Technology Campus Chronicle

Dear OSES Families,

I am delighted to share that today, we celebrate School Librarian's Day! This special day is dedicated to honoring the incredible work and dedication of our school librarian, Mrs. Akin.

Mrs. Akin has been a cornerstone of our school community, fostering a love for reading and learning among our students. Her enthusiasm and creativity have transformed our library into a vibrant hub of knowledge and imagination. Mrs. Akin has made a lasting impact on all of us.

On this day, let's take a moment to appreciate the invaluable contributions of our Media Center Specialist. I encourage everyone to visit the library and express your gratitude to Mrs. Akin for her unwavering commitment to our students' growth and success.

Thank you, Mrs. Akin, for being an inspiration to us all. Your passion for literature and education is truly remarkable, and we are fortunate to have you as part of our school family.

Warm regards,

Michael Singleton

My name is Shrika Velagapudi, I'm a junior at Orlando Science High School. I took up creative writing as a hobby this past summer, and recently had the wonderful opportunity to publish a nonfiction children’s book about 10 remarkable female scientists from around the globe who broke barriers and accomplished great feats in STEM. Traveling to India every summer, I was devastated to learn how many girls shared my same aspirations and dreams, but simply didn't have the resources or opportunities to bring them to fruition. This drove me to play my part as an advocate for STEM learning and overcoming systemic barriers: 100% of the profits made from my book, "STEMpowering Women", go to funding tech access and education for the millions of Indian girls living in poverty and denied opportunities.

"STEMpowering Women" is a compilation of varying women's journeys to success in the fields of STEM, as they conquer countless challenges and obstacles to prove the world wrong. Mentioned throughout this colorful, inspirational children's book are the tales and accomplishments of women scientists from all over the globe, such as Sally Ride, Antonia Novello, Marie Curie, and more. The aim of this book is to inspire young children, especially girls between the ages of 4 and 10, to take up careers in the field of STEM, and break gender barriers in this male-dominated area.

Due to supply issues at the OCPS level, we do not know if hot or cold lunch will be served. Please be prepared to have either lunch until further notice.

Breakfast and Lunch will be FREE for the 2024-2025 school year

If your child has food allergies and will require a special meal from OCPS please click on the link below to fill out the special diet order form

Special Diets for Food Allergies - Orange County Public Schools (ocps.net)

This week, students in Grades 4-6 took the statewide BEST Writing assessment. Please note that scores will be available to families through the Skyward Parent Portal in late May/June. Next week, students in Grades K-3 will participate in their final Drop Everything and Write activity in class.

Congratulations

to our class winners of the March Madness Math Fluency Challenge! These classes will celebrate their success with a glow party:

K: Lamour

1: Nickerson

2: Ramphal

3: Sese

4: Patel

5: Baker

6: Pitoniak

Dates for the final FAST Progress Monitoring are listed below. K-2 teachers will notify families of testing dates soon. Have a wonderful weekend! Contact Ms. Carter (Cayce.Carter@orlandoscience.org) with any questions.

This month, our class has been busy learning and exploring new concepts! In math, we have been identifying and describing 2D shapes. In reading, we are strengthening our skills with digraphs, letter teams, and consonant blends to build confident readers. In writing, students have been practicing forming complete sentences with correct spacing and punctuation. Additionally, we have been learning about where we are in the world—understanding our city, state, country, and even our planet! Keep practicing these skills at home by pointing out shapes in everyday objects, reading books together, and discussing where we live. We are so proud of our young learners!

Ms. DiNuzzo's Class Newsletter - This Week’s Highlights!

What a fun week in Ms. DiNuzzo’s class! On Monday, we had a special visit from Mr. Singleton, who observed our class during math time. Tuesday brought some laughter as Ms. DiNuzzo pulled off some hilarious pranks—she convinced the students it was Easter and hid eggs around the room! The pranking didn’t stop there—students were also “tricked” with a following directions quiz and enjoyed videos about spaghetti growing on trees, flying penguins, and more!

