Orlando Science High School
issue 1
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: August 13, 2021
Principal's Corner
Greetings Orcas,
Welcome back! It has been wonderful seeing so many of our students and staff back on campus this school year. We greatly appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we settle into new routines and procedures. We will continue to monitor and improve wherever possible to make this a pleasant and successful school year.
Please make sure to review the contents of these Weekly Newsletters as they contain lots of important updates, student and staff spotlights, reminders, and more. In this week’s issue you will find our Picture Day dates and reminders about our current Mask Mandate/Opt-Out policy and Moment of Silence.
Additionally, Club Sign Up and Robotics Information Meeting details are included. Students, especially our graduating Seniors, please familiarize yourselves with the College Career Corner. Our Guidance Department provides valuable information in this section to help you prepare for life beyond high school.
Parents, if you missed our Open House last weekend, the General Session presentation was recorded and can be viewed below. You will also find descriptions and links to resources for the school year such as OSS Connect access, ADDitions volunteer registration, and more.
Again, it has been a positive first week back and I am excited for what the 2021-2022 school year has in store for us.
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
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moment of silence
Dear Parent/Guardian,
In accordance with Section 1003.45, Florida Statutes, Orlando Science School will observe a moment of silence each school day this year. This moment of silence will occur during first period or at the beginning of the day.
In accordance with the statute, the school will not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection in which a student may engage during the moment of silence. Families are encouraged to discuss the moment of silence with their child(ren) and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time.
Please contact your child’s school with any questions about the moment of silence. We thank you for being our partner in education.
mask mandate and opt-out option
To opt-out of the mask mandate for your student, simply send a note with your student on the first day of school such as: "I am opting out of the face mask requirement for (Child's Name)" and sign the note. Please send a separate note for each student if you have more than one attending Orlando Science School. The student may give the note to their homeroom teacher. Parents may opt back in at any time by sending their student to school with a mask.
We will continue to keep you updated as we and OCPS monitor the situation over the next 30 days.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Sources:
Superintendent Barbara Jenkins Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/SuptJenkins/status/1423764799524163590
OCPS Back-to-School FAQs (COVID-19 Safety): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSKu1N1jICuAqu9aly38tS1uSeUhZgXkw0WUlraNBE1vRa6o-CRGkPKQ0tzanqR-qsnKvOvYHp5GGQq/pub
Department of Health Notice of Emergency Rule: https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8.6.21-DOH-Rule.pdf
clubs sign up
Welcome to the 2021-2022 High School CAMPUS Club Sign Up!
Use the online registration form below to sign up for afterschool clubs. Registration is open NOW until 24 hours before the club begins.
Please keep in mind the following details before selecting a club:
- Clubs begin the week of August 16th from 2:42PM until 3:22PM (Wednesdays 1:41PM until 2:21PM). If students are not registered in after care, arrangements should be made for student pick up at the end of club time.
- All club descriptions are available on the attached Club Information document below. Use this when making club selections.
- Students are only permitted to sign up for 1 (ONE) Club per day.
- Some clubs require pre-qualification such as: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science Olympiad, etc. Please contact a club sponsor for more information.
- If a Club becomes full on this sign up, no extra spots will be added. Contact the club sponsor directly if you would like to join a club that is full.
- If a student misses more than 3 club meetings without permission from their Club Sponsor, they will be removed from the Club Roster.
- Students interested in joining the FTC (First Tech Challenge) and FRC (First Robotics Competition) Robotics Teams, please see the message below:
free and reduced lunch application
- The names and incomes of every member of your household
- The school, grade, birthdate of every student in your household
- Your social security number and electronic signature
- (Optional) A valid email address or phone number for district communication about the status of the application.
august lunch menu
high school picture day
Mark your calendars and look your best for the upcoming picture day on Wednesday, August 25th. Ordering information and flyers will come home with students soon. Online ordering will also be available using the picture day ID code below.
important message from Lifetouch
A Note from Lifetouch,
In addition to providing quality school photography and world class yearbook products, Lifetouch is one of the largest providers of student identification cards in the state of Florida and across the United States. This letter is to alert you to a change in Florida law, State Bill 590, affecting student identification cards, effective July 1, 2021. The new law states beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, any student identification card issued by a public school to students in grades 6 through 12 must include the telephone numbers for national or statewide crisis and suicide hotlines and text lines.
