Congratulations on a great first week! This week we begin a regular schedule as well as after-school Clubs. We also have a long weekend coming up with NO SCHOOL this Friday, September 1 or Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. And mark your calendars:

• PTSA Meeting: Tuesday, September 12, 6:30 pm
  
• Back to School Night: Thursday, September 14, 6:00 pm
• OHS Vaccination Clinic, Wednesday, September 27 from 1 - 3. See flyer below.
  

Chromebooks will be distributed tomorrow. If you haven't already, please read, sign, and return the Student Technology Device Agreement which was sent home last week and can be downloaded here Beginning of the Year Notifications and Forms along with other REQUIRED forms (SCORE Acknowledgement and Health History Information Form).

In addition, complete the following if you haven't already:

• Student Emergency Contact Form
• Authorization to Pick Up Form All parents/caregivers should come to the main office to sign students out for any Early Dismissal.

If students have trouble accessing their RPS Email or Google Classroom they can ask a teacher to reset their password. Student should be checking their email and Google Classrooms daily and whenever they are absent. Aspen Family Portal letters were distributed to new 9th graders last week. Consider using the free Grade Corner app which is a more user friendly method of accessing student grade information from Aspen.

The Virginia Housing Café will be open to our students for lunch on Wednesdays and Fridays beginning this week. The Café, which is across the street on Belvidere, has reasonably priced, hot food and snacks. It is also a professional office building so appropriate behavior is expected. Parents and new students should review the Virginia Housing/Open High Lunch Agreement and turn in if they haven't already.

Meet some of the Faces of Open High below! Also check out our featured Student Opportunities and information specific to the Class of 2024.

Finally, thank you to all our students for being more fully present with cell phones and headphones out of reach and out of sight during class time. Let's never stop working to make the Open experience meaningful! Life is short, so let's embrace the here and now.

With gratitude,

Clary W. Carleton

Principal

Meet two of our new teachers, Pamela Lohmuller and Jasmine Williams. Pamela comes to us from Huguenot High School where she has taught math since 2018, Jasmine comes to us from MLK Middle, but she's worked with our students for many years as the RPS online Health/PE instructor. We are thrilled to have them both join the hive! And if you're new to Open, Ryan Eldridge manages the office, along with school finances, the website, yearbook, graduation, chromebooks, and myriad other responsibilities not least of which is attendance. Students must sign in the office when tardy (No Pass, No Class), and a parent must come in to sign out students for early dismissal. Contact Ryan if your student must be absent. She can be reached at 804-780-4661 or reldridg@rvaschools.net. Please provide a note upon return to school after an absence if not before. On-time attendance matters!

We are here to support the transition beyond high school. To get started, make sure to do the following:

• Review the OHS Website and the College Planning Calendar.
• Sign up for a meeting with Micah (mdavis7@rvaschools.net) ASAP. See link below.
• Complete the Beginning of Year Survey for Brandy Paige (bpaige@rvaschools.net), your Future Center Navigator. She is available each Thursday in the Resource Room to discuss your life after Open. All students should meet with her during a free period or lunch.
• Complete this form when you meet with Micah, Brandy, or our GRASP advisor (Day/time TBD) so we know you're on track.
• Regularly check the Class of 2024 Google Classroom for college info and scholarship opportunities.
  
• Check out these Senior Project Ideas! If you're a budding filmmaker, please see Clary!
• Communicate with your Senior Class Sponsors, Caroline and Ryan.
• Enjoy your senior year!

VDH Youth Advisory Council – The Virginia Department of Health is currently recruiting students, ages 14-21, for a new youth-led council as part of its state-wide public health initiative. The council will provide students with the opportunity to advocate for and collaborate on a variety of public health policies and nonprofit projects. The deadline to submit applications is Saturday, September 30.

Email: cwashing@rvaschools.net
Website: https://ohs.rvaschools.net/
Location: 600 South Pine Street, Richmond, VA, USA
Phone: 8047804661
Instagram: @openhighrva

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialopenhighschoolpage/

Merchandise Store: https://tinyurl.com/nfp5yzay

PTSA: PTA Member Hub