Orlando Science High School
issue 3
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: August 27, 2021
Principal's Corner
Greetings Orcas,
I would like remind families that we have recently modified our Drop Off to begin as early as 7:00am at our Lynx and High School campuses in order to allow families more flexibility and to reduce the congestion of our car line. Reminders about both our Drop Off and Pick Up procedures can be found below, as well as documents containing the school’s full Bell Schedule, Report Card and Parent Teacher Conference Dates, and the OCPS annual calendar.
As you may know, OUC has requested all citizens implement water conservation practices in order to conserve resources for water treatment but also so medical professionals will have the ability to continue treating COVID-19 patients with liquid oxygen. The full OUC announcement can be found in the newsletter below.
I am thrilled to share that six of our OSS students eared the AP Capstone Diploma and one earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2020-2021 school year. To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. This is an incredible achievement and I extend my sincere congratulations to both the students and their teachers. We encourage all of our students to strive for success and look forward to announcing even more special diploma/certificate achievements at future graduations.
I hope you all have a nice weekend and look forward to updating you on our students’ continued success next week.
COVID Update:
You may be aware that our district updated their mask policy. At this time, OSS will continue with the mask policy currently in place (see below). Further developments are occurring today which we will be monitoring and reviewing.
In the meantime, we thank our students and families for their continued efforts in creating a safe environment. Over 95% of our students are coming to school with masks and we encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently.
Thank you as well to those families who are contributing to the purchase of air purifiers and outdoor lunch tables. Some items have been backordered but we are working diligently with the vendors to get them to campus as quickly as possible.
Dr. Yalcin Akin
Executive Director/Principal
Orlando Science School – Middle/High
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The Orange County region is experiencing a shortage of liquid oxygen that OUC uses in their water treatment process. Healthcare providers also are using liquid oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients, while OUC uses it as part of their water treatment process to remove the unpleasant odor and color from water pumped from the Lower Floridan Aquifer.
They need our help in conserving water, which helps conserve liquid oxygen, so that it goes to patients battling COVID-19 in local hospitals. Below are several tips to help all of us conserve immediately.
Tips To Reduce Consumption:
• Don’t irrigate. Let afternoon showers water your lawn and landscaping.
• Use a broom to clean outdoor surfaces instead of pressure washing.
• Run full loads in your dishwasher/clothes washing machine.
• Take short showers.
• Turn off water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with water and turn off the faucet.
• Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes prior to washing.
• Recycle leftover water (use water from a fish tank or dog’s bowl to water plants).
• Repair leaking faucets and toilets.
• Install water-saver flush valves in toilets.
• Install low-flow shower heads.
• Use garbage disposals sparingly.
More information can be found at OUC.com/waterinfo.
mask mandate
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 monitor the situation.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Department of Health Notice of Emergency Rule: https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8.6.21-DOH-Rule.pdf
important student drop off and pick up reminders
drop off
pick up
sideline spirit store
Exciting news ORCAs!
OSS now has its own Spirit Wear store!
**Please note the following:**
- Some Sideline polos and shirts on the site are only being printed with a round OSS logo. Our official school uniform polo, sold by Risse Brothers, is the official school uniform.
- Sideline polos and shirts may only be worn on Fridays as a spirit shirt, during gym class, or on other dress-down days designated by administration. Sideline polos and shirts cannot be worn as a replacement of the Risse Brothers official polo uniform shirts.
- Any sports shorts or pants are to be worn in gym class only.
- Sideline hoodies, jackets, and sweatshirts may only be worn over the official Risse Brothers school uniform polo.
- If students do not act responsibly with the new spirit wear we reserve the right to ask them to discontinue the use of the school spirit wear. No refunds will be provided by OSS.
- All Dress Code requirements apply to Spirit items sold by Sideline. No refunds will be provided by OSS for items that are in violation of the School Dress Code or otherwise.
- For information on Sideline's return and exchange policy please visit Orlando Science Schools Orcas Apparel - Orlando, Florida - Sideline Store - BSN Sports
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
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).
