We are wrapping things up for the 2024 school year! Our report cards have been finalized and have been sent to our families in the mail. Final transcripts for our graduates have also been sent to their next university via Parchment.

Graduates can swing by the main office and pick up their diplomas. If students provided a copy for our Class of 2024 college acceptance wall, their laminated letters of acceptance are available for pick-up as well. If a CCCC transcript is needed, students will need to visit the Student Center at CCCC to order official college transcripts and provide information for where they need to be mailed to.

CCCC degrees have been delayed from the printing company and are not expected until August. As soon as I hear from the college, I will pass along the information about when you can pick them up (or have them mailed).

Class of 2024 graduates are reminded to text/email Mr. Strope with their financial aid/scholarship information!

We also still have a few yearbooks remaining for purchase for $55. If you would like one, visit Ms. Peterson in the main office.

Our office is open for business Monday-Thursday, from 8:00-4:00 this summer (except during the week of July 4th). We can also be reached at 910-938-6702.

Have a great summer!

Originally, OECHS students were only allowed to take CCCC music classes during their junior or senior year, but that changed a couple of years ago when our underclassmen were allowed to join MUS132 (Chorus). Chorus will be an option for all of our students during the Spring 2025 semester (Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-1:50).

For the first time ever, our OECHS students are allowed to join MUS135 (Jazz Ensemble) for the Fall 2024 semester and the Spring 2025 semester! We have been told they are looking for brass, woodwinds, piano, guitar, percussion, and possibly vocalists!

These are both great opportunities for all of our students and if you are interested in either MUS135 (Jazz Ensemble) or MUS132 (Chorus), please email Caroline Thomas at thomasc@coastalcarolina.edu.

It is the expectation that every OECHS student will complete at least 75 hours of volunteering by the end of January during their senior year. Not only is volunteerism important to our community (and the right thing to do), but it is also important for college applications and scholarships. The citizens, community groups, and businesses of Onslow County support a local scholarship program, SAT Inc (Sponsors of Academic Talent). Last year, OECHS had 30 SAT Scholars!

The SAT Inc scholarship is the most straightforward scholarship available to students. If our students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, are on track to be a North Carolina Academic Scholar, score at least a 23 on the ACT, and complete at least 75 hours of community volunteer hours from approved SAT Inc agencies, they will earn a scholarship! If they complete 100 hours, they qualify for a $1,500 scholarship!

Students are now able to start earning SAT Inc volunteer hours at the beginning of the summer break leading into their freshman year. That is right, even our rising 9th graders can volunteer! This change in the SAT guidelines makes volunteering much more accessible for our students. This is a great opportunity!

Please click on the link below for more information about the SAT Inc Scholarship Program and for resources, including verification forms (timesheets), approved agency list, and SAT Inc guidelines. Also, please check out the flyer below for one of many approved opportunities!

Since 2020, all North Carolina 12th graders have been required to have the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (two doses). Please see the attached flyer and get the vaccine prior to the start of the school year!. You can find more information at https://immunization.dph.ncdhhs.gov/schools/k-12.htm.

Rising Seniors and Families:

Please take note of the immunization requirement for rising seniors (scroll up for more information). Also, mark you calendars for senior portraits on August 30th in CE103/104.

Students should have asked for recommendations for college applications, emailed resumes to their recommenders, and sent thank you cards to their recommenders. If not, they need to complete those three steps over the summer break.

Next year, we will apply to colleges and universities, as well as scholarships and other financial aid. We primarily will focus on college applications and FAFSA through November. It will be a busy time, but students have access to their CommonApp accounts for college applications and can be working this summer to get their applications ready to submit!

Students have also been working on SAT Inc (Sponsors for Academic Talent) community service hours. If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship!

All rising seniors will be enrolled in Economics and Personal Finance Honors. This is their last official high school class and it is year-long. We are combining it with Senior Seminar, so students will be meeting in person two days per week. There will also be some assignments outside seated class time to make sure we are all on track! The EPF/Senior Seminar schedule will be posted later this summer in the Class of 2025 Team!

Students will continue to have a daily sign-in sheet by the main office in the Ragsdale Building. This is the official attendance in PowerSchool, so do not forget to sign in!

**Prior to the start of the 2024-2025 school year, we will have a back-to-school session with our rising seniors and their parents on August 8th at 5:30 in the Bodenhamer Auditorium (Fine Arts Building) at CCCC.

Rising Juniors and Families:

You are almost finished with high school classes (just one more Personal Financial Literacy course during senior year), but all of those upcoming college classes count towards high school graduation and your high school GPA. This is where you can get a serious boost to your GPA!

