OVS High School Weekly Update
November 30, 2018 Volume 88
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming events:
Tues., Dec. 4th
- All 10th graders will take the Pre-ACT
- Make sure they are well-rested and ready to do their best!
- FREE! Provided by the Nebraska Department of Education
Tuesday, December 11 & Thursday, December 13th
- Active Intruder safety training for students during class time (more details below)
Thursday, Dec. 20th @ midnight
- Last day to turn in Semester 1 work
January 7, 2019
- Students have access to 2nd semester courses.
Learner volunteer opportunities (more info later in newsletter) :
Friday, December 7th @ 5-8pm
- Support the OVS Parent's Night out by volunteering at the 60 & L location
Saturday, December 15th 2-4pm
- Gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble-Crossroads
- Optional meet-up in the coffee shop at Barnes & Noble from 4-4:30pm
MCC and OPS Safety Protocol
On December 11 & 13th at 9:30, we will have a few members of the MCC police force to train our learners on what to do in the event of an active intruder. This training can be applied to any and all public places they frequent. Sadly, this knowledge and awareness is a life skill that we feel a responsibility to teach our learners.
Additionally, Omaha Public Schools has adopted the Standard Response Protocol for safety. You should have received an email from me that outlines these measures. Please review these with your learners. Standard Response Protocol (see image below) is widely adopted amongst the districts in the state in the hopes that it does become a standard language and protocol to ensure safety. Additionally, here is a resource that the state recommends as an educational resource for us all https://iloveuguys.org/.
As always, please let Dr. L know if you have any questions or concerns.
MCC Campus Tour Highlights
OVS Robotics Team Competition Highlights
The robotics teams did an outstanding job this past Saturday at the Norris VEX Robotics Competition. If you've never seen a robotics tournament, it is wild. A lot of action and a day full of matches.
All three teams finished in the top ten after the morning qualification matches qualifying them for the elimination round. The elimination round was tough with top teams in the state there. Virtual 1 (Ethan Huebert, Caleb Cummings) finished the day with 6 wins and 4 losses. Virtual 2 (Ethan Cox, Jasper Payne) finished with 5 wins and 4 losses. Virtual 3 (Aidan Anderson, Grant Diederich, Ethan Nelson) finished with 5 wins and 4 losses.
We look forward to our next competition on February 2, 2019 at Davis Middle School. We are looking into adding a third competition as well. Stay tuned.
A Message from the Superintendent--Dr. Cheryl Logan
OPS Middle and High School Students:
I need your help naming my monthly podcast! At least once a month, I visit a school, then share important updates and information about what’s happening around the district. Now, I need a catchy title to brand my videos.
You can submit your ideas on Twitter and Instagram starting Nov. 27 through Dec. 3. Once the voting period closes on Dec. 3, we will review all submissions and select the top three for a final vote on Dec. 5. The judges will select the winning title, and the winner will get a $25 gift card. When you submit your idea, please be sure to “reply” to our social media post and/or use #OPSLoganPodcast.Follow us on Twitter @OmahaPubSchooland Instagram at omahapublicschools.
Look out for this post. I can’t wait to see your submissions!
Dr. Cheryl Logan
Core Value Focus--Positivity
A note from Wendy
The last few weeks of the semester tend to be the most difficult and stressful. Which is why I wanted to take a minute to consider how we all can spread some positivity. It is so easy to get lost in everything that has to be done, that often, we don't take time to thank those who help us get to our end goal (whether that is the end of the semester, finishing a 5K race, making a 5 course meal, or whatever your goal may be).
OPS has a staff member recognition program that I typically nominate teachers to share with them my appreciation for a job well done. Here is your opportunity to do the same. Click the button below to complete a nomination form for a staff member that you would like to thank, and I will use this to nominate our staff members of the week. You may see these highlighted on our social media page with the hashtag #30waystosayyay. So, I invite you to help me acknowledge the great work our staff does!
In the meantime, I urge you to thank more than our staff, but your learners, your learning coaches, and everyone else who has supported you thus far on whatever journey you are on. Because we can't do it alone.
High School Hangout & volunteer opportunities
Our OVS High School Learners have some opportunities to volunteer and help raise money for our school. Your learner can socialize and give back. Perfect for this time of year.
OVS PARENTS NIGHT OUT VOLUNTEERING
The first opportunity is to help at our Parents Night Out Event on December 7th. Have your learner bring his/her own dinner. The high school helpers will be runners (getting kids from parents to activities at drop off and from activities back to parents at pick up) and helping out where needed.
