OHS Counseling News
Week of 5.20.24
Important Dates (Subject to change)
May 21-Graduation Practice-Day 1 (8-11am )
May 22- Graduation Practice- Day 2 (8-9:30am)
May 22- Salute to Senior Program (10am)
May 23- Graduation at Mount St. Mary's University at 1:30pm
May 29- Move-Up Day for incoming 2024-2025 9th graders. (Student Only Event- Students from TJMS and OMS will also be attending)
June 7- Last day of school for students
Frederick County Virtual School 24-25 Registration Open Now!
Senior Class of 2024
The Oakdale High School Class of 2024 Graduation will be held Thursday, May 23rd at The Knott Arena at the PNC Sports Complex on the campus of Mount Saint Mary's University beginning at 1:30 p.m. Click here for specific information regarding the graduation ceremony and Salute to Seniors Awards program.
We are looking forward to seeing all of our graduates and their families at the ceremony. If you have questions about graduation, please contact the senior class advisors:
Chrissy Polce: Christy.polce@fcps.org.
Tara Ketteringham Tara.Ketteringham@fcps.org
Click Below
Safe and Sane
Safe and Sane After Graduation Event
Our Safe and Sane event is being held on May 23rd from 11:00 pm- 5:00 am at Adventure Park. Tickets can be purchased for $100 until April 23rd. After April 23rd, the price will increase to $125.
This event provides a safe space for seniors to graduate following graduation. Parents can go home knowing their senior is in a safe and fun environment without the risks associated with the statistically deadliest night for young adults. We give away great prizes, good food and have many activities for the seniors to do the entire evening.
Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.oakdalesafeandsane.com/event-details/ohs-safe-and-sane-2024-early-bird-pricing.
Safe and Sane News!
Chalk the Spot - Seniors can chalk a parking space in the OHS parking lot. Advanced purchase is suggested. Each spot is $25. Bring your creativity, school and community pride, excitement, and sidewalk chalk supplies. Purchase tickets at: https://www.oakdalesafeandsane.com/event-details/chalk-the-spot
Senior Yard Signs - Show off your senior pride by placing a yard sign in your front yard. Purchase a sign for grandparents so they can show off their pride as well. Signs are $25 and can be purchased at Signs can be picked up on May 4th in the OHS parking lot between 9:00-1:00. Signs can be purchased at: https://www.oakdalesafeandsane.com/product-page/class-of-2024-senior-yard-signs
Welcome to the Great UnGnome - We hope you will participate in this popular Safe and Sane Event! What is the Great Un-GNOME SURPRISE? You make a donation to Safe & Sane (As little or as much as you want/can!) and provide the Name and Address of the person you would like to send a set of Garden Gnomes to. Our Oakdale Bear Gnome trappers and our special team of GNOMIES will put the gnomes in that person's front yard. The goal is to keep the GNOME TRAIN going! Your GNOMIE will then make a donation (if they can!) and list another name and address, and it keeps going! This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for us, and we hope you participate! If your senior has not been gnomed and you would like them to, please reach out to us at oakdalesafeandsane@gmail.com.
Event Tickets - Our Safe and Sane event is being held on May 23rd from 11:00 pm- 5:00 am at Adventure Park. Tickets can be purchased for $100 until April 23rd. After April 23rd, the price will increase to $125. This event provides a safe space for seniors to graduate following graduation. Parents can go home knowing their senior is in a safe and fun environment without the risks associated with the statistically deadliest night for young adults. We give away great prizes, good food and have many activities for the seniors to do the entire evening. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.oakdalesafeandsane.com/event-details/ohs-safe-and-sane-2024-early-bird-pricing
Class of 2024 T-shirts - Show off your senior pride with a Class of 2024 Senior T-Shirt or a Parent of a Class of 2024 Senior T-shirt. Shirts can be purchased at: https://www.bellabeanstudios.com/collections/safe-sane
The Safe and Sane Committee is seriously in need of senior parents to help with our event. We need help planning, fundraising, and need parents the night of our event. Right now, the majority of the people on the committee do not have a senior, and we are struggling to find help. If we do not get more support and assistance, our event may not be able to happen. Please consider helping to make this wonderful event happen! Your seniors deserve it! Email oakdalesafeandsane@gmail.com if you would like more information.
