Principal Notes

On Groundhog Day, the entire nation is watching for Punxsutawney Phil's prognostication. At Owensboro High School, we're hoping the groundhog doesn't see his shadow today... No more winter weather, no more NTI days, and no more snow days! After six long snowy days without students in the building, OHS just hasn't felt the same. We truly miss our Red Devils at 1800!

While winter weather gave us an unexpected pause, it also reminded us how much we love what we do and how much joy our students bring to Owensboro High School each and every day. The hallways are better, the classrooms are brighter, and the heart of OHS is strongest when our Red Devils are here.

We are so ready to welcome students back, get back into our routines, and continue the important work of learning, growing, and leading together. Thank you for sharing your children with us each day and for being such an incredible partner in their journey.

Here’s to warmer days, full classrooms, and a February filled with connection, pride, and Red Devil love.❤️🖤

Black History Month originated in 1915, fifty years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. That September, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian, and Jesse E. Moorland, a prominent minister, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Their organization was dedicated to researching, preserving, and promoting the achievements of Black Americans and people of African descent.

In 1926, the Association sponsored the first Negro History Week, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In the decades that followed, mayors across the country began issuing annual proclamations recognizing the week. By the mid-1960s, the celebration had expanded into Black History Month on many college campuses, inspiring schools and communities nationwide to organize local events, establish clubs, and host performances and lectures honoring notable African Americans.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, calling upon all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since then, every U.S. president has designated February as Black History Month, a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society, from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in industry, politics, science, art, culture, and athletics.

While Woodson and Moorland originally designated only one week in February, their hope was that it would prompt the public to study and celebrate Black history all year long. Black History Month was never intended to limit learning, it was meant to ignite it.

Celebrating and teaching Black history year-round reinforces an essential truth: Black History is American History. When we honor it as such, we promote unity and affirm that people of all backgrounds are valued members of our school community.

Owensboro High School values and celebrates diversity. Throughout February, our Red Devils will hear from African American staff members as they share their personal journeys, inspirations, and the words they live by. We are also proud to partner with Owensboro Public Schools to host the Honoring Black Excellence event on Wednesday, February 18.

As we commemorate 100 years of Black history celebrations, we are proud to showcase and honor the talents, contributions, and lasting impact of Black Americans past, present, and future.

Owensboro High School

Wednesday, February 18

6:00 - 8:00pm

Students, families, and community members are warmly invited to join us for an evening of reflection, celebration, and inspiration as we commemorate Black History Month at Honoring Black Excellence.

This special community event will showcase the talents, voices, and stories of our Red Devils while honoring the lasting contributions of African Americans to our school, our community, and our nation.

Those in attendance will enjoy:

• Powerful musical performances by OPS students
• Student art gallery highlighting creativity and expression
• Student-created African American History Museum
• Booths sponsored by community partners
• An inspirational message from Michael Johnson, President of the NAACP Owensboro Chapter
• Master of Ceremonies by members of the Advanced Placement African American Studies Course

This evening is a celebration of excellence, impact, and history - past, present, and future. Come experience the learning, creativity, and pride that makes our OPS community strong.

We look forward to celebrating with you as we honor Black excellence, together.

National School Counseling Week - February 2 - 6, 2026

The first full week of February gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate some of the most impactful people in our school community, our school counselors! National School Counseling Week 2026 (#NSCW26) runs from February 2–6, shining a spotlight on the incredible work counselors do each and every day to support students academically, socially, emotionally, and beyond.

This year’s theme, “School Counselors Amplify Student Success,” could not be more fitting. Our counselors are listeners, encouragers, problem-solvers, planners, advocates, and champions for our Red Devils. Whether they are helping a student navigate a tough day, plan for life after high school, explore career pathways, manage stress, or celebrate big wins, their impact reaches far beyond the counseling office.

National School Counseling Week highlights the vital role school counselors play in helping students succeed in school and prepare for their futures. Their work helps ensure every student feels supported, seen, and empowered to reach their goals.

At Owensboro High School, we are incredibly grateful for our counseling team and the heart they bring to our building every single day. They amplify student success by meeting students where they are and helping them grow into confident, capable, and #REDy Red Devils.

