OHS Student Services Newsletter
February
REMINDER: Course Requests are Due in Skyward by Wednesday, February 8th!
Senior Seminar Pride Schedule
All seniors have taken a brief survey to identify specific supports needed as they prepare to begin their transition to an apprenticeship, 4-year college, 2-year college, the military, or the workforce. Students will be able to sign up for or will be requested to attend the following seminars:
Week 1
Tuesday, February 7th in the REC - AP/IB/PLTW Transfer Credits
Tips and tricks on how to ensure your hard work pays off and that you get credit, scholarships and or advanced placement for your AP, IB, TC or PLTW Classes.
Wednesday, February 8th in the REC - Scholarships
Come explore all the scholarships available to support tuition costs at 2- and 4-year colleges. So many great local scholarships! Come hear about all the great opportunities available to the Class of 2023! We will review a variety of scholarship resources available for scholarship searches and provide time for exploration and questions.
Wednesday, February 8th - Military Boot Camp Experiences
Learn how the military pathway is an opportunity for career training and can help cover the cost of college!
Friday, February 10th in the REC - Interviewing and First Impressions
Looking for tips and tricks on how to impress interviewers and make a lasting first impression? Look no further! Our guest speaker will talk with students about how to present yourself in an interview in the way you dress, talk, and act.
Week 2
Friday, February 17th in the REC - Exploring Apprenticeships
Learn more about the registered apprenticeship pathway after high school where you get paid to learn a specific skill. Jesse Gitter from the Department of Workforce Development will be here to share resources.
Friday, February 17th in the REC Conference Room - College Accessibility Options
Sam Tietgen and Lynn Gurke from WCTC will talk about the various support opportunities in education after high school and how to get in contact with services for students with disabilities.
Week 3
Tuesday, February 21st in the REC - Campus Security: Marquette Security
Tips and tricks on how to navigate a college campus safely!
Friday, February 24th in the REC Room 366- AP/IB/PLTW Transfer Credits
Tips and tricks on how to ensure your hard work pays off and that you get credit, scholarships and or advanced placement for your AP, IB, TC or PLTW Classes.
Feel the Love February
Please join Student Council and Rho Kappa in celebrating Feel the Love February the week of February 13th-17th. The theme this year is Self Care and Mental Health. We have some great events lined up for the week!
Week of February 13th-17th
Student Council will be fundraising by selling candy bags all week. The donations will go to Children's Hospital mental and behavioral health programs. We will be able to provide comfort items to individuals receiving treatment.
Rho Kappa will provide a daily Mental Health Minute where they will provide mental health and self care tips. There will also be Thought Talks scheduled throughout the week!
Tuesday, February 14th during Pride
Rogers Behavioral Health will host a pride focused on Self Care and Mental Health. Sign up at oconpride.org under "Wednesday's at the REC"!
Wednesday February 15th during Pride
Join Betsy Miller, Clinical Psychology Doctorate student and Ed de St. Aubin, PhD, Psychology professor from Marquette who will present an overview of the scholarship in psychology that examines the ways in which people create/find happiness, purpose, and meaning. We will include practical advice regarding steps we can all make to move towards a more fulfilling life. Sign up at oconpride.org under "Wednesday's at the REC"!
Wednesday February 15th from 6:30pm-8:00pm
The Wednesday's at the REC session on February 15 will also host a panel of mental health professionals from OHS, Rogers Behavioral Health, and Children's Hospital. They will discuss their careers and training. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in the mental health or psychology field after high school! Sign up here!
Summer School Registration
Report Cards Posted January 31st
No School Reminder
ACP Supports
Scholarships
Scholarships continue to be added to our scholarship grid and our website for our Class of 2023. Keep watching the website for new updates! This is an important time to stay up to date on all the new scholarships coming through!
Check out the info below on how to access this information. Our website now has a search engine to find available scholarships! Prides will continue to added for scholarship exploration and consultation!
OHS WEBSITE: Local Scholarship Grid : highlighted scholarships are updated with application and new deadline!
HERE ARE SOME GREAT LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO CHECK OUT ON THE GRID:
- CHUCK PETERSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 2/13
- WI TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 2/17
- OCONOMOWOC SCHOLARSHIP FUND: DUE 3/1
- OCONOMOWOC SCHOLARSHIP FUND - GEORGE MARKHAM SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/1
- OCONOMOWOC WOMAN'S CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/1
- IXONIA VOLUNTEER FIREMAN'S ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/3
- LILA DRAPER BURTON SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/10
- GFWC-WI HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/15
- JAMES W. SCHMITZ SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/23
- LAKELAND OFFICIALS SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/31
- OCONOMOWOC VETERAN'S MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 3/30
- MEADOWVIEW STAR SCHOLARSHIP: DUE 4/1
- WAUKESHA DEPUTY SHERIFF ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP 4/1
- IMAGINE A DAY, COURTNEY BELLA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP: 4/2
OHS ACT Prep Schedule
The Wisconsin Test Prep course consists of seven sessions that focus on all four ACT® test subject areas. Because our curriculum uses actual ACT® test problems, students gain a distinct competitive edge on test day. For those students choosing to take the writing test, we include preparation during the reading session.
