Dear Dragon Families,

As we wrap up the school year, we have several important updates and celebrations to share with you. This week, we will celebrate our seniors as they graduate at Pine Knob on Wednesday, June 4. Additionally, final exams for all students in grades 9-11 will take place next week on Monday and Tuesday.

Please review this final newsletter for important information about the end-of-year. You’ll find details regarding the graduation ceremony, how to register for athletics, summer school, and a new parent communication tool coming soon, as well as a list of service-learning opportunities for our students. Remember, summer service hours are due no later than September 30, 2025.

Thank you for your partnership and support throughout this school year. Working together has made a positive difference for our students, and we are truly grateful for your involvement.

We wish you a safe, restful summer and look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting 2025-2026 school year!

Warm regards,

LOHS Administration

The 2024-25 Lake Orion Community Schools calendars are now available by visiting the LakeOrionSchools.org calendar page. A single sheet of the important dates is also listed on that page.

June 4 - Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony at Pine Knob

June 4 - Wednesday switch to FULL day beginning at 7:30 a.m. and dismissing at 2:35 p.m.

June 5 - Thursday switch to late start schedule at 9:40 a.m. and dismissing at 2:35 p.m.

June 9 - 1/2 day Exams 7:30 - 10:45 a.m.

June 10 - 1/2 day Exams 7:30 - 10:45 a.m. - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.

• Students only, parents will need to wait outside the venue.
• Students must enter Pine Knob off Sashabaw Road at marquee entrance. Pine Knob Road and auxiliary entrances will NOT be open.
• Enter the venue for rehearsal through the East “VIP Entrance”.
• Counselors will be passing out index name cards with seating assignments.
• IF you still have a school issued device, please bring it with you and turn into the table at the VIP Entrance.
• Do NOT bring cap and gown to rehearsal.
• The rehearsal will take about 1 hour.
  
  

Graduation Ceremony starts at 7:00 p.m.

• Gates will open at 6:00 p.m.
• Students must be in their line position no later than 6:30 p.m.
• Students will proceed to the Boardwalk on the right. They should be in their gown and any accompanying graduation regalia. Decorated caps will not be permitted. Only National Honors Society Cords and Organization stoles/bibs will be permitted.
• Parents should proceed into the pavilion. Please be mindful of reserved seating - those spaces are used for our graduates, staff and others participating in the ceremony. No other reserved seating is allowed.
• Tickets are not required for the ceremony, but please try to limit seating in the pavilion to 10 seats per family. The lawn is available for additional guests.
• Handicap parking is available in the VIP lot and seating is available in the last rows of the pavilion. Pine Knob staff will be available to assist.
• Pine Knob will have one concession stand open for water and pop only, please note they do not accept cash.
• Attendees, please remain seated until processional is over, and all senior students have cleared the pavilion.
• Senior students after processional, walk back through the Boardwalk and into the Treehouse to pick up your diploma packet from your Counselor.
• Parents, you can meet your graduate after they pick up their diploma packet near any of the main entrances (West, East or VIP).

Graduation Ceremony Livestream

ONTV & Dragon Broadcasting are once again partnering to live-stream the graduation ceremony. It will be streamed to two different spots on the web each night and ONTV is carrying the ceremony live on its channel. The online feeds will be found at dragonbroadcasting.org. The stream is free with no login required.

Pine Knob Policies and Prohibited Items

All attendees are reminded that Pine Knob has specific policies governing items that are permitted into the music theatre.

• Only small clutches and single compartment bags are authorized. Large purses and bags are prohibited, with the exception of bags required for dietary or medical necessity.
• Professional cameras are allowed but must be brought outside a camera bag.
• One 20oz plastic bottle of factory sealed water, per person, will be allowed.
• The only type of umbrella that is not allowed are umbrellas with long metal points.
• For more specific details, visit Pine Knob website, https://www.313presents.com/venue/pine-knob-music-theatre/pine-knob-prohibited-items-entry-policies

Graduation Photographs

We have a professional photography crew, Graduation Foto, who will be taking photos of your graduate during the ceremony. The images will be available for purchase on the Graduation Foto website. See Graduation Foto flyer attached below for more information.

In addition, before and after the graduation ceremony, MyPic Photography, will be taking posed photos in front of the waterfall by the Northeast Entrance. You will be handed a card with a QR code to view the digital files/prints, which will be available to purchase.

