Get Your Father-Daughter Dance Tickets! • Sat., Nov 15

Father Daughter Dance Logo 2014

You are cordially invited to a rather curious
Mad Hatter Father Daughter Dance
Meet us in Wonderland in mad style.

  • Saturday, November 15th
  • 5:30-8:00pm
  • OTA Gymnasium

Fancy sandwiches and even fancier desserts will be served!
Father substitutes are most welcome. Continue reading →

Get Your Father-Daughter Dance Tickets! • Sat., Nov 15

Father Daughter Dance Logo 2014

You are cordially invited to a rather curious
Mad Hatter Father Daughter Dance
Meet us in Wonderland in mad style.

  • Saturday, November 15th
  • 5:30-8:00pm
  • OTA Gymnasium

Fancy sandwiches and even fancier desserts will be served!
Father substitutes are most welcome.

A little hat made of ribbons and bows. A bird perched there, a nest, a rose. A silly hat or pretty too, which one will we see on you?

How lovely it would be for you to join us for a Mad Hatter Hat Contest.
Prizes will be given to Father Daughter hatters in the categories of: Continue reading →

OTA ENRICH! After School Programs — Why Join the Chess Club?

Chess Club Teacher Mr. Dustin gave a demonstration last week (with the help of some Larry Evans Chess Club alumni) and OTA students were captivated. 78 Students signed the Chess Club interest list!
chessboard

Why Study Chess? Patience, Planning, Problem-Solving, Puzzling, Perseverance… Chess teaches self-control & humility, grace under pressure, & it makes children smarter.*

Larry Evans Chess Camp is taught by master instructors, using very effective tools and motivation techniques. OTA students loved it during our first year but schedule changes brought it down to once a week last year. Once a week isn’t enough to learn anything! So, we’re bringing it back to two days a week.

  • Students may sign up throughout the quarter–contact the Chess Camp for pro-rated discount. Sign-up Online Now! (Choose Old Town from the dropdown menu: Chess Club will be offered Wednesday and Friday after school.)
  • Get Inspired, watch the film Brooklyn Castle about America’s best chess team!

*Q1-Chess-Afterschool-Signup

STUDIES (see more studies at Quad City Chess Club)

  • In a 1973-74 Zaire study conducted by Dr. Albert Frank, employing 92 students, age 16-18, the chess-playing experimental group showed a significant advancement in spatial, numerical and administrative-directional abilities, along with verbal aptitudes, compared to the control group. The improvements held true regardless of the final chess skill level attained. [1], [2], [7]
  • In a 1974-1976 Belgium study, a chess-playing experimental group of fifth graders experienced a statistically significant gain in cognitive development over a control group, using Piaget’s tests for cognitive development. Perhaps more noteworthy, they also did significantly better in their regular school testing, Continue reading →

OTA ENRICH! After School *** Super Soccer Stars • Namaste Yoga • Mindstorms Robotics

Photos from three of our great OTA Enrich! Afterschool programs (Students may enroll throughout the Quarter, if spaces are available):
Namaste Yoga Class 3

  • Namaste Yoga (Mindfulness, Flexibility, School Project Work!)
    • All Grades Tues & Fri – Sign Up HERE 

SuperSoccer Program

  • Super Soccer Stars (The best youth soccer program we’ve seen)
    • Grades K-3rd Mon & Wed Sign Up HERE

Mindstorms Robotics - Day 1

  • Mindstorms Lego Robotics Clubs (First Lego League)
    • Tues & Thurs Sign Up HERE

OTA Families • Project Heart Beat “Heroes in Training” at the Padres Game (Slideshow)

OTA Students at Heroes in Training

It was a wonderful night at the ball field, OTA was large and in charge.  Of the 50 people participating, at least 1/2 were OTA families.  Special thanks to all those families who took precious time out of their lives to come and learn how to become EVERYDAY HERO’S!

 

San Diego’s Project Heart Beat foundation held a free event for children 8 years + and their families.  An opportunity to learn CPR, and become a hero in training!  Followed by free entry to the Padres game!❤️

 

OTA Calendar Notes: School Starts Tomorrow, Sept 2 • Traffic Safety Tips • After-School Enrich! Program • Meet our Staff

Dear OTA Parents & Guardians:

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!

