Oakdale High School
Weekly Bear News
Principal's Message
Greetings,
Happy Friday!! It has been an exciting and unusual start to the school year! I want to thank you all for your patience as we work through technical issues and refine our distance learning plan. Despite a few minor bumps, our students and staff are off and running with distance learning. As I write this, 99% of our students have accessed Schoology this week to work on their courses! This is phenomenal!!
During the course of the week, I was able to stop in to 41 classes to see students learning! I have quite a few more classes to visit, but it has brought me so much joy this week to see students working together with their teachers. We are finally reunited!
As a reminder, students should be accessing their Google Meets with their teachers each morning beginning at 8:30 (except for Wednesdays which begin at 10:00). Right before lunch, students meet with their SET teacher for social emotional learning on Mondays and Fridays with check-ins on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. During the afternoon times, students may be pulled for small group instruction with their teachers, but they should also be working through their course work in Schoology. It is recommended that students work on each of their courses every day. Also, please take a moment to complete the Google Meet recording permission form.
We’ve had a fantastic first week! As we move forward, I encourage students to reach out to their teachers as soon as they have questions. Our counselors, administrators, and secretaries are also here to answer questions when you have them. Please do not hesitate to reach out!
Wishing you a restful three day weekend!
Sincerely,
Lisa Smith, Principal
School Calendar
9/8/20-9/11/20
Return to Play
Various Fields
News & Events
Sienna Carey, currently a senior at Oakdale and in the leadership academy is hosting a virtual run/walk for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Exam Date: Wednesday, October 14
8 AM to approximately 12:15 PM - (Students report to the building by 7:30 AM)
Only students in grades 9, 10, 11 can register to take the PSAT
Use the following link to register: www.TotalRegistration.net/PSAT/210664. The site will be open on Thursday, August 27, at 7:00 AM and closes on Friday, September 11, at 11:59 PM. It is important to register and pay as soon as possible. When registering, be sure to indicate whether transportation (FCPS bus) will be needed.
The test fee is $18. Payments must be received via Total Registration by September 11. Those students whose payment is not received by September 14 will be removed from the test roster; their spot will be given to a student on the waitlist. Due to limited seating, late payments will not be accepted.
Questions - Contact Amy Pyles@ Amy.Pyles@fcps.org with questions regarding the PSAT.
Student Government Association Applications
All students interested in joining the OHS SGA must complete the following application (QR code) prior to 3:00 pm on Friday September 18th. The group will be capped at 75 members. Due to school closures in the spring there is NOT a requirement for previous service hours. Please email Elizabethm.mulcahy@fcps.org or Jessica.miller@fcps.org with additional questions.
OHS Library: We’re Virtually Open for Resources & Support
The OHS Bitmoji Library is ready for virtual visits! Come and explore our resources on the OHS Media Center webpage at http://bit.ly/OHSLIBRARY. All students should bookmark this page so that they can easily:
Link to the Library homepage
Find quick links to Databases, NoodleTools, LibGuides & Sora (digital books)
Get Librarian support via Google Meet
Contact the OHS User Support Specialist Larry Turner for Tech Support (click on computer image)
Put books on hold for curbside pickup
Join the OHS Library Schoology Group for continuous updates on all things library
Get book recommendations & more
Got questions for the Teacher Librarian? Email Renate.Owen@fcps.org
Guidance
OHS Counseling Office: We're here for you during Virtual Learning
Counselors are available for students' questions, concerns, and academic or mental health needs during this digital learning period. Students can contact their counselor via e-mail or Schoology message.
Nick DeWaal, Counselor
Last names: A-D (grade 9)
Last names: A-DAM (grades 10, 11, 12)
Nick.DeWaal@fcps.org
Tara Ketteringham, Counselor
Last names: E-KH (grade 9)
Last names: DAN-HOT (grades 10, 11, 12)
Tara.Ketteringham@fcps.org
Judy McGraw, Counselor
Last names: Ki-O (grade 9)
Last names: HOU-MILE (grade 10, 11, 12)
Judith.Whims@fcps.org
Carleigh Rich, Counselor
Last names: P-SO (grade 9)
Last names: MILL-SIMP (grade 10, 11, 12)
Carleigh.Rich@fcps.org
Christy Polce, Counselor
Last names: SP-Z (grade 9)
Last names: SM-Z (grade 10, 11, 12)
Christy.Polce@fcps.org
Schoology Groups
In order to keep students up to date, OHS has created Schoology groups for students by graduation class year (ex: class of 2022). General reminders for students in all grades will be posted on Schoology in the class specific group.
What can you do now regarding college applications?
Take a moment to view the Counseling Office presentation regarding the college application process here: https://youtu.be/DVh-JXCCBeQ
Please complete your Senior Information Sheet survey on Naviance (required for transcripts and recommendation letter requests). It has been assigned to you as a task under "What's New" on your Naviance Student homepage.
Look on your college websites to determine what type of application they accept (Common App, the Coalition, or a school specific application), look at due dates, and determine what you need for a complete application (recommendation letters, essays, resumes, etc.).
Counselors will begin meeting with every individual student in the senior class beginning in September to review questions you may have as well as to review your graduation requirements. Students will be able to sign up for an appointment slot starting September 8.
