ACADEMIC VIRTUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT |
|
Attention parents and guardians: We hope you will join us on Thursday, September 2 for our Academic Virtual Back-to-School Night, where you will learn about the educational experiences taking place in our classes this year, all from the comfort and safety of your home! We believe this is an important opportunity for you to get to know your student’s teachers and receive an overview of their academic courses. The schedule and information on how to access each class via Zoom can be found here.
Additionally, we hope you can attend Counselor’s Corner, an informative session with the school counselors, to learn about the counseling program and the support the counselors provide to OCSA students throughout the year. Please click here to join at 4:45 p.m., prior to the academic sessions.
Please be aware that there will be no conservatory classes on Thursday, September 2 due to this event. Additionally, there is no school the following day on Friday, September 3 in light of a Staff Professional Development Day.
We can’t wait to see you on Zoom next week!
|
|
PARENT SQUARE COMMUNICATIONS |
|
If you or your student have not been receiving communications from Parent Square Communications (previously Aeries Communications) via email or text, there may be an extra step needed to verify your information. Please be sure you have confirmed your communications preferences in your Aeries account. To do so, click on the “Communications” tab and follow the steps provided to verify. If you need additional support, please contact OCSA Tech Support at techsupport@csarts.net.
|
|
REGISTER FOR THE PSAT/PRE-ACT |
|
Sophomore and junior families: Registration is now open for the PSAT and Pre-ACT for students in 10th and 11th grades at www.MySchoolBucks.com. The registration deadline for both exams is Friday, September 10 at 9 p.m.
It is recommended that students take both of these practice college entrance exams in order to discover which test they prefer. Both tests will be administered on the OCSA campus. The PSAT is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, while the Pre-ACT is scheduled for Saturday, October 23. Please note that these tests are for OCSA students only.
|
|
Club times are fun times! It's that time of year again; please remind your student that the application to create a club is now open for the fall semester. Students can join the Google Classroom with code gxcobnc for more information and to access the application link. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31.
Mark your calendars! Club Rush will occur during lunch on Wednesday, September 8 and Friday, September 10. Details are still being finalized, so keep an eye on the Google Classroom for updates. For those who are unaware, Club Rush is an exciting biannual event where club leaders showcase their clubs and attract interested students to join. Students can still join clubs after Club Rush, and there will be a file posted in the Google Classroom that lists where and when all clubs meet.
|
|
OCTA YOUTH RIDE FREE PROGRAM |
|
We are pleased to share that OCSA will be participating in the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) Youth Ride Free Program! Starting in September, children ages 6 to 18 will be able to ride the bus anywhere in Orange County for free every day with a specialty pass. To opt in to this program, parents can pick up a release form at the front desk of the Tower. Once the completed form is returned to the front desk, a pass will be given to the student. Please visit the OCTA website for more information about this program.
|
|
ENTERTAINMENT WORK PERMITS |
|
With students back on campus, OCSA is returning to its regular process for handling Entertainment Work Permits (EWP).
Students applying for an EWP must have satisfactory semester grades of “C” or better in all classes from the previous semester and have maintained regular attendance in each class. Students who do not meet these criteria will have the opportunity to resubmit their EWP applications the following semester.
To request an EWP, please follow the steps below:
-
Download the EWP application from the Department of Industrial Relations Labor Commissioner’s Office.
- Parents complete Section A and provide a signature under Section C.
- Students submit their EWP application to the School Registrar (Student Services Office, Humanities Tower, Room 101) for Section B approval, signature, and official stamp. Please allow a minimum of 24 hours turnaround time.
- Students can pick up their signed applications from the Student Services Office during Block 7 the following day. Please note that applications submitted on a Friday will not be ready for pick up until Tuesday of the following week.
During the first two weeks of school and after school holidays, please expect a longer turnaround time for EWP application approval and plan ahead.
|
|
FINAL CHANCE TO REQUEST GRADE CHANGES |
|
We would like to remind families of students in grades 10-12 that, in response to Assembly Bill 104, a process has been created for students to request that high school grades earned during the 2020-2021 school year be changed from letter grades to Credit or No Credit marks. This process applies only to students who attended high school during the 2020-2021 school year.
