Vol: 18 No: 4 September 9, 2019


Alliance of Parents & Teachers

APT is committed to OSA as a diverse, equitable  and inclusive school community. A place where students thrive, and where parents, teachers, and students— together with the school leadership and board, partner to ensure the success of the school.

Please join us for the Monthly APT General Meetings!  Download: 2019-20 APT Welcomes You!! – Info Slides

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Save the Date!

General APT Meeting

Time: Tuesday, September 10, 2019
5:30-6:00pm Community Building
6:00-7:00pm General APT Meeting
7:00-8:00pm Arts Emphasis Meetings

Join other OSA parents & participating OSA staff in community building prior to the APT General Meeting.

Come to engage in the Charter Renewal process, which is CRITICAL to ensure the future of OSA.  Meaningful parent engagement is a key ingredient to the success of the Charter Renewal.  Please come out to learn more!

Location: OSA Student Center

PODS: Parents of Students with Disabilities

Time: Wednesday, September 11, 6:00-7:30pm  (Konstella Event)

PODS is where OSA families can build community and support each other, and help the administration and faculty create and sustain an educational community where students with disabilities are fully supported and enjoy full inclusion, representation, respect, and dignity.


OSA Principal Friday Letter

Please read OSA Friday Principal Letter 09.06.19, from Mike Oz


Notice to Families re: Sexual Violence Prevention Programming @ OSA

Please READ Letter to OSA Families from BAWAR Program Coordinator, Laura Alberti


Student Drop Off

To all parents who drive their students to school:  Please drop off your children only after parking in a designated parking spot on the street or in the San Pablo lot.  Please do not double park during drop-off The multitude of parents double parking is creating a dangerous situation for our students and other drivers on 18th and 19th streets.


Chief of Staff Updates

Attendance Counts!

As many of you know, attendance is one of the primary factors influencing how much funding our school receives. Regular attendance is also vital for students to engage in classrooms, connect with peers, and stay on top of homework. We have submitted our monthly attendance report and can proudly say that overall school attendance is looking pretty good! Sixth grade has the highest level of attendance at 99.47%, and middle school overall is at 98.97%. High school is a little lower but still doing well at 97.81%.

Those who attended last spring’s budget meetings may recall that we build our annual budget on an estimated attendance percentage. If students don’t attend classes, and our actual attendance rate is lower than anticipated, we come up short on funds at the end of the school year. Please help OSA and help your student at the same time by sending them to school every day. Plan vacations for scheduled school closures only (see the academic calendar on our website).

New this year – OSA will host a pizza party for the grade who has overall highest attendance each quarter! Expect to see regular reporting on our attendance in future newsletters.

Pick up and drop off

We encourage everyone to slow down and be mindful of all the children in our OSA community when you drop off and pick up your student. Remember that middle and high school students look to us as examples – whether it feels like it or not! – in how to treat people courteously, cope with stress, and be part of a community. Be the kind of driver you’d like them to be, once they’re behind the wheel of a car.

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications Open Now!

The deadline to apply for free or reduced lunch is October 1st. We strongly encourage everyone to fill out the application on our website, whether your child plans to eat a hot lunch at school or not! Besides receiving lunch daily, students who qualify will get lower fees for AP exams, SAT and PSAT exams, and free college applications. Additionally, each child who qualifies for free or reduced lunch triggers a higher level of funding to OSA from the state so that we can provide more intensive services for those who may need it. Please go to https://mealapps.ousd.org/ and fill out your application today!

OSA Chief of Staff: Please contact Romy Douglass with any questions at rdouglass@OakArts.org


Afterschool Program near OSA

This Fall 3 O’Clock Rock will focus on writing your own songs for a new record called 3 O’Clock Rock Takes You to Dinner!

3 O’Clock Rock start bands, play shows, make records, and go on tour!
A recent news story that aired on KTVU about 3 O’Clock Rock:
Participating 3 O’clock Rock Students from all over the Bay area will write about their favorite foods and local eateries.
Once the songs are practiced and well rehearsed, 3 O’Clock Rock will record them and put them all together for a release on 3 O’Clock Rock Records!
Students may:
  • Learn the basics on drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals.
  • Learn Complete Songs and prepare for show – Sunday, November 3rd – 924 Gilman St. Berkeley, CA – 1pm
  • Write an original song
  • Students will also learn a selection of food related songs with their teacher.
  • Draw Show Posters, Album Artwork and contribute artwork, comics, to the 3 O’Clock Rock Fanzine
Fall Semester 
Schedule for Mondays
3:40 – 5:00pm
Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28
Nov. 3, 4
Album Release Party and Concert at 924 Gilman St. Berkeley, CA
On Sunday, Nov. 3rd – 1:00pm
10 meetings total
$600/student

Please contact Angela Engel with any questions at angengel@gmail.com or phone 510-384-8019


Middle School Ultimate Frisbee

Calling all Middle Schoolers, want to join our OSA ultimate team?

The middle school Ultimate Frisbee team, the Seawolves, is back for our second year this Fall.  No tryouts; all genders and experience level are welcome. Once-weekly practice begins soon, the day is yet to be finalized based on availability of players.   Players from other middle schools are also welcome to join. Ultimate frisbee is a fun, fast-paced, low cost, team sport. The team will participate in tournaments hosted by the Bay Area Disc Association, (bayareadisc.org), and financial aid is available. For more info, contact Coach Patsy Smith, mom to OSA 7th grade vocal student Monique Wethy, at carmengetit@gmail.com, join the google group at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/ultimate-ms-claremont-osa/join


Other Important Dates


OSA 2019-20 Academic Calendar
Download:
Calendar

Thursday, September 26
Sweets Ballroom – Free Concert
Event: Kick-Off Annual Fund (More info coming…)


Weekly Announcements

Special Education Announcement

Please READ the following SPED Letter regarding 2019-20 Special Education Programming at OSA.

After School Program

Please READ and SUBMIT the following ASP Letter and Form regarding 2019-20 After School Programming at OSA.

OSA Student and Family Handbook

Please Download OSA Student and Family Handbook.  Please contact Katy Zaugg for questions: kzaugg@oakarts.org

OSA Bell Schedule

Download OSA 2019-20 Bell Schedule. Be Sure To Be On-Time Everyday!  Tardy Bell Rings at 8:20am for Middle School & High School.


A’s Game Announcement

Date: September 20th
Event: Public Charter School Night at the Oakland A’s
Sponsored by: Families In Action for Quality Education (FIA)
What is it? A large scale event to celebrate Oakland charter school students, families and staff in order to build momentum and positive identity early in the school year. The better visibility that Oakland charter schools have in our community, the better. The goal is to have 5,000 identifiable charter families, teachers, faculty, etc at the game to show how many of us are committed to public charter schools.
 
More Details: Friday, September 20, 2019, 7:07pm

Game: A’s versus Texas Rangers

6:00pm – welcome table in parking lot

6:30pm-7pm charter families/stakeholders seated

How to order tickets:

Michael Rodgers, Ticket Office, mrodgers@athletics.com

Tickets for this event are $5 each, a 75% discount

Thanks! 
Romy Douglass
Chief of Staff
Oakland School for the Arts
530 18th Street
Oakland CA 94612

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