December/January Newsletter

At Odyssey Charter School, we are committed to working in partnership with families and our broader community to ensure every child reaches their fullest potential. In keeping with our mission to educate the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially—we intentionally cultivate habits that promote balance, well-being, and lifelong learning.

Each day, our students engage in practices that reflect these values: nourishing their bodies through healthy eating, strengthening themselves through purposeful movement, developing resilience and empathy through positive discipline, and taking pride in caring for their school environment. These daily experiences nurture strong character, foster well-rounded skills, and lay the foundation for ongoing personal and academic success.

Thank you for actively supporting—and embodying—our mission. Together, we create a community where every child can thrive.

Our 4th and 5th graders have been working diligently on their science projects—with your support at home—and they’re excited to share their hard work! Fourth grade will present their projects in class after winter break. The in-class winners, along with our GATEway 5th graders, will participate in the School Science Fair on January 22, 2026.

Winners will be announced that evening at 5:30 PM, and all families are welcome to attend and view the projects on display.

School-level winners will advance to the district competition on February 13, 2026, held at the Melbourne Square Mall.

If you are interested in serving as a district-level judge, please contact hutchinsonc@odysseycharterschool.com

Our Read Aloud Program offers a simple yet meaningful way for parents to fulfill their required annual volunteer hours while actively supporting their child’s academic and personal growth. In alignment with Odyssey Charter School, Inc.’s mission to educate the whole child, this program strengthens the intellectual, emotional, and social bonds that flourish when families engage in shared reading.

Research underscores the power of this practice. The landmark 1983 U.S. Department of Education report Becoming a Nation of Readers affirms that “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” By dedicating just a few minutes each day, families can make a lasting impact on their child’s literacy development and overall love of learning.

Participation is easy: Simply spend 15 minutes reading quality literature aloud to your child at home. Choose a book you both enjoy, record your reading time on a Read Aloud Log—available from your child’s teacher, the front office, or on our school website—and submit the completed log at the end of each month. Parents receive volunteer hours for every minute spent reading with their child.

To learn more about the benefits of reading aloud, we encourage you to explore Jim Trelease’s resources or visit our school’s Read Aloud information page. Our Media Center also features a variety of books recommended by Jim Trelease, which parents are welcome to check out and use as part of the program.

Thank you for partnering with us in fostering a strong foundation for lifelong learning. If you would like assistance or have questions, please contact Mrs. Melissa Procter at procterm@odysseycharterschool.com. Our Read Aloud Form can be accessed HERE. Click HERE for additional information in supporting your child as a reader!

For the 2025–26 school year, we’re excited to kick off a friendly competition between Odyssey Preparatory Academy, Odyssey Jr/Sr High, and Odyssey Elementary to see which campus will have the highest percentage of parents completing their expected volunteer hours by the end of the year!

New This Year: Earn Hours by Reading Newsletters!

Staying informed just got more rewarding! You can now earn 30 minutes of volunteer credit simply by reading our newsletters, including updates from the Classroom, School, Wellness, and Green Apple.

How it Works:

• Look for the Parent Volunteer QR code at the end of each newsletter.
• Scan the code or click the link to complete a quick survey.
• Once submitted, your name will be logged, and 30 minutes will be added to your family’s volunteer hours by the front office staff.

Volunteer Hour Requirements:

• 18 hours for families with one student
• 25 hours for families with multiple students

More Ways to Get Involved:

• Classroom Parent: Assist teachers with classroom needs
• Field Trip Volunteer: Help supervise off-campus learning adventures
• Annual 5k
• Read Aloud Club: Share your love of reading with your child
• Sponsor a Club: Share your talent with our students
• Attend Parent Educational Nights and/or Meetings: It takes a village – let’s support our schools and make them the best they can be!
• Guest Speakers and Mentors: Present career talks, lead workshops, or mentor students

Ready to Start Earning Hours?

Click the link below to start logging your volunteer hours today:

Let’s see which campus will come out on top—Prep, Jr/Sr High, or Elementary. The race is on, and every minute counts!

We warmly invite all parents to participate in our Parents as Partners (PasP) organization. Your involvement is essential to helping Odyssey Charter School, Inc. remain a vibrant, supportive community where every child can reach their full potential. PasP works collaboratively with school leadership to advance annual goals that directly enhance students’ learning experiences and overall success.

This year, our fundraising committees will focus on initiatives that enrich the whole-child experience at Odyssey, including preparations for our Student Award Ceremonies, the Annual 5K, field trips, and Teacher Appreciation events. Through your engagement, we are able to provide meaningful opportunities that celebrate achievement, strengthen our community, and support the well-being of our students and staff.

At Odyssey, ALL parents are our partners. To become an active PasP member, we encourage you to attend our meetings, offered both in person and via Zoom to accommodate your schedule.

