In order for Seniors to continue their qualification for TnPromise money, they are required to attend a meeting. Due to the cancellation of school on Monday, the meeting is canceled and it will be rescheduled through Tn Promise. We will announce details as soon as we are made aware of the change.

AP payments have gone digital! The Spring AP payment window will open on February 1st and close March 1st at 11:59pm for all students enrolled in an AP course. This year all AP exams are $101 each except for AP Seminar and Research exams which are $149 each. If you’re taking 3 or more exams your 4th and all subsequent exams are $40 each. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch your exams are $15 each. If that is you, please contact jmmilligan2@ortn.edu to verify your status and receive your code before registering.

The link to pay is http://aptsusa.com/oakridge and will open on February 1st.

Two ORHS Sophomore students placed in the 2025 Hola Hora Latina - Young Artists Competition! Brissa Zambrano won 2nd Place and Kate Pickel won 3rd place. Their artwork will be on display at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville until the end of January.

We want to congratulate our first all-female School Board as they begin their tenure of service for Oak Ridge Schools. Tuesday evening, Laura McLean, was named the new Chair, and Erin Webb is our new Vice-Chair. Welcome to Ms. Mary Crank and Ms. Ashley Craven as they start their journey.

The Ski Club will be taking a trip to Sugar Mountain on February 17th.

The link that students/parents can use to sign up for the trip is https://forms.office.com/r/dJ50bbRf6R In addition to the online sign up, there are some paper forms that have to be signed and turned back in. Students can get these forms from Mr. Jarnigan in room LC 321 or from the Ski Club bulletin board in the LC 200 science area. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Jarnigan.

Get excited! The highly anticipated Winter Formal is just around the corner, and it promises to be an unforgettable evening of fun and festivities. This year’s dance will take place on Saturday, February

1st at the DoubleTree Hotel from 6 PM to 9 PM.

OTHER INFO: Tickets for this exciting event will be available for purchase in the cafeteria from January 22nd to January 31st at a price of $25. Be sure to grab yours early, as demand is expected to be high!

TICKETS SELL OUT QUICKLY - WHEN THEY ARE GONE - THEY ARE GONE!

Mark your calendars and start planning for a night filled with laughter, music, and memories. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

St Stephen’s Church will be providing lunches for Juniors and Seniors who wish to walk over for only $3 every Wednesday.

Mrs. King is currently accepting Wildcat Mentor applications for the 2025-2026 school year. If you are a sophomore or junior, please check your class canvas page or student square messages for the application.

Mark your calendar for Friday, February 7th, for the Valentine Improv Show at ORHS. More details coming soon!

The upcoming poetry contest for high schoolers, sponsored by the Poet Laureates of the City of Oak Ridge, and senior, Lilian Shafer, who is the Youth Poet Laureate for Oak Ridge, invite poets to enter into the contest. Please see the flyer below.

Parents, get ready for those text messages when your teen doesn't turn in their assignment. Messages will come in when the teacher submits it AND when the assignment is completed and removed from the database.

Does your student need extra help? Please refer to the downloadable tutoring schedule for our staff.

If you think you are missing important communication from Oak Ridge Schools or the high school, it may be because Parent Square has not be downloaded to your phone. This is our primary form of communication. Download Parent Square today and be informed! This can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play for free.

THE EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS SURVEY WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO COMPLETE.

Within a school there are certain practices and characteristics that affect student learning and the overall performance of the school. To change or improve, it is first necessary to understand what is happening in your child’s school and what students as well as parents/families are experiencing. Your feedback is important to provide the best possible education for your child.

Las pruebas ELPA (anteriormente WIDA) se realizarán la semana del 3 de febrero. Todos los estudiantes de idioma inglés serán evaluados. La asistencia es importante.

Тестування ELPA (раніше WIDA) відбудеться 3 лютого. Тестування проходитимуть усі, хто вивчає англійську мову. Відвідуваність важлива.

The 2025-26 FAFSA is now open, kicking off TN FAFSA Frenzy, which runs from now until the TN Promise FAFSA deadline on April 15th! This statewide initiative encourages students and families to complete the FAFSA, a crucial step in accessing financial aid for college. To support your students, check out NCAN’s comprehensive 2025-26 FAFSA resource page for tips and tools to help them successfully navigate the process and unlock opportunities for their future.

