OHS Student Services Newsletter

Questions about report cards? Visit this link to see frequently asked questions about report cards.

Every sophomore and their family will participate in an individual conference with their counselor. Sophomore meetings will run from October 24th through December 20th. Please schedule at least one day out from the day you would like to schedule. These meetings will last about 30-45 minutes.

Some topics that will be covered in the meeting include:

• Course Planning: graduation requirements, transcripts, upcoming course requests & scheduling
• Career Exploration: Xello, Career Pathways, Plans of Study
• Enrichment Opportunities: Wednesdays at the REC, ACP Enhancers and Seminars
• ACT Test Prep Opportunities: Methodize

Please visit YouCanBookMe.com to schedule your appointment. If you prefer a virtual meeting, please indicate this in the note section of the appointment request. All in-person conferences will be in our Student Services office at OHS. If you have any questions please call or email A.J. Mueller, Student Services Administrative Assistant, at 262-560-3115 or muellera@oasd.org.

Please note there is no school Wednesday, November 23rd through Friday, November 25th for the Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy your time off!

On Wednesday, November 9th, we organized an amazing opportunity for OHS seniors to be admitted on-the-spot to a variety of colleges around Wisconsin and the Midwest. This college-ready experience includes specific upcoming PRIDE sessions (see below) to make sure you are set to EXPLORE, APPLY, and PREP for your interview with the colleges/universities in attendance. Please select any of the participating colleges or universities on this Google form you plan to apply to. By completing this form, you are committing to an onsite interview with each school you choose on November 9th.

College admissions counselors look at on-site admissions as a benefit to your application which makes you shine more than the competition!!

Required Admissions Experience dates:

• October 12th: Explore the colleges/universities that are coming

• October 19th: Get organized with letters of recommendation and get your application submitted.

• October 24th-November 8th: Individual interview practice with professionals in human resources.

• November 2nd: Final prep for college/university interview, essay, and application.

Any questions, please contact Jaime Regan, AVID District Director, at reganj@oasd.org or Susan Verhagen, School Counselor, at verhags@oasd.org

Come learn more about our ACT prep program - Methodize! Methodize is designed to provide each student with an individualized ACT prep program. At this informational session, we will take parents through the same data analysis process that we did with our students, and show parents how to access their learner's plan and the online platform we use for ACT prep. Sign up here!

Experience the best of both worlds at UWM at Waukesha: exceptional education from a top research university and small classes where you’ll know your professors. Students choose this campus to earn an affordable two-year degree and get a valuable start on a four-year degree.

At this event, you will:

• Take a virtual campus tour.
• Talk to current students about student life.
• Attend a financial aid presentation.
• Sample a college-level class.

Where to Register:

• November 16th -- Registration link

• December 12th -- Registration link

If you are a first-generation student looking to attend college, then this could be a great tool for you. In this 45 minute class, we cover many of the key components in the TCT 'Core' Class, but with a focus on first-generation students. When finished with your class, please enter your email address. Here we will send you your answers, along with a certificate of completion. You will have the ability to also share your answers with your teacher, counselor, or parents. Take the class here!

Stop by to talk with recruiters during lunch about a career in the military on the dates below:

Army

November 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 30th - Outside the main cafeteria

Marines

November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th - Outside the main cafeteria

HAWS Animal Career Exploration (HAWS ACE) is a program for high school students to learn about the variety of careers available in animal care. Members will get a chance to hear from speakers working in different animal-related jobs and learn what skills and training are needed to do those jobs. Veterinarian is usually the first career that comes to mind when thinking about jobs with animals. But how much do you really know about becoming a vet and did you know there are TONS of other animal related careers? Are you creative? Maybe you’d enjoy a job as a groomer. Good problem solver? Perhaps you could become a great dog trainer. Interested in law enforcement? What about a job as a Humane Officer? Participants will also learn more about HAWS and our mission, and get some hands on experience working with animals. Join HAWS ACE today! Meetings are held on one Wednesday a month per semester. To register go to https://hawspets.givecloud.co/product/HAWSACEFALL22/haws-animal-career-exploration-ace

November 9th from 6:30pm-8:00pm - PRIDE for Students, 6:30pm for Students and families

Get Paid to Learn: Youth Apprenticeship & Registered Apprenticeships

Join us in the REC to discover ways to earn high school credit while earning money. At the event you will learn more about the registered apprenticeship pathway after high school where you get paid to learn a specific skill. Guest speaker Jesse Gitter from the Department of Workforce Development will be here to share resources and answer questions. Sign up here!