Below are the schedules for the ACT Test Prep Courses at OHS:
Upcoming Opportunities for OHS Students at WCTC
Are you a current sophomore or junior interested in participating in a Health Science Youth Apprenticeship as a Nursing Assistant during the 2023-24 school year? If so, you and your parents/guardians are invited to join us for an information session to learn more about how you can get a jump start on a career in healthcare by enrolling in a Nursing Assistant class at WCTC during the summer of 2023. Click here to see the information night flyer.
Dual Enrollment Academy Information Night - Thursday, February 9th from 5:30-7:30pm (any student interested in the Dual Enrollment Academy must attend one of these)
In WCTC’s Dual Enrollment Academy, you can explore high-demand fields and earn college credit while still in high school. This program helps ease the transition from high school to post-secondary education, giving you insight into college academics and a jump start on programs. Click here to register for the Information Night!
WCTC Open House - Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 3:00-7:00pm
This is a great opportunity to see programs at WCTC and participants who attend the event will receive a voucher to waive the WCTC $30 application fee. Click here to learn more about WCTC Open House.
Excelerate Info Night - Tuesday, February 7 from 5:30-7:30pm
Come take a closer look during an upcoming Excelerate Info Night! Recommended for parents and students in grades 10-11, this information session will cover the steps and deadlines to get started next fall. WCTC staff will be on hand to answer questions and help you get started. Click here to view the Excelerate Info Night flyer.
WCTC - Spring Semester Dual Enrollment Newsletter
Washington County & UWM at Waukesha Visit Events
Meet UWM at Washington County and UWM at Waukesha
- The 365-degree, immersive campus preview experience!
- Holistic presentation about our academics, degrees and options, student life, financial savings, and more!
- Sample mock lecture
- Guided campus tour
- Meet with current students and staff
- Programs run 5:30p-8:00p
Thursday, February 16: UWM at Waukesha event registration: https://uwm.edu/undergrad-admission/visit/meet-uwm/#meet-waukesha
Early College Credit Program Visits at UWM at Washington County and UWM at Waukesha
- Discover the significant academic and cost advantages of starting college while still in high school!
- Learn about the entire application and enrollment process
- Guided campus tour
- Programs runs 3:15p-5:00p
Monday February 13: UWM at Washington County event registration: https://admissions.uwm.edu/register/WSHECCP
UWM at Waukesha Nursing BSN Visit
- Direct admit to the Pre-Nursing program!
- Learn about completing your entire BSN degree affordably at UWM at Waukesha!
- Know about the application review and portfolio process to make your application stand out!
- Guided campus tour
- Monthly visits run 5:30p-7:00p
Military Visit Dates
Army
February: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
Marines
February: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
Show me the Money! Scholarship Application Support
Wednesday, February 1st
Explore all the scholarships available to support tuition costs at 2- and 4-year colleges.9th-11th grade students: Sign up for this Wednesday at the Rec during pride! Search Wednesday's at the Rec in pride.
12th grade students: Use this link to sign up for this Wednesday at the Rec. This session will start at 6:30pm in the REC. Bring your family!
Resources for College
Join us for an hour focused on mental health and the stressors students and parents are faced with during the college planning process. The University of Whitewater Health and Counseling Services will discuss how students and families can handle the stressors that present for high school students when preparing for their futures in college.
Speakers will review services available on campuses that help ease the transition between high school and university, as well as ways for families to guide students who may feel overwhelmed about ACT test scores, the application process, and awaiting decisions from universities. It is a time to ask questions or just listen!
Sign up here to attend this valuable event!
Any questions, please contact Susan Verhagen, Counselor, at verhags@oasd.org.
Feel the Love February
Wednesday February 15th during Pride
Join Betsy Miller, Clinical Psychology Doctorate student and Ed de St. Aubin, PhD, Psychology professor from Marquette who will present an overview of the scholarship in psychology that examines the ways in which people create/find happiness, purpose, and meaning. We will include practical advice regarding steps we can all make to move towards a more fulfilling life. Sign up at oconpride.org under "Wednesday's at the REC"!
Wednesday February 15th from 6:30pm-8:00pm
The Wednesday's at the REC session on February 15 will also host a panel of mental health professionals from OHS, Rogers Behavioral Health, and Children's Hospital. They will discuss their careers and training. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in the mental health or psychology field after high school! Sign up here!
