Principal Notes Summer Edition

We hope you’re having a fun, relaxing, and safe summer, Red Devil families!

While school may be out, there’s still so much happening at Owensboro High School that we don’t want you to miss. Be sure to check out our monthly Principal’s Notes newsletter to stay connected with all the exciting updates, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.

We’re already planning for a fantastic school year ahead, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Enjoy your summer—and don’t forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming events and check back in each month with Principal Notes!

Each summer, all Kentucky high schools participating in athletics follow a mandated shut-down know as the KHSAA Dead Period, established by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA). KHSAA Dead Period runs from June 25 through July 9 each year.

During this two-week window, no athletic activities are allowed between student-athletes and school staff, including:

• Practices or training sessions;

• Use of school athletic facilities;

• Team meetings, camps, or conditioning; and

• Communication related to athletics between coaches and players.

The KHSAA Dead Period is designed to:

• Give students and coaches a much-needed mental and physical break;

• Encourage family time and personal rest; and

• Level the playing field for all schools in the state.

KHSAA Dead Period is an essential component of a healthy athletic culture. It gives student-athletes a chance to recharge, explore other interests, or simply enjoy summer without the pressures of competition or training.

Parents can support this time by encouraging relaxation, ensuring student-athletes follow the guidelines, and using the period for family vacations or downtime.

OHS Athletics will resume on July 10, refreshed and ready for a strong start to the fall season... Go Devils!

🎉 Save the Date Red Devils! 🎉
OHS Freshman Orientation & Bash@Rash

📅 Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025
📍 Location: Owensboro High School
🕒 Time: Freshman Orientation at 3pm & Bash@Rash at 5pm

Get ready to kick off the 2025-2026 school year with energy, excitement, and epic memories!

Start the evening with Freshman Orientation for our OHS Class of 2029 – your first step into the Red Devil way – and then celebrate with all our Red Devils and their families at Bash@Rash! 🎈

💥 Schedules, music, ice cream, and surprises await – you won’t want to miss it!

More details coming in late July – mark your calendar!

OHS Class of 2026 it's time for Senior Pictures!

Mark your calendars and drop by OHS to get your drape or tux photo taken on Monday, July 14 or Tuesday, July 15 from 8:30am to 4:30pm. No appointment is needed!

Please park in the student parking lot and enter the building through the car rider entrance. Staff will be onsite to assist you.

If you are having a drape photo made, you may want to bring a tank top.

We look forward to seeing you for your Senior Pictures on July 14 or 15!

Can't make it? No worries... there will be a make-up day available during the school year.

Don't forget to complete Online Registration for the 2025-26 school year! Families in the Owensboro Public Schools district must visit startolr.com to complete their registration for the upcoming school year. All returning families must update the information that is currently in the student information system and confirm all data is correct to complete online registration.

Families who are new to the district and wish to enroll a student at OHS or need assistance with ORL will need to contact Jessica Sandefur, OHS Registrar, at 270-686-1110 or jessica.sandefur@owensboro.kyschools.us.

For additional information and assistance with OLR, see graphic below. Click button below to register today!

If your child currently attends Owensboro Middle School, iMiddle or Owensboro High Schools as a nonresident student and wishes to enroll at Owensboro High School for the 2025-2026 school year, it is time to submit the Nonresident Student Transfer Request form.

Nonresident students are those students who reside with their legal parents/guardians outside the boundaries of the Owensboro Public Schools District. Residency cannot be established through living with a relative or friend within the District.

Nonresident applicants can be considered as long as enrollment at Owensboro High School does not exceed maximum class size. The following criteria will be utilized to evaluate each nonresident student request:

• Grade Point Average;
• Attendance; and
• Behavior.

Out of state students will be required to pay tuition as determined annually by the Board of Education. Tuition charges for each semester must be paid in full prior to the beginning of the semester.

Nonresident students wishing to enroll or re-enroll for the 2025-2026 school year must submit the Nonresident Student Transfer Request form. To access the required form, click the button below.

This form should be completed and returned to Owensboro High School no later than Friday, July 11 to avoid delays in enrollment and scheduling.

Thank you for your interest in Owensboro High School!

Owensboro Public Schools is participating in the US Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program, providing free breakfast and lunch meals to individuals 18 and under throughout the summer.