Lifetouch has taken the steps necessary to assist our Florida schools to create student identification cards that include required identification card information. However, it is the school’s responsibility to ensure the accuracy of the information and to verify it follows state and local regulations. For more information on the specific requirements brought about by this new law, please contact your school’s district office. To understand the capabilities now available with Lifetouch student identification products, to meet the requirements of the new legislation in Florida, please contact your local Lifetouch representative.
robotics informational meeting
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
Teams of about 10 students build small 18-inch robots to play heads on sports-like games against other teams. Volunteers & parents are needed to form teams and run meetings (at least 2 volunteers per team). Teams meet afterschool or on Saturdays from 4 to 10 hours a week (schedule TBD). A parent meeting with more details and team sign-ups will be on Saturday, August 21st @ 10:30AM, in the OSHS Cafeteria.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
A team of about 10 to 30 students build a 120 lb. robot in about 6 weeks to play a competitive sports-style game. The team meets from 10 to 20 hours a week after school and on Saturdays (schedule TBD). A parent meeting with more details and team sign-ups will be on Saturday, August 21st @ 1:00 PM, in the OSHS Cafeteria.
High School Open House Information
If you were unable to attend Open House, or if you would like the information shared at Open House, you can now view the recorded message below. This recording includes more details and updates from OCPS as well.
orca accolades
published author: Sheel T.
We are excited to share that Sheel T., an OSS high school senior, is a published author! He has written and illustrated a children’s book, “Neuroscience and Mental Health: The Basics,” for grades 4 and up. He has a passion for educating the leaders of tomorrow about important topics like spreading kindness and mental well-being. Through his book, he aims to inspire students to prioritize their mental health and also expose them to aspects of neuroscience. We are proud of his work and dedication to the future of STEM education. Go Orcas!
Counseling Corner
8/13/2021
Hello and Welcome to Counseling Corner!
My name is Ms. Perez and I am the School Mental Health Counselor for Orlando Science Middle/High School. I serve all students in grades 6-12 and this is the start of my 4th year with Orlando Science in this role. I wanted to take the time to introduce myself and share all the things you’d need to know about how I support our students and your families.
My first and main priority is our students’ mental health. I meet with students to help them with issues ranging from anxiety, depression, anger management, and interpersonal conflicts, to time management, mindfulness practice, coping skills, and stress management.
I meet with students during the school day and a meeting can last anywhere from 30-50 minutes depending on the presenting issue that is brought to me. Students can request meetings with me from my OSS Connect page which they all have access to on their dashboard, although it is under construction as we speak and will be up soon. Parents/Guardians can request meetings with me via email.
My schedule is as follows:
Mondays & Wednesdays – Lynx Campus (Middle School)
Tuesdays & Thursdays – Tech Campus (High School)
Fridays – Alternating Campuses (for example, Aug. 13th – Lynx, Aug. 20th- Tech, etc.)
Because I serve both campuses throughout the week, the best way for a parent/guardian to schedule time with me is via email (Felicia.Perez@orlandoscience.org).
Some fun facts about me:
I’ve met 5 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates! Don’t be shy, ask me how…
I’ve read 44 books so far in 2021 and will be sponsoring the Good Book Club this year.
I attended Schools for the Performing Arts for both middle and high school. My major was dance!
My birthday is this Sunday 😊
Thanks for taking your time to read this introduction. If there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help!
Wishing You All The Best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez' quote of the day
Exceptional Student Education and Assessments
Does your child have an IEP or 504 and receive extra time on tests?
Students who receive accommodations on statewide standardized assessments, such as the FSA, may be eligible to receive accommodations on college entrance assessments. These tests include Advanced Placement, SAT, and ACT exams. There is a separate application process where eligibility is determined by the testing company (not OSS or OCPS).
If your child already receives accommodations on statewide assessments, it is highly recommended that you give permission for OSS to submit an accommodation request for these competitive tests. This is not an automatic process. You must notify the school if you would like an application for accommodations to be submitted on behalf of the student.
To make a request, please email the ESE Coordinator, Mrs. Cervantes at Teresa.Cervantes@orlandoscience.org with the following information:
· Full name of the student
· Assessments the student will be taking (AP Exams, SAT, and/or ACT)
More information about accommodations and eligibility can be found at the following links:
orbit's character corner
education
"What sculpture is to a bock of marble, education is to a human soul."
-Joseph Addison
college and career corner
Community Service forms
11th and 12th graders only
Exploring Educational Excellence Coming to a Zoom Near You!
Join Brown, UChicago, Columbia, Cornell and Rice for a virtual information session for prospective students and their families. Sessions include a brief overview of each institution, information on admissions and financial aid, and a chance to ask questions of admissions representatives. You must register to attend. We look forward to meeting you this fall!
