The Orbit February 2025

FEBRUARY 2025

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

From Oct. 1 - Nov. 15, 2024 Epic students, families and staff were encouraged to gather items and assemble care packages to be dropped off just in time for Veterans’ Week with the HUGS Project!

EPIC HUGS MILITARY CARE PACKAGE PROJECT Thank you, Epic Community! We are thrilled to share that 200 military care packages were collected by our Epic students and staff. Your thoughtful contributions and donations will provide service members who are stationed overseas with meaningful and helpful supplies and handwritten letters. We couldn’t have done this without you!

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: HONORING THE PAST, INSPIRING THE PRESENT, SHAPING THE FUTURE

BY PRECIOUS TIMMONS, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST Ever y Februar y, people across the United States come together to celebrate Black Histor y Month. It is a time to honor the achievements, struggles and contributions of African Americans throughout histor y.

4

Black Histor y Month began as a week-long celebration in 1926, founded by Historian Car ter G. Woodson. He wanted to ensure that African Americans’ accomplishments were acknowledged and celebrated. Woodson chose Februar y because it coincided with the bir thdays of two impor tant figures: Frederick Douglass, a former enslaved person and abolitionist, and President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Over time, the celebration grew, and in 1976, President Gerald Ford of ficially recognized Februar y as Black Histor y Month.

Black Histor y Month is more than just a time to reflect on the past. It encourages us to understand how African Americans have shaped our countr y in fields like science, politics, spor ts, music, ar t and literature. From inventors like George Washington Car ver to civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks and Mar tin Luther King Jr., their stories teach us about courage, perseverance and leadership.

Today, African Americans continue to break barriers and make significant strides in various fields. Figures like Amanda Gorman – the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. histor y – have inspired a new generation with their words and ar tistr y.

In spor ts, LeBron James not only dominates the basketball cour t but also leads initiatives for education and social justice through his foundation. Politically, Kamala Harris made histor y as the first African American and South Asian American woman to ser ve as Vice President of the United States. These contemporar y figures remind us that Black histor y is not just about the past, it is made ever y day.

Oklahoma has produced several notable African American figures who made a lasting impact. Civil Rights Leader Clara Luper organized one of the first sit-ins to protest segregation at a drugstore in Oklahoma Cit y. Ralph Ellison, author of the classic novel “Invisible Man,” was born in Oklahoma Cit y and became one of the most influential writers of the 20th centur y. Additionally, Anita Hill, a law yer and professor, gained national attention for her work in law and women’s rights.

How to Celebrate Black History Month There are many ways to celebrate Black Histor y Month at school and at home.

Students can read books by African American authors, watch documentaries or listen to music by Black ar tists.

Epic Char ter Schools’ Black Student Organization (BSO) is thrilled to announce the Black Histor y Ar t Contest! This is your chance to showcase what Black histor y means to you whether past, present or future. Create an ar t piece that reflects your interpretation of Black culture in any medium you choose, such as: Drawings

Paintings

Essays

Poems

Digital Art

Or Any Other Form of Creative Expression!

All Epic students are welcome to participate!

Email a picture of your completed art piece to precious.timmons@epiccharterschools.org.

The deadline for submission is Feb. 21. Be sure to include your full name, age and grade.

EVENTS FIELD TRIPS Oklahoma National Guard Museum February 6 | 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

FE B RUARY 2025

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Stillwater Micro Site – Living Wax Museum & Book Walk/ Book Giveaway

Tulsa SPCA Animal Shelter-Tulsa

February 11 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Tulsa History Museum

EVENT DETAILS

February 7 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

Durant Micro Site – Living Wax Museum February 18 | 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center February 21 | 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

OKC Underground Tunnels February 26 | 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

EVENT DETAILS

Tulsa Hardesty Regional Library – Living Wax Museum & Read Across America Celebration!

March 5 | 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

American Pigeon Museum

OKC 50 Penn Place – Living Wax Museum & Read Across America Celebration!

