OCSA Weekly Wrap - August 7, 2026

AUGUST 7, 2026

WELCOME TO THE WEEKLY WRAP!

Hello new and returning OCSA students, parents/guardians, faculty, and staff, and welcome to the Weekly Wrap! This weekly email newsletter delivers the latest schoolwide news, announcements, and event updates right to your inbox every Friday. Be sure to keep an eye out for the latest news from OCSA!

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

We hope you are all excited for the first day of academic classes this coming Wednesday, August 12! Please be aware that the first three days of school, Wednesday, August 12 – Friday, August 14 are Friday/Non-Conservatory Schedule days, which begin at 9 a.m. You can review the full Bell Schedule below.

On Wednesday, August 12, dismissal will take place at 2:30 p.m. for returning students and at 3:30 p.m. for new students, due to Conservatory Buddy Activities. Please be mindful of these dismissal times when arranging carpools for Wednesday. On Thursday, August 13, all students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. On Friday, August 14, all students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m., but are then invited to the Welcome Week Festival, along with their families! See the message below for more details regarding Welcome Week activities. Conservatory instruction will begin on Monday, August 17.

We can’t wait to see you all on campus. Stay tuned for an email on Tuesday evening with final reminders for the first day of school!

BELL SCHEDULE REMINDERS

To view the bell schedule for the 2026-2027 school year, please click here.

Below are some important reminders regarding the schedule:

On Mondays – Thursdays, school begins at 8:30 a.m.; conservatory classes conclude at 3:25 p.m. for grades 7-8 and at 4:45 p.m. for grades 9-12.

On Fridays and days when conservatory classes are not in session, the school day begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m.

MAKE-UP REGISTRATION DAY

Did you miss On-Campus Registration this week? If so, please come to campus on Monday, August 10 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to pick up schedules and textbooks in The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office, which is located on the first floor of the Humanities Tower. Otherwise, students can pick up their class schedules by arriving 30 minutes early on the first day of school in The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office and their books in the bookroom on the second floor of the Humanities Tower.

WELCOME WEEK ACTIVITIES

Let the 40th Anniversary celebrations begin! Join us as we kick off the 2026-2027 school year with Welcome Week activities from Wednesday, August 12 – Friday, August 14. During the first week of classes, students will enjoy a variety of activities designed to help new and returning students connect, build community, and start this milestone year. Please click here to view the Welcome Week Schedule of Events.

All students and their families are invited to the culminating Welcome Week Festival on Friday, August 14! In honor of our anniversary, this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever! Join us in the new Lisa Argyros Commons from 2:30-5:30 p.m. for live student performances, more games and food vendors than ever before, and plenty of fun for the whole family. Meanwhile, parents/guardians can mix and mingle with school administration and other OCSA parents at a Parent Social. Please click here to view the flyer. We hope to see you there!

SCHOOL PICTURES

If you would like to purchase school pictures from Lifetouch Photography, please click here and enter the Picture Day ID code EVT7G9MWR. Please note that pictures will be shipped directly to the student’s home. Additionally, Photo Make-Up Day will be on Wednesday, September 23.

UPDATED EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM

Returning parents/guardians should be aware that the program known as Homework Club will no longer be available at OCSA. If a student is not able to be immediately picked up from school when their classes conclude for the day, they may wait for their parent/guardian in the Lisa Argyros Commons or in The Larry & Helen Hoag Foundation Student Lounge, as these are the only spaces that will be supervised.

Supervision will be available from 3:30-5 p.m. on conservatory days and from 2:30-5 p.m. on non-conservatory days. If middle school students need to wait for pick-up during Block 9, they must remain in The Larry & Helen Hoag Foundation Student Lounge to ensure they are not disruptive to ongoing high school conservatory classes.

Any student who is waiting after school hours for a rehearsal to begin must be in a location approved by an administrator or conservatory director.

FOOD SERVICES AT OCSA

Food services will be available daily for students in the following areas of the OCSA campus:

Conroy Café, second floor of the Humanities Tower (Breakfast, Lunch and academic nutrition breaks)
The Kreditor Family Kitchen, Lisa Argyros Commons (Lunch and the Daily Free Selection)

Students should pre-load their OCSA Student ID/OCard through MySchoolBucks to expedite food purchases.

Additionally, all students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch each school day per the 2021 California state mandate. Each day of the week, a different free lunch option will be available for students to reserve and pick up from The Kreditor Family Kitchen during Lunch. Free breakfast is also available at the Conroy Café on the second floor of the Humanities Tower. Students wishing to participate must reserve their meal selections each week by Sunday at 5 p.m. so that the Food Services Team can prepare the correct quantities of food. Students can click here to access the selection form or may utilize the QR codes found near food service locations on campus. For more information about the free breakfast and lunch available to all students, click here.

