Orlando Science High School
Issue 31
Weekly Newsletter: April 10, 2020
Principal's Corner
Dear Orca Families and Students,
Congratulations on completing second week of Distance Learning! As we all experience the difficulty that comes with the uncertainty during this time, we would like to let you know that we are thinking of all of you. We, as Orlando Science 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.
AP students and families, there have been significant changes to this year’s AP testing policy and procedure due to COVID19 restrictions. Please review the important AP Program updates listed in this newsletter. On Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m, Collegeboard AP Program, will host an AP parent/student webinar to discuss more about at-home testing, the exam schedule, and AP review classes. Please mark your calendar and do not miss this webinar. For additional information, please reach out Mr. Koebe.
Your yearbook club is working diligently and finalizing our 2019-20 yearbook with Distance Learning updates and much more. It is going to be great when finished. Please reach out Ms. Bolat if you have any questions. More information and the purchase link may be found below.
Please review Counseling Corner with notes and important reminders of this week from Ms. Perez. These resources will be helpful for parents and students.
I would like to thank all Orcas for following our distance learning behavior and attendance guidelines as well as your teachers expectations. Your perseverance and dedication to education play a key factor in your success as much as your teachers and school.
Have a great weekend and stay safe!
It's great to be proud Orca
Respectfully,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed
Principal
Orlando Science Schools-Middle/High
Follow OSS Middle High on Social Media
Download the new OSS mobile App
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.
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
graduation ceremony 2020 update
Dear Orlando Science Class of 2020 and families,
As we all experience the difficulty that comes with the uncertainty during this time, we would like to let you know that we are thinking of all of you. As a result of the governor’s “Safer-at-Home” order, and with schools being closed through at least May 1st, graduation ceremonies are being postponed within OCPS. With that said, Orlando Science High School’s graduation ceremony has also now been postponed.
During the governor’s press conference on Thursday, April 9th, he had stated that he is not ready to announce a return to school date. His decision is critical to our planning. We would like to engage with our Student Government Association, Class of 2020, and their families to receive input regarding options such as smaller ceremonies inside the school facility, open area ceremonies, and if necessary a virtual ceremony. We understand that this has been a disappointing and unfortunate time however, we also believe in the resiliency of our orca family.
We will announce final graduation plans recognizing our amazing seniors as soon as possible. We will be sure to provide updates as soon as they become available.
Please stay safe.
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.
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 Behavior Guidelines and Student Code of Conduct Agreement
DL Sample Student Schedule
AP course Update
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian,
I hope this message finds you all well. As you may know, there have been significant changes to this year’s AP testing policy and procedure due to COVID19 restrictions. Please review the important AP Program updates listed in this memo. For additional information on question names and descriptions, updated rubric information and other course-specific information, please review the AP Coronavirus Updates on the College Board website or contact your OSS AP teacher.
Please see the attached AP Update for April 10, 2020 from Mr. Koebe below for the testing updates including an upcoming Student/Parent Webinar, a detailed exam schedule and much more. As always, contact Mr. Koebe with any questions or concerns: Nicholas.Koebe@orlandoscience.org.
FSA/EOC/Final Exam Testing Update
A message from Mr. Koebe
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian,
I hope this message finds you all well. As we begin our distance learning online classes next week, it is important that our students and parents are aware of the changes made to our assessment calendar.
FSA and EOC Testing
Governor Desantis has canceled all state-wide testing for this school year. This means that there will not be any FSA or EOC testing and schools will not be assigned a school grade as has been done in the past.
However, students will still receive grades from their teachers in the fourth quarter and in lieu of a state test, students will have final exams created by their teachers. More information will be communicated by the teachers with you in May regarding these final exams.
For the complete course-specific exam information, as well as any other Florida Assessment questions, please read Mr. Koebe's "Assessment Distance Learning Parent Letter" below.
Hello Friends!
This week in Counseling Corner, we’re going to talk about making a Self-Care Toolkit. A Self-Care Toolkit is a box or container that holds self-care items to be used if/when the person who created it needs them. Now it may sound simple enough, but there is an art to creating a great and helpful toolkit. As a parent, you can help your child(ren) create their tool-kits and it can be a bonding activity, or you can use these tools to make your own toolkit first and then share with your child. Here we go!
