Why be bored in school? Go to a Skateboard School! This Toronto District School Board alternative school design program helps students earn high school credits and graduate by creating their own brand and running a skateboard business / professional design studio. OASIS SKATEBOARD FACTORY (OSF) "ON THE GRIND": TDSB's ART & ENTREPRENEURSHIP O.G.s since 2006!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

OSF Crew is represented at this upcoming CONS Project Toronto Exhibition Event

OSF Crew is represented at this upcoming CONS Project Toronto Exhibition Event

OSF x Collective Toronto POP-UP SHOP

OSF x Collective Toronto POP-UP SHOP
Thursday, June 5
5-9PM
166A Spadina Ave. (at Queen St.)
Featuring KRINK custom skateboards, New T-shirts & Live Painting!

Monday, May 26, 2014

OSF CREW x CONS PROJECT Toronto


How skateboards are keeping kids engaged at one TDSB school (Global News)









Article & Video Link:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1355412/how-skateboards-are-keeping-kids-engaged-at-one-tdsb-school/

How skateboards are keeping kids engaged at one TDSB school

By Jennifer Palisoc, Reporter



The Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF) is not your typical classroom.   Here, students are creating designs, podcasts, sanding down skateboards or coming up with business plans.


At OSF students design, build and market skateboards.   Students say they used to skip their traditional classes or simply dropped out of school but have renewed interest in learning thanks to OSF where they say they receive “real world” experience.  They have to collaborate with clients on designs and fill orders for the hand crafted skateboards.  There are also various community connections.

“Every student is paired up with an employee here.  We do lunch and learns here and bring them in once a month,” Franke Rodriguez, the president of Anomaly – which has a partnership with the school – said.  “Sometimes it’s a strategist who’s talking to them about brand strategy.  Sometimes we have a designer come in and share with them the principles of great design.  So it’s a bit less academic, learning about stuff they care about from people in the industry.”

The program has grown over the past five years from 15 students and one teacher to 25 students and two teachers with a few graduates each semester.

“It’s cool having a real client instead of reading about it and work sheet pretending you’re working with that person,” 19-year-old Julieta Arias said.

This year, there are a record 13 OSF graduates and students say they feel positive and hopeful about their future possibilities – from attending college to the possibility of one day owning their own businesses.

“I used to go one class a day or twice a week now i go every single day only days i miss is when i’m super sick i’m so motivated to go to this school because I love it so much,” Arias said.

Mike Gontmakher is graduating and will be going to college next year.  How is he feeling about the future?

“Very optimistic and excited.  Ever since joining Oasis a lot of good things have been happening.  It’s very encouraging,” he said.

OSF is one of the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) 22 alternative secondary schools.

© Shaw Media, 2014

Watch for a story about OSF completing our 5th successful year on Global evening News Hour


Global News interviewing our OSF Graduates!


Beautiful morning for TDSB #BiketoSchool day...keep human-powered exercise and education happening with a future #SkateboardtoSchool day?


Thursday, May 22, 2014

OSF student teaches our teaching interns Vlad & Andy how to screenprint as we produce wedding invites for a client


OSF Gr 12 Art Students pitch their final installation at Anomaly to the partners there. Such a professional presentation!


Students explore Trends in Retail at Anomaly today


Trick invention/performance art over our gallery art: THE OSF FIREBALL!


OSF is news in Brazil!

http://estudioteix.blogspot.com.br/2014/05/artistas-da-galeria-teix-pelo-mundo.html

Skating our photo installation at the opening of Dare2Create!

























OSF work and creativity also celebrated in Dare2Create/TDSB promotional materials for the show:
Video: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/HighSchool/GetInvolved/Dare2Create.aspx
Photos: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/HighSchool/GetInvolved/Dare2Create/Dare2CreateArtFilm.aspx

Dangerous Grinds close-up: OSF x Beto Janz skate & challenge school/youth stereotypes

























QR code with art takes you to this video: http://youtu.be/_IfIwjIt6lI

OSF x Beto Janz photo sk8 ramps & double layer graphic self portraits in Dare2Create TDSB show at Artscape Youngplace


Artist & Student: OSF x Beto Janz "Dangerous Grinds" sk8 installation at Artscape Youngplace opened last night!


Students worked in teams to prep visual supports for their art installation pitches to Anomaly...


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Canadian Youth Business Foundation workshop on Writing Business Plans in the OSF Classroom today


Had the long weekend to think about changing schools for September? Attend an OSF info session & design experience with on-the-spot acceptance tomorrow Wednesday, May 21 or May 28 from 4-6PM!


Check out Alternative Tentacle 9 show by students from the Alt9 TDSB schools open until May 31 at Xpace Cultural Centre


Great music by our OSF resident DJ at the opening party for Alternative Tentacle 9


Spring = time to shape a sweet ride!


In the washout booth with Mike at Kid Icarus learning how to clean screens & run a studio


Check out art by OasisSF & eight other cool alt schools at the "Alternative Tentacle 9" @ Xpace


This little dude was pretty happy to have an OSF student make him a mini version of his dad's deck!


Check out this OSF Student's photos at 86 1/2 Nassau in Kensington Market till May 21!


Guest Artist Talk by a current student in front of his photo show in a local gallery. So impressed!!!


Great presentation by Kofi from Youth Employment Services helping OSF find future entrepreneurial opportunities


CraigOSF: Stoked to have been invited to MaRS to talk about how "School doesn't have to look like school"


Finishing touches on installation of OSF x BAMBOO SKATEBOARDS collab opening as part of Alt9 show @Xpace


OSF installing their Alt9 Window (Business Retail & Display Unit) at Xpace Cultural Centre


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Installing Art Show 1 of 2 this week: OSF is proud to be presenting with the Alt9 schools "Alternative Tentacle 9" 9th Annual Alternative School Art Show (Opening Party this Friday May 16, 7-9PM!)


Installing Art Show 2 of 2 this week: OSF presents "DANGEROUS GRINDS" (OSF x Beto Janz) at Dare2Create (Opening Party Wednesday, May 21, 5:30-7PM)


OSF x kids from Curve Lake First Nation: Wearing the results of a fun time getting to know each other!


Michael Brooke of Concrete Wave magazine digs the T-shirt OSF designed for our Curve Lake First Nation guests!


Happy to host Curve Lake First Nation today: OSF students teach kids how to make SK8 Tees!


Someone's gonna be stoked to ride this custom board made by one of our top student board designers!


TDSB Education Week at OSF concludes with Action Painting our Photo SK8 Kickers for upcoming Dare2Create art show!


Our version of a school yearbook: OSF Student Brands 2014


A fresh set of Student Brand Stickers (OSF x Sugarbomb)


If you were in Oakville, Make Cool Stuff featured some of OSF's coolest boards & art in their show


OSF Students get expert input on written Artist Statements from Amber (Xpace) & Peter (Toronto Arts Council)


Nice to come across examples of OSF student handicraft in service to our neighborhood


Ha! OSF Participants are sooo Punk!


OSF participating in THIS MUCH PROFESSIONAL conference at OCADU: merch table in the Learning Zone