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Wildcat iNews
Information for the ORHS Wildcat Nation! 07/22/24 Issue #295
FIRST WEEK SUMMARY
- The building opens at 7:00 AM. Students will be expected to vacate the building by 3:20 PM and by 2:10 on Wednesday.
- The tardy bell rings at 7:50.
- The main drop off point for car riders is the loop on the OR Turnpike side of the school.
- The bus loop (Providence Road) should not be used for drop off until after 7:30 in the morning and not until after 3:30 in the afternoon.
- The teacher's parking lot on the east end of campus on Providence Road is not a pick up or drop off area.
- Students who drive, should fill out the form for their parking tag immediately.
- Students can select a locker. Check their email, Skyward or class Canvas for a link.
- Monday and Wednesday will be on a "Wednesday" schedule this week.
- Schedule changes are completed by filling out the form on the grade level Canvas page which will open Monday at 8:00. Schedule changes requested via email will not be honored. Schedule changes must be completed by 3:07 Friday.
- Students will be held accountable for wearing badges. If students turned in their badges, they are in the front pocket of their laptop bag OR in Student Services. Approximately 400 students did NOT turn in their badges. New badges should be purchased during the first week of school for $10.00. Due to safety regulations, students are required to wear their badges visible at all times.
FREE & REDUCED LUNCH INFORMATION
We have been working diligently behind the scenes to digitize our Free and Reduced Lunch Application this year through our vendor, Skyward Food Service. While testing the platform’s application, it appears the system sent mass rejection/approval notices to Oak Ridge Schools families in error. At this time, please disregard any email you received regarding your free and reduced lunch status. We apologize for any concern or inconvenience this has caused.
A few things to note:
1 More information about 2024-25 Free & Reduced Lunch Applications will be shared this week.
2 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.
PARENT SQUARE - ACTION REQUIRED FOR ALL FAMILIES
Communications between Oak Ridge Schools and families will shift from the Skyward Alert System to Parent Square. Parents should download ParentSquare from your specific App Store (ie Apple Store or Google Play Store). This new tool provides flexibility how families want to receive important information from the district and individual schools. The iNews will be sent via ParentSquare.
MOST FORMS ON PARENT SQUARE
The majority of our required back-to-school paperwork has been digitized and are now available for you to complete in ParentSquare. Complete instructions on how to complete forms can be found by clicking here (https://parentsquare.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005092166-Complete-an-Online-Form-Permission-Slip), but you must be logged in to view them.
IMPORTANT: When digitally signing the form, your name must be typed exactly as it appears in Skyward. If you receive an error message when attempting to complete the form please double-check that there are no additional spaces before or after your name, and that your name is typed exactly as it appears in your acco
unt.
Forms can be found in the app be selecting "More" in the lower right corner, then Forms/Permissions.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Monday, July 22 - Students will report directly to first period and we have Early dismissal – 1:50. Check your schedule on Skyward before coming to school. Find your teacher name and room number prior to Monday morning so you will know where you’re going.
SCHOOL BEGINS AT 7:50 AM
UNDERCLASSMEN PICTURE DAY
Students will have their school pictures taken on Friday. Pictures can be ordered at that time. All students are encouraged to take their pictures to upload into Skyward and for the Oak Log yearbook.
SCHOOL CALENDAR AND ATTENDANCE
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.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Official schedules will be released on July 18th. In the event of a scheduling error such as repeated course, courses scheduled out of order, a course for which prerequisites have not been met, or a missing graduation requirement, students will have an opportunity to request a schedule change during the first week of school. Schedule change requests will only be accepted from Monday, July 22, 2023 at 7:50 a.m. until Friday, July 26 at 3:30 p.m. Students will receive instructions on how to request a schedule change via their grade level Canvas pages. Schedule Change Requests must be submitted via electronic form. Schedule change requests sent via email will not be processed.
UPDATE SKYWARD INFORMATION TO STAY CONNECTED
Parents, please submit changes needed for contacts, addresses and phone numbers on Skyward to Rhonda Garrison, with appropriate documentation. Phone numbers and email changes can be sent to your student's administrator, or call Amy O'Rourke at 425-9607, in the Counseling Office.
