OVCA High School Bison Blast
October 2016
In this edition...
OSU Campus Tour on October 4th
Upcoming Events
Fall Outing - Roller Skating on Nov. 2nd
Essay Contest - Deadline Oct. 5th
Order OVCA Merchandise!
Technology Policy and Safety
Teacher Shout Outs and Teacher of the Year Celebration
Fun for Students
Sequoyah Book Club
Fall into Fitness
K12 Clubs
Learning Liftoff
Learning Coach Resources
Video: Schedules and Routines
Video: Creating an Effective Learning Environment
Wednesday Workshop
Keep your Computer Running Smoothly
Booster Club Info
Getting Connected with OVCA Co-Op's
Learning Coach University
Language Assistance
More to know:
Academic Calendar
Important Websites
Archived issues
Wondering what events are coming up for OVCA this year?
Nov. 18th - Science Showcase in Tulsa and Oklaoma City
Dec. 2nd - Ice Skating Outing in Tulsa & Oklahoma City
Feb. - Virtual Education Day at State Capitol - (date TBD)
Feb 13-17 - Spirit Week (online)
May - Graduation (date TBA) *Cap and gown information coming soon
Broken Arrow Roller Sports - Fall Outing
$3 per skater (no charge if not skating)
No extra charge for roller blades
16 oz drink for each skater
snack bar is open for purchases
Click here to RSVP and reserve your spot!
Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016, 10:00 AM
551 W Oakland Pl, Broken Arrow, OK 74012, United States
Yukon on Wheels - Fall Outing
$3 per skater (no charge if not skating)
Roller blades available for additional $4
Snack bar is open for purchases
Click here to RSVP and reserve your spot!
Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016, 10:00 AM
24 E Main St, Yukon, OK 73099, United States
OVCA Teachers are the BEST!
Order your OVCA merchandise!
Hello OVCA Families,
We are selling some really AWESOME OVCA merchandise!!! If you were at Pizza in the Park you may have seen your teacher wearing these shirts. Now is your chance to purchase your own and show your OVCA pride!!! We are very excited to offer a variety of youth and adult shirts as well as hats and bags.
In February we will be representing OVCA for School Choice Day at the Capitol. During this time OVCA teachers will be wearing their shirts. This is a great time for you to come, meet your teacher and show your OVCA pride wearing your OVCA merchandise!
Below is the OVCA Store Link. The store is open NOW through Oct 23rd! Items will ship after the store closes and you should have them the first weeks in November!!!
All proceeds will go to fund our 9th- 12th grade High School Prom.
OVCA Teacher of the Year Celebration!
OVCA proudly honored Marina Johnson as Teacher of Year at the State Department of Education Teacher of the Year Recognition at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds
Mrs. Johnson teaches 8th graders to know their rights, how to become American citizens and ultimately how to become people who matter. She has taught for OVCA for 7 years. When asked why she continues to be a teacher Mrs. Johnson says, “ I stay because I believe I can make a difference in the lives of our families.”
Congratulations Mrs. Johnson!
Let's show our teachers some love!
Click on the link below and give your teachers a special shout out!
COLLEGE CORNER! CHECK THIS OUT!
COLLEGE CORNER!
Check out these colleges fairs near you!
Important information about paying for college...
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
*****Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will never ask for money to apply (if you get asked to pay a fee, you are on the wrong site).
The date you can begin to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is three months earlier this year - Oct. 1. The FAFSA is used by schools to determine eligibility for student financial aid and is considered the most important document in getting help paying for college.
It's advantageous to file it as soon as possible because some funding is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. New federal rules also change which year's tax information to use in the application.
A few things to know:
The FAFSA filing period used to open on Jan. 1 but it is now Oct. 1. You still have until June 30th to complete the form but again, filing early means a better shot at assistance.
Students and their families will also be required to report income from an earlier tax year, which is intended to make the process easier.
When the FAFSA application period opened on Jan. 1, many families rushed to apply but didn't have all the necessary tax information and had to estimate it. Now applicants will use tax returns from one year earlier. So those applying for aid for the 2017-2018 schoolyear will use their 2015 income information instead of 2016.
Families will be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer information from their federal income tax returns into the FAFSA. This will not only simplify the form, but also reduce the likelihood that the FAFSA will be selected for verification, Kantrowitz said. Any data that comes unmodified from the IRS to the FAFSA will not be subject to verification. Skipping verification will save families and colleges time and hassle, he said.
>>>>if 2016 income is lower than 2015, the family should appeal to the college financial aid administrator for a professional judgment review.
Completing the FAFSA earlier means families can receive critical information like the Student Aid Report (SAR) sooner, says lender Sallie Mae. The SAR includes the Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC, which provides a clearer picture about eligibility for financial aid as families make decisions about colleges.
ACT Prep Workshops
Click here for more information
PSAT Information
Dear OVCA Students,
The counseling department would like to make you aware of an upcoming opportunity to participate in the PSAT 10. Your local high school will choose a date to administer this exam between October 19 (Primary) or November 2 (Alternative) (OVCA is not administering the exam, you will work with your local high school to participate as an outside tester) Participation is not mandatory. You are being sent this information because you are eligible to participate if desired.
What is the PSAT 10?
The PSAT 10 is the same test as the PSAT/NMSQT but is offered in the spring semester. It is an excellent opportunity for practice but will not allow you to be considered for the National Merit Scholar Program. You must participate in the PSAT/NMSQT your junior year to be considered for the program. The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), cosponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is an important first step toward college. Test results and their accompanying analysis are valuable tools that can help prepare students for the SAT® and education opportunities beyond high school.
