Preparing Your Student

All Out-of-Door students will be issued ID cards with their photo on them. This card is used for a variety of items, and students are required to have it at all times while on campus. 

• Provide an electronic copy of your child’s current school photo or take a headshot similar to a passport photo. Because this photo will be used for your child’s student ID, please send a high-resolution file in JPG, JPEG, or PNG format. 
   
• In the email to Caylyn Wells (Lower School) or Dana Calo (Middle & Upper School), please include your child’s full name and grade level for the 2026-27 school year in the subject line.

The Out-of-Door Academy is required to maintain complete academic and student records for your child.

• If your child is entering grades 1-5, please complete this form
• If your child is entering grades 6-12, please complete this form

Please deliver both the form and the accompanying letter to your child’s current school (Registrar, Guidance Counselor, or Principal).

Please submit all requested records by the initial deadline of Friday, July 31, 2026. Families who join the school after this date will still be able to complete the records process after enrollment. Delays in submitting this information could impact their start date at ODA. Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition for your child, and we appreciate your attention to this important step.

Please note: For students currently enrolled in Manatee County Public Schools, records/transcripts are centrally located and not housed in specific schools. Parents must request the final records directly through this link.

At The Out-of-Door Academy, the health and safety of our students is a top priority. To ensure a smooth start to the school year, we want to make sure you have all the information you need regarding Florida’s immunization and school physical requirements.

Please take a moment to carefully review the Health Forms Overview document. These forms are mandatory for school attendance, and some may take additional time to complete—especially if your records are from out of state or out of the country.

Per Florida law, all students attending school in Florida for the first time must submit a complete school physical and a certified DH680 immunization form from the Department of Health before the first day of school.

• Students entering Pre-K through Grade 5 must submit the Florida School Entry Form.
• Students entering Grades 6 through 12 must submit the FHSAA Preparticipation Physical Evaluation.

Please also note: the Consent for Health Care Services electronic form is required. Without this on file, students will not be allowed to visit the nurse for routine care or participate in counseling services, athletics, or field trips (as outlined in the Student and Family Handbook).

If you have questions or need support, our campus nurses are here to help:

• Nurse Teri McPadden – Siesta Key Campus
• Nurse Bonnie Bechtel – Clark Road Campus
• Nurse Michelle Barber – Uihlein Campus

Beginning Saturday, June 6, you’ll be able to access your Magnus Health SMR account through the Resource Board in your myODA Parent Portal. Please complete and submit all required health forms in Magnus no later than Friday, July 31.

If you run into any issues using Magnus—whether entering data, downloading forms, or navigating the system—please contact Magnus Health support:

• Phone: (919) 502-7689
• Email: [email protected]

If your child received learning accommodations or had a 504 Plan or IEP in place at their previous school, and you would like to explore potential implementation at Out-of-Door, please send a copy of the accommodation plan along with any supporting documentation (including evaluations or testing) to the following individuals:

• Lower School:  Caylyn Wells
• Middle & Upper School: Dana Calo

Once we receive the documentation, we’ll connect your family with a member of our Academic Services team to discuss next steps.

Please note: It is the family’s responsibility to provide this documentation.

Students in the Lower School are expected to come to school dressed in uniform and ready to learn. All uniform shirts and dresses must be ordered through Lands’ End. Please read the Lower School Dress Code & Uniforms information carefully to ensure you have purchased ODA-approved items.

Lands’ End is offering their biggest summer promotion: 35% off select school styles from June 27–July 3. Use code: SHARPDRESSED35

Students in the Middle School are expected to come to school dressed in uniform and ready to learn. All uniform shirts and dresses must be ordered through Lands’ End. Please read the Middle School Dress Code & Uniforms information carefully to ensure you have purchased ODA-approved items.

Lands’ End is offering their biggest summer promotion: 35% off select school styles from June 27–July 3. Use code: SHARPDRESSED35

These virtual sessions are designed to help you become familiar with your child’s campus, learn about important back-to-school information, and begin building connections with members of our Lower School community before the first day of school.

Siesta Key New Family Welcome Session
Click here to watch this session.