February 28 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

March 13 | 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

Bristow Historical Society & Train Depot March 14 | 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

Port of Catoosa (Grades 6-12) March 25 | 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

EVENT DETAILS

February 19 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

EVENT DETAILS

COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS COLLEGE ADVISING PATHWAY

EVENING MEETINGS: Feb. 6, – Region 1 and 3 Feb. 27 ­­­– Region 2

COLLEGE PATHWAY

TEL TEL students, if you are needing to withdraw from your TEL course, please be sure to let your Epic teacher know before the March 28 deadline.

The TEL auto withdrawal deadline is April 4. In order to avoid auto withdrawal, you will need to complete your Mastery Assignment 1 if you are taking Future Ready and your Midterm for all other TEL courses!

If you have any questions, please reach out to:

Elisabeth Walsh

elisabeth.walsh@epiccharterschools.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS: • Make-up Meetings for Q1 & 2 are • • •

happening in large group settings.

Q3 & 4 meetings are being scheduled now with all CCAs Monica Valles is available to assist with all Spanish speaking students monica.valles@epiccharterschools.org Grade 8 meetings are being scheduled for April 7-9 & May 15-16

AREA COLLEGE CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS If you are taking concurrent courses at an area public college, you need to request that your concurrent bill be sent to our invoice department.

If you are at a public college, please assure that your tuition waiver has been applied to your college bursar bill before making the request.

Bursar bills must be paid in full or a hold on your account and grades will not be released at the end of the semester.

Please note the potential out of pocket expense verbiage on the resource.

USING LEARNING FUND If you have any questions, please reach out to:

Shannon Starr

shannon.starr@epiccharterschools.org

ECA students, the ECA Eagle for a Day event will be held on the Oklahoma Christian University (OC) campus on Friday, Feb. 21.

Make plans to join us to connect with OC, TEL and ECA team members, learn about scholarships, tour the campus. Check your Epic inbox for the invitation from OC.

COLLEGE PLANNING

CAREER PATHWAY

Students in grades 8-12 are invited to the virtual College Information Session series! Each Wednesday, from 1- 2 p.m., the College and Career Readiness department will host collaborative information sessions with various Oklahoma colleges. You won’t want to miss the chance to learn about the incredible academic programs, scholarship opportunities and student life activities offered by in-state colleges. No registration required. (No session held on Feb.19).

Internship – ConocoPhillips Internship

CLICK HERE TO ATTEND

Information - If you missed the January information sessions, don’t despair! You can still apply! Application Deadline: Feb. 28.

LEARN MORE & APPLY DRH Health - Pre Nursing Boot Camp Excellent opportunity for students interested in Health Careers! Application Deadline: Feb. 14.

LEARN MORE & APPLY

Dates to Remember: 2/5 – College Information Session: UCO + SOSU 1-2 p.m. | Zoom

2/12 – College Information Session: RSU 1-2 p.m. | Zoom

2/12 – Spring Forward: Strategic Planning for College Success from Junior to Senior Year 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Zoom

2/26 – College Information Session: ORU + OSU-OKC 1-2 p.m. | Zoom

SCHOLARSHIPS All graduating seniors are strongly encouraged to meet the state FAFSA graduation requirements by completing their FAFSA Application or the FAFSA Opt Out Form by Feb. 28 to be entered in the QuikTrip (QT) Gift Card Giveaway, a chance to win a $50-$300 gift card!

Click below for more details.

LEARN MORE

Students may search for ongoing opportunities in our Naviance platform.

Dates to Remember: 2/12 – Internship & Work Based Learning Assignment Workshop 3-4:30 p.m. | Zoom

Transition Services – Transition Services offers mock interviews to help you practice and refine your skills. Whether you’re interviewing for a scholarship, internship, or job, this is a great way to get personalized feedback and feel more confident. Learn more about this valuable opportunity by clicking below!

LEARN MORE Dates to Remember: 2/11 – Prepare U: How to Use LinkedIn 6-7 p.m. | Zoom | Info

3/6 – Prepare U: Job Searching Strategies 6-7 p.m. | Zoom | Info

TULSA AREA: Friday, April 11, 2025 from 7-10 p.m.