OCSA parents/guardians have the right to request a Credit/No Credit grade for any class their student was enrolled in the 2020-2021 school year. If this change is requested, grades would be changed from an A, B, C, or D to a "Credit" on their transcript or from an F to a "No Credit."
If you would like to make this request, please complete the Grade Change Form by the end of the day TODAY, Friday, August 27.
|
|
PROGRAM ADVERTISING DEADLINE APPROACHING |
|
Don’t miss out – this is your last chance to secure an ad in this year’s yearlong performance program! If you plan to sell or purchase advertising space in our programs, please remember that the due date for ad forms, artwork, and payment is this coming Tuesday, August 31. Detailed information can be found on our website at www.ocsarts.net/Advertising. If you have questions, please contact Becky Parsons, Family Liaison, at becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 5535.
|
|
As a reminder, weekly COVID-19 testing is available to all faculty and staff, as well as to students and families as an extra health and safety resource. The school offers free weekly COVID-19 testing on the OCSA campus every Monday in the Symphony Hall lobby from 1:30-5:30 p.m. by appointment. Walkups may be possible based on availability.
Please visit our COVID-19 Dashboard for registration information and to schedule your appointment. If anyone arrives at the test site without a prior appointment scheduled, the nurse will have a QR code available that the patient can scan to schedule their test.
As a reminder, all K-12 school employees and volunteers will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing as mandated by the State of California. OCSA Administration is currently in the process of collecting this information from employees, school contractors, and volunteers to be in compliance prior to the deadline of Friday, October 15.
|
|
All information about OCSA’s COVID-19 policies and procedures, as well as important health and safety resources, is available on our COVID-19 Dashboard.
On this page, you can also access the COVID-19 Reporting Form. If you have been on the OCSA campus and receive a positive COVID-19 test, have a possible exposure to COVID-19, or experience COVID-19 symptoms, we ask that you please report it to the school through this form as soon as you can.
As a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19. For more information regarding COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens, please click here.
We will continue to update the OCSA community as we monitor and adjust to the most recent guidelines.
|
|
FRANKENCITY NEEDS YOUR STORIES |
|
This year, the Acting, Commercial Dance, Creative Writing, Digital Media, Film & Television, Musical Theatre, and Production & Design Conservatories are all teaming up to produce an original, social activism collaboration called Frankencity. This unique event aims to raise awareness and empathy for those experiencing a lack of adequate housing. The event directors are looking for OCSA students and staff who would be willing to share their true stories involving their experiences with housing insecurity. Such situations may include temporary shelter living, living in a hotel or motel, temporarily doubling up, or living unsheltered. Selected stories will be performed anonymously by Acting and Musical Theatre students.
Please email Creative Writing Director Josh Wood at josh.wood@ocsarts.net by Friday, October 1 to share your story. Mr. Wood is the only person who will be aware of your identity, unless anonymity is not preferred.
|
|
ENCORE CONSERVATORY CHALLENGE |
|
The Encore Conservatory Challenge has begun! Become an Encore member today and your child's conservatory could win a grant of $2,500 to support a master artist or an arts enrichment program of the conservatory director’s choice! The conservatory with the highest percentage of families who join Encore by Friday, September 10 will win the Encore Conservatory Challenge!
Encore is a fun, social membership group for current and alumni families to meet, socialize, and receive exclusive benefits designed to deliver the ultimate OCSA experience. To learn more about Encore or join today, visit www.ocsarts.net/JoinEncore.
Don’t forget! If you sign up now, you’ll also be able to take advantage of the special back-to-school promotional pricing, only available through Tuesday, August 31.
|
|
CSARTS ACADEMY DISCOUNT ENDS SOON |
|
Don’t miss out! Special early bird pricing on CSArts Academy Fall 2021 classes ends this coming Monday, August 30. Save big on an incredible selection of Saturday courses that will have your student cooking, dancing, painting, and, of course, having fun!
Browse our Fall 2021 Brochure of Classes to check out all of our impressive courses offered both virtually and in person on the OCSA campus and register today! Be sure to let family and friends who may be interested know about this exciting arts opportunity.
|
|
Academic Back-to-School Night (No Conservatory): Thursday, September 2
Staff Professional Development Day (No School): Friday, September 3
Labor Day (School Closed): Monday, September 6
Season Premiere: Saturday, September 11
|
|
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
