Please be reminded that the school will be closed this coming Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day. We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday, September 6 after some well-earned relaxation!

OCSA’s Academic Back-to-School Night is this coming Thursday, September 8! Classroom presentations will be held from 6-8:22 p.m. in person on the OCSA campus. Click here for the Back-to-School Night flyer. Please have your student fill out the schedule so you know which classroom presentations to attend. 

Please note that, in order for faculty and staff members to prepare for Back-to-School Night, Thursday, September 8 is a no conservatory schedule day, with school starting at 9 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m. In addition, please be aware that there will be no school next Friday, September 9 for a Staff Professional Development Day.

Take the stress out of dinner! The Arts & Enterprise Conservatory is hosting a Chili Supper Fundraiser during Back-to-School Night this coming Thursday, September 8 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Combo meals are $12, a bowl of chili is $8, and cornbread, cookies, and drinks are $2 each. Sit down, enjoy some mouth-watering chili, and mingle with other OCSA families in the Container Lot before heading around campus to meet your student’s teachers! From 5-6 p.m., enjoy “Chili & Chat with a Counselor,” where the counselors will be available to answer questions. Pre-order your meal today on MySchoolBucks! Please note that your student’s MySchoolBucks account can be used for pre-orders – no student name is required. Walk-up orders will be available via cash and Venmo as well. 

In addition, Visual Arts Conservatory students will be selling their beautiful ceramic bowls at the event!

All proceeds from the Chili Supper directly benefit the Arts & Enterprise and Visual Arts Conservatories.

Due to the predicted heatwave next week, school picture distribution has been rescheduled. Student photos taken by Lifetouch at On-Campus Registration will now be distributed to students in the Tower breezeway during Lunch on the following dates:

• Grades 7-8 – Monday, September 12
• Grades 9-10 – Tuesday, September 13
• Grades 11-12 – Wednesday, September 14

Parents/guardians: Please remind your students that they must pick up their pictures on their scheduled day, as these will be the only distribution dates for photos taken at On-Campus Registration. Those who ordered pictures will receive their picture packages, and those who did not place an order will receive proofs, which include a portrait ID and access code to order. All photo-related questions should be directed to Lifetouch at lifetouch.com/support-us or 866.955.8342.

Please note: Students who did not take pictures at On-Campus Registration will take their photos and receive their ID cards at Make-Up Picture Day on Wednesday, October 5 from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. in Symphony Hall. Make-up school photos will be distributed at a later date.

Each year, OCSA offers families the opportunity to sell or purchase program advertising space in the school's 200+ performance programs. The deadline to submit ad forms, artwork, and payment for OCSA’s yearlong performance program for the 2022-2023 season has been extended to next Friday, September 9.

Please note: Unlike in previous years, additional ads or changes to ads will NOT be accepted after this deadline. Ads submitted by Friday, September 9 will be printed in advance for the entire school year, and ads cannot be added to the yearlong performance program at a later date.

Additional details, including the ad form, 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.

Sophomore and junior families: Registration is now open on MySchoolBucks for the PSAT and PreACT. The registration deadline for both exams is Sunday, September 11 at 9 p.m.

It is recommended that students in grades 10 and 11 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 15, and the PreACT is scheduled for Saturday, October 22. Please note these practice tests are for OCSA students only.

Applications are now being accepted to create or renew a club! Students can join the 2022-2023 Club Classroom with code vbxmj6l for more information and to access the application link. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 12. Please note that all existing clubs must reapply!

As previously announced, students are only able to utilize the Gmail forwarding feature to access their student emails through Monday, October 3. After this date, all student email accounts must be accessed through Outlook.com. Please be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks. For any questions related to this change, please contact techsupport@csarts.net.

Orange Records, a student-led record label that is based in the Popular Music Conservatory, is looking for artists to feature at an end-of-year showcase and to promote their artistry outside of OCSA. Whether you are a solo artist, a trio, or a band, anyone can apply as long as you are a current OCSA student and perform original material.

If you are interested, please submit your audition materials through this form by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13. Be sure to include an introduction video and a video demonstrating your music. Both of these videos need to be unlisted YouTube video links. If you need any help with submitting your materials or have additional questions, please email Ms. Jessica Lipman at jessica.lipman@ocsarts.net.

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for CSArts Academy’s Fall 2022 session! This fall, CSArts Academy invites students from throughout the community to experience a variety of arts disciplines through unique classes, offered on Saturdays right here on the OCSA campus.

Browse our Brochure of Classes to check out all of our impressive courses and register today to join us for six Saturdays full of fun and imagination! Be sure to let family and friends who may be interested know about this exciting arts opportunity.

We are pleased to share that right now you can have the chance to win an incredible all-inclusive OCSA package, perfect for the ultimate OCSA fan. Participate in our exciting Opportunity Drawing, happening now as a part of our Season Premiere festivities! Regardless of whether you are planning to attend our stunning Season Premiere event at the Balboa Bay Resort on Saturday, September 10, everyone is invited to participate and show your support for the outstanding student artists of OCSA! Click here to learn more and purchase tickets before the drawing closes at 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 10! The winner will be notified on the morning of Monday, September 12.

Additionally, you can support our talented students by giving a tax-deductible donation. All proceeds will go to OCSA’s Master Artist Series, which creates meaningful and often life-changing experiences for our students. Click here to donate now.

Thank you in advance for your generous support!

There’s only one week left for the Encore Conservatory Challenge! Become an Encore member today and your student'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 9 will win the challenge! Click here to join today or to learn more about all the exciting benefits you can enjoy as an Encore member.

The health and safety of our students, staff, and community remain at the forefront of our efforts. OCSA will continue to follow all guidance set by the California Department of Public Health. At this time, mask wearing on the OCSA campus is optional. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and/or are exhibiting symptoms should remain at home and fill out the COVID-19 Reporting Form. For more information on OCSA’s COVID-19 policies and procedures, please click here.

Labor Day (School Closed): Monday, September 5

Academic Back-to-School Night (No Conservatory): Thursday, September 8

Staff Professional Development Day (No School): Friday, September 9

Season Premiere: Saturday, September 10

Homecoming Dance, Grades 9-12: Saturday, October 8

Halloween (No Conservatory): Monday, October 31

For more information, please visit www.ocsarts.net/BoxOffice.