Orlando Science Schools Lynx Campus
Issue 7
Weekly Newsletter: September 24th, 2021
Principal's Corner
Greetings Orcas,
We have a lot of exciting recognitions this week! First, I am pleased to share that Orlando Science School has yet again received the “A” school designation. This is only possible due to the hard work and focus of our students, staff, and their family support. Thank you all for your contribution to this achievement!
This year, our senior class has 13 students who have been deemed National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists as a result of their NMSQT results. We congratulate these students on making it to this level of the program.
I would also like to recognize the 63 middle/high students who achieved Perfect Scores on their EOC/FSA exam(s) during the 2020-2021 school year. Regardless of the learning environment, our students continue to go above and beyond and we admire you for your resilience and dedication to excellence.
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
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Science Fair Update
The next deadline for Science Fair is Wednesday, September 29 for science fair forms. 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.
PROGRESS MONITORING ASSESSMENTS
Taking Place September 27th - October 5th:
PVO FIRST VIRTUAL MEETING MINUTES
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.
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
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
September Lunch Menu
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.
ORCA Character Award Winners!
Congratulations to our ORCA Character Award Winners for the month of August
Elisa S.
Pratham M.
Christopher WL.
2. Christopher worked well in his group and cared about their opinion.
3. Christopher cared about the other people in his group as people, not just as teammates.
4. Christopher speaks up when people do not act the correct way. He speaks up in a respectful way.
5. Christopher leads by example, showing others how to be respectful and hard working.
Connor M.
Urvi B.
Ms. Pantone
Coach Leard
Ms. Killian
Ms. Cramp
Orbits Character Corner
CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship encompasses the rights, privileges, and duties that come with living in a community and country.
"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight." - Theodore Roosevelt
A MESSAGE FROM MS. PEREZ
9/24/2021
Welcome Back to Counseling Corner!
In my daily life, I’ve noticed many different situations where the public commentary turned into a hateful one. One where people condemned others for their “attention-seeking behavior,” and that got me thinking. So this week, we’ll be discussing attention-seeking.
I’m sure you can recall many instances of witnessing or engaging in attention-seeking behavior at some point in your life, whether it was watching a child scream in public or posting a photo of your new car, we all have engaged in behavior that can be considered attention-seeking. This is because humans are hard-wired to seek connection, belonging, attention, affection, and support. We all have this desire and deep-rooted need to be heard, understood, recognized, and when we lack that, it can have hard-hitting consequences. Studies have shown us this much throughout the years. One study done just last year found that being ignored at work was more psychologically damaging than being actively harassed (Study found here). Another found that exclusion and rejection that happened socially was linked to an increase in depression, jealousy, anger, and sadness, while also adversely affecting the quality of sleep and the function of our immune systems (study found here).
Additionally, there’s a second side of this type of behavior, one that goes deeper. This is when we find people sharing stories of their pain, emotions, struggles. These are the times when someone posts they’re going through a break-up, that they’ve just lost their job, or that they’re just hurting right now. If they do this often, people may say, “oh here they go again” or some similar sentiment. We may look at these cries for help as just more attention-seeking behavior. Well let me stop you right there, let’s switch out the word “attention” for “support” and see what changes?
You can’t truly say “Wow, she’s so support-seeking” in an annoyed or sarcastic tone and have it feel valid can you? That’s because it changes the view and perception of the behavior. If we stopped and reframed it that way every time we felt that way about someone, it could lead us to realize that the person in question doesn’t really need any judgement, they are simply looking for support.
This behavior can stem from hurtful or traumatic events, such as deaths, break-ups, divorces, failures, struggles, etc. So when the person is already struggling and they hear something like, “oh here they go again,” it may cause them to either reach out harder in the only way they know how, or to retreat and stop looking for support, leading to self-isolation and all its assorted consequences. Essentially, when we see these behaviors, we have the ability to change our perception and offer support if we so choose. In conclusion, I urge you to reframe your thinking regarding “attention-seeking behavior” so that we can support those who are looking for it and be more sensitive and kind to the people who are fighting either very private or very public battles.
And as always, if you need anything, I’m happy to help!
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