We hope this message finds you and your family safe and healthy. The OHS Counselors recognize that students may need assistance during this time. If you need assistance from your counselor, please contact us via email. Counselors will be available to respond to email messages:
Monday-Friday from 9 AM - 12 noon.
Students Last Name A-DAM
Nick DeWaal, Counselor
Nick.Dewaal@fcps.org
Students Last Name DAN-HOT
Tara Ketteringham, Counselor
Tara.Ketteringham@fcps.org
Students Last Name HOU-MILE
Judy McGraw, Counselor
Judith.McGraw@fcps.org
Students Last Name MILL-SIMP
Carleigh Rich, Counselor
Carleigh.Rich@fcps.org
Students Last Name SM-Z
Chrissy Polce, Counselor
Christy.Polce@fcps.org
Students, it is important for you to check your FCPS email every day. As we navigate this new reality together, your counselor will be reaching out to you regarding grades, senior information, schedules for next year, among other things.
Runaway Child Prevention - Resources for Parents
Over the past 6 weeks, the Frederick Police Department (FPD) has investigated multiple reports of missing juvenile females. A common thread in these cases is that the missing girl leaves home without permission for several days to see a friend, and attempts to keep her location a secret. These cases are assigned to detectives, who attempt to track down the missing person through various investigative techniques.
It is likely that social distancing can be hard for teens who feel cut off from friends, and as a result, they may feel sad, depressed, hopeless, nervous, or angry. Please see the links below for signs that your teen may need help, as well as suggestions on how you can stay engaged with your child’s social life and promote emotional well-being during the pandemic:
https://www.parenteenconnect.org/learn-more/
Learn More | Parent Resources | ParenTeen Connect
www.parenteenconnect.org
Meet the brains behind ParenTeen Connect and explore additional parent resources on raising teenagers. ParenTeen Connect seeks to normalize the challenges that come with raising teens through interviews with real families—they’re here to show you that you’re not the only ones struggling.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/Teens-and-COVID-19.aspx
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/runaways
Runaways
www.missingkids.org
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children intakes reports about missing children, younger than 18 years of age, who have run away from a parent, guardian or state care facility. The risk factors for running away from home or state care are multifaceted, and there is no typical runaway.
For additional resources, parents can call the FPD Victim Services Unit at 301-600-1356, or the Mental Health Association of Frederick County hotline at 2-1-1 to speak with a crisis counselor for support, 24/7.
Information Contact: Sgt. Matt Carrado – 301-600-2104
A message from the OHS School Psychologist:
Hi Bear families. My name is Jeff Majors. I am the School Psychologist at OHS and can provide assistance with mental health issues impacting students. During this period of distance learning, I will be available to contact by email or phone on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm.
jeffrey.majors@fcps.org 240-236-8938
SUPPORT SERVICES: Our world has shifted dramatically over the past few weeks. Students and and family members who are experiencing difficulty may wish to contact the Frederick County Mental Health Association. (MHA)
The MHA's Call Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From intervention, a caring and supporting voice at a moment of crisis, to connecting you to resources and information, dial 211.
With the physical facility closed, MHA's Walk-in Behavioral Health Services has moved to an online telehealth platform. The program, and the services it provides, remains the same in all other aspects; and will still provide comprehensive safety/wellness planning, resource information, and referrals as appropriate.
To access: Go to www.fcmha.org and click on the yellow banner at the top to access an intake form for the service. After completing and submitting the form, information to access the platform will be provided. This can be accessed via computer, tablet, or smartphone (must have access to internet/cellular data)
The Virtual Walk-in Behavioral Health Service is operational Monday - Friday from 10 AM - 10 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM - 6 PM.
Help is available, if you or a loved one, friend or neighbor is hurting please seek help.
Summer Courses - Mount St. Mary's University
Mount St. Mary’s University is offering a variety of summer offerings perfect for rising and current high school seniors who wish to begin earning credits from an accredited four-year university. Our regional accreditation ensures that Mount courses will transfer to any university across the United States. The courses, offered remotely, include options in humanities, business and STEM. Last, and perhaps most important, students can take a three credit course for $550.00 during Summer, 2020. We are offering this special pricing to support high school students and their families who may be experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. https://msmary.edu/admissions/summer-courses.html
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program now has the ability to conduct, via free Internet based Webinars, the post-test interpretation (PTI) explaining ASVAB scores and guiding your students through the Career Exploration Program from a distance. View the attached flier for dates and times (every Tuesday in May at 1PM). Registration links are embedded in the flier.
While this activity is designed for students, parents and educators are welcome. This is an opportunity for the whole community to get an understanding of the true value of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program through first-hand experience. Please feel free to disseminate this information to anyone who might have an interest.
Once registered, participants will receive an automated email confirming their registration time and date. The Webinar will be conducted via Zoom - there is no need for participants to download Zoom on their devices. The Webinar link, Meeting ID and session Password will be provided in this email. If participants have their Use Access Code available, they will need it; if not, one will be provided; students should know the month and year of their test.
YOUR TEEN for parents (an online magazine, you might want to share with your parents) just featured the benefits of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program in an article linked below:
https://yourteenmag.com/teens-college/admissions/what-is-asvab
The George Washington University's Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (BLS) Department. This Summer 2020, GW's BLS Department will be holding its 4th annual Summer Immersion Program. This program is intended for high school students with limited laboratory experience to gain theory and skills performing hands-on biomedical laboratory techniques. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply. To be considered for the program students must have completed both Algebra 1 with a letter grade of B or better, and Biology with a letter grade of B or better. Unofficial transcripts must be scanned and emailed to mlsimmersion@gwu.edu with the applicant's name in the subject line. Students are encouraged to see their guidance counselor to determine how to obtain their unofficial transcript. Students currently enrolled in Biology must provide verification of enrollment and grade status.
