Student Life
HANDS-ON CREATIVITY
Our students love the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) freedom of tinkering, creativity and invention here. You’ll find “makespaces” throughout the school where students are learning-through-doing: crafting DIY metal, wood, fabrication, technology and engineering projects that engage their minds and their drive to create.
We have participated in the Austin Mini Maker Faire. Visit our blog to read Time Magazine’s article on why the Maker movement is essential to American culture and Newsweek’s on the reinvention of education with the Maker philosophy.
SERVICE LEARNING
Research demonstrates that service learning supports longterm academic achievement and engagement, as well as enhanced social and personal skills.
Once a month, Odyssey students go out into Austin to work on a project that will make a difference in the community. This work helps encourage and giving. Empathy, compassion and character are built project by project.
Service learning allows young people to appreciate the richness and complexity of the society they live in, and fosters their sense of responsibility and self-worth. Students also gain leadership, problem-solving, planning and team-building skills.
In the classroom, teachers connect core academic learning to the service experiences. Whether a scientific concept, a character study in literature, or a problem in math, academic work seen through the lens of service learning can engage a student’s passions.
SOME OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE:
- Keep Austin Beautiful (Creek Cleaners)
- Meals on Wheels
- Central Texas Food Bank
- Austin Animal Center
- Capitol School of Austin
Odyssey School Students also volunteer at a water stop every year for the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon!
ACTIVITIES
ATHLETICS
Odyssey provides the opportunity for all students to participate on an athletic team. We are devoted to development of the whole person and there’s strong evidence for a link between physical activity and academic success. We’re proud to support our student athletes with thriving soccer, basketball and flag football teams.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Students have a real voice at Odyssey and their leadership is taken seriously. Student Council organizes on behalf of students, and advocates for their peers’ viewpoints and issues.
CLUBS
Our faculty enthusiastically supports young peoples’ interests! Whenever a group wants to meet, a faculty member will offer a classroom and support. From chess club to Dungeons & Dragons, woodworking to Coolio Club (where young women share food, stories, and creative endeavors), clubs at Odyssey give students the chance to learn, relax and socialize.
