The OSA Newsletter:
Focus On Community
|
|
A Holiday Reminder:
There is no school Monday, March 29 in honor of Cesar Chavez Day. We will observe our 'No Monday' modified schedule posted on our website for this week.
Also, there is no school during the week of April 5 - 9 for Spring Break.
|
|
To keep up with all events, please subscribe to the OSA school calendar!
|
|
|
OSA selected as Finalist!
OSA has been selected as a finalist for an Exemplary Arts Award by the California Department of Education High School Innovations and Initiatives Office! This award is based on the success of our arts programming as well as the academic achievements of our students, particularly in recognition of our African-American student advancement in math as measured on the California Dashboard.
Awardees will be announced on April 12 and we will keep you posted!
|
|
A Message from Academic Counseling:
Early College Credit Summer Classes: Community Colleges will likely open up their summer catalogs in April. If your high school student would like to take a summer Early College Credit (ECC) course, make sure to check those college websites for catalog updates. If you would like to know more about the process of signing up for a community college course, you can visit the Academic Counseling Website's Concurrent Enrollment Page.
Selecting classes for next year: Current 8th-11th graders who plan to go to OSA in 2021/2022 will receive information at the end of April on how to register for next year's courses. Please keep an eye on the Academic Counseling Website for updates to the course catalog and the master schedule. If your student needs advice on course selection, they should visit their grade level counselor's office hours.
|
|
Follow OSA on Social Media!
|
|
Vocal Rush Wins 1st Place!
Congratulations are in order!!!! Vocal Rush is competing in the 2021 ICHSA (International Championship of High School A Cappella). So far they have won first place in the Quarter Finals; Group 2; Western Region. In addition to the group's success, OSA senior Bentley Blalark (pictured below) won the prize for Outstanding Soloist! We are so thrilled for this achievement and invite the community to support them in the next virtual livestream phase of the competition, the ICHSA Semi-Finals on April 10th!
Brava to Ms Sarah Vela! This is her first year as music director of Vocal Rush - herself an OSA alum and original member of Vocal Rush. Brava also to Marilyn Cliett! Our recent OSA grad & Vocal Rush alum was the talent behind the arrangement for the winning song. Enjoy the award winning Vocal Rush performance, "Quarrel" on YouTube.
|
|
OSA Spirit Week and Assembly this week!
This week, March 15th-19th, is Spirit Week at OSA. The students engaged in some fun grade-level competition during the Spirit Assembly on Tuesday morning. They played several games to earn points for their grade levels. Some of the games included guessing which baby photo belonged to which teacher or administrator, playing 'Two Truths and a Lie' with statements their teachers/administrators provided about themselves, guessing TV show/movie quotes, guessing song lyrics, and playing a Kahoot trivia game that included facts about OSA and Women’s History (in recognition of March being Women’s History month). On Thursday and Friday students will have opportunities to earn more points for their respective grade levels by participating in the themes. Thursday will be “Mug Day” where students can drink out of their favorite mug during class, and Friday will be “Rep the Bay Day,” which will allow students to wear paraphernalia that represents an aspect of the Bay Area of which they are proud. Please encourage your students to participate in these fun events as the winning grade level will have the opportunity to donate $100 to a charity of their choice.
|
|
OSA Merchandise For Sale!
Student leadership has put together some merchandise for each grade level featuring student art. Check out our online OSA Merchandise store! Proceeds benefit future student council events, as well as sponsoring shirts for students who may not otherwise have access to purchase them. Thanks to Nora Cesareo-Dense, our OSA Student Council President, and the entire Student Council for all their hard work putting this together!
|
|
Yearbook Update - from parent volunteer Julie-Ann Cesareo
This year's OSA yearbook is being created by Ms. DeRoos' Student Leadership Class. Because of Covid, there originally was no yearbook being planned so these students have taken it upon themselves to pull together a 2020-2021 yearbook. Right now, they are still pulling it all together. They have signed up with the yearbook printer TreeRing. If you have purchased from TreeRing before, you might be getting reminder emails from them, which are automatically generated at this time of year. There's no need to respond to those marketing emails just yet! When the yearbook is finished and ready to be ordered, the Student Leadership Class will send out an announcement to students and families. This is a huge undertaking for these students to pull together remotely so please have understanding and patience as they are figuring out the best process to make this happen. If any parents are available to help out in support of this project please email Ms. DeRoos at aderoos@oakarts.org - Thank you!
|
|
OSA Instrumental Music Students participate in national music event!
The Kronos String Quartet presents 'The Future is Now' on Thursday March 25th at 1:00pm
This event on March 25th brings together seven new compositions performed in collaboration with six schools, including OSA, across the US. Altogether, 160 high school students will have the opportunity to collaborate, meet, and make music together - sharing their stories on how the pandemic has affected their musical life. The event will be live-streamed here.
