Friday Highlights

Mark your Calendar:

December 23 - Early Dismissal 11am - Winter Recess
December 24-31 - Winter Recess
January 1-2 - Winter Recess
January 13-16 - Early Dismissal 11am - Mid-Term Exams
January 19 - Martin Luther King Day - No School

Next Week’s Schedule at OHS:

Monday: B Day

Tuesday: A Day

🎁🎄Hope Club Giving Tree

The Hope Club is collecting items for their annual Giving Tree! Hats, Gloves, Toys and Toiletries are all needed! Please consider donating as each item will help support our local communities. All donations can be dropped off in the main office: Attention Hope Club. 🎁🎄

📘🧑‍🎓 Yearbook is collecting important Senior information:

Seniors are encouraged to check Google Classroom for important yearbook updates. Senior confessions and sibling photos are due Tuesday, 12/23. Don’t forget to vote for senior superlatives—voting closes on January 7th.
A Parent Ad for your graduating Senior can be purchased through Jostens.com when you order your yearbook. Ads are available to purchase through 1/31!
Yearbooks are on sale for $75 through 12/31. After that, the price increases to $80. Pre-orders close on 2/20, and availability is not guaranteed after that date. Click Here to order a yearbook!

OHS Athletics:

To view the list of athletic schedules, go to the OHS Website and select the tab for Athletics. Use the drop-down arrow and you will find schedules for each sport that is offered.

OHS Health Office:

As a friendly reminder from Nurse Dani, please log into your student’s PowerSchool account and sign off on the use of Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen and Tums if needed while in school. When you log into PowerSchool, go to forms and check off the boxes if you would like your child to receive any of these medications when in need. These medications may only be administered if the forms are completed on PowerSchool. Verbal permission is not accepted. Lastly, please forward your student’s Medication Administration and Asthma Action Plans. Connecticut does not allow medication to be administered with an outdated form.

CT State law requires that all students in 10th grade have a physical assessment. This assessment serves to document adequate immunizations and any health issues that may impact your child while they attend school. The physical exam must be dated after January 01, 2025. The front of the HAR form must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian. The second page must have all *asterisks areas completed.

As a friendly reminder your child must be fever free (without medication) and has not vomited within 24 hours before returning to school.

Early Dismissal Procedure:

A friendly reminder of our procedure for early dismissals:

1 - Early Dismissal Note: If your student needs to leave school early, please send them in with an early dismissal note. This allows us to give your student a dismissal pass, enabling them to sign out on their own. There is no need for you to come into the school.

2 - In-Person Pick-Up: If you need to pick up your student in person, please bring your driver’s license. You will need to complete the dismissal process through Securely Visitor for security purposes.

3 - Contact Information: Ensure that your contact information in Powerschool is up-to-date, including who is permitted to pick up your child.

We appreciate your cooperation in making the early dismissal process smooth and secure.

Juniors:

Save the Date: February 4th for our Parent College Information Evening

Please join the School Counseling Department for our College Information Session at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. We strongly encourage students to attend with their parents/guardians if possible. During this session, we will review our program’s procedures, policies, strategies, and resources to help make the college application process as smooth and successful as possible.

Junior Conferences:
Formal 40-minute post-secondary planning conferences will open next semester, and parents are encouraged to attend. Students will be prompted to schedule these meetings through our online calendar links.

Standardized Testing:

All Connecticut juniors will take the SAT during the school day on March 24, 2026. Only this test administration is FREE. No registration is required. Students who wish to take an additional Saturday SAT or an ACT exam can register directly through collegeboard.org or act.org. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school counselor.

Seniors:

Scholarships: All scholarships received by the OHS Counseling Department will be listed in SchooLinks. Students should check their SchooLinks accounts weekly throughout the winter and early spring for new opportunities. The counseling department reviewed the scholarship application process with the Senior class this week.

The prestigious 4-year Rowland R. Strong and Edith H. Strong Memorial Scholarship application will be available on January 5, 2026 on the OHS website. Please see attached press release.

Updates:

We are pleased to welcome Emma Schwarz as the interim school counselor while Mrs. Angeley is on maternity leave. Students and families on Miss Schwarz’s caseload received an introductory email this week. Miss Schwarz is a former OHS graduate and previously completed her counseling practicum with our team.