Event details are in the Synergy section of the newsletter. High school volunteers can stay for the whole event on Friday, December 7th from 5pm-8pm, and it would be nice if they could be there early and stay a little later to help with setup and pickup.
BARNES AND NOBLE GIFT WRAPPING
What: Come and join us in spreading some holiday cheer and raising money for OVS while gift wrapping. Be sure to wear your OVS gear to promote our school!
Where: Barnes and Noble at Crossroads Mall (72nd and Dodge)
When: Saturday, December 15th at 2pm-4pm for wrapping and 4:00-4:30pm for Starbucks afterward if you would like.
**Parents are welcome to stay and help wrap!!
PLEASE CONTACT ERIN COX to sign up your learner for these fun volunteer opportunities!
Call or text (402) 739.7632
email: erineferg@yahoo.com
Be on the lookout for the next High School Hang Out! It will be over winter break!
OVS Synergy Updates--UPDATED INFO!!
Parents Night Out!!!!
**Also a volunteer opportunity for High School Students--see above section on volunteer opportunities
What: -Drop your children (ages 5+) off at 60 & L and OVS Staff and LCs will babysit. This is a fundraiser for our school, and a chance for you to go out to dinner, shop, or just enjoy quiet time!
Where: 60 & L location
When: Friday, December 7th, at 5pm - 8pm
How much: $10 per child, with a max of $25 for a family.
It is drop in/pick up at any time, but the cost will still be the same.
Schedule for evening:
5:00 - 6:00 - Students bring a cold sack lunch or food from a restaurant to eat and socialize in the commons.
6:00 - 7:00 - Basement fun 1. Parachute , 2. Yard games (indoors) 3. Just dance on projector
7:00 - 8:00 - Board games
High School Learning Coaches Facebook Group
A few learning coaches have requested a separate facebook group for high school only. Here is the link for that group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/269153923721409/?source=unknown
Pre-ACT
Classroom happenings
English Updates
Welcome Back Mrs. Mendoza!!
Upcoming
Online lessons
Mr. Brannan's Updates
Week in Review:
Our Stock Market game ends Dec. 7. The students have invested all their money in a last attempt to score a profit and win the game.
*When reviewing your students grades please make sure to check their missing assignments and low assignment grade. Your student may be showing a 'C' even thought they are have many zeroes for assignment scores. You may do this by clicking on "Grades" at the top of the K12 page
Looking Ahead:
History: Students are wrapping up the 1920's their Unit 6 test and RSP were due last week. As we begin Unit 7 WWII, students will also prepare to complete another RSP over the 30's and 40's.
Economics: Students should be completing the Unit 5 test and then we will be learning about the International Economy.
Online lessons The schedule for my regular online lessons is below.
- Computer: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month 9:15-10:15
- History: Wednesdays OR Fridays 8:30-9:30 (each student in this course was assigned a specific session) "As Needed" Sessions are at 1:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays, a great time to get individual help.
- Economics: Wednesdays OR Fridays 10:15-11:15 (each student in this course was assigned a specific session) "As Needed" Sessions are at 1:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays, a great time to get individual help.
Mrs. Ignowski's Updates
Mrs. Diaz will be taking over for Mrs. Ignowski's science courses. Mrs. Justice was not able to cover the whole maternity leave. So, please welcome Mrs. Diaz back to OVS.
A lot of our students connected with Mrs. Justice. They are welcome to send her a thank you email to her email: anjanette.justice@ops.org.
Mrs. Ignowski returns on Thursday, December 13th.
Week in Review:
Students focused on getting caught up on their coursework and understanding expectations of upcoming assignments. Learning Coaches and students should always keep in mind the pacing guide for all courses. High School Students must earn a passing grade by the end of the semester (December 21st) in order to earn a credit for the course. Please continue to reach out as needed, these clarifications have proven very successful for students.
Looking Ahead:
Topics covered will build off of previous units, so it is important for students to attain mastery (63%) on each assessment. This upcoming week at the learning center I will be specifically addressing students that have not attained mastery.
Weekly Online Lessons:
**Schedule change for December***
Mr. Gamble's Updates
Week in Review:
The semester is going quick! We are looking at about 3 weeks left for learners to complete all lessons and submit all required work. December 20th at midnight will be the final day to submit work as the courses will be removed from the learner’s dashboard that night.
Looking Ahead:
Should your learner have a question or struggle, please encourage them to reach out to us. If they are reserved, then please email the appropriate teacher and we will make note of that need and address it. We are a team and encourage all parties (facilitator, coach, and learner) to communicate.
Regular PIT Stop continues Wednesdays from 1:00 – 3:00. Reach out to your teacher for information.