Glenpool Conference Center 12205 S. Yukon Ave., Glenpool

OKC AREA: Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 7-10 p.m.

Sam Noble Museum of Natural History 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman

Tickets are $55 each and are only available to currently enrolled Epic students under 21 as of August 1, 2024. Students may purchase one additional ticket for a guest under the age of 21 when registering. Space is limited; students may only attend one from each. Tickets cover entry to the event, the amazing exhibits, music and dancing and light refreshments.

Registration Schedule: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, for Epic juniors and seniors only.

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, registration will be open for sophomores if tickets remain.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, registration will open for freshmen if tickets remain.

Please review the policies and cancellation policy posted on the webpage and registration before purchasing tickets.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

JOIN THE

WHOLE HEALTH CLUB

The Whole Health Club is a place where students can gather weekly to discuss cultivating healthy mental, emotional, physical and spiritual practices. We will discover lifelong skills, including self-care, coping habits and how to be the healthiest versions of ourselves we can be. We also look at what to do if the student or someone they know is in crisis. The club is a safe space where students can share and connect with others. We also have a lot of fun, play games and build friendships.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP This winter, the Whole Health Club will be covering Digital Citizenship in four lessons: o o o o

LESSON DATES February 18 February 25 March 4 March 11

Media Balance, Mental Health and Well-Being Privacy, Security and Digital Footprints Cyberbullying and Hate Speech News, Media Literacy and How to Verify Information

Students do not have to be members of the Whole Health Club to participate! They can drop in for one or all lessons as their schedule permits. These sessions are virtual, and Zoom links will be sent out to those interested.

Please note: the same lesson will be offered twice each week, so students can pick which one works best for them.

If you have any questions about the Whole Health Club or would like to sign up for the Digital Citizenship course, please reach out to:

Ryan Fowler

ryan.fowler@epiccharterschools.org

CLUB UPDATES NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT ORGANIZATION (NASO) •

Inspiring Guest Speaker: Dr. Corey Still (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians) spoke to NASO students, sharing his journey from humble beginnings in Stilwell, OK, to earning a doctorate. His story encouraged students to aim high and believe in their potential. Students actively engaged with thoughtful questions during the session.

•

Tulsa Native American Day: NASO students participated in the 8th Annual Tulsa Native American Day Celebration on Oct. 14. They walked in the parade and supported the Native American Program (NAP) table during a day filled with cultural festivities, powwow dance demonstrations and artistic showcases.

•

Thanksgiving Story Discussion: NASO held a discussion on the true history of Thanksgiving, offering students new perspectives. The conversation was enlightening and fostered deeper understanding among participants.

KEY CLUB Key Club members made a significant impact in their communities, contributing 996.5 volunteer hours this semester. Highlights include: •

8 members achieved the 50-hour volunteer goal.

•

Spreading mulch at Scissortail Park.

•

Landscaping at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

•

Creating toys and treats for animals and decorating the adoption center for the holidays at the Oklahoma City Animal Humane Society.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS In December, five students participated in the Model United Nations Conference, discussing space-based commerce. Student delegates represented their countries with distinction: •

Middle School: Geneva Sharif (France, grade 6) attended her first conference and earned an honorable mention.

•

High School: First-time delegates Elizabeth Myers (Mexico, grade 12) and Octavia Robinson (Moldova, grade 12) joined returning members Nicholas Pelizzoni (Mauritius, grade 10) and Shelby Shugarts (Iran, grade 11). Shelby’s exceptional efforts also earned her an honorable mention.

Congratulations to all students for their dedication and achievements this semester!

FREE VISION SCREENINGS Your child’s vision is important to us. Early detection of vision problems is critical to their learning. Epic is happy to share with you an incredible opportunity to have your child’s vision screened FREE of charge. All of this is provided by Vizavance.

About Vizavance Formerly, Prevent Blindness Oklahoma, Vizavance is the only non-profit agency in Oklahoma whose primary focus is preserving sight and preventing blindness. Prevent Blindness Oklahoma is an affiliate of the national organization, Prevent Blindness America, which was founded in 1908.

