FED Newsletter
Nov. 14, 2023
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Click the "play" button below to learn about some of our upcoming events!
NEW TO EPIC?
Is 2023-24 your very first year with Epic? If you are brand-spanking new to Epic Charter Schools, we want to hear from you. We want to help you navigate the Epic model and have the most successful year possible! Click the button below.
FIELD TRIPS
We have many exciting field trips coming up! To see details and registration information for the following field trips, click the links below. When registering, it is important that you register with each attendee's name and choose the correct ticket type - student or parent/guardian. This will ensure that your student will be counted for attendance that day and prevent duplicate registrations from being canceled.
Nov. 15 - Myriad Gardens Field Trip-OKC
Nov. 28 - Oklahoma State Capitol Tour Field Trip - OKC
Dec. 5 - Science Museum Oklahoma Field Trip - OKC
Dec. 6 - Philbrook Museum Field Trip - Tulsa
Healthy Habits
Dec. 1 - Thunderbird Lanes - Bowling Field Trip - Lawton
SPED Friendly
Dec. 6 - Frontier Lanes Bowling Field Trip - Stillwater
Career Exploration Field Trip
Nov. 29 - Career Explorations Field Trip to Burford Corp. - Maysville
ENRICHMENT EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
EPIC SPELLING BEES
Don’t forget to sign up for the Epic Spelling Bee! For a full list of study words, click HERE! And don’t forget to download the Word Club app on your device for more spelling practice. See you at the Bee!
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC COMPETITION
Do you love Geography? Are you really good at History? Is Science your jam? If so, then the International Academic Competition is for you! Stay tuned to our next newsletter for more information on all three of these competitions.
EPIC SCIENCE FAIRS
Save the date! We will be bringing an Epic Science Fair to 7 different cities in Oklahoma this year! Registration will be available on Nov. 28.
Jan. 11 - Lawton, OK
Jan. 18 - Muskogee, OK
Jan. 22 - Enid, OK
Jan. 26 - OKC
Jan. 31 - Tulsa, OK
Feb. 6 - Norman, OK
Feb. 8 - Durant, OK
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRS
A Scholastic Book Fair is coming to a city near you! Stay tuned to our next newsletter for more information!
COMMUNITY SERVICE & OUTREACH
Our school-wide ‘Fall Epic Giveback’ is here! We are partnering with The HUGS Project, a nonprofit organization that prepares care packages for enlisted troops deployed overseas. We as a school, are building completed care packages which include items such as snacks, toiletries, books, games and letters. The HUGS Project, which started in Oklahoma, aims to express gratitude, comfort and encouragement to the troops who are away from their families, friends and loved ones. Some units are in places such as Somalia, where they cannot obtain essentials. These packages and letters let our troops know they are not forgotten! Watch the video below to learn more! Additionally, click here for care package information and how you can get involved. Thank you!
LARGE COMMUNITY EVENTS
We are excited to invite all of you to "Little Whoville," where families can make memories and enjoy the company of others! Holly Jolly Family Fun time will be filled with activities such as crafts, cookie decorating, card writing, sing-alongs and a surprise green visitor in a red suit!
We hope that during this time you will make new Epic friends and have some fun! Click the link below to register for the event. We know these events fill up quickly, so if you are unable to secure a ticket, check back at a later date for cancellation tickets that will be added as they become available.
Nov. 28 - Holly Jolly Fun Event - 6-7:30 p.m.- Norman
Dec. 5 - Holly Jolly Fun Event - 4:30-6 p.m. - Ponca City
Dec. 12 - Holly Holly Fun Event - 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Sapulpa
2023-24 EVENT MAP
Would you like an easy way to see what events are happening in your area? This map shows where our events are located throughout the state. Registration links are included for upcoming events when available. Click on the image to access the interactive map.
EPIC CLUBS
At Epic, we offer a variety of clubs and activities for students to join. These events and organizations are a great way for students to find their niche among students with similar interests and goals. Below is a list of a few clubs and organizations that fall under the Epic Family Engagement Department to get involved in this year. Click the links for more details.
Military- We are grateful to everyone who attended the Veterans Recognition and Epic Military Challenge Day event on Nov. 3. Thanks to you, the event was a huge success and fun. Next semester, we have another fantastic event scheduled to honor Memorial Day. The location and date of the event are still pending; further details will be announced soon in our Family Engagement Newsletter. We shall pay tribute to every hero who gave their life in defense of our freedom.
STUCO MS/HS- STUCO and Esports sponsored Homecoming Week will be Dec. 11-15. Please look for more information regarding regional events and dress-up days in the coming week. Also, several regions have chosen elected officers. If you are not in STUCO but would like to reach out to your regional student elected officers, please contact amanda.lashley@epiccharterschools.org.
NCAA- Are you an athlete in grades 7-12 who is interested in participating in college athletics? Do you want to learn more about the NCAA recruiting process? Would you like to meet other Epic student athletes? Are you the parent of an Epic student who would like to learn more about the NCAA recruiting process? If you answered YES to any of these questions, click here to fill out this form to join the NCAA Student-Athlete Club!
Upcoming Meetings: High School Students - Dec. 1 & Jan.12; Students grades 7-8 - Jan. 12; Parents - March 7. All meetings held at this Zoom link. Questions? Email Jana Janzen jana.janzen@epiccharterschools.org
4-H- Next Epic Comet Clovers meeting will be held on Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at this Zoom link. 4-H is collecting pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. Start collecting today and keep watching for drop off locations in the future.
Chess Club- If you're interested in a local meetup, please check the Epic Chess Newsletter for times and dates. It is in your email in Google Drive. Our students also play each other online all week in addition to our Tuesday Zoom meetings. Check your email for Eventbrite. Check your calendar for Zoom Meetings. Contact karen.hoyt@epiccharterschools.org for more information.