This intensive program will be offered in two sessions. Students will be asked to select their session choice on the application. This year, our session one will occur from June 22nd - June 26th and our second session from July 6th - July 10th. While both sessions are typically held in-person, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, we have decided to move our first summer immersion session, scheduled for June 22- 26, virtually. In this arrangement, each day's session will be held asynchronously. Meaning students can complete the day's modules when it best suits their schedule. The modules will consist of labs, activities, and quizzes. If accepted into session one, the applicant will be provided an acceptance letter outlining information on how to access the modules and also how to submit a registration fee of $100.00 via credit card.
As of right now our second session of the MLS Summer Immersion program, scheduled for July 6-10, will still take place in-person at GW's VSTC in Ashburn, VA. If accepted into this session, the applicant will be provided an acceptance letter outlining information on how to submit a registration fee of $400.00 via credit card. Lab supplies and materials are included in this registration fee.
While we understand that due to distance some of your students may not be able to attend in-person, we hope they may find our virtual option appealing. Could you please pass on the above information to your student population as well provide them with the link to our website where our applications can be found: https://smhs.gwu.edu/medical-laboratory-sciences/programs/summer-immersion-program. The application deadline is May 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM EST.
BMEI will be offered during the following sessions:
NAVIANCE PASSWORD CHANGES
Students and Parents that have a password in Naviance that does not meet the new password requirements will be required to change their password upon their next Naviance log in attempt.
When a student/parent that has an email address on file goes to the login page and attempts to log in, an email with instructions on how to reset their password will automatically be sent to the email they have on file. When they attempt to log in, they will receive a message that states the following:
“Naviance student password requirements have changed. Please check your email in order to access a temporary password and instructions on how to log in and create a new password. If you do not receive the email, please contact your school.”
If a student/parent does not have an email address on file, you will receive a message that states:
“Naviance student password requirements have changed. In order to regain access to your account, please contact your school so that they can provide you with a temporary password and instructions on how to log in and create a new password.”
Please review the attached pdf instructions here: https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/GetFile.aspx?DocId=12653
A message from ACT:
As CDC and local guidelines for safety allow, ACT’s flexible scheduling offered throughout the months of June and July will provide students with reschedule options— without change fees—for June 13 to June 20 and for July 18 to July 25. Students may also make free test date changes from the June to the July national test date. In addition to three previously planned fall/winter 2020 national test dates in September, October and December, ACT will also offer a remote proctoring option for the ACT test, allowing students to take the test at their home on a computer. ACT will launch the testat-home option in late fall/early winter 2020 as part of its national testing program.
ACT will evaluate the remote proctoring solution as a possibility in the future for state and district testing programs and international administrations. More details about the remote proctoring option will be available in the coming weeks. In addition to these new testing opportunities this summer, students will have multiple other chances to take the ACT this fall: • ACT will continue to offer fall testing for states and school districts across the U.S., as it has for the past four years. • Students can take the ACT on campuses of hundreds of participating colleges with the ACT On-Campus solution. • ACT will be offering its new individual section retest option this fall for those students who wish to retake only one portion of the exam.
To learn more, visit www.act.org.
How to send SAT scores to colleges: https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/52/12332.pdf
Merit Aid: Helps students find merit-based scholarship opportunities before they apply to college. MeritAid.com is the first comprehensive web site dedicated to helping students with the college search by matching them to merit-based scholarships from across the country. Visit www.meritaid.com for more information.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Oakdale High School Athletic Boosters Scholarship - The Oakdale High School Athletic Boosters will award two (2) scholarships to the graduating class of 2020, one male and one female. Scholarship amount will be $500 each. https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/52/13119.docx
To be considered for the scholarship, the following requirements must be met:
Deadline: May 15, 2020
The OPHELIA Foundation, a nonprofit organization based on the principle of helping others, is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for our Class of 2020 Scholarships.
The Foundation will award five $ scholarships to deserving college-bound high school seniors in the DMV (DC/MD/VA) area who need funds to help defray the costs of pursuing a higher education.
To qualify for a scholarship, the student must be a graduating senior from a District of Columbia, Maryland, or Northern Virginia high school. The student must also meet the criteria set forth by the donors in the attached application and guidelines.
The Class of 2020 Scholarship application and guidelines are available for download via The OPHELIA Foundation website at: www.opheliafoundation.org.
Questions regarding the scholarship can be addressed to the scholarship committee at scholarships@opheliafoundation.org or toll free at 855-967-4354.
Deadline: May 31, 2020
FCC Foundation Scholarships
Beginning April 1, 2020, seniors may start applying for FCC Foundation scholarships for the fall 2020 semester. The application will be open through June 30, 2020.
Students will be asked to complete one general application which will identify any scholarships they may be qualified to receive. Students will be notified of awards in July. To accept the award, they will be asked to complete and turn in a thank you note prior to the award being made available in their student account. In order to expedite this process, a PerfectForm thank you note will be available for students to prepare, sign, and submit online.
Students can only apply online. No paper applications will be accepted.
Students can upload transcripts (official or unofficial), letters of recommendation, and other required documents directly into the system. OHS students who need digital copies of these items should e-mail their school counselor.
To apply, students will need an FCC student ID number, FCC email address, and password. If you do not already have an ID number/e-mail address/password you must first apply to FCC online at https://www.frederick.edu/admissions/credit-application.aspx to get this information.
Application Waivers
Students who qualify as homeless youth can receive price reductions and waivers for AP exams, ACT/SAT entrance exam fees, and college applications. College Board is responsible for administering AP and entrance exams and has information on how to get this cost waived. CB also provides up to 4 requests for waiver of college application fee for qualified students.
DISCLAIMER: