Phinsider
October, 2020
Dear Families,
Your children have begun their school experience, and we have worked hard to get them off to a good start. I am very excited to serve you in my fifth year as your Principal. Last school year was an unprecedented one in the history of our educational system. At Ocean Lakes High School, our staff, parents, and students take a great deal of pride in offering the highest level of academic classes along with the belief that all students should be involved in and enjoy their high school experience. At Ocean Lakes, we believe in balance and a student-centered approach that allows students to choose the academic schedule that best facilitates their college and career goals—at the same time, making sure that they have the opportunity to attend high school sporting events, school dances, activities and to get involved with clubs and our community. Our staff does a tremendous job making Ocean Lakes a school that not only allows but encourages all students to get involved during their high school years! We are very proud to say that there is something for everyone at Ocean Lakes!
In the 2020-2021 school year, we are excited about building upon our successes and continuing our positive influence in the community. We will continue to focus on our Program for Continual Improvement Plan (PCI) as we regularly review data to evaluate, revise and refine our instruction to ensure all of our students are performing at their highest academic levels. This year we will continue professional development opportunities for our teachers, increase our outreach efforts, and continue to improve the equity and access for all students in our school.
I am looking forward to another fantastic school year in service to our students, parents, and community. We value the school’s partnership with families so that we can work together to ensure your child receives the excellent education each one deserves.
Welcome Option 1 Freshmen!
Virtual Tour of the Building
Option 1 Freshmen Go to School October 8
Going back into school this fall will require schools and families to work together even more than before. Schools will be making changes to their practices and operations with several goals: supporting learning; providing essential services, such as transportation, school meals, student support services, and extracurricular activities; and trying their best to limit the transmission of COVID-19. Teachers and staff will teach and encourage preventive behaviors at school. Likewise, it will be necessary for families to emphasize and model healthy behaviors at home. Thank you.
Do You Need Bus Information?
Important Dates
October 7 – End of Marking Period 1
October 8 – Option 1 Freshmen return to the building
October 13 – Report Cards post on ParentVue/Student Vue
Report cards will be paperless and generated on the morning of October 13. They will be immediately available for viewing on ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Student Sign-in and Sign-out
Below is the link for parents and students to use when they need to sign out. It is case sensitive. Parents can complete it in advance to expedite the early release process. Parents of 9th and 10th-grade students must come into the building to pick up their students. If you have questions, please email Lindsey Comfort at Lindsey.Comfort@VBSchools.com.
Planned Health and Safety Mitigation
When staff and students are physically present in our building, Ocean Lakes is committed to their safety first. The following health mitigation and instructional strategies will be in place:
• Cloth face coverings will be required for students, staff, and visitors within the school building, at bus stops, and on busses, unless individuals provide documentation from a health care provider that they are unable to wear a face-covering due to a health condition or for developmental reasons.*
• While moving throughout the building, students will practice 6-foot physical distancing and avoid congregating.
• Student desks are separated by three feet in all classrooms.
• Exercise and other activities that increase exhalation (i.e., singing) will take place outdoors or where appropriate social distancing can be maintained.
• Arrival and dismissal plans support social distancing (i.e., designated entrances, unload/load buses one at a time, etc.).
• The number of visitors allowed into a building is limited. Visits by authorized adults, including parents, should be arranged by appointment.
• Materials such as student supplies and lab equipment will be shared as little as possible.
• Protective partitions are placed in strategic locations throughout the building (e.g., high traffic areas).
• Students and staff who are sick or exposed to COVID-19 are required to stay home and self-quarantine for 14 days.
• Large gatherings are suspended. This includes pep rallies, faculty meetings, etc.
• Field trips are postponed until further notice.
• Staff have been trained on how to talk to and support students during and after this pandemic.
• Signage will be posted in classrooms, hallways, office spaces, and entrances to communicate: Covid-19 symptoms, how to stop the spread and preventative measures, and good hygiene.
• Enhanced facility cleaning protocols.
*Early data shows a face-shield is 95% effective in preventing the transmission of droplets from the mouth into the air or towards another individual in close proximity from the mouth. A face shield can be considered if a cloth-face covering cannot be used.