Interact (Rotary International)- Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will end this semester's meetings and begin again in January.
For a complete list of extracurricular opportunities and student organizations within Epic, check out the Student Life section of our website.
WHAT IS AN "EPAT"?
An EPAT is an Epic Parent As a Teacher. We have expanded and now have 12 EPAT parents readily available to teach other parents the Epic models with personal insights of their own. One of the credentials of an EPAT is that they have been with Epic for several years and currently have an Epic student. This position allows parents, teachers and administration to create a cohesive partnership for the betterment of all our Epic students and their educations. EPATs meet via email, phone, Zoom or in person with families to help support and guide them with any questions they may have about PowerSchool, field trips, clubs, etc. EPATs are the perfect liaison between Epic staff and families.
EPIC BEGINNINGS
Epic Beginnings is a free family-support program designed to prepare young children from birth to age 5 who reside in a household with at least one Epic student but who are not Epic students themselves. Tell us what you’d like to see with Epic Beginnings. Fill out our Family Interest and Availability survey here
For more information on Epic Beginnings, please reach out to Shallena Miller at epicbeginnings@epiccharterschools.org.
This month's Healthy Habits Challenge is all about crunches! Keep tabs on your progress and don't forget to tag us in your pictures and videos showcasing your victories in this monthly challenge. You can print off November's calendar by clicking the link below.
November Healthy Habits Fitness Challenge Calendar
Check out our Healthy Habits Cooking Show on YouTube for quick, healthy recipes!
Be sure to click in the YouTube comments section for the recipe.
Banana "Sushi"
PATHWAYS
Pathways is a new program that offers an opportunity for adults between the ages of 21-25 to earn their traditional high school diploma. Young adult students work virtually with support from certified educators, mentors, and tutors to become “future ready.” If you or someone you know falls within this age group and needs to complete their high school education, follow this link to start your educational journey!
Contact Pathways by emailing pathways@epiccharterschools.org.
MILITARY EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
NOV. 14: USO Oklahoma (Fort Sill) Nov Coffee Connections @ 3265 Crane Ave, Fort Sill, OK at 2:30 p.m.
NOV. 21: Veteran's Coffee Social @ Cleveland County Wellness Square
- 210 S. James Garner Ave. Classroom 100 Norman, OK 73069 from 9-10 a.m.
- DEC. 07: Tinker AFB Career Fair @ Tinker Event Center, 3900 Mitchell Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73145 from 11a.m. - 1p.m.
DEC. 08: 2023 OKLAHOMA WOMEN IN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE DAY @ Will Rogers Air National Guard Base 7100 Terminal Dr. Oklahoma City
DEC. 12: USO Oklahoma (Fort Sill) Nov Coffee Connections @ 3265 Crane Ave, Fort Sill, OK at 2:30 p.m.
DEC. 19: Veteran's Coffee Social @ Cleveland County Wellness Square, 210 S. James Garner Ave. Classroom 100 Norman, OK 73069 from 9-10 a.m.
TAKE 5
Early screening for reading difficulties is important. Take a look at the short video below to learn more about the way Epic is screening students and tips to help your student right where they are.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
SEAL OF BILITERACY
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new initiative, the Seal of Biliteracy. This prestigious award recognizes and celebrates students who have achieved proficiency in two or more languages. By earning this seal, students demonstrate their commitment to language learning and their ability to communicate effectively in multiple languages. Together, let's celebrate the power of language diversity and the opportunities it brings. For more information, contact us at: languages@epiccharterschools.org
Nos complace anunciar el lanzamiento de nuestra nueva iniciativa, el Sello de Bilingüismo. Este prestigioso premio reconoce y celebra a los estudiantes que han alcanzado el dominio de dos o más idiomas. Al obtener este sello, los estudiantes demuestran su compromiso con el aprendizaje de idiomas y su capacidad para comunicarse eficazmente en varias lenguas. Celebremos juntos el poder de la diversidad lingüística y las oportunidades que brinda. Si desea más información, póngase en contacto con nosotros en: languages@epiccharterschools.org
PEER TUTORING
Peer Tutoring Program currently has 433 Epic students participating either as tutees or tutors. We are currently taking applications for tutors for the spring 2024 semester! All Epic students in grades 9-12 may apply. In the spring semester, we will ONLY take students wanting to receive a class credit for participating. We will not allow tutors to participate who want to tutor for volunteer hours only. Click here for application.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation has connected donors with Oklahoma students to help them achieve their educational dreams. This important service has made OCCF one of the largest independent scholarship providers in the state.
OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE QUARTZ MOUNTAIN
This fall, the Oklahoma Arts Institute (OAI) is offering free OAI Quartz Preview Days around the state! These Preview Days are designed to be a snapshot of what a student would experience at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) and we are offering workshops in eight artistic disciplines: acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing and painting, film and video, orchestra and photography. Each Preview Day will feature a lecture and/or masterclass led by an Oklahoma artist on a topic relevant to their artistic discipline (e.g. still life drawing, how to choose an acting monologue). There will be a discussion and Q&A regarding the discipline-specific audition requirements for OSAI. All Preview Days are free and open to middle, high school students and teachers.
If you’re interested in learning more or registering to attend an OAI Quartz Preview Day, click here.
PHILBROOK MUSEUM
If you haven't experienced the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, now would be a great time. They have wonderful activity and enrichment events posted on the website calendar. Click the button below for more information.
SNU MUSIC EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla., would like to share some services and events they have for Epic students.
School of Music Inquiry Form: Students should complete this form if they want to receive automatic invitations for our music events on campus.
Commercial Music Production Preview Dates
Please reach out to Lacey Phelps at phelps@mail.snu.edu