Below are a few tips for students to successfully file the FAFSA!

• The application must be completed at FAFSA.gov; students should not use any other websites for completion.
• Students should select the 2025-2026 FAFSA. If the incorrect year’s FAFSA is completed, even by the April 15, 2025 deadline, students will become permanently ineligible for TN Promise.
• The items below are needed to complete the application:
  • Student and parent 2023 tax information
  • Student and parent will each need a verified FSA ID. If either do not have a verified FSA ID, they will need to create one before completing the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Students and parents will use their FSA IDs to log in and electronically sign the FAFSA each academic year. For a step-by-step guide on how to create an FSA ID, please click here or follow the instructions below!
    • Students/parents will need their respective Social Security Number, a valid email address and other personal information to complete the application.
    • Visit FAFSA.gov! Then, click Create Account in the upper right-hand corner.
    • Select Get Started to begin filling in personal information. It is extremely important that accurate information is entered!
    • Once an FSA ID is created, it must be verified by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This process may take up to 7 business days!
    • Once student and parent FSA IDs are verified, they are ready to file the 2025-2026 FAFSA!

As you work with students to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA, please encourage them to save their confirmation email and FAFSA Submission Summary for their records.

Studentaid.gov account creation prior to FAFSA workshops [please share with families].

As experienced in November/December, students and parents must have their respective studentaid.gov accounts (e.g. FSA ID) created and authenticated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to complete a FAFSA. SSA authentication can take 1 – 3 days. As you send reminders about workshops, please strongly encourage account creation days prior to the event with our step-by-step PDFs below…

Studentaid.gov account creation one-pager (English)

Studentaid.gov account creation one-pager (Spanish)

1. We are OAK RIDGE CITY SCHOOLS - NOT Anderson County

2. Decisions are made by 5:15 am when possible.

3. Delay schedules can include - 1 hour delay (breakfast is served); 2 hour delay (no breakfast); or Full day cancellation.

4. Notification for families:

a. Please note that this year, all communications with parents and families regarding campus closures will be sent via Parent Square through our Communications Department.

b. The ortn.edu website will be updated

c. Media outlets will be notified - WFIV; WYSH; WRJZ; TYLV; B97.5 = Radio

Channel 12, WBIR-TV (www.wbir.com/weather; WVLT-TV (www.local8now.com),

WATE-TV (wate.com,

d. Look for Twitter announcement from @ORSchools

With the temperature dropping, there has been an increase in the wearing of pajama pants and blankets being brought to school. Please remember that pajama pants are not a part of the dress code and blankets should not be brought to school. Students coming to school in pajama pants who cannot secure a change of clothes are sent to ISS.

The Rex Hitchcock Memorial Scholarship, from One Bank of Tennessee, was created to reward local students for graduation and the pursuit of higher education. One student is selected from each of our nine service counties. Eight of the nine selected students will receive a one-time $5000 scholarship. One of the selected students will receive a recurring $5000 scholarship for up to 5 years (up to $25,000). A letter of recommendation and the scholarship application must be submitted by March 31st. More information can be found on their website: Scholarship - One Bank of Tennessee The application can be downloaded now, or on Feb 1st the online application will be opened.

Download the PDF below for access to this scholarship. Applications are due by February 10th.

The yearbook cost is now $80. Books can be purchased only at Jostens.com ONLY 180 copies remain. Yearbooks will only be sold via cash only for $85.00 on Distribution Day in May IF there are copies to sell.

Spread out the cost of your order with an interest-free Jostens Payment Plan.*

Below is a list of upcoming dates for our seniors and parents. We have also shared these dates with students on their Class of 2025 Canvas Page and through Parent Square.

We know this is a lot of information and we want to make sure you are always informed. We expect that the meeting on August 27th will answer most of your questions. I know it feels like you are running out of time and the pressure is starting to build on college and scholarships, but we do have some time to help you with this process.

