News from the OPA Central Office
January 2024
The California Department of Education (CDE) released the 2022-2023 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) summary reports on October 18, 2023. OPA is happy to report that both OPA-SOC and OPA-SV scored higher in ELA, Math, and Science than any other Orange County District!
OPA is committed to development the whole child, supporting all students academically, socially, and emotionally. A variety of enrichment and intervention opportunities continue to be implemented alongside rigorous and high-quality instruction to enhance and support our students in achieving their highest potential. The outcomes of these efforts are reflected in many ways, including test results such as the CAASPP.
For additional information on OPA statewide and benchmark assessments, visit our website: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/assessment
OPA is pleased to receive the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) Award, a grant awarded through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
OPA was awarded a competitive grant of $374,000, paid over 3 years, to improve school security through evidence-based school safety programs. The safety and security of our students and staff continues to be a top priority at OPA. Having the support of the DOJ allows us to continuously enhance our efforts to plan and sustain effective school safety programs and further honor this commitment.
For more information on the grant, visit our website: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/news/article/1851289
All three Oxford Preparatory Academy campuses celebrated the winter holidays with a series of fun OPA traditions in the days leading up to winter break. Traditions pay an important role at OPA, providing us with shared experiences and creating a sense of school pride, allowing us to form and express our unique school identity. They also help us make meaningful connections with each other and reinforce our community's shared values.
This year, Jingle Jam, Polar Express, and Frosty Follies were in full swing providing laughter and holiday joy to our community. And a new tradition was introduced - the Middle School Block Party! Our middle school students enjoyed a self-station, karaoke, an ugly sweater contest, and much more!
Read more about OPA traditions on our website: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/traditions
As a result of receiving a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, a group of our 8th graders recently had an opportunity to attend an Exploring Conservation Science (ECS) field trip to the San Diego Zoo. The students spent time in the Conservation Education Lab at the Beckman Center, engaging with conservation scientists, using innovative research tools, and participating in hands-on experiences that connect them to conservation science in new and meaningful ways.
Thank you to Ms. Soto (8th grade science professor), who secured the grant, for providing our students with a critical opportunity to apply their textbook knowledge of biology and chemistry to real world scenarios in wildlife conservation.
As part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), OPA develops, adopts, and annually updates a three-year Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) based on areas identified as California's educational priorities. The OPA community is invited to join us to review information and provide input for each of the four goals below:
Goal 1: Academic Achievement and instruction
Goal 2: Highly qualified staff
Goal 3: Safe and secure learning environment
Goal 4: Stakeholder involvement and engagement
The OPA community is encouraged to attend all of the following meeting dates and locations:
January 16 - South Orange County Honour Hall 5:30 - 7:30 PM
February 6 - Saddleback Valley Honour Hall 5:30 - 7:30 PM
April 16 - Middle School (SV Honour Hall) 5:30 - 7:30 PM
To view current plans, visit our website: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/accountability
Open Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will run February 14 - March 14, 2024.
The lottery will be held on April 25, 2024.
Parent information meetings and school tours will be held for prospective parents to learn more about our school sites. Events will be hosted at each school from 4:00 - 6:00 PM.
January 23 - Middle School
January 24 - South Orange County
January 25 - Saddleback Valley
For additional information including admission preferences and priority, please visit our website: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/admission
Dr. Stephanie Henry, Chief Academic Officer, has been instrumental in bringing civic engagement to life for OPA students at all grade levels. "I support and teach teachers on how to take a project in the classroom and turn it into a real-world experience. That authentic experiential learning is what we are trying to create, to have students actually participate in civic engagement as part of the class."
Congratulations to OPA-SOC (ranked #6) and OPA-SV (ranked #25) for Best Charter Middle Schools in California for the 2022-2023 school year!
U.S. News reviewed over 500 charter middle schools for this ranking with both schools landing in the top 25. For more information, visit the U.S. News Best Middle Schools ranking page: https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/california/charter