Weekly Update

January 4, 2022

Schedule Changes for Semester 2

We will be starting schedule changes during the week of January 10th.  Guidance staff will be visiting study halls.  Please take a few minutes to read through the process and look at what classes are being offered in the 2nd semester.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aaPjmxDWhu57bto6iryOBWjo1WWxmGabdUijJivQdLg/edit?usp=sharing 

Semester 1 End/Credit Onlys

Students who have 10 or more unexcused absences in a class during the 2nd quarter and are passing the class will earn a CO (credit only) for the final grade.  Students will be able to earn back their grade by making up time outside of their school day.  Students who would like to arrange make-up time should see Mrs. A.Ketch in the guidance office.  Warning letters will be emailed this week.  Students will have until January 31st to make up their time.  

Early Morning Arrival

We are opening our doors at 7:45 for students who take the bus or must be dropped off early by a parent.  Students must remain in the Gym/Lobby area until 8:10.  If your student walks or drives and does not NEED to be here prior to 8:10 in the morning, we ask that you please have them arrive in the 8:10-8:25am window.  That is the period of time when the majority of our staff has arrived and we can most easily accommodate the supervision of our students in the hallways and in some classrooms.

Math Lab Update

There has been a high volume of students looking to get help during the math lab time.  We have expanded the support 2 nights per week - Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 7.  The support can be in person or virtual.  Students must email by 3Pm on the day they need the support.  Students can email mathhelp@hs.rsu34.k12.me.us from their hs google account to make arrangements. 

Pooled Testing 

We currently have over 300 students involved in pooled testing.  If you would like your student to be involved - you can still sign up at any point.

To sign up for Pool Testing: 

To sign-up a minor child - here is the link:

https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent/start 

If you are 18 or older and signing up yourself:

https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/invite-by-code 

Access Code:  X67ZUZ (This is a code for OTHS only - each of the schools in RSU34 have their own code.

Excusing Absences

Just a reminder that when you call your student as absent, we do need a reason to excuse that absence.  There are 5 approved reasons 

  1. Illness

  2. Medical Appointments

  3. Observance of Religious holiday

  4. Family Emergency

  5. Planned absences with prior approval (ie family trip)

Messages that are left without a reason will be counted as unexcused.  Extended illness may require a doctor’s note to excuse.  

Early College Classes

The area colleges have started their enrollment process for HS students to take classes.  Please reach out to your school counselor for more information.

Attendance/Automated Attendance Phone Calls - updated

We have started sending out automated calls for any student who has an unexcused absence during periods 1 or 2 that day.  It serves as a reminder for students who are home sick, for parents to call in to excuse their absence but also notifies parents if a student has missed a class during periods 1 and/or period 2.  The call will go out around 10:45 each morning.  If you have any questions, or need to excuse a student's absence, please contact Carrie Madden, at carrie.madden@rsu34.org or 827-3910 ext 2306.  

OTHS  Yearbook

The 2022 OTHS Yearbook is now on sale! 

The cost is $75

To purchase:    http://jostensyearbooks.com?ref=A03269000

Financial Aid Help for Senior families

Help is available for students and families completing the FAFSA.  Meredith Lee can help walk you through all the parts of the FAFSA.  

Before setting up an appointment make sure that you:

  1. Have set up your FSA-ID.  Students and parents need to have their own FSA-ID (https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm?appid=HRSA_BMISS_PRD

  2. Have access to tax return from 2020.  (Meredith can assist if needed)

To set up an appointment with Meredith - reach out to the guidance office at the high school.  827-3910 x2114 or email sue.stlouis@rsu34.org .  Meredith has evening appointments available as well as some day time ones.  

 

Masking Update and Expectations

The RSU 34 School Board is requiring all staff and students to wear a mask while in school until further notice. To maintain the safety of all school personnel, students, and our community, we ask that students wear masks to school, wear masks appropriately (over the mouth and nose) while attending school, and respect the expectation that has been asked of us as a school community. OTHS administration has put in place a three-strike system to support the expectation of proper mask-wearing: 1 - conversation and a reminder to the student 2 - conversation and call home to the parent/guardian to reinforce the expectation 3 - Administration Dismissal for improper mask-wearing. We are in this together and the best way to move in a direction that does not require masks or whole-school shut down is to practice responsible mask-wearing.

  • Update - our students are doing an incredible job with this request!  Thank you so much for your support!

If you have any questions, please reach out to us.

Thank you for all of your support.  

We are doing the best that we can for our kids!

Scott Gordon

Amy Ketch 

Jeremy Bousquet