The six schools participating are:
ʻIolani School (Honolulu, HI)
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Dallas, TX)
Face the Music at the Kaufman Center (New York, NY)
Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Washington DC)
Oakland School for the Arts (Oakland, CA)
San Francisco School for the Arts (San Francisco, CA)
|
|
Summer Intensive Opportunity for Filmmakers:
The Representation Project (TRP) is a leading global non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring all humans achieve their full potential, unencumbered by limiting gender norms. We use documentary films, education, and activism to shift the public’s attitudes and behavior around gender in order to transform culture.
We give voice to youth as we mobilize the next generation of change agents through our education and advocacy programs. Our Youth Media Academies (YMA) train the next generation of social justice filmmakers to effectively use storytelling to change the world. Inspired by the trailblazing work of our founder Jennifer Siebel Newsom and led by professional filmmakers, students in the YMA learn technical aspects of filmmaking – from concept to storyboarding, filming, editing, and other aspects of production. Students also learn about social justice issues, community engagement, political activism, and social-emotional learning.
Here's the application for a FREE summer intensive program for high schoolers:
|
|
Artist Speaker Series Continues!
|
|
Oakland School for the Arts Artist Speaker Series Welcomes
Sculptor Dana King and Hip Hop Graffiti artist Fab 5 Freddy
|
|
All are welcome! Mark your calendar!
Date: Wednesday March 31st
Time: 11 am - 12 pm
This event will include a Q&A session moderated by our students
As a Linked Learning School, this series of events was created as a part of our commitment to transforming education into a highly relevant and engaging experience. We will be providing our students with the opportunity to connect directly with these, and other, influential working artists.
|
|
Hey OSA students!
My name is Traci Thomas. I used to be a student at OSA, and it’s mind-blowing that it’s been 13 years since I started my time there in Mr. Oz’s 8th grade Algebra and Science classes, and History with Ms. Schultz (back when she was still Ms. Shaw). OSA holds a very special place in my heart, as it does for so many former students of the school. We’ve witnessed and shared stories about its inception and development from the Alice Arts Center (now the Malonga) in 2002 to where it is today.
I am reaching out to you, the students, to say you aren’t alone. You have a community of old OSA kids who — like you — have our inside jokes, our history of stress and anxiety from upcoming performances, social circles, and academic presentations. We have our favorite teachers, classes, restrooms, and even our preferred staircases.
As we begin to see potential progress on the handling of the pandemic, I hope you have a chance to meet and collaborate with the alum community, even after you graduate. The OSA Alumni Association is working on some ideas and finding ways to integrate former students’ artistic, educational, and personable talents and skills back to the school’s community.
Look out for future updates from us! Until then, take care of yourself and your mental health, continue to do the best you can, and know that you have a community of parents, teachers, and alumni that have your back.
Talk soon!
Traci Thomas, C/O 2012 Theatre
OSA Alumni Association Chairwoman
(pictured below)
|
|
Updates from Parent Volunteer Groups:
|
|
APT (Alliance of Parents and Teachers)
The APT is partnering with OSA staff and community leaders this month to host a panel discussion on effective strategies for supporting our students amid the pandemic & managing remote learning burn-out. Please join us on Wednesday, March 17th at 6:30pm to listen, learn and ask questions.
(Meeting ID: 935 596 0147, Passcode: OSArocks).
We also invite you to join our online community, Konstella, where you can connect with parents in your student's sub-pathway group as well as other social groups like the newly formed "School Reopening Discussion Group". Follow this link to create your account - https://www.konstella.com/cd/h9yisM.
|
|
PODS (Parents of Students with Disabilities)
In alliance with APT, PODS will be providing strategies and resources from a special education lens during the APT General Meeting on 3/17/2021. We are also eager to work with administration to see how students with IEPs and 504 plans will be included in an equity framework during the first phases of school reopening. We will continue to bring resources, ally forces to advocate for our students' rights, and provide moral support for parents and caregivers. PODS is a parent-led social group for Parents of Students with Disabilities. To receive meeting updates, resources, and connect to other parents in PODS please join our group APT-PODS in Konstella.
|
|
OSA Anti-Racist Education & Activism Group
The OSA Anti-Racist Education & Activism Group is meeting regularly on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. We have decided to dedicate our 2nd Wednesday meetings to self-education, to further our anti-racist work by addressing it in ourselves and digging deeper. On 4th Wednesdays, we are having our activist meetings. We invite all parents to join us on Konstella!
|
|
The Advocacy Committee loves to network with other volunteer leaders and faculty. Want to connect for a virtual coffee or phone chat? Send an email!
|
|
Want to get involved at OSA?
There are over twenty different parent volunteer groups at OSA, each with a different focus on supporting our students and teachers. More than 250 sign-ups have come through OSA Connects - check it out to find your way to connect!
|
|
Thank you for your support of OSA!
|
|
|
Oakland School for the Arts
510-873-8800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|