Friday Highlights
September 20, 2024
Mark your Calendar:
October 5: Homecoming Dance - 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., OHS Gymnasium
October 7 - 11: Spirit Week
October 11: Professional Development Day - Early Dismissal, 11:00 a.m.
October 14: Columbus Day - No School for Staff/Students
October 23: PSAT Exam - Early Dismissal, 11:30 a.m.
Next Week's Schedule at OHS:
Tuesday: Periods 1 - 4, A Day
Wednesday: Periods 1 - 4, B Day
Thursday: Periods 1 - 4, A Day
Friday: Periods 1 - 4, B Day
OHS Athletics:
To view the list of athletic schedules, go to the OHS Website and select the tab for Athletics. Use the drop-down arrow and you will find schedules for each sport that is offered.
Jersey Mike’s Players of the Week: Congratulations to the following athletes for being selected as players of the week for their sport:
Boys Soccer: Luke DiNatale
Girls Swim/Dive: Brooke Gutheil
Spirit Week:
Spirit Week will be held the week of October 7th at OHS. The theme for each day is listed below:
Monday, October 7: Student/Staff Swag Swap - Students dress like staff and staff dress like students
Tuesday, October 8: Twinning Tuesday
Wednesday, October 9: Decades Day
9th Grade - 60’s
10th Grade - 70’s
11th Grade - 80’s
12th Grade - 90’s
Thursday, October 10: Color Wars
9th Grade - Grey
10th Grade - Blue
11th Grade - White
12th Grade - Black
Friday, October 11: Oxford Swag Day
OHS Health Office
As a friendly reminder from Nurse Dani, please log into your student’s PowerSchool account and sign off on the use of Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen and Tums if needed while in school. When you log into PowerSchool, go to forms and check off the boxes if you would like your child to receive any of these medications when in need. These medications may only be administered if the forms are completed on PowerSchool. Verbal permission is not accepted. Lastly, please forward your student’s Medication Administration and Asthma Action Plans. Connecticut does not allow medication to be administered with an outdated form.
CT State law requires that all students in 10th grade have a physical assessment. This assessment serves to document adequate immunizations and any health issues that may impact your child while they attend school. The physical exam must be dated after January 01, 2024. The front of the HAR form must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian. The second page must have all *asterisks areas completed.
As a friendly reminder your child must be fever free (without medication) and has not vomited within 24 hours before returning to school.
Early Dismissal Procedure:
As we start the new school year, we want to remind you of the procedure for early dismissals:
1 - Early Dismissal Note: If your student needs to leave school early, please send them in with an early dismissal note. This allows us to give your student a dismissal pass, enabling them to sign out on their own. There is no need for you to come into the school.
2 - In-Person Pick-Up: If you need to pick up your student in person, please bring your driver’s license. You will need to complete the dismissal process through Securly Visitor for security purposes.
3 - Contact Information: Ensure that your contact information is up-to-date, including who is permitted to pick up your child.
We appreciate your cooperation in making the early dismissal process smooth and secure.
Food Advisory Committee:
Oxford Public Schools is looking for parents, students, and staff to join the Food Advisory Committee. There are two meetings held during the school year - one in November and one in March. If you are interested, please contact Beth Murphy at murphye@oxfordpublicschools.org.
Homecoming Dance:
The Homecoming Dance will be held at Oxford High School on Saturday, October 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets will be $30 per student. If paying by check, please make it payable to Oxford High School and include the student’s name on the check. Tickets will be sold during the Advisory/Flex period in Mrs. Cappello’s Room, 308 starting Monday, September 23 through Thursday, October 3. Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, October 3 and will not be sold after that date.
Please be aware that all OHS students must complete a permission slip and return to Mrs. Cappello when they purchase their ticket. If a student is purchasing a ticket for a guest that does not attend OHS, a permission slip for the guest must be completed as well for that student. Permission forms can be found on each grade’s Google Classroom and also in Mrs. Cappello’s room, 308.
