Stay Current:
We’ve always done things differently.
It is without a doubt we are living in unprecedented times. The Odyssey leadership team is staying up to date on the most current COVID19 data and requirements while listening intently to the input and desires of families. We have thoughtfully crafted a hybrid model to allow for in-person and online learning, while maintaining our culture of community and mentorship at the core. This method is able to be adjusted to accommodate for entirely online learning, in the case of a safer-at-home implementation for an individual or the community. We at Odyssey truly see this as an exciting opportunity to be the pioneers and builders that we encourage our students to be every day!
This page will be kept continually updated with the latest news and information you need to know! If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us!
An alternative education for an alternative world.
the hybrid model:
Monday / Wednesday - Students will gather for in-person academic classes. These will happen outdoors, when possible. Students in the in-person section will be expected to engage in their readings, assignments, and projects on the remote learning days.
Tuesday / Thursday - Students in the online section will interact remotely through platforms like Google Classroom and Discord. This is a live “in-class” gathering in which students are expected to take part with dedication and excellence. Expedition electives will not be offered online.
Friday - Students and faculty will gather for OLA Community Day. We believe, now more than ever, mentorship and community allows students to flourish. Community Day will be crafted each week to provide for Mentor time, Student Clubs, and other activities.
As we prepare for doing school in the COVID19 era, we encourage you to look at the protocols and procedures we will implement over the course of this year, knowing things may need to change based upon contagion spread within our community or the larger communities in which we inhabit. Your acknowledgement of and participation in these protocols is vital to the health, success, and well-being of our community.
This year we are offering Learning Cohorts, an Oxford-style learning experience over the course of a semester for academic credit. Students will work remotely alongside instructors, OLA students, and a variety of students from all over! These Cohorts are offered to current OLA students at a discounted rate of $750. For more information and to apply, head to this page.
Uniform Update:
Due to the nature of outdoor learning and Oklahoma weather, we have approved for alternate uniforms this semester. These will include Odyssey polos and t-shirts with approved khaki shorts, slacks, skirts. We will update this page with ordering options shortly!
What will the schedule actually look like?
School this year will officially start on August 19th. View the full calendar here. Here is an idea of the day-to-day breakdown:
Questions?
Where will in-person classes take place?
Our plan now is to hold our classes outdoors and create space for mentoring, community, and social engagement. Our model already promotes a “school without walls” approach, and we plan, in safely protocoled ways, to continue to make use of our city parks, nature areas, river walks, canals, and “extended” campus in imaginative ways that many other schools simply cannot. Our desire is to integrate “front porch schooling” with a robust “EdX”-course model to do something entirely new in this season. OLA’s COVID Protocols and Procedures will be in place. Plans to pivot to remote learning are COVID dependent and to be made at the discretion of the School.
How will in-person, outdoor classes be affected if there is inclement weather?
If there is a day where weather is too hot, too cold, or raining, classes will interact entirely online and remotely that day. If that changes, we will let you know. All plans will be communicated to parents and students, as well as through OLA social media.
What if my student or someone in our family must quarantine?
This model has different options built in, which allow for flexibility for your student and family. This model allows entirely online learning, in the case of a safer-at-home implementation for an individual or the community. Should your student choose or require to take online classes, they can shift to the remote group meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays, but still be in the flow of their given course.
If my student is meeting with their class in person M/W, what will they be doing at home on T/Th?
Students will participate in discussion while they gather in classes on Monday and Wednesday. During their remote learning time, Mentors will provide clear instructions and expectations on how students can dive deeper into their course with clear guidance for reading, assignments, research, writing, and projects.