Food service is available at the Mobile Feeding Stops through July 25. Food service will continue through July 31 at the Feeding Site locations. There will be no meals provided on July 4.

Meals are served Monday through Friday on-site and through mobile stops. Children must be present to receive a meal and must remain on-site during meal service to consume the meals. Family members are no longer allowed to pick up meals and take them away from the food service locations according to new guidelines.

This service is completely free for anyone 18 and under regardless of which school district you attend or your household income status.

Check out the Summer Food Service Location Flyers for specifics.

As of June 27, 2025, Kentucky’s Senate Bill 181 requires all electronic communication between school employees (teachers, administrators, classified staff, district staff, coaches, and volunteers) and students be conducted through official, district-approved platforms. Personal texts, direct messaging, and social media interactions are no longer allowed unless parents give written permission for a specific staff member. This change helps ensure student safety, transparency, and gives families access to review conversations—all while maintaining healthy, professional boundaries.

Owensboro Public Schools will utilize the following platforms for traceable, two-way communication between school staff and students:

• Talking Points - district-provided platform designed for two-way communication between school/teachers and parents/guardians, and with students of certain ages
• Google Workspaces - district's digital productivity suite including but not limited to Gmail, Classroom, Docs, Slide, Sheets, etc.

To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, and to be in compliance with the law, Owensboro Public Schools will require written permission for digital communication beyond the platforms listed above. If you'd like your student to communicate with a school district employee or volunteer (coach, teacher, mentor, tutor, etc.) outside the district approved platforms, you must submit a consent form to allow it. Completing a consent form grants permission for a specific school staff member or volunteer to communicate with your student digitally using personal devices or platforms. You can grant consent by completing the form HERE and returning it to OHS.

At Owensboro High School, we will continue to use our official social media pages, Infinite Campus Messenger, and the OHS website as one-way communication tools to keep families and students informed about important updates, events, and celebrations. While these platforms are great for sharing information, please note that due to new state guidelines under SB 181, staff members will no longer respond to direct messages or private comments on social media. For two-way communication with all OPS staff and volunteers, we will use district-approved platforms such as school email, Google Classroom, or Talking Points.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our Red Devil community safe and connected!

Welcome OHS Class of 2029! We look forward to meeting you on Tuesday, July 29 for Freshman Orientation and Bash@Rash

Freshman Orientation is for incoming OHS 9th grade students only.

Parents/guardians are asked to drop off students in the car rider line at the North Gym entrance from 3:00pm to 3:15pm. Students will pick up their "Red Devil Rookie Bag" that will include everything they will need to experience OHS at orientation and be prepared for the first day of school. Orientation will begin promptly at 3:30pm.

Parents are encouraged to join their students on the practice field for Bash@Rash at 5:00pm.

We will kick-off the 2025-2026 school year with Bash@Rash on Tuesday, July 29!

Bash@Rash is for all students grades 9-12 and their families. The event will take place on the practice field adjacent to the OHS student parking lot. Students and families are asked to park in the student lot and utilize the home and visitor entrances to the stadium to enter the event.

During Bash@Rash you will be able to complete OLR and HIF; receive bus information; purchase athletic passes and OHS gear; pay school fees; and pick-up student IDs and schedules. Community partners will be on-site and available to assist families and students. And don't forget the photo booth, music, ice cream and so much fun!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 29 from 5:00-7:00pm for Bash@Rash!

Wednesday, June 25 - Wednesday, July 9

KHSAA Dead Period

OHS Closed to All Activities

Friday, July 4

4th of July Holiday - OHS Closed

Thursday, July 10

OPS Coaches Meeting

Monday, July 14

OHS Class of 2026 Senior Pictures 8:30 to 4:30

Tuesday, July 15

OHS Class of 2026 Senior Pictures 8:30 to 4:30

Monday, July 21

OHS SBDM Meeting 4pm

Tuesday, July 29

OHS Safe School Training Completion Day

Freshman Orientation 3pm

Bash@Rash 5pm

Wednesday, July 30

OHS Professional Development Day

Thursday, July 31

OHS Professional Development Day

Monday, August 4

OPS District-Wide Professional Development at OHS

Tuesday, August 5

OHS Professional Development Day

Wednesday, August 6

OPS Opening Day

Thursday, August 7

First Day of School - Welcome Back Red Devils!