3-5: From the Principal's Desk
August 2024
A Note from the Principal
Thank you for an amazing few weeks back in school! I have enjoyed peaking into your classrooms, talking to you and seeing the amazing things that you are doing. You all have worked really hard on your assessments and I am so proud of you! I have loved seeing you with your cameras on and engaged in the classroom!
I know engageli has been a challenge, but I am so proud of you, your LCs and teachers, for navigating through all the tech issues. The more we use it the better we will get at it. Please keep coming to your live classes and don't forget to work in Progress Learning Liftoff for at least 30 minutes a day. There just may be surprises for those that I see are engaged and moving galaxies!
LCs thank you for all you do to support our scholars. We can not do this work without you, and we appreciate you! Don't forget to view your tip of the week!
Mrs. Cooks
Vote for our Staff of the Month!
It's time to celebrate the amazing educators who make our school shine! 🌟
We need your help to choose our Staff of the Month. Your vote will help us recognize those who go above and beyond for our students and community.
👉 Click here to vote: https://forms.office.com/r/XQTdi2cWph
Voting is quick and easy. Let’s show our appreciation for the incredible work of our staff!
Thank you for your support!
Learning Coach Tip of the Month
Progress Learning/ Liftoff
Please be sure your student logs into Progress Learning Liftoff Daily for at least 30 minutes. Progress learning is required, but is not meant to replace the live teacher or the class connect sessions.
It is a supplemental online program designed to meet your learner exactly where they are whether they are on target, below, or above grade level. It is aligned 100% to the Oklahoma Academic Standards and provides a variety of effective online activities, diagnostics and assessments designed to help students prepare for state test! Please see the video below to learn how you access Liftoff.
Monday-Friday Schedule
The OVCA school week is Monday through Friday. Scholars will have OLS lessons on Friday and live classes. It is our goal to give scholars as many touch points with teachers as possible to give them the support they need. Our attendance policy has not changed. We highly encourage our scholars to attend all live classes, however we do understand were there are instances when that is not possible. Please review the attendance policy below as this will help you understand how you can ensure that your scholar is marked present and stay on target!
Attendance & Truancy
Attendance
As a public-school program, the Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (“OVCA”) is required to monitor student progress and attendance in accordance with all applicable statutes. Students are expected to complete 72 instructional activities per quarter, or about 2 instructional activities per day. For the purposes of attendance, instructional activities are defined as:
• Completion of course assignments that are used to record a grade for a student that is factored into the student’s grade for the term in which the assignment is completed;
• Instructional meetings with a teacher;
• Testing;
• School-sanctioned field trips; and
• Orientation.
Students who fall behind the required instructional activities at any point in the school year will be contacted by OVCA staff – CFAs, paraprofessionals, counselors, truancy specialist, and/or administration – to see what support is needed to re-engage the student in daily schooling. Prolonged periods of insufficient attendance may result in the student being withdrawn from OVCA.
Truancy
Any student who has not completed any instructional activities for a fifteen-day-period is considered truant and shall be withdrawn for truancy. However, if the student is on pace for on-time completion for coursework and the legal guardian has informed OVCA as to the reason(s) the student has not completed an instructional activity, or the student is experiencing a significant medical condition, then OVCA may determine the student should not be withdrawn for truancy based on the totality of the circumstances involved. Legal guardians are expected to remain in communication with their Community Family Advisor (CFA) if there is a reason why the student is unable to school for a prolonged period of time.
Once a student has gone five consecutive days without schooling, OVCA staff will begin attempting to reach the legal guardian to find out what issue(s) is hindering the student from schooling daily and work to resolve the issue. If the student has not resumed schooling within 15 days, the student will be withdrawn for truancy.
Important Dates
September 2nd: Labor Day-No School
September 5th- Bingo Bash
September 9th-13th- 3rd-5th Grade Spirit Week
October 4th- Fall Festival
Back to School Bison Bingo Bash
We hope to see your there! Check out the flyer for details!
Family Literacy Night
Festival Festival
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
In the event your address has changed, such as due to moving, a new Proof of Residence is
required in order to update your address in the K12 Virtual Schools LLC (Stride K12) and
state systems. OVCA will need one of the documents listed below. Once the document has
been submitted, our office will be happy to update your new address.
To confirm your address please follow the steps below:
• Log into the OLS with your username and password;
• Click “My Account” at the top right of your screen;
• Select “My Account” from the drop down menu;
• Your address will appear.