Class of 2025
It’s time to schedule your senior portraits!
Class of 2025
Rising Seniors Who may be Interested in Attending a Service Academy
The Service Academy Process:
1. Open Applicant File
Request Pre-Candidate Questionnaire from the Admissions Office of the applicable Academy.
- United States Military Academy - apply online at admissions.usma.edu.
- United States Air Force Academy - (800) 443-9266; apply online at academyadmissions.com.
- United States Naval Academy - (410) 293-4361; apply online at usna.edu/Admissions
- United States Coast Guard Academy - (800) 883-8724; apply online at uscga.edu/admissions/
- United States Merchant Marine Academy - (866) 546-4778; apply online at usmma.edu/admissions
2. Request Nominations (see more information below)
3. Complete Testing
- Take ACT or SAT tests, schedule Physical Aptitude Exam & Medical Exam.
- Complete Forms
- Complete all forms and return to academy or academies by their deadline.
4. Visit Service Academies: Call Admissions Office to set up a tour of academies.
Nominations:
If you are interested in applying to a service academy, you must obtain a nomination as part of the very competitive application process for most of those academies. Nominations may be requested from multiple sources including but not limited to your US Congressman or either of your state's US Senators, and the Vice President of the United States. Congressmen and Senators sometimes have information sessions about how their offices handle the process.
Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: USMA, West Point, NY; USNA, Annapolis, MD; USAFA, Colorado Springs, CO; and USMMA, Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.
FCC Foundation-Several Scholarships Available
The FCC Foundation will be accepting Fall Scholarship Applications from February 1, 2024 to June 15, 2024.
The application is available here: FCC Foundation Scholarship Application Portal. Applicants will need a FCC student ID number, FCC email address, and password to apply.
Once students are on the site,
1. Click “Sign In” in the upper right-hand corner of your screen to begin.
2. Login with your FCC student ID number, FCC email address, and password.
3. Complete and submit the General Application. (Did you know that completing the General Application may qualify you for multiple scholarships?)
4. You can also click on and complete any Special Scholarship Applications not covered by the General Application.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all scholarships have an “Apply” button. Most scholarships are “Auto Match”, meaning the system will automatically match and apply you to the scholarships you are eligible for based on your PeopleSoft information (i.e. major, GPA, FAFSA, etc.) and your responses on the General Application. The scholarships listed with an “Apply” button require additional information that is not included on the General Application. Scholarships require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 unless you are a new student to FCC.
Students that will be enrolled in any FCC Dual Enrollment Program (Early College, Open Campus, or High School-Based) for the Fall 2024 Semester, are not eligible for scholarships offered by the FCC Foundation.
To Access All Scholarships On Naviance, use the following Tabs: Colleges Tab > Scholarships and Money > Scholarship List Go to Naviance to access this information.
May Scholarship Newsletter 5.20.24
Miss Utility Scholarship 5/24/2024
Lou and Nu "No Essay" Scholarship 5/30/24
Smiling Senior Scholarship- Apply online at SmileFrederick.Com 5/31/2024
Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program 6/10/2024
Rotary Club of Southern Frederick-Martin Schipper Memorial Scholarship 6/30/2024
Esperaza Education Fund Scholarship 7/1/2024
Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship 7/20/2024
Scholarship Resources
Scholarships/Financial Aid
FCPS provides scholarship and financial aid information as a resource only and does not endorse any sponsor of any particular
scholarship program.
Resources:
● Naviance – Scholarships can be found on the Colleges page under “Scholarship Search”
● https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
● https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships
● http://www.mhec.state.md.us/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/descriptions.asp
● https://www.raise.me/ https://
SAT/ACT Information
SAT Information
Testing Dates
June 1st
Register online: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register
SAT Prep:
● College Board Daily Practice App – https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice
● Khan Academy – https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
● SAT Prep Courses at FCC
ACT Information –
Testing Dates
June 8th
Register online: https://www.act.org/
ACT Prep:
● Online and hard copy test prep materials: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-
preparation.html
SAT Test Prep at FCC
Register Now!
