Orlando Science High School
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 enjoy the video message of your teachers and school staff to you and your families for what you have been accomplished and how we are proud of each one of you!
12 of our juniors qualified to move forward with 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants and will be recognized as either Semifinalist or Commended Students in the fall of 2020. Well done Orcas!
Orca families, please join me in congratulating and welcoming Lisa Proto to her new role as the High School Campus PVO President! We at Orlando Science Schools are thrilled to be working alongside her on future campus events, activities, and community projects.
Parents, 4th quarter progress reports will be available on Tuesday, April 28th in your student’s OSS Connect pages. The directions of how to find the “4th Quarter Digital Progress Reports” may be found below.
Our senior college acceptance spotlight of the week is Hector Collazo. Hector received acceptances from Georgia Tech., Ohio State, University of Central Florida, and Texas A&M University. Congratulations Hector! I know that the college you choose will be the lucky one.
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!
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.
enjoy these heartfelt messages from our teachers and staff to all of our high school orcas!
Morning Announcements are now available on OSS COnnect everyday!
4th quarter Progress reports available today, April 24th
4th Quarter Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences April 28-29th
** Please note, your student’s account will be invited to the Parent Teacher Conference via Microsoft Teams.
OSS HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS PVO PRESIDENT
Orca families, please join us in congratulating and welcoming Mrs. Lisa Proto to her new role as the High School Campus PVO President! We at Orlando Science Schools are thrilled to be working alongside her on future campus events, activities, and community projects.
Before becoming a stay-at-home Mom, Mrs. Proto was in the Hospitality industry and then moved into Corporate Training for all areas of Hospitality. Prior to her move to Florida, she lived in Vancouver Canada, she became a stay-at-home Mom and joined the team of the parents at her son’s school. She not only gained incredible friendships but lots of knowledge on fundraising and building communities in the school. She is a proud parent of a freshman son, attends at Orlando Science High.
We appreciate Mrs. Proto for coming on board as one of the valuable members of our school and we look forward to organizing campus events and community projects.
form for locker item retrieval & school item returns
Dear Parents and Guardians, OSS Lynx and High School campuses 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 this 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.
Please ONLY COMPLETE THIS FORM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RETRIEVE ITEMS FROM STUDENT'S LOCKER AND/OR 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.
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
OCPS Grab and Go Meal UPDATE
OCPS Grab-and-Go meal distribution UPDATE: Beginning Monday, April 20, food distribution and office hours for school sites and district offices will only be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This is in an effort to keep more individuals at home to reduce exposure to others.
All school sites and district offices will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays but employees will continue to work remotely at home on those days and can be reached via email.
The 52 FREE Grab and Go school sites can be found on the front page of the district’s website: ocps.net. Schools and offices will be open from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and meals will be distributed between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children will receive meals on Monday for Tuesday, and on Wednesday for Thursday. Weekend meals will continue to be distributed on Fridays.
Orange County Library digital material access
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
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 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
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 Exam feedback form and take a few moments to give us your thoughts. We would like to hear from you in regards to the upcoming AP Exams. 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.
Virtual social support
Ms. Perez' message
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' Quote of the Week
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.
PSAT/NMSQT update
Congratulations to these 12 juniors who are top performers in the 2019 PSAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test! They are among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants and will be recognized as either Semifinalists or Commended Students in the fall of 2020. Well done Orcas!
Nishi A.
Harvik K.
Anthony L
Minh L.
Noah L.
Siyona M.
Bansari M.
Liam O.
Peter P.
Meghana T.
Wade T.
Alex Y.
virtual community service opportunities
Dear students and parents,
It has been difficult times for everyone due to Covid-19. Our school will continue in distance learning through May 1 and we will make every effort to ensure our students are on track academically. If you are seeking to earn your community service hours during this time, there are some virtual options available. Here is the list of service ideas that can be performed digitally at non-contact environment while you are at home:
- Tutor students who need help with academic work.
- Make cloth masks and donate them to hospitals, neighbors or community members.
- Contact and help your elementary teacher to read a story to the students.
- Write letters or create art for residents of a local senior center that are not currently allowed guests.
https://www.pointsoflight.org/virtual-volunteering-opportunities/
Steps:
1. Community Service Plan (attached below)
- Community Service Plan should be completed prior to beginning community service hours.
- Develop a written community service plan which address a social problem or concern and how your service will address the community’s needs.
- E-mail your written community service plan to your college counselor for the approval.
- E-mail your written community service plan to your college counselor for the approval.
2. Community Service Hour Log (attached below)
- After approval, start completing your community service hours.
- Log the completed hours into the sheet provided until you are finished.
3. Submission
- Required documents to be submitted upon completion of community service hours.
- Full completed community service form with signatures.
- Completed community service log with signatures.
- A typed, one-page essay describing the following: How your services were beneficial for the community and How you have experienced personal growth as a result of completing community service.
Please contact Mr.I or Ms. Bolat if you need further information or any questions or concerns.
College and Career Courses now in Microsoft Teams
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
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