Epic Charter Schools is pleased to inform you of a free resource that families can use to receive a vision screening. Vizavance provides free vision screenings to all children so they may reach their full educational potential.

OKLAHOMA CITY

February 10, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM 1900 NW Expressway, Floor R3, Oklahoma City

VISION SCREENING REGISTRATION

OPEN HOUSE/ RIBBON CUTTING Please join us as we open the Ada Micro Site with an open house and ribbon cutting on Feb. 21 and the Muskogee Micro Site on Friday, March 7 from 4-6 p.m.

Epic staff will be there to welcome our guests and answer questions as you tour this new site. We will also have light snacks, activities and giveaways for our guests.

We hope you all bring your smiles and Epic spirit!

ADA MICRO SITE 1021 Colony Dr., Ada February 21, 2025 | 4-6 PM

MUSKOGEE MICRO SITE 212 S. 38th Street, Muskogee March 7, 2025 | 4-6 PM

Medical Minutes

Flu Tests Available

Flu testing is available to all Epic students and their siblings ages 4-18. As well as staff children ages 4-18. Testing is done on-location with in Tulsa or Oklahoma City. Through a telehealth visit with a OU Children’s pediatrician. Results are back in 10 minutes or less. If a prescription is required, that can be called in before leaving the nurse’s office. Insurance is not required.

Flu cases are on the rise statewide, according to the Oklahoma Department of Health. Symptoms include: Fever, cough, fatigue, congestion and sore throat.

TELEHEALTH VISIT REQUEST FORM OKC number to call: 405-347-5685 | Tulsa number to call: 405-970-2724 or email Healthservices@epiccharterschools.org

Handling Seasonal Depression: A Guide for Parents/Families As the days grow shorter and the weather turns colder, many people experience a dip in their mood and energy. For parents and families, seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can feel particularly challenging, especially when balancing the demands of family life. However, with the right strategies, you can manage your mental health and create a supportive environment for you and your children.

Understanding Seasonal Depression Seasonal Depression is a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less natural sunlight. Symptoms can include feelings of sadness, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep and appetite, and a loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy. For parents and families, these symptoms can make it harder to engage with your kids and maintain the energy required for daily tasks.

1. Prioritize Light Exposure Natural sunlight is a key factor in regulating mood. During the darker months, try to get outside during daylight hours— even a short walk in the morning can help.

2. Maintain a Routine A consistent routine can help manage the unpredictability of mood swings associated with seasonal depression. Set regular meal times, bedtimes, and family activities. This creates a sense of stability for both you and your children, even if you’re feeling low.

3. Exercise Together Physical activity is a powerful mood booster. While outdoor activities like walking or biking are great when the weather allows, indoor activities like dancing, yoga, or even playing active games with your children can also lift spirits. Exercising together not only benefits your mental health but can also help keep your kids engaged and active during the winter months.

4. Focus on Nutrition Maintaining a balanced diet can impact your mood significantly. Try to include foods rich in vitamins D and B12, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid, all nutrients that support brain health.

Warm, comforting meals can also be a way to nurture both your body and your family’s emotional well-being.

5. Seek Social Support Don’t hesitate to lean on friends, family or a therapist if you need extra help. Socializing, even in small ways, can help combat feelings of isolation. Make time for connection, whether a phone call with a friend or a cozy family movie night.

6. Watch for Signs in Your Children Just like adults, children can also experience changes in mood or behavior as seasons change. Pay attention to signs of sadness, irritability or withdrawal and create space for open communication.

Encourage them to talk about their feelings, and let them know it’s okay to feel down sometimes.

7. Get Professional Help if Needed If seasonal depression is interfering with your daily life or if you find it hard to function, it’s important to seek professional help. Therapy, counseling or even medication may be necessary to get back on track. Every child at Epic has access to a School Counselor. Feel free to speak with your child’s teacher if you feel like your child would benefit from speaking with a Counselor.

BLASTING OFF FOR NOW.

EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SEE YOU NEXT TIME!