CLASS OF 2026

Can you believe it? Senior year has already started! We’re excited to welcome the Class of 2026 back for a year filled with important milestones, exciting activities, and plenty of memories in the making. There’s a lot coming up this year, so we want to help you stay informed and prepared.

What to Expect This Fall:

• 📸 Senior Yearbook Portraits Due by October 30

• Place Senior Yearbook Ad - see below

• 📝 Cap & Gown Order

• 🎓 College & Career Corner

How to Stay in the Loop:

• Check your email/ParentSquare regularly for updates

• Review the LOHS Senior Class 2026 webpage

• Watch for updated Senior Bulletins

This is a big year, and we’re here to support your student every step of the way. Please reach out to any of the Senior Committee contacts below if you have any questions —we’re looking forward to a fantastic senior year!

Amy Redman - 12th Grade Student Class Advisor

Toni Gwizdala - Events Secretary

Amy Thebo - Principal's Secretary

Anthony Kiner - Associate Principal

Below is just a few upcoming important dates to make note. Throughout the newsletter will be more information and details regarding those items.

Jostens is our official provider of cap & gowns and has a variety of products to help you celebrate your senior year. Jostens will be in school to assist with any orders on Thursday, September 25 during all lunches.

Please order online at www.jostens.com by Monday, September 29!

If your student is planning to wear a borrowed gown (gowns from before 2022 will not match the current gowns), please reach out to Toni Gwizdala, Event Secretary at LOHS, at 248-693-5420 Ext. 6079 or email toni.gwizdala@lok12.org, as soon as possible so it can be updated in our system. If purchasing a gown is a financial burden, please contact your student’s counselor, and let them know your student will need to borrow a school gown.

Jostens also offers the official LOHS Graduation. These are the traditional custom-crafted, premium quality graduation announcements that are designed to reflect your class and school. They are a time-honored way to announce and preserve your graduation memories. Link coming soon to purchase these custom-created announcements!

Seniors must be professionally photographed by MyPic Photography, located at Canterbury Village to be pictured in the Senior section of the yearbook. MyPic has made this process easy with three options available to the students.

Pick ONE of the three options:

1. Full Senior Portrait Session at MyPic Photography studio or location of your choice and will include the Yearbook photo (schedule appointment online at www.MyPicPhotography.com).
2. Book at 15-minute senior portrait yearbook session at Canterbury Village on Mondays and Thursdays. This session has a $20 sitting free and is booked online at www.MyPicPhotography.com or by calling the studio at 248-217-0559.
3. MyPic will be on-site during Picture Retake Day Tuesday, October 14.

Any student who is not photographed by MyPic Photography will have their student ID picture used in the yearbook. If you have any questions, please contact MyPic owner, Scott Weiner, at 248-217-0559 or by email through their website at www.MyPicPhotography.com.

NEW this year - LOHS will be using Varsity Yearbook's Online Ad Creation program for senior parent ads. All senior parent ads must be created and paid for online before they are submitted to the school.

The ads are not available yet as the yearbook program has to determine the colors/fonts/designs that will be available to parents. We will notify all senior families as soon as the ads are available for purchase and creation.

Want to help plan an unforgettable Senior All Night Party (SANP) for our amazing Class of 2026? We need YOU! Join us for the parent/guardian kick-off meeting:

📍 KIVA
🗓️ Wednesday, September 24
⏰ 6:00 p.m.

This celebration can’t happen without parent volunteers—so come be part of the fun and help make it a night to remember!

You're not alone — it's a big question on every family's mind. From yearbooks to cap and gown, photos, prom tickets, and more, the costs add up quickly. We’ve put together a simple breakdown with average estimates so you know what to expect and can plan ahead.

As we begin your student’s senior year, it is important to review the Service Learning graduation requirement. Please note 20 SERVICE HOURS ARE REQUIRED TO GRADUATE AND THEY MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2026.

If students are an early graduate, please see due dates on the LOHS website under Graduation Requirements Service Learning - Lake Orion Community Schools. There are many fun fall events in our community. ALL events are listed in x2VOL under the Green “Find Opportunities” button on the dashboard. Opportunities can also be found at the bottom of the LOHS Service Learning page. The events that take place this month begin with “SEPTEMBER” in the title.

Remember, STUDENTS are responsible for logging in and emailing or texting the contact to sign up. All summer service hours earned must be entered by September 30. There is no exception to this deadline.

• Sept-Oct 31: Complete college applications
• Oct 1: FAFSA opens
• Nov 1: Early Action/Early Decision & scholarship deadlines.
• Jan – April: Apply for scholarships.
• May 1, 2026: Decision Day! Secure your college spot with a deposit.
• June 1, 2026: FAFSA deadline

LOHS has a full schedule with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Miami University-Oxford, Eastern Michigan, Baker College, Michigan State, Bates College, and Bowling Green State University admission counselors visiting our campus this week to speak to interested juniors and seniors. The updated sign up genius link with all fall visit appointments is in student email accounts and a reminder that hall passes will arrive in student emails 5 minutes before the scheduled visit time, reminding them to leave class.

Encourage your student to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn about so many exciting opportunities available for their future!

Email Ms. Pavelich if you have any questions.

• Apply through Common Application
• Common App
• Common App walkthrough
• *Must “Assign” your Counselor under “FERPA and Recommenders” – view walkthrough for instructions
• Apply directly through college website
• Use Parchment to send your transcript

• Regular Decision/Rolling Admission: Colleges will evaluate applications as they are received. Schools will continue to evaluate applications until they’ve filled all the slots for their incoming class. Specified deadlines (usually February 1st / February 15th, etc.)
• Early Action: Non-binding, early deadline (usually November 1st) = early reply (usually by Christmas).
• Early Decision: Binding agreement, early deadline (usually November 1st) = early reply (usually by Christmas). Students may only apply to ONE school Early Decision and must sign the BINDING agreement at the time of application.

✨Be one of the first to submit the 2026-27 FAFSA® form! ✨

The U.S. Department of Education is looking for students to help test the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form before it’s released by October 1.

By joining beta testing, students can:

• Submit their 2026–2027 FAFSA form early

• Get a head start on the financial aid process

• Be part of shaping the future of the FAFSA experience

📲Sign up: StudentAid.gov/joinbeta

After 10/1/2025 - https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

• MI Student Aid
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship
• Federal Student Aid
• College Board/Big Future
• LOHS Local Scholarships
• Xello Scholarship Profile
• U.S. Dept. of Labor Career One Stop Scholarship Finder

It is YOUR responsibility to make sure you are eligible!

• NCAA: register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
• NAIA: register with the NAIA Eligibility Center
• NJCAA: register with the NJCAA Eligibility Center

For more information on College Athletics, contact Christine Bell

• Oakland Community College Skilled Trades Programs
• Trade Schools, Colleges & Universities
• Michigan Skilled Trades Talent Connect
• Michigan Certified Skills Careers/Trade Schools/Programs

• Oakland Community College PreApprenticeship Programs
• Oakland Community College Apprenticeship Programs
• MI-Apprenticeship Program
• Labor & Economic Opportunity Registered Apprenticeships
• Michigan Educators Apprenticeship Training Association
• U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship
• Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc.

• Workforce Development
• Michigan Works

• Army Careers
• Marine Corps Careers
• Navy Careers
• Air Force Careers
• Space Force Careers
• Coast Guard Careers

A-Cot Christy Bell

Cou-Grz Melissa Bruno

Gu-Led Natalie Parraghi

Lee- Pep Michele Novak

Peq-Sta Fawn Bullock

Ste-Z Scott Boeneman