UNDERCLASSMEN SCHOOL PICTURES
Underclassmen pictures will be taken Friday, July 26 during school
Make-up date – Senior & Underclassmen - Wednesday, October 16
Questions - Contact - McEachern Studios - 1-800-255-1649
REGISTER ALL MEDICATIONS IN THE CLINIC
IS YOUR TEEN TAKING WELLNESS A? ACTION REQUIRED
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”. 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.
DON'T MISS THE FUN THIS SATURDAY
FRESHMAN PARENTS
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.
JUNIOR PARENTS CLASS OF 2026
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.
ATTENDANCE NOTES
STAY INVOLVED - BECOME A CANVAS OBSERVER
Parents, we want to assist you with Skyward and Canvas needs. Steps to become a Canvas Observer are in the flyer below. This will allow parents to "see" all of their Oak Ridge Schools students Canvas pages in one location. Please download the instructions below.
STUDENT LAPTOP DISTRIBUTION
Student laptops will be distributed on Monday, July 22nd, the first day of school. New students may experience a delay, but I know our IT Department is doing everything they can to have devices ready to roll for everyone. PLEASE read the expectations below regarding laptop care.
NEW EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT SCHOOL ISSUED LAPTOPS
Students will use the school-issued protective covering at all times. Damage to the device that occurs because the device case is not in use will be considered malicious damage and will incur additional penalties.
Also please note that the penalty matrix has been updated (located on the last page) to include the prorate scale for the bag. Malicious damage (ie. Broken screen without device being in case) is the cost of the repair, not to exceed $615. The student becomes a Restricted User until the fee is paid (other stipulations do apply as listed in the AUP).
OAK RIDGE DISCIPLINE HANDBOOK
There have been multiple changes and additions to the Oak Ridge Discipline handbook. Parents will receive a copy; however, the link below will take you to the new policies. We encourage parents to review the handbook with your teens. Students will be given highlights on Monday in their first block classes as well as in grade level meetings on Tuesday.
ATTENTION ALL BUS RIDERS - ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Questions?? Click below to access the Oak Ridge Schools Transportation Website
STUDENT BADGES REQUIRED TO BE ON STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES
- Safety - Provide immediate recognition as a member of the ORHS student body
- Keycard - Open the doors
- Print assignments on printers throughout the building
- Enter the library
- Pay for lunch
Students are not allowed in the building before 7:00 am when staff is available for supervision. Students are expected to vacate the premises by 3:20 daily if not under the direct supervision of a teacher or coach. Students will NOT be allowed to remain in the Food Court to wait on a parent or a ride home. No supervision is provided after this time.
STUDENT DRIVER'S MUST REGISTER THEIR VEHICLE
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.
SENIOR SUNRISE - CONTINUE THE TRADITION
CLASS OF 2025, join us Friday morning at 6:15 for Senior Sunrise at the soccer field. It will end in time to pick up some food before the tardy bell.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST WILDCAT
Congratulations to Kendall Hughey – (2010 Wildcat) - and Michael Yokosuk and OF COURSE – “Merny” on the arrival of Margot Day Yokosuk - Born Sunday at 11 a.m. - 7.5 lbs. 19"
Both girls great – (and Merny too) !
LET'S FLY, LET'S FLY, LET'S FLY AWAY!
GAPP-EXCHANGE TRIP TO GERMANY
A group of 12 ORHS students and two teachers visited Germany for three weeks this summer. They stayed in host families with their German partners who visited ORHS in the spring. It was a full immersion experience into the German culture.
They had a good time visiting small towns like Hannover, big towns like Hamburg and the capitol of Germany Berlin.
One special city they liked was the Autostadt – the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Here are a few memories of all the fun and laughter during that GAPP exchange of 2024.
Participating students: Anthony Flores Valencia, Jacob Proffitt, Leo Ehlers, Nicolus Ehlers, Connor Callison, Dhimitrios Butler, Jonas Davis, Evan Biewer, Emersey Benson, Gracie Roberts, Isabella Gause-Rein, Isabella Ball Teachers: Mr. Shaffer and Mrs. Nebenfuehr
DISCOVERING THE ART OF EUROPE!
Cheers, Bonjour, Guten Tag and Caio from 38 ORHS students and alumni who traveled together for 16 days. They started in London taking the Chunnel to Paris, just as the city was preparing for the summer Olympics. They traveled the countryside by bus deep into the Swiss Alps to Lucerne. From the bus window they saw Lake Como and Milan before their next city stop in the Tuscany region, Florence. Among the olive trees they stopped in the smaller town of Assisi. With the final trip destination of Rome. But before traveling more than 24 hours to get home, they went to their last country, Vatican City. If that sounds like a lot, it is, that's 3 foreign languages, 5 countries, 3 currencies, 4 planes, Chunnel, charter buses, gondola, world's steepest incline train, subways and innumerable foot miles.
