OCEAN Newsletter
November 3, 2023
Here are the new announcements in this newsletter:
- Save The Date! November 16 Multicultural Nite
“Midsummer Night’s Dream” Update, INFO Night, & Auditions
"Midsummer Night's Dream" Volunteers Needed
- ORCA Updates
- Monthly Meal for OCEAN Teachers & Staff
- OCEAN Lost and Found
- OCEAN Food Pantry
Save The Date! November 16 Multicultural Nite
Mark your calendar to attend the first ever OCEAN School K-12 Multicultural Nite, a celebration of cultures from around the world! All students and families are welcome and encouraged to attend. Thursday, Nov 16th, 5-7pm @ Blue Heron MS Commons.
SIGN UP HERE if your student or family would like to present at the multicultural nite. In addition to each student bringing a trifold or other work from home to represent their culture, students and families are also invited to present from the stage as part of the evening's program. These offerings can be 1-5 minutes in length and range from performances, poetry, saying hello or counting in a different language, telling a story, sharing a cultural dance, or anything else that feels culturally relevant for your student or family. Talk to your conferencing teacher for support or email orcaparentgroup@gmail.com. Thank you for your participation!
MATERIALS AND FUNDS AVAILABLE: New trifold poster boards and a limited number of prepaid $25 Visa cards are available to any family who would benefit from these resources. Trifolds can be picked up in Daniel's classroom. The gift cards can be used as needed but are especially to support families to bring a cultural food item to the multicultural nite. Talk to your conferencing teacher or visit Shannon or Sarah in the OCEAN office to pick up a Visa Card.
“Midsummer Night’s Dream” Update, INFO Night, & Auditions
Our OCEAN K-12 school theatre production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is coming up soon. “Midsummer”, set in western Ireland and featuring a live traditional Irish band, puppetry, and more, will rehearse in Jan, Feb, & March 2024 with 2 weekends of public performances March 15-24.
Click here to see our webpage with much more detail!
Important Upcoming Dates:
• Wed, Nov. 8th; 5:15 PM - "Midsummer Night Dream" INFO Night, via Zoom.
Students and parents are invited to this short Zoom session, when Marc and the team will provide info and answer questions about the production. Even if you are just considering participating in this wonderful project, please attend to learn more and see if/how you might want to participate.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88397429904
• Tues, Nov. 28th; “Midsummer” AUDITIONS (Required to act in the play)
9:00-10:30 AM - Elementary - K-5
12:00-2:00 PM - Middle & High School - 6-12
All interested K-12 students must fill out and turn in (to MB) an Audition Form BEFORE Thanksgiving. The form will ask for your schedule / availability in Jan, Feb, March. (Please ask parents to verify accuracy.)
Hard copy forms are available at OCEAN (MB’s room) and also as PDF on our webpage, which you can download and print yourself if you prefer. Please turn in your completed hard copy form to MB, before Thanksgiving.
See more details on the Auditions on our webpage.
• Mon, Dec. 4th; 1:40 - 3:40 PM; Full Cast Meet-up and Prep Session (Required to act in the play)
All students cast to act in the play are required to attend this first meeting and prep session. Scripts will be handed out, questions answered, and we will provide tips on how best to understand Shakespeare, highlight your script, learn your lines, and prepare for rehearsals starting in January. Parents are welcome to attend this session if you wish.
"Midsummer Night's Dream" Volunteers Needed
Parents, Guardians Friends - Are you interested in helping out with our production?
We are looking for adult volunteers in Tech Production (Costume, Puppet, Prop construction), as well as fundraising, marketing, flyer distribution, box office, ushering, concessions, and more. Volunteer duties will gain traction in early winter as rehearsing and marketing ramps up, but we would love to get a solid list started, with a potential fundraising event need in December.
So far, our crew of help is really fun and focused on creating a very special experience for our students. We'd love to have you involved!
Please email Danny McEnerney at Hellodanny@outlook.com with what you might be interested in helping out with. We also encourage you to attend "Midsummer Info Night) via Zoom on Wed, Nov. 8 @ 5:15 PM to learn more.
* Don't forget, all volunteers who work with students will need to complete a background check here. Thank you!