Resources:
There are countless resources on the internet for math. Throughout the year I will post some here that could assist your learner or yourself. Learning coaches can use these to check the work of a learner or preview topics.
This month’s resource can be effective for all courses. Geogebra provides a free graphing calculator and many other tools that are helpful for verifying or graphing equations, expressions, and inequalities as well as drawing geometric shapes and finding their properties. It can be used to show graphs if equations in assignments or to check the work of a learner.
Weekly Online Math Lessons:
Online lessons have been suspended for the month of December. In return I am offering online PIT stop from 10:00 - 11:00 every Monday and Friday for the month. This is to offer students time for focused instruction on a topic they need. Encourage your learner to join me online during this time to get help and step toward mastery of their course.
Mr. Koneck-Wilcox's Updates
November 27 and 29
Sophomores jumped right into the answer folder for the PREACT. They completed the interest inventory and all the basic bubbles. Now they are ready for the four section test on Tuesday, December 4th !
Remind the students to get a good night's rest and eat breakfast before they test.
The ninth graders reviewed test taking skills and learned the PQRST study method. Ask your student about this.
Encourage everyone to work hard each day, show up prepared to learn , respect others and themselves, do your best !
" How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
----Anne Frank
November 20
The Metro Community College Tour gave students a good vision of the future, a chance to see post secondary life up close !
We will be back next week working on more skills for test preparation. The PRECAT will be Tuesday , December 4th.
" Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse. "
----Henry van Dyke
American Educator
November 13 and 15
We began the test preparation section this week. Students identified study strategies that they might use . Visualization , first-letter mnemonics, analogies , chunking of information, highlighting main ideas, were all discussed as useful tools.
Ideally , one will be most prepared for tests and remember to stay calm , not letting stress and anxiety overcome our thoughts.
Next week will be the Metro Community College Tour at Fort Omaha.
Parents are to sign the permission slips .
OVS High School
College Tour
Metro Community College
Tuesday, November 20,2018
Walking Tour on Fort Omaha Campus
9:15---11:00am
I give permission for________________________________ to attend the tour.
__________________________________________ __________________
Parent signature Date
The test prep sessions will continue November 27th and 29th.
The PREACT will be given on Tuesday , December 4th. The make-up date will be Thursday December 6th.
"The secret to happiness is being grateful for what you have , not what you don't have or what you've lost. "
-----Muniba Mazari
November 6 and 8
One step in the third mindset, 'We are all connected', asks us to seek ways to serve others. The folks who have chosen career paths in the rescue, fire , police and military domains give examples of serving others.
The students this week will write letters of thanks as part of Operation Gratitude. Our collected letters , some typed some hand written , will join nearly 250,000 being distributed in care packages. Ask your student to whom and what they wrote about.
Parents and students sometimes feel a need to visit regarding issues at home, school, work. The Community Counseling Program offers an option for families at school sites or neighborhood locations. Students were all given the lists and phone numbers. Mr. Victor Sherman directs the program, and may be reached at 402-354-8005.
October 30 and November 1
The 7 Mindsets--- an awesome path to follow through our lives.
During advisement we reviewed the first two, 'Everything is possible' and 'Passion first'.
The third one , 'We are all connected', allows us to see the wide array of ways we are touched by others throughout our lives, whether in person or digitally. We may even ask ourselves , 'how may I better serve others ?'
The students took a character strengths inventory and shared their perspectives.
Next week we will participate in Operation Gratitude.
" Character is doing the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay."
----Michael Josephson
October 24,2018
Advisement this week included awards for attendance and growth mindset.
Our EQ, essential question , was " What helps us to remember new information ?"
Ask your student to share the three parts of our memory experiment. We had 63 words to recall and write down . What total did they get ?
Mnemonic devices help many folks . Some of us are better auditory than visual and even some truly excel in kinesthetic learning. Share with your student what your best might be.
School-Connect module 3: Building Academic Strengths and Purpose
" How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. "
----Anne Frank
October 16,2018
During advisement , the students discussed the issue of bullying. Ways to prevent it and methods of responding were part of our dialogue.
Ask your student to describe the three parts of a bullying scenario.
Some informational reading could be found at 'Steps to Respect, Committee for Children ' and www.respect2all.org.
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-------Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Mission Statement
Vision
Core Values
Positivity
Collaboration
Integrity
Self-advocacy
Accountability
Omaha Virtual School
Email: virtualschool@ops.org
Website: ovs.k12.com
Location: 4640 S 59th St, Omaha, NE, United States
Phone: (531)299-0269
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OPSVirtualSchool/
Twitter: @OPS_Virtual