Orlando Science Lynx Campus

To provide a high-quality, well-rounded education for K-12 students in Central Florida by incorporating innovative, proven, research-based instructional methods in a stimulating and nurturing environment which provides a special emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and Reading.

Greetings OSS Lynx Community!

Welcome to this week's edition of our Lynx Campus Newsletter. We hope you find this week's updates informative and engaging.

1) First Quarter Progress Reports:
Progress reports go out today! Be sure to review your student's grades and make a plan to finish the quarter strong. Access them through OSS Connect starting September 13th.

2) Parent Teacher Conferences – 1st Quarter:
We will be holding our 1st quarter Parent Teacher Conferences next week, on Tuesday and Thursday, virtually via Microsoft Teams. Please see the link below for instructions on how to sign up for a conference.

3) Soccer Success!
A big congratulations to our soccer team for kicking off the season with three wins! Let's continue to support them next week as they play their last match of the regular season on Tuesday. Go Orcas!

4) Spirit Day Fun is Nearing!
Don't miss out on the fun! There's still time to sign up for our next Spirit Day on September 23rd (Superheroes vs. Villains) and Mismatch Day on October 11th. Let’s show some spirit!

5) Science Fair Updates:
Ms. Cramp reminds all science fair participants that journal checks are wrapping up, and students will begin creating their research plans. Parents, encourage your students to stay on track, and don’t forget, science fair tutoring is available every Wednesday! More details below.

6) Save the Date – Drama Production:
Mark your calendars for Theater 1's production of "The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza" on December 13th. Get ready for a night of comedy and fun!

7) PSAT Registration Reminder:
The PSAT for 8th graders is approaching on October 22nd. Be sure to register by October 6th! Also, don't miss PSAT Family Night on September 18th to learn more about the exam.

8) Recycled Art Club – Turning Trash into Treasure:
Our Recycled Art Club is working on an amazing project for the Casselberry Museum. If you'd like to contribute or learn more, check out the details and get involved! See pictures below.

9) Open House Dates:
Know a family interested in joining the OSS community? Share our upcoming Open House dates and new enrollment information with them!

Thank you for staying informed and involved in our school community. Have a wonderful week ahead!

Julie Santos, M.A. Ed.

Principal

Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School - Lynx Campus

A community effort led to a half-cent sales tax for school construction and maintenance in Florida’s Orange County Public Schools in 2002. The tax, which has funded the replacement or renovation of 136 schools, was extended in 2014 and will be on the ballot again in November 2024. This half cent tax will include funding for charter schools if passed by voters.

To access the Progress Report when they become available on Friday, September 13th, follow the steps provided in the link below. You are able to sign in to OSS Connect using your student's user and password.

Welcome to the 1st Quarter Lynx Campus Parent Teacher Conferences of 2024-2025!

PTCs are 15 minute virtual meetings that will be held via your child's OSS Microsoft Teams account. During the PTC, most of your student's teachers will attend to discuss the academic progress and/or concerns of your student. See the link below to sign up and READ all of the instructions on how to sign up and attend a meeting. Please know your student's homeroom teacher before selecting a time slot.

NOTE: You may only sign up for 1 time slot per student. If you sign up for more that 1 time slot per student, all of your time slots will be removed.

If you are not able to sign up for a PTC on this sign up, do not worry. You can always contact your student's teacher(s) directly with any questions or concerns you may have. Teacher email addresses were provided on course syllabi and are also listed in the Staff Directory on OSS Connect.

If you prefer to have a conference and all sign up slots are filled, please utilize the link provided in the SignUpGenius page to arrange an appointment for another date and time. You can also check back on this sign up for cancellations.

Conferences are a great way to open lines of communication between the classroom and home to help our students be successful. We look forward to meeting with you!

Get ready to show your Lynx pride with our 2024-2025 Campus Spirit Days! For just $15 per quarter, or a discounted $50 for the whole year, you can participate in fun themed dress-up days that will bring our community together in style. From National College Colors Day on August 30th to Decades Day on May 12th, there's something for everyone! Don't miss out on the chance to express your creativity and school spirit—mark your calendars and join in the fun!

Two Options Available:

$50 for all listed spirit days below. Saves you money and time. (last day to pay 9/22) Pay here: https://www.schoolpay.com/link/LynxSpiritDays50

$15 for quarter one listed spirit days only. (last day to pay 9/22) Pay here: https://www.schoolpay.com/link/LynxQuarter1Only15

In addition to our dress down day guidelines posted in the newsletter and parent resources page, please review these special guidelines for Spirit Themed Days.

