Orlando Science Schools Lynx Campus
Issue 36
Weekly Newsletter: May 15, 2020
A message from Dr. Akin
Principal's Corner
Dear Orca Families and Students,
Thank you for your support of Orlando Science Schools! I hope everyone had a productive week!
We are celebrating our Teacher Appreciation Week beginning May 18th through May 22nd. Be sure to let your teachers know how much you appreciate them this week.
I am pleased to announce that Orlando Science Middle/High is certified as a National School of Character! Congratulations to all students who demonstrate an exemplary attitude, genuine and authentic good character. Orcas, your positive behavior, good character, and role model to each other made this recognition come true. Thank you, all students, staff, families, and community, for demonstrating and promoting good character at OSS!
We continue to recognize our teacher of the Month's Orcas, please join me to congratulate Ms. Killian for being the Teacher of the Month. Ms. Killian works really hard and goes above and beyond for her students. Thank you, Ms. Killian, for being a role model in our school and we appreciate your dedication to our students each day.
Orcas, your yearbook is still on sale! If you have not purchased your yearbook yet, you can still do so. The purchase link may be found below.
Please 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.
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
OSS MIDDLE HIGH IS A NATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHARACTER
Character.org has announced that Orlando Science Schools Middle High has been named a 2020 National School of Character!
National certification is the highest level of distinction bestowed by Character.org. Schools receiving this designation have demonstrated excellence in establishing a school culture that exemplifies and brings to life The 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character.
Thank you to all the students, parents, guardians, teachers, administrators, and staff for working together to make OSS a National School of Character.
OSS Middle High is celebrating our teachers next week, May 18th-22nd, for our annual Teacher Appreciation Week! To see how you can help make this week extra special for them, please use the link below. Here you can share student video clips, send kind messages and surprise teachers with a gift from their Amazon Wishlists. Thank you for helping to make our amazing teachers feel special!
sign up for locker clean out
Attention Lynx Students: Please use this form to sign up for a 10-minute time slot to clean out your locker and return any necessary items. Students may only sign up for ONLY ONE TIME SLOT or their appointments will be deleted from the schedule. 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 Lynx 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 Lynx building using the FRONT DESK ENTRANCE.
- STUDENTS MUST WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR AT ALL TIMES while in the school building. This includes both a mask/face covering and gloves for the hands. Gloves will be provided if needed, but we do not have face masks/coverings.
- 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 exactly at your scheduled time. If you arrive early you must wait in your vehicle.
- It is recommended that students bring a bag or container to carry their belongings.
- Students will EXIT THE BUILDING using the dismissal exit door. Parents/guardian may wait in the dismissal area for their student to exit the building. All occupants must remain in their vehicle at all times.
- If school textbooks/library books/school property is being returned, please deposit it at the front entrance table.
- Medical items at the front desk may be retrieved by a parent or guardian only, during your appointment time.
- Students will be allowed to retrieve their instruments during their appointment, and any other items they may have left in the building.
- PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE SCHOOL IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY COVID19 SYMPTOMS WITHIN THE LAST 72 HOURS. If you need to cancel, please do so on this sign up genius.
Thank you for your participation. If you have questions concerning the locker clean-out, please contact Mrs. Santos at julie.santos@orlandoscience.org
congratulations class of 2020! a well done job!
summer reading assignments
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We’re excited to share our Summer Reading list for the 2020-2021 school year. We continue to adjust the program to give students the best possible experience while also upholding the desire to turn them into life-long readers. We know that people who read are more successful in all spheres of life, and we want to give your child her/his best opportunity to be successful both here at OSS and beyond. Linked below, you’ll find the summer reading lists. Please note that you do not need to purchase copies of these books and the only summertime requirement is that all books are read prior to the first day of school. All additional work regarding the novel will be assigned after school has begun.
This year, all middle school students are required to pick 1 novel from the 2020-2021 Sunshine State Reading List. Students will read one book from that list as their choice novel and we will complete a project once we return to school. It is important that the novel is read prior to the start of school so that students would have ample time to complete the project. Project requirements will be given out during the first 2 weeks of school and will be counted as the first major grade in the English Language Arts classes. Students will turn in the answer sheet to their ELA teacher in August.
In addition to the Sunshine State book, students are asked to read and complete all the short stories for their designated grade level. Students are to answer all the questions that come after the stories, unless otherwise stated. These short stories will give students the insight of what our curriculum will be like and will have different genres that we will be using this year. The short stories packet will be due the first week of school. Packets are available on the main OSS web site if the student needs an additional copy.
