OCSA Weekly Wrap - October 4, 2024

October 4, 2024

OFFICE HOURS ASSIGNMENTS

With the first fall semester progress reports now available for viewing in Aeries, we would like to remind you that students who earned a D or F grade in an academic class will be assigned to mandatory Office Hours, Monday through Thursday, for the next six weeks. If you have questions, please contact Learning Specialist Shelley Stanphill at shelley.stanphill@ocsarts.net.

HOMECOMING IS TOMORROW

Get ready, Homecoming 2024: Back to the Future is TOMORROW, Saturday, October 5! As a reminder, the dance is from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. at Dave & Busters at the Irvine Spectrum. Please note: There will be no OCSA supervision before 8 p.m. and students that are not picked up by 12:30 a.m. may lose the ability to attend the next OCSA dance. Parents/guardians and students: Please click here to carefully read the Homecoming 2024 expectations, policies, and the venue’s prohibited items list. We are looking forward to a great dance!

COLLEGE FAIR REGISTRATION

OCSA College Fair 2024 is only a few weeks away on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18. This event is designed for high school students ONLY. The College Night evening sessions are intended and designed for high school students and their parents/guardians.

Registration will open next week and upperclassmen will have priority, as space is limited. Registration will open on the following dates by grade level:

Seniors and parents/guardians: Monday, October 7
Juniors and parents/guardians: Wednesday, October 9
Freshmen/sophomores and parents/guardians: Friday, October 11

Registration emails will be sent directly to each grade level on the dates listed above. We encourage students to register as soon as possible since registration will close on Monday, October 14! Students who do not register will be unable to attend on-campus sessions.

LAST CHANCE FOR DODGEBALL

Students: The deadline to sign up for OCSA Dodgeball is TODAY, Friday, October 4! Gather your squad, and click here to enter your team in the first Dodgeball Tournament of the year on Friday, October 25 from 3-5 p.m. in The Callero Family Foundation Plaza (DMS Quad). Get ready to bring your A-game!

HALLOWEEN MAZE AUDITIONS

The OCSA world-famous Halloween Maze is back and holding auditions for scare actors with great physicality and hosts/tour guides with strong improv skills! Auditions will take place next Wednesday, October 9, in the Humanities Tower, Room 204. Click here to review further details and sign up to audition. The OCSA Halloween Maze is proudly produced by the Arts & Enterprise, The Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality, and the Production & Design Conservatories. Happy Halloween!

AP EXAMS

The priority deadline for purchasing AP exams is Sunday, October 27. All AP exams must be purchased through MySchoolBucks. Please note, AP exams purchased after Sunday, October 27 will incur a $40 late fee per exam. Sunday, March 2 is the deadline to purchase AP exams, without exception.

If you need to cancel an exam for any reason, a full refund will be issued for exams that are canceled before Saturday, November 2. A partial refund and a $40 cancellation fee will be applied for exams that are canceled between Sunday, November 3 – Sunday, April 6. No refunds will be issued after Sunday, April 6. For more information, please visit www.ocsarts.net/APHonors.

SCHOOL PICTURES

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to order your 2024-2025 school pictures through www.mylifetouch.com using your student's school ID number or event code EVTVV99DW. For an additional 10% discount, use code F202410OFF.

MENTORS NEEDED

We are still in need of mentors for this year’s Professional Mentorship Program. Professional mentors will be paired with interested juniors to help them explore career options and receive guidance about post-secondary opportunities. We try to pair as many students with mentors as possible. To view the list of needed fields, please click here. If you or someone you know might be willing to support one of our OCSA students this school year, please complete this Professional Mentor Interest Form. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Arts Enrichment Karen Rymar at karen.rymar@ocsarts.net.

HOLIDAY EVERGREENS

With the holidays right around the corner, The El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory is excited to announce their popular annual Holiday Evergreens fundraiser! These holiday evergreens are the perfect way to decorate your home for the season. They also make wonderful gifts for teachers, friends, family, and business contacts, while supporting the deserving students of OCSA!

This year, The El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory has invited the Classical Voice, Commercial Dance, Creative Writing, Film & Television, Integrated Arts, and the Musical Theatre Conservatories, as well as The Garn Family Jazz Studies Program, to participate. Please click here to support these conservatories as they raise funds and compete for prizes. If you would like to support a particular student or conservatory, be sure to select the corresponding name from the drop-down menu under “Credit My Order To” at check out. The fundraiser will end on Thursday, October 31, so don’t delay!

FOODIE FESTIVAL

OCSA families: You are invited to join The Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory for their first Foodie Festival from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, October 26 in the parking lot of the Center for the Arts! Foodie Festival will feature delectable dishes created by our talented student chefs, partnering with 12 professional chefs from the community. All proceeds will benefit the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory. Come for the food and stay for the Throwdown Finale, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. in the Margaret A. Webb Theatre.

CONSERVATORY TRANSFER APPLICATIONS

Current students wishing to apply to a new conservatory for the 2025-2026 school year must complete a Conservatory Transfer Application, which will be available in mid-October. Students will also need to participate in the Conservatory Placement Activity for their desired new conservatory. In-person Conservatory Placement Activities will take place in January. Please stay tuned for more information once the application is live. If you have any questions, please contact OCSA Admissions at admissions@ocsarts.net.

SENIOR INFORMATION

Class of 2025 families: Please be aware of the following fast-approaching October deadlines:

Diploma Name/Address Verification: Monday, October 7; click here to submit.
Recommendation Letter/Transcript Requests: Monday, October 7 is the deadline for November 1 college application deadlines, Monday, October 28 for December 1 deadlines, and Monday, November 18 for January 1 deadlines.
Senior Packages or Cap and Gown Orders: Monday, October 7; click here for more information, or purchase now through MySchoolBucks.
Discount Pricing on Senior Yearbook Ads: Monday, October 7; click here for more information, and go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use order number 40412 to create your senior ad and lock in the current discount pricing.

Please refer to the Class of 2025 Senior Bulletin for more details on important information and links regarding senior year. To review other informational documents relevant to the senior class, please visit www.ocsarts.net/12thGrade. If you have questions after reading the above information, please email student.services@ocsarts.net.