Friday Highlights

• December 11: OHS Winter Concert, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium

• December 13: Professional Development Day - Early Dismissal, 11:00 a.m.

• December 23 - January 1: Holiday Break

Monday: Periods 1 - 4, A Day

Tuesday: Periods 1 - 4, B Day

Wednesday: Periods 1 - 4, A Day

Thursday: Periods 1 - 4, B Day

Friday: Periods 1 - 4, A Day - Early Dismissal, 11:00 a.m.

Beginning this winter, all pay to watch sporting events will need to have tickets purchased online through GoFan:

• $5.00 for adults / $3.00 for students & seniors.

• FREE admission with Middle School basketball or Oxford Rec basketball uniforms

Tickets can only be purchased through the GoFan platform: https://gofan.co/app/school/CT67705

As a reminder from Nurse Dani, students are NOT allowed to carry medication with them. Please fill out forms on PowerSchool if you would like your student to have Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen or Tums in school. When you log on to PowerSchool, go to forms and check off the boxes if you would like your child to receive any of these medications when in need.

Please be aware that these medications may only be administered if the forms are completed on PowerSchool. Verbal permission is not accepted.

CT State law requires that all students in 10th grade have a physical assessment. This assessment serves to document adequate immunizations and any health issues that may impact your child while they attend school. The physical exam must be dated after January 01, 2024. The front of the HAR form must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian. The second page must have all *asterisks areas completed.

As a friendly reminder your child must be fever free (without medication) and has not vomited within 24 hours before returning to school.

As we start the new school year, we want to remind you of the procedure for early dismissals:

1 - Early Dismissal Note: If your student needs to leave school early, please send them in with an early dismissal note. This allows us to give your student a dismissal pass, enabling them to sign out on their own. There is no need for you to come into the school.

2 - In-Person Pick-Up: If you need to pick up your student in person, please bring your driver’s license. You will need to complete the dismissal process through Securly Visitor for security purposes.

3 - Contact Information: Ensure that your contact information is up-to-date, including who is permitted to pick up your child.

We appreciate your cooperation in making the early dismissal process smooth and secure.

Career Speaker Spotlight: We are thrilled to launch our Career Speaker Spotlight, where professionals from a variety of fields will share insights about their careers with our students during FLEX period. Students interested in attending can sign up via Google forms, which will be accessible in their grade-level Google Classrooms. Our first guest speaker will introduce the diverse and exciting opportunities available in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector on Friday, December 6th.

Senior Parents: The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open. We encourage students to apply as soon as possible to maximize their financial aid opportunities. Completing the FAFSA is a critical step in accessing grants, loans, and work-study funds for college or technical school. Visit FAFSA.gov for more information and to get started today!

Financial Aid Resource:

www.nasfaa.org: Consumer tips for students and parents as well as financial aid tools for completing required applications and avoiding common errors.

Course Registration Process for the 2025-2026 School Year: Advisory activities will be conducted this month to prepare students for the upcoming course selection process. All 9th-11th grade students will complete a graduation requirement checklist and a DRAFT course request form which can be viewed in the student’s grade level Google Classroom.

December FLEX - We will be offering future course planning support for underclassmen throughout the month of December by appointment through our calendar links.

Juniors:

Junior Parent College Information Evening

• Save the Date Thursday, February 6th - A College Information Session will be provided by the School Counselors at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Individual Student/Family Post-High School Planning Meetings: Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 21st and can be held in person or virtually. Students can begin scheduling their appointments now through our calendar links during their free period. The appointment link is titled Post Secondary Planning Conference, which is a 40 minute time slot. *Students are required to complete the OHS Brag Sheet (posted in the Class of 2026 GoogleClassroom) prior to their meeting. This is the revised letter of recommendation packet that will be used by counselors and teachers.

Parent Career Speaker Series: Parents, if you are interested in speaking to a group of students about your career path, please email Alicia Mancinone at mancinonea@oxfordpublicschools.org. We are looking for a variety of professions. Speakers will be virtually interviewed about their line of work by an OHS school counselor for 10-15 minutes around 10:15 A.M on a selected Tuesday. Presenters could opt to come into the building and have a table outside of the lunch waves after their interview to answer individual student questions.

Mancinone:

Grade 9: A - C

Grade 10: A - C

Grade 11: A - C

Grade 12: A - C

Angeley:

Grade 9: D - L

Grade 10: D - M

Grade 11: D - M

Grade 12: D - L

McRae:

Grade 9: M - Z

Grade 10: N - Z

Grade 11: N - Z

Grade 12 M - Z

The counseling caseload by grade level (above) and links to book appointments (below).

Mancinone - https://appt.link/mancinonea

Angeley - https://appt.link/sarah-angeley

McRae - https://appt.link/mcraea

Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly known as SAD, is very common this time of year as daylight hours get shorter. Seasonal Affective Disorder is brought on by the brain's response to seasonal daylight. According to Mental Health America, about 5 percent of the population experiences SAD. SAD usually starts in young adulthood, so adolescents are at risk for an increase in depressive symptoms this time of year. Therefore, it is important for parents and caregivers to be aware and recognize the signs and symptoms teens may experience. Commonly, SAD occurs in the late Fall/winter months and eases up in spring. Symptoms include those of depressive disorders, including: low mood, feeling decreased motivation and hopelessness, increased need to sleep or having trouble sleeping, weight gain, withdrawal from friends and activities that produce enjoyment, low energy, and increased thoughts of suicide or self harm. In addition there are symptoms of Winter SAD which include: irritability, finding it challenging to get along with others, oversensitive to rejection, heavy feelings in the arms and/or legs, and cravings for food high in carbohydrates. All of these symptoms can make it more difficult for adolescents to function both at school and home. There are evidence based practices that support the treatment of SAD. Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are two proven therapies used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Please review this article from Kids Health to become more SAD knowledgeable. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/sad.html

The Music Department will have their Winter Music Concert on Wednesday, December 11th starting at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. This will include the OHS Chamber Choir, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Voices of Oxford and the 8th Grade Chorus. Raffle tickets for the Booster Club’s Festival of Trees will be available during the concert.

