OSCS Field Lab Handbook 2024/2025

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Marine science and field labs are an integral part of our curriculum at Ocean Studies Charter School. The following information is important for all parents to read. Do not hesitate to contact Science Team teachers: Ms.Martha (Martha.Loizeaux@KeysSchools.com) or Ms.Julia (Iulia.Tiplea@KeysSchools.com) with any further questions.

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Field Labs

*Please note that we require students to bring a REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE on all field labs and wear a RASH GUARD OR SWIM SHIRT over swimsuits on all water field labs.

*All field lab information will be communicated via the “Remind” app ONLY. Field lab notifications will go out the Friday before the following week as well as the day before each field lab. All families are responsible for checking Remind messages to understand field lab plans and expectations. If you have problems using the Remind app, please speak to the front office.

1. Safety

Student safety is the MOST important factor we consider when planning and conducting field labs. We use the following guidelines to help reduce risks while outside of school grounds:

-All students must wear safety belts on the bus.

-All students must wear life jackets when required per teachers or leaders.

-Outdoor field labs are weather dependent and may be cancelled without prior notice if weather becomes a concern. Changes will be communicated via the Remind app.

-All students must exhibit the ability and willingness to follow basic directions given by teachers and guides.

If a student exhibits behavior, in school or on field labs, that indicates potential unsafe decisions on field labs or an unwillingness to follow safety directions, students may not be permitted to attend field labs.

Expected Field Lab Behavior:

- Showing respect to adults and students at all times

- Following all provided safety instructions

- Showing respect to environment and living things

- Respecting personal space and keeping hands to self

- Staying with the group and adult leaders at all times

2. Timing and Logistics

Our field labs do not always depart at the same time (refer to Remind messages) but we will almost always plan to return to school at 3:00pm for full day or afternoon field labs. Of course, this timing is dependent on traffic and weather conditions and may vary.

Any last minute updates or changes will be communicated to families via the Remind app.

For safety reasons, your child must return to his/her classroom/homeroom upon returning from the field lab so that the teacher can account for all students.

If you are picking your child up at the field lab location, PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN OUT with the teacher.

3. Chaperone Expectations –

All chaperones must be Monroe County level 2 volunteer certified. Please let Ms.Jessica know if you would like to be added to the volunteer list for our school. As a chaperone, you are responsible for transporting yourself to and from field lab locations and you may be asked to pay entrance fees in some cases. Also, if you choose to chaperone a lab, we ask that you help with adult supervision and adhere to our chaperone guidelines:

-There is absolutely NO smoking or drinking alcohol on any field labs or trips.

-You may not transport any child to and from trip locations unless approved in advance by school administration.

-Please encourage children to follow teacher directions by modeling them yourself.

-You are required to follow the same rules as students, including wearing rash guards or T-shirts over swimsuits. Be aware of what you are wearing to ensure it is school appropriate.

-Teachers have coordinated student groups and itineraries for a reason. Please do not ask for these to be changed.

- If you are present for labs, we expect you to participate in physical activities such as kayaking, swimming, or snorkeling.

- Please avoid taking photos of children other than your own unless you've been asked to take photos by school staff. You are prohibited from posting photos of students other than your own on your personal social media accounts.

-Have fun!!

4. Curriculum Connections

We want you to know that the field labs are an important part of our curriculum at Ocean Studies, rather than a fun additional activity. All field labs are Florida Standards based so it is important that your child participates in all field labs unless health or physical limitations don’t allow it.

It is also important that your child attends the school day prior to or following field labs. Instruction in school is equally rigorous and important on field lab day as it is any other day.

Middle School and upper elementary students receive marine science grades on EVERY field lab. They will earn their grade based on preparedness and participation/attendance. This means absences will affect marine science grades. There will be make-up work provided for students who have an excused absence on field lab day. There is also usually a dry activity option on wet field labs, but parents MUST notify teachers in advance if students are unable to get wet for medical reasons.

5. Prepare Your Child

Please send your child to school on field lab day with the appropriate clothing and supplies. We will typically have field labs every week. Refer to Remind messages for specific dates, times, and locations.

The day before your child’s field lab day, a member of the Science Team will send a message via the Remind app to let you know if the field lab will be “wet” , “dry”, or "splashy".

“Wet” Field Labs:

Swimsuit and rash guard or swim shirt

Towel

Sunscreen

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE!!!

Water shoes

Change of clothes

Snorkel gear if applicable

“Dry” Field Labs:

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE!!!