In addition to the programming provided for students and their families, the EEE partner schools also host counselor events. In these sessions, local school and community-based organization counselors learn about the individual institutions and have an opportunity to ask questions of the admissions representatives.
Please register for the virtual event that best suits your schedule.
parent resources
Parent skyward access
oss connect parent access
All OSS Middle High parents can create an OSS Connect account to view their students' academic progress, attendance, discipline, upcoming events and more. Multiple students can be added under one parent account for an easy access. Each student has a unique "Parent Access Code". Please use this code to add each of your students.
- Go to the following URL https://ossconnect.orlandoscience.org/radix/portal/signup/index.php
- Enter the parent access code, birth date of the student this code belongs to, Student ID (if asked) and your relationship to the student.
- If the information is correct, you will be redirected to a page where you can see your student's name. If this is your student, click continue, if not, click cancel and contact the school.
- After the verification is completed, you will be redirected to registration page. On this page, you will create a new parent account by providing the information requested and selecting a password for your account. Click on "Create my new account" when done.
- You will receive a confirmation email that contains a link to click to complete account creation. Once you click on the link in confirmation email, you will be directed to the site and your account will be ready to use.
- Once you logged in to the site, you can add another student by clicking on the "Add new student" link located on your dashboard.
OSS APP available for download
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.
PVO and Volunteering
MIDDLE HIGH PARENT VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION (PVO) REGISTRATION
Membership is $25 per family for returning families and $30 for new families. Your membership dues go directly back into the school to provide items and supplies for our teachers. Please use the School Pay link to pay dues upon registration.
We are also asking that PVO members work with specific committees (School Improvement, Fundraising, Volunteer Work, Teacher Appreciation, Events, Etc.) See below for opportunities to get involved.
If you have questions, comments, or requests, you may email Orlando Science PVO at PVO.HSCampus@orlandoscience.org (for the High School) or PVO.LynxCampus@orlandoscience.org (for the Lynx Campus).
The PVO will hold meetings once a month that will inform parents of progress, agendas, and upcoming events. Meetings will be held on campus or Via Zoom and will be done in mornings and/or evenings to accommodate everyone.
We are so excited to connect with our families and create a wonderful environment on and off campus!
OSS High School 2021-2022 Handbook
SEE THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE BELOW REGARDING FORTIFY FLORIDA:
Any student, educator, parent or member of the public can report school safety concerns directly to law enforcement and school administrators anonymously and easily through the FortifyFL app or www.getfortifyfl.com. The Florida Legislature directed this tool’s development in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
The app, which is available for download on Apple and Android mobile devices, is critical to ensuring all Florida schools are safe environments where students and educators can experience and share the joy of learning without fear.
We hope that you will become familiar with this tool and help us spread the word about it with your students and their families. Please note that the official app’s logo will look exactly as it does in the graphic above.
2021-2022 tutoring schedule
become familiar with the 30/30 Rule for bad weather dismissal procedures
What is the 30/30 Rule?
The “30/30 Rule" is a Delayed Dismissal Weather procedure that the nationally recognized. It is required that the “30/30 Rule” be enacted by the school if thunder is heard within 30 seconds of a lightning strike. Orlando Science Middle/High follows this rule.
When 30/30 Rule is implemented, students will not be dismissed until 30 minutes has passed from the last sound of thunder. However, parents/guardians who wish to pick up their child/children during delayed dismissal, will be allowed to sign out their child/children at the cafeteria or front office.
In order to pick up your student(s) from the cafeteria or front office during this procedure, parents/guardians must bring their dismissal sign to the front door of the school to sign their child/children out. If you do not have a dismissal sign, you will need to provide a picture ID and be on the school pick-up list to pick-up the child/children. Bus riders will be delivered home when conditions are all safe for dismissal.
An automated telephone and/or email message will be used to notify parents/guardians about delayed dismissals. Always be sure to update the school when your phone or email information changes. Thank you for your cooperation on our students’ safety.
easy ways to give back to oss middle high
Box Tops 2021
Amazon Smile
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.
Office Depot
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
OSHS Bell Schedule 2021-2022
OSS report card and Parent TEacher Conference (PTC) schedule
Orange County 2020-2021 School Calendar
all OSS campus Newsletters
ORLANDO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS
Website: http://orlandoscience.org/highschool/
Location: 2600 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407)299-6595
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandoscience/
Twitter: @OrlandoSciMH