Dear OSES Families,

February is Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the incredible contributions of Black individuals throughout history. At our school, we will be engaging in various activities to learn about and appreciate the rich cultural heritage and achievements of Black people.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in special projects, read inspiring stories, and learn about influential figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman. We encourage families to join us in celebrating this important month by discussing these topics at home and exploring additional resources together.

As we move into March, we will also be celebrating Women's History Month! This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and honor the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. Our students will learn about inspiring women like Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie, and Maya Angelou through various activities and projects.

Let's come together to recognize and celebrate the diversity that makes our community so special!

Michael Singleton

My name is Shrika Velagapudi, I'm a junior at Orlando Science High School. I took up creative writing as a hobby this past summer, and recently had the wonderful opportunity to publish a nonfiction children’s book about 10 remarkable female scientists from around the globe who broke barriers and accomplished great feats in STEM. Traveling to India every summer, I was devastated to learn how many girls shared my same aspirations and dreams, but simply didn't have the resources or opportunities to bring them to fruition. This drove me to play my part as an advocate for STEM learning and overcoming systemic barriers: 100% of the profits made from my book, "STEMpowering Women", go to funding tech access and education for the millions of Indian girls living in poverty and denied opportunities.

"STEMpowering Women" is a compilation of varying women's journeys to success in the fields of STEM, as they conquer countless challenges and obstacles to prove the world wrong. Mentioned throughout this colorful, inspirational children's book are the tales and accomplishments of women scientists from all over the globe, such as Sally Ride, Antonia Novello, Marie Curie, and more. The aim of this book is to inspire young children, especially girls between the ages of 4 and 10, to take up careers in the field of STEM, and break gender barriers in this male-dominated area.

Due to supply issues at the OCPS level, we do not know if hot or cold lunch will be served. Please be prepared to have either lunch until further notice.

Breakfast and Lunch will be FREE for the 2024-2025 school year

If your child has food allergies and will require a special meal from OCPS please click on the link below to fill out the special diet order form

Special Diets for Food Allergies - Orange County Public Schools (ocps.net)

Next month, OSES students will compete in the March Madness Math Fluency Challenge. All students will have the opportunity to win prizes for completing daily fluency activities. We are excited to kick off the challenge on Monday.

Additionally, Monday, March 3rd, will be Read Across America Day. Students will spend time in their various classes reading books that align with this year’s theme: Celebrate Diversity. A Padlet will be shared for families to post photos of students reading books at home.

On March 12th, we will host the OSES STEM Fair. Students in grades K-2 have been working on the scientific process as a class, while students in grades 3-5 have been developing their own testable questions both at home and at school. Sixth-grade students completed their projects during Semester 1. Please keep an eye out for a sign-up link to visit the STEM Fair. ALL visitors are required to be ADDitions approved.

Contact Cayce Carter at Cayce.Carter@orlandoscience.org with any questions.

The Literacy Committee is excited to introduce the Dismissal Bookmobile on Monday, March 3rd - Read Across America Day! This is a mobile library for all students which will be active on Mondays and Fridays during dismissal time. Students may take a book to read with no need to return books on a set date (like a Free Little Library on Wheels!). Books are marked with a blue circular ORCA stamp, and when students are done with the books, they can return them for recirculation or keep them to reread! We will need Additions-approved volunteers during dismissal time to continue this initiative. You may sign-up at the following sign-up genius:

Many thanks to the Maskara family for donating their time, efforts, and resources to make this a reality, and many thanks to Mrs. Akin for donating hundreds of books from our own OSES library to start this initiative!

We had a great week in Kindergarten! We are continuing to improve upon our writing skills including correct letter formation and finger spaces. We are learning about plants and animals in Science, and our neighborhoods in Social Studies.

We are getting ready to complete our class STEM Fair Projects for the upcoming OSES Stem Fair on 3/12! We will be learning about the scientific method, conducting experiments, and collecting data.

Kindergarten is looking forward to our Kindy 500 STEM Challenge in May! We are seeking donations to help us complete this engaging project. Thank you !!

