Wednesday, December 18th and Thursday, December 19th are exam days, and students may leave school following their exams each day with parent permission. Parents may complete the early dismissal form for students to turn in to their teacher prior to leaving school, OR parents may submit their permission electronically via Parent Square using a form posted by your child's teacher.

No phone calls will be accepted for check out on Wednesday and Thursday. Parents must submit the written form or the Parent Square form for their child to be allowed to leave early.

Buses will run on a regular Wednesday schedule on Wednesday, and buses will run at 11:45 on Thursday. Lunch will be served both days. Friday is a makeup day for exams, and no lunch will be served. If final exams are completed, students are excused for the day. There are no classes.

School will be closed December 23rd - January 6th. Students return to class on Tuesday, January 7th. Second semester classes begin on this day.

Dig in your backpack, look under your bed, check the trunk! Find those library books you’ve checked out and get them returned before break. Statistics show that the longer you keep a book past its due date, the more likely you are to lose it – which is both sad and expensive

The yearbook pricing increase has been delayed until January 1st at which time the price will increase to $80. Go to Jostens.com and take advantage of the discount! ONLY 200 copies remain. Yearbooks will only be sold on Distribution Day in May if there are copies to sell.

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. Parents, please help us out!

Attention Parents of New Drivers: There are only about 10 spots left for the Dec. 27-30 Driver Education class hosted here in Oak Ridge by The Driving Center. Did you know that The Driving Center here in Oak Ridge has been teaching kids how to drive since 1989? Did you know that you can save up to $2000 on car insurance if your student completes the course? To register for this class or to save a spot for the spring or summer break classes, visit www.thedrivingcenter.org or call or text Matt Reedy at 865-719-1816.

• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room
• Have at least a 3 foot “kid-free” zone around space heaters
• Purchase space heaters that automatically shut off if they are tipped over
• Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlets and never into an extension cord or power tap
• If you need any smoke alarms or additional information, please call 865-425- Fire (3473) or email smokealarms@oakridgetn.gov

It's time for holiday concerts! Come out to hear the music of the season in the ORHS Performing Arts Center.

WILDBAND - December 17th @ 6:30; tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for students and seniors

Concessions and sale items will be available for cash or credit card purchase.

FBLA is collecting items for Oak Ridge TORCH (Tennessee Out-Reach Center for Homeless). Look for boxes in the Main Lobby, Library, and the Arena Concessions Kiosk area. Please consider donating toothbrushes, gloves, toboggans, socks, deodorant, hand warmers, soap, and protein snacks such as peanut butter crackers, nuts, and protein bars.

FBLA is wrapping up our collection of items for TORCH. Please bring items to donate by Tuesday, December 17.

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

No more waiting for 2 years to go to Germany on a Student Exchange Program!

Oak Ridge High School offers an additional Student Exchange Program starting this Spring!

You are interested in living in Germany for 3 weeks? You are interested in hosting a German student for 3 weeks? Here is the program for you!

The Friendship Connection, Inc.

Students who are interested in hosting a German student from March 31st until April 23rd of 2024 and students who also want to go to Germany from June 16th until July 8th of 2024 should come to Mrs. Nebenfuehr’s classroom CS301 and pick up registration forms as soon as possible. The final deadline for the application (including the deposit) is December 31st of 2024.

For more information go to www.friendshipconnection.org. Do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Nebenfuehr with any questions at smnebenfuehr@ortn.edu.

This is so wonderful! Now we can offer our high school students to live abroad every year!

NAACP OakRidge-Anderson county.Green McAdoo Cultural center and the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks will be hosting a Martin Luther King prayer brunch on Saturday January 18th from 11-12:15 pm.

Please sign up on the Eventbrite link below so that we get a head count.

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.

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

The Elizabeth L. Phipps Scholarship is in honor of a charter member of the Oak Ridge Alumnae Chapter (ORAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The purpose of the ORAC Elizabeth L. Phipps Scholarship is to provide financial support to an African American female graduating senior from Oak Ridge High School.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION BELOW

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.

· January 13, 2025, 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 Read Through December 16th

  
  

• Booster meeting and Addams Family MANDATORY parent meeting December 16th

• 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.

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)

INTERACT CLUB - Monday after school to wrap Christmas presents.

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.

Any girl interested in playing volleyball next year should attend the interest meeting MONDAY, at 3:15 in the amphitheater.

Mandatory Parent Meeting for the 2025 Outdoor Track and Field Team will be held Thursday, January 16, 2005 at 6:00pm in the ORHS Amphitheatre.

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