Orlando Science High School
ISSUE 8
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: October 2, 2020
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Principal's Corner
Saludos, Orcas!
Thank you for your support of Orlando Science Schools! I hope you had a wonderful start to the Month of October! We have a few exciting items and important reminders to share with you.
Orcas, I cannot stress enough how important it is to follow the School Health and Safety procedures. As we are in the flu season, the precautions become more important for all of us.
Student of the Month: I would like to congratulate our September Student of the Month winners! These students demonstrated exemplary work and became role model students among their peers! Congratulations Saylor (9th), Ricardo (10th), Nisarg (11th) and Monica(12th)! Also, I would like to thank and congratulate the Commendation Winners of September! Orcas keep up the great work and continue demonstrating good character!
Name our Orca Mascot! We would like the get the entire OSS community’s input to name our Orca mascot and vote for your favorite mascot-logo! Please see the link below.
Continuous Improvement: We would like to get feedback from the entire Orlando Science community. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or concerns, you are welcome to share them through our Virtual Suggestion Locker.
Staff Shout-outs: Everyone at Orlando Science Schools works hard and contributes to student success! We would love our students and parents to recognize any individuals who go the extra mile to engage and motivate students every day.
Orcas, our social media sites provide lots of great updates, school highlights, and celebrations. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and Twitter. Who knows, you or your work may be highlighted in our next post. This newsletter also has important announcements, reminders, and highlights. Please review it all so you do not miss any important dates or announcements.
There were very important testing announcements this week. If you have not yet read them, please review the details in the Assessment Corner.
Seniors: FAFSA and Bright Futures applications opened on October 1st! Please do not delay your submissions, complete your applications as soon as possible. As always, if you have any questions please ask Mrs. Bolat and refer your Microsoft Teams Seniors Page.
Lastly, I would like to let every student know that we are here to help you learn, grow, and succeed.
Vamos, Orcas and Strive for Excellence!
Sincerely,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed.
Principal
Orlando Science Schools – Middle/High
Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th-October 15th
OSS is proud to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Month! Shout out to OSS junior Leah B. for designing the beautiful OSS Hispanic Heritage Month banner!
We would like to encourage our middle and high school students to participate in the 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Florida essay contests. Winners receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship from the FL Prepaid College Foundation. The deadline for the essay contest is 9/25. Learn more: http://floridahispanicheritage.co
Carlos Santana
American Founders' Month
American Founders' Month
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
John Adams (and family)
Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
James Madison
This data base includes over 185,000 searchable documents, fully annotated, from the Founding Fathers Papers projects.
We encourage our families to use this resource as a starting point for meaningful discussions about what it means to live, learn and pursue happiness in America in 2020.
Excerpt from the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
September Students of the Month
We are pleased to announce the OSS High School September Students of the Month! These students were nominated by their teachers for showing resilience, growth and kindness during the month of September. Congratulations to these hard working students!
OSS ORca Mascot name and design contest
OSS improvement survey
NACAC Virtual College Fair 10/12, 10/18 and 11/8
The National Association for College Admission Counseling is hosting a virtual college fair. Students considering college can take this opportunity to start research on their many options available for postsecondary education. On each fair date, more than 600 colleges and universities will offer Zoom sessions and meetings. Students everywhere can log in, drop in, and ask questions.
How-to Video and Guide
Students are encouraged to sign up at virtualcollegefairs.org and look around several days before each fair date. Click the "Remind Me" button when you see a Zoom session that will be offered by a college that interests you. The reminder will get added to your "My Schedule" tab and you'll receive a text when the session is about to start. Click on the button below to watch the how-to video and download the Quick Start Guide linked below before you start.
List of Exhibiting Colleges
To find out which colleges will be at each fair, students can use the search and filter features on the virtualcollegefairs.org site or they can download these lists: Oct. 12, Oct. 18, and Nov. 8.
These fairs offer an unparalleled opportunity for students to explore their college options. We encourage our students to take advantage of this opportunity.
COllege fair how to start video
Picture Retake Day-November 10th
eLearning Students who missed picture day: please sign up for retakes
Attention OSHS Families with students registered in our Innovative Learning platform: If your child missed Picture Day in September, please use the link below to sign up for a 10-minute time slot to have your child's school picture taken. Attached below you will find the flyer with pricing for photos, please refer to this for ordering instructions.
For your safety and the wellbeing of our school personnel, there are a few important guidelines you must follow in order to be permitted into the high school building. Please see them below:
- ONLY STUDENTS are allowed to enter the building-No one else, including parents, siblings, and friends, are allowed to enter the building.