Who participates and why?
Each year, more than 3.5 million high school juniors, sophomores, and younger students take the PSAT/NMSQT to:
· Prepare for the SAT
· Enter competitions for scholarships (for more information, go to Scholarship and Recognition Programs)
· Receive information from colleges: (for more information, go to Student Search Service®)
· Begin college and career planning
· Help assess academic skills necessary for college-level work
The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s scholarship and recognition programs. Test-takers also receive My College QuickStart™, a free personalized college planning tool that includes access to MyRoad™, the College Board's online majors, college, and career exploration program.
Did you know?
In 2013, 56 percent of PSAT/NMSQT test-takers were sophomores or younger students. Younger test-takers have more time to develop the skills reported on Score Report Plus that they need to improve to succeed in high school and college. Students who take the test as sophomores need to take it again as juniors to qualify for National Merit scholarship programs.
How do I sign up?
Contact your local school high school to request the opportunity to participate as an outside tester. It is best to speak directly with the school counselor. Share with the counselor you are a student at OVCA and give them our CEEB code, 372541.
Is there a fee?
Yes, there is a minimum charge of $15. Schools may elect to add an additional fee to cover administration costs.
Who should I notify once I sign up?
Please CLICK HERE to complete a brief survey once you have signed up through your local school district.
Want to practice for FREE?
CLICK HERE try out sample questions and take a paper/pencil practice test.
Fall is a great time to get out and exercise!
Take time to relax, have fun,
and enjoy the beautiful weather!
Go Apple Picking
There are several orchards in Oklahoma that will allow you to pick your own apples. You can find the closest to you here:
http://www.americantowns.com/ok/features/apple-picking-and-apple-farms
Fly a Kite
Collect Fall Leaves - Even better, make a Pile of Leaves and Jump in them!
Have a Bonfire
Go on a Nature Hike - Top 100 hiking trails in Oklahoma
http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=40
Take a Hayride
Visit the Pumpkin Patch - There are so many to choose from!
This site separates them by county.
http://pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/OKpumpkins.php
Stuff a Scarecrow
Visit a Corn Maze - Here is a map of registered Corn Mazes
K12 Student Clubs
We love our Learning Coaches!
Introducing Wednesday Workshops
Click HERE to watch a 2 minute video from Nicole Ellison explaining what Wednesday Workshops are!
Check out the calendar to see which topics will be offered this school year @ http://ovca.k12start.com/calendar/
Are you an expert at one of the topics being offered? Or do you have vast experience as an LC and you would love to share your knowledge with others? PLEASE email Nicole Ellison at nellison@k12.com She is always looking for LC’s to share the mic!
Wednesday, October 5th 4pm – Creating A Schedule/Time Management
Wednesday, October 12th, 4pm – Annual Title I Parent Meeting
Click Here to AttendWednesday, October 19th, 4pm – What is Learned Helplessness?
Click Here to AttendWednesday, October 26th, 4pm – What are Grade Level Standards?
Check OLS for linkKeep your Computer Running Smoothly
Come Join the OVCA Booster Club!
Hello OVCA families!
The 2016-2017 school year is off to a great start and we are all getting back in the swing of things. We are looking forward to kicking off our Booster Club activities and we would love to have you join us! We have extended the deadline for nominations. Please see details and links below.
Booster Club Executive Committee nominations for the 2016-2017 school year are now open. Booster Club positions are volunteer positions. All volunteers must be OVCA Learning Coaches in good standing with the school. Please see below for open positions. Please mark any position that you would be interested in serving in and submit this form with your name, email and phone number. It takes you and all parents working together to make our school great. Booster Club is excited to see new and great things happening for our school and for our students. We appreciate you taking a moment to consider volunteering with the OVCA Booster Club. Nominations will close on October 7th. Elections will start October 10th and be concluded on the 14th.
Click here to read about the different positions available: Booster Club - Open Positions
Want to receive information about upcoming meetings and activities? Sign up here
Thank you for supporting OVCA students and families!
Join a Co-Op in your area!
Get Connected!
Co-Op pages have been created on Facebook to offer a place for collaboration and connecting families.
OVCA CO-OP South Central https://www.facebook.com/groups/1426537394234389/
OVCA CO-OP Northeast https://www.facebook.com/groups/168538123342038/
OVCA CO-OP North Central https://www.facebook.com/groups/547015578702224/
OVCA CO-OP Tulsa https://www.facebook.com/groups/1396437950590840/
OVCA CO-OP OKC https://www.facebook.com/groups/ovcacoop/
OVCA CO-OP Southwest https://www.facebook.com/groups/678593742152182/
Learning Coach University
K12 Learning Coach University™ was created to support the Learning Coaches who guide the schooling of their children at home. Online classes provide a clearer understanding of the developmental process of learning as well as effective strategies and resources to use at home to help every child succeed. Click here to view the October sessions.
Notification of Language Assistance Services
Any parent/guardian who is limited in speaking, writing, or reading English may request the school to provide access to services such as an interpreter and/or translated documents. To request services please email the ELL Coordinator, Nicole Ellison, at nellison@okvirtual.org
Want to check out previous newsletters?
OVCA High School - September Bison Blast 2016
OVCA High School - Back to School Newsletter 2016