September 6, 2024

DROP-OFF/PICK-UP REMINDERS

As a reminder from the Important Drop-Off/Pick-Up Reminders email this week, we need your help to ensure that morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up run smoothly and safely. We ask that you adhere to the following:

Please ensure that you are utilizing the designated drop-off and pick-up locations referred to on the Drop-Off/Pick-Up Map.

Pay attention and follow the instructions of staff members directing traffic.

Move your car as far forward as possible before dropping off or picking up students. Students should always enter and exit the vehicle from the side of the car facing the curb and utilize pedestrian crosswalks.

Please DO NOT stop your car in a traffic lane, in the middle of the street, or in a bus stop area while your student exits or enters your vehicle.

Please refrain from dropping off or picking up your student by parking/waiting in nearby business parking lots or in OCSA student parking lots.

Please do not stop anywhere there is a “No Stopping at Any Time” sign.

Please do not block the entrances to any of our neighbors’ parking lots or facilities.

Please do not park in the new drop-off zone on Sycamore Street (in purple on the map) or your car will be ticketed or towed.

We appreciate your continued cooperation.

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

Please be reminded that Thursday, September 12 will be a no-conservatory schedule day, with school starting at 9 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m., so that faculty can prepare for Academic Back-to-School Night (see message below). There is also no school on Friday, September 13, for a Staff Professional Development Day.

ACADEMIC BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT

OCSA’s Academic Back-to-School Night is next Thursday, September 12! Classroom presentations will be held in person on the OCSA campus from 6-8:22 p.m. Please stay tuned for an email on Monday, September 9 with detailed information regarding Back-to-School Night!

PICTURE MAKE-UP DAY

Students and staff who did not take pictures at On-Campus Registration will take their photos and receive their ID cards at Picture Make-up Day on Wednesday, September 18 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Albert & Miaad Bushala Stage in Michael F. Harrah Symphony Hall. Students will receive call slips during class to take pictures according to the following schedule:

Students & Staff: 7 to 8:15 a.m. (no retakes)

Grade 7: Block 4 at 8:35 a.m.

Grade 9: Block 4 at 9 a.m.

Grade 8: Block 5 at 10:10 a.m.

Grade 10: Block 5 at 10:40 a.m.

*Retakes: Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

Grade 11: Block 6 at 12:15 p.m.

Grade 12: Block 6 at 12:55 p.m.

*Retakes: Office Hours from 1:40 to 2:10 p.m.

If students do not receive a summons at the above times and have not been photographed, they should go to Symphony Hall before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18. Retakes will only be offered during Lunch and Office Hours on Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19. Students must bring their ID cards and their original portrait packet (if purchased) to return to the photographer for retakes.

Pictures can be purchased at www.mylifetouch.com using your student's school ID number or event code EVTVV99DW on or before Picture Make-up Day.

PREACT/PSAT REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Is your student interested in taking the PreACT/PSAT exams? OCSA will administer the PreACT on Saturday, October 19 at 8 a.m. and the PSAT on Saturday, October 26 at 8 a.m. Registration for these exams is now available through MySchoolBucks. Be sure to hurry! The registration deadline is this Sunday, September 8, at 9 p.m. OCSA academic school counselors recommend that sophomores and juniors take both exams in order to identify which one they prefer and/or perform better on. These exams are for OCSA high school students only.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE

OCSA’s middle school dance, Surf on the Turf, will be held on Friday, September 27 from 2:45-4:45 p.m. in The Callero Family Foundation Plaza (DMS Quad). Please join us for some yummy snacks, pizza, games, fun, and the best dance music around! Tickets are available through MySchoolBucks for $15 until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 23. This dance is reserved for OCSA students in grades 7 and 8 only. No older or outside guests are allowed, and an OCSA student ID will be required for entry. Come make some unforgettable memories and have a blast with your friends! For any questions, please email ocsa.leadership@ocsarts.net.

MENTORS NEEDED

We are trying to finalize mentorship pairings for as many students as possible for this year’s Professional Mentorship Program. There are students interested in a variety of fields who are still in need of a mentor. To view the list of all 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. Professional mentors will be paired with interested juniors to help them explore career options and receive guidance about post-secondary opportunities. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Arts Enrichment Karen Rymar at karen.rymar@ocsarts.net.

TEDXOCSA SUBMISSIONS

Are you passionate about a specific topic? Are you interested in honing your presentation skills? The Creative Writing Conservatory is hosting OCSA’s third annual TEDx event, open to all grades and conservatories! Apply to be a speaker here before the deadline on Monday, September 30, and please email Creative Writing Conservatory Director Josh Woods at josh.wood@ocsarts.net with any questions.

