Please be reminded that the school will be closed next Friday, February 16, in observance of Presidents’ Day Weekend. The school will also be closed the following Monday, February 19. We hope you enjoy the upcoming four-day weekend!

We are pleased to announce that the 2024-2025 school calendar was approved at last week’s meeting of the OCSA Board of Trustees. 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 2024-2025 school year:

• First Day of School: Wednesday, August 14, 2024
• Last Day of Fall Semester: Thursday, December 19, 2024 
• First Day of Spring Semester: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 
• Spring Break: Monday, March 31 – Friday, April 4, 2025 
• Last Day of School: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 

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 adjusted based on factors outside of OCSA’s control. Stay tuned for the complete list of important dates for the 2024-2025 school year coming soon!

Spread the love by surprising your friends, teachers, and staff with a hand-delivered gift for Valentine’s Day! Hosted by the Arts & Enterprise Conservatory, Valentine Grams are available to purchase online or during Lunch this Monday, February 12 and Tuesday, February 13 on 10th Street. For as little as $5, you can “spread the love” by sending a personalized card, candy, bracelet, or adorable teddy bear. The grams will be delivered on Wednesday, February 14 during class.

Don’t delay! TODAY, Friday, February 9, at 11:59 p.m. is your last chance to level up your OCSA swag! Visit www.ocsarts.net/FlashSale to check out the Winter Apparel Sale and all of the exclusive items available for purchase, including a soft, cropped sweatshirt, a lightweight drawstring bag, an OCSA towel perfect for an active rehearsal, and much more. Your items will be shipped directly to you in mid-March. We can’t wait to see you enjoying your new OCSA gear!

OCSA’s Career Expo is returning on Friday, March 22! In preparation, we are currently seeking panelists to help make the event a success. If you are an OCSA parent/guardian, alumni parent/student, or community member who would be interested in sharing your career experiences, please consider being a potential panelist by filling out this form by Friday, February 23. Click here for more information and to review the career areas of interest. We greatly appreciate your support.

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 2024-2025 Student Planner. Submissions will be accepted until Saturday, 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 2024-2025 Student Planner, which will debut next fall and be available for purchase during On-Campus Registration.

To enter and submit your artwork, please click here. To be considered, artwork must follow all Planner Design Specifications. If you have any questions, please email pso@ocsarts.net.

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 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, submit your design through this form by Friday, March 1 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!

If you have not yet registered for AP exams, late AP exam registration will continue to be available until Sunday, March 3. 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.

2024 AP exams are scheduled to be administered over two weeks in May: Monday, May 6 – Friday, May 10 and Monday, May 13 – Friday, May 17. 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.

OCSA families: Next Friday, February 16, is the deadline to submit ad forms, artwork, and payment for your ad to be included in OCSA’s Gala 2024 program. Don’t miss this opportunity to sell or purchase advertising space in the program for the school’s largest fundraising event of the year. 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 and can count toward your family’s Conservatory Funding Agreement (CFA).

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.

Now is the time to register your student for CSArts Academy’s Spring 2024 session before early bird pricing ends this coming Monday, February 12! Don’t forget that there is an additional discount for current OCSA students – just use OCSAStudent24 to save 10% at checkout. Staff and returning CSArts Academy families may contact academy@csarts.net for their respective discounts. 

This spring, CSArts Academy invites students ages 5-15 from throughout the community to experience a variety of arts disciplines through unique classes, offered right here on the OCSA campus. Click here to browse the impressive offering of courses.

FAFSA Priority Deadline

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for the state of California is Saturday, March 2. All seniors are mandated by the state of California to complete the FAFSA. Click here to complete your application. If your student wishes to opt-out of the FAFSA application process, they must complete this opt-out form and return it to The Dhanidina Family Student Services Office in the Humanities Tower, Room 101, by Friday, March 1. 

Seal of Biliteracy

Applications are open for seniors to be recognized with 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 click here to see the requirements and complete the application by Friday, March 1 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.

Senior Class Panoramic Picture

The senior class panoramic picture will be taken on Wednesday, March 20 at 10:45 a.m. The panoramic picture is already included as part of the senior packages that were sold earlier this year or can be purchased as an individual order at MySchoolBucks.

For more details pertaining to the senior class, please refer to the Class of 2024 Senior Bulletin, and visit www.ocsarts.net/12thGrade to review other informational documents. 

In addition, seniors and their parents/guardians will receive an OCSA Commencement Packet soon that will include detailed information about graduation. If you have questions after reading the above information, please email student.services@ocsarts.net.

Presidents’ Day Weekend (School Closed): Friday, February 16 – Monday, February 19 

Spring Break (School Closed): Monday, April 1 – Friday, April 5

Prom, Grades 11-12: Saturday, April 13 

CAASPP Testing: Monday, April 15 – Friday, April 26

New Family Welcome Celebration: Saturday, April 20

Gala: Saturday, April 27

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES & EVENTS

For more information, please visit www.ocsarts.net/BoxOffice.