This week, and always, we say thank you to our school counselors, Mrs. Fogle, Mrs. Miller, Ms. Raley-Wade, and Mr. Wellman, for the care, commitment and passion you pour into our students and OHS.

FRYSC Week - February 9 - 16, 2026

February 9–13, 2026, marks FRYSC Week, officially designated by the Family Resource and Youth Services Coalition of Kentucky, and this year’s celebration is extra special as we honor 35 years of FRYSCs serving Kentucky families!

This year’s theme, “You’ve Got a Friend in FRYSC,” perfectly captures the heart of this work. FRYSC coordinators and staff show up every day often behind the scenes doing whatever it takes to support students and families so learning can happen.

FRYSCs provide vital services that strengthen student success, including support for basic needs, mental health assistance, family engagement, and connections to community resources. Their work helps remove barriers, build relationships, and create the conditions students need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

At Owensboro High School, we are incredibly grateful to have a true friend in FRYSC... Scott Hogg, our Youth Services Coordinator. Mr. Hogg’s dedication, compassion, and steady presence makes a lasting difference in the lives of our Red Devils and their families. From lending a listening ear to connecting families with critical supports, his impact is felt every single day at 1800.

Thank you for your service, heart, and commitment to our Red Devils, Mr. Hogg!

Mark your calendars, Red Devil families! Thursday, February 12 is a BIG night at Owensboro High School, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it! From 4:00–7:00pm, OHS will be buzzing with learning, connection, celebration, and opportunities for every grade level.

Of course, Parent-Teacher Conferences are the heart of the evening. This is your chance to connect with teachers, ask questions, and partner in your student’s success. But that’s just the beginning…

What's Happening on February 12?

📚 Parent-Teacher Conferences

📍 OHS Classrooms

🕓 4:00-7:00pm

Meet with your student’s teachers and check in on progress, goals, and growth.

🎓 OHS Opportunities Showcase
📍 North Gym Upper Deck

🕓 4:00-7:00pm
Discover all the incredible opportunities OHS has to offer! Learn about fine arts, Advanced Placement, dual credit, and career pathways directly from our faculty and students.

❤️ Junior Passion Project Presentations

🕓 4:00-7:00pm
See the creativity, passion, and purpose of our juniors on full display as they present their Junior Passion Projects.

🎓 OHS Upperclassmen Academic Planning Info Session

📍 Auditorium

🕓 5:00pm

For current OHS students in grades 9–11 and their families. Learn about academic planning, course offerings, career pathways, postsecondary readiness, and scheduling using IC Academic Planner.

🎓 OHS Class of 2030 Academic Planning Info Session

📍 Auditorium

🕓 6:00pm

For all 8th grade students and families. Get an overview of everything you need to know about high school - academic offerings, pathways, post-secondary #REDy, scheduling, and IC Academic Planner - as you prepare to become Red Devils.

💰 FAFSA Workshop

📍 Media Center

🕓 4:00-6:30pm

OHS KY College Coach, Mr. S will be on-site to assist seniors and their parents. All students and their parent/guardian MUST file the FAFSA to see if they qualify for federal and state grants. Many colleges and scholarship committees use the FAFSA to determine additional aid and scholarship awards. Don't miss out on FREE money! File your FAFSA.

🔴⚫ Red & Black Shack

📍 Cafeteria

🕓 4:00-7:00pm

Grab the latest OHS spirit gear...perfect timing for Valentine’s Day! The Red & Black Shack is cashless. Swipe, tap, or insert your card. No cash accepted.

February 12 is more than conferences... it’s a full OHS experience. Come for one event or stay for them all, but don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate everything that makes Owensboro High School special.

We can’t wait to see you at 1800 on Thursday, February 12!

Owensboro High School is proud to provide meaningful, real-world learning experiences that prepare our Red Devils for life beyond 1800. On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, all OHS seniors will participate in Senior Shadow Day, an off-campus experience designed to support college, career, and life readiness.

During Senior Shadow Day, seniors will either shadow a professional in a career field of interest or complete community service with a local organization. This experience allows students to explore potential career paths, build professional skills, and make connections between their interests and future goals.