- Students will enter the high school building using the CAFETERIA STAIRWELL ENTRANCE on the 2nd floor and go directly to the MEDIA CENTER.
- STUDENTS MUST WEAR A MASK while in the school building. The mask may be removed during the photo session but must be worn at all other times.
- SOCIAL DISTANCING OF 6 FEET must be observed at all times while in the building.
- Only 10 students will be in the building at one time. Therefore you must arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time.
- Students will EXIT THE BUILDING using the 3rd floor stairwell and go directly to their car in the carline.
- PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE SCHOOL IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY COVID19 SYMPTOMS WITHIN THE LAST 48 HOURS.
- Light blue or grey OSS high school polos must be worn for pictures. Risse Bros offers online ordering or you can visit their Maitland store to make a purchase. If you are unable to get a high school colored polo, please wear an OSS middle school polo shirt.
- Uniform bottoms are not required for eLearning students during picture retakes. However, bottoms worn on campus should be appropriate for school.
Thank you for your participation. If you have questions concerning picture RETAKE day, please contact Mr. Kriebel.
OSS Outreach hosts Second Harvest food drive continues: November 10th
OSS Outreach would like send out a BIG thank you to all of the families that donated to our food drive on September 19th. With only two days notice, OSS families came together and showed just how wonderful and caring they are. We already knew how generous and kind our families were but, after seeing the amount of donations we received on just one day, really warmed our hearts here at school. It proves that even during tough times OSS families still take time and energy to help others. Thank-you for being the amazing people you are!
Middle and High School families that missed Picture Day will have an opportunity for Retakes on November 10th. On this day, OSS Outreach will continue their Food Drive! Please consider bringing non-perishables to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank on this day. These are their critical need items:
*canned fruits
*canned vegetables
*grains-rice, pasta, oatmeal
*canned meats in water, low sodium
*canned proteins such as beans-low sodium
*canned soups/meals low sodium
*baby food
*diapers all sizes
*toiletries-shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc
The OSS Outreach Club will have collection boxes at BOTH the Lynx and HS campuses. They will deliver all of your donations before Thanksgiving in order to help those in need in the greater Orlando area. Thank you for your support during this season of giving thanks!
NOW happening on campus: spirit days
assessments corner: important testing updates
a message from Mr. Koebe
Dear OSS Students and Families,
As you know, high school years are typically understood as particularly “assessment heavy.” From standardized testing like the SAT/ACT to AP exams and the FSA, it can be a lot of information to keep straight. Our goal with this section of the newsletter is to offer you an additional space to view current updates and to provide clarity on assessment details every Friday. Be sure to keep an eye on this section for important assessment updates and announcements! Continue to check your email for additional details and information regarding assessments throughout the year.
Best,
Nicholas Koebe
Admin-Testing and Instruction
Orlando Science High School
PSAT 8/9
SAT Testing Update
notice for 2019-2020 algebra 1 students
If your student was in Algebra I in 2019-2020, please review this information carefully. As a result of the schools closing, students were unable to participate in end-of-year assessments and will need to satisfy these important graduation requirements this year.
Algebra I: To satisfy the graduation requirement, students who were enrolled in Algebra I last year need to either earn a passing score on the FSA Algebra I EOC or earn a concordant PSAT/NMSQT ACT or Geometry EOC score. Please read the options below and make the best choice for YOUR student.
1. The preferred option is for students to participate in the OSS administration of the FSA Algebra I EOC test. The Algebra I ECO will take place at the OSS High School campus on November 9th AND 10th with all COVID health and safety guidelines in place. Additional information and a sign-up form will be sent through email soon.
2. 10th and 11th grade students who are unable to participate in the November 9th and 10th assessment (or who fail to earn a passing score on the November assessment), can satisfy the graduation requirement by scoring a 430 on the PSAT/NMSQT Math section. The opportunity for students to take the PSAT/NMSQT will be at the high school campus on January 26, 2021.
3. Students who are unable to earn a qualifying score on either the FSA Algebra I EOC or the PSAT/NMSQT, can satisfy the graduation requirement by earning a passing score on the Geometry EOC in the Spring of 2021.
4. As a final option, students can submit an ACT Math score of 16 or greater, or an SAT Math score of 420 or greater to Mr. Koebe and Ms. Bolat. OSS will administer the SAT in the Spring 2021 free of charge.