We’ve had an exciting time in first grade this week!

In Reading, we wrapped up Module 6 and have now begun Module 7: "The Big Outdoors." Throughout this module, students will practice identifying the author’s opinion, making inferences, describing the setting, determining the point of view, and much more!

In Math, we’ve been working on adding and subtracting a one-digit number with a two-digit number using a hundred chart and/or a number line. Students have also enjoyed learning addition and subtraction with/without regrouping. Next week, we will begin our new unit on measurement!

In Science, we’ve been exploring the differences between living and nonliving things, as well as the needs of plants and animals.

Last week, we had another STEM Day, where students learned about Marie Tharp, the scientist who created the first map of the ocean floor! They had a fantastic time creating their own relief maps using shaving cream and food dye.

For Black History Month, our first graders worked hard to create dioramas showcasing important figures in Black history. They did a wonderful job bringing these historical figures to life through their projects!

Reminder: iFLY permission slip, waiver and payment due by April 4th.

Thank you for your continued support!

Good afternoon, Families,

First of all, I want to send a huge thank you for all the support in our class and to the school! I truly appreciate it, and it means a lot to us!

Important Announcements

Here are our activities for this week that will provide new experiences and joyful fun while we learn:

Math

• Read and write numbers from 0 to 1,000 using standard form, expanded form, and word form.

• Compose and decompose three-digit numbers in multiple ways using hundreds, tens, and ones. Students will demonstrate each composition or decomposition with objects, drawings, and expressions or equations.

• Identify the number that is ten more, ten less, one hundred more, and one hundred less than a given three-digit number.

• Plot, order, and compare whole numbers up to 1,000.

Reading

• Explain an author's purpose in an informational text.

• Use the central idea and relevant details for an informational text.

• Explain how text features—including titles, headings, captions, graphs, maps, glossaries, and/or illustrations—contribute to the meaning of texts.

• Identify and use base words and affixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in grade-level content.

Science

• State the importance of preparing for severe weather, lightning, and other weather-related events.

• Compare and describe changing patterns in nature that repeat themselves, such as weather conditions including temperature and precipitation, day-to-day and season-to-season.

Additionally, our class is working on a project that we will present in the upcoming science investigatory project. It is fun to collaborate and observe the process of scientific investigations, helping students build relationships with classmates and teamwork.

Social Studies

• Recognize that Native Americans were the first inhabitants in North America.

• Compare the cultures of Native American tribes from various geographic regions of the United States.

• Describe the impact of immigrants on the Native Americans.

Celebrations from the Week

We are celebrating Black History Month! This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about the significant contributions of Black individuals in our history and culture. Thank you for encouraging your children to engage in these important discussions at home.

Additional Information

We have an exciting field trip to SeaWorld coming up, and everyone is thrilled! Stay tuned for more details.

We are grateful for your continued partnership and support in our educational journey. Your involvement makes a significant difference in our classroom!

Looking Ahead

Thank you once again for your ongoing support. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to ensure our students have the best learning experience possible.

Morning Meeting: Extraordinary Respect! - This week, our morning meetings were extra special! Students explored various ways of showing respect—from kind words to meaningful gestures. A highlight was learning about "Pagmamano," a Filipino tradition of showing respect to elders!

ELA: Understanding Text Structures - Students delved into different text structures, including:
Compare & Contrast
Order of Events
Cause & Effect
Problem & Solution
This helps them become stronger readers and writers!

Math: Topic 9 - Solving Problems with Equations - We began Topic 9, where students practiced using equations to solve problems. They're building skills in logical thinking and problem-solving!

Science: The Sun & Stars - In Big Idea 5, students learned how the sun and stars impact our world. They explored fun facts about constellations and even discussed how the sun affects life on Earth!

Social Studies: Exploring the Northeast Region - Students traveled through the Northeast Region—learning about its states, landmarks, and culture. They enjoyed discovering famous places like the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls!

