The Quaker Gazette

The OPHS Career Internship Program has created opportunities for more than 2 decades worth of students to gain valuable workplace experience, and the chance to explore a career field before pursuing it after high school. In this semester-long course, students will build employment qualifications and develop marketable workplace skills, all while earning school credit!

This program is only available to students in their Senior year, and they must apply to the program as a Junior. The competitive application process for the Career Internship Program begins now, and all application materials should be submitted no later than February 6, 2026.

For more information on the Career Internship Program and details on how to apply, can be found at https://ophs.opschools.org/academics-programs/career-internship-program

Questions? Contact: Mrs. Kristen Casto, WBL Coordinator, at kcasto@opschools.org.

National Honor Society (NHS) invitation letters will be distributed via email and USPS mail before February break. We'd like for students to monitor their email accounts closely for these notifications.

Important Deadlines & Requirements:

Community Service: Please ensure all required service hours are completed and logged with the school, as these are a mandatory component of the application.
Midweek (First week back from break): Letter of Intent due.
End of the following week: Final application deadline.

Congratulations to our Students of the Month for January!

The deadline for ordering your Quaker Yearbook is February 1, 2026. To order your yearbook, go to https://yearbookordercenter.com/ and enter school code 4747. All yearbook sales are online only. Furthermore, you MUST pre-order your yearbook by February 1, 2026.

Any questions, please contact us a ophsyearbook@opschools.org

In order to benefit from the educational program, Orchard Park High School students must report to school and to class on time. If your child is absent:

Please leave a message with the Attendance Office at (716) 209-6270 and

Submit an excuse in writing, either 1) electronically through the parent portal or 2) as a hard copy submitted to the Attendance Office.

Written excuses are always required even if a voicemail has been left.

To request work, please contact the Attendance Office at (716) 209-6270.

✅ Make a plan that works for YOU.

✅ Do the FAFSA.

✅ Get the money you need for college.

This is your future—get started at https://bit.ly/DoTheFAFSA

There are none this week.

January Information

College Night will take place Thursday, February 26th at 7pm in the OPHS Commons. Students (and parents) from all grade levels are encouraged to attend to hear from college admissions officers on a variety of topics related to the college admissions process. This event is a “must'' for any junior planning on applying to college in the fall of their senior year.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now available for the 2025-2026 academic year. All students attending college in Fall 2026 and their parents need to complete the FAFSA. Click here for more information.

The NYS TAP application is open for the 2025-2026 academic year. Click here for more information.

OPHS is a test center for the October ACT, November SAT, May SAT, and June ACT. Please visit the ACT and SAT websites for details and registration information.

Students attended a scheduling assembly on January 8th and learned how to enter their course requests for the 2026-27 school year. Students need to submit their course requests through their student portal by the end of the day on Wednesday, January 14th. Counselors will be meeting with students individually to review/update requests starting on Wednesday, January 28th. Students have until June 1st to make changes to their requests.

The High School Counseling Department hosts a Google Classroom for each grade level. Ask your child to log in and check out the latest announcements.

Check out the School Counseling page of the high school website. It includes a variety of resources for students and parents.

Thank you to everyone who donated funds, food, and drinks for the Staff Appreciation Lunch. Unfortunately due to the unpredictability of the weather, we had to cancel it. The new date of the Staff Appreciation Lunch will be March 20th. Donated funds will be used at that time for the event. A new sign up will go out for items and volunteers.

The next PTO meeting is Monday, Jan. 26th at 7:00pm in the OPHS Library. Please join us!

The next Post Prom meeting is Monday. 26th at 6:00pm in the OPHS Library. Everyone is welcome to attend even if you don’t have a Senior. Come see what the planning is all about!