Monday, January 24, 2022
Most of this is a review, but still relevant material.
Quarter 2 report cards - delayed
Given the high amount of students out last week, we have delayed the date teachers have to have grades finalized by. This means that report cards won’t be mailed out until the beginning of February. Grades are always available on Infinite Campus and if you have specific questions, please contact the teacher. Students who have been out of school for multiple days can still get an incomplete if needed.
Senior Parents
Yearbook is now offering ads for Senior Parents. If you order online the costs range from $80 to $300 and are available through Josten's website. If you don’t want to use the website, you can email Mrs. Turner for more information. christina.turner@rsu34.org . The last day to submit an ad is May 12, 2022.
Return to Play after COVID
On Friday, RSU #34 updated and instituted the district new SOP and Return to Play protocols - please see the attached link to update yourself on the new protocols and practices - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_zHuCsbx7cX3O0ThezkCWgNv8eIN6fQ-/view?usp=drivesdk
Minimum Class Eligibility
Athletes will have until Thursday, 1/27 end of school to get the required class minimums taken care of. OTHS students have had plenty of warnings regarding this and still, some have not acted on this requirement. They must schedule a time with school counselors to get this taken care of.
Minimum Class Eligibility -
Seniors - 5 class minimum (Athletics only - Honor roll still requires 6)
Juniors - Freshman - 6 class minimum
Pooled Testing
We have had some inconsistent results with pooled testing due to our courier not delivering our tests in a timely manner. Please be vigilant about checking for symptoms, tracking exposures and reaching out to Nurse Jana when you have a question, concern or a positive test.
Not signed up for Pooled 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 sign 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.
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.
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
Illness
Medical Appointments
Observance of Religious holiday
Family Emergency
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. Please call 827-3910 extension #2.
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:
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)
Have access to tax returns 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