The Owl
The Newsletter of OECHS -- June 19, 2020
Summer Updates
As we all wait for Governor Cooper's announcement on the 2020-2021 school year on July 1st, OECHS, OCS, and CCCC are already making preparations of possible scenarios for instruction. Even if we are allowed to return for regularly-scheduled seated classes, social distancing and PPE (personal protective equipment) will be essential. Official word on the planned course of action for schools will not be made until July, but OECHS is working to try to stay ahead of any anticipated requirements for school opening under COVID-19.
To accomplish these requirements, the amount of students in seated CCCC classes will be limited. Some CCCC classes will also move online. That means student schedules (particularly for our Juniors and Seniors) will have some changes. As we work through all of this with CCCC, we will keep you updated!
Another change for this school year will be the absence of a Junior/Senior "Burrow". Last year, it was a crowded and popular place for students to go between classes to hang out or do work. This year, Juniors and Seniors will have access to R105 and/or possibly R106 if they need a place to work in their time on campus before, between, and after classes. There will still be weekly (required) Junior and Senior seminars, but the seminar room (R102A) will be occupied with Junior/Senior Seminar classes daily 9:00-4:30. That means the seminar room will only be open for seminars. Expectations and procedures for Juniors and Seniors will be sent out a little later this summer.
It is also safe to assume that Freshmen and Sophomores will no longer report to R105 and R101 before school begins, for morning announcements, and during lunch (at least, not at full capacity). Freshmen and Sophomores will report to their 1st period classroom when they arrive on campus in the morning. They will also have announcements, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Moment of Silence at the beginning of their 1st period class. Lunch will utilize 3rd period classrooms, R101 and R105 (in a limited capacity) and outdoor spaces (weather permitting).
Again, these are tentative plans that have been created as if we are coming back as normally as possible (and all are subject to change.) As the Fall 2020 semester comes more into focus, and OECHS receives official state and local directives, we will send out more information and guidance to families. Student schedules will be emailed out later in the summer. We are working hard to make back-to-school possible!--Mr. Strope
Remind Texts
For any families new to OECHS in 2020-2021 (or if you did not sign up for Remind last year), please click on one of the instruction sheets below.
Flipgrid -- Class of 2024
On the OECHS Class of 2024 Team page, you will find a post about Flipgrid. Please follow the link in that post to sign in to Flipgrid (using your OCS student email address) to record a short video, introducing yourself to OECHS teachers and fellow students!
CCCC MAT 171/172 Placement Test June 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 29th
Mrs. Propst will be working with the CCCC Math Department to offer the CCCC Placement Test for MAT 171 and 172. If you wish to "test out" of these courses and progress straight to MAT 271, then please sign up for one of the test sessions. Due to social distancing guidelines, only four students can test during the same session. Each session lasts for two hours.
This test is optional! Normally, OECHS students take MAT 171. Some students decide that they want to progress through all of the math courses at CCCC. To make that happen with the limited time that we have, CCCC makes this placement test to see if students are able to skip straight to MAT 172 or MAT 271.
Students that sign up, should receive a confirmation from Sign Up Genius and a reminder two days prior to testing. Students will go to the 1st floor reception desk at the CCCC Math/Science Building to report for their test. Results will be emailed out the following week.
If you took Math 4 during the Spring 2020 semester and you are interested in taking the placement test, please go to the following registration link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAAA29A4F58-mat171172
Senior Portraits
- With the discount code that Lifetouch is providing, the sitting fee will be $25.
- Students will be able to bring one guest to assist with wardrobe changes.
In their continued efforts to safeguard our employees and customers, Lifetouch will continue to follow ‘No-Touch’ posing and social distancing will be implemented.
Photographers will not make physical contact and will keep a 6ft distance from subjects, customers and employees.
All Lifetouch employees will wear PPE.
An employee will assist with the check in process with the proper barrier in place.
The Tux & Drapes will be steamed/sanitized in between each use as well.
Emails, texts, and a Remind message will be sent to students and/or parents as we get closer to the two week registration window.
Below you can find a flyer with more information. Remember, the registration link will not be open until two weeks before the portrait session!
Textbook and Calculator Drop-off
Thank you to those that came by the past two weeks to return textbooks, calculators, and other OECHS owned items. If you were unable to drop items off, please come by the following dates and times so we can ensure we are following social distancing guidelines:
- June 22nd (9:00-3:00)
- June 23rd (9:00-3:00)
- June 24th (9:00-3:00)
- June 25th (9:00-3:00)
Yearbook and AP World History Textbook Pick-Up
We have a few yearbooks that have not yet been picked up! Our new AP World History textbooks have arrived as well. All rising sophomores need to come by and pick one up so they can complete their introductory course assignment before the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester.