To participate, seniors must select a professional or community agency and complete the required Senior Shadow Day form, which must be submitted to their Advisory teacher by February 20, 2026. Seniors are expected to participate fully and demonstrate professionalism throughout the experience.

Following Senior Shadow Day, students will reflect on and log their experience in Xello, adding this valuable experience to their résumé and postsecondary planning tools.

Senior Shadow Day is an important milestone for our seniors as they prepare for the next chapter of their journey. We appreciate the continued support of our families, staff, and community partners who help make authentic learning experiences like this possible for our Red Devils.

It’s time for our Red Devils to begin planning for the 2026–27 school year! Throughout the month of February, current students at Owensboro High School will engage in academic planning activities during Advisory designed to help them make informed and confident decisions about their future.

During Advisory, students will participate in discussions and activities that deepen their understanding of graduation requirements, OHS course offerings, career pathways and completion requirements, and examine what it truly means to be postsecondary #REDy. Students will also receive guidance on how to use the IC Academic Planner to thoughtfully build their course requests for the upcoming school year.

Our school counselors will guide these Advisory sessions, providing step-by-step support and answering questions as students prepare and submit their 2026–27 course requests through the IC Academic Planner.

Once course requests are submitted, school counselors will begin meeting with students for individual academic planning sessions in March to review selections, discuss goals, and ensure each student’s schedule aligns with graduation requirements, interests, and postsecondary plans.

Thoughtful planning today sets the foundation for future success and we’re excited to support our Red Devils every step of the way!

We are excited to officially welcome the Class of 2030 to Owensboro High School on Tuesday, February 24 for Academic Planning and Career Pathway Exploration Visits!

Students from Owensboro Middle School and iMiddle School will visit OHS to begin planning for their high school journey. During their visit, students will learn about OHS course offerings, the scheduling process using the IC Academic Planner, and what it means to be postsecondary #REDy. They will also have the opportunity to explore the wide range of Career Pathways available at OHS and begin thinking about how their interests connect to future goals.

Our administrative and counseling teams will be joined by several Red Devils from the Class of 2026, who will be on hand to answer questions, share their experiences, and help our future Red Devils feel right at home at 1800.

Transportation will be provided from OMS and iMiddle to OHS for this event. Students are asked to bring a fully charged Chromebook to participate in planning activities.

We can’t wait to meet, inspire, and celebrate the newest members of our Red Devil family.

Welcome to OHS, Class of 2030... we’re excited for your journey to begin!

OHS Juniors... it’s time to gear up for the SAT! On Friday, February 27, all juniors will participate in SAT Boot Camp, a one-day, high-impact workshop designed to help students feel confident, prepared, and college-ready for the SAT test day on Tuesday, March 3.

SAT Boot Camp is an engaging, fast-paced experience led by expert instructors from MasteryPrep who specialize in helping students boost performance and reduce test-day stress. This workshop is designed to give you that final confidence boost before you sit for the exam.

During SAT boot camp, students will learn:

• Essential SAT test-taking strategies

• Key content knowledge needed for success

• Pacing and time-management techniques

• Smart approaches to effective guessing

• Strategies for tackling every SAT question type

Each student will receive a detailed SAT workbook packed with practice exercises, tips, and strategies to reinforce what’s learned during the session and to use for continued preparation.

This is an important opportunity to sharpen skills, build confidence, and set yourself up for success on test day. Come ready to learn, engage, and take one more strong step toward being postsecondary #REDy.

Let’s do this Class of 2027!

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!

Save the date for OHS Winter Homecoming 2026! Our Red Devils will come together for a fun-filled weekend on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14, celebrating school spirit, tradition, community, and a love for Owensboro High School.

As we gear up for this exciting tradition, we want to share the important dates and expectations for OHS Winter Homecoming 2026:

• Winter Homecoming Court will be recognized and the King & Queen will be announced during halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against Ohio County High School on Friday, February 13, 2026.

• The Winter Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, February 14, 2026 beginning at 8:00pm and all students must be picked up no later than 11:00pm.

• Admission to the dance is $5 per OHS student or guest. Students that are "Post-Secondary #REDy" will be admitted FREE! Tickets will be purchased at the door on February 14. Cash only.