If a student was unable to attend Senior Honors Night their cord packet will be in the Main Office until the end of the school day Tuesday, June 3. Any Senior Honors Night packets that are still in the Main Office after that time, will go to Pine Knob for students to pick up at the Graduation Rehearsal on Wednesday, June 4 at 9 a.m.

In addition, here is a link to all the pictures taken during this ceremony. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCfWi6

We are excited to announce that we will implement a new form of school-to-home communication in Lake Orion Community Schools called ParentSquare, debuting district-wide this summer.

This unified communications platform, which will replace SchoolMessenger, is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with LOCS. Parent-staff communication will occur within the website and/or app, depending on the parent’s preference.

A few current LOCS schools are currently piloting the program and learning the ins and outs. The rest of the district will begin using the program in mid-June. There will be no work for families to “join” the new platform as all families will be automatically connected, using their current profile information. For now, we are just sharing an exciting update ahead.

LOCS will send more specific information about the platform at a later date.

As part of our end-of-year procedures, and in accordance with LOCS policy, we require written consent to release medications for students to take home. Alternatively, a parent or guardian may come to LOHS to retrieve medications in-person. Appropriate medication take-home dates are as follows:

Grades 9 - 11

• June 9/10

Parents may select another date based on specific needs or the student’s schedule during the final week of the school year. Should you have any questions, contact Attendance Office Secretary, Patricia Humes (patricia.humes@lok12.org) or 248-693-5420 (extension 1).

As finals approach, it's crucial that you prepare effectively. Here are some helpful tips that will get you ready for June 9 and 10:

1. Start Early: Don't cram! Begin studying or working on projects well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.

2. Organize Your Time: Create a study schedule or project timeline to stay on track. Break tasks into manageable chunks.

3. Review Materials: Focus on understanding key concepts rather than memorizing. Use study guides, notes, and textbooks to reinforce your knowledge.

4. Practice Regularly: Test yourself with practice exams or quizzes to identify areas needing improvement. Active recall helps solidify information.

5. Stay Healthy: Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. A healthy body supports a healthy mind, improving focus and memory.

6. Seek Help: Don't hesitate to ask teachers, classmates, or tutors for clarification or assistance.

Lake Orion Community Schools is proud to once again offer high school credit recovery and credit forward courses this summer to help students stay on track or get ahead academically. Registration closes on June 17.

LOCS developed protocols to reduce the in-school personal technology availability at all levels beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

The goal is to remove personal technology (cell phones, personal laptops, smartwatches, earbuds, headphones, and other wireless communication devices) within the classroom environment.

The updated protocol by level:

• Elementary School -- Students may not bring personal technology devices to school.
• Middle School -- Cell phones and other personal electronic devices, including earbuds, may not be used during the school day and devices must be always silenced and out of sight.
• Learning Options High School -- Use of personal technology devices is not allowed during instructional time and cell phones will be placed in classroom storage during the class period. Devices will be re-acquired and allowed during lunch.
• Lake Orion High School – Personal technology is not allowed to be used in classrooms during instructional time, except for laptops as approved by the teacher. The other personal technology may remain with the student out of sight but only used during passing time and at lunch.

Each level will have appropriate consequences as outlined in the student handbooks for violations of the protocol. More details are available on the LOCS Cell Phone/Personal Technology Device page.

Juniors and their families were sent a letter on May 12 and 15 with their current service hour progress toward the 20 hour graduation requirement. Please be sure to check your email for this important information. It also gives helpful links to information on the Service Learning website Service Learning - Lake Orion Community Schools. Senior year will be very busy, so please encourage your Dragon to take advantage of the many service opportunities this summer.

Summer is a wonderful time for ALL Dragons to serve their community. There are many opportunities listed on the LOHS website and please remember that hours must be completed at a non-profit, 501C-3, or tax exempt organization. Organizations will be required to provide a copy of their tax exempt status to Lake Orion High School.

The Lake Orion High School Career Center is creating a database to assist our students as they explore career pathways. If you would be willing to speak to a class about your job, had a unique journey to your career, be open to having a student shadow you at work or participate in a future Career Day, we would love to hear from you! Please send an email to careercenter@lok12.org with your full name, career, place of employment, email address, and phone number. Please also include how you would like to best assist our students. Thank you for joining us in helping LOHS students see a bright future full of career opportunities for themselves!

