Weekly Community News for Odyssey Charter Jr/Sr High School
Volume 101 - JAN 26, 2026
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Calendar
JANUARY
January 26 – Testing NAEP – Random selection Math/ELA 8th
January 27 – Gateway/Steam/New Parent Information Night
FEBRUARY
February 2 – 6 Guidance Services Professionals Week
February 6 – Early Release/Winter Guard Rehearsal/Finish Friday
February 7 - Success Saturday DUE DATE FOR SENIOR ADS IN YEARBOOK - INFO HERE
February 13 – Finish Friday/Early Release/Winter Guard Rehearsal
February 14 – No Success Saturday
February 16 – NO SCHOOL (Teacher – PD Workday)
February 20 – Finish Friday
February 21 – Success Saturday
February 25 – Mentor meeting
February 27 – Senior lunch/Early Release/Finish Friday
February 28 – Success Saturday
Volunteer Hours for Reading Newsletters
Each time you read a classroom, school, wellness, or system newsletter, your family will get 30 minutes toward the required 18 Parent Volunteer hours (for one student) or 25 hours (for more than one student). The process is simple. Each time you see this QR code, click on the link or log into the code for a quick survey about the article. Your name will be logged by the school office staff for 30 minutes of volunteer hours for each newsletter.
Log your hours: Link HERE
January's Florida Resiliency Character Trait is Perseverance
This month, we are going to explore how to use self-awareness and self-management when communicating with others. These skills play a key role in how we communicate and work with others. Self-awareness helps us better understand how our feelings and thoughts affect the way we communicate with others. Self-management helps us control our impulses and choose our words and actions thoughtfully. Together, these skills help us handle stress, remain composed when faced with differing opinions and strengthen our connections with others.
“Self-awareness is the compass; self-management is the engine. When we understand ourselves and choose our best actions, we steer toward resilient, meaningful lives.”
SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS
Ariyana Almestica
Ariyana Almestica has been a part of the OCS community for five years, having attended since the seventh grade. One interesting fact about her is her compassionate dedication to volunteering with children with special needs. Within the school, she points to Spirit Week as her favorite event and highlights Mr. Neustel as her favorite teacher; she appreciates him for his kindness, patience, and ability to make math easier to understand. As she prepares to leave, Ariyana feels she will miss the girls' basketball program the most, noting that the experience shaped a major part of who she is today. Her ambitious future plans include attending Florida Atlantic University and continuing on to law school to become a civil lawyer.
Melanie Santiago
Melanie Santiago has attended OCS for practically her entire life. She is passionate about her faith and shares that she loves Jesus. When reflecting on her favorite school memories, Melanie highlights the excitement of dancing at the pep rally. Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Jerina, and while she looks forward to the future, she admits she will miss her friends the most. After graduation, Melanie plans to go to college to study medical assisting.
Baileigh Ott
A student at OCS for four years, Baileigh Ott has lived all over the U.S. and Europe. She cites serving as drum major with her best friend, Bella, as the highlight of her senior year. Baileigh’s favorite teacher is Mrs. Kevelin, whom she thanks for making the Titan Band a supportive outlet and for always believing in her capabilities. While she looks forward to the future, Baileigh will miss the teachers who have impacted her, specifically Ms. Mullins, Coach Farrell, Mr. Pagel, Mrs. Zeldes, Mr. Neustel, and Ms. Lewis. After graduation, Baileigh plans to finish her AA at EFSC and then transfer to the University of Central Florida to major in communications.
SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
All State Honor Band
Congrats to Sarah-Ann Greer who traveled to Tampa last week to participate in the 2026 Florida Music Education Association All State Honor Band. Sarah has been recognized as one of the top performers in the state and we are proud to have her representing Odyssey Charter Jr/Sr High as part of the honor band!
GATEway Night
On January 20, our three campuses buzzed with curiosity and creativity as families gathered to celebrate the GATEway Program for Gifted and Talented students in grades K–12. Parents attended an informational session to learn more about the program’s vision and pathways, then stepped into interactive exhibits led by GATEway students themselves. From AP Biology and AP Research to AP Art, PLTW Engineering, and STEM Environmental Science, students proudly showcased their learning through hands-on demonstrations and thoughtful conversations. The arts took center stage as well, with vibrant displays and performances from Orchestra, Band, Musical Theater, Commercial Art, Gaming, and our Middle School Fine Arts. The evening offered a living snapshot of how GATEway students think deeply, create boldly, and connect learning across disciplines.
Socratic Seminar in ELA
Voices Collide, Ideas Unite: Students in Ms. Briskey's ELA classes use a Socratic Seminar to discuss what it means to be “human.”
Analyzing both Karen Russell’s “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, students explored characters caught between wolf and human identities. While Claudette and Lycaon each face transformation at the hands of authority figures, their experiences reveal different truths about conformity, rebellion, and isolation.
Yearbooks
Our 2026 Titan Yearbook is coming along great and will be sent to the printer in early March and delivered to campus in early May. Be sure to get yours ordered soon before they sell out! Ordering info is on the flyer at the bottom of this page as well as our yearbook page here.
If Seniors would like to purchase an ad, please visit our yearbook page here for information on sizes/prices. Time is limited for this opportunity so don't put that off if you want to reserve space. DUE DATE FOR ADS IS FEB 7TH.
Spelling Bee
Odyssey Charter School is proud to announce the winners of its annual Spelling Bee!
After several rounds of challenging words, the competition concluded with the following top performers: 1st Place: Ethan Gill • 5th Place: Austin Jean • 6th Place: Addisen Albert
"Our OCS JR/SR students represented our Titans well," said, Ms. Comegys. "We are incredibly proud of all 25 participants who demonstrated hard work and academic excellence. It is inspiring to see such a high level of sportsmanship and talent across our 3rd through 8th-grade levels."
The Odyssey Charter School community wishes Ethan the best of luck as he prepares for the district-level competition!
Student Spotlight - Maria Ortiz
Maria Ortiz was nominated by our staff to be in the Student Spotlight for her incredible dedication to our student body! You can find Maria helping out everywhere—from the soccer field, where she serves as an amazing Varsity Team Manager, to the auditorium, where she runs sound for theater productions and music concerts. Beyond her extracurriculars, Maria is a model student in Biology. She is hardworking, focused, and always treats her classmates and teachers with kindness and respect.
Lauren Janeksy
"Being a Force for the Future," shines a spotlight on Lauren Janesky, an exceptional student whose dedication sets her apart. It captures her inspiring journey of academic excellence and her dedication to bringing energy to not only being an athlete, but representing Titan Athletics on Instagram. The video illustrates how Lauren's passions are shaping her into a true leader and a force for the future.
BULLETIN BOARD
Grievance Procedures
Step 1: Request Teacher conference to clarify issue
Step 2: Contact the Site Administrator if unresolved with the teacher
Step 3: **Contact Board Designated Parent Representative (Mrs. Amber Miller)
Step 4: Contact the President of the Governing Board
Step 5: Present issue at the next monthly Board Meeting if unresolved
Step 6: Seek mediation with the Sponsor
**Mrs. Amber Miller has been designated by the OCS Board of Directors as the Representative to Facilitate Parental Involvement, provide access to information, assist parents and others with questions and concerns, and resolve disputes according to charter requirements. Ms. Miller can be reached at millera@odysseycharterschool.com or 321-442-2742.
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