School Counseling
Financial Aid Virtual Presentation: We will be hosting a Virtual Financial Aid evening on Thursday, October 17th at 6:00 p.m. with the Director of Student Financial Literacy from Southern Connecticut State University. The zoom link is listed below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82914120516?pwd=wXddUKa1u1ddNREaka3epi8eZgoaqa.1
Testing Information: Advanced Placement exam registration information was sent out to families this week and provided to students that are currently enrolled in AP courses. Exam registration deadline is Friday, November 1 and payment is through My School Bucks.
College Visits:
Off Campus Visits: All Juniors and Seniors are allowed 3 Verified Excused absences a school year to visit Colleges and Universities. Documentation must be submitted to the main office following the visit.
On Campus Visits: OHS offers College Representative visits throughout the fall for Juniors and Seniors. Students can view the list of schools and register through their Naviance Accounts.
Senior/College Application Information:
Assembly on the College Application Process - An assembly was held on September 18th during Advisory to review the process.
Common Application Support - The Counselors visited senior Capstone classrooms this week to provide support. Additional help will be available in the LMC during the Flex period throughout the month.
Senior Conference - Seniors are encouraged to set up a Senior Conference with their School Counselor through our appointment calendar links.
Counseling Caseloads
Mancinone:
Grade 9: A - C
Grade 10: A - C
Grade 11: A - C
Grade 12: A - C
Angeley:
Grade 9: D - L
Grade 10: D - M
Grade 11: D - M
Grade 12: D - L
McRae:
Grade 9: M - Z
Grade 10: N - Z
Grade 11: N - Z
Grade 12 M - Z
Mancinone - https://appt.link/mancinonea
Angeley - https://appt.link/sarah-angeley
McRae - https://appt.link/mcraea
Social Work Spotlight:
September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month. The statistics regarding teen suicide are very alarming. The CDC (2020) reports that “Suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States amongst those aged 12-18”. In addition from the same report, “In a typical day in the United States, there are an average of 3,703 suicide attempts made by middle school and high school students”. With these statistics in mind and the increased presence of mental heath disorders as well as every day pressures, it is very important to talk with your teen and know the signs that one may exhibit when thinking about suicide.
Teens who are thinking about suicide might engage in the following: talk about suicide or death in general, give hints that they might not be around anymore, talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty, pull away from friends or family, write songs, poems, or letters about death, separation and loss, start giving away treasured possessions to siblings or friends, lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities, have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly, experience changes in eating or sleeping habits, engage in risk-taking behaviors, lose interest in school or sports.
There are many actions parents can take to reduce the risk of suicide. These include: maintaining a positive relationship with your teen, checking in often to engage in thoughtful, non judgmental discussions, connecting them to positive mental health supports, and lastly, restricting access to lethal means within your home such as locking up firearms and medication. If you are concerned about your teens' change in behavior, talk to them immediately. Ask direct questions. Discourage too much alone time and monitor social media use. If your teen is struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s vital to access help right away. You may access 2-1-1, 24 hours a day and 211 will provide Mobile Mental Health Crisis Intervention for your teen. 211 is free and confidential, and provides direct access to a mental health professional who will evaluate your teens ability to be safe and connect your teen with appropriate services. In addition, call or text 988 the Suicide & Crisis Life Line, a free confidential 24 hour service. It’s also helpful to reach out to school support staff who can provide valuable resources and support. Please see the following article for further information to help support your teen navigate challenges.
Booster Club
The Booster Club is excited to welcome everyone back for another fantastic school year. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have you as part of our amazing community.
Who We Are: The Booster Club is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the experiences of our students, teachers and school programs through a variety of initiatives, events and fundraising efforts. Our mission is to support Oxford High School’s activities, arts and athletic programs that directly benefit the students. We are focused on enriching the school environment and building a strong sense of community among OHS families.
Upcoming Meeting Dates: We invite you to join us at our upcoming Booster Club meetings, where you will have the opportunity to share ideas, get involved and stay informed about what is happening at OHS. Listed below are the meeting dates for this semester:
- Tuesday, October 1, 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 3, 7:00 p.m.
All meetings will be held in the OHS cafeteria. We encourage all parents, guardians and staff to attend.