ORCA Updates
The 2nd Annual OCEAN School Campout was a blast! Thanks to all who made it another memorable event. Also, it was great to see so many folks at the 1st ORCA meeting on Oct 11th at The Nest. Didn't make it? Review the Oct Meeting Notes to stay in the loop.
- ORCA Meetings will be quarterly. Next meetings: January & April 2024
- Parent Liaison Program will launch in November! Stay tuned to learn how parents/caregivers can get connected and support the teachers and students in each grade group (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12).
- Sign up to show your food love by preparing a meal for the OCEAN teachers/staff.
Monthly Meal for OCEAN Teachers & Staff
The OCEAN teachers and staff greatly appreciate support from those who are able to provide a nourishing meal or hearty snack 1 x month on their busy Friday conference days. They are often hustling between conferences and knowing there is a meal waiting in the office is an amazing gift to them. Show your appreciation for our amazing OCEAN staff with food! *SIGN UP TO FEED THE OCEAN STAFF. A big thank you to the OCEAN community for your food love!! Questions? Email arica_simmer@yahoo.com.
OCEAN Lost and Found
OCEAN School Little Food Pantry
We have opened a small food pantry in the OCEAN office to provide non-perishable foods for OCEAN students and families. Feel free to stop by and check it out. The pantry is available for everyone to use. You are welcome to stop by and pick items up any time the office is open.
If you have non-perishable items to contribute please drop them off at the office. Any questions please see Shannon or Sarah.
New announcements:
OCEAN Highlights
See what has been happening at OCEAN.
Information from previous newsletters:
End of High School Quarter 1
November 3 is the end of the high school first quarter. Families will receive report cards in the mail. The report cards serve as a mid semester progress report. If you have concerns about your student's grades please reach out to your student's teachers.
RSVP: Senior Family Financial Aid Advising Day Nov 27
OCEAN will be hosting a Financial Aid Advising Day on November 27th, 1-3pm during students Path to Graduation Class and after school at 5pm for parents to get more information and complete the FSA ID portion of the Financial Aid Application. We are working with community partners Krista DeHart with NW Washington STEM Network and Abby Rand with Peninsula College to support in this process.
Our volunteers will come in and describe the new process for applying and setting up their FSA ID number which is necessary for applications. Students will need to know or bring their social security number to start this process. Parents also need a FSA ID to complete their part of the application and will need their social security number as well. Our community volunteers Krista and Abby will meet with parents on the same day between 5-6pm. Our volunteers would like parents and guardians to RSVP beforehand to confirm their attendance. Please reach out to our School Counselor Emily Eldridge at eeldridge@ptschools.org or Sarah Rubenstein at srubenstein@ptschools.org to confirm your attendance.
Our volunteers will return January 22nd, 1-3pm for students and 5-6pm to support in completing applications for Financial Aid. Students and families will be able to get support in applying for FAFSA or WASFA.
New OCEAN Phone Numbers
There are new phone numbers for all OCEAN phones. Please note the new numbers and replace previous numbers in your contacts.
(360) 680 -5750, OCEAN Office, Shannon White - Secretary
(360) 680 -5754, Sarah Rubenstein - Principal
(360) 680 -5634, Emily Eldridge - Counselor
(360) 680 -5654, Koyuki Fritchman
(360) 680 -5655, Judd Farris
(360) 680 -5656, MB Armstrong
(360) 680 -5657, Daniel Molotsky
(360) 680 -5751, Lisa Olsen
(360) 680 -5752, Katie Quimby
(360) 680 -5653, Kyle Reynolds
(360) 680 -5753, Michelle Kowals
Upcoming Events
- November 3, End of High School Quarter 1, Grades mailed home
- November 10, No School Veteran's Day
- November 16, No OCEAN Classes, Conferencing Day
- November 16, Multicultural Night
- November 20-24, No School Thanksgiving Break
About OCEAN K-12
Email: srubenstein@ptschools.org
Website: https://ocean.ptschools.org/
Location: 3939 San Juan Ave, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360-680-5750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceank12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceank12
Non-discrimination statement
Port Townsend School District No. 50 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, immigration status, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator, Darrell Thomas, (360) 379-4548,dthomas@ptschools.org
Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Shelby MacMeekin, (360) 379-4366, smacmeekin@ptschools.org
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Darrell Thomas, (360) 379-4548, dthomas@ptschools.org