Clark Road New Family Welcome Session
Click here to watch this session.

Middle & Upper School New Student Orientation

• Middle School Orientation: Tuesday, August 11 from 8:30-11:30 am. 
• Upper School Orientation: Tuesday, August 11 from 12:30-3:00 pm.  

Summer assignments are an important part of preparing students for the year ahead. Designed by each division and grade level, these activities help students stay engaged over the summer while building a strong foundation for a successful start to the school year.

To access your student's summer assignments, log in to myODA, click on Resource Board, and select the Summer Assignments tile. Please review any required work with your student and plan enough time to complete it before the first day of school.

SAVE THE DATE: Conferences will be held on Tuesday, August 11 from 12:00-3:30 pm and Wednesday August 12 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Be on the lookout for a sign up form coming to your email soon to book your designated time.

SAVE THE DATE: Conferences will be held on Wednesday August 12 from 8:00 am-3:00 pm. Be on the lookout for a sign up form coming to your email soon to book your designated time.

One of the many exciting opportunities in our Lower School is the Immersion Program for our fourth and fifth grade students. We are committed to making this experience meaningful and enriching for every student at The Out-of-Door Academy.

As you sit down with your child to explore the available options, we ask that you complete this form by Friday, June 5, so we can plan accordingly for the upcoming school year. Families who join the school after this date will still be able to complete the records process after enrollment.

Students will be asked to indicate their first, second, and third choices. While we can’t guarantee everyone will receive their top choice, we will do our best to honor preferences, especially for those with prior experience. Once placements are finalized, students will be expected to remain in their selected discipline for the full year.

Please note that families are responsible for providing any instruments required. If you have any questions or need support during this process, feel free to reach out to Erick Crow, our Director of Fine & Performing Arts. He will be happy to help!

It is time for all of our new 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to select their elective courses for the year.  Please review the information with your child and contact Marc Roberts, Assistant Head of Middle School, if you have any questions. Please note that core course selection — English, math, science, and history — will be managed and completed by Mr. Roberts in the coming weeks.

• 6th Grade Art Electives
• 7th Grade Art Electives
• 7th and 8th Grade Language Electives
• 8th Grade Electives

Our Upper School team is excited to help you with course selection and any necessary placement exams. These meetings can be held in person or via Zoom.

• Incoming ninth grade families, please contact Aimee Murphy, Assistant Head of Upper School.
• Incoming 10-12th grade families, please contact Mary Ann Mullen, College Counseling Administrative Assistant.

Please schedule your appointment by Friday, June 5. Families who join the school after this date will still be able to complete the records process after enrollment.

Lower School hours are from 8:15 am to 3:15 pm. Drop-off begins at 7:50 am. Families may choose to use the carline or walk their child to class. If walking, please enter through the main gate and check in at the Welcome Center before proceeding to the classroom.

There is one designated drop-off and pick-up area on the Clark Road Campus. Upon arrival, drivers may use either lane after passing through the black gate. Vehicles will merge into a single line along the campus fence near the left turn. Lower School educators will assist students with exiting vehicles and entering through the gated entry by the administration building. The same carline procedure will be followed for dismissal. If you choose to walk on campus to pick up at the end of the day, please wait in the parking lot until the car line has finished before crossing the road and meeting in the Breezeway.

Please note: Pre-K students will have an early dismissal at noon on the first two days of school.

Lower School hours are from 8:15 am to 3:15 pm. (Pre-K and Kindergarten students without older siblings will be dismissed at 3:00 pm.) Drop-off begins at 7:50 am.

