Orlando Science Schools Lynx Campus
Issue 33
Weekly Newsletter: April 24, 2020
Principal's Corner
Dear Orca Families and Students,
As Distance Learning is in full swing, I hope everyone had another great week! This week's newsletter is filled with many important reminders and recognitions.
Orcas, please join me to congratulate our computer science teacher, Mr. Waters for being March Teacher of the Month. Mr. Waters works really hard and goes above and beyond for his students. Thank you, Mr. Waters for all you do and we appreciate your dedication to our students each day.
Orca families, please join me in congratulating and welcoming Amelia Lyons to her new role as the Lynx Lane Campus PVO President! We at Orlando Science Schools are thrilled to be working alongside her on future campus events, activities, and community projects.
Our first Virtual Book Fair is scheduled to launch this week. Please find your students interested genres, new arrivals, and much more from the link below.
Parents, 4th quarter progress reports will be available on Tuesday, April 28th in your student’s OSS Connect pages. The directions of how to reach out to the “4th Quarter Digital Progress Reports” may be found below.
Orcas, as we sail through the 4th week of distance learning, I would like to remind you to continue following your school’s distance learning plan, guidelines, rules, and procedures carefully. This will help you successfully finish this school year with a good note.
Please take time and review your newsletter with additional reminders and important notes. I wish every Orca stay healthy and connected. Have a great weekend!
Go Orcas, Strive for Excellence!
Respectfully,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed
Principal
Orlando Science Schools-Middle/High
Follow OSS MH on Social Media
enjoy these heartfelt messages from our teachers and staff, wishing you all continued success during this time of distance learning!
** Please turn your volume all the way up to ensure the best sound quality on all clips **
Viewing Q4 progress reports
Due to the current distance learning environment, we will not be printing paper copies of Quarter 4 Progress Reports. Instead, we are making them available through your child's OSS Connect account. To access the Progress Report, follow the steps provided in the link below.
OUR SPRING VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR LAUNCHES TODAY!!
We are so excited to launch our FIRST Virtual Scholastic Book Fair! Students are able to visit the site linked below to purchase all the same books they would find at a campus book fair! Proceeds from this fair will go towards supporting our school.
OSS Lynx Campus PVO President
Orca families, please join us in congratulating and welcoming Amelia Lyons to her new role as the Lynx Lane Campus PVO President! We at Orlando Science Schools are thrilled to be working alongside her on future campus events, activities, and community projects.
Currently the director of the University of Central Florida’s History MA Program, Amelia Lyons has a passion for education and the environment of support that a school inherently provides.
She has been with the UCF History Department for the 14 years that she has been a Florida resident, the move being sparked by this career opportunity.
Prior to her move to Florida, she spent her adolescent years in Buffalo, New York. Her scholarly studies took her to Southern California during her pursuit of higher education at the University of California, Irvine. She and her husband Steve Bubar has been married for 20 years, and are the proud parents of two sons, Leo and Mark.
In case anyone is looking for some fun facts about Modern European History, World Wars, Decolonization, Algerian Migration and Settlement, or French Colonialism, she is a fantastic resource as those are her areas of educational specialty. We are honored to have such a valuable member of our school and local community join us in such a meaningful role.
4th quarter parent teacher conferences 4/28 - 4/29
** Please note, for PTCs (or any conferences) we will be using your child’s Microsoft Teams account. Your student’s account will be invited to the Parent Teacher Conference.
OSS Lynx Locker Clean Out and Item Return/Retrieval
We are exploring options on how to coordinate locker clean outs, and item returns/retrievals, while adhering to CDC social distancing guidelines. If you WOULD like your student to retrieve the items from their locker, and/or need to return items to the school, please complete the below form by Friday May 1st. If you do NOT complete this form, by Friday May 1st, we will securely dispose of the items in the building and charge you for items that have not been returned to the school.
ONLY COMPLETE THIS FORM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RETRIEVE THE ITEMS FROM YOUR STUDENT'S LOCKER AND/OR NEED TO RETURN/RETRIEVE OTHER ITEMS TO THE SCHOOL.
Once we determine how many students need to clean out their lockers, and/or return items we will establish a way to schedule appointments.
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
8th Grade Graduation
Senior Graduation
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.
DL BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES AND STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AGREEMENT
Virtual Social Support
Hello Friends and welcome back to Counseling Corner!
I want to share with you this week about a specific technique from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy called “IMPROVE the Moment.” The purpose of this technique is to take the moments where we have negative events and work to help ourselves improve the moment, finding soothing and healing in the process. Each letter in IMPROVE stands for a different way to improve the thoughts and physical sensations that can take over when we experience a negative event. I’ll explain further below!
