February 12, 2021
PRESIDENTS’ DAY HOLIDAY
We hope you are already enjoying your long weekend! Please be reminded that OCSA will be closed this coming Monday, February 15, in addition to today, in observance of Presidents' Day. As a result, Monday’s class schedule will be moved to Friday, February 19, which will be a Blue Day with no conservatory classes.
COURSE SELECTION FOR 2021-2022
We would like to inform all OCSA families that our school counselors have begun working with students to complete the course selection process for the 2021-2022 school year. Students will select courses in Aeries as a part of a Course Selection Presentation during their Social Studies and Health classes. Please keep in mind, however, that course selection forms signed by a parent/guardian must be uploaded through a Google Form by the deadlines listed below.
 
Students will access the forms in their grade level-specific Google Classrooms and are expected to complete their forms prior to the respective deadlines. Forms received after the deadlines will be dated and receive less priority for classes, especially electives.
 
Finally, high school parents are invited to learn more about this process by attending Parent Course Selection Presentations with the school counselors via Zoom. The links and Zoom information can be found below. 
 
The following is the schedule for student and parent presentations as well as course selection form deadlines.
 
Student Course Selection Presentations
Rising Seniors: Monday, February 8 - Wednesday, February 17
Rising Juniors: Monday, February 22 - Monday, March 1
Rising Sophomores: Monday, March 8 - Tuesday, March 16
Rising Freshmen: Monday, March 22 - Wednesday, March 24
Rising 8th Graders: Monday, March 29 - Thursday, April 1
 
High School Parent Course Selection Presentations
Rising Seniors: 
Friday, February 19 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 983 9862 3815
Passcode: OCSA

Rising Juniors:
Friday, March 5 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 996 5499 6200
Passcode: OCSA
 
Rising Sophomores: 
Friday, March 19 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 922 5789 6194
Passcode: OCSA
 
Rising Freshmen: 
Friday, March 26 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 959 1138 4732
Passcode: OCSA
 
Course Selection Form Upload Deadlines
Rising Seniors: Monday, February 22
Rising Juniors: Monday, March 8
Rising Sophomores: Monday, March 22
Rising Freshmen: Monday, March 29
Rising 8th Graders: Friday, April 2
YEARBOOK APPLICATION MEETINGS
Is your student interested in joining the OCSA yearbook staff? Yearbook is open to students who will be in grades 10-12 in the 2021-2022 school year. Applicants must attend one of the upcoming informational meetings, on either Tuesday, February 23 or Wednesday, February 24 during lunch. The meetings will cover the application process, what it means to be on the yearbook staff, and more. No prior experience is necessary, but attendance at one of these meetings is mandatory in order to apply. The Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode can be found in Art Attack.
OC RYSE FESTIVAL OF VOICES
Attention poets, performers, and deep feelers: Make your voice heard at the OC RYSE Festival of Voices Youth Open Performance Poetry Event. Hosted by the Creative Writing Conservatory, this virtual poetry event is open to high school students from all conservatories at OCSA and from high schools throughout Southern California. Last year, OC RYSE was sidelined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the team aspect has been removed, and the competitiveness of a typical slam downplayed, to encourage all voices to come out to participate — because let's face it, there's a lot to say right now!
 
Students in grades 9-12 can register for free by Sunday, March 14. The event will take place on Saturday, March 27. Twenty-five winners will be chosen to receive a workshop with Project VOICE co-founder Phil Kaye. Visit ocsacw.square.site/oc-ryse to register and for more information.
HELP FUND OUR STUDENTS’ FUTURE
We need your help to ensure a robust and successful spring semester of arts instruction! Our conservatories are facing a significant deficit this year, compounded by the pandemic and the corresponding financial crises. In order to bridge this gap, we are asking our community to join us in supporting our outstanding student artists through our New Year, New Hope Campaign!
 
All donations made to this campaign through Monday, March 1 will be MATCHED, up to $100,000. Double your impact and do twice the good! Give now at www.ocsarts.net/NewYearNewHope. Thank you to all the families who have already generously contributed.
CSARTS ACADEMY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Calling all young artists! Registration is open for our CSArts Academy Spring 2021 session. This spring, CSArts Academy is offering fully virtual extracurricular classes designed for students ages 8-15 of any skill level, in a variety of artistic disciplines. All classes are taught by the renowned educators of OCSA. Click here to browse our selection of eight-week and two-week online courses in the digital brochure and to learn more about CSArts Academy. 
 
Register for classes before next Friday, February 19 to take advantage of special early bird pricing, and don’t forget to spread the word to family and friends who may be interested in this unique and educational virtual arts experience!
DONATION PAYMENT PROCESSING
We would like to remind you that we are currently transitioning to a new donation payment processing system and our usual online system will be down for a short time. Should you wish to make a donation during the transition, you can still mail payments to the attention of Becky Parsons at the OCSA Business Office, 1010 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Any regularly scheduled Voluntary Contribution Agreement (VCA) installment payments will not be affected. Our new system will be up and running soon, and we will send notice to all donors of any changes to the payment process that occur as a result. If you have questions, please email becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or call 714.560.0900 ext. 5535.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
Presidents’ Day (School Closed): Friday, February 12 - Monday, February 15

Conservatory Professional Development Day (No Conservatory): Thursday, March 18 

Staff Professional Development Day (No School): Friday, March 19

Non-Student/Teacher Day (No School): Friday, April 2 

Spring Break (School Closed): Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 9
UPCOMING VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES
For more information, please visit www.ocsarts.net/BoxOffice.