Happenings:

Juniors getting the 411 on life at OSSM.

Juniors first Convocation.

PAOSSM was busy the first week of school!

SOAR and Grill & Chill - Food sponsored by PAOSSM 

* Welcome back to school care package (Ms. Padma, PAOSSM-VP)

* Lets welcome our newly elected 4 junior delegates ( Mrs. Dobson; Mrs. Steffanoff; Mr. Redwine & Mrs. Martin)

* PAOSSM Treasury (Ms. Ming) - Good job volunteers! 38.4 % received in move-in-week from pledge and memorabilia sales.

* Special thanks to parents of Community Corps: Late night snack sponsor (Ms. Wei; Ms. Ranga; Ms. Sheela ;Ms. Regina; Mr. Quentin; Ms. Xiaohong ; Ms. Jenny; Ms. Geetha; Ms. Kimberly; Ms. Lily; Ms.Qingli)

SAVE THE DATE:

Friday, August 31 - next PAOSSM meeting - Library Boardroom.

"Thank you all beyond words! The kids were absolutely awed by the love shown to them. PAOSSM played a huge role in making this week successful". - Ms. Valerie Hiett 

President

Ms. VanMathy Vaudevan
President PAOSSM 2018-19

Off to a Great Start!

Fifty-nine seniors and eighty-four juniors began their new school year by attending Convocation at Douglas High School on August 12.

Fall Convocation is a long standing OSSM tradition. This tradition started as a ceremony to welcome new students to the OSSM community and  to welcome students back for a new year.  It is intended to inspire them to strive for success and to aid them in coming together as an entering class as well as to help them feel a connection to the existing academic community.

This year we added the new tradition of presenting  seniors  with the Governor's Scholar Award by Chairman Dan Little and Commissioner Melissa Houston. 

The Governor’s Scholar is a program that strives to enhance Oklahoma’s next generation of academic leaders.  Students selected to attend the Oklahoma School of Science and Math (OSSM) based upon their high academic potential and achievement receive a two-year immersive and highly challenging high school academic experience that is second to none, public or private, in the United States. Therefore, it is appropriate that the state acknowledge OSSM students as scholarship winners.  Accordingly, the term "Governor's Scholar" imparts unique status to each OSSM student and reflects the pride and investment the State of Oklahoma and the Governor have in each student attending OSSM. 

Meet Ms. Hiett

I began working at OSSM on June 1st as the new Residence Hall Coordinator.  I am joined by my husband and two children, Evelyn and William. I have spent the last eight years teaching math and science in the Oklahoma public school system. I spent my undergraduate career heavily involved in Residence Life at Oklahoma State University. 

As the Residence Hall Coordinator, I am responsible for the everyday operations of the residence hall. I am excited to be a part of OSSM because of the rich history and traditions. I hope to bring fresh ideas to the residence hall to facilitate the students to grow deeper as a community. One of my priorities this year is to ensure a social activity is always available for the students to attend on Open Weekends. For example, this Friday students are invited to attend an Ultimate Frisbee game and play Capture the Flag. 

The students of OSSM are by far my favorite part of being here. I am blown away by their dedication, genuine spirit, and never ending journey of exploration and growth. I brag about these students to anyone who will listen! 

I appreciate you sharing your students with me. It has been my honor to start this new adventure with the juniors and jump on board with the seniors. 

Ms. Valerie Hiett

Residence Hall Coordinator

Website News

Website - check out the following pages!

• IN THE NEWS - Articles and Press Releases   http://www.ossm.edu/in-the-news/
• GALLERY - Photos of first week and convocation http://www.ossm.edu/2018-2019-photos/
• CALENDAR - Month of August. http://www.ossm.edu/events/month/
• Don't forget to use the SEARCH box if you can't find something on the website.
• Homepage has a link for extended weekends and other important dates - at a glance.

OSSM to be host site for Chess Tournament on 9/15 

We are excited to announce that OSSM will be the host site for the OSCO/CE chess tournament on September 15 (Saturday) from 8-5 in the MAC at OSSM. It is the first event of a series of chess tournaments in the 2018~2019 school year by the Oklahoma Scholastic Chess Organization (OSCO). Each year, hundreds of students participate in the tournaments. OSCO is a not-for-profit organization, which promotes chess in Oklahoma for the educational and social benefit of K-12th grade students. It will be a good opportunity for OSSM students to play chess or to volunteer.

From the President

Message to OSSM Community:

I wish the entire OSSM community well for the newly started 2018-2019 Academic Year.

I myself am beginning my seventh academic year at OSSM.  During the Convocation ceremonies for my first year here in August 2012, I remember saying to students "If you feel apprehensive about the beginning of school and wonder if you had made a big mistake by coming here, join the club !"  I was referring to myself.  I had relocated my family of six from a comfortable existence in Plano, Texas into a faculty apartment and dorm rooms of the newly constructed C wing to begin my job as president of OSSM.

This is a big step for our large incoming junior class - to leave the familiarity of home and hometown school for a new living arrangement and a demanding schedule of rigorous classes.  For seniors, OSSM has become more familiar but the demands and pressures remain undiminished.  Students share with me that the fall of the senior year is particularly taxing because of the college application process.

I too will face challenges - of ensuring the fiscal viability of OSSM and making sure that the state legislators learn about and appreciate all that OSSM offers to the state.  In additional to our Residential campus, we have 8 Regional Centers (in Drumright, Enid, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Poteau, Stillwell, Tahlequah, and Wayne) and a Virtual Regional Center, where instruction in calculus and physics is delivered through live interactive video.  In spite of our small size, OSSM's reach and impact is quite large.

To make sure we can all together succeed, I urge students to tend to their health by eating and sleeping well and by managing their time with care and thought.  As I mentioned in my Convocation speech, I wish the Classes of 2019 and 2020 Godspeed.  

Sincerely, 

Frank Wang

Happenings 2:

V.P. of Academics, Dr. Neufeld, takes time to meet every new junior.

Interest groups and organization fair.

FLOOR COMPETITIONS....