Please submit one of the following documents as proof of residence:
• Utilities (i.e. gas, electric or water/sewer bill in the legal guardian’s name)
• Proof of internet service
• Payment of ad valorem taxes
• Local agreements or contract for purchasing/leasing housing
• Mortgage statements
• If living with someone else, a Shared Residence Affidavit must be completed.
Please ensure the proof of residence is in the name of the parent or legal guardian,
otherwise the documents will not be accepted.
Please fax the new proof of residence to 405-259-8332, Attn: Address Change or email to
ovcaefax@k12.com.
Additionally, you may email your new address and proof of residence to your CFA, who will
notify the main office of the change.
If you have any questions regarding your address change, you may also contact the OVCA
Administrative Office at 405.259.9478 ext. 0, Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm.
See OVCA Board Policy 3050 All Board Polices can be found on the OVCA website: OVCA
Board Policies
Parent and Student Handbook
Learning Coach
A Learning Coach is the designated adult who will have the primary responsibility of being actively involved in all school related work and activities. Learning Coaches are the primary point of contact for all teachers and school staff. A parent may designate himself/herself as the Learning Coach or may find another trusted adult to serve in this role. In all cases, the parent is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to school policies. The Learning Coach will:
- actively monitor, assist, and motivate the student daily
- communicate regularly with the student’s Community Family Advisor (CFA) and teachers and
- ensure the student is engaged and follows a weekly schedule that includes attending live class and completing weekly assignments per program requirements
In Elementary School, a Learning Coach will work side-by-side daily with the student. Each week, the Learning Coach will review upcoming lessons to ensure any advanced preparation is completed and attend Learning Coach training/support meetings. Learning Coaches will check school communications at least once daily to stay up-to-date with academic requirements. They will also check their online school account to find exact times for classes and online meeting links. A Learning Coach of an elementary student can expect to spend 3-6 hours a day supporting the student’s education.
Learning Coach involvement is directly connected to student success. OLCA will offer a variety of opportunities throughout the year to improve Learning Coach practices. Learning Coach Orientation/Bootcamp reviews expectations, connects parents to other parents, and introduces local clubs and events. It outlines the parent responsibilities, important parent meetings, method of communication, how to support student academic expectations and learning goals, resources available, and how to provide feedback and become more involved in our school. The OLCA program is supported and led by the Student Support Services Team.
Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA)
This student handbook sets forth some general guidance for parents, Learning Coaches, and students enrolled in the Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA). The intent is to answer the most frequently asked questions. OVCA staff are willing clarify any items in the handbook or answer additional questions. Your main point of contact is your Community Family Advisor (CFA). A list of phone extensions is located on the school website. You may also use the dial by name directory by calling the main number 405.259.9478 and pressing the pound (#) key.
OVCA is a statewide charter school. OVCA is a public school and is subject to the rules and regulations of the Oklahoma State Department of Education Public School policies and mandates.
Community Family Advisor (CFA)
All students in one family are assigned to a single Community Family Advisor (CFA) who serves as the first point of contact. The CFA provides information about important dates and school events. The CFA helps families set up schedules, teaches families how to navigate the online school and monitors progress/attendance. The CFA helps students build connections at the school by organizing local in-person community events, hosting online social or study sessions or service learning projects.
Student
As an OVCA student, youth are expected to be active learners by logging into school daily and participating in online class activities. Students will be contacted through email, text, phone or during online classes. Each student will have access to online and offline curriculum materials. Students may reach out at any time to OVCA Staff for assistance. Staff will respond within 24 hours during school hours.
Live Class Connect Sessions
Elementary will offer live class sessions for grade level content as well as targeted sessions to focus on specific skills gaps based on the student’s academic needs and progress.
Webcam Policy
OVCA teachers and students are encouraged to use webcams during online sessions. This Face to Face interaction can increase relationships and strengthen the learning process. The webcam environment must be sterile and appropriate for schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring a home learning environment that complies with OVCA’s requirements for webcam usage. This includes, but is not limited to, a visual or audible learning environment viewable during class connect sessions that is free of any signs, flags, symbols, words, or pictures that may be considered obscene, discriminatory, or profane.
To verify student engagement, students may be required to turn on webcam and interact with OVCA staff. OVCA may move forward with student safety protocols if staff are unable to connect with students in a face to face setting (Webcam, Zoom, Engageli,, etc).
Ashley Cooks
Email: acooks@okvirtual.org
Phone: 405-659-3912 ext. 3443 ( call or text)
OVCA Office:
1117 S. Douglas Blvd. Suite F
Midwest City, OK 73130
School Phone: 405.259.9478
School Fax: 405.259.8332
k12 help: help.k12.com