Black History Month Spotlight: Exploring Black Artists - For Black History Month, students worked on a Black History Timeline Project focusing on Black artists. They researched, created presentation boards, and confidently shared their learning with the class! Their hard work and creativity shined!

Looking forward to another fantastic week of learning!

We have been buzzing with excitement and learning new things about healthy food options. Here’s a sneak peek of what we've been up to:

Exploring Healthy Food Options (Even Eating Bugs!) Our class dove into the world of nutrition and health, discovering a variety of food options, including some unconventional ones! We read a fascinating book about healthy eating that encouraged us to think outside the typical diet box. Did you know that bugs are considered a healthy and sustainable food source in many cultures around the world?

Essay Writing: Why Eating Bugs Is Beneficial Our budding writers took on the challenge of penning essays on the benefits of eating bugs. From high protein content to environmental sustainability, the students presented thoughtful arguments that might just make you consider adding a crunchy cricket to your next meal. Here are some highlights from their essays:

• Protein Power: Bugs like crickets and mealworms are packed with protein, making them a great addition to our diet.

• Sustainable Eating: Insect farming uses less land, water, and food compared to traditional livestock, making it an eco-friendly choice.

• Global Perspective: Many cultures around the world enjoy insects as a part of their cuisine, contributing to a diverse and balanced diet.

Webinar with National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts We had the incredible opportunity to watch a webinar featuring National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts. Tara shared her inspiring adventures and insights, taking us on a virtual journey of exploration and discovery. Her passion for uncovering underwater mysteries and empowering youth around the world resonated deeply with our young explorers. The students were captivated by her stories and asked thoughtful questions, broadening their horizons and igniting their curiosity.

That’s a wrap for this edition! Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Mr. Mateer’s STEM class. Until next time, stay curious and keep learning!

📅 Upcoming Events:

• March 11: St. Augustine Field Trip

• March 12: School Science Fair

• March 14: Spring Break

The 4th Grade Team

Hello from Ms. MacAllister’s Classroom! The last few weeks the students have been working hard on their Black History Month Projects! The students collaborated in groups with their focus on Black Women In STEM. Students wrote biographical essays, created presentations, designed quizzes and games, demonstrated science experiments, and created art based off their research. Students examined the lives of Black Women in STEM and the positive impacts they have and continue to make in our society. The projects have turned out great!

In our English class, students continued to develop their writing skills by researching and writing an informational essay on an animal of the student’s choice. This essay went along with our unit on animals, where we examined the different adaptations that animals have developed which help them increase their chances of survival. We learned a lot about different animals, such as the red panda, the king cobra, and the Siberian tiger!

After completing that unit, we revisited Unit 3, where students have been learning about fears and phobias. We just finished watching a video about how our fear response triggers different areas of the brain. The students’ next project will be about phobias and the brain. Keep up the great work everybody! 😊 -Ms. MacAllister

PE this week we learned about offense, defense, and teamwork which is crucial for developing well-rounded students. Teamwork is emphasized, teaching children to communicate, cooperate, and support each other.

Last week, we finished our unit on African Kingdoms and students submitted their ancient artifacts from Africa. Some of the best projects are currently on display in the Building 2 lobby area. We started our unit on ancient Greece and we are currently learning about the geography of Greece and early Greek civilizations like the Minoans and Myceneans.

In World Art, we examined the whimsical landscapes of Florida artist Earl Cunningham whose artwork can be viewed in the Menello Museum of Folk Art in Orlando (next to the Science Center parking garage). Students created their own Earl Cunningham inspired artwork. Have a wonderful weekend!

In order to help keep our families informed of the latest legislative updates regarding their student's education, a Parent Rights Resources page has been added to the school website.

Recent updates include:

• Internet Safety
• District Health Care Services
• Special Magistrate

The mission of Orlando Science Elementary School (OSES) is to provide a well-rounded education with special emphasis in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while using research-based and innovative instructional methods in a stimulating learning environment. OSES is committed to the social-emotional learning and character development of all students.