School Announcements
Launch Your Future Month is Coming this March!
The ACT exam is part of our Launch Your Future Month for our juniors. Mark your calendars for several events to help our Raccoons to start committing to post-secondary plans.
Thursday, March 2, Friday, March 3, and Monday, March 6 PRIDE: Final Prep Prides to review tips and tricks for the Statewide ACT Exam
Tuesday, March 7 (7:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.): Statewide ACT Exam
Wednesday, March 8 (6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.): Career and College Symposium
Friday, March 17 (9:00-11:00 a.m.): Post Secondary Exploration Field Trips
MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!
Reminder to Graduating Seniors - Fill Out the Diploma Name Form!
AP & IB Exam Calendar
Family-Teacher Conferences - Thursday, February 23rd from 3:30pm-7:25pm
Family Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 from 3:30 – 7:25 p.m.
All families must register for Conference time slots on Family Access prior to 3 p.m. on February 22nd. No drop-ins will be accepted.
Teachers will be located in their classrooms, so families should print their child’s schedule prior to coming to the event. Maps of the school will be available in the Lobby of the main entrance. Please arrive about 5 minutes before your first scheduled conference to allow for travel time.
Registration for Family Conferences will open to all students on Monday, February 13th at 12:00pm, and spots will fill quickly, so reserve your spot as soon as you can. Time slots will begin at 3:30 pm and be in 10 minute increments. We will be strict with the 10 minute conference times. We recommend that you schedule first with teachers in whose class your student is struggling the most. There will be five minutes in between conference times to allow for travel time.
Students are encouraged to attend Conferences with their families.
We know you care about your student’s learning and want to stay involved with their progress. If you have a question for a teacher or cannot make it to the school the night of Family Conferences, you can email or call teachers at any time; they have flexible time set aside throughout the year to conduct these communications with you outside the school day.
To sign up for a 10 minute conference time slot with your student’s teacher(s), please log into Family Access and follow the attached instructions.
School Counselors will also be available for 15 minute conferences. You can schedule those appointments by using the You Can Book Me link.
We look forward to giving your student great feedback and to hearing ideas from you as to how your children advance in their learning.
OVLC Registration Information
Families who wish to register their child in our Full or Part-Time Oconomowoc Virtual Learning Community (OVLC) for the 2023-2024 school year will need to register their student through Family Access between Jan. 30- Feb. 15, 2023.
Please log into Family Access and select “Online Forms” along the left side of the screen. Click on the blue “Fill out Form” link next to the 23-24 OVLC Registration form on the next screen. Last, select the full/part time options you wish to register for.
When registering, please indicate your interest in the following OVLC enrollment options. Students registering for the OVLC will still complete the regular course request process by completing their grade level request form. After you indicate your interest in enrolling in the OVLC, your child’s counselor will contact you to refine your course selections based on courses available each semester in the OVLC. Students will still complete their course request process in Skyward, but only parents/guardians may select the OVLC option in their Family Access.
OVLC Full Time (3-4 classes/semester): Semester 1 & Semester 2, Semester 1 Only, Semester 2 Only
OVLC Part Time (1-2 classes/semester): Semester 1 & Semester 2, Semester 1 Only, Semester 2 Only
For more information about the OVLC, a course list, and detailed registration instructions, please click here.
For students who intend to also enroll in Dual Enrollment Academy, Building Trades 3, Seminar Digital Communications, Career Internship, Youth Apprenticeship, or the IB Programme (International Baccalaureate), schedule ideas are available by clicking here to assist families with the course selection process and with how the OVLC program can pair with these programs.
School Climate Survey
On Monday, February 6th during Pride Homeroom, our school is taking part in the School Climate Transformation Grant sponsored by the Department of Public Instruction. The evaluation of this grant includes a survey that asks students their thoughts regarding their school’s climate. The survey items focus on assessing whether students feel safe in school and whether they feel strong connections to the school and school staff. Since one of the goals of the School Climate Transformation Grant is to reduce substance use, several survey items ask about alcohol and drug use.
Students will be asked to complete an anonymous, computer-based questionnaire that takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. They will take the survey during regular class time.
Completing this anonymous survey will cause little or no risk to your child. The only potential risk is that some students might find certain questions to be sensitive.
The survey has been designed to protect your child’s privacy. Students will not put their names on the survey and it does not ask for student IDs or any other individual identifiers. The school will not have access to individual students’ answers and no class or student will ever be mentioned by name in a report of the results. Your child will get no benefit right away from taking part in the survey. However, the results of this survey do help students by providing schools with information that is used to promote healthy student behaviors and supportive learning environments. We would like all selected students to take part in the survey, but the survey is voluntary. No action will be taken against you, or your child, if your child does not take part. Students can skip any question that they do not wish to answer. In addition, students may stop participating in the survey at any point without penalty. If you have questions about the survey, you may ask your child’s teacher or school counselor. If they cannot answer your questions, they can direct you to the proper person at the Department of Public Instruction.
