• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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).

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.

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

Students have or will be issued an ID badge. Badges are required to be worn around the neck or clipped to their clothing above the waist. Badges are needed because:

• 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.

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.

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.

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) !

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

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.

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.

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.

YOUTH FOR CHRIST - Mondays at 3:15; begins July 29th

MASQUERS - Thursday, July 25, 3:30 - 4:30

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.

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.

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.

ORHS Cross Country Parent/Booster Meeting Thursday 7/25 in the ORHS Amphitheater at 6 PM.

Need new Wildcat swag? Check out the official Wildcat products at the link below!

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

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

As a reminder, this year our administration and Counseling Department moved to grade level teams to serve students for their scholastic careers at ORHS. In order to provide families with the swiftest and most accurate information, we encourage reaching out directly to the grade level administrator and/or counselor team when questions arise with students.

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

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!!

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 - 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/

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