Principal Notes

March has arrived at Owensboro High School, and with it comes the energy, excitement, and yes... a little bit of madness! But at OHS, we don’t shy away from busy seasons. We embrace them. Our Red Devils are Built for March.

This month is packed with opportunities that challenge us, stretch us, and remind us why we do what we do every single day:

• School-Wide Testing for grades 9-11
• Senior Shadow Day
• The start of Red Devil Spring Sports seasons
• Online Registration opens for the 2026-27 school year
• The OPS Fine Arts Festival showcasing incredible student talent
• The Junior College Fair preparing our juniors for their next chapter
• And just 24 instructional days until Spring Break!

That's a lot of action in one month, but this is where Red Devils thrive.

March is about momentum. It’s about preparation meeting opportunity. It’s about showing up ready whether that’s for a test, a college conversation, a shadowing experience, a rehearsal, a practice, or a game. Every day matters. Every moment counts.

Red Devils are built for March and we will win it one day at a time...

We win the day by being present, staying focused, supporting one another, and finishing strong! And yes, we win the day by having some fun with our OHS March Madness theme days!

The "madness" of March isn't chaos, it's opportunity. It's growth. It's preparation for what's next. And no school is better prepared for it than OHS!

Red Devils, let's lean in. Let's rise to the challenge. Let's compete in the classroom, in the arts, in athletics, and in how we care for one another.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor, celebrate, and learn from the women who have shaped our world. From expanding access to education and healthcare to leading movements for justice and equality, women throughout history have changed the trajectory of communities, nations, and generations.

Women’s History Month is not only about looking back, it is about looking forward.

It is about recognizing the scientists, writers, athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, educators, and activists whose courage and determination created new opportunities for women everywhere. From Abigail Adams urging the nation’s founders to “remember the ladies,” to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s contributions stretches across every era of American history and continues to unfold today.

But women’s history is also found much closer to home.

It lives in our classrooms, in our offices, on our athletic fields, and around our kitchen tables. It is reflected in mothers, grandmothers, mentors, teachers, coaches, and big sisters who model resilience, compassion, leadership, and strength every day. It is found in young women sitting in our classrooms right now preparing to lead, innovate, serve, and create the future.

As gender equality advocate Myra Pollack Sadler wrote, “Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less.” Women’s History Month is not about rewriting history, it is about broadening it. It is about ensuring that every student sees themselves reflected in the story of progress. When we expand the lens of history, we expand possibility.

Today, women serve as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, superintendents, principals, judges, engineers, entrepreneurs, legislators, and heads of households. They continue to challenge barriers, shatter ceilings, and redefine leadership.

At OHS, we celebrate the women who have paved the way and the young women who are writing the next chapter.

This month, let’s take time to:

• Learn about the women who shaped history

• Amplify the voices of women in our community

• Encourage every girl to pursue her passions boldly

• And model respect, equity, and opportunity for all

Women’s History Month reminds us that progress is built on courage and the story is still being written.

Let’s continue to build a school and a community where every student knows their value, their voice matters, and their future is limitless.

Owensboro High School is proud to share that College Board has been selected as the college admissions exam vendor by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for the 2025–2026 school year. As part of Kentucky’s assessment requirements under KRS 158.6453, all Grade 11 students across the state will take a college admissions exam during the spring of 2026.

For our OHS Class of 2027, that day is set for Tuesday, March 3. Juniors will take the SAT, which will be administered online during the regular school day.

The KDE uses the SAT to measure students’ readiness for college-level work in core academic content areas. Meeting benchmark scores on the SAT is one way students can demonstrate academic readiness under Kentucky’s Postsecondary Readiness accountability indicator.

But beyond state accountability, the SAT provides meaningful benefits for students and families:

• No cost to students when administered through the school
• Given during the school day, ensuring equitable access for all
• Used by many colleges for admissions consideration
• Considered by scholarship organizations for merit-based awards
• Provides valuable data to guide postsecondary planning

Simply put, the SAT opens doors for our Red Devils.