Upcoming Events: Please mark your calendars to come out and support the groups and the Booster Club
Boys Basketball Fall Clean-Up - See attached flyer
Girls Basketball Mum Sale - https://bit.ly/OHSGirlsBasketballMumSale
Girls Volleyball Dine-Out at Oxford House Tavern - September 23
OHS Pink Games (October)
- Boys Soccer - October 7
- Girls Soccer - October 9
- Girls Volleyball - October 10
OHS Booster Club Halloween Designer Bag Bingo - October 24: https://bit.ly/Booster-Bingo-2024
Performing Arts - “Twelve Angry Jurors”: November 15 and November 16
Pizza with Santa & Festival of Trees: December 13 and December 14
https://bit.ly/OHS-Holiday-Market-2024
These events are great opportunities to support our school and students, and meet fellow parents and have some fun!
Get Involved: We are always looking for volunteers and new ideas to help make our school even better. If you are interested in getting involved, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your participation, no matter how big or small, makes a huge difference. Our next meeting is Tuesday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Let’s work together to make this school year the best one yet! Sign up to be a member today at: https://bit.ly/2024OHSBCMembership
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Drama Fundraiser: The OHS Drama Club is holding a Krispy Kreme Fundraiser. The fundraiser will help cover the costs of the fall play, spring musical, possible drama club trips and more. Please use the Google form (https://forms.gle/HgZjSDTRLSy4V3iz9) or scan the QR code on the flyer to place your order. Orders are due by Friday, October 11.
Girls Volleyball Fundraiser: The OHS Girls’ Volleyball Team is holding a Dine-In/Take-Out fundraiser on Wednesday, September 25 at the Oxford House Tavern from 11:30 a.m. to close. Be sure to mention the team and 10% of the proceeds will help support the team.
Baseball Fundraiser: The OHS Baseball Team is holding a Fall Clean-Up Fundraiser. Tickets are available to purchase and the winner will receive two hours of yard work at their home, courtesy of the baseball team. A flyer is attached with more information.
Baseball Shirt Fundraiser: The OHS Baseball Team is holding a baseball shirt fundraiser. Whether you are a proud parent, a dedicated fan or teammate, these shirts are the perfect way to cheer on our team. A flyer is attached with more information.
Girls Swim & Dive Fundraiser: The OHS Girls’ Swim & Dive Team are holding a Dine-In/Take-Out fundraiser on Thursday, September 26 at the Oxford House Tavern from 11:30 a.m. to close. Be sure to mention you are supporting the Swim & Dive team and 10% of the proceeds will benefit the team.
Girls Swim & Dive Fundraiser: The OHS Girls Swim and Dive team is holding a Wolverine Track fundraiser. The team will paint a white wolverine logo on your driveway. The cost is $20, and the logo should last up to a year depending on weather and traffic wear. A flyer is attached with more information.
Girls Basketball Fundraiser: The OHS Girls Basketball Team is holding a Mum sale on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at the Old Center School from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A percentage of the sales will be donated toward the “Re” Beautifying the Town of Oxford. A flyer is attached with more information.
From the Principal's Office:
A special thank you for a great turnout at Thursday’s Meet the Teacher Night! I know I speak on behalf of the faculty and staff at Oxford High School in saying we all appreciate the show of support and look forward to a continued partnership.
A reminder that OHS will welcome Mr. John Halligan into the building next Friday, September 27, to share “Ryan’s Story.” Mr. Halligan will relay his own tragic experience as a parent whose 13-year-old son took his own life in 2003 after experiencing bullying from his peers since the 5th grade, both in school and online. Please click HERE for a letter that was shared earlier this week that provides more information on “Ryan’s Story.” We thank the Booster Club for sponsoring this presentation.
The evening of Friday, September 27, marks Oxford’s first home football game versus Seymour, and we invite you to join us for a special halftime ceremony. In collaboration with the First Selectman’s office, Oxford High School will recognize the first responders who courageously saved lives and provided critical support during the August flood. Their selfless acts of heroism made a profound difference in our community, and we are eager to show our heartfelt appreciation for their dedication and service. In addition, we will pay tribute to Ethelyn Joiner and Audrey Rostkowski, the two women who lost their lives during the flood. We encourage our community to attend this ceremony and take a moment to celebrate the resilience and unity that define Oxford.
Enjoy the weekend, Wolverines,
Heather