· Date TBD, 3:40 p.m. – Mandatory TN Promise Meeting for Students - ORHS Food Court

· January 21, 2025, 5:00-7:00 Financial aid completion night - ORHS Food Court

What's happening- Calendar at a glance for this week

• Addams Family Cast List, Rehearsal Schedule, Scene Breakdown, and Show Fee Form/Information

• Valentine Improv Show on February 7th @7pm!!!

• Next booster meeting- Tuesday, January 14th @6pm (virtual)

• Join Masquers GroupMe for club communication

• Season Shows and Show Dates - in the newsletter!

• Become a Masquers Community Sponsor or Season Ticket Holder

• The Sponsor Form is in the newsletter

• Masquers Team Information

• Masquers Important Dates

Attention Parents/Guardians of Wellness A Students

During the course of Wellness A, students will participate in a Family Life Education programming called “The Sex Talk” which is presented by the non-profit, “Let’s Talk 101”. In addition, the "Baby Olivia Act" was passed and went into effect this school year. As enacted, the "Baby Olivia Act," requires any family life curriculum that directly or indirectly addresses human growth, human development, or human sexuality to include the presentation of a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and other vital organs in early fetal development. In order to meet the requirements of the law we will be showing this video during Family Life programming. This programming follows the State of Tennessee Lifetime Wellness Standards and School Board Policy 4.2.13. Per that policy, the parent/guardian has the right to opt their child out of participating in the program. If you would like to opt your child out, please complete the following form using the QR code or link below.

If you would like additional information about the program or be sent the link to the Baby Olivia video, feel free to contact Tina Williams at twilliams@ortn.edu.

Club photo day will be held during the school day in the B-gym on Friday, January 24 for any club, sport, or organization that would like to have their group photo taken. If you have not already done so, please email Rachael Pryfogle by Tuesday, January 21 at noon and let her know if you would like your group’s photo taken and she will add you to the schedule. A tentative schedule will be sent out Wednesday.

ART CLUB - Tuesdays in VA 103 after school. You do not have to be in an art class to join.

DIVERSITY CLUB, GSTA – Mondays, after school in the Library

D&D Club, every Friday from 3:15 to 4:30 PM in the grand hall of imagination (AKA Dr. Denisar's room CS329)

FRENCH CLUB - January 30th, from 3:15-4PM in Madame Pryfogle’s room CS 312 for our Raclette cheese tasting!

SEWING & CROCHETING CLUB - Thursdays after school until 4 in CS328

YOUTH FOR CHRIST - Tuesdays at 3:15 - this is a change!

Parents, all clubs are required to send a permission slip for participation. Please watch for those to come home for each of the clubs your teen wishes to join.

UPDATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 16TH

The girls bowling team won their semi-finals match on Tuesday to qualify for Substate (Sectionals). We finished as the Region Runner-up and have to travel to the winner of the neighboring region. Dobyns Bennett Thursday, at 4:15.

Jo Eastgate

Lilly Woods

Giada Moore

Halie Campbell

BreAnna Okert

Paige Flinner

Kayleigh Dillon

Morgan Snyder

Abby Woods

Parents, every time a student is absent, please send a note the day they return. Failure to send a parent note/doctor's note/court note within three (3) days will result in the day being unexecused. Parents can write 7 parent notes per year. Notes can be dropped in the attendance office, or in the "mailbox" in the Visual Arts hallway. The State of Tennessee considers a student Chronically Absent when they reach 18 absences whether excused or unexcused.

It’s time for the 2024-2025 Schools Buck Challenge! You must register your card again this year! You must register online using your Valucard number & choosing Oak Ridge High School-CDC! Food City took away the option to register your card in person, so please take time to choose our class with your online account! Registration began on September 1st and points started accumulating on September 4th! The program runs from September 4th through May 6, 2025. Go to foodcity.com/schoolbucks to complete your registration and help our CDC class purchase items needed in the classroom.

Parents, before scheduling vacations, please consult the school calendar. Be advised, at the high school, final exams counting 15% of the final grade are given the last two days of the semester. Please consult the calendar prior to planning vacations.

Students getting a learner's permit are required to obtain an SF-1010 form from the school. Please fill out the form below and students will be called to the office when the form is ready.