FEDERAL FREE & REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH PROGRAM

Regardless of whether or not you plan to utilize the free meal program called out above, any OCSA family who qualifies (based on income level) for the Federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program (FRLP) is still encouraged to apply. If approved, your family would be eligible for additional discounts, including reduced prices on lockers, parking passes, yearbooks, school dance tickets, AP exams, and more, and the school may be eligible for additional funding. If you think your family may qualify, please click here to apply.

ALL-SCHOOL MUSICAL AUDITIONS

Attention high school students across all conservatories: We are excited to invite you to audition for the All-School Musical, Big Fish, in celebration of OCSA’s 40th Anniversary season. All interested performers are required to participate in both the vocal and dance auditions. However, if you feel stronger in one area, please do not be discouraged. We are looking for talented singers, dancers, and actors of all experience levels. The audition form deadline is Tuesday, August 18. For more details and to sign up, please click here.

Vocal Auditions

Monday, August 24 & Wednesday, August 26 | 5-9 p.m.

Dance, Music, and Science Center (DMS), Rooms 119 & 217

Please prepare a 45-second contemporary musical theatre vocal selection. Sheet music is required, and an accompanist will be provided.

Dance Auditions

Friday, August 28 | 3-7 p.m.

DMS, Room 215

Please come prepared for a contemporary and musical theatre jazz call (tap call if you have experience). If you have them, please bring tap, jazz, and character shoes to the audition.

Callbacks (By Invitation Only)

Tuesday, September 1 | 5:30-9 p.m.

DMS, Room 217

BECOME AN ENCORE FAMILY

Have you heard about Encore? Encore is a fun, social membership group for current and alumni OCSA families to meet, socialize, and receive exclusive benefits designed to deliver the ultimate OCSA experience. Now is the perfect time to become a member – Encore early bird pricing ends TODAY, Friday, August 7. To learn more or join today, visit www.ocsarts.net/JoinEncore.

Senior families: There are special Encore perks specifically designed for the Class of 2027, including reserved seats up front for the Class of 2027 Graduation Ceremony!

JOIN US AT SEASON PREMIERE

Enjoy the sunset along the coast as the OCSA Foundation invites you to celebrate OCSA’s 40th Anniversary at its annual Season Premiere! Join us on Saturday, September 19 for a one-of-a-kind waterfront event featuring spectacular performances by OCSA’s talented student vocalists, dancers, and instrumentalists! Reserve your spot soon, as this event WILL sell out! To purchase tickets, reserve a table, or for more information, please visit www.ocsarts.net/SeasonPremiere.

TIME TO PURCHASE A YEARBOOK

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to purchase your 2026-2027 yearbook, created by the award-winning OCSA Dreamscape Yearbook class. Act fast! Right now you can take advantage of the back-to-school discount price of $135, available for a limited time only! Prices will increase on Monday. August 24. Reserve your copy through MySchoolBucks today.

ADVICE FOR NEW OCSA STUDENTS

Attention all returning OCSA students: As we return to campus, we wanted to give you the chance to pass along some wisdom to the newest members of the OCSA community. Share your best tips and tricks for surviving trips to the 7th floor of the Tower, juggling rehearsals and AP classes, making the most of the OCSA experience, and more. We want to hear from YOU! Please click here to fill out the form for a chance to be included on our @WeAreOCSA socials and our OCSA blog.

SENIOR PACKAGES & YEARBOOK INFORMATION

Bundle & Save with Senior Packages

Save yourself time and money when you get all your important senior purchases with a senior package! These packages include everything your senior will need for a great year, including a yearbook, cap and gown, grad night ticket, senior t-shirt, and panoramic class photo, plus you can even add a class ring. Set your senior up for success and purchase by Monday, November 30 at MySchoolBucks.com. Please click here for more information.

Discount Prices on Senior Yearbook Ads

Want to celebrate your graduating senior? A senior ad in the yearbook is a great way to congratulate your student on their final year of high school. Now is the time to purchase your ad as prices are at their LOWEST! Discount pricing ends Monday, October 5! For more information, click here. Please go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use OCSA’s order number 40412 to create your senior ad and lock in the current discount pricing.

PERFORMANCE PROGRAM ADVERTISING

If you plan to sell or purchase advertising space in our digital programs, please remember that the due date for ad forms, artwork, and payment is Thursday, August 20. If you own your own business or know of one that may be interested, an ad in OCSA’s performance program is a great opportunity for exposure to our wide and diverse community. Detailed information can be found on our website at www.ocsarts.net/Advertising. If you have questions, please contact Family Giving Coordinator Rachel Steinke at rachel.steinke@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 3222.