Please mark your calendar for our next upcoming PasP meeting:

• Date: January 15, 2026
• Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Link: Zoom Link

We look forward to working together in support of our children and our shared mission. Contact Kayla Senick by email at senickk@odysseycharterschool.com for more information.

Please go to the Brevard County Schools web page: www.brevardschools.org

1. Click the Parents & Students heading.
2. Scroll down to Volunteer Information and click on the link.
3. On the left of the screen, click on the Fingerprint link (The application is at the bottom of the page).
4. Complete the Application ($35 for the first year, $8 for renewals).
5. After completing the Application and payment, please visit: District and School Security - 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, FL 32940. Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (No appointment necessary).

If you are planning to chaperone any field trip please complete this process as soon as possible so it is completed before any field trips might occur.

All Odyssey Prep students are required to wear a school uniform. Our uniforms can be purchased from our uniform provider: All Uniform Wear - 4335 W New Haven Ave, West Melbourne (Note: Please be certain you select Odyssey Preparatory Academy uniforms and not Odyssey Charter School uniforms). You can find our uniform policy on our website HERE.

• As part of our uniform requirement, students must wear their issued ID badge/lanyard at all times while on campus.
• All students are required to wear full-length solid-colored black or khaki pants, shorts, skirts or skorts. Inappropriately rolling or altering the pants in any way is in direct violation of the dress code. Shorts, skirts and skorts length must be at least mid-thigh.
• Pants, shorts, skirts and skorts that are too big or too tight, as determined by Administration, are not acceptable and will be deemed in violation of the uniform code. Joggers are allowed. Jeans, stretch pants, and athletic wear are not allowed. Students may wear solid color leggings under uniform shorts or skorts, but leggings worn alone as pants are not permitted.
• Students must wear an approved t-shirt, collared polo shirt, or dress shirt. Student shirts must be a solid color and in accordance with the individual schools' uniform guide below. All shirts must bear the School logo.
• Any attire, including backpacks, displaying gang related paraphernalia or symbols, profanity or any inappropriate logos or displays are strictly prohibited.
• All headgear (hats, scarves, bandanas etc.) are prohibited on school property.
• Shoes must be closed or be strapped in the back. Flip-flops, slippers, or high heel shoes are prohibited.
• If a student chooses or needs to wear a jacket or sweatshirt due to cold weather, it must be a solid color of blue, black, or grey and in accordance with the individual schools' uniform guide.

Students have an opportunity to dress out of uniform on the last Friday of each month. Reminder, please ensure that your student follows the Brevard Public Schools dress code for out of uniform days. This year, our Dress Out of Uniform Days will be on the following dates: August 29, September 26, October 31, November 21, December 19, January 30, February 27, March 20, April 24, May 22

Odyssey Charter School Inc. Board of Directors recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration and provides several types of device access at the school for students to be productive in their learning. The Board also recognizes the importance of students communicating with parents/guardians in an emergency and provides access to school phones in each classroom and phones in the school clinic and administrative offices.

To keep the focus on academics and to reduce unnecessary distractions, the school enforces the following regarding personal cell phone use on school campus:

• Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be TURNED OFF when entering school campus.
• Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be kept in a student’s backpack – not in clothing pockets.
• Cell phones and all mobile devices are not allowed to be used in a classroom, library, common areas, or restrooms.
• Cell phones and all mobile devices are not allowed to be used during transition times or between classes.

The Odyssey Cell Phone Policy link is HERE.

We will continue early release days on Fridays throughout the school year following the same schedule as Brevard Public School’s schedule. We dismiss at 1:30pm on Fridays.

Tardy Policy

Elementary students are expected to be in their seats and ready to learn by 8:00 a.m. If you arrive at 7:55 a.m. or later, parents must park and walk their child to the front office, sign him/her in, and have a tardy slip issued for admittance to class. Parents, please do not park in the fire lane - this is a safety concern. We thank you for making the effort to have your student to class on time each and every day.

Arrival and Dismissal

Student drop-off begins at 7:20 a.m., and pick-up is at 2:50 p.m., Monday-Thursday. If your child needs to arrive before 7:20 a.m. or stay later than 3:10 p.m., please utilize our Before and Aftercare program. On Fridays, dismissal is at 1:30 p.m., and students must be picked up by 1:45 p.m.

For early checkouts, we ask that elementary students be signed out by 2:00 p.m. on regular dismissal days and by 12:45 p.m. on early release days. Checking out students too close to dismissal time creates safety and logistical concerns.

Please remember that dismissal changes cannot be made over the phone. All changes to your child's normal transportation must be submitted in writing.

We also encourage families to schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible to maximize learning time and minimize classroom disruptions. Thank you for your continued partnership!

Odyssey Charter Schools provide bus transportation to students who live between two and four miles from the school. Students living more than 4 miles will be assigned a pick up and drop off location as per established bus routes, space permitting.

Each student is allowed one designated bus stop. Changes to assigned routes or bus transportation needs will not be permitted until a parent/guardian with proper ID completes a change of address form with the front office and then email greerr@odysseycharterschool.com. Please allow 72 hours for all changes. At the start of the school year, it may take longer.