· Clothing, jewelry, and accessories must be appropriate for school and not pose a safety hazard.

· Undergarments must not be exposed.

· All costume pieces must be in good taste (ie no offensive or suggestive wording). Head accessories are permitted, such as wigs, hats, or headbands.

· All head accessories must stay on the students’ heads. No masks. No face/body paint. Cosmetics are permitted.

· No coats or jackets. Capes must be no longer than waist length. No fake weapons or weaponlike accessories are permitted

· Failure to follow the guidelines will result in students being moved to PASS and revocation of the remaining dress down days. The dress down is nonrefundable.

Dress Down Day Guidelines:

https://secure.smore.com/n/mxcyb-oss-lynx-campus-parent-resources

Please be advised, if necessary, we may need to change spirit day dates for unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be communicated in advance.

The 7th grade ELA department is planning to take a field trip on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Students will attend the Orlando Shakes performance of "A Christmas Carol". All 7th grade students will be reading the text in class. This performance will be an excellent opportunity for students to improve their comprehension and deepen their understanding of the text.

Students will be taken to the 10:30 am showing of "A Christmas Carol" on Friday, December 6th via chartered bus. Upon return to the school, students will be served a pizza lunch in the cafeteria.

Cost is $45.

No refunds. The deadline to pay is: Monday, September 30, 2024.

Please complete the field trip permission form at the link below and return it before the deadline date if you would like your student to attend.

Congratulations to our incredible soccer team for continuing their winning streak.

• OSS vs Hunter's Creek (Cancelled Due to Weather)
• OSS vs Goldenrod Score was 2 - 2 with two goals from Cristian Sarmiento. Then winning the game in the penalty shootout with goals from Cristian Sarmiento and Adam Lassel.

We would like to recognize Coach Luwara and all our players for their hard work! Come out and support our team next week on Tuesday! Go Orcas!

Save the date for Theater 1's production of "The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza," a comedic retelling of Greek mythology, on the evening of December 13th. Ticket information will be coming soon!

Orcas, our progress monitoring assessment begin in September with PM1. Please see the calendar below to plan accordingly. Please ensure that your student is well rested and on time on testing days. The results of these assessments will help teachers address your student's needs.

Orlando Science PSAT Day will take place on October 22nd, 2024 and is open to ALL 8th grade students! This is a fantastic opportunity for your students to showcase their knowledge and skills. The cost is only $10 and you can pay here: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/202425-PSAT-89-Testing-8th-Grade-Only/SetCfTp

The main goal of the Recycled Art club is to turn trash -- used water bottles, laundry detergent bottles, aluminum cans, etc. -- into treasure. Our culminating project is to create a large orca to submit to the Recycled Art Contest at Casselberry Museum in March 2025. In these photos, students are cutting and shaping used water bottles into flowers and seaweed to place around our orca. Once all materials have been cut, we plan to paint them. If you are interested in donating items or learning more about what items we still need, please contact Mrs. Bryan at kayla.bryan@orlandoscience.org or stop by room 124.

To ensure a smooth and efficient drop-off and pick-up process, kindly adhere to the following guidelines:

• Students must remain in dismissal area: Students are not allowed to walk off campus at any time. Leaving the dismissal area to meet cars on the street or neighboring businesses is a serious violation of the code of conduct and referrals will be issued. Students must remain in the dismissal area until their parent/guardian drives up and parks in the supervised carline area.
• Dismissal Times: To prevent any delays, we kindly ask that you refrain from arriving on campus before the designated dismissal times. Dismissal times are as follows:
• 8th Grade classes: 2:47 PM (1:47 PM on Wednesdays)
• 7th Grade classes: 2:50 PM (1:52 PM on Wednesdays)
• Clubs dismiss at: 3:35 PM (2:35 PM on Wednesdays)
• PikMyKid: Announce your arrival using the PikMyKid app during dismissal. Pull forward when there is an open space in front of your vehicle. This helps other students see their rides and reduces delays. Information on how to register is below.
• Carline Safety:
• Please refrain from exiting your vehicle when in the carline. This includes siblings.
• We urge you not to drop off or pick up students on Lynx Lane or park at neighboring businesses at any time.
• Avoid stopping in the middle lane for student pick-up, as this lane is designated for exits only.
• The speed limit is 4 miles per hour.
• Please stop for students crossing
• Aftercare Program: Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our students extends beyond the school day. With that in mind, we want to inform you that the school will be closed at 4:00 PM. Any students who remain on campus after this time must be registered in our aftercare program.
• Payment Plans and Registration: We understand that each family's needs are unique, which is why we offer various payment plans for our aftercare program. Whether you're seeking daily, monthly, or annual options, we have a plan that suits your preferences. Details on the available payment plans and how to register your students can be found below.
• Important Procedure: If a student is on campus after 4:00 PM and is not registered for aftercare, our protocol requires us to contact the parents or guardians. If we are unable to locate parents or guardians, and make suitable arrangements by 4:15 PM, we may have to involve the authorities to ensure the students' safety. The safety and care of our students remain our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Please use the link below to request club withdrawals or changes.