We hope that, at the end of their time at OSS, all our students leave with a deep love of the English language and for the stories that connect us. We hope that the summer reading will give students insight as to what to expect from their English Language Arts classes this year. We hope that they are more compassionate, thoughtful, and intelligent people. We hope that they will develop wisdom and the ability to look beyond the surface of a thing to see its deeper truths, whether that “thing” is a book, a political situation, or another person. We hope that they are wise and just and true in their dealings with the world, and we know that great literature can help them to become all of those things. We thank you for entrusting them to us, and we thank you for your support as we guide them through these literary encounters, even those that may not make immediate sense to you. We also welcome your feedback and conversation.
If you have any questions regarding the middle school summer reading, please contact Katrina Frunker (frunker@orlandoscience.org).
Sincerely,
The OSS Middle School ELA Department
It’s important to note that students are expected to complete all summer reading prior to the first day of school. Please make arrangements to complete the reading even if you will be traveling during the summer as only those students who register after the 2020-2021 school year has begun will be exempt from this expectation. The project will be completed during the school year but not during class time. Every student is expected to complete the project on time and participate in the literacy event(s) that will be held during first semester. This is part of their ELA grade.
INCOMING 7th Graders:
1. One book from the summer reading list (see linked list)
2. Short stories in packet (assigned by teacher)
INCOMING 8th Graders:
1. One book from the summer reading list (see linked list)
2. Short stories in packet (assigned by teacher)
Thank you Robotsakers and DeCourcy family!
Thank you to the Robotsakers and the DeCourcy family for creating and donating this beautiful custom planter to the Lynx Campus! We will be installing the new planter by the front door of our Lynx campus. We are so grateful for this generous gift, and the beauty it will bring to our campus.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON OSS CONNECT EVERYDAY!
Order 8th grade caps and gowns today!
Parents and guardians may now order an 8th Grade Graduation cap, gown, and tassel, directly from Graduation Source, and have it shipped to their address. The deadline to purchase is May 31st.
Viewing Q4 progress reports
Due to the current distance learning environment, we will not be printing paper copies of Quarter 4 Progress Reports. Instead, we are making them available through your child's OSS Connect account. To access the Progress Report, follow the steps provided in the link below.
OSS EVENT CANCELLATIONS 2020
In accordance with the best practices, the following OSS events have been cancelled:
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.
Virtual Social Support
A MESSAGE FROM MS. PEREZ
Hello Friends!
Welcome back to Counseling Corner! This week we’ll be discussing the concept and practice of gratitude. One simple word, usually used once a year in public (November), yet has significant benefits to our lives overall. Let’s get into it!
Gratitude is a practice. It is considered as such because it is most helpful and effective when practiced daily/weekly (like training for a sport, dance, gymnastics, drawing, singing, acting etc.). First, I’ll share with you some benefits of practicing gratitude.
· Practicing gratitude helps us disconnect from toxic, negative emotions and the ruminating that usually accompanies those emotions.
· Practicing gratitude has been linked with better sleep! It has shown to improve not only the duration of sleep but it’s quality too. This effect is heightened when gratitude is practiced within 15-20 minutes of bedtime (i.e. writing in a gratitude journal among other ideas).
· When someone expresses or receives gratitude, dopamine is released in the brain, thus leading to a connection between the behavior and feeling good! The more people practice gratitude, the more often dopamine is released.
· Practicing gratitude is linked to lower blood pressure.
· Practicing gratitude can increase self-esteem and energy, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and improve our mental and emotional health overall.
· Practicing gratitude has been shown to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation and self-harm thoughts.
· Practicing gratitude helps us even when we don’t share it with someone! We’re happier and more satisfied because we’ve completed the exercise.
· Practicing gratitude can increase feelings of connectedness with others.
· Practicing gratitude has been show to improve overall physical health, so it seems practicing gratitude can lead to practicing healthier choices for ourselves in general.
“Okay okay, we get it Ms. Perez, Gratitude is great, now what?”
I’m going to list a few different ways you can practice gratitude; it’s recommended to use these practices at least twice a week to begin seeing benefits. Obviously the more you practice, the easier it becomes, but at least 2-3 times a week is the sweet spot. You can always practice more than that though!
· Writing in a gratitude journal daily (or at least 2 to 3 times a week)
· Write a gratitude letter weekly (you can mail it if you want, but you don’t have to. Just writing it at all is helpful).
· Meditate on gratitude (you can find guided gratitude meditations on YouTube for free).
· Create visual reminders to practice gratitude (post-it notes on your mirror or wall, art pieces, small notes in your planners).
· Acknowledge yourself: Take some time to express gratitude for the things you’ve done or the things you’re proud of. It can be as simple as, “I’m grateful I made it through the day, it was tough but I did it,” or “I’m proud of myself for finishing my to-do list this week!”
