OCS Connect Oct 2026
October 2026
At a glance:
Our monthly electronic newsletter to keep connections strong, district-wide.
- Partnership with Oregon Police, Oregon Fire and Jerusalem Twp Fire Dept.
- Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?
- Attendance Matters!
Superintendent Update
October Message
Dear Oregon City Schools Families and Community,
As we step into October, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to belong to a community that continually lifts one another up. This sense of unity is at the heart of our district theme this year, Together We Are One. Being one means standing together, looking out for each other, and making sure our schools are places where every child feels secure, supported, and ready to learn. With that in mind, I want to dedicate this month’s update to our single highest responsibility: school safety.
At Oregon City Schools, safety is our top priority. Every single day, you entrust us with your children. We do not take that responsibility lightly. We understand the depth of that trust, and it drives every decision we make, every protocol we set up, and every precaution we take in our buildings.
Keeping our campuses safe takes constant preparation. Throughout the year, our schools regularly run safety drills with students and staff. These practice runs help us refine our routines, build confidence, and ensure everyone knows what to do if an emergency arises. Preparing our students in a calm, thoughtful way helps us create an environment where learning can happen without fear.
We also know that real safety does not happen on its own. It relies on strong community partnerships. We are so grateful for our close working relationships with the Oregon Police Department, the Oregon Fire Department, and the Jerusalem Township Fire Department. Their constant presence, guidance, and support are vital to keeping our district safe.
October is national Fire Prevention Month, which gives us a great opportunity to reinforce those local connections. Throughout the month, we will be working directly with our local fire departments to teach our students essential fire safety skills that will help keep them safe both at school and at home.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, trust, and shared commitment to our children. When families, schools, and first responders work side by side, our schools stay safe spaces for learning. Truly, Together We Are One.
Go Eagles!
Jeff Straka
Superintendent, Oregon City Schools
Treasurer Update
From Tracy Boyes:
Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?
Family Corner
Faces of OCS: Celebrating the Students, Staff, and Community
Students:
In honor of the Centennial Celebration at Clay High School in September, the current student body formed the number 100 on the football field to commemorate the special occasion.
A new Dog Pack program at Starr Elementary (Bulldogs) allows students from different grade levels to come together to get to know their packmates, discover what they have in common, and begin building their very own Dog Pack community.
Coy Elementary invited Big Nut (OSU superfan) to visit with the students to share the message that Together We Are One!
Clay's Centennial Celebration
Starr's Dog Packs
Big Nut Visit
Staff:
We thank our dedicated Food Service Dept. employees that make a Connection with your students each and every day. The 32 members of our Cafeteria teams make sure that our students have nutritional options, while serving 1,875 meals per day.
Community:
Clay Career Tech students students were asked to participate in a local Habitat for Humanity Playhouse Build at the Toledo Refining Company for local families.
The Construction Trades and Engineering Design & Development students were on site at TRC to experience a collaborative assignment; paint, assemble, build and personalize a playhouse for two families.
The first playhouse will go to an 18 month old girl named Blake (she's adorable) and the second will go to Genacross Lutheran Services.
At the end of the day, our team was able to meet Blake and her family. How fulfilling! She was crawling all over the place, enjoying the books and stuffed animal.
Thank you to PBF Energy Toledo Refining Company for the invitation to help! It was a rewarding experience for all involved.
Alumni Community:
A commemorative video celebrating 100 years of Clay High School was created by Nick Amrhein, Class of 2006 in partnership with Clay High School and Clay Alumni Association.
Please enjoy this special video compilation below.
Important Reminders:
Attendance Matters!
Showing up is the most important thing students can do!
Chronic Absenteeism
A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year. All absences count toward chronic absenteeism, whether they are excused or unexcused. Chronic absenteeism is a signal that a student may be missing enough school to be academically at risk.
Did you know students that miss just two days per month are considered chronically absent in the state of Ohio and are showed to perform lower academically in core subjects? Students that miss two days a month will miss the equivalent of 1.5 years of school by the time they graduate!
Ohio's change in attendance laws are about the school working with families to improve attendance, so if you or your student need help improving attendance rates, please contact your building Principal.
Tips To Help Your Child Improve School Attendance
- Monitor Attendance- Keep track of your child’s school attendance and address any patterns of absenteeism early.
- Send Your Child to School Every Day- Only keep your child home if they have a fever, diarrhea, or are vomiting.
- Plan Vacations Around the School Calendar- Avoid taking vacations during school days to minimize missed instructional time.
- Schedule Appointments Wisely- Plan routine appointments and checkups after school hours. If this isn’t possible, send your child to school before the appointment and bring them back afterward.
- Build a Support System- Regularly communicate with the school about any challenges or issues that may affect your child’s attendance.
- Address School Anxiety- Encourage children with school anxiety to attend so they can learn stress management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or talking to someone trusted.
The Graph depicts OCS Absenteeism Rates per Building
PowerSchool
End of 1st Quarter is Approaching
PowerSchool is the tool to check in on your student's grades. All parents should have a PowerSchool login to view schedules, attendance, grades, test scores and graduation progress. If you have not setup a portal, instructions to do so were e-mailed to the primary student contact on Sept. 2. Everything you need to setup a portal is included in that e-mail. The e-mail will come from infosystems@oregoncs.org. Feel free to reach out to Linda Toth at 419-693-0661 x3273 if you need assistance.
Fee Payments
PaySchools Payment System
PaySchools Central is Oregon City Schools' online payment system. All parents will need to create an account in PaySchools Central, if not done so already. Parents use this account to pay school and athletic fees, add money to lunches, and apply for free lunches. There are NO FEES for using this system.
Click here for further instructions on how to establish or update your PaySchools account.
Fee Reminders will be emailed monthy, until outstanding balances are paid.
Athletic Game Tickets
Purchase Clay Athletic Tickets here.
Key Dates:
October
- October 12, Columbus Day - NO SCHOOL
- October 19, End of 1st Quarter
- October 20, Staff work day. K-12 Reports and Records - NO STUDENTS
- October 23, Last Home Football Game vs. Northview at 7:00pm
November
- November 25-29, Thanksgiving Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Helpful Resources:
OCS Data Snapshot
District Operations and Facilities
Facilities Update:
As we partner together to ensure a successful school year, our district’s highest priority remains the safety, well-being, and peace of mind of every student and staff member. Creating a secure learning environment is an ongoing commitment, one that involves physical safeguards, proactive programs, clear emergency protocols, and strong partnerships with our families.
Comprehensive Physical Security
As always, we have continued to enhance security measures across all campus facilities. All school buildings maintain strict access control that requires visitors to enter through a single secure main entrance, verify their identity, and wear visible badges while on grounds. Numerous security cameras, secure interior locking mechanisms, and School Resource Officers help to ensure our campuses are prepared and protected.
Thoughtful Preparedness and Training
Preparation is key to swift and effective action. Our staff and students participate in regular, age-appropriate emergency practice drills throughout the year. Utilizing standardized safety responses (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) ensures clear and consistent language across all classrooms/buildings. Our goal is to empower students with confidence and clear procedures, carried out in a supportive and calm atmosphere.
How Parents Can Partner With Us
Safety is a shared responsibility. You can help us maintain a secure community by:
- Updating Contact Information: Ensuring your details are current in the parent portal so you receive timely alert notifications via text, email, or phone.
- Encouraging Open Dialogue: Reminding your child about the importance of "see something, say something."
- Following Traffic Safety: Adhering strictly to campus arrival and dismissal procedures to protect pedestrians and buses.
Thank you for your continued trust, engagement, and support as we work together to keep our schools safe, welcoming, and inspiring places to learn.
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