Helpful Information for Dual Enrollment
If you need log in or password help for your Frederick Community College (FCC) Dual Enrollment Course
FCC Website: https://www.frederick.edu/
MyFCC Student Portal: https://myfcc.frederick.edu/
1) Find and know your FCC Student User ID#:
-Students should have received an admissions letter with a Student User ID number.
-Your HS based instructor has access to your ID# in Blackboard and PeopleSoft.
-You can contact DualEnrollment@frederick.edu to receive your ID number.
2) Create or Reset your FCC Password:
-.pdf instructions here
-IT Help Desk: https://www.frederick.edu/student-resources/it-services.aspx
3) Log on to Blackboard
-Your username for Blackboard and Outlook email will be W + ID#@myfcc.frederick.edu
(ex. W1234567@myfcc.frederick.edu)
-Video instructions here
4) Understand the basics of Blackboard
-Overview here
5) Know the FCC Resources available to you as a college student
-MyFCC Student Portal: https://myfcc.frederick.edu/
-Student Resources: https://frederick.edu/student-resources/student-resources.aspx
-Student Handbook: https://www.frederick.edu/handbook.aspx
-Gladhill Learning Commons: https://www.frederick.edu/student-resources/gladhill-learning-commons.aspx
-Learning Centers and Tutoring Services: https://www.frederick.edu/student-resources/gladhill-learning-commons/learning-centers-tutoring-services.aspx
-Know your instructor’s “Office Hours.” This is a time to seek help, ask questions, and get tutoring. You are not bothering your instructor during this time. It is set up for you.
6) Log on to Outlook email
-Instructions here
7) Contact and Request Disability Access Services, if applicable
-High School Special Education accommodations (extended time, IEP, 504, etc.) do not automatically transfer to college. YOU must request them and meet with your instructor.
-Disability Access Services DAS: https://www.frederick.edu/student-resources/das.aspx
Admission to CTC
FCPS students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 who are in good standing at their high schools may apply to a program at the Career & Technology Center. All programs are accessed through a competitive application process. When courses are over-enrolled, acceptance is based on attendance, grade point average, and performance during a shadow experience. For more information about the Career & Technology Center shadowing and application process check out the the FAQs.
**Students must shadowed the program before an application can be processed.**
Click here to learn more about the shadowing process at CTC.
Questions? Contact kristen.daly@fcps.org or erica.stull@fcps.org
College Visits
Need your transcript for a scholarship, club, honor society, MVA, or personal use?
If so, please request it through Naviance using the simple steps below.
Log on to Naviance https://student.naviance.com/oakdalehs
Click on the Colleges Tab (at the top)
Apply to College Column
Click on Manage Transcripts
Click on the Plus Sign (+)
Select “Other Transcript”
Please allow 1-2 business days to receive your transcript. A PDF copy will be sent to your FCPS email, not mailed. The email will come from Ms. Harding.
NCAA Release Form
Are you interested?
2024-2025 Frederick County Virtual School Registration
Sign up now if interested. Information attached below.
2024 VIRTUAL SUMMER SESSIONS
Pre-Registration Opens On Monday, April 15
Frederick County Virtual School (FCVS) provides online
courses for high school credit through two summer session programs.
To pre-register, students:
- Must be enrolled with FCPS and entering 9th-12th grade in the fall of 2024
- Need reliable and consistent access to a device and high-speed internet
- If necessary, students may check out a FCPS-issued Chromebook from their home school's User Support Specialist.
- Commit to 5-8 hours/week to be successful.