Official transcripts will be uploaded to Naviance within the next few weeks for colleges - we want to be certain that they reflect your accurate GPA and class rank before sending them electronically to your colleges. We have uploaded unofficial transcripts for students' use now - they can be found under "About Me" < "Home" < "Documents Shared With Me"
If you plan to take the SAT or ACT, sign up athttps://sat.collegeboard.org/register or www.actstudent.org. OHS is planning to offer a school-day SAT for seniors on October 27 (details to follow and subject to change).
Sign up for College Events in Naviance. https://student.naviance.com/oakdalehs The link can be found on the home page or under the colleges tab and "find your fit" "college events."
If you have questions, email your counselor! :)
MVA form for Learner's Permit Applicants, please visit our website:
https://education.fcps.org/ohs/ . The form is located under the Quick Links section. This is a new version of the form that allows the parent/guardian to verify school attendance while schools were closed due to COVID-19.
2020-2021 ONLINE Meal Benefits Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
or Click a PDF link below to print a paper version
2020-2021 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits Application-ENGLISH.pdf
2020-2021 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits Application-SPANISH.pdf
Need Help?
Child Protective Services (CPS): 301-600-2464
Help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
Crisis Services: Dial 211
Help when you feel really anxious or really depressed and need someone to talk with so that you can stay safe.
Maryland anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233
Report threats or situations that put your safety, or others' safety, at risk.
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Help if you are thinking about suicide.
Each year, the Maryland Public Television (MPT) hosts an informational financial aid segment, Ways to Pay for College. Here is the link from last year's program here. Participants of the program include representation from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and local college financial aid experts. The MPT will be hosting their 2020 financial aid program on September 24th with an element of interactivity in this event.
An email address, college@mpt.org, is being made available for students and parents to send their financial aid questions. Questions can be sent before the event. Some questions may be answered during the live broadcast. All submitted questions, whether included in the broadcast or not, will be answered via email by financial aid experts at Anne Arundel Community College, one of the partners in this event.
This year, an interactive online OVEE screening will be held on September 30th, during which viewers can watch an encore of the program, and a team of financial aid experts will be available to answer text questions in real-time. In addition, MPT will be releasing a newsletter within the week with further details. The newsletter will be forwarded as soon as it becomes available.
Admissions Virtual General Information Sessions (similar information will be shared at each event, we just wanted to offer multiple dates):
Tuesday, September 15, 6:00- 6:45 pm
Thursday, October 15, 6:00- 6:45 pm
Wednesday, October 21, 2:00- 2:45 pm
Monday, November 2, 6:00- 6:45 pm
Tuesday, November 17, 6:00- 6:45 pm
Admissions Virtual Open House
Saturday, September 26, 10 am- 12 pm
Virtual County Wide College Night
Tuesday, October 6, 6:30- 7:30 pm
FCC Testing Center – testingcenter@frederick.edu
This fall, Frederick Community College now offers 3 free options for students to complete placement testing online. Choose one of the options below to complete your testing free and online now. Your proctor will provide you with your next steps to proceed towards enrolling for fall classes.
**Photo ID is requires for ALL placement testing options**
Steps To Complete Free Online Placement Tests:
Option A: For Students with a Mac or PC testing virtually
1. Student who do not have a Mac or PC device and webcam with microphone, please use option B or C for your placement testing.
2. Students should check their email for an Examity® voucher, or request one using the Test Voucher Request Form.
3. Students should ensure the voucher lists all of the placement tests they need to take. Changes to the voucher can be requested by submitting the Test Voucher Request Form.
4. Students follow the instructions for creating an Examity® account and scheduling an appointment. Use the Quick Start guide for Examity (R) automated proctoring.
5. Students use Examity® software to complete a virtual online test. FCC covers this cost!
6. Students complete testing, results are sent to FCC automatically and make an appointment with an advisor.?
Option B: For Chromebook and all other device users testing virtually
Students review requirements for Virtual Proctoring for Placement (VPP).
1. Students schedule an ACCUPLACER test appointment for 13-week/September Start classes.
2. Students then receive a voucher code and Zoom meeting invitation with test appointment details at least 15 minutes before the appointment.
3. Students complete the test online with a FCC staff member through Zoom software.
Can’t test virtually? Come to campus for safe testing
NO WALK-INS, PLEASE!
Let’s keep our campus safe and healthy
Option C: *NEW* Placement testing is available on campus, Linganore Hall -104
1. Students make an appointment right away!
2. Students review the Guidelines for In-Person Testing Center Services During COVID-19 at www.frederick.edu/testing
3. Follow the Guidelines when you arrive on campus and please do not forget to bring your photo ID.
Learn more about what to do on test day
Please visit our website www.frederick.edu/testing for more information and to request a test voucher or schedule your appointment. For questions, email us at testingcenter@frederick.edu and we will respond within one business day.
Finally, if you know of any students interested in FCC, please have them fill out our prospect form online so we can contact them and market our events to them: https://app.perfectforms.com/PresentationServer/Form.aspx/Play/zETlAgcF?f=zETlAgcFhttps://app.perfectforms.com/player.htm?f=38FGggYn
8/20