*Please follow us on instagram @OXFORDHIGHSCHOOL_COUNSELING

Mancinone:

Grade 9: A - C

Grade 10: A - C

Grade 11: A - C

Grade 12: A - C

Angeley (Ms Schwarz) :

Grade 9: D - L

Grade 10: D - M

Grade 11: D - M

Grade 12: D - L

McRae:

Grade 9: M - Z

Grade 10: N - Z

Grade 11: N - Z

Grade 12 M - Z

The counseling caseload by grade level (above) and links to book appointments (below).

Mancinone - https://calendar.app.google/EtkksyPUk4ZUaVKo7

Schwarz - https://calendar.app.google/CnpzgxXGqKqgfPyA7

McRae - https://calendar.app.google/3mnufwcsCXqrgoL89

Social Work Spotlight: Managing the Winter Blues

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it’s common for students (and adults!) to notice changes in mood, energy, and motivation. The “winter blues” can show up as feeling more tired, less motivated, irritable, or withdrawn, but there are ways to support emotional well-being during this season.

Helpful Strategies to Boost Mood and Energy:

Stick to a routine: Maintaining regular sleep, meals, and daily structure can help regulate mood.
Get light and movement: Spending time outside when possible, opening curtains, or engaging in physical activity can make a meaningful difference.
Stay connected: Encourage social interaction, even when the urge is to isolate. Small connections matter.
Focus on self-care: Prioritize activities that feel comforting or enjoyable, such as listening to music, journaling, or creative outlets.
Practice realistic thinking: Winter can magnify negative thoughts. Challenging “all-or-nothing” thinking and focusing on what is going well can help.
Ask for support: Reaching out to a trusted adult, counselor, or social worker is a strength, not a weakness.

If you or your student are feeling persistently down, overwhelmed, or disconnected, support is available. Our school Support Services team is here to help students build coping skills, resilience, and emotional balance during the winter months and beyond.

Small steps can make a big difference. Let’s take care of ourselves this season.

🎶 Important Updates for Choir, Band & Drama Families! 🎭

Please take a moment to review the attached calendar for important dates and details related to choir, band, and drama activities. It includes rehearsals, performances, and other key events you'll want to have on your radar.

Your support helps our students shine—thank you for staying informed!

Booster Club

🐾 OHS Families!

The Booster Club is excited to support our students, teachers, arts, activities, and athletics. Thanks for being part of the Wolverine family!

🗓 Booster Club Meetings
Join us at 7:00 PM in the OHS Café:

Jan 7th - Wed

🎉 Upcoming Events

Goody Bags Are Back at OHS!

Our Goody Bags were a huge hit last year, and we’re excited to bring them back! These personalized bags are a fun, encouraging way to support your student during midterms and finals. Once your order and payment are received, the Goody Bag Committee will prepare and deliver each bag to your student’s locker the night before exams. Seniors will also receive a special graduation surprise in their final bag!

Cost: $25 per student (covers two Goody Bags for the 2025–2026 school year)

Order by December 23, 2025.

Order here: https://forms.gle/gq5qAhbMd1vdXiHv8

Questions? Contact Susan O’Brien at suegobrien@gmail.com.
If financial hardship is a concern, please reach out confidentially to office staff—Megan Hogrefe at hogrefem@opsct.org , and all inquiries will remain private.

💙 Get Involved

Volunteer, share ideas, or become a member today: 2025 Membership

Thank you for your continued support! Wishing everyone a happy and joyous holiday season!

Go Wolverines! 🐾

From the Principal’s Office:

A special thank you to the staff and students who participated in Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. Emily Marquardt-Smith led the Chamber Choir in a beautiful performance of “Hands Are Knockin,” by Kyle Pederson, which was featured at their Winter Concert last weekend. In addition, Joe Lanier shared an overview of the trail work currently being completed by our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). He was joined by Brady Coons and Rylee Kern, current members of the trail crew, who spoke about their experiences and involvement in the program.

Oxford High School will administer midterm exams from January 13 through January 16. The exam schedule is outlined below. The first exam will run from 7:20 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., followed by the second exam from 9:20 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please note that these days will be early dismissal days for students. Additional information specific to this year’s midterms was shared in an earlier communication, which is linked HERE.

Finally, as we celebrate the holiday season and the close of the year, I would like to extend my sincere wishes for a happy, healthy, and restful holiday to you and your families. We wish you peace, joy, and time to recharge, and look forward to welcoming students back in the new year refreshed and ready for the second half of the school year.