Healthcare Career Speakers

Stop by during pride to hear from individuals currently who currently work in the healthcare field. Details are below:

Physician visit - Monday, November 14th in the East Campus Board Room during pride

Perioperative/Surgical Nurse - Tuesday, November 15th in the REC during pride

Join us in welcoming Tom Farley of Rosecrance and Michael Beyer from Rogers Behavioral Health as they join the Oconomowoc community to discuss current trends in mental health and substance use and ways to effectively communicate with your child about the importance of making positive choices. Mr. Farley uses humor and improvisation to engage families and students in his powerful message of connection, communication, and prevention. Resources from Rosecrance and Rogers will be made available to families, students, and staff. This event will take place on Wednesday November 16 at 6:30 pm in the Little Theater at Oconomowoc High School. Please register using the following link.

Scholarships have begun to be added to our scholarship grid and our website for our Class of 2023. See all of the info below on how to access this information. We had reviewed this information with our seniors during their small group senior meetings. Make sure you are following our Scholarship Twitter & Instagram for updates!

OHS WEBSITE: Local Scholarship Grid : highlighted scholarships are updated with application and new deadline!

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

OHS Student Services @OCONSCHOLARSHIP

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

OCONSCHOLARDOLLARS

SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES

Raccoon Discovery Night is an evening designed especially for Oconomowoc area 8th-grade students and families who currently attend a public school outside of our district, a parochial school, or a private school. Here is a link to where you can sign up!

The evening will give you a basic overview of our community's vision and values. You will also have a chance to meet with staff, administrators, families, and students to learn more about:

• Our Career, College, and Life Readiness vision
• How we live out our core values of being grounded in our purpose and values, committed to our goals, and accountable to ourselves and each other
• Programs that support college preparation and career exploration
• Co-curricular, performing arts, and athletic opportunities
• The enrollment and course request process

Last spring the OASD Board of Education began work on a long-term facilities study. Initial steps in that process included a facility condition audit, a projected enrollment study, and a review of high school facility options aligned with instructional priorities, space constraints, and the district’s Athletic Strategic Plan.

Last week, the School Board discussed the information from these studies and the costs to support some of the specific, prioritized needs that were identified through the facility study. Those needs were:

• OHS HVAC system

• Capacity needs at Ixonia Elementary

• Limited cafeteria space at OHS

• OHS instructional spaces for music and visual arts

• OHS physical education, athletics, and multipurpose space

The School Board tasked district leadership with gathering community feedback about facility improvements and additions which may need to be funded through a capital referendum. As a result, the district will begin to design a community input survey that will begin soon.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll share more information about these facility needs, but you can watch the initial School Board meeting discussion video on our website now.

Yearbook Ordering

Our OHS yearbook is printed by Jostens and families can order their yearbook directly through Josten's.

Click here to order the 2022-23 Oconomowoc High School yearbook through Josten's.

Senior Photos Due December 1st

Senior photos for the Class of 2023 will be due by December 1st. Photos can be submitted to the following link: https://images.jostens.com/0tKS2DuLtHnNWwUOiCKY1zQ. Please follow the guidelines below when submitting photos:

OHS Senior Portrait Information & Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit your senior photo. Photos might not be accepted if these guidelines aren't followed:

• Standard wallet size (2.5 x 3.5) - must be vertical
• Digital format preferred in .jpeg format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi
• Full body poses will not be accepted - photos must be from the waist up or a closer image of the face
• Props are allowed at the discretion of the yearbook advisor and principal
• Background should not be busy or distracting (outdoor shots accepted as long as the background is suitable)
• High quality digital photos are preferred.
• Photos can be submitted via the following link: https://images.jostens.com/0tKS2DuLtHnNWwUOiCKY1zQ

If you only have a hard copy of the photo, please have your student bring it to Tera Loppnow at East Campus. Email Tera Loppnow at loppnowt@oasd.org with any questions or concerns.

Parents & Families - Create a Grad Ad for a Senior!

Parents and Families of the Class of 2023! Use the link below to design a grad ad to congratulate your senior in the yearbook! This is usually where families choose to include a message and childhood photos of a student.

