Racer Review
Week of October 5, 2026
Fall Break- No School Thursday, October 8, 2026
Important Announcements
'Bye Bye Birdie'
It's almost time for spring musical auditions! Bye Bye Birdie is a satirical look at the culture of the 1950s, Elvis, and the controversy he and his music created in the media. This show has a huge cast, and we need YOU! To sign up for an audition slot, please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA4AD22A5FCC34-65943538-byebye#/
Need a little guidance or encouragement before audition time? Attend the free audition workshop in the drama room, from 315-615 on Tuesday, Oct. 6th. Ms. Baker (theater) & Ms. Carly (choir) will be there to answer questions, explain how auditions will work, what it looks like to audition outside of school, and more!
Sock-tober
Newcastle High School is seeking sock donations from October 1-15. All donations will be given to Citizens Caring for Children. Any new unopened sock package is accepted! Bring your donation to your 2nd hour class. The class with the most packages donated will win a donut party!!
Blood Drive
Newcastle Student Council would like to invite the community to participate in our fall blood drive on October 13. Please use this link or scan the QR code to schedule a donation time.
October 13, 2026
8am-2pm
Newcastle High School Gymnasium
MATC Students October 8th and 9th
The football field parking lot will be closed on Thursday 10/8 and Friday 10/9. Students needing to ride the MATC bus will be picked up in front of the auditorium.
Homecoming Information
Homecoming 2026
Newcastle High School is proud to announce this year's Homecoming Theme "Come Home to the Castle"
Hallway and Float themes for each grade are as follows:
Seniors: Toy Story
Juniors: Monsters Inc.
Sophomores: Inside Out
Freshman: Finding Nemo
Decorations and donations are appreciated! Hallways will be decorated after school Thursday, October 15.
Homecoming Parade and Carnival
NEWCASTLE HOCO PARADE — FLOAT SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!
Homecoming is coming up, and we want YOU in the parade!
Businesses, organizations, teams, clubs, groups and community members — start planning those floats and come be part of the fun!
Friday, October 23
10:00 AM
Whether you go big, keep it simple, decorate a trailer, or bring the whole crew — we’d love to have you join us!
Ready to be in the parade?
Sign up here:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/.../Homecoming2026RulesAndSi...
Homecoming Dance
Homecoming is all about school camaraderie and class unity, guests must attend Newcastle High School or Newcastle THRIVE. We do not permit students from outside the district to attend the homecoming dance.
Mid America Tour
All Sophomores will tour the Mid-America Technology Center in Wayne, OK on Wednesday October 14. The group will travel by bus and leave at the beginning of 2nd period and will return for 2nd lunch. All Sophomores will attend 2nd lunch that day.
Thank You Donors
Student Council would like to thank the following business and families for supporting our 100 for 100 through the month of September.
The Bell Family
Shetley Mechanical
Harryman Insurance
ColdOnes Event Solutions
Gene Reid and Family
Tactical Pest Solutions
The Davis Family
The Rozas Family
Thank you for your continued support. We will do another 100 for 100 campaign in December!
Student Spotlights
September Students of the Month
Congratulations to the following students for being nominated by staff and faculty to be the students of the month for September.
Maleigh Brasel
Nathan Espino
Molly Stevens
Counselors Corner
Important Senior Information: FAFSA
Seniors need to be completing their FAFSA as soon as possible.
If you've never filed a FAFSA, here's the process:
- Go to StudentAid
- Create an FSA ID for the student and one for the parent (both parents, if they're married and filed taxes separately).
- Start the 2027–28 form.
- Consent to the IRS transfer of your 2025 tax information.
- Add every school on the list, up to 20.
- Sign and submit.
The Education Department puts it at about 15 minutes for most families, and the form has been open since September 23.
Concurrent Enrollment
Current and/or interested Concurrent students MUST have a meeting with their counselor before Thursday December 3rd. Click on your counselor's name to schedule a meeting.
Mrs. Kopenski (Last Names H-P)
OU Onward
Beginning in fall 2027, Oklahoma residents whose families have an adjusted gross income (AGI) between $60,000 and $75,000 per year will be eligible to receive the OU Onward scholarship. This new last-dollar award covers the remainder of tuition and average fees at the University of Oklahoma for qualifying students who are not eligible for Oklahoma’s Promise.
Find out more here
OCCC Concurrent Interest
Counselors will hold a Racer Refuel session on October 7th in the Aviation room for current and/or interested OCCC Concurrent students. Students can sign up through MINGA.
Student Needs Survey
During the week of October 5-7, students will take a Student Needs Survey during their English classes. The responses to the survey are only shared with the counselors in order to inform counselors how they can specifically serve students. If you do not want your student to participate in the survey, please email their counselor. Emily Summers serving students with last names A-G at esummers@newcastle.k12.ok.us, Charley Kopenski serving students with last names H-P at ckopenski@newcastle.k12.ok.us, or Janette Nichols serving students with last names Q-Z at jnichols@newcastle.k12.ok.us.