BONUS: expressing gratitude for the qualities you admire about yourself can be a huge boost for your self-esteem. This can mean statements like, “I’m grateful that I’m funny,” “I’m grateful that I’m thoughtful with my family and friends,” or “I’m grateful that I can draw.”
· Practice saying “thank you,” in a meaningful way. Include what exactly you’re saying thank you for and how it makes you feel. Here’s an example: “Thank you so much for sharing my fundraising post with your family. It makes me really happy to know I have your support!”
· Make a list of the things, people, and places you are grateful for and either leave it as is or make a collage out of it. Keep the gratitude list in a place where you can easily access it in case you want to add to it or if you need a pick-me-up.
· Practice giving affirmations to people you care about (bonus points if you give them to yourself too!). An affirmation is a positive, short phrase that provides emotional support or encouragement. Here’s a few examples of affirmations: “You are so thoughtful,” “You always make me laugh,” “You always come up with the best solutions,” and, “I admire how open you are about your feelings.”
Practicing gratitude has a ton of benefits and it’s extremely easy to try. I urge you to practice gratitude in any of the ways listed above for 2 weeks, and notice how it affects your mood, your energy levels, your relationships with others, and your relationship with yourself. Ready, set, go!
And as always, I’m here if you need anything!
All the best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez's Quote of the Week
Thank you Ms. Killian for being a role model in our school and being an excellent grade level team lead. We appreciate your dedication to our students each day.
CONGRATULATIONS TO our April teacher of the month, Ms. Killian!
congratulations to our international night contest winners!
We are proud to recognize the work of students William S. (8th grade) and Nivedita S. (7th grade). They participated in and won the contest to create a logo for the International Night 2020 flyer. This contest was created by Spanish teacher Mrs. Fonseca and International Club facilitator Mrs. Butler. Even though the contest has not been finalized, we would like to recognize the work of these 2 students as the winning designs!
Nivedita S. (7th grade)
William S. (8th grade)
enjoy these heartfelt messages from our teachers and staff, wishing you all continued success during this time of distance learning!
** Please turn your volume all the way up to ensure the best sound quality on all clips **
DL BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES AND STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AGREEMENT
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.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING
We hope all of our Orca families are well and safe. In preparation for Distance Learning to begin on Monday, March 30th, here are three internet resources to help ensure everyone has access to the internet:
Xfinity hotspots are available for FREE, click here for the interactive map: https://wifi.xfinity.com/
AT&T: https://m.att.com/shopmobile/internet/access/
Spectrum/Charter: https://www.spectrum.com/b…/content/spectrum-internet-assist
ORANGE COUNTY LIBRARY DIGITAL MATERIAL ACCESS
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
DOWNLOAD THE NEW OSS APP FOR ANDROID AND APPLE
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 Lynx Campus PVO President
Orca families, please join us in congratulating and welcoming Amelia Lyons to her new role as the Lynx Lane Campus PVO President! We at Orlando Science Schools are thrilled to be working alongside her on future campus events, activities, and community projects.
Currently the director of the University of Central Florida’s History MA Program, Amelia Lyons has a passion for education and the environment of support that a school inherently provides.
She has been with the UCF History Department for the 14 years that she has been a Florida resident, the move being sparked by this career opportunity.
Prior to her move to Florida, she spent her adolescent years in Buffalo, New York. Her scholarly studies took her to Southern California during her pursuit of higher education at the University of California, Irvine. She and her husband Steve Bubar has been married for 20 years, and are the proud parents of two sons, Leo and Mark.
In case anyone is looking for some fun facts about Modern European History, World Wars, Decolonization, Algerian Migration and Settlement, or French Colonialism, she is a fantastic resource as those are her areas of educational specialty. We are honored to have such a valuable member of our school and local community join us in such a meaningful role.
Join OSS MIddle/High pvo
OSS Middle High Parents: Welcome back to school! We have some wonderful events planned to make this year a memorable one for our Orcas. Join us in helping to make these events a huge success and register below. We look forward to working with you!
Easy Ways to Give Back to OSS Middle!
The Box Tops Program is all new for 2020!
BoxTops has a NEW way for schools to earn money from your purchases! See the details below. Thank you for your support of OSS!
AmazonSmile
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.
OfficeDepot Gives Back
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
Report Card Dates and PTC Schedule
OSS Middle Handbook
Orlando Science Lynx Lane Campus
Email: info@orlandoscience.org
Website: www.orlandoscience.org
Location: 2427 Lynx Lane, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407)253-7304
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandoscience/
Twitter: @OrlandoSciMH