At OHS, preparation matters. Our juniors have spent time in their daily coursework and in SAT Bootcamp sharpening essential skills, practicing question types, learning strategies and tips, and building confidence in their test-taking abilities. We are proud of the work they've put in and we know they are ready.

On March 3, our Red Devils will show what it means to be focused, prepared, and determined. Our juniors are #REDy for the SAT!

Online Registration (OLR) for the 2026–2027 school year will open for Owensboro Public Schools on Monday, March 9.

ALL families, both returning and new, MUST complete Online Registration. This process is required each year for every student.

Returning families must log in to update and verify all information currently in the student information system. Even if your information has not changed, you must review and confirm that all data is accurate in order to complete the registration process.

Families should visit startolr.com beginning March 9 to complete registration.

Families new to Owensboro Public Schools and Owensboro High School will need to contact OHS registrar, Jessica Sandefur, at 270-686-1110 or jessica.sandefur@owensboro.kyschools.us for assistance and enrollment verification.

Completing OLR early helps us:

• Plan staffing and course offerings
• Finalize class schedules
• Ensure transportation and services are accurate
• Prepare for a smooth start to the 2026-27 school year

Please do not delay. We need 100% participation from all OHS families.

For additional information and assistance with Online Registration, please see the graphic below and click the button to register starting March 9.

Let’s take care of this important step and get ready for another great year at OHS!

Owensboro High School is proud to partner with the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center (WKRBC) for an upcoming blood drive sponsored by our National Honor Society (NHS) students.

The WKRBC bloodmobile will be on campus Friday, March 20 from 10:00am to 3:00pm. This is an incredible opportunity for our Red Devils to make a real and immediate impact on our community.

Students are eligible to donate if they:

• Are 16 years of age
• Weigh at least 115 pounds
• Submit a signed parent/guardian consent form

Blood cannot be manufactured. It can only come from generous donors willing to give a small amount of time to help someone else survive. One blood donation can save up to three lives. When you donate blood, you are giving more than just a pint. You are giving hope. You are giving healing. You are giving someone another birthday, another holiday, another chance.

At OHS, we talk a lot about leadership, service, and being difference-makers. This is one of the most powerful ways to live that out. Our NHS students are proud to sponsor this event, and we encourage eligible students, staff, and our OHS community to consider stepping up.

Let's show what it means to lead with heart... On March 20, let's fill that bloodmobile and make an impact that truly saves lives.

Red Devils, it’s time to start the countdown! We are thrilled to officially announce the date and important details for the OHS Junior–Senior Prom 2026... one of the most unforgettable nights of the year. Prom is more than just a dance; it’s a celebration of friendships, milestones, and memories in the making.

Be sure to mark your calendars and review all the key dates, deadlines, and expectations so you’re ready for a night to remember!

Here’s what you need to know:

• Prom will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the Riverpark Center.

• Prom will be from 8:00pm-11:00pm with parent preview from 8:00pm-9:00pm.

• Juniors and Seniors enrolled at OHS (OIA, early college, etc.) and their eligible guests may attend prom. Students enrolled at ODT; Emerson Academy; who are suspended; or are in Red Devil Academy may not attend prom.

• Guests may be any person who is at least a freshman in high school and who is NOT over the age of 20. Juniors and seniors wishing to bring a non-OHS guest to prom must submit a Non-OHS Guest Verification Form to Ms. Fiorella and complete all requirements on the form by Thursday, April 2, 2026. Forms will not be accepted after the deadline

• Tickets are $20 per person and will be on sale during lunch from Thursday, April 16 through Tuesday, April 21.

• Tickets will only be sold to OHS Juniors and Seniors and their approved guests. All required documentation must be on file for Non-OHS Guest in order to purchase tickets.

• Tickets will be available for pick-up on Friday, April 24 from 8:00am to 2:00pm during arrival, transitions, and lunch. OHS students must pick up their prom tickets.

