As your family prepares for the school year, this page will help you get familiar with the tools, traditions, resources, and opportunities that shape daily life at ODA, so you know where to look, what to expect, and how to feel connected before the first day.

Start with myODA

myODA is your family’s central hub for important school information. Once the year begins, this will be one of the first places to look for class details, schedules, forms, announcements, directories, resources, and other updates specific to your student.

Families are encouraged to log in regularly and become comfortable navigating the platform before school starts. Taking a few minutes to explore myODA now can make the opening weeks of school feel smoother and more familiar.

What you may find in myODA:

  • Student schedules and class information
  • School forms and family resources
  • Directory information
  • Division-specific announcements
  • Resource boards and helpful documents
  • Important updates from school offices

Log In to myODA

 

Email and School Communications

The Out-of-Door Academy shares important information with families through email and other school communication channels throughout the year. To ensure you receive timely updates, parents and guardians should maintain a current email address and mobile phone number in their myODA profile.

Families may receive custom emails from their student’s division, schoolwide announcements, event reminders, emergency alerts, and other important updates related to campus life. In the event of an emergency, parents can expect to receive an email, text message, and/or recorded voice message from the school through SchoolPass or any other communication channel necessary to share important information about student safety and campus security.

Keeping your contact information up to date in myODA is essential. Accurate information helps ensure that important messages, including emergency notifications, are delivered quickly and reliably.

The Banyan Weekly

In addition to division-specific emails and schoolwide announcements, ODA sends a weekly e-newsletter to current families called The Banyan Weekly. This newsletter highlights important updates, reminders, upcoming events, and helpful information for families across the school community.

Families are encouraged to read The Banyan Weekly each week to stay informed and connected throughout the school year.

If you are not receiving The Banyan Weekly, please contact [email protected].

To help ensure delivery of school messages, please add [email protected] and [email protected] to your safe sender list.

 

Learn the ODA Lexicon

Every school has its own language, and ODA is no exception. As you get settled, you will begin hearing the names of campuses, buildings, programs, events, and traditions that are part of the daily rhythm of school life.

Here are a few terms new families may see often:

  • Historic Siesta Key Campus
    Home to Lower School students on Siesta Key.
  • Lower School on Clark Road
    ODA’s Lower School campus located on Clark Road.
  • Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch
    Home to Middle and Upper School students.
  • Thunder
    ODA’s athletic identity and a proud symbol of school spirit.
  • RISER
    An acronym that describes our core values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility. 
  • Learning Specialist
    Provides targeted academic support for students in pre-K through grade 12 with learning differences who may benefit from additional strategies or individualized attention.

 

Explore the School Calendar

The School Calendar is the best place to find important dates, events, and schoolwide programming. Families can use the calendar to plan ahead and stay aware of upcoming activities across divisions and campuses.

The calendar includes options to search, filter, and subscribe, making it easier to keep school dates connected to the digital calendar your family already uses.

View School Calendar

 

Follow Athletics Calendars

For families with student-athletes, the Athletics Calendar is an important resource. It includes schedules for teams across seasons and allows families to filter by sport, team, and season.

Whether your student is competing, cheering from the stands, or simply exploring school spirit, the Athletics Calendar is the best place to find upcoming games, matches, and athletic events.

View Athletics Calendar

 

Discover ODA Traditions

Traditions are an important part of the ODA experience. They connect current students with generations of alumni and help create memories that last long after graduation.

Throughout the year, families will have opportunities to experience traditions that celebrate community, school spirit, growth, service, and connection.

A few beloved ODA traditions include:

  • Grandfriends Day
    Grandparents and special guests are invited to campus to experience a day in the life of an ODA student.
  • Banyan Ball/Bash
    A signature event that brings the community together for an evening of celebration.
  • Spirit Day
    A cherished school tradition filled with teamwork, friendly competition, and Thunder pride.
  • Middle School Minimester
    A meaningful Middle School experience that allows students to connect, reflect, and grow through shared off-campus learning.
  • Stepping Stones
    A treasured Historic Siesta Key Campus tradition that honors graduating classes and the legacy of students who have come before.
  • Graduation Ceremonies
    Milestone celebrations that recognize student growth, achievement, and the beginning of the next chapter.

Explore ODA Traditions

 

Support the ODA Experience

Philanthropy is an important part of independent school life and helps support the full ODA experience. Gifts to ODA strengthen programs, support educators, enhance student opportunities, and help sustain the excellence families experience every day.

The ODA Annual Fund is the school’s largest community-wide fundraising effort. It helps bridge the gap between tuition and the full cost of an ODA education, supporting the people, programs, and daily experiences that make the school exceptional.

Annual Fund gifts support areas such as educators, small classes, technology, arts, athletics, student programming, and other needs that directly benefit students during the current school year.

Every gift matters, and participation from families, alumni, grandparents, and friends helps strengthen the entire ODA community.

Learn About the ODA Annual Fund

 

Get Involved as a Parent

Parent involvement is one of the best ways to feel connected to ODA. Whether you have a little time or a lot, there are meaningful ways to support students, meet other families, and contribute to the life of the school.

ODA’s Parent Volunteer and Auxiliary Groups help strengthen the school community through academics, the arts, athletics, events, and family engagement.

  • Parent Event Board, Division Liaisons, and Room Parents
    All ODA parents and guardians are encouraged to volunteer. Support school-wide community engagement by planning executing large-scale events; serve as a division specific liaison to support family engagement, volunteer coordination and community communication; or provide assistance at the classroom-level.  Your time will serve to enrich the student and family experience.
  • Arts Alliance
    The Arts Alliance supports ODA’s visual and performing arts programs and helps promote the value of the arts throughout the school community.
  • Thunder Athletic Club
    The Thunder Athletic Club supports ODA student-athletes and helps build school spirit around athletics.

Explore Parent Volunteer Groups

 

We Are Glad You Are Here

Beginning at a new school comes with a lot of information, but you do not have to learn everything at once. The ODA community is here to help your family feel prepared, welcomed, and connected.

As you you prepare your student, we encourage you to explore these resources, ask questions, and take the first steps toward making ODA feel like home.