In Social Studies, we continued our exploration of schools long ago and how they compare to today. In Science, our curious scientists took part in a hands-on flower dissection lab as we dove deeper into our plant unit. Math wrapped up Topic 10 on place value, while in Reading, we explored the world of Sea Otter Pups in Module 9, Week 2.

As we head toward the end of the year, we’ll begin reviewing for the STAR test. It’s been a busy, fun-filled week, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Congratulations to Aryella for passing XtraMath Multiplication!

Hello Second Grade Families!

Here’s a quick update on what we’ve been up to this week :)

Math:
Students are practicing estimating and measuring lengths in inches, feet, yards, centimeters, and meters. They’re also solving real-world problems with addition and subtraction of lengths and comparing measurements between objects.

Reading:
We’re diving into poetry, identifying rhyme schemes and key text features like titles and illustrations. Students are also exploring similes, idioms, and alliteration while building vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Grammar:
We’re learning how to use adverbs that tell how, when, and where, and practicing their correct use in speaking and writing.

Science:
This month, students are observing and describing the life cycles of plants and animals, including beans and butterflies, to understand how living things grow and change.

Social Studies:
We’re studying U.S. citizenship and history! Students will learn why people came to the U.S., how the government protects citizens’ rights, and the importance of the Constitution. We’re also discussing how limited resources influence choices and the characteristics of responsible citizenship.

Dear Families,

We are excited to share what your child has been learning this month! Our classroom is buzzing with new discoveries and concepts. Here’s a quick overview of the subjects we've been focusing on. Just a reminder our Reading FAST is schedule for Thursday, May 1st.

Math: Exploring Equivalent Fractions

In math, we’ve been diving into equivalent fractions! Students are learning how different fractions can represent the same part of a whole. We’ve been practicing by using visual aids like fraction bars and circles to help students recognize that 1/2 is the same as 2/4, 4/8, and more. We’re also applying this knowledge to simplify fractions and make them easier to work with in real-world situations.

Reading: Reviewing Text Structures

In our reading lessons, we’ve been reviewing text structures to help students better understand how authors organize their ideas. We’ve explored different structures, including chronological order, cause and effect, problem and solution, and compare and contrast. By recognizing these patterns, students are becoming more skilled at identifying the main ideas and key details in what they read.

Science: Discovering Stars

In science, we’ve been learning all about stars and how they form, shine, and eventually fade. We’ve explored the life cycle of stars, from their birth in nebulae to their transformation into supernovas or black holes. Students are fascinated by the vastness of space and the different types of stars. To bring our lessons to life, we’ve been using interactive simulations and watching videos of star systems.

Social Studies: Learning About Regions

In social studies, our focus has been on the various regions of the world. We’re learning about the physical features, climate, culture, and resources that make each region unique. Students are gaining a deeper understanding of how geography shapes the way people live, work, and interact with their environment.

Important Dates:

• April 8th: DEAW # 4

• April 14th- Regions Fair

• April 18- Report Cards go home

We are excited to share the highlights of our recent STEM activities focus on hands-on activities that allowed our students to engage in a fun and educational experience that reinforced important scientific concepts.

Teamwork in Action: Engineering Finger Strength and Coordination Through Force and Motion Exploration

Activity Overview: During this activity, students worked collaboratively in small groups to explore the principles of force and motion while enhancing their finger strength and coordination. Using simple materials such as cups and rubber bands, they build towers and stalk the cups in a pyramid that requires precise movements and teamwork. The activity emphasized the importance of fine motor skills and coordination as students manipulated materials to achieve their goals. Collaborating with peers helped students build communication and problem-solving skills, essential for effective teamwork.

Robotic Hands!

Activity Overview: During this activity, our 4th graders worked individually to design and build their own robotic hands using everyday materials such as straws, rubber bands, and cardboard. They learned about the mechanics of how robotic hands function and the role of different components in creating movement. As they built their robotic hands, students encountered challenges that required critical thinking and collaboration to overcome. With this activity, they gained insights into how forces and motion work together to create movement in mechanical systems. Each of our 4th graders showcased their creativity in designing a functional and unique robotic hand, emphasizing the importance of engineering design.