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).
OSS CONNECT PARENT ACCESS
Parents can create an 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.
1. Scan the below QR code with your mobile device or go to the following URL and enter the parent access code https://ossconnect.orlandoscience.org/radix/portal/signup/index.php
2. Enter the above student's birthdate, Student ID (if requested), and your relationship to the student.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Once you logged in to the site, you can add another student by clicking on the "Add new student" link located on your dashboard.
orca accolades
2020-21 AP Capstone and Seminar/Research Certificate
We are excited to share that six OSS students have earned the AP Capstone Diploma and one earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2020-21 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma helps students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical to academic success.
To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
Although these students have graduated, they will be notified of their accomplishment via email and the award is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges after the award has been conferred. Congratulations to the following students and their teachers.
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
8/27/2021
Good Afternoon Friends,
Welcome back to Counseling Corner! This week we’ll be talking about how to manage the anxiety that may come now that we’re back at school. I was reading article that spoke about how this is the third consecutive school year that has been impacted by the global pandemic and it was quite jarring. While I logically knew this to be true, it was not something I’ve thought of in terms of school years. This is the 3rd school year that students and their families have to adjust and accommodate their lives because of something universally out of their control. This is bound to lead to difficulties with mental health, with the one we might notice the most being anxiety.
Here are some ways to manage any anxiety your students or you may be feeling this year.
Breathing Exercises. There are a few ways to breathe through any panic or anxiety attack we have. My personal favorite is the 4-4-4 method, which is really easy to remember. Breathe in while counting to 4 slowly, hold the breathe and count to four and then while counting to four again, breathe out slowly. Repeating that a few times will help lower your heart rate, which helps your body relax. Another exercise is using the 3-3-3 method (which is the same thing except you count to 3). Additionally, there a lot of different kinds of breathing techniques and it’s not one size fits all, so find the techniques that works for you! Here’s a few links for deep breathing practice: Coherent Breathing. Mindful Breathing. Belly Breathing.
Changing the Narrative. This means to change the way you are thinking about the situations you approach. For example, some may be thinking that there is a sure chance their child will contract Covid-19 this year. An alternative way to think about it is to acknowledge that there is some risk involved, but also to remind yourself that the schools are doing the best they can and following protocols that were implemented to keep your students safe. This helps create balance. Yes, there will be some anxiety, but there are systems in place that may help alleviate some of the worry.
Walking. Walking can be a key part of reducing anxiety when included into a daily or weekly schedule! It doesn’t have to be a power walk or a jog, but a simple 10 minute walk around the neighborhood, or afternoons after just getting home from school, or taking extended walks when you walk the dog. Both being outside and regular walks are both great ways to enhance mood and improve mental health!
Music. Listening to and/or playing music on an instrument is major stress and anxiety relief. It’s also one of the ones that you’re probably already doing and if you’re not, it’s very easy to incorporate into your day. Find music that helps you feel comfortable, relaxed, and happy. When you have that, make sure you give yourself the time to listen to it. You can play music on your commute, while you’re showering, when you’re doing chores, when you’re on a walk, really at anytime. Another side to this though, is that music can also help you get out your emotions if you need to let them out, so if the anxiety is getting to you and you just want to scream, thankfully there’s music for that too! The possibilities are endless so be sure to use music as a tool to help you cope with all that’s going on.
Try to incorporate at least a couple of these into your daily routine if you feel the anxiety building up. And my favorite suggestion is to talk to someone about all the things that are making you anxious. It could be a friend, a trusted adult, or even me.
These were just a few suggestions I’ve recommended, so if you’re looking for more personalized recommendations, please don’t hesitate to reach out and I’d be happy to help.
Wishing You All The Best,
Ms. Perez
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
MOTIVATED
A MOTIVATED person works toward a goal with diligence and energy.
"A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others." - Ayn Rand
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
2021-2022 tutoring schedule
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.
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