FCVS Summer Session Programs:
Virtual Summer Session (VSS):
- VSS is a 5-week program designed for independent and self-motivated learners
- VSS offers high school honors courses and electives
- Required to attend synchronous Google Meet sessions once a week with the teacher
Support Based Summer Session (SBSS):
- SBSS is a 5-week credit recovery program designed for students who need to retake a core course, and benefit from a structured day with support of a Virtual Mentor
- SBSS offers high school core courses
- Required to attend daily synchronous Google Meet sessions with a Virtual Mentor and weekly synchronous Google Meet sessions with the teacher
Click here for pre-registration information.
Pre-registration opens on Monday, April 15
Deadline to pre-register: Completed forms must be turned in to your school counselor by 3 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024. Enrollment is limited and many course sections fill quickly. Submissions are processed on a first come, first served basis.
Summer Youth Camps 2024
Summer 2024 Youth Camps
Bears staff host youth athletic camps each summer for individuals interested in developing their athletic skills in an enjoyable and educational environment. The camps provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate sport and our community by bringing together staff, current and former Bears athletes, and the young people from our community who will populate Bears rosters in the years to come.
We hope you decide to join us for a week or more of camp this summer. We are truly honored and privileged for the opportunity to work with the wonderful young people in our community. For more information or updates on additional camps, visit https://oakdaleathletics.com/camps-clinics
Volleyball Camp: May 28-30, 2024 (Registration)
- 5:00-7:30pm @ Oakdale HS
- Open to girls entering grades 3-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by Oakdale Athletics Boosters
Softball Camp: June 17-18, 2024 (Registration)
- 9:00am-12:00pm @ Oakdale HS
- Open to girls entering grades 4-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by Oakdale Athletics Boosters
Boys Basketball Camp: June 24-27, 2024 (Registration)
- 8:00am-12:00pm @ Oakdale HS
- Open to boys entering grades 1-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by Oakdale Athletics Boosters
Girls Basketball Camp: June 24-27, 2024 (Registration)
- 5:00-8:00pm @ Oakdale HS
- Open to girls entering grades 1-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by Oakdale Athletics Boosters
Cheer Camp: July 8-11, 2024 (Registration)
- 9:00am-1:00pm @ Oakdale HS
- Open to students entering grades 1-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by LOUYAA
Football Camp: July 15-18, 2024 (Registration)
- 8:00am-12:00pm @ LOUYAA Park
- Open to students entering grades 1-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by LOUYAA
Girls Soccer Camp: July 22-25, 2024 (Registration)
- 8:00-11:00am @ Oakdale HS
- Open to girls entering grades 3-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by Oakdale Athletics Boosters
Field Hockey Camp: July 22-25, 2024 (Registration)
- 5:30-7:30pm @ Oakdale HS
- Open to girls entering grades 3-9 (fall 2024)
- Sponsored by Oakdale Athletics Boosters
County Wide High School, College and Career Programs
Frederick County Public Schools offers many opportunities for students to explore career pathways, increase the rigor and value of their high school education, and prepare for college. These programs are open to all FCPS high school students. Some require shadowing for a day prior to applying and being accepted into the program.
- The Academy for the Fine Arts
- Career & Technology Center
- Frederick Community College Dual Enrollment program
- International Baccalaureate program:
- Navy Junior ROTC
For more information, see link below:
Frederick County Public Library
Summer Reading Challenge 2024 starts June 1:
This summer, come to the public library, explore your community, and read with Frederick County Public Libraries (FCPL). Daily reading lowers stress, builds empathy, and bridges educational inequities.
Read for at least twenty days this summer, and you’ll build a healthy new habit that can reward you with prizes! Use Beanstack to track your reading and destination visits. Earn tickets for each day you read or destination you visit June 1 through August 15 and enter your tickets into prize drawings.
Monthly prizes include gift certificates and admission tickets to local businesses and attractions.
Grand Prizes include: American Girl dolls, Chromebooks, kayaks, tents, and more.
For more information, visit: https://www.fcpl.org/programs-events/summer-challenge
Helpful Resources for Families
Mental Health Resources
The Maryland Department of Health released a “Student and Young Adult Resource Guide for Coping During COVID-19”. Click here to see it. It’s a handy, comprehensive guide created for secondary and college students to spotlight issues and find resources on how to help themselves and each other through the continued adjustment to pandemic-created changes. Many of the resources also support elementary students. The FCPS Mental Health Matters page can be found here. Students and family members who are experiencing difficulty may wish to contact the Frederick County Mental Health Association (MHA).