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

• Guests may be any person who is at least a freshman in high school and is NOT over the age of 20. Students wishing to bring a non-OHS guest to Winter Homecoming must complete a Non-OHS Guest Verification Form. All forms and requirements must be completed and returned to Ms. Fiorella by Wednesday, February 4, 2026. EXTENDED DUE TO SNOW

• The Winter Homecoming Dance will take place in the OHS Cafeteria. Students will enter through the car rider entrances off the North Gym Parking Lot.

• OHS students MUST have their OPS issued student ID to enter the event. Approved guests MUST also have a photo ID to enter.

• A photo backdrop will be available for pictures.

• A coat check and snacks will be available for purchase. Cash only.

• Students that decide to leave the homecoming dance early will not be allowed reentry.

Students should be on the lookout during Advisory in the upcoming weeks for their opportunity to make nominations for Winter Homecoming Court, vote for Winter Homecoming King & Queen, and for the official announcement of Winter Homecoming Week Activities.

Winter Homecoming is a celebration of school spirit, leadership, and community. Participating in nominations, voting, and spirit week activities helps make Homecoming meaningful and memorable for everyone. We’re looking forward to a fun, spirited Winter Homecoming celebration and can’t wait to see our Red Devils take part in the traditions that make OHS special.

Old Man Winter is here and that can mean school cancellations. Owensboro Public Schools has been granted the use of Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) days by the Kentucky Department of Education. NTI days allow students to receive instruction from home when conditions such as inclement weather prevent schools from being in session.

OPS will announce when a regular school day is canceled. The announcement will be specific if schools are closed or if schools are using an NTI day. If schools are closed, students are not expected to do any assignments. If schools are using an NTI day, students are expected to complete assignments posted on Google Classroom.

Below are the expectations of OPS high school students, teachers and parents/guardians on NTI days.

High School students will:

• Complete assignments posted on Google Classroom
• OIA students should log into ECHO for each scheduled class
• Student participation is based on turning in posted assignments
• Assignments should be completed by due date posted by the teacher

High School Teachers:

• May work remotely on weather related days
• Will post instructions and assignments on Google Classroom by 8:30am
• Will include clear learning intentions, success criteria, and tasks/assessments to be completed for each lesson
• Will be available by email, phone, and/or Google Meet from 10:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 3:00pm

High School parents/guardians will encourage students to:

• Complete assignments listed on Google Classroom/ECHO
• Check to make sure assignments showing "Turned In" aren't blank documents
• Communicate with teachers when encountering questions or points of confusion

OHS Production Basics Red Day

A Trip to the Moon

Written By: Tracy Wells

February 12 & 13 @ 7pm

Black Box Theatre

OHS Production Basics Black Day

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

Written By: Don Zolidis

February 12 & 13 @ 7pm

Black Box Theatre

Monday, February 2 - Tuesday, February 3

Civics Testing

Tuesday, February 3 - Wednesday, February 4

OSHA 10 Training

Wednesday, February 4 - Saturday, February 7

KMEA Conference and All-State Perfromances

Monday, February 9 - Wednesday, February 11

Writing Benchmark 3

Tuesday, February 10

Planning Period Meeting for Spring Testing Prep

Thursday, February 12

OHS House Party

Parent-Teacher Conferences at OHS 4-7pm

Theater Productions in Black Box 7-9pm

Friday, February 13

OPS Flexible PD Day - No School

Winter Homecoming Court Recognition

Theater Productions in Black Box 7-9

Saturday, February 14

Winter Homecoming Dance 8-11pm

Monday, February 16

Presidents Day - No School

Tuesday, February 17 - Thursday, February 20

QPR Training with RVBH

Wednesday, February 18

Honoring Black Excellence at OHS 6-8pm

Saturday, February 21

KAAC Regional Academic Team Competition at OHS

Monday, February 23

OHS SBDM Council Meeting 4pm

Tuesday, February 24

OMS & iMiddle Academic Planning & Pathway Exploration Visits to OHS

Wednesday, February 25

District Learning Walks at OHS

Thursday, February 26

OHS Jazz Band Spaghetti Dinner

Friday, February 27

SAT Boot Camp for Juniors