OSS is committed to student success. Should you need guidance determining which Algebra 1 testing option is best for your student, please contact Mr. Koebe.
notice for 2019-2020 Grade 10 ELA Students
If your student was in 10th grade ELA in 2019-2020, please review this information carefully. As a result of the schools closing, students were unable to participate in end-of-year assessments and will need to satisfy these important graduation requirements this year.
Grade 10 ELA: To satisfy the graduation requirement, students who were enrolled in Grade 10 ELA last year need to either earn a passing score on the Grade 10 ELA FSA Assessment, or earn concordant ACT/SAT score. Please see the two options below and make the best choice for your child.
1. The preferred choice is for students to take the Grade 10 ELA FSA Assessment at the OSS HS campus on November 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Additional information and a sign-up form will be sent through email.
2. Alternatively, Students can submit an ACT English and Reading score of 18 or greater, or an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 480 or greater to Mr. Koebe and Ms. Bolat.
3. The third option is for students to earn a 3 or better on the Grade 10 ELA FSA Retake Assessment offered at OSS HS in May 2021. Students who have not satisfied the graduation requirement before May, will be required to participate in this assessment.
OSS is committed to student success. Should you need guidance determining which Grade 10 ELA testing option is best for your student, please contact Mr. Koebe.
2019-2020 Biology and Geometry students
Biology and Geometry: Students who were enrolled in Geometry or Biology in 2019-2020 are NOT required to take the EOC assessments for these courses. Since earning a passing score on these exams is not tied to a graduation requirement, final grades for these courses were based solely on in-class performance.
PSAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)
The PSAT/NMSQT is the official route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program.
The College Board has offered two opportunities for schools to administer the PSAT/NMSQT this year. Since this assessment must be administered in person, and we want to give all our 10th and 11th graders the opportunity to participate, Orlando Science HS will participate in the secondary, January 26th assessment date. Be on the lookout for an email update regarding PSAT/NMSQT in the coming weeks.
We strongly encourage students to take time to review the full-length practice test before the assessment. Feel free to start looking over the materials now.
Progress Monitoring Activities (PMAs)
Students who are currently enrolled in classes with FSA/EOC assessments will participate in Q1 Progress Monitoring Activities (or PMAs). FSA/EOC courses are: Biology, U.S. History, Algebra I, Geometry and ELA 9th & 10th grades. These important benchmarks provide teachers with useful data that can be used to identify and target areas where students need the greatest level of support. The PMAs can be completed online from home, or online during face-to-face instruction. Teachers will share additional information soon.
America's Safe Schools Week & Unity Day October 21, 2020
Orlando Science High School is participating in this year's America's Safe Schools Week. Activities conducted during America’s Safe Schools Week draw attention to the continuing problem of school violence and educate everyone about how schools can be made safer and more secure. America’s Safe Schools Week offers an opportunity to address this very important issue and to take steps to ensure that schools offer students and teachers an environment which they can perform to the best of their abilities. There will be several activities throughout this week and more details will be provided!
At this time we would like to announce that on Wednesday, October 21st, students are welcome to Wear Orange for Unity Day and dress down. All dress down day guidelines apply.
OSS Unity Day shirts are available for purchase online, use the link below to order before October 2, 2020. Wear and share orange to show that we are together against bullying, and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
Make it ORANGE and make it end! What are your true colors when it comes to showing that you believe that all youth should be safe from bullying? Come together in one giant ORANGE message of hope and support, WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE to color our nation, and even the world, visibly showing that our society believes that no child should ever experience bullying.
OSS Middle High School Parent Volunteer Organization-pvo
PVO Registration & Dues
Dear Orlando Science Lynx Lane and Technology High School Families,
It is time to join the Parent Volunteer Organization (PVO)! 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. We are also asking that PVO members work with specific committees (School Improvement, Fundraising, Volunteer Work, Teacher Appreciation, Events, Etc.) See the registration form 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 every two months that will inform parents of progress, agendas, and upcoming events. **Due to the Pandemic, the PVO will host Zoom Meetings until further notice.**
We are so excited to connect with our families and create a wonderful environment on and off campus!
message from Ms. Proto
My name is Lisa Proto and I have volunteered to step into the HS PVO President role. I wanted to reach out to everyone and first say thank you for joining the PVO. I don’t have to tell you this is a ‘unique’ time for all of us, our children and the faculty at the schools. I come to you with experience being a part of an amazing team of parents in Vancouver Canada for over 3 years. My style, unfortunately is a very in person face-to-face style. I believe in bringing everyone together and sharing ideas over coffee/tea around the table. I also am a fan at staggering meetings in order to accommodate as many people as possible. Since we can not and should not gather in person right now, I have taken the liberty of scheduling 2 Zoom meetings for Wednesday, 10/7/20 at 9:00am and 6:00pm.