  • Let’s begin with Traffic Safety Reminders for the morning drop-off. Please treat San Diego Ave as a one-way street (heading north only). Gates open at 7:45. Students teachers will meet them on the field at 8:00 AM and go up to class by 8:10. Kindergarten students start at 9 AM for the first two days of school.
  • OTA Enrich! After-school Programs do not start until Week 2. The schedule and sign-ups will be up by Wednesday at the latest. We have a lot of exciting courses this year, many returning programs, some new: Spanish, Zumba, Yoga, Open Minds Enrich (K-2 after-care), Learning Acceleration Lab (coaching on projects & after-school access to learning lab & iPad programs), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Self-Defense, Soccer, Orchestra-Violin, Piano Lab,  Rock Climbing, Chess…

Meet our Teachers and Staff
*means new role or new to OTA

  • Kindergarten: Mrs. Lauren Drinkward
    A good beginning never ends! Mrs Drinkward is coming off a stellar year and ready for another great beginning.
  • First Grade: Ms. Shana Pitcher
    Ms. Pitcher returns for her fourth year– 3rd Degree Black Belt in reading and Core Knowledge and reportedly the best surfer at OTA!

Continue reading →

OTA Brownie Troop Presentation to OTA Parent Foundation Board

The girls of the OTA Brownie Troop made a very professional presentation to the OTA Foundation Board last night to promote their recycling project to raise money for an drinking fountain on the ground floor…. More information coming soon for those who want to support the initiative.

Brownie Presentation 1

OTA AfterSchool Programs — Why Join the Chess Club?

Chess Club will Continue in Third Quarter!

OTA Chess Club

After-School Chess in the CourtyardNote: It’s not too late to join after-school chess!

chessboard

Why Study Chess? Patience, Planning, Problem-Solving, Puzzling, Perseverance… Chess teaches self-control & humility, grace under pressure, & it makes children smarter.*

Larry Evans Chess Camp is taught by master instructors, using very effective tools and motivation techniques.

*

STUDIES (see more studies at Quad City Chess Club)

  • In a 1973-74 Zaire study conducted by Dr. Albert Frank, employing 92 students, age 16-18, the chess-playing experimental group showed a significant advancement in spatial, numerical and administrative-directional abilities, along with verbal aptitudes, compared to the control group. The improvements held true regardless of the final chess skill level attained. [1], [2], [7]
  • In a 1974-1976 Belgium study, a chess-playing experimental group of fifth graders experienced a statistically significant gain in cognitive development over a control group, using Piaget’s tests for cognitive development. Perhaps more noteworthy, they also did significantly better in their regular school testing, Continue reading →

Rock Climbing Starts Tomorrow(Fri.) ** Sailing Club Starts Next Thurs.

Rock Climbing: $126.50 for 3rd quarter Click to download Rock Climbing Afterschool signup, release/ Group Waiver

OTA Sailing Program begins TOMORROW: Thursday (Feb. 13th) -Mr. Olenick can transport students to the Mission Bay Yacht Club after-school. * 3:30-5:30 $150/ten weeks! * Please contact Coach Kevin Olenick for more information 619-787-6946 Click to sign-up

Sailing Skills, Water Safety, Discipline,Fun!

After-School Sailing K-8Sailing Club 3Sailing Club 1

Congratulations to Coach Julio Villanueva & OTA Brazilan Jiu-Jitsu/Self-Defense Students

Xavier Jiu-Jitsu Tournament*** Xavier Major wins the gold in today’s tournament ***

Isabel and Asia in their second tournament in 3 weeks–taking on boys and girls who outweigh them and more than holding their own!

Coach Julio and BJJ:Self-Defense Students

*** Great job all! We salute your courage and dedication. And thank you Coach Julio! ***

After-school Brazlian Jiu-Jitsu/Self-Defense is now so popular  that the class has been split to Monday/Wednesday K-2 and Tu/Thur 3-8th grade. Click link here to sign up.

****