The Owl
The Newsletter of OECHS - July 13, 2026
Back to School in August
Hello Owl Family,
We are preparing for another great year at Onslow Early College High School! The staff at CCCC has been hard at work preparing the buildings, and Ms. Peterson has been working to overcome recent technology issues that have plagued our district. We’re almost set to start the year strong!
If you plan to participate in athletics this year, you must:
- Enroll in DragonFly
- Submit all required paperwork
- Complete mandatory safety trainings, including a concussion awareness video
If you plan to participate in athletics, please review the information in this newsletter carefully.
Staggered Start Dates:
- Freshmen begin on August 5
- Sophomores join on August 6
- Juniors and Seniors return for CCCC classes on August 17
Required Back-to-School Assemblies
For juniors, seniors, and their parents/guardians, we will hold important assemblies to review expectations, rules, and college preparation. These will take place in Room 104 of the CCCC Skills Building.
- Juniors: August 12 at 5:30 PM
- Seniors: August 13 at 5:30 PM
Open House Announcement
We’re excited to welcome our 9th and 10th grade families to an Open House a few weeks into the school year. This will be a great opportunity to meet teachers, tour the campus, and learn more about what’s ahead. More details will be shared in future announcements.
We’re excited to build on our strong foundation and make this the best school year yet. See you soon, Owls!
— Mr. Strope
OECHS Summer Hours
We will resume our regular five day work-week, beginning July 27th. Until then, we hope all of our Owls have a great summer!
OECHS Athletics 2026-2027
Are you planning to participate in sports at OECHS this coming school year? 🏃♀️🎾 If so, it’s time to get started on your athletic registration with some required items:
1. Get a sports physical. This can be completed by you family physician or you can go to a clinic or business that specializes in physicals.
2. Create (or update) your Dragonfly account. Dragonfly is the online tool that NCHSAA uses to manage all required paperwork. You will need to upload your completed physical into Dragonfly and complete all required components, including permission slips and the concussion awareness video.
⏳ Please complete this as soon as possible, especially if you’re interested in Cross Country (XC) or Girl’s Tennis. All required components—including the Concussion Video and other documentation—must be completed before you can try out or begin practice.
🎾Girls' Tennis tryouts are on August 3rd and 4th from 5:00-6:30PM. Report to Ragsdale 105 (The Big Room).
👟There are no cuts for Cross Country. The first mandatory practice will be on August 6th at 7:45 AM.
📎 Check the attached PDF for step-by-step instructions on how to create your Dragonfly account.
📎Physical forms are also attached below. You will complete part of the form before your exam.
Let’s make this a great year for OECHS athletics—Go Owls! 🦉
Email any athletic questions to our Athletic Director at brandon.stallard@onslow.k12.nc.us.
Junior and Senior Schedules
Hello Juniors and Seniors,
As we're preparing for classes to begin, I would like to remind you that you can check your Coastal Course Schedule by going to your MyCCCC Portal (coastalcarolina.edu > MyCCCC > and Log In) > SelfService > Student Planning or Plan and Schedule > and ensure you're looking at the Fall 2026 Term.
If you see any conflicts with your schedule, a course you wanted was cancelled, or would like to make any changes before classes begin, please create an appointment with me using this link. Select Success Coaching > Meet with a Success Coach > Meet with Coach Cayla. You're also welcome to email me at farrisc@coastalcarolina.edu .
If you have tested out of a Math course, please check your Coastal email if we haven't already discussed your changes, and consider making an appointment with me to adjust your 2-year plan to account for these updates.
Hope you are having a great summer, and can't wait to see you all soon!
-Mrs. Farris
910-938-6703
Interested in Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, or Orchestra?
If you are interested in music classes through CCCC (Chorus or Jazz Ensemble), please contact Mrs. Cayla Farris at farrisc@coastalcarolina.edu or 910-938-6703 so we can get you registered! Both classes are year-long and are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-2:15 pm in the Fine Arts Building at CCCC.
Our friends at White Oak High School and Northside High School also allow our students to cross-enroll as visiting students in their Orchestra class. The class at WOHS is held from 7:05-8:27 am and NHS has their class from 7:12-8:32 am. After class, our students can then ride the hub bus from either school to OECHS. Parents will need to provide transportation to either WOHS or NHS, and students will need to arrive prior to 7:00 am to go through security screening each morning. Thank you White Oak and Northside for providing this wonderful opportunity!
You can also check with other high schools to see if they have a first period orchestra. If they will allow it and it works with everyone's schedules, then we need to get signed up!
If you are interested in orchestra, email Ms. Peterson at nancy.peterson@onslow.k12.nc.us or call our main number at 910-938-6702.
Senior Year Immunizations
Rising Seniors,
Since 2020, all North Carolina 12th graders have been required to have the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (two doses) by the first day of school (12th grade). Please see the attached flyer and get the vaccine prior to the start of the school year!. You can find more information at https://immunization.dph.ncdhhs.gov/schools/k-12.htm.
Class of 2027
Rising Seniors and Families:
Please take note of the immunization requirement for rising seniors (scroll up for more information). Also, mark your calendars for senior portraits on August 26th!
Students should have asked for recommendations for college applications, emailed resumes to their recommenders, and sent thank-you cards to their recommenders. If not, they need to complete those three steps over the summer break.
Next year, we will apply to colleges and universities, as well as scholarships and other financial aid. We will primarily focus on college applications and FAFSA through November. It will be a busy time, but students have access to their CommonApp accounts for college applications and can be working this summer to get their applications ready to submit!
