OCSA Weekly Wrap - February 24, 2023

February 24, 2023

ACS WASC ACCREDITATION VISIT

Next week, from Monday, February 27 – Wednesday, March 1, OCSA will be visited by six educators from other schools who will be conducting an assessment of OCSA as part of the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). ACS WASC is a world-renowned accrediting association that helps schools to engage in continuous school improvement, focused on high-quality learning and the well-being of all students. This visit is a culmination of more than a year of work to examine all that OCSA has to offer and how we can continue to improve the learning process so all students can be successful. Our visitors may want to speak to some students as they conduct observations during class time and Lunch. Feel free to say hello if you see them on campus. We look forward to the ACS WASC visit and the ability to showcase what makes OCSA the great place that it is!

PROGRESS REPORTS

Progress reports will be available for review in Aeries starting this coming Monday, February 27. To view the progress report, please log in to Aeries, click on the "Grades" tab, select “Report Card History,” and click on the word “English."

COURSE SELECTION

Course selection presentations for the 2023-2024 school year are currently in progress with the school counselors. Please see below for the dates of the presentations in students’ Social Studies classes. Students will select courses in Aeries during the presentations; however, hard copies of the forms must also be turned in to The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office (T101) with a parent/guardian signature by the grade level deadline. Forms received after the deadline will be dated and receive lower priority for classes, especially electives.

Rising Seniors:

Presentations have concluded (Form Deadline: TODAY, Friday, February 24)

Rising Juniors:

Wednesday, February 22 – Wednesday, March 1

Rising Sophomores:

Tuesday, March 7 – Wednesday, March 15

Rising Freshmen:

Monday, March 20 – Thursday, March 23

Rising 8th Grade:

Wednesday, March 28 – Friday, March 31

Parents/guardians: Please stay tuned for more information regarding the accompanying parent presentations.

STUDENT PLANNER DESIGN CONTEST

Time is running out for students to submit their designs for PSO’s annual student planner design contest! All OCSA students are invited to submit a design for the front and back cover of the 2023-2024 Student Planner. Design submissions will be accepted up until the end of the day TODAY, Friday, February 24, and the winning cover will be selected by vote of the OCSA student body in March. The winner will receive a $300 cash award and be featured on the 2023-2024 Student Planner debuting next fall during On-Campus Registration.

For more details and to enter, students should visit this form. Be sure to review and follow all design guidelines listed on the Google form.

STUDENT DESIGN CONTEST FOR APPAREL

Students: Want to see your awesome design skills showcased on t-shirts all over campus? Then be sure to enter your design through this form by this coming Tuesday, February 28 at 11:59 p.m. All conservatories and grade levels are welcome!

Design finalists will be shared on the @WeAreOCSA Instagram account so our OCSA community can vote on their favorites! The winning design will then be featured on a limited-edition OCSA apparel item in an upcoming schoolwide sale. Don’t miss your chance to create a new spirit look that all your peers can be proud of, including our newest group of OCSA students being admitted this spring!

Be sure to review and follow all design guidelines listed on the Google form before submitting your creative design. Good luck and happy designing!

SEEKING CAREER EXPO PANELISTS

As announced this week, OCSA will be hosting its first-ever Career Expo on Friday, March 24. In preparation, we are currently seeking panelists to help make this new event a success. If you are an OCSA parent/guardian, alumni parent/student, or community member who would be interested in sharing your career experiences, please consider filling out this form by the end of the day today, Friday, February 24. We greatly appreciate your interest in supporting our students as a potential panelist. We will do our best to include as many interested panelists as possible.

FINAL CALL FOR GALA PROGRAM ADS

Each year, OCSA families have the opportunity to sell or purchase advertising space in the program for Gala, the school’s largest fundraising event of the year. The deadline to submit ad forms, artwork, and payment for OCSA’s Gala 2023 program is TODAY, Friday, February 24. Full-page color ads are still available, as well as quarter-page, half-page, and full-page black and white ads. All funds raised through program advertising will directly benefit the arts conservatories.