Tennis shoes

Sunscreen and insect repellent

"Splashy" Field Labs:

Comfortable clothes and shoes (preferably water shoes) that can get wet and dirty

Reusable water bottle

Sunscreen

Our Science Program

The science program at Ocean Studies Charter School is run by our science team: Ms.Martha, Ms. Julia, and Ms.Sarah.

All students will receive instruction in General Science and Marine Science. General Science will cover a wide range of topics, all based on Florida State Standards. Marine Science will be project-based and will cover different ocean topics depending on the class.

All of our science lessons and field labs will have an element of hands-on, project-based, or place-based learning. This means that we will conduct authentic investigation using real-world situations as much as possible. We will also be making connections with real scientists and mimicking or contributing to their work.

As our students progress through the science program, we will also expand their perspectives from a local perspective (lower elementary) to a global perspective (middle school). This allows students to see how the concepts they are learning about apply to the whole world in different ways.

Overnight Trips

One way that we encourage a global perspective is by conducting international school trips for grades 5-8. These trips are not required, but they strongly support our curriculum and help to build a foundation of sustainable travel.

We also look for opportunities for local overnight trips for grades 4-8 that are shorter in length. These trips also support marine science projects from a more local perspective.

Our goal is to repeat trips each year so that each student will have the opportunity to attend every trip as they progress through the middle school. The only exception to this is if we determine that a trip is no longer appropriate for the school, in which case we will plan something as similar as possible. Trips will be conducted in a 3-year cycle so that all middle school groups will have similar opportunities.

Trip Costs

All overnight trips are at an additional cost to families. However, scholarships are available for all trips. As the year progresses, we will be providing more detailed information about trips. At that time, we will provide scholarship applications.

International overnight trips are typically one week in length and will cost $1600 per person or less. These will be conducted during the spring semester. If you are interested in international trips, please make sure your child gets their passport early in the year and make sure it does not expire within 6 months of the trip.

Local overnight trips are typically 2 nights in length and cost $450 per person or less. These can be conducted any time during the year and are based on opportunities available in the area.

5th grade and each Marine Science middle school group will have one international trip offered each year.

Fundraising events will be organized by the Trip Fundraising Committee. These will be announced via the Remind app. Families are also encouraged to plan and conduct any additional fundraising opportunities at any time. We are no longer able to accept donations for a specific student trip through Facebook.

As trips are finalized, payment schedules will be announced.

Trip Chaperones

On international trips, students can invite one adult chaperone each. Students are encouraged to attend the trip without a parent. Chaperone costs will be equal to student costs.

On local overnight trips, chaperones are sometimes invited, but we aim to limit chaperone attendance. The reason for this is because the trips are planned for groups of students, not adults. It is imperative that students feel they are experiencing a student-centered trip and that they have a sense of ownership and leadership. The Science Team plans overnight trips with only students in mind. We apologize for any inconvenience and we encourage you to consider allowing your child to have this unique and formative experience on their own.

All chaperones that are invited on trips will be required to have a level 2 or level 3 Monroe County volunteer certification. More information can be found on the Monroe County School District website – www.KeysSchools.com.

Expected Behavior:

- Showing respect to adults and students at all times

- Following all provided safety instructions

- Showing respect to environment and living things

- Respecting personal space and keeping hands to self

- Staying with the group and adult leaders at all times

Tentative International and Local Overnight Trips This School Year

4th Grade

Spring 2025: Local 2-night trip - location TBA

5th Grade

Winter 2025: Everglades Camping - 2 nights

Spring 2025: Bocas del Toro, Panama – Tropical Science Inquiry – 4-5 nights (get your child’s passport ASAP!)

8th Grade

May 2025: Ft.Lauderdale, FL - Grad Night Celebration - 1 night

Middle School – Group 1 – Ecology

Fall 2024: SeaBase Camp and Dry Tortugas National Park - 2 nights

Spring 2025: Valdivian Coast, Chile – Habitat Restoration – 5 nights (get your child’s passport ASAP!), more specific dates coming soon

Middle School – Group 2 – Coastal Science

Winter 2025: SeaBase Sailing (in the Keys) - 1-2 nights

Spring 2025: Tobacco Caye, Belize – Sustainability – 5 nights (get your child’s passport ASAP!), more specific dates coming soon

Middle School – Group 3 – Biodiversity

Fall 2024: Miami, FL - Shark Tagging - 1-2 nights

February/March 2024: Baja California Sur, Mexico – Marine Megafauna Conservation – 5 nights (get your child’s passport ASAP!), more specific dates coming soon

The Science Team will have more specific trip information and dates soon!

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