Self-Care Tool-kits have been found to be most effective/successful when the self-care items included utilize sensory components related to touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, movement, and comforting pressure. I will give you ideas of what to include for each sense below.
First, find a box or bin big enough to hold the items you’ll place in there (or you can just designate a space in your closet or room to keep the items together). The purpose of keeping the items together is so the owner can find it easily and access the tools inside quickly, because when someone is in personal crisis, it can be difficult to think clearly. The toolkit becomes something you don’t have to think about using or finding.
Next, the ideas:
Touch: Soft blanket, stuffed animal, clay, silly putty, stress ball, fidget toys, bubble wrap
Taste: Herbal tea, hot chocolate, minty gum, Listerine strips, ginger ale, frozen starbursts, mints
Sight: photos of vacations, family, friends, things you love, inspirational quote book, journal & pen, positive notes to yourself or from others, postcards, gratitude list
Hearing: comforting music, lo-fi beats, white noise, nature sounds (you can save or make a playlist of these sounds wherever you listen to your music for easy access)
Smell: candles, lavender or eucalyptus oils, flowers, plants, scented lotion
Movement: yoga mat, an outfit to use to run, jog, or walk outside, print-out of soothing stretches
Comforting Pressure: weighted blanket, bean bag chair, small swing or rocking chair, fuzzy socks, tissues (for if you need to cry)
Suggestions that count in more than one category: bubbles (touch, sight, movement), coloring book (sight, movement), puzzle (touch, sight), art supplies for knitting, drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. (touch, sight, movement), nail polish & supplies (touch, sight, movement), bath bombs (smell, touch, sight)
Once you compile all your favorite items into the designated space or box, keep it in a safe and easily accessible place. If you find yourself in need of self-soothing, time alone, crying, processing, distraction, just being safe and comfortable, pull out your Self-Care Toolkit and relax.
Thanks for visiting Counseling Corner and as always, if you have any questions, let me know!
All the best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez' Quote of the Week
College and Career Courses in Microsoft Teams
Orcas,
Starting Monday, April 6th, College and Counseling Department will be accessible to students in each grade level via Microsoft Teams to continue providing services remotely. Mr. I and Mrs. Bolat are accessible to both students and parents in the designated times. Please check your emails and Microsoft Teams with the new updates.
Mr. I and Mrs. Bolat
2019-2020 Yearbooks are ON SALE!
The 2019-2020 High School Yearbook is on sale for $40! Get your yearbook today and keep your OSS memories forever.
Orlando Science High School Virtual Spirit Week
USCG Academy information
The Coast Guard Academy is comprised of a Corps of Cadets of approximately 1,050 students. We pride ourselves in being a small yet diverse campus with nearly​ 38% of the student body being female, and 36% of the student body being minorities, the highest of all the five major Service Academies. The student to faculty ratio is 8:1 and we are proud to offer students the ability to participate in 25 Division III varsity sports and a number of additional extracurricular activities such as band, vocals, drama, religious groups, and community outreach programs. We are looking for students of character with leadership experience and a strong academic record.
Overall, the entire two hundred weeks of leadership driven experience is valued at nearly $400,000 in educational expenses per student provided at no cost to them or their families. More information can be found at www.uscga.edu.
Robert Gregory Gibson
Admissions Partner
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Easy Ways to give back to OSHS
The BOX TOPS Program is easier than ever to use!
BoxTops has a NEW way for schools to earn money from your purchases! See the details below. Thank you for your support of OSS!
OSS is an Amazon Smile School
This is an easy way to help raise money for Orlando Science Schools. Use the link below when shopping from Amazon. 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 Max
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
2019-2020 Report Card Dates
Orlando Science High School Campus
Email: info@orlandoscience.org
Website: http://orlandoscience.org/highschool/
Location: 2600 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407)299-6595
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandoscience/
Twitter: @OrlandoSciMH