The Free and Reduced meal applications are now available online in the Skyward Family Portal and can only be filled out by Family 1. Because of this, email notifications only to Family 1 via Skyward, rather than ParentSquare. Paper copies are in the Main Office.

Your student’s Free & Reduced Lunch status will be carried over from 2023-24 school year for the first 30 days of school until a new application is submitted and processed.

Parents, students are NOT allowed to carry medications on their person at school. All medications must be registered with our nurse, Lori Gupton. Registration requirements are in the form below. This includes over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl or any type of allergy medications, etc.

Any student driving to school are required to register their vehicle and leave the parking tag visibly hanging on their review mirror. Vehicles must be registered every year. The form below must be completed and returned to Student Services to Mrs. Viruet. Parking tags are FREE, but required.

Students must register for transportation services via Skyward. The form is located in the Skyward FAMILY ACCESS ACCOUNT not the student access account. Families were sent instructions to email accounts on file throughout the summer. Paper forms will no longer be accepted.

Questions?? Click below to access the Oak Ridge Schools Transportation Website

Parents of the Class of 2028, Mrs. Thompson encourages you to join the Facebook page. The page is used to celebrate the Class of 2028 and provide pertinent reminders impacting this class. Due to security measures, membership is subject to approval. Please answer the questions to join the page. Answers are verified through our student information system before granting access.

Ms. Estep encourages the parents of Juniors to join the Facebook page. Due to security measures protecting the privacy of our families, membership is subject to approval. Please answer the questions to join the page. All answers are verified through Skyward before granting access. Click the link below to access the FB page.

The Driving Center of Oak Ridge has openings for summer driver education classes. Register at Students who participate in the classes receive six driving sessions and will be given the opportunity to take the driving test with the instructors. Upon completion of the program, many families save up to $300 per year on car insurance so the class practically pays for itself in only one year. Call Matt Reedy at 865-719-1816 if you have questions.

In order for a student to take their permit test, a form is required from the school. Mrs. Thacker, our attendance secretary, prepares these forms. Requests are accepted through the link below. When school is in session, a completed form may be picked up in the Attendance Office. However, if school is NOT in session, the form will be mailed home by USPS.

Did you know your teen will have their driver's license suspended due to poor grades and/or poor attendance?

Parents should review this information with their teen drivers!!

Executive Principal - Drayton Hawkins dshawkins@ortn.edu

Seniors - Russ Wise rewise@ortn.edu

Juniors - Beth Estep kestep@ortn.edu

Sophomores - David Foust djfoust@ortn.edu

Freshman - Stephanie Thompson sathompson@ortn.edu

Curriculum Principal - Jennifer Milligan jmmilligan2@ortn.edu

Counselors:

Seniors - Class of 2025 Ashley Bennewitz abennewitz@ortn.edu

Juniors - Class of 2026 Paige Taylor - hptaylor@ortn.edu

Sophomores - Class of 2027 Brianna Ottinger - bottinger@ortn.edu

Freshman - Class of 2028 Heidi Foster - hafoster@ortn.edu

Social Worker: Alison King aking@ortn.edu

Registrar: Rhonda Garrison rsgarrison@ortn.edu

Counseling Administrative Assistant: Amy O'Rourke akorourke@ortn.edu

Link to Website: https://www.ortn.edu/highschool/academics/school-counseling/

Follow our team on Instagram:

Watch for announcements on Twitter: @ORHSCounseling

It is our desire to keep our families informed of all of the activity and awesome news coming from Oak Ridge High School. We have multiple platforms for connection. We encourage you to explore the many ways and provide feedback!

Website - http://www.ortn.edu/highschool/

Daily Bulletin - http://www.ortn.edu/highschool/daily-bulletin/

Channel 1082 at 7:50 AM - Watch the announcements each morning by our Crew! YouTube Streaming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL9N_azmWeQByrIW6pWLBlQ

INews - http://www.ortn.edu/highschool/news-events/news-links/

PTSO Newsletter - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1843791015931073/

Website: http://www.ortn.edu/highschool/
Location: 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
Phone: 865-425-9600