Grad Ads Deadline: May 2023

Click here to purchase and create your ad. Then follow the Yearbook Recognition Ads link.

Questions?

If you have questions about yearbook photos or ordering, please contact Tera Loppnow at loppnowt@oasd.org.

Families can pick up take and bake Thanksgiving meals from the YMCA at Pabst Farms and Watertown Area YMCA on the following dates and times:

• YMCA at Pabst Farms: Friday November 18th from 4:00pm-6:00pm
• Watertown Area YMCA: Saturday, November 19th from 9:00am-11:00am

The holidays can be a joy-filled season, but they can also be stressful and especially challenging for those impacted by mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has an article that discusses how to reduce stress and maintain good mental health during the holiday season in this article: https://namica.org/blog/handling-stress-during-the-holiday-season/

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:

Tuesday, November 8th @ 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 13th @ 6:30 p.m.

Click this link for a list of upcoming events

Healing Hearts expanded its Children’s Grief Group programs this Fall to provide greater access for families in Southeast Wisconsin. Our Children’s Grief Group program is now offered in Oconomowoc at no cost to families. the group will run for six weeks from November 10th to December 22nd. Visit www.healingheartswisconsin.org to register and submit an inquiry to participate.

Questions? Contact Healing Hearts at:

Info.hhwc@gmail.com

262-751-0874

The 2022 Christmas Clearing Council Client Application is now available online! Parents struggling financially may apply to receive Christmas gift assistance for their children this season.

Please click the link below to apply:

http://www.christmasclearingcouncil.org/application

Deadline to apply is Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

Please note:

1. NEW for 2022: Parents will now submit qualifying information when they apply. We will only be contacting agencies on an extremely limited basis to confirm information, if given permission by the parent to do so.

2. Families may begin applying now. The sooner they apply, the faster we can confirm eligibility and get them assistance. Families may contact the office (email preferred, applications@christmasclearingcouncil.org) to check the status of their application at any time.

3. If a client has a change in address or phone number after filling out the application, they must contact us at applications@christmasclearingcouncil.org with this update immediately. It is imperative sponsors and the office have the correct information to contact the family. If we cannot reach them, we cannot serve them.

4. If a family has extraordinary circumstances (major/sudden medical issue, death of a parent/child, military deployment of caregiver, etc.) that would be beneficial for us to know about when determining eligibility, please have the applicant email us at applications@christmasclearingcouncil.org if they have not already indicated this on their application. We will combine this information with the client’s application. They MUST STILL fill out an online application or call us to do so over the phone. We understand there may be several reasons a family may need assistance.

5. Families who qualify may be served through our sponsorship program, teen gift card program, OR at our Toy Shop event. Each child will be served from ONE of these programs, not from multiple. Regardless of program, each child accepted into our program will receive $75 worth of gifts/gift cards. Our Toy Shop event will be held on Dec. 17.

6. If a client is having trouble, or is not able to fill out the application, on their own, you may fill it out on their behalf if the client has given you permission to do so.

Understanding this year continues to present many challenges to families in Waukesha County, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.

sarah.hein@christmasclearingcouncil.org or 262-771-0830 (starting Oct. 3).

AJ Mueller

Admin Assistant

262-560-3115

muellera@oasd.org

Krissy Zimmer

Registrar

262-560-3130

zimmerk@oasd.org

Alex Eidman

School Counselor

A-D (9-12)

262-560-3127

EidmanA@oasd.org

Angela Fisher

School Counselor

E-I (9)

E-Ka (10-12)

262-560-3125

Fishera@oasd.org

Brianne McGuire

J-K (9)

262-560-3123

McGuirebr@oasd.org

Susan Verhagegen

School Counselor

L-P (9)

Ke-O (10-12)

262-560-3122

Verhags@oasd.org

Lauren Black

School Counselor

Q-T (9)

P-Th (10-12)

262-560-3124

Blackl@oasd.org

Carrie Schultz

School Counselor

U-Z (9)

Ti-Z (10-12)

IB/GT Coordinator

262-560-3282

Schultzc@oasd.org

Kylie Frederickson

School Social Worker

262-560-3128

fredericksonk@oasd.org

Brianne Decker (Mondays through Thursdays)

School Psychologist

262-560-3126

Deckerb@oasd.org

Jennifer Hocevar (Thursdays and Fridays)

School Psychologist

262-560-3126

Hocevarj@oasd.org