Thank to our parents and guardians who were able to attend the new parent night presentation this week. We had many good questions. If you were not able to attend, you may view the recording below. We hope this helps.

We hosted an informational meeting for the 2024-2025 D.C. field trip for current 7th grade families on Wednesday, 8/21. If you missed it please feel free to view the recording. WE HAVE NEW UPDATES for this trip, including new dates and opportunities to SAVE MONEY! If you have any questions or are not able to attend but would like information, please email Mrs. Szupowal at jennifer.szupowal@orlandoscience.org.

Below you can find the required OCPS Physical Forms for the current school year. All students wanting to participate in sports for the upcoming school year, must have a sports physical on file PRIOR to trying out for any team.

Sports Packet:

1. EKG is an optional for Middle school students.

2. EL 2 form must be signed by a physician.

3. The packet must be completed entirely to be eligible for tryouts.

4. Some urgent cares provide sports physical, if your student needs the EL 2 form signed before the tryouts.

Anticipated Tryouts month:

1. Soccer: Mid-August

2. Volleyball: October

3. Basketball: Mid-December/January

4. Track and Field: March

The packet is good for 1 year; however, the physician's signature date might expire during the school year, then your students need to have another Sprots Physical (EL 2 form) signed and submitted to the Athletic Director.

Transportation:

The school will not provide any transportation to and from practices/game sites.

GPA Requirement:

An average 2.5 GPA. (A=4.0 / B=3.0 / C=2.0 / D=1.0 / F = 0.0) must be maintained to play the sport, except Soccer. If your student receives an F which the student requires to complete a credit recovery package. The student must complete it before official game starts.

Discipline Requirement:

Students may be removed from sports teams if they violate the student code of conduct.

Breakfast and Lunch will be FREE for all students for the 2024-2025 school year. The August Meal Menu is attached below.

If your student has allergies and will be getting school lunch, please fill out the special diet order form below so an alternate lunch can be provided.

Chromebooks were distributed during Meet The Teacher. Moving forward, distributions will occur during the school day. Please ensure your student brings the completed agreement form to class to receive their Chromebook.

Virtual Orientation—Friday, August 9, 2024 (Recording Available):

Parents/guardians are encouraged to watch the recording of the general session webinar hosted by the Lynx Administrative team. All parents/guardians are encouraged to review this vital information prior to the first day of school. The link to the recorded webinar is: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/rL5ItF8eSsTiU7cDuKk72122OGEUumuFUsky_bApzT3gHQmYEdkV2wOEr72HlEHQ._cghmmv8mebjdIwt

Thank you! For questions, please e-mail Lynx_Academics@orlandoscience.org

If you are interested in aftercare for the 2024-2025 school year, please fill out the forms below.

Forms can be emailed to Mr. Myler at stephen.myler@orlandoscience.org or handed in to the front office during orientation or first week of school.

Please review both documents below to prepare for your back-to-school shopping. Ensuring your child is in full dress code helps create a positive and productive learning environment for all. Violations of the dress code policy will result in disciplinary consequences. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

All students, grades K-12 are required to wear a school uniform. Below is information on Risse Brothers Uniform store and location.

We are so proud and excited to launch this new program for our ORCAS at lynx Campus! ORCAS Outreach is a program that raises money for students who cannot attend field trips due to the lack of funds. There will be an application for these scholarships. All donations help raise money for every scholarship granted. Please follow the QR Code above and consider donating items that will be sold to support this cause!