supplies when you make a purchase of qualifying school supplies. Simply provide the school ID at checkout.
OSES School Code: 70228302
OSS School Code: 70218341
Important Forms
Report Card Dates and PTC Schedule
OSS Middle Handbook
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