If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please complete the opt-out form, return the form to the school no later than Friday, February 3. The form can be emailed to muellera@oasd.org or dropped off in the OHS Student Services office. Signing and returning this form will dismiss your child from taking the survey. If you have no objection to your child taking part in the survey, you should do nothing with this form. Thank you.
DESSA Self-Assessment
In order to prepare students for career, college, and life readiness, our students in grades 9 and 10 were asked in the fall and will be asked again during Pride Period on February 6 to take the DESSA (Devereux Student Strengths Assessment) self-assessment, which asks students to self-identify life-ready social and emotional strengths in the following areas:
Self Awareness
Self Management
Self Directed Behavior
Social Awareness
Relationship skills
Personal responsibility
Decision making
Optimistic thinking
The self-assessment itself takes approximately 5-7 minutes for each student to complete, and it includes 55 questions that are positively worded to highlight students’ strengths.
Students receive immediate feedback about their life-ready strengths, and the DESSA self-assessment system also includes an opportunity for students to choose a strength and act on that strength and to set goals to improve their life-ready skills, pairing these goals with specific strategies that students can use right away to grow their skill set. The DESSA concludes with an opportunity for students to identify a personal goal they have (ex: Get a passing grade in Algebra I) and walks them through a process of setting a SMART goal that they can review at any time. When students take the DESSA again in February, they can reflect on their progress and set new goals for themselves.
The DESSA is aligned both with the OASD’s Strategic Plan, particularly in the area of Educational Quality and Culture, and in our efforts at OHS to assist students in developing their Academic and Career Plans.
Students identified as in need of support in several competencies may qualify for more support during Pride Period to teach these specific life readiness skills and support students with growth strategies, and families would be contacted individually if an opportunity arises for an extra 6-8 week boost in a small group setting. Overall results may be used to develop lessons during Pride Period for students based on sub-skills students may need additional practice with.
The Aperture system, where the DESSA is delivered, offers a “family/parent portal” on their website that provides resources, tips, and strategies to parents on supporting their child’s development. To view additional information about the DESSA, please visit http://www.ApertureEd.com . If you would like to opt-out of this assessment, please email Ms. A. J. Mueller at muellera@oasd.org by Friday, Feb. 3. Families wishing to view a copy of the DESSA may do so in our Student Services Office.
RN Substitute Needed
Resources
Healing Hearts Family Grief Support Group (Click image for more information)
Summer Camps at WCTC
Nitro-X Automotive Camp
June 26-30, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | $125
During this week-long camp, middle school students work in pairs to build and modify a remote-controlled (RC) vehicle and race their vehicle on the last day of camp. They will also be introduced to career opportunities in automotive and truck maintenance programs while enjoying field trips to three local businesses. Learn more!
Find My Future: Hands-on Career Exploration Summer Camp for High School Students
July 11-13, 2023 | 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. | $99
This exciting, hands-on summer camp is open to all students entering grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. Explore your interests, and discover new and exciting careers in areas like health, human services, public safety, engineering and more. Learn more!
IT for Teens: Python
Stay tuned for dates and times
WCTC is excited to offer two special IT courses for teens this summer. Middle and high school students (ages 12-18) can explore Python, a popular programming language that’s straightforward, fun and easy to learn. Learn more!
Feeding America - Friday, February 17th
Community Smiles Dental - Affordable Dental Services
Open Discussions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) by OCD Wisconsin
Are you working to overcome OCD and want to have connection and support after treatment? Are you supporting a family member or friend with OCD? The Beyond Treatment Network (BTN), created by OCD Wisconsin, provides a safe space for sharing, understanding and information. These events are an open discussion format.
Registration for the two events are below:
The Team
Admin Assistant
262-560-3115
Krissy Zimmer
Registrar
262-560-3130
Alex Eidman
School Counselor
A-D (9-12)
262-560-3127
Angela Fisher
School Counselor
E-I (9)
E-Ka (10-12)
262-560-3125
Brianne McGuire
J-K (9)
262-560-3123
Susan Verhagegen
School Counselor
L-P (9)
Ke-O (10-12)
262-560-3122
Lauren Black
School Counselor
Q-T (9)
P-Th (10-12)
262-560-3124
Carrie Schultz
School Counselor
U-Z (9)
Ti-Z (10-12)
IB/GT Coordinator
262-560-3282
Kylie Frederickson
School Social Worker
262-560-3128
Brianne Decker (Mondays through Thursdays)
School Psychologist
262-560-3126
Jennifer Hocevar (Thursdays and Fridays)
School Psychologist
262-560-3126