5th grade has been busy since Spring Break! We've been working hard to get ready for the B.E.S.T. Writing assessment on April 1st. For this assessment, we wrote an argumentative essay on whether teens should be on social media. We also had a fun writing workshop where all the 5th grade classes came together to write another argumentative piece—this time, choosing which country would be the best vacation destination: Jamaica or Peru.

Now that April is here, we’re shifting gears and looking ahead to Earth Day. The students will be working on a project called A Sustainable Future, where they’ll design different aspects of a sustainable world using only recyclable materials. It’s a great opportunity for them to think creatively and explore how different environments can contribute to a greener planet.

We’re also getting very excited about our upcoming field trip to Animal Kingdom on April 22—it’s just around the corner!

In STEM, Kindergarten continues to learn about animals and plants. Last week, we did leaf rubbings, and this week we discussed animals that are active in the day or night. In First grade we created a bed for Goldilocks. Second graders learned about Jaques Cousteau and the Wright brothers. Third grade discovered Egypt and built a giant pyramid! Fourth grade is learning moon phases, and Fifth graders are collecting and analyzing data.

The OSES Science Olympiad team had their first competition of the year last weekend. We walked away with several medals and one team received 3rd place overall. GO ORCAS!

This week, our students engaged in exciting center rotations tailored to the topics we have been covering. Here are some highlights:

• 7th Grade: Focused on data analysis, students had the opportunity to review concepts through a fun game of Jeopardy. Additionally, they completed a choice board activity where they selected projects that interested them. Many chose to create comic strips based on data analysis, while others designed class surveys on topics of their choice, collecting and analyzing their own data.

• 8th Grade: Students explored transformations, practicing their understanding through interactive activities also through Jeopardy.

As we approach the Math FAST assessment, we kindly ask that students complete the Delta Math FAST review. This review is essential for reinforcing their skills and ensuring they are well-prepared. Please encourage them to take this seriously and reach out if they need any assistance.

Sixth grade Life Science has been both fascinating & frightening! As we focused on Human Body Systems, students worked together to study the digestive system in a lab. They did an improvisation of how the body uses physical & chemical digestion to chew & digest food, grab nutrients, and produce waste. In addition, we wrapped up the Human Body Systems unit by dissecting Bull Frogs. Students were able to see the structures and functions of the body that we had studied in this hands-on lab. Currently, students are focusing on Classification, Evolution, and Ecology. They selected a specific Biome that they will research, organize l, and share a (4) part project in small groups. They will create a detailed Food Web Poster, a 3D Ecological Pyramid showcasing the Biome Ecosystem, a Digital Book presenting classification, adaptations, keystone species, biodiversity assessment, biome characteristics, abiotic/ biotic factors, endangered/ threatened species, global distribution, limiting factors, along with symbiotic relationships. The book will also feature images, graphs, charts, and maps. The grand finale is creating a minute golf hole inspired by the biome. It must be visually engaging, functional, and contain challenges for the golfer. The best part is that students will set up a miniature golf course on the outside pavilion with their class. Students will have the opportunity to golf the entire course that they created. It's always a win when students enjoy what they are studying and have the opportunity to be creative together! In STEM Earth & Space, students are creating Recycled, Sustainable, Futuristic Cities. It is built entirely out of recycled items and must showcase how they will sustain sources of food, water, energy, waste, housing, transportation. In addition, it must include at least (1) futuristic component. Builds should be complete just in time for Earth Day!

In order to help keep our families informed of the latest legislative updates regarding their student's education, a Parent Rights Resources page has been added to the school website.

Recent updates include:

• Internet Safety
• District Health Care Services
• Special Magistrate

The mission of Orlando Science Elementary School (OSES) is to provide a well-rounded education with special emphasis in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while using research-based and innovative instructional methods in a stimulating learning environment. OSES is committed to the social-emotional learning and character development of all students.