Walk-In Behavioral Health Services
The Walk-in Service has resumed seeing clients in person at their office located at 226 South Jefferson Street in Frederick for those who prefer to see someone face to face. They are also continuing to offer their Virtual Walk-In platform for those who feel more comfortable with that.
The MHA's call center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From intervention, a caring and supporting voice at a moment of crisis, to connecting to resources and information, dial 211.
Child Protective Services (CPS): 301-600-2464 Help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
Crisis Services: Dial 211 - Help when you feel really anxious or really depressed and need someone to talk with so that you can stay safe.
Maryland Anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233 - Report threats or situations that put your safety, or others' safety, at risk.
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 - Help if you are thinking about suicide.
Not My Kid: Our dynamic team offers trauma-informed prevention programs using best-practice strategies including:
• The IMBR model focuses on Information, Motivation, Behavior skills, and Resources.
• A peer-to-peer model with an emphasis on how to make healthy choices rather than on scare tactics.
• The parent-child relationship is an important focus to address risk and protective factors.
• A strength-based approach with caring adults, family support, and access to care. https://notmykid.org/
Tutoring at OHS
"TUTOR ME" Free Virtual Tutoring Sessions
- TUTOR ME is a free online tutoring service that provides subject specific tutoring, writing lab feedback for many types of papers, and SAT/ACT preparation for our FCPS students. Best of all, TUTOR ME is available to our students 24/7! Visit https://www.fcps.org/student-services/tutoring for directions on how to access this service. From there, you can see all of the subject areas available to students, as well as other additional information.
- Features include:
- An online lesson space with a virtual whiteboard - Demo Space
- Text editor and chat space
- Audio/video chat (although you do not have to use this feature or turn on your camera)
- A function to allow sharing of screenshots of work examples to assist tutors as they provide support
- More than 300 subjects from math to science, social studies and languages
- Directions for how students can access the service are here.
More information is available at the vendor website, www.tutorme.com and this Student Support Document.
Online Parent Portal for School Meals
Go to the parent portal at http://linqconnect.com/ where you can:
- Apply for meal benefits (FARM)
- View menus, meal prices (NO meal price increases from last year!) and a la carte prices
- Add money to student accounts (NO FEES SY'24!)
- Transfer funds between students
- View student meal transactions
- Set low-balance notifications
Meal Benefit Applications:
- If your family participates in an assistance program, please verify your student(s) meal benefit status with the FNS Office prior to completing an application.
- Click HERE for the online application in the LINQ Connect Parent Portal.
- Click on District and enter "Frederick" to see district list.
- Select Frederick County Public Schools (MD) to begin the application.
Student Meal Accounts: FCPS is no longer using MySchoolBucks
- Meal account balances from last school year are now on LINQ Connect.
- REGISTER for a LINQ Connect account to see your student(s) balance that will be available to use when school starts on Wednesday, August 23.
- You will then be able to add money, set notifications, view students purchases and more.
"Ready, Respectful, Relentless"
School Bus Stop Information for Parents
Have your child’s student ID and birthdate available to find bus information.
OHS Counseling Office
Nick DeWaal
9th and 10th grade Last Names A-D
11th and 12th Last Names A-DAM
Tara Ketteringham
9th and 10th grade Last Names E-KH
11th and 12 Last Names DAN-HOT
Judy Whims-McGraw
9th and 10th grade Last Names Ki-O
11th and 12 grade Last Names HOU-MILE
Ilana Blum
9th and 10th grade Last Names P-SO
11th and 12th grade Last Names MILL-SIMP
Christy Polce
9th and 10 grade Last Names SP-Z
11th and 12th grade Last Names SM-Z
Erin Pierorazio- Behavior Support Specialist
Kelli Connolly- Registrar
Diane Harding- Secretary
Debbie Nester