There are three designated drop-off and pick-up areas on the Siesta Key Campus. Please use the grade level of your youngest child to determine your location:

• Higel Avenue Circular Driveway (Arrival location for Pre-K and K and their older siblings, Dismissal location for Pre-K, K and First Grade and their older siblings)
  Upon arrival, Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten students and their older siblings should enter and exit via Higel Avenue. Please do not enter through the exit gate. In order to foster independence and support a positive, developmentally appropriate transition during the first weeks of school, students will be met at the car by teachers and walked to class. (Please do not park your car in this area; this parking lot is reserved for educators only. No parking is ever permitted along the fence of Higel Avenue.)
  • Pre-K/K will be picked up at this location at 3:00 pm. (There will be a noon dismissal for Pre-K in the first week only.) Students in First Grade (and Pre-K and K students with older siblings) will dismiss from this location beginning at 3:15 pm.
• Ralph Street Gate (Arrival of students in First and Second Grade and their older siblings. Dismissal of students in Second and Third Grade and their older siblings)
  Drivers should enter via Higel Avenue to Ralph Street and exit via Gleason Avenue to Ocean Boulevard.
• Gleason Avenue Driveway (Arrival of students in Grades Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade. Dismissal of students in Grades Fourth and Fifth Grade)
  Drivers should enter via Higel Avenue to Givens Street to Gleason Avenue. Upon entering the driveway, drivers should drive all the way to the exit onto Reid Street before dropping off or picking up students. Drivers should turn right on Reid Street and exit via Higel Avenue.

Reid Street Bus Stop
All bus riders will be dropped off and picked up on Reid Street, behind the Three-story Building. This area must be kept clear for buses.

Middle School hours are from 8:35 am to 3:10 pm. Upper School hours are from 8:45 am to 3:20 pm. The gates to the Uihlein Campus open at 7:45 am, Monday through Friday, when school is in session. 

Upon arrival, students should report directly to their designated grade level locations. All students will remain in these areas until 8:30 am, unless they have scheduled appointments with educators. Morning advisory begins promptly at 8:35 am.

For afternoon pick-up, the gates will open at 2:45 pm. Please do not arrive before 2:45 pm, as early arrivals may cause traffic to back up onto University Drive. Drivers should pull as far forward as possible in the designated pick-up areas. This helps maintain the flow of traffic and reduces congestion on Deer Drive. Students may enter vehicles anywhere along the walkway from the Arts Center to Thor’s Hammer. To ensure a safe and efficient dismissal for all families, students may not walk off campus to be picked up on Deer Drive.

Below you’ll find the official start dates, times, and locations for each of our Middle School, JV, and Varsity programs. Each sport name links directly to its team page, where you’ll find regular season practice times, program expectations, and helpful resources for the season ahead.

We encourage families to mark their calendars and reach out to coaches with any questions. We’ll share overviews like this ahead of each season – fall, winter, and spring – to help everyone stay organized and informed all year long.

Fall Tryout Schedule and First Day of Practice

Monday, July 27

Varsity Cross Country | 8:00 am | Thunder Stadium Track | Coach Erin Mulvihill

Varsity & JV Volleyball | 8:30 am | Fox Field House | Coaches Sue & John Kwon

Varsity Football | 9:00 am | Practice Fields | Coach Rob Hollway

Varsity Cheer | 3:30 pm | Fox Field House | Coach Ella O'Dell

Monday, August 3

Varsity Boys Golf | 12:00 pm | Calusa Country Club | Coach Sage Johnson

Varsity Boys & Girls Swim | 4:00 pm | Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota | Coach Juli Garcia

Middle School Football | 3:45 pm | Practice Fields | Coach Rob Hollway

Wednesday, August 5

Varsity Girls Golf | 3:30 pm | Lakewood National Golf Club | Coach Mike McClellan

Thursday, August 13 - First Day of School and Remaining MS Fall Sports

MS Volleyball | 3:45 pm | Fox Field House | Coach Jeff Horr

MS Cross Country | 3:45 pm | Thunder Stadium Track | Coach Erin Mulvihill

MS Cheer | 3:45 pm | Fox Field House | Coach Brooke Vietmeier

Monday, August 18

JV Boys Golf | 3:45 pm | Bobby Jones Golf Course | Coach Sage Johnson

Late Fall/Early Winter - Start Date TBA

US ESports | Coach Brandon Tyler | Start Date/Details to come

MS ESports | Coach Brandon Tyler | Start Date/Details to come

Please note that all dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Families should be on the lookout for additional information and updates from head coaches as the start of the season approaches. For any off-campus tryouts or practices held before school begins on August 13, school-provided transportation will not be available. Families are responsible for getting students to and from those activities until daily service begins with the start of school.