SPECIAL MASTER ARTIST OPPORTUNITY

Don’t miss the opportunity to see celebrated musician, actor, writer, and radio host Seth Rudetsky for a very special performance in the Margaret A. Webb Theatre on Wednesday, September 18. After hosting a private master class for our Musical Theatre Conservatory students, Seth will be taking the stage to perform his famous Seth's Big Fat Broadway Show, and ALL members of the OCSA family are invited to come! Click here for a sneak peek. Tickets are $15, and all proceeds will be donated back to OCSA. Please click here to reserve your seats. We hope to see you there!

LAST CHANCE: CONSERVATORY CHALLENGE

TODAY, Friday, September 6, is the last chance to participate in the Encore Conservatory Challenge! Join Encore before midnight tonight and your student’s conservatory could win a grant of $2,500 to support a master artist or an arts enrichment program of the conservatory director’s choice! The conservatory with the highest percentage of families will win the challenge! To learn more about Encore or join now, visit www.ocsarts.net/JoinEncore.

TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR SEASON PREMIERE

We are excited to share that a very limited quantity of tickets to Season Premiere 2024 on Saturday, September 14 are still available! Don’t delay as this event WILL sell out. Click here to reserve your spot for this deliciously plated dinner and country-inspired concert featuring our amazing student artists, all under the California sunset.

In addition, the Ultimate OCSA Experience Opportunity Drawing is still underway! Click here to enter for a chance to win two tickets to Gala, four tickets to Season Finale, and so much more! This drawing will close at 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 14. Attendance at Season Premiere is not required to participate.

All proceeds from Season Premiere support our deserving student artists. Thank you!

CSARTS ACADEMY EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDING

CSArts Academy Saturday Series classes are starting in a few short weeks! Be sure to register for the fall session before the special early bird pricing ends this Monday, September 9. Click here to browse all the new offerings including Auditioning for Commercials, Film, and TV, a fun and exciting course that offers fundamental, hands-on auditioning skills for those that want to take their acting to the next level! Fall classes start Saturday, September 21, so don’t delay.

FALL SEMESTER SUCCESS STORIES

Have you heard of State of the Art? It is OCSA’s way of celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff through a special webpage that features successes large and small: castings, certifications, awards, scholarships, jobs, special performances, and more. State of the Art is updated biannually at the end of fall and spring semesters; however, you can submit your accomplishments and successes year-round at www.ocsarts.net/StateoftheArt.

All accomplishments will be posted at the conclusion of the semester in which they were submitted. An email will also be sent out once accomplishments for the semester are available for viewing. We can’t wait to see all the exciting things you have been up to! Past State of the Art accomplishments are always available to view at www.ocsarts.net/Accomplishments.

SENIOR INFORMATION

Class of 2025 families: Please be aware of the following important dates and deadlines so that you don’t miss out on any part of your senior experience!

Class of 2025 Deadlines/Important Dates

Monday, September 30 – Coca-Cola Scholarships (click here for more information and to submit your application)

Monday, October 7 – Senior Packages or Cap and Gown Order Deadline

Monday, October 7 – Aeries Diploma Name Verification Deadline

Monday, October 7 – November 1 Deadlines for Transcript and Letter of Recommendation Requests

Monday, October 28 – December 1 Deadlines for Transcript and Letter of Recommendation Requests

Monday, November 18 – January 1 Deadlines for Transcript and Letter of Recommendation Requests

Friday, January 10 – Yearbook Submission Deadline (senior portrait, quote, and baby photo)

Friday, January 10 – Yearbook Senior Ad Purchase Deadline

Sunday, March 9 – Grad Night Purchase Deadline (Grad Night is included for those who purchase Senior Package A or B)

Wednesday, March 19 – Class of 2025 Panoramic Picture, Annex Blacktop 10:45 a.m.

Tuesday, May 27 – Graduation Distribution, Breezeway 12-1:05 p.m. (tickets, caps & gowns, panoramic pictures)

Thursday, June 5 – Graduation Rehearsal, Cottonwood Church, Los Alamitos (times to be announced)

Thursday, June 5 – Graduation Ceremony, Cottonwood Church, Los Alamitos (times to be announced)

Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 7 – Grad Night

Senior Bulletin

The Class of 2025 Senior Bulletin was distributed during the Naviance presentations last week and was also emailed to seniors and their families. Parents/guardians should read the Senior Bulletin thoroughly, as it contains all the information needed for this culminating year and will answer many questions you may have. Student Services will email detailed graduation information to the Class of 2025 and parents/guardians in the spring. If you have any questions after you have read the Senior Bulletin, please feel free to email student.services@ocsarts.net.

Please also refer to www.ocsarts.net/12thGrade often for Class of 2025 information, resources, handouts, and helpful links.