OCSA Weekly Wrap - April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

PROGRESS REPORTS AVAILABLE TODAY

Progress reports for the second six weeks of the spring semester will be available for review in Aeries beginning later today, Friday, April 14.

To view the progress report, please log in to Aeries, click on the "Grades" tab, and select "Grades" from the pull-down menu. You may also click on the “Report Card History” tab and then select the blue highlighted word “English” to print the progress report.

Points to remember about progress reports:

The progress report is a snapshot of a student’s achievement at a specific point in the semester.
Plus and minus marks are used on progress reports to encourage students to continue a strong effort. These marks are not included with semester grades.
Progress report grades are not included on high school transcripts. Your child’s prospective college will not see these marks unless you provide them with a copy of the progress report.
As a policy, grade changes are not made for progress reports unless there has been a clerical error on the part of the teacher.

As a reminder, OCSA does not mail home paper copies of progress reports, so please be sure to download and print a copy for your personal use and records. The Aeries portal provides parents and students with 24/7 access to progress reports, unofficial transcripts, immunization records, test scores, and other important information and documentation.

If you or your child have questions or concerns regarding a grade, please contact the teacher directly using their school email.

If you need help accessing the Aeries portal or have forgotten your password, please contact OCSA Tech Support at techsupport@csarts.net.

CAASPP TESTING NEXT WEEK

Please be reminded that for the next two weeks, Monday, April 17 – Friday, April 28, OCSA will be administering the mandated California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Assessments. These online tests will be administered in your student’s Literature and Composition, Social Studies, and/or Science classes. Below is a breakdown of the tests that will be administered to each grade:

Grade 7:

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, and the Physical Fitness Test

Grade 8:

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, and the California Science Test (CAST)

Grade 9:

Physical Fitness Test

Grade 10:

California Science Test (CAST)

Grade 11:

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics

Grade 12:

California Science Test (CAST)

Following testing, students will receive individual score reports that will include an overall score and a description of the student’s achievement level for ELA, mathematics, and science. Please contact Assistant Principal of Instruction Kimberly Barraza Lyons if you have any questions.

RSVP NOW FOR ANNUAL PARENT MEETINGS

Attention parents/guardians of students in grades 7-11: OCSA’s Annual Parent Meetings for the 2023-2024 school year will take place in May and June! Please click here to RSVP at your earliest convenience for one of these mandatory meetings, which will be held in person on the OCSA campus on Wednesday, May 24, Thursday, June 1, Monday, June 5, and Tuesday, June 6 at 5:30 and 7 p.m., depending on your child’s conservatory. Please remember that at least one parent/guardian from each family is required to attend this meeting once per school year as a part of the annual enrollment process.

At this meeting, school leadership and conservatory directors will provide an overview of schoolwide and conservatory-specific goals for 2023-2024, as well as share about the importance of supporting your child’s arts conservatory experience at OCSA. This year's meetings will also feature a brand-new participation challenge that could result in additional funds for your child's conservatory.

LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT ANNUAL SURVEY

Please don’t forget to fill out OCSA’s anonymous annual survey before the deadline this coming Sunday, April 16. OCSA Administration appreciates the feedback of all OCSA students and parents/guardians, which will help them as they work to develop the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Your participation through the survey is critical to this decision-making process, and your insights are appreciated.

Please follow a link below to access the survey that best represents your role at OCSA:

If you are a student, click here
If you are a parent/guardian, click here

DON’T MISS OUT ON OCSA APPAREL

Time is running out to get your OCSA swag during our Spring Spirit Sale! The OCSA Apparel Store is currently open, but only through this coming Wednesday, April 19 at 11:59 p.m. Visit www.ocsarts.net/Apparel to check out all of the exciting items available for purchase, including a fun tote bag, comfy sweatshirt, and creative t-shirt designed by our Student Design Contest winner, Jacob Dan (DM, ‘26). Your items will be shipped directly to you in early May. We can’t wait to see you sporting these awesome new looks!

LIMITED GALA TICKETS AND TABLES AVAILABLE

Will you be joining us for this year’s incredible OCSA Gala? There are a very limited number of table sponsorships and individual tickets still available for Gala 2023: Sunset & Vinyl on Saturday, April 29 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. Click here to join the fun and reserve your spot for this retro-glam evening of artfully plated food, exciting giving opportunities, and killer performances in support of the talented student artists of OCSA. We hope to see you there!

COURSE SELECTION

Rising 8th grade families: Course selection forms for the 2023-2024 school year are due by the end of the day today, Friday, April 14. Please turn your form in to The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office (T101) with a parent signature. Forms received after the deadline will be dated and receive less priority for classes, especially electives.

CHALLENGE SUCCESS PARENT WORKSHOP

Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, OCSA has been working with Challenge Success team members to analyze some of our school systems; survey middle and high school students, parents/guardians, and faculty/staff; provide parent education; and explore changes (big and small!) that might help to bring balance and deeper fulfillment to the student experience.

All parents/guardians are invited to an upcoming parent education workshop as part of this partnership with Challenge Success. On Thursday, April 27, Challenge Success will be hosting a Zoom session called A Healthier Approach to College Admissions from 6-7:30 p.m. Please see this flyer for more information. Additionally, here is the Zoom link for this workshop.

CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATION INFORMATION

Graduation is fast approaching! Please click here to review the Class of 2023 Graduation Information for our soon-to-be graduates and their families. It is very important that seniors and their families read this four-page document carefully, as it contains detailed information regarding the remainder of senior year and graduation. Senior information can also be found on our website at www.ocsarts.net/12thGrade.

Graduation Speech Contest

Would you like to give a speech at graduation? All interested seniors are encouraged to participate in the Graduation Speech Contest by submitting a

written speech to Assistant Principal of Student Services Becca Freeland by TODAY, Friday, April 14. Be sure to read the speech criteria. Speeches must be uploaded through the Graduation Speech Contest Google Form. Speeches selected to advance to the next round will be notified by Monday, April 24.

Class of 2023 Important Dates

Monday, May 22 – Graduation Distribution, during Lunch and Office Hours in the breezeway (caps, gowns, tassels, tickets, and senior class panoramic pictures distributed to seniors only)

Tuesday, June 6 – Textbooks and Devices Return by 12 p.m. (in order to receive a diploma after Graduation Ceremony)

Wednesday, June 7 – Last Day of School

Thursday, June 8 – Rehearsal at Cottonwood Church, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (mandatory)

Thursday, June 8 – Graduation Ceremony, check in no later than 5:15 p.m.

Friday, June 9 – Grad Night at Disney California Adventure Park, tentative check in at 1 p.m. in the DMS Quad (bus mandatory), return to OCSA on Saturday, June 10 tentatively at 3 a.m. (bus mandatory). Times are subject to change.

If you have questions after reading the graduation document, please email student.services@ocsarts.net. All the best to you as you prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime event!

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.