Next year, you will have a mandatory seminar (two times per week) where we will spend over half of the year preparing for the ACT and PSAT. Both are important exams that are used for college admissions and scholarships. We will also spend time researching different colleges and universities, as well as beginning the college application process. The Junior Seminar schedule will be posted later this summer in the Class of 2026 Team!

Students are encouraged to be active in OECHS Clubs/Teams, CCCC organizations, and outside activities for a well-rounded college admission application. We will also have a daily sign-in sheet for all juniors and seniors next year to make sure students are on track (and to take daily attendance). The sign in sheet is located on the desk by the OECHS office.

Rising juniors are reminded that they should be working on SAT, Inc. Scholarship community service hours. If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship!

**Prior to the start of the 2024-2025 school year, we will have a back-to-school session with our rising Juniors and their parents on August 6th at 5:30 in the Bodenhamer Auditorium (Fine Arts Building) at CCCC.

Rising Sophomores and Parents:

Our rising sophomores are encouraged to step up and be leaders next year! OECHS and the early college experience is what you make of it! Future universities and employers are looking for leaders. Hone your skills now!

As stated earlier in this newsletter, rising sophomores can accrue SAT Inc. Scholarship community service hours this summer! If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship! Be sure to turn in your SAT Inc. volunteer hours to Mr. Strope.

**Your first day back at school will be Friday, August 2nd.

Welcome to OECHS!

Almost all of our new Owls have been added to the Class of 2028 Teams page with details on their first assignment (Getting to know you). Our new students coming from private schools and home schools will be added later this summer when they officially enroll in Onslow County Schools. This "assignment" a great chance for you to get to know your classmates before we start school on August 1st and will also serve as a benchmark for you to look back upon as you progress through high school. Be creative and run with it! Many of our Owls have completed the task but we have a few more to go!

As stated earlier in this newsletter, rising freshmen can accrue SAT Inc. Scholarship community service hours this summer! If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship! Be sure to turn in your SAT Inc. volunteer hours to Mr. Strope.

**Your first day of class will be Thursday, August 1st.

Along with Blackboard, emails, the OECHS website, and social media, our school uses Remind to inform parents of weather bulletins, weekly newsletters, and more. If you are the parent or guardian of an OECHS Owl, please join the appropriate Remind group!

Class of 2025: https://www.remind.com/join/bf83fg

Class of 2026: https://www.remind.com/join/fkf7d67

Class of 2027: https://www.remind.com/join/7ag9b99

Class of 2028: https://www.remind.com/join/3944fh

Please Join the OECHS PTO on Facebook for updates and ways to get involved!! Help us celebrate these amazing students with memorable high school events such as the winter formal and Prom!

OECHS PTO OECHS PTO | Facebook

Sophomore OECHS Class of 2027 | Facebook

Junior OECHS Class of 2026 | Facebook

Senior OECHS Class of 2025 | Facebook

School Cash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. We accept many different payment forms so come on and check us out! https://onslow.schoolcashonline.com/

During the Governor's emergency declaration during the pandemic, many rules, and regulations were waived. Now many of those same regulations have returned. One of those deals with high school GPAs, driving permits, and drivers licenses.

"North Carolina House Bill 769 became effective December 1, 1997 and reflects a coordinated statewide effort to motivate and encourage students to complete high school. This legislation requires that a student's driving permit or license be revoked if a student is unable to maintain adequate progress or drops out of school. Adequate progress is defined as passing 70% of all courses and is determined by first semester grades and second semester grades for schools on block scheduling. For schools on a traditional six-period day schedule, grades are determined by first semester grades and end-of-year grades."

Students need to maintain "adequate progress" to remain eligible for permits and licenses while in high school. Each semester, we are to notify students (and the district) when any students are not making adequate progress at the end of a semester/year. Students will then have to earn back the ability to have a permit or license after the next semester's grades are complete (and pay $50 to the DMV to have their permit or license reinstated). Bottom line: Keep your grades up in your high school and college classes or you will lose your driver's permit or license!

July 4th- Independence Day (office closed)

August 1st- First day of school (freshmen only)

August 2nd- High school classes for 9th and 10th grade

August 6th- Junior Parent Information Session (5:30 PM in the CCCC Auditorium)

August 8th- Senior Parent Information Session (5:30 PM in the CCCC Auditorium)

August 15th- CCCC Fall Semester Begins (college classes start for all students)

August 30th- Senior Portraits (CE 103/104)

September 11th- Yearbook photos (9th-11th grade)

January 22nd- Senior Cap and Gown Photos

Email: james.strope@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/onslowearlycollegehs
Location: Ragsdale 102A, 444 Western Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28546
Phone: 910-938-6702
Twitter: @OnslowECHS