Change of Progress Report Dates:

OCHS is changing our progress report dates to align with the K-8 progress report dates.  These dates are:
 
November 12 (is November 5 in Handbook)
February 11 (is February 4 in Handbook)
April 22 (is April 15 in Handbook)
 
The other dates listed for report cards remain as listed.

PSAT – On October 13, OCHS will administer the PSAT.  It will be given to all 9^th and 10^th graders and to 11^th graders who have signed up.

Many 11^th graders don’t think they need to take it, but actually taking it again is very useful and the best preparation for the SAT because:

• It's cheaper than the SAT - the SAT costs $47  (the PSAT is a $32 savings!)


• Students get back more than just a score, they get their answer book, their answers, the correct answers, and access to a customized online study plan.  If your student takes the SAT "for practice," all they get back is a score!


• If they do poorly on a part, it doesn't matter because it can't be used for college admissions.  Then they have time to get their score up before taking the SAT


• If they do very well, they can earn scholarships

Juniors can sign up until October 1^st in the Guidance office, the cost is $15.

Family Dining Day supporting the Oconee Area Resource Council on September 27, 2010

Where is the best place to talk with your kids? At the Dinner table! Please join us for national Family Dining Day at one of these participating restaurants with your family to talk about your kids favorite topic—them!  A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Oconee Area Resource Council to help us continue our prevention and education efforts in Oconee county.

 Participating Restaurants

• Barberitos Town Center & Epps Bridge


• Chef Ming’s Kroger Shopping Center


• Chicken Express Watkinsville


• Dairy Queen Experiment Station Road


• Jersey Mike’s Subs Epps Bridge


• La Parilla Market center


• Mirkos’s Town Center


• Scoops Market Center

Visit our website: www.oconeeconnection.org

 Grade 12 – New Scholarships

If you are a truly motivated, dedicated and involved high school senior, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is awarding $3 million a year in scholarships to 250 deserving students just like you. Apply online at www.coca-colascholars.org . The deadline to receive completed applications is October 31.

Grade 11 - Sign up for the PSAT

College bound juniors need to sign up to take the PSAT by October 1st.  Cost is $15 and can be paid in the guidance office.  This is the best deal for SAT prep out there, with the SAT all you get back is a score.  With the PSAT, you get a score, the test book, a copy of both your student's answers and the correct answers, and access to a customized SAT study plan from the College Board.  Don't let your student miss out on this opportunity!

Grade 10 – Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar

One outstanding tenth grade student from OCHS who shows great leadership potential can be selected to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar next summer. Please visit http://www.hoby.org/ to learn more about this potential opportunity. After reviewing the website, interested sophomores should see Mr. Guthas in the guidance office by October 15.

Grade 12 – New Scholarships and College Programs

Emory Scholars and Goizueta Scholars represent an impressive array of academic, cultural, and extracurricular interests and achievements. Emory Scholar awards are renewable for four years of undergraduate study, provided recipients maintain high standards of personal and academic excellence. For detailed information about the Emory Scholars program, please visit www.emory.edu/admission/scholars

The Mercer University School of Engineering is inviting OCHS to nominate 1-3 seniors to participate in their Engineering Scholarship Challenge on Saturday, October 23 in Macon, GA. Valuable scholarships will be offered this fall for this program. Please visit www.mercer.edu/engineering for more details and see Mr. Guthas in the guidance office if you are interested in attending this event.

High school seniors can win a $1,000 scholarship for their education through the SunTrust Off To College Sweepstakes. For complete details and to apply, please visit www.offtocollege.info

Please remember that all medications must be brought to our Nurse, Valerie Crump.  Students are not to have any medications with them at school.  More information about this can be found at 

http://www.oconee.k12.ga.us/files/filecabinet/folder128/Medication_Procedure.pdf. 

 If your student needs medication at school, please fill the form at http://www.oconee.k12.ga.us/files/filecabinet/folder128/Administration_of_Medication.pdf 

and bring to our nurse with the medication.

Grades 10-12- PROBE College Fair

Students and Parents are invited to attend the PROBE college fair on Monday, September 20 from 6:00-8:30 at the Classic Center in downtown Athens.  There will be representatives from over 100 schools from all over the state of Georgia and Southeastern United States in attendance.  You can pick up information, ask questions and even find out about scholarship opportunities.  This is a great opportunity to do some research and open up the lines of communication with you student about their plans after graduation.

 Grades 9-12 – Profiles in Courage Award

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation invites U.S. high school students to write an essay on an act of a political courage by a U.S. elected official. For contest information, registration, and to submit your essay, visit the Profile in Courage Award Program at www.jfklibrary.org .

 Grade 12 – New Scholarships

The Athens Area Human Relations Council, Inc. will soon be selecting senior students to receive scholarships at their annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet in January. Applications and complete information can be picked up in the guidance office. Awards of up to $1,000 will be offered. Applications must be postmarked by Saturday, November 6, 2010.

Students are eligible to be considered for a Gates Millennium Scholarship if they are an African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American.  Students must be a citizen and have attained a GPA of 3.3.  Applicants must also be enrolling in the fall of 2011 as a full-time, degree-seeking student.  If you meet these requirements and also meet the Pell Grant eligibility criteria, you are encouraged to apply for this scholarship.  Please apply at www.gmsp.org . The deadline to apply is January 10, 2011.

OCHS is again invited to participate in the 2010-2011 competition for Jefferson Scholarships to the University of Virginia. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation has always had as its primary purpose the goal of attracting to the University of Virginia the most promising students in the country. One senior student from OCHS may be nominated to enter this scholarship competition. You must have an exceptional class ranking, SAT/ACT scores and GPA to be nominated. Also, you must have an excellent record of community service or volunteer experience. Please see your guidance counselor if you are interested in being nominated.

There will be no school on the upcoming Labor Day holiday (Monday, September 6).  Classes resume on Tuesday, September 7.

School Pictures will be taken this Tuesday, September 7^th.  Underclass pictures will be taken throughout the day and seniors who still have not had their picture taken can do so after school

Yearbooks are on sale now!  Order your yearbook at www.jostensyearbook.com .  Order by September 13^th for only $50 – after that the price goes up!

Homecoming is Friday, September 17th. This year's theme is "When the Sun Goes Down." Check out this schedule of events leading up to homecoming!

Grade 12 – Yearbook Senior Ads

Parents! Time is running out to purchase your senior ad! If you are intersted in purchasing a senior ad in the upcoming 2010-2011 Legend yearbook, please download the order form and return it to Yearbook c/o Burger/Voyles by Friday, September 10! Space is limited, and ads are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, please contact yearbook advisor, Mimi Voyles, at mvoyles@oconeeschools.org.

Grades 10 -12 Prudential Spirit of Community Award

If you've made a difference through volunteering over the past year, you could win $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., next May - by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award. To apply, please visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/spirit and click on the "Apply Now" link and follow the onscreen instructions.   Once you have completed your online application, go the "Certification" page to either email certification instructions to your certifier or to print them out and hand deliver them. This must be completed by November 1, 2010 and the certifier can be your school principal, or the head of one of these officially designated local organizations: a county 4-H group, Girl Scout council, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or affiliate of HandsOn Network.