Greeting Orcas,

We are delighted to present a joint summer newsletter from the Middle and High Schools, bringing you exciting updates for the 2023-2024 school year.

First and foremost, we hope you're enjoying the beginning of summer and that your vacation is off to a fantastic start! As we gear up for the upcoming academic year, we want to ensure that everyone is well-prepared and informed about the important events and activities planned.

Please take a moment to review the details below, carefully mark your calendars, and get ready for an incredible year ahead:

• Uniform Sales
• Orientation
• Senior Portraits
• Carpool Sign Up
• School supply orders

In addition, we want to emphasize that our team is working diligently behind the scenes to make this upcoming year the best one yet. We are committed to providing an exceptional learning experience and fostering a supportive community for all Orcas.

As you enjoy your summer break, we hope you create lasting memories and return to school feeling refreshed and inspired. Remember to take some time for leisurely reading and check out the Summer Reading Assignments below.

We will continue to keep you informed through newsletters in the coming weeks as we finalize new information. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a fantastic summer vacation!

Nicholas Koebe – High School Principal and Julie Santos – Lynx Campus Principal

Our uniform company, Risse Brothers, will be on campus Monday, July 17th from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Even though the sale is at the elementary school, all grade level sizes (K-12) may be purchased. Uniforms may be purchased year-round from Risse Brothers located at 1401 Beulah Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787.

Prior to the sale, OSS will have a used uniform sale on Monday, July 10th from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The sale will also be in B2 of the elementary school campus.

If you have gently used uniforms you would like to donate to the sale, please drop off at the front office in Building 1 (Grades K-6) and Building 3 (Grades 7-12) no later than Monday, July 10th.

Our dates are still being finalized for our 2023-24 Orientation - these will be shared in a future Newsletter once finalized.

Class of 2024: It's time to think about Senior Portraits!

Every year, OSS works with the Orlando location of Prestige Portraits to ensure our graduating class as photos for the yearbook and all graduation related activities. Follow this link to schedule your session today!

As a reminder, students entering the 7th grade must be up-to-date with all Florida Department of Health vaccine requirements. If unsure whether your child's immunizations are current, please consult with your physician.

Each year a database of families interested in carpooling is compiled. This list is shared only with interested parties and is filtered by zip code.

Please note that Orlando Science School does NOT coordinate carpooling. Families are responsible for reaching out to others in their area to determine if carpooling is an option.

Interested families can submit their information at the Car Pool List Sign-Up link below.

We’re excited to share our Summer Reading list for the 2023-2024 school year. We continue to adjust the program to give students the best possible experience while also upholding the desire to turn them into life-long readers. We know that people who read are more successful in all spheres of life, and we want to give your child her/his best opportunity to be successful both here at OSS and beyond. On the other side of this sheet, you’ll find the summer reading lists. Please note that you do not need to purchase copies of these books and the only summertime requirement is that all books are read prior to the first day of school. All additional work regarding the novel will be assigned after school has begun.

This year, all middle school students are required to pick 1 novel from the 2023-2024 Sunshine State Reading List. Students will read one book from that list as their choice novel and we will complete a project once we return to school. It is important that the novel is read prior to the start of school so that students would have ample time to complete the project. Project requirements will be given out during the first 2 weeks of school and will be counted as the first major grade in the English Language Arts classes.

We hope that, at the end of their time at OSS, all our students leave with a deep love of the English language and for the stories that connect us. We hope that the summer reading will give students insight as to what to expect from their English Language Arts classes this year. We hope that they are more compassionate, thoughtful, and intelligent people. We hope that they will develop wisdom and the ability to look beyond the surface of a thing to see its deeper truths, whether that “thing” is a book, a political situation, or another person. We hope that they are wise and just and true in their dealings with the world, and we know that great literature can help them to become all those things. We thank you for entrusting them to us, and we thank you for your support as we guide them through these literary encounters, even those that may not make immediate sense to you. We also welcome your feedback and conversation. If you have any questions regarding the middle school summer reading, please contact Katrina Frunker (frunker@orlandoscience.org).

Sincerely,

The OSS Middle School ELA Department

Website: http://orlandoscience.org/highschool/
Location: 2600 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407)299-6595
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandoscience/
Twitter: @OrlandoSciMH