Sci High San Diego STEM High School Presentation • Tomorrow March 5, 6:30 in 7th Grade Room

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Sci-High-Tech-School-255x300Parents who joined us for the first presentation in February were very impressed!

OTA Parents, please join us Thursday night to learn more about a new charter high school in San Diego.  Bill Hixson, lead developer of the project-based STEM high school, will be there to tell you more about this new school.  Bill is a software entrepreneur who after selling his company “retired” into a second career of teaching.  He focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) education and worked on new school and school turn-around teams in NYC in addition to teaching on the faculty of Teachers College Columbia University.

We believe this school will be a good fit for OTA students with a strong faculty and a curriculum focused on independent learning (the school will be incorporating Project Trees) and mathematical and scientific literacy.  Work-study will be a large part of the program starting in 11th grade.  Its project-based, blended learning model will integrate in-class and online learning activities within each project.

The projected opening date for the new high school will be the 2016-2017 academic year.  All parents are welcome; parents with students in 5th-8th grades and especially 7th grade are especially encouraged to attend Thursday to learn more.

Reminder: OTA Lottery Enrollment Period Closes March 6

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Interested in enrolling your child at Old Town Academy for the 2015-2016 School Year?Welcome to OTA video screenshotClick to view video • Click on the links below to Start the Application Process to register your child/ren for the Old Town Academy 2015-2016 Lottery.

Please Note:

  • A separate application must be filled out for each child
  • Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 6, 2015.  After you successfully complete the online application you will receive an email confirmation with a submission ID, which will mean your child is officially enrolled in the lottery.*
    •  Submission Confirmation
      Dear parents of “Student Name”,
      The 2015-2016 Enrollment Application for Aaron has been successfully submitted to LVCP. [Old Town Academy’s Charter School Network]
      Here is your Submission ID: 7683294
  • Kindergarten children need to be five years old ON OR BEFORE: September 1st of 2015. A Birth Certificate or Passport is required for verification before enrollment is finalized.
  • If your child applied for the lottery last year and is on the wait list now, you must apply again for 2015-2016. Wait list numbers do not carry over from year to year.
  • If your child or children are already enrolled in OTA, you do not need to fill out a Lottery Application, but do need to fill out an Intent to Re-enroll Form by Mar 6, 2015 to hold your place for 2015-2016 (most families have already done so).

Enrollment Procedure:

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AED Awareness Week • Defibrillators in Schools

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As you know OTA has been participating in Project Heartbeat. This involves extra training for OTA staff to earn our certification as a Heart Safe School (and soon our 8th graders will earn First Aid/CPR/Defibrillator training!).
In addition, thanks to generous donations from the Flores family we have AEDs on all three floors of OTA (look for the AED Signs… by the elevators on first and second floor, and by the adult bathroom in the gym/lunchroom). Please follow the links below to learn more about AED Awareness Week. AEDs, and AED Training, save lives!

Reminder: Sci High San Diego STEM High School Presentation, Thursday Feb 19, 6:30 in 7th Grade Room

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Sci High Tech SchoolOTA Parents, please join us Thursday night to learn more about a new charter high school for San Diego. Bill Hixson, lead developer of the project-based STEM High School, will be there to tell you more about his new school. Bill is a software entrepreneur who after selling his company “retired” into a second career in teaching. He focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) education and worked on school turn-around teams in NYC, in addition to teaching on the faculty of Colombia Teachers College.

We believe this school will be a good fit for OTA students, with a strong faculty and a curriculum focused on independent learning (the school will be incorporating Project Trees) and mathematical & scientific literacy. Internships will be a large part of the program starting in 11th grade, and its project-based, blended learning model will integrate in-class and online learning activities within each project.

The projected opening date for the new high school will be the 2016-2016 school year. All parents are welcome but parents with students in grades 5th-8th are particularly encouraged to attend Thursday to learn more.

OTA Family Movie Night • Friday, February 27!

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Join us for our second OTA Movie Night on the Green to celebrate the new year and raise money for your OTA Robotics Team!

OTA Robotics and Robotics Teams 2011-2015 Slideshow:

[Show thumbnails]

Come out and enjoy a good movie, good food, and good company and help us raise money for our OTA Robotics Team. Our young team placed 5th last year against many high schools and more experienced coders. This year we hope to place! We have an opportunity to enter a new tourney but need to raise $2000 in order to participate.

  • Movie Night is FREE and seating on the turf is first come, first served.
  • Bring your lawn chairs and your blankets (dress warm).
  • Dinner will be provided and cooked by the OTA Foundation for a nominal fee benefiting the OTA Robotics Team or you may bring your own picnic dinner.
  • Bring cash to buy dinner, popcorn, glow bracelets, and baked goods although we will have a “square” to accept credit cards.
  • OTA students are making Looms, Baked Goods, and more, which will be available for sale.
  • Anyone that brings an auction item, bottle of wine $20 or more for the Gala Wall of Wine or a Gift Card that you no longer need to be used for the Gala Auction will get a free, reusable, earth friendly Glow Bracelet!

