Employee Newsletter: October 2024 by Orlando Science Center

October

MAKING NEW MEMORIES

The OSC Preschool started the school year with new fantastic adventures! This year, our students enjoyed a trip to the Orlando Fire Museum and then met Local Station #9 fire fighters and toured their truck while learning about their equipment.

From learning how fire fighters slept in the historic station to seeing retro trucks and hearing the old alarms, there was pure excitement from the kids!

The classroom theme was "Community Helpers", which meant they got to meet a very special guest: Fire Fighter Jonathan. Jonathan has two children in our Preschool (and his kids were so surprised to see their dad in uniform!).

Do you know where this photo was taken in the Science Center?

The first five people to use the QR code to submit the correct location will win an OSC pinback button!

Trips and experiences like these build crucial early and core memories for children with a focus on creating strong learners through STEM

OSC UPDATES

PUMPKINS AND PROTONS PARTY

Members are encouraged to bring their entire clan of monsters for a safe night of Halloween fun, great for creatures of all ages!

They'll experience a night of light fright with exciting "spooktivities", such as live science demonstrations, spooky crafts, lab experiments, and a special appearance by the Ghostflusters

Pumpkins and Protons Party Wednesday, October 30

We're expecting over 1,000 Members to join us this spooky season! Happy Halloween!

OSC AFTER DARK

Partnering with the Young Professionals, we’re hosting OSC After Dark, a 21+ Halloween Event on Saturday, October 26!

This adults-only extravaganza is a chance to see the Science Center transformed for Halloween, all while enjoying a night of thrilling activities and grown-up fun. Tickets are all-inclusive! Costumes are encouraged!

The night includes an open bar, light bites, bingo, a costume contest, and so much more! Tickets are on sale now at www.osc.org/afterdark

SPARKS

SPARK WINNER

LUKE LANARIS

Juan Alfonso

MaiAsia Barrett

Nick Belanger

Mac Bodden

Madison Carden (2)

Carissa Clay

Ashley Connelly

Esha Gill

Danielle Gordon Mandy Holden (2)

Daphne Kemak

Luke Lanaris

OF THE MONTH

ASHLEY CONNELLY

"Ashley is a champion for OSC's volunteers", is what her nominators wrote. Over the last three years, she has dedicated herself to building up the volunteer programs, not just with more volunteers but with more meaningful responsibilities and connections to our mission.

Ashley onboarded a current cohort of over 130 volunteers and interns, and her optimism and friendliness shines during her trainings. Other than the new volunteers, she has also built up a team of people who return session after session because they feel seen and heard

Her nominations said, "we wouldn't be the same without her engaging personality and compassion."

Raquel MacDermant (2)

Zachary Mailhot

Lamar Minnis

Mark O'Berry

Austin Purvis

Paul Rouchard

Isabelle Sgambati

Alex Simons

Angela Wiles

OCTOBER

SPOOKY SCIENCE MONTH

Join us for a fang-tastic time and sink your teeth into vampire-approved science experiments

Tornado Alley

Join storm chasers and researchers as they make the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes on this heartpounding science adventure.

Armed with a 70mm camera, a fleet of customized vehicles, and an arsenal of the most advanced weather measurements instruments ever created, Tornado Alley takes audiences on a thrilling quest to see the destructive power... and the beauty... of these amazing storms.

COMMUNITY COMMENTS

My kids are obsessed with OSC! Thank you for such an incredible space for us to learn, explore, and play!

We have family members askingto visitevery time they come to town!

FairytaleWeekendwas amazing.Bothofmykids (ages2and4)hadagreat time.Lovedthis!

The best part of our field trip was all the interaction between our students and the OSC staff!

IamanEarlyChildhoodteacher andthiswasmyfirsttimeatOSC. WehadablastandIamraving aboutittomycolleagues!

We love all the pop-ups and extras the Science Center puts on These keep us comingback each weekend!

OSC BY THE NUMBERS

8,454 13,231 2,628 FISCAL MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2024

LET’S CELEBRATE!

SANTOSH CAMPBELL

ELLA ROUNDTREE

KESH PERSAUD

MARY CLOER

LINDSEY KREAGER

ANGELA WILES

AURORA CALMA

CHAU TRAN

MOLLY BLACK

TIFFANY REIS

SHANNON ZIMMERMAN

DAILYN ROBAINA

EVETTE BERARDI-COX

JUDY BRICKER

NICOLAS SOTACK

BARB GRIM - 17 years Finance

JAMES WHITE - 12 years Theaters

GABE WILLIAMS - 9 years Exhibits

ASHLEY CONNELLY - 3 years Volunteers

AUSTIN RHODES - 3 years

YADIRA LOPEZ - 3 years

JUDY BRICKER - 24 years May 30

SOLARIS COTON - 2 years Public Programs

JUDY BRICKER - 24 years May 30

SKYLAR LINDEMAN - 2 years Public Programs

JUDY BRICKER - 24 years May 30

TIFFANY REIS - 2 years Guest Services

GINA OWEN - 2 years Development

AUSTIN SMITH - 1 year Life

CAPRICE HIGH - 1 year KidsTown

SIMONE HODGES - 1 year Neighborhood Science

RUSSELL ALEXANDER - 1 year Hospitality

In October 1987, Paul Holc became the youngest person in the world known to have an organ transplant of any kind when he received a new heart at just 3 hours old.

At birth, he suffered from hypoplastic heart syndrome, a fatal heart defect in the heart's left chamber.

By the time he celebrated his 10th birthday, thousands of similar transplants had been performed across the globe.

Resiliency Against Election Stress

A recent American Psychiatric Association survey found "In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022 ”

One of the most common responses for the ratings: stress about upcoming elections

WELCOMETO THETEAM

The Greater Good Science Center from UC Berkeley recommends questions to ask yourself to build election season resiliency:

1. What's happening in my body and mind?

Is my sleep disrupted?

Am I thinking about the election when I wish I wouldn't be?

2. Am I getting enough good news?

Am I interacting with diverse types of media?

Am I talking with friends and loved ones?

PUMPKIN PAINTING PARTY!

We’re hosting our Pumpkin Painting Party on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 11:00am - 2:00pm

More information will be sent via email, W2W, and Yammer. RSVP required!

3. When do I feel good about the election?

What people or groups are working for goals I think are important?

What recent policies have given me hope?

4. How can I connect with other people?

What is my community and who is part of it?

5. What are some new ways I can use my talents to make a difference?

What am I good at and want to share with others?