I hope you will be able to attend one of these and I look forward to virtually meeting and speaking with each of you.
Lisa Proto
OSS High School PVO President
Topic: OSS PVO Zoom Meeting
Time: Oct 7, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://flvs.zoom.us/j/85315889556
Meeting ID: 853 1588 9556
Passcode: 074914
Additions volunteers
HEALTH AND SAFETY COVID-19 PROCEDURES for students on campus
10/2/20
Welcome Back to Counseling Corner!
This week in my daily life, I’ve noticed many different situations where the public commentary turned into a hateful one. One where people condemned others for their “attention-seeking behavior,” and that got me thinking. So this week, we’ll be discussing attention-seeking.
I’m sure you can recall many instances of witnessing or engaging in attention-seeking behavior at some point in your life, whether it was watching a child scream in public or posting a photo of your new car, we all have engaged in behavior that can be considered attention-seeking. This is because humans are hard-wired to seek connection, belonging, attention, affection, and support.
We all have this desire and deep-rooted need to be heard, understood, recognized, and when we lack that, it can have hard-hitting consequences. Studies have shown us this much throughout the years. One study done just last year found that being ignored at work was more psychologically damaging than being actively harassed (Study found here). Another found that exclusion and rejection that happened socially was linked to an increase in depression, jealousy, anger, and sadness, while also adversely affecting the quality of sleep and the function of our immune systems (study found here).
Additionally, there’s a second side of this type of behavior, one that goes deeper. This is when we find people sharing stories of their pain, emotions, struggles. These are the times when someone posts they’re going through a break-up, that they’ve just lost their job, or that they’re just hurting right now. If they do this often, people may say, “oh here they go again” or some similar sentiment. We may look at these cries for help as just more attention-seeking behavior. Well let me stop you right there, let’s switch out the word “attention” for “support” and see what changes?
You can’t truly say “Wow, she’s so support-seeking” in an annoyed or sarcastic tone and have it feel valid can you? That’s because it changes the view and perception of the behavior. If we stopped and reframed it that way every time we felt that way about someone, it could lead us to realize that the person in question doesn’t really need any judgement, they are simply looking for support.
This behavior can stem from hurtful or traumatic events, such as deaths, break-ups, divorces, failures, struggles, etc. So when the person is already struggling and they hear something like, “oh here they go again,” it may cause them to either reach out harder in the only way they know how, or to retreat and stop looking for support, leading to self-isolation and all its assorted consequences. Essentially, when we see these behaviors, we have the ability to change our perception and offer support if we so choose. In conclusion, I urge you to reframe your thinking regarding “attention-seeking behavior” so that we can support those who are looking for it and be more sensitive and kind to the people who are fighting either very private or very public battles.
And as always, if you need anything, I’m happy to help!
All the best,
Ms. Perez
Felicia Perez, M.S/Ed.S
School Mental Health Counselor
Ms. Perez quote of the week
senior updates
Senior Portraits
SENIOR PORTRAITS: Seniors, don't forget you need to schedule your senior portraits. There are 2 ways to do so:
1. You can call the studio to schedule their sessions (407)802-2468
2. Click the button below to schedule a session via the website.
orca accolades
college and career corner
Volunteer opportunities and forms
Free reduced lunch application-updated for 2020-21
OSS TECHNICAL ISSUES?
- request OSS Connect credentials
- problems with Skyward access
- request technology
- reset passwords
- request login credentials
- any other issue related to technology
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.
OSS High School 2020-2021 Handbook
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 2020
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 2020-2021
OSS report card and Parent TEacher Conference (PTC) schedule
Orange County 2020-2021 School Calendar
upcoming events
1st High School PVO Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 7, 2020, 10:00 AM
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1st High SChool PVO Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 7, 2020, 06:00 PM
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Virtual College Tour
Monday, Oct 12, 2020, 01:00 PM
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Virtual College Tour
Sunday, Oct 18, 2020, 12:00 PM
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Unity Day
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020, 07:30 AM
OSS Middle High
Virtual College Tour
Sunday, Nov 8, 2020, 02:00 PM
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Picture Day Retakes
Tuesday, Nov 10, 2020, 08:00 AM
OSHS
OSS 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