• No tickets will be sold at the door on the night of prom at the Riverpark Center. Students without tickets will not be admitted.

• Students that decide to leave prom early will not be allowed reentry.

Prom is a special milestone ... a night filled with celebration, friendship, and memories that last a lifetime. At Owensboro High School, we want every Red Devil to have the opportunity to experience that night with confidence and joy.

That’s where Cinderella’s Closet comes in.

Cinderella’s Closet provides beautiful formal wear to junior and senior girls who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend prom. Through generous donations of new and gently used dresses and accessories, this incredible organization truly helps “Turn Dresses Into Dreams.”

Students who are referred through the OHS Youth Service Center are invited to a personalized shopping experience where they can select a dress, shoes, and accessories all at no cost. But it’s more than just finding a dress. It’s about feeling celebrated, supported, and confident. It’s about making prom possible.

If you are a junior or senior girl at OHS and would love to attend prom but are concerned about the cost of a dress, we are here to help.

Please see Mr. Hogg in the Youth Service Center for more information about how to be referred to Cinderella’s Closet.

Spring semester is the perfect time to refocus, strengthen skills, and finish the year strong, and tutoring can help you do just that! Whether you want to boost your grades, prepare for upcoming assessments, stay on top of challenging material, or simply build confidence in a class, tutoring is a powerful tool for success.

At Owensboro High School, tutoring is available to support students in meeting their academic goals and staying on track toward being postsecondary #REDy. Tutoring provides personalized support, targeted instruction, and the opportunity to ask questions in a focused, supportive setting.

Don’t wait until you’re behind! Get ahead and stay ahead this spring!

Signing up is easy... scan the QR code to request the tutoring sessions you need.

Take advantage of this opportunity to invest in yourself, strengthen your learning, and finish the semester with confidence.

Looking to boost your SAT confidence and performance? SAT Virtual Booster Classes are available to all students at Owensboro High School and are a great way to sharpen skills, strengthen strategies, and feel more prepared for test day.

These virtual booster classes provide targeted instruction focused on key SAT concepts, smart test-taking strategies, pacing and time management, and approaches for tackling different question types. Whether you’re taking the SAT soon or planning ahead for the future, these sessions are designed to help you build confidence and improve performance.

Participation is easy! Scan the QR code to register and take advantage of this flexible learning opportunity.

No matter where you are in your SAT journey, these booster classes can help you take the next step toward being postsecondary #REDy. Don’t miss out. Sign up today and give yourself the advantage!

Red 2 Theatre I Presents...

Knock Knock

By: Jason Pizzarello & Kathryn Funkhouser

March 16 & March 17

OHS Black Box Theatre

7:00pm

$3 for Students & $5 for Adults - Cash Only

Black 1 Theatre I Presents...

Monster Problems

By: Lindsay Price

March 16 & March 17

OHS Black Box Theatre

7:00pm

$3 for Students & $5 for Adults - Cash Only

OPS Fine Arts Festival

The Red and Black Carpet

RiverPark Center

March 23 - 25 & March 31 - April 2

Tuesday, March 3

Junior SAT Day at OHS

School-Wide Testing Day

OHS Senior Shadow Day

Wednesday, March 4

Statewide Tornado Drill

Early College & Dual Credit Information Meeting

Sunday, March 8

Spring Forward 1-hour - Daylight Saving Time

Wednesday, March 11

Hezekiah Watkins Guest Speaker

Thursday, March 12

OHS House Party

OPS ML Family Engagement Night

Friday, March 13

Make-Up Day - School In Session

Saturday, March 14

OHS JROTC Military Ball

Tuesday, March 17

OHS Staff Meeting

Friday, March 20

WKRBC Blood Drive at OHS

OHS Club Day A

Monday, March 23 - Thursday, April 2

OPS Fine Arts Festival at RiverPark Center

Friday, March 27

OHS Club Day B

Sunday, March 29

OHS NHS Induction Ceremony

Monday, March 30

OHS SBDM Council Meeting