Students have also been working on SAT Inc (Sponsors for Academic Talent) community service hours. If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship!
All rising seniors will be enrolled in Economics and Personal Finance Honors. This is their last official high school class, and it is year-long. We are combining it with Senior Seminar, so students will be meeting in person once or twice weekly. There will also be assignments outside seated class time to make sure we are all on track! The EPF/Senior Seminar schedule is posted in the Class of 2027 Team.
Students will continue to have a daily sign-in sheet by the main office in the Ragsdale Building. This is the official attendance in Infinite Campus, so do not forget to sign in!
**Prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year, we will have a back-to-school session with our rising seniors and their parents on August 13th at 5:30 in Room 104 of the Skills Building at CCCC.
CCCC classes begin Monday, August 17th.
Class of 2028
Rising Juniors and Families:
You are almost finished with high school classes (just one more Personal Financial Literacy course during senior year), but all of those upcoming college classes count towards high school graduation and your high school GPA. This is where you can get a serious boost to your GPA!
This year, you will have a mandatory seminar (once or twice per week) where we will spend over half the year preparing for the ACT and PSAT. Both are important exams that are used for college admissions and scholarships. We will also spend time researching different colleges and universities, as well as beginning the college application process. The Junior Seminar schedule is posted in the Class of 2028 Team!
Students are encouraged to be active in OECHS Clubs/Teams, CCCC organizations, and outside activities for a well-rounded college admission application. We will also have a daily sign-in sheet for all juniors and seniors next year to make sure students are on track (and to take daily attendance). The sign in sheet is located on the desk by the OECHS office.
Rising juniors are reminded that they should be working on SAT, Inc. Scholarship community service hours. If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship!
**Prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year, we will have a back-to-school session with our rising Juniors and their parents on August 12th at 5:30 in Room 104 of the Skills Building at CCCC.
CCCC classes begin Monday, August 17th.
Class of 2029
Rising Sophomores and Parents:
Our rising sophomores are encouraged to step up and be leaders next year! OECHS and the early college experience is what you make of it! Future universities and employers are looking for leaders. Hone your skills now!
Rising sophomores can accrue SAT Inc. Scholarship community service hours this summer! If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship! Be sure to turn in your SAT Inc. volunteer hours to Mr. Strope.
**Your first day back at school will be Thursday, August 6th.
Class of 2030
Welcome to OECHS!
Almost all of our new Owls have been added to the Class of 2030 Teams page. Once you get your school computers, Teams will be crucial for your success!
Rising freshmen can accrue SAT Inc. Scholarship community service hours this summer! If students have a 3.5 weighted GPA, and score a 23 or higher on the ACT, then they only need to complete SAT service hours for a $750 (75 hours) or $1500 (100 hours) scholarship! Details on the SAT Scholarship can be found at https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1336. The goal for every student should be to qualify for an SAT scholarship! Be sure to turn in your SAT Inc. volunteer hours to Mr. Strope.
**Your first day of class will be Wednesday, August 5th, for a freshman-only day.
The OECHS School Store
Looking for some OECHS merch? If so, you have come to the right place as our online school store is now open! Click on the following link or use the QR code in the flyer below to shop today!
https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/stores/onslow-early-college-high-school
Parents: Join Our Remind Groups!
Along with Blackboard, emails, the OECHS website, and social media, our school uses Remind to inform parents of weather bulletins, weekly newsletters, and more. If you are the parent or guardian of an OECHS Owl, please join the appropriate Remind group!
Class of 2027: https://www.remind.com/join/7ag9b99
Class of 2028: https://www.remind.com/join/3944fh
Class of 2029: https://www.remind.com/join/oechscl
Class of 2030: https://www.remind.com/join/fd373c
Pay your school fees online!
Driving Permits, Licenses, and GPAs
"North Carolina House Bill 769 became effective December 1, 1997 and reflects a coordinated statewide effort to motivate and encourage students to complete high school. This legislation requires that a student's driving permit or license be revoked if a student is unable to maintain adequate progress or drops out of school. Adequate progress is defined as passing 70% of all courses and is determined by first semester grades and second semester grades for schools on block scheduling. For schools on a traditional six-period day schedule, grades are determined by first semester grades and end-of-year grades."
Students need to maintain "adequate progress" to remain eligible for permits and licenses while in high school. Each semester, we are to notify students (and the district) when any students are not making adequate progress at the end of a semester/year. Students will then have to earn back the ability to have a permit or license after the next semester's grades are complete (and pay $50 to the DMV to have their permit or license reinstated). Bottom line: Keep your grades up in your high school and college classes or you will lose your driver's permit or license!
Key Dates
August 3rd-4th- Tennis Tryouts (5:00 PM-6:30 PM)
August 5th-First day of school (Freshmen Only)
August 6th-Cross Country 1st Practice (7:30
August 6th-High school classes for 9th and 10th grade
August 12th-Junior Parent Meeting (Skills 104 @ 5:30 PM)
August 13th-Senior Parent Meeting (Skills 104 @ 5:30 PM)
August 17th- CCCC Fall Semester Begins (college classes start for all students)
August 26th- Senior Portrait and Cap & Gown Photos
August 26th- 9th-11th Grade Yearbook Photos
Onslow Early College High School
Email: james.strope@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://oec.onslow.k12.nc.us/
Location: R109A, 444 Western Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28546
Phone: 910-938-6702
Twitter: @OnslowECHS