You can pick these items up as you return any Spring 2020 textbooks or borrowed calculators in CE108 on the following days:
- June 22nd (9:00-3:00)
- June 23rd (9:00-3:00)
- June 24th (9:00-3:00)
- June 25th (9:00-3:00)
AP--June 30th Deadline for Free Score Reports
Attention Rising Juniors (that just took AP exams):
June 30 is the deadline for students to sign in to My AP and indicate the college, university, or scholarship program that should receive their free score report. There are many benefits to sending scores now—namely, saving time and money on college tuition:
For students attending college in the fall, using their free score send is the best way to make sure the school of their choice receives official scores in time to award them the credit and/or placement that they’ve earned. It also helps them register for the right courses.
For students in their freshman, sophomore, and junior year, sending a score report helps them stand out to colleges because it indicates an early interest in those schools.
A student's score report will include their AP scores from this year and any previous years. They receive one free score send each year that they take an AP Exam, but if they want to send AP scores to additional colleges, they can do so for a fee. Details about how students should submit their scores are on the AP Scores website.
Summer Assignments (Including English IV)
Please note that we have also included a summer assignment for English IV. Even if a new part-time English IV teacher is hired, we will utilize this assignment at the beginning of the year!
AP World History textbooks can be picked up at OECHS. See the section above for days and times! AP World History has changed through The College Board to focus on 1200-present. The summer assignments are designed to help students get a little background knowledge and to provide context for learning that will occur this upcoming year.
Assignments for English I/English II, English IV and AP World History can be found below.
ACT (and SAT)
As our own administration of the ACT has been rescheduled two times already, it may be a good idea for rising seniors to check out the opportunities this summer and fall to take the ACT and SAT college entrance exams on their own as well. Information for SAT and ACT can be found at:
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid19.html#student-parent
https://pages.collegeboard.org/sat-covid-19-updates
Our rising Juniors should start preparing for the Spring 2021 administration of the ACT. ACT Academy is a great place to start! All rising Juniors need to create an account at ACT Academy and begin prepping for the exam. It is never too early to prepare!
SAT Exam (Fall 2020) Registration
Many students take the SAT, in addition to the state-mandated ACT to better their chances for college admission. The College Board is working to ensure that students will have opportunities to take the SAT® to make up for this spring's lost administrations. The College Board has announced that registration is now open for the fall SAT test administrations.
All students can register for the November or December SAT administration at this time.
To accommodate students who were impacted by recent cancellations, The College Board is offering priority registration for August, September, and October administrations to the following groups:
- Students who registered for June SAT or SAT Subject Tests™ and didn't cancel their registrations
- Students in the class of 2021 without a test score
- Students in the class of 2020 without a test score
For students who were registered for the June SAT or SAT Subject Test administrations only: Students can simply transfer their registration to any of the upcoming SAT dates. They won't be charged a change fee if they transfer their registration before July 31. When they log in to My SAT, they should select the option to change their registration. Then, they should follow the rest of the required steps until they get to the order confirmation.
For students who are eligible for a fee waiver: As always, eligible students will be able to take the SAT with a fee waiver. To learn more about weekend fee waivers, visit our SAT fee waiver page.
Adding Capacity Throughout the Summer
The College Board is working hard throughout the summer to add more test centers and available seats, so The College Board encourages those who haven't yet had an opportunity to test to keep checking back. They also provide updates periodically via the AP website and social media when they add new test center capacity. They may have limited capacity in certain areas due to public health restrictions, so if students can’t find a nearby test center with availability, they should be sure to check other dates.
SAT (The College Board) Opportunity Scholarships
https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/?SFMC_cid=EM321647-&rid=81559025
A flyer explaining the steps to the scholarships can also be found in the downloadable PDF below:
Checklists for Rising Seniors
https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
Rising Seniors should also have a Common App login (as we reviewed how to create an account in seminar this past year). Go to Common App and start working on your college admission essay! This one application will work for hundreds of colleges!
Here are also a few checklists that will help keep us all on pace to graduate in May:
Onslow Early College High School
Email: james.strope@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/onslowearlycollegehs
Location: CE109, 444 Western Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28546
Phone: 910-938-6702
Twitter: @OnslowECHS