OCSA Weekly Wrap - February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023

REVISED STUDENT WALKING ROUTE

As shared in yesterday’s communication, all students will be asked to use the revised walking route to travel to the Center for the Arts for their conservatory classes starting this coming Monday, February 6. This new, revised route will keep students on a less congested street with fewer vehicles and slower traffic.

Students will cross Main Street at 10th Street, and then walk the rest of the way down Bush Street to reach the Center for the Arts. Please click here to review a map of this route. OCSA security and staff members will continue to monitor students along the route to provide an additional level of supervision. Thank you in advance to our students for following this new route in an orderly manner.

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!

CLUB RUSH TODAY

Students: Be sure to head to 10th Street for Club Rush during Office Hours and Lunch TODAY, Friday, February 3! For those who are unaware, Club Rush is an exciting biannual event where club leaders showcase their clubs and attract interested students to join. Happy clubbing!

YEARBOOK INTEREST MEETINGS

Calling students in grades 9-11: Want to help your fellow classmates celebrate memories that last a lifetime? Attend one of next week’s mandatory interest meetings to learn more about how to apply for the 2023-2024 Dreamscape Yearbook staff and class! These meetings will be held during Lunch on Monday, February 6 and Tuesday, February 7 in T306. Please note that you are required to attend one of these meetings in order to be eligible to apply.

VALENTINE GRAMS

Students can "share the love" this February by purchasing Valentine Grams! On Friday, February 10, the Arts & Enterprise Conservatory will be on 10th Street during Lunch selling roses for $5 and carnations for $3. Your choice of flower will be delivered to your valentine with a personalized card on Valentine's Day, Tuesday, February 14, during class.

DODGEBALL APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

OCSA's Dodgeball Tournament is back this spring! If you would like to set up a team, please pick up an application from the Student Information Rack outside of The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office. Be sure to turn in your application by Thursday, February 16 to Leadership Advisor Chris Dion in T108. Any current OCSA student is allowed to participate, so come and make your mark on OCSA sports history!

STUDENT DESIGN CONTEST FOR APPAREL

Attention students in all conservatories and grade levels: Are you interested in having your design skills showcased on a limited-edition OCSA apparel item? We are currently accepting student design submissions to be featured on the front of a t-shirt or sweatshirt in an upcoming schoolwide online apparel 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!

To be considered, please submit your design through this form by Tuesday, February 28 at 11:59 p.m. Be sure to review and follow all design guidelines listed on the Google form.

Once all submissions have been received, a panel of administrators and staff will be reviewing the designs to select a small group of finalists. These final designs will be shared on the @WeAreOCSA Instagram account so our OCSA community can vote and determine the winning design! Stay tuned for a future newsletter notifying the OCSA community of how and when to vote.

If you have any questions about this student design contest, please email communications@ocsarts.net. Good luck and happy designing!

STUDENT PLANNER DESIGN CONTEST

PSO is currently running their 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. Submissions will be accepted until 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.

LATE REGISTRATION FOR AP EXAMS

If you have not yet registered for AP exams, late AP exam registration will continue to be available until 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 students and parents 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.

CLASS OF 2023 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Seal of Biliteracy

Applications are now open for seniors 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 be sure to click here to view the requirements and complete the application by 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 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 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.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: 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 has been extended to 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.

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.