Dear Families-
June 13th is a date where we'll be guiding 284 graduating members of the senior class through their last act as students within the Oregon School District. They are a group that has accomplished a lot during their K-12 journey. They have been high character, high-achieving students, athletes, musicians, and more. They are a service minded bunch who jumped at the opportunity to mentor and tutor younger students during school closure. They have inspired me with their persistence and their kindness. They have contributed to the culture of OHS and that impact will last long after their departure from Panther Stadium in mid-June. They have been through a lot and we are eager to celebrate and honor this amazing group of graduates this month.
Speaking of graduates... In the early 1990's there was a young and gifted student at Oregon High School. He experienced a lot of success as a high achieving young man who earned academic honors while also setting athletic records that still stand today. He also experienced a good deal of adversity while growing up here in the form of racial harassment. The stories of his experiences were chronicalled in the Oregon Observer at the time and became a focus of School Board attention to an atmosphere that had developed that was deemed "hostile" toward students of color.
The young man in the above story went on to be a tremendous success in college and beyond. He is still the all-time assists leader in Kenyon College basketball history and was named a USA Today Academic All-American. He is a highly decorated college basketball coach with one trip to the NCAA Final Four on his resume. He recently was hired as the head coach for the Marquette University program. He is Shaka Smart.
While at OHS, Shaka's teachers recognized him as a young man who was curious, tenacious and extremely talented. He credits his former high school coach, Kevin Bavery, as being one of the most influential figures in his life. Much like any high school student, Shaka respected the teachers and staff who were here to help guide him and his peers. The negative experiences of that time period though are things that Shaka has never forgotten.
We are committed to creating an environment where all of our students are able to develop their skills, talents and abilities to the fullest extent. We are committed to each and every student. We are committed to building a culture that is inclusive and supportive. It is our responsibility to do so. As the principal of OHS, I am proud of our students and their commitment to contributing in positive ways to the culture of OHS. It is important that we tend the work, hear our students' voices and prepare all of our graduates for success in a world beyond Oregon High School. We are proud of Shaka Smart's accomplishments and hope to be the kind of school-community that he would be proud of as well. We owe that to our students.
It's the final push, let me know if you need anything. As always, we're here for you.
Sincerely,
Jim Pliner
|
|
OHS Contacts:
Principal
W:(608)835-4301
C: (608) 772-5151
Assoc. Principals
(A-F)
W: (608) 835-4303
C: (608)695-7217
(G-N)
W: (608) 835-4323
C: (608) 213-7383
(O-Z)
W: (608) 835-4302
C: (608) 235-9608
Director of Athletics
W: (608) 835-4335
Counselors:
(O-Z)
W: (608)835-4367
(A-F) AVID
W: (608) 835-4366
Achieve/Oasis
W: (608) 835-4370
(G-N)
W: (608) 835-4464
School Psychologist:
(608) 835-4369
School Social Worker and AODA Coordinator:
(608) 835-4471
Attendance:
Phone:
(608) 835-4308
Fax:
(608) 835-7894
|
|
OHS Important Dates
*See senior events below
Monday, May 31st Memorial Day (no school)
Wednesday, June 2 In-Person instruction (note Wednesday)
Friday, June 4th Last Day of School
Monday, June 7th Drop-off of Chromebooks, Text books and supplies, 8:00 am-
|
Celebrating our Seniors:
Event: Dept. Awards/ Senior Picnic and Elementary Walk of Graduates
Date and Time: Friday, May 21st, 11:30- 2:00 pm
Awards: Department Awards in the OHS Main Gym from 11:30- 12:15.
Details:
- Seniors will be excused from fourth block for this event. Department representatives will award top students in their disciplines.
Senior Picnic: 12:15-1:00 pm outside at OHS
Details:
- OHS will provide a free picnic lunch.
Walk of Graduates: 1:00- 2:00 pm at OSD Elementary Schools
Details:
- We will load buses at 1:00 pm to take students to their respective elementary school for an opportunity to serve as role models for our younger OSD students. If you did not attend an Oregon Elementary we’d ask that you go to our newest school, Forest Edge on the bus.
-
Grads should have their cap/gown and stoles with them for the event. If you need to purchase graduation cap and gown you may do so here
- We will return by 2:00 pm.
Event: Senior Honors Night (virtual presentation)
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 26, 6:30-8:00 pm
Details:
- This event will honor nearly 90 OHS students with more than $60,000 in local scholarship dollars.
Event: Graduation Rehearsal
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 1st, 12:35 pm- 1:35
Location: Meet in the PAC, transition to Panther Stadium
Details:
- We’ll work on the line-up, processional, presentation of diplomas and the recessional cues.
- Do not need to bring caps and gowns however must be present unless receiving permission from administration.