Water Refill Station Access
Reflections - What It Is and How It Works
What it is:
National PTA's Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+-year-old program helps kids explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is I Matter Because... Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.
How it works:
- Select one or more categories to enter and review category rules by visiting: Reflection Rules
- Students are welcome to enter in more than one category; however, a separate entry form and submission is needed for each.
- Create your entry.
- Be sure that no identifying information is on the front of the entry, as all judging is completed anonymously.
- Fill out an OLHS entry form(attached below), be sure to have a parent signature.
All entries will be submitted electronically here: 2020 Reflections Submissions
- Check your file type and file size requirements here: Reflection Rules
- Please name all file attachments as follows: First initial of first and last name, school, grade, category, and entry title. Example: A.B.OLHS.9.Literature.Imatterbecause
- Confirm you have the entry form with parent signature and click submit.
Top entries from each category will move on to the Virginia Beach City level and potentially state and national level! Deadline for entry: October 23rd, 2020.
Secondary Schools Attendance Procedures in the Virtual Environment Class
Daily Attendance
- Students are expected to participate in daily, real-time, synchronous (live) learning.
- The teacher will take daily attendance by noting all students physically present in the synchronous session as "present" and students not in attendance as "absent."
- If a student is not physically present during the synchronous session but shows engagement through either of the actions noted below by midnight on the same day of the class, the absence will be changed to a tardy.
- An absence will become a tardy if the student logs into Schoology or another learning tracking system used by the teacher and accesses content as demonstrated by participation in online activity.
- An absence will become a tardy if the student communicates with the teacher on the same day to discuss learning missed. The student is also expected to post assignments that were part of the day's synchronous learning session.
- If either of the above is completed/done to the satisfaction of the teacher, the teacher will change "absent" to "tardy." Please allow at least 24 hours for the teacher to make the change.
Note: We are not addressing tardiness in the virtual environment as when students are in-person learning.
What Makes a Successful Online Learner?
Teachers are used to setting up classroom expectations at the start of the school year—a sort of student-teacher contract. These will be even more important during this unusual year. I have identified ground rules that will serve students in the virtual setting well:
- Be fully present. Students should work from a designated workspace that offers privacy and is distraction-free. But wherever a student works, the expectation remains the same: sit up straight and engage the camera with your eyes, the same way you would any person speaking to you.
- No pajamas allowed. Students' mindset should be that it is a school day, even if they are not physically present in school. This means getting dressed and ready for the day.
- Cameras on. Teachers would like students to leave their cameras on whenever possible. There are few reasons to keep the camera off and no need to hide behind a deactivated camera.
- Stand up! At least some of the time. A student's energy will translate better than if they are sitting - especially if they energetic, you.
- Treat online classes like classroom classes. Students should not eat while engaged in videoconferencing, nor should they be using their phones or any other software or video game on their computer.
- Attend individual meetings. Teachers may set aside time for one-on-one sessions with students to provide feedback, support, or remediation. These meetings are often critical to student success.
Clubs and Activities
At Ocean Lakes, we encourage our students to become involved in extracurricular activities. Participating in a club or other school activity allows you to connect with people. You'll find yourself interacting with individuals from different social groups with whom you share similar interests, which means you'll make long-lasting friendships. Additionally, engaging in interests outside the classroom gives you a much-needed break from your schoolwork. Extracurriculars can inspire you and help you become more invested in the school. And – despite the effort it takes to fit it into your schedule – you'll find yourself smiling because you're doing something that makes you happy. For a complete list of Ocean Lakes High School Clubs and Activities can be found under Student Resources in OLHS Student Information (LiveBinder) or by using the link below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VuKEVhB2X3kRytr7iBjl5euYrANweTYsybeGzxj1uRw/editVisitors to the Building
Do you need more information?
New Student Information Guide
Ocean Lakes High School
Email: Claire.Leblanc@VBSchools.com
Website: https://oceanlakeshs.vbschools.com/
Location: 885 Schumann Drive, Virginia Beach, VA
Phone: (757) 648-5550
Facebook: facebook.com/olhsdolphins/?scrlybrkr=e61ac155
Twitter: @OceanLakeHS