Please see the survey here
ACT Waiver
Counselors have updated ACT Fee Waivers available. If a student is interested, they need to contact their counselor.
NCAA Requirements
Thinking of competing at the next level? Follow this NCAA timeline to keep eligible and to help answer what's next!
StopIt
Sharing a new resource provided by STOPit, our partner for anonymous reporting. This new resource provides students who are in crisis direct access to a trained counselor for immediate help and support, regardless of the time of day. Here are a few notes about the program:
How does Crisis Text Line work?
You text 741741 when in crisis, available 24/7 in the United States.
A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly.
The Crisis Counselor helps you move from a hot moment to a cool calm to stay safe and healthy using effective active listening and suggested referrals – all through text message, using Crisis Text Line’s secure platform.
College and Career Center
Build My Future Tour- October 22
Build My Future is an annual event hosted by Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association that offers free interactive, hands-on exhibits from skilled trades, giving students valuable internship and future employment opportunities. Student day offers interactive, hands-on exhibits from skilled trades, giving students valuable internship and future employment opportunities.
Complete this link for the google form to signup
Boomerang Scholarship Opportunity
Applications for Boomarang Diner’s Keep Giving Back Scholarship open October 1 and close April 30, 2027. The scholarship supports students pursuing a variety of paths after high school, including trade school, technical programs and college.
We’ve kept the application simple, with basic questions and the option to share their story through a short written response or video.
Jostens
Jostens will be on campus on October 15th to present to the senior and sophomore class. Please review the dates, students must be in attendance for this meeting.
Seniors- 12:45 pm
Sophomores- 1:30 pm
Student Reminders
Student IDs
All students and staff must wear their ID during the school day.
Bell to Bell
Oklahoma has a permanent, statewide "Bell to Bell, No Cell" law that bans student cell phone and personal electronic device use on public school campuses during the school day. House Bill 1276 was signed into law on May 26, 2026
Law Details and Rules
- Prohibited Devices: Personal cell phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, smart glasses, and smart headphones.
- Allowed Devices: School-issued or school-approved electronic devices used strictly for classroom instruction.
- Exceptions: Documented medical necessities and clear school emergency situations.
Racer Refuel
Students must choose a FLEXTIME option in MINGA everyday before 8:30 am.
Classroom Violations
A Class Violation may be issued for routine classroom disruptions, including but not limited to:
Not remaining in an assigned seat or designated area
Repeatedly failing to stay on task after redirection
Not following specific classroom rules or expectations
Minor behaviors that interrupt the learning environment
Repeated low-level disruptions that require teacher intervention
This directive is intended to help teachers address day-to-day behavior concerns efficiently while maintaining instructional momentum. If the student receives 2 Classroom Violations, they will be issued a detention.
Detention
If you are assigned a detention, you can now serve it in both the AM and PM, Monday through Thursday.
AM Session- Mr. Heatly's Room (Aviation Building); 6:30am-7:30 am
PM Session- Ms. Jackson's Room (G107); 2:45 pm-3:45pm
Detentions must be served by the due date, or it will result in 1 day of ISI.
Lunch Reminders
Students if you are not off campus for lunch you must be in the Cafeteria or the picnic tables outside of the cafeteria. Students will not be permitted to eat lunch in the hallways, outside of classrooms, main office lobby, or various corners around campus.
Freshmen students are required to eat lunch on campus. Freshmen students who leave campus during lunch will be referred to an administrator and will be assigned a consequence.
Parking Zones
Student parking is located in the purple parking zones. All other areas are not open to student vehicles. If you receive a parking ticket, the ticket must be paid. Any student that refuses to pay the parking ticket, will not be eligible to attend prom.
Athletics
The future of Newcastle Athletics is here Powered by Pioneer!
Official website and team store: RacerAthletics.com
Everything you need in one place:
- Schedules
- Racer Gear
- Spotlights
- Tickets
Softball
October 7 Super Regionals vs Tuttle @ Tuttle 4pm
Volleyball
October 6 HOME vs. Shawnee
Football
Game Day Theme: Light Up the Night: Neon + Wigs
A Note from Principal Hull
One of the most exciting things about being a student is knowing that there is so much ahead of you. Your future is filled with opportunities, experiences, people, and places you haven’t even discovered yet. Whether you already know exactly what you want to do after high school or you’re still figuring it out, you have time to dream, explore, and create a future that is uniquely yours.
October is an especially important month for our seniors as we celebrate College Application Month and FAFSA Month. If college, CareerTech, a certification program, the military, or entering the workforce is part of your plan, now is the time to start taking those next steps. Ask questions, meet deadlines, explore your options, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your future may feel far away, but the choices you make today are helping build the life you’ll have tomorrow. Dream big, take the next step, and get excited—there are incredible things ahead!