Event: Graduation:
Date and Time: June 13th, 1:00 pm in Panther Stadium---
Details:
- Graduates must report to PAC by noon (12:00 pm)
- Must have caps, gowns, stole to participate
- Students should be dressed appropriately for this formal event.
- OHS will provide graduates with a special class of 2021 mask
- Students will be permitted to invite four guests.
- A decision will be made by noon on Saturday, June 12th if weather will force an indoor ceremony.
- Additional information will be mailed regarding graduation during the week of 5/24.
|
Last Days of School for Seniors
June 4th is the final day of school for all students in the OSD. For seniors, this is noteworthy because of the OSD practice of 10 days of quarantine for close contact does mean that there is a small risk, but a risk none-the-less, for a senior in attendance on June 3rd or June 4th.
Therefore, seniors will have an option to finish their year on 6/3 and 6/4 in a virtual or asynchronous fashion to avoid the potential for quarantines that would cost them the opportunity to walk at graduation. If you plan on not attending on 6/3 and 6/4 you must get the absence pre-approved by teachers who will inform you as to the obligations you will need to keep to finish their class in good standing. This will not count as an absence as long as you are complying with the attendance and work expectations (virtual or asynchronous) as defined by your teacher. These will still be days of obligation and all seniors are responsible for finishing required coursework.
|
Prom Social:
Date: May 22nd
Junior Prom Social Time: 5:00-7:00 pm
Senior Prom Social Time: 7:30-9:30 pm
Location: Tent in OHS parking lot in front of the football stadium
Cost: $10 per student - pay upon entry
Entry: ID, masks, and social distancing required
Guests: Only OHS Juniors and Seniors - no guests
Dress: Formal wear encouraged
Activities: DJ, yard games, photo booth, formal photographer, treats
Crowning of royalty: Juniors: 6:00 and Seniors: 8:30, crowning will be streamed by OCA media
|
Senior Awards/Scholarship Night
Wednesday, May 26
|
Panorama SEL Survey
OHS will administer the Panorama Social Emotional Learning survey during Panther Connections on Wednesday, May 26th.
The survey will ask students to self-reflect on:
- Social Awareness (awareness of other perspectives)
- Self-Management
- Emotion Regulation
In addition, the survey will ask students to reflect on their school environment by asking questions about:
- School Safety
- Sense of Belonging
- Valuing of School
We are asking that all of our students participate in the surveys, as their responses will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and the results will help us identify strengths and areas in need of improvement, and to set goals for continuous improvement in SEL. If a student doesn’t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they will be able to skip the item altogether. The responses to these surveys will be completely confidential. We are partnering with a third-party vendor to support us in administering these surveys.
If you have any questions about the SEL survey, please don’t hesitate to contact Candace Weidensee at 608-835-4004 or at cjw2@OregonSD.org. If you would like your child(ren) to opt out of taking the survey, please complete this form by Friday, May 21st.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and partnership with us.
|
OHS Summer Book Club
You’re invited to join Oregon High School's Equity Book Club! We are excited to announce the first book we will be reading and discussing this summer is This Is My America , by Kim Johnson. All OHS students, parents/guardians, and staff are welcome. At this point, our plan is to hold small-group discussions virtually using Google Meet. Please join by filling out this form by Tuesday, June 1st.
Book Summary: Two hundred and seventy-five days. That's how long 17-year-old Tracy Beaumont has to get her father, an innocent Black man, off death row. Every week, she writes letters asking for help from an organization called Innocence X. But they haven't responded, and time is running out. "This Is My America" is the debut novel by Kim Johnson. The book -- described as harrowing, powerful, and worthwhile -- deals with current issues of race, justice, and family.
Small-Group Discussions (virtual):
Wednesday, June 23, 6 - 7 pm to discuss pages 1-106
Wednesday, July 21, 6 - 7 pm to discuss pages 107-250
Wednesday, August 18, 6 - 7 pm to discuss pages 251-406
The book retails for about $15 online and at most bookstores.
|
|
|
2020-2021 OHS Theory of Action
When all OHS staff build authentic relationships with students, recognize each student as a learner with diverse individual assets and needs, and collaborate purposefully to:
- advance equity and social justice while utilizing culturally responsive teaching practices in ways that demonstrate an anti-racist learning environment;
- design and implement engaging and relevant tasks that are meaningful to learners and that require critical thinking, reading, writing, problem solving, digital citizenship, and reflection;
- leverage students' strengths while also giving each student what they need - equitable opportunities, feedback, and individual academic and social-emotional supports;
- measure and reflect on students' work; and
- adjust plans and actions based on evidence of students' learning,
then each and every student will grow as a healthy, independent learner and will be prepared for success at OHS and in future endeavors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