I – Imagery
Like in English class, Imagery plays on our imaginations to paint a picture. This technique asks you to use imagery to create a different situation where you can feel a little more comfortable and safe. Some examples of relaxing imagery are imagining you’re on a beach, imagining being in the middle of a forest, imagining you’re in a safe place, listening to guided imagery videos on YouTube, and remembering a favorite time or day.
M – Meaning
This skill is used to help you find a phrase, purpose, or reason that helps to pull you through this tough time. Finding or making meaning can help a crisis or negative event become more manageable. Here are couple things you can tell or ask yourself to help you pull through a tough time; “This will help me learn new skills,” “Having this experience will help me understand others,” “Changing schools/jobs may help me find new friends who I can add to my support system,” “Going through this can help make me a strong person,” and “What can I learn about myself or about others because of this event?”
P – Prayer
Now this one may not seem like it’s for everyone, but this prompt is not aligned with a particular religion so in a way it is. Prayer doesn’t have to mean praying to God, it can mean connecting with something that is bigger than yourself, such as nature, the universe, and/or community. Here are some examples to use the Prayer skill; meditating, listening to inspiring music, saying a religious prayer, reading a religious text, taking a walk and connecting with nature, attending a virtual religious service, listening to a religious or nature related podcast, or participating in community service.
R – Relaxation
This skill is meant to help your body feel more at ease. When your body is calm, it doesn’t take long for your mind and stress level to follow too. Here are a few examples of how to use the Relaxation skill; Taking a walk, cuddling with a pet, deep breathing, meditating, taking a hot bath or shower, doing a few stretches, drinking hot tea (without caffeine), and trying yoga.
O – One Thing at a Time
This skill is meant to remind you to focus on one thing at a time. Often when we are faced with a crisis, we start to think of everything that could possibly involve us and our energy. We begin trying to take on everything we can to distract ourselves thinking it will help. Remembering to focus on one thing at a time can help us embrace some calm and is often easier to do in general. Here are a few examples of using the One Thing at a Time skill; saying, “I only need to survive this moment,” doing a puzzle (or crossword puzzle and only focusing on that puzzle, make a list of the things you have to do that cross your mind, and only work on one thing at a time, remind yourself, “One day at a time,” and make sure you finish one assignment or task before moving on to the next.
V – Vacation!
This one sounds unfair right now, I know, but there are many ways to use the “Vacation” skill because it’s really just means taking a mental break from your stressors for a little while. This skill is about having fun and getting out of your day-to-day routine. Here are few examples to use the Vacation skill; do a new art project, watch your favorite movie, give yourself a manicure/pedicure, take a bubble bath, jump into a new fiction book for an hour, have a Zoom dance party or game night with your friends/family, learn how to make an origami crane, and journal about what you are excited to do when you get older.
E – Encouragement
This one is my favorite; become your own cheerleader! It sounds cheesy, but this skill is meant to help you learn how to root for yourself (which can be harder than it sounds when you’re stressed). Here are a few ways to use this skill; make a list of your positive qualities (try to stay away from the ones that are purely looks based, but if there’s a few on there that’s cool too), listen to a song that pumps you up, tell yourself, “I can do this,” or “I am strong,” even if you don’t believe it fully yet, give yourself credit for the goals you’ve achieved and all the steps you’re taking towards your current goals. Even baby steps are still steps, so don’t leave out any success, no matter how small it seems. The reason this one is my favorite is because when you can remind yourself of the wins you’ve achieved, it makes it harder for the negative things to consume you, because you are more than what brings you down in the moment.
This technique does not have to be used all together. You can pick and choose which letters you use, but make sure to use at least 3 when you find yourself experiencing a tough time (whatever that looks like for you). Pick the ones that you feel will work best for you and try a few techniques from the ones you’re not sure about. If something doesn’t suit you or your style, try a different one from that letter and see if it helps. This list isn’t exhaustive, so if you have other ideas that fit in these categories, and are healthy, use them to IMPROVE the moment.
Thanks for visiting Counseling Corner and as always, I’m here if you need anything!
All the best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez's Quote of the Week
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.
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
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.
THIS 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE YET... PURCHASE A YEARBOOK ON SALE NOW!
congratulations to our February Teacher of the Month, Mr. Waters
We are proud to share that our February teacher of the month is Mr. Waters! Congratulations Mr. Waters for all you do for your students, we are grateful for you!
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
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