Want to stay in the loop about upcoming performances, events, auditions and more? Bookmark our 2024-2025 Performing Arts Calendar for live updates on all things performing arts! (choir, band, and drama) Please direct any questions to marquardte@oxfordpublicschools.org and crooksj@oxfordpublicschools.org.

Yearbooks: Yearbooks are on sale and can be purchased by using the link listed below:

https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01100339

Attention Senior Parents: Parent ads are available to purchase! The deadline to purchase an ad for the yearbook is January 31, 2025. Prices vary based on the size of the ad. See the link below to place an order:

Ads: https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1673572

If you have any questions, please contact our yearbook advisors; Ms. Aldrich or Mrs. Campbell. Their email address is listed below:

aldrichp@oxfordpublicschools.org

campbellb@oxfordpublicschools.org

The Booster Club is excited to welcome everyone back for another fantastic school year. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have you as part of our amazing community.

• Who We Are: The Booster Club is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the experiences of our students, teachers and school programs through a variety of initiatives, events and fundraising efforts. Our mission is to support Oxford High School’s activities, arts and athletic programs that directly benefit the students. We are focused on enriching the school environment and building a strong sense of community among OHS families.

• Upcoming Meeting Dates: We invite you to join us at our upcoming Booster Club meetings, where you will have the opportunity to share ideas, get involved and stay informed about what is happening at OHS. Listed below are the meeting dates for this semester:

• Wednesday, January 8, 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m.

All meetings will be held in the OHS cafeteria. We encourage all parents, guardians and staff to attend.

Pizza with Santa and Friends: Kick off the Festival of Trees on Friday, December 13th with a delightful evening at our cherished Pizza with Friends event! Enjoy delicious pizza, festive cheer and holiday fun. While you are there, don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures with Santa!

Be sure to explore the Festival of Trees, where you can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, inflatables and carefully curated baskets. All proceeds support local charities, spreading joy and goodwill throughout the community this holiday season!

There will be musical performances by students of the OHS Music Department in the auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. with a brief intermission at 6:45 p.m. Stop by to support the arts and get into the holiday spirit!

The cost for pizza is $5 per person or $30 for a family of 5 or more. Enjoy the cookies and cocoa while listening to a story told by Mrs. Claus. Please be aware that registration closes on Wednesday, December 11th. Registration is required by clicking the following link:

https://bit.ly/2024OHSBCPizzawithSantaFriends

Festival of Trees: The Festival of Trees will be held on Saturday, December 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Shop from over 35 vendors to start or finish your holiday shopping and purchase raffle tickets for more than 40 beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, inflatables and baskets.

All of this takes place at Oxford High School, making it the perfect opportunity to celebrate the season with the community. Don’t miss this cherished yearly event!

Questions can be emailed to: ohsboosterclubpresident@gmail.com

Mid-term and Final Goody Bags: Goody Bags are back and are very popular with the students. The bags are a special way to show support for your child during midterm and final exams. Each bag features a personal message from you and contains a variety of items/treats. All bags are gluten free, nut free and braces safe. If your child has any other allergy, please note that on your order. Once your order is received with payment, the Goody Bag committee members will prepare the bags and deliver them to the recipient’s locker the evening before exams. Seniors will receive a special graduation surprise in their final bag.

Please use the following link to place your order: bit.ly/24-25BoosterClubGoodyBag

Babysitting Course: The OHS Booster Club is offering Adventures in Babysitting where you can get certified in first aid and receive CPR training. The classes will be held on Saturday, January 18 and Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Oxford High School from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. The cost of the class is $95. Space is limited to 15 people. You can register for the course by using the following link: https://bit.ly/BCBabysittingCourseJan2025

Get Involved: We are always looking for volunteers and new ideas to help make our school even better. If you are interested in getting involved, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your participation, no matter how big or small, makes a huge difference. Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Let’s work together to make this school year the best one yet! Sign up to be a member today at: https://bit.ly/2024OHSBCMembership

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

From the Principal's Office:

On behalf of the OHS community, we appreciate your support of our new cell phone policy. Your partnership has been invaluable in creating a more focused and engaging learning environment for our students. Thank you for helping us prioritize academic success and student well-being. Together, we’re making a positive difference.

As a result of yesterday’s school cancellation, we have rescheduled A’ric Jackson’s presentation to the student body to Wednesday, December 18. The assembly will take place during the school day and OHS will run a modified schedule, linked HERE.

December 9 marks the midpoint of Quarter 2. Students are encouraged to check their grades on PowerSchool and schedule appointments with their classroom teacher(s) during study hall or Flex period to discuss concerns specific to their performance. Finally, a reminder that midterm exams are scheduled for the week of January 20, pending any additional weather cancellations.

Enjoy the weekend, Wolverines,

Heather