Please refer to the ad form for detailed requirements or visit www.ocsarts.net/Advertising for more information. If you have questions, please contact Becky Parsons, Family Liaison, at becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 5535.

LAST CHANCE FOR AP EXAM REGISTRATION

If you have not yet registered for AP exams, late AP exam registration will continue to be available until this coming Tuesday, February 28. There will be an additional $40 fee for late registration. Click here to register and pay for AP exams. When ordering, we highly encourage both student and parent to be present to ensure that the correct exams are ordered. Please print and save your emailed receipt of payment for your records, as students may need it for future reference. All students currently enrolled in an AP class at OCSA are eligible to take the corresponding AP exam. Students are encouraged to register and pay only for those exams they are committed to taking.

2023 AP exams are scheduled to be administered over two weeks in May: Monday, May 1 - Friday, May 5 and Monday, May 8 - Friday, May 12. You may find the full AP testing schedule here. More information about AP exams can be found on our website at www.ocsarts.net/APHonors.

COLLEGE PLANNING MASTER CLASS

Juniors and sophomores: Are you worried about college? Are you planning on majoring in an artistic or creative field and don’t know where to start your research? OCSA alum and former Musical Theatre Conservatory Director Mr. Scott Barnhardt is coming to Michael F. Harrah Symphony Hall on Monday, March 6 at 6 p.m. as an Artist In Residence through the Master Artist Series to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges faced by creative college applicants. Please click here to RSVP for this informative workshop. Both students and their parents/guardians are welcome.

Mr. Barnhardt has developed his business, The Creative College Journey, specifically to help families with arts applicants walk through the college admissions process with more clarity, enjoyment, and knowledge. This workshop is geared towards students who plan on applying for any creative arts major, such as acting, musical theatre, music, film, dance, and creative writing, as well as students hoping to bridge their artistic interests with their academic pursuits.

Topics will include:

Goal setting
Building YOUR college “wish list”
How to specify and diversify your college list
Application timelines
Family tactics on how to discuss post-high school plans
Ways to lower stress and raise enjoyment of your senior year
Q&A to answer your burning questions!

CLASS OF 2023 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Seal of Biliteracy

Time is running out for seniors to apply for the California State Seal of Biliteracy. Seniors who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages (in addition to English) have the opportunity to have the Seal of Biliteracy affixed to their diploma. Please click here to see the requirements and complete the application by TODAY, Friday, February 24 at 11:59 p.m. in order to be considered for this recognition. No late applications will be accepted. Please direct any questions to student.services@ocsarts.net.

FAFSA Priority Deadline

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for the state of California is this coming Thursday, March 2. As of this school year, all seniors are mandated by the state of California to complete the FAFSA, unless they complete an opt-out form. To complete your application, please click here. For more information about the opt-out form, please see your counselor in The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office.

Transcripts

Need to order official transcripts for scholarships or summer programs? Order on MySchoolBucks and indicate where it should be sent or if you would like to pick up a sealed copy in The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office.

Senior Class Panoramic Picture

The senior class panoramic picture will be taken on Wednesday, March 22 at 10:45 a.m. on the Annex blacktop.

Please note that more detailed graduation information will be emailed soon. Please refer to the Senior Bulletin or the senior page on our website at www.ocsarts.net/12thGrade for senior information and links.

2023-2024 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The 2023-2024 school calendar is now available! Please click here to view the year-at-a-glance document for next school year.

Here is a brief summary of some important dates in the 2023-2024 school year:

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Last Day of Fall Semester: Wednesday, December 20, 2023
First Day of Spring Semester: Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Spring Break: Monday, April 1 – Friday, April 5, 2024
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Please make note of the dates above and use the linked calendar to make any needed future plans. While we do not anticipate making further changes, it is possible that dates may have to be further adjusted based on factors outside of OCSA’s control. Stay tuned for the complete list of important dates for the 2023-2024 school year coming soon!

HEALTH & SAFETY REMINDERS

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.