Lake Orion Community Schools students who elect to play sports must register through the new online Final Forms process.

Parents and athletes must create an account through the Final Forms. This allows the school to collect emergency contact information for the 100 plus teams at Lake Orion High School. This also informs the district of the multiple programs our students may participate in.

Per the MHSSA, student athletes must have a new physical on file for the 2025-2026 school year. The physical must be dated after April 15, 2025, and should be turned into our Athletic Secretary, Terri Lauer.

Athletic Director
Chris Bell
Christopher.Bell@lok12.org
(248) 693-5458

Secretary
Terri Lauer
Terri.Lauer@lok12.org
(248) 693-5458

SUN Bucks is the new name for Summer EBT. Eligible families of school-age children will receive $120 per child for qualifying groceries.

Families that are not automatically enrolled should apply for SUN Bucks directly.

Note: Families will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are already enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits or meet the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In other words, keep an eye out for $120 per child at the beginning of summer!

This application is available online.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2025.

Lake Orion High School is partnering with the Oakland Schools Career Readiness team and would like to invite students to the first annual Oakland Schools HBCU Career Fair! The inaugural event will take place:

Friday, September 26th

Time TBD

Oakland School’s Main Campus Building

2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford, MI, 48328

Why Attend?

The HBCU Career Fair provides a unique opportunity for your students to:

• Meet with recruiters from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Learn about the academic programs and vibrant campus life offered by HBCUs
• Gain insights into the admissions process and learn about scholarship opportunities

This event is an excellent way for students to explore their college options and discover the rich traditions and academic excellence of HBCUs.

If you are interested in your student attending this field trip in September, please take a moment to fill out the form or use the QR code. https://forms.office.com/r/R0PJ36GEdt

For additional questions, please reach out to Mrs. Everitt, Assistant Principal/CTE Coordinator.

The final full week of the school year is upon us! We've got three live broadcasts this week, including the Season Finale of Year 34 of our live newscast LO-AM.

In partnership with ONTV, we'll have the Learning Options Graduation AND the LOHS Graduation! Tune in at www.dragonbroadcasting.org. No login or subscription needed.

Thank you for taking the time to recognize one of Lake Orion Community Schools staff members for their excellence.

The intent of the Distinguished Dragon program is to ensure that staff members who go above and beyond their regular duties are appreciated. The additional effort can range from helping an individual, helping a group, or any effort that is worthy of praise.

The staff member can be nominated by a student, parent, community member or even their own colleague. We ask for the submitter's name and contact information to follow up with specific questions if necessary.

Please complete the form entirely so the individual can be appropriately honored for their contributions.

Dr. Daniel Haas

Principal

Amy Thebo

Principal's Secretary

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Anthony Kiner - 11th grade

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS:

Danielle Bredemus - 9th grade

Brad Bailey - 10th grade

Rosa Everitt -12th grade

CTE & K-12 Career Readiness Coordinator

Christopher Bell

Have questions about your schedule?

If you find an error in your student's schedule, please ask them to reach out to their counselor or visit the counseling center before the start of the school day or during passing time.

Secretary Lindsay Korsan

Phone: 248-693-5640

Counselors

A-Cot Christy Bell

Cou-Grz Melissa Bruno

Gu-Led Natalie Parraghi

Lee- Pep Michele Novak

Peq-Sta Alicia Conner

Ste-Z Scott Boeneman

Heather Rutledge

HS Special Education Teaching Consultant

The 2024-25 Lake Orion Community Schools calendars are now available by visiting the LakeOrionSchools.org calendar page. A single sheet of the important dates is also listed on that page.

OK2SAY is available state-wide for public and private schools in Michigan; anybody can submit a confidential tip. Specially trained technicians receive the tips and filter the information to the appropriate agency to provide a timely and effective response

Check out LOCS' Flickr albums for pictures of all our events, Homecoming Game, Pep Assemblies, Invitationals, Graduations, first day of school pics and more.

It's ok to ask for help

Care Solace connects students, staff, and their families to care.

At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

Find the right help at the right time.

Website: https://www.lakeorionschools.org/high-school-home

Location: 495 East Scripps Road, Orion Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248)693-5420
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LkOrionHS
Twitter: @LkOrionHS

Instagram: lkorionhs