We expect to begin serving food by 5:15 PM with the movie to commence at approximately 6:00 PM. The movie will end at approximately 8:00 PM.

Please note:
  • You may send your children with other OTA families but not unaccompanied.
  • Students will not be allowed to leave campus, without their parents or supervising Adult, until the movie ends.
On behalf of the OTA Foundation Board, we hope to see everyone there!

Reminder: Sci High San Diego STEM High School Presentation, Thursday Feb 19, 6:30 in 7th Grade Room

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Sci High Tech SchoolOTA Parents, please join us Thursday night to learn more about a new charter high school for San Diego. Bill Hixson, lead developer of the project-based STEM High School, will be there to tell you more about his new school. Bill is a software entrepreneur who after selling his company “retired” into a second career in teaching. He focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) education and worked on school turn-around teams in NYC, in addition to teaching on the faculty of Colombia Teachers College.

We believe this school will be a good fit for OTA students, with a strong faculty and a curriculum focused on independent learning (the school will be incorporating Project Trees) and mathematical & scientific literacy. Internships will be a large part of the program starting in 11th grade, and its project-based, blended learning model will integrate in-class and online learning activities within each project.

The projected opening date for the new high school will be the 2016-2016 school year. All parents are welcome but parents with students in grades 5th-8th are particularly encouraged to attend Thursday to learn more.

Please Join us at the 2015 OTA Wine and Dine!

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2015_OTA_Invite_Page 1* * * * * * *
Click here to buy tickets for the Spring Fundraiser to support your school! 
OTA Wine & DIne Invite- Page 2-Info
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OTA Gala 2013 Pic

The 2013-2014 Wine & Dine – Under the Tent!

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Old Town Academy is a non-profit public benefit corporation dedicated to excellence in public education. Our school is tuition-free. We rely on a combination of public funds and private donations to support our small-school campus (OTA receives no public funds for facilities), our wonderful teaching staff, and ambitious programs in Music, Math, Science, Programming/Robotics, and more.
Your support helps OTA continue to fulfill its mission— Equity and Excellence for All Students— by providing a free, first-rate education open to all San Diego children.
* * * * * * *

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Sci High San Diego STEM High School Presentation, Thursday Feb 19, 6:30 in 7th Grade Room

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Sci High Tech SchoolOTA Parents, please join us Thursday night to learn more about a new charter high school for San Diego. Bill Hixson, lead developer of the project-based STEM High School, will be there to tell you more about his new school. Bill is a software entrepreneur who after selling his company “retired” into a second career in teaching. He focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) education and worked on school turn-around teams in NYC, in addition to teaching on the faculty of Colombia Teachers College.

We believe this school will be a good fit for OTA students, with a strong faculty and a curriculum focused on independent learning (the school will be incorporating Project Trees) and mathematical & scientific literacy. Internships will be a large part of the program starting in 11th grade, and its project-based, blended learning model will integrate in-class and online learning activities within each project.

The projected opening date for the new high school will be the 2016-2016 school year. All parents are welcome but parents with students in grades 5th-8th are particularly encouraged to attend Thursday to learn more.

Please Join us at the 2015 OTA Wine and Dine!

Posted on by
2015_OTA_Invite_Page 1* * * * * * *
Click here to buy tickets for the Spring Fundraiser to support your school! 
OTA Wine & DIne Invite- Page 2-Info
 * * * * * * *
Wine & Dine VIP Event Registration
Old Town Academy is a non-profit public benefit corporation dedicated to excellence in public education. Our school is tuition-free. We rely on a combination of public funds and private donations to support our small-school campus (OTA receives no public funds for facilities), our wonderful teaching staff, and ambitious programs in Music, Math, Science, Programming/Robotics, and more.
Your support helps OTA continue to fulfill its mission— Equity and Excellence for All Students— by providing a free, first-rate education open to all San Diego children.
* * * * * * *

Continue reading →

Presidents Day Holiday! No School Friday, Feb 13 or Monday, Feb 16

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Presidents’ Day is a national holiday that honors Presidents of the United States. The day mainly honors President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln. The holiday began as a celebration of Washington only. It was observed on Washington’s birthday on February 22 from the 1880s until 1971. Lincoln’s birthday was never a national holiday. However, many states celebrated it on February 12.
In 1971, the holiday honoring Washington was moved to the third Monday of February. This was so that workers would have a three-day weekend. Since then, Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday have been celebrated on the same day. Officially, however, the holiday is still known as Washington’s Birthday.

Old Town Academy 2014-2015 Calendar