Transportation Services for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Student Identification badge (ID badges): Each Odyssey student will receive one ID badge at the start of the school year. Students are required to wear their ID badge at all times as part of their school uniform. This is to support student safety, issuing of school breakfasts/lunches, and bus transportation. The replacement cost for an ID badge is $5.
• Online Student Transportation Registration (EZRouting): EZRouting is the online tool for bus registration. We recommend that families register from home or on a phone using Google Chrome HERE. Deadline for registration: July 31, 2025 to ensure proper routing of all students.
• Student Tracker System (Here Comes the Bus “HCTB”): This service provides real-time updates when your student’s bus is within 100 yards of the stop and notifies you when your student scans their ID onboard. Sign-ups begin August 7, 2025, using our district code: 29456.

Bus Expectations:

• • Be kind to fellow students and staff.
• • Follow the bus driver’s directions.
• • Speak in a conversational voice.
• • Scan your ID when entering the bus.

For additional questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Rosie Greer (Transportation Fleet Coordinator) HERE or Ms. Amy Whitright HERE.

FOCUS for Parents: If you have not received your FOCUS log in (new students/parents) please email Deb Berg at bergd@odysseycharterschool.com.

FOCUS for students: who returned to Odyssey is the same for both students and parents from last year. If you have questions, please email Ms. Berg.

FOCUS App: You can download it to your smartphone and get easy access to grades and communication with your child's teachers.

Grading Policy: Did you know that Odyssey has a Grading Policy? It was adopted by our OCS Board to establish uniform procedures for marking and reporting student progress to their families. We have a focus on mastery grading, ensuring that grades assigned reflect the child's progress/ achievement in mastering the specific subject matter. You can read about this and much more HERE.

We have been focusing on implementing Positive Discipline in the Classroom - sharing compliments and appreciations, building community, and beginning our class meeting problem-solving process. Positive Discipline is an essential part of Odyssey School's mission to educate the whole child; by helping students feel valued, capable, and connected, we support both their academic success and their social-emotional growth.

An important aspect of Positive Discipline is the use of encouragement rather than praise. Check out the link below for some ways to use encouragement with your child at home: Read Article Here.

January 21, 2026 - Odyssey Charter School, Inc., Board of Directors Meeting - You are welcome to attend. Our board meetings are held several times annually at the historic 1900 Building, Suite 120, 1900 S. Harbor City Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901 or you are welcome to attend via zoom at: Join Zoom Meeting.

Family support of each child’s education is critical to student success. We are happy to share that our elementary students (and parents) have digital access to Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), Savvas EasyBridge (enVision®), Studies Weekly, Savvas Science, i-Ready, and Renzulli online programs to support instruction in the Florida Benchmarks through their single sign on through the Odyssey ClassLink Launchpad at https://launchpad.classlink.com/odysseyfl. Your child’s username is their 7-digit student ID number (i.e. 1234567) and their password includes their birth date (i.e. OdyMMDDYY).

• CKLA: Language Arts program rich in literature, history, geography and science.
• enVision® Florida B.E.S.T. Mathematics: Designed to help children gain a deeper understanding of mathematics through problem-based teaching and learning.
• Studies Weekly: Newspaper-based and online program supporting Social Studies instruction.
• Savvas Science: Provides science videos, articles and activities.
• i-Ready: Individualized online instruction that targets each student’s specific needs in both reading and math. Students are encouraged to utilize i-Ready for 45 minutes per week in each subject.
• Renzulli: An online program engaged in self-directed learning specifically matched to their individual profile, emphasizing problem-solving and creativity.

Water Bottles: Please remember to send your child to school each day with a refillable water bottle to help them stay hydrated and ready to learn throughout the day. For safety and easy identification, kindly label the bottle with your child’s name.

Student ID Badges: Odyssey student ID badges are now an essential part of the daily school uniform. Please ensure your child arrives each day wearing their badge. We are pleased to share that approximately 95% of our students are consistently meeting this uniform expectation.

If your child loses their ID badge, replacements are available for $5. Please send the replacement fee—by check or money order made out to Odyssey Charter School – Elementary Campus—along with your child’s name, grade level, and homeroom teacher.

One helpful tip is encouraging students to place their badge in their backpack each evening so it is ready for the next school day.

We would like to thank all the Odyssey families that have signed up for transportation.

If you would like to sign up for one of our bus routes, and live 2 miles or more away from your child's campus, please contact our transportation department and they will be happy to assist you.

We would like to kindly remind all parents that transportation changes may not be made over the phone. You may, however, submit these requests in writing to your child's teacher or to the front office.

To request bus transportation, visit www.EZrouting.com/Odysseyfl.

Please feel free to contact our transportation department with any questions at: Transportation office 321-345-4117 Opt. 3 or Email greerr@odysseycharterschool.com.