If an adventure of a lifetime is what you are seeking, the next trip is this summer to five Scandinavian countries. Be watching for an announcement for our 2026 spring break trip.
TSA SUPER SUCCESSFUL IN ORLANDO
In June, the ORHS TSA team competed at the national competition in Orlando, Florida. There are over 300,000 TSA members nation-wide, with over 9,000 members who competed at the national conference. A team of Henry Landau, Isabel Tucker and Colton Hopson placed 9th in the Drone UAV competition. Rising Freshman, Raylee McDonald-Tolve placed 4th in Middle School Digital Photography. Henry Landau placed 3rd in CAD Engineering. Odelia Kneiser was elected Secretary for National TSA office and will serve for the duration of the 2024-2025 school year.
PARKING SPACES FOR SALE!
Watch for an upcoming announcement regarding painted parking spots. The cost is $50 for a new spot or $30 to keep the spot from last year. This is open to juniors and seniors. More info coming soon.
BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCE
CLUB INFORMATION
YOUTH FOR CHRIST - Mondays at 3:15; begins July 29th
MASQUERS - Thursday, July 25, 3:30 - 4:30
PARENT CLUB INFORMATION
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.
IT'S TIME TO SUPPORT OUR WILDCATS - EAT PANCAKES AND WASH THE CARS
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS NEEDED
STUDENT DRIVER INFORMATION
DOES YOUR TEEN NEED AN SF-1010 FORM FOR THEIR DRIVER'S PERMIT?
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A NEW DRIVER?
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.
ATHLETIC INFORMATION
CROSS COUNTRY NEWS
ORHS Cross Country Parent/Booster Meeting Thursday 7/25 in the ORHS Amphitheater at 6 PM.
PURCHASE YOUR WILDCAT SWAG AT OUR TEAM STORE!
Need new Wildcat swag? Check out the official Wildcat products at the link below!
MASQUERS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE MASQUERS INTEREST MEETING JULY 25TH 3:30-4:30 & AUDITION WORKSHOP 4:30-6pm for students and the PARENT MEETING on July 26th at 6pm for parents of students involved in Masquers! Have you ever wondered how you can get involved in Masquers? Make plans to come to the Masquers beginning of the year interest meeting to find out about our shows and all the ways you can get involved in Masquers. If you are interested in auditioning for Puffs, our fall play, plan to stay for the audition workshop! Parents are invited to the parent meeting on July 26th at 6pm to find out how they can help Masquers have the best year ever!
AUDITIONS FOR PUFFS July 29-30! Masquers will be hosting auditions for Puffs on Monday, July 29th with callbacks on July 30th. Join us on GroupMe for more details! Use this link to join: https://groupme.com/join_group/94107482/GBLNWclq
MEET OUR TEAMS!
WHO IS YOUR ADMINISTRATOR??
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
SCHOOL COUNSELING SUPPORT TEAM!
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
ORHS GRADE LEVEL LEADERSHIP TEAMS
9th Grade team: Stephanie Thompson sathompson@ortn.edu and Heidi Foster hafoster@ortn.edu
10th Grade team: David Foust djfoust@ortn.edu and Brianna Ottinger bottinger@ortn.edu
11th Grade team: Beth Estep kestep@ortn.edu and Paige Taylor hptaylor@ortn.edu
12th Grade team: Russ Wise rewise@ortn.edu and Ashley Bennewitz abennewitz@ortn.edu
ANNUAL REMINDERS AND PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
IMPORTANT TN DRIVING PRIVILEGE INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Parents should review this information with their teen drivers!!
Ways to Connect and STAY INFORMED
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 - PTSO distributes a VERY detailed quarterly newsletter to inform parents of upcoming events and LOTS of counseling information! This comes to your email! They also have a presence on the website: http://www.orhs-ptso.org/news-information with tons of information! PTSO also has a Facebook presence, and we encourage you to "LIKE" their page! https://www.facebook.com/ORHSPTSO/
School Contact Information!
Website: http://www.ortn.edu/highschool/
Location: 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
Phone: 865-425-9600