Lake Orion HS Newsletter

As we wrap up the final days before holiday break, we want to extend our sincere appreciation for your hard work, support, and commitment throughout the first half of the school year. The strength of our Dragon community comes from the way we learn, grow, and support one another every day, and we are grateful for each of you and the countless ways you “Protect the Thunder” here at LOHS.

As we head into the break, we hope you find time to rest, recharge, and enjoy meaningful moments with family and friends. Whether you’re celebrating, traveling, or simply taking time to pause, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.

A few reminders as we close out the week:

· School will resume on Monday, January 5.

· Nominate a Teacher of the Year by Wednesday, January 7 (see details below).

· Semester exams will be held on January 15 and 16—we encourage students to begin preparing over the break to ensure a confident and successful start to the new year.

· Please take home personal items, Chromebooks/chargers, and any winter gear you may need over the break.

· Be sure to clean out lockers of any perishable items such as drinks, water bottles, and snacks before leaving for break.

· Take this time to rest, unplug when possible, and return ready for a strong and successful end to your 1st semester.

Thank you for being an important part of Lake Orion High School. We are proud of our students, grateful for our staff, and appreciative of the ongoing support from our families and community.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year. Go Dragons!

Regards,
The Lake Orion High School Administrative Team

Dr. Dan Haas- Principal, Anthony Kiner- Associate Principal, Danielle Bredemus- Assistant Principal, Brad Bailey- Assistant Principal, Chad Chappell- Director of CFE, Chris Bell- Athletic Director

December 17 - Winter Wonderland Choir/Band Concert 11 a.m.

December 17-18 - Christmas Cookie Drop-Off 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

December 22 - January 2 - Holiday Break, No School

January 15-16 - 2nd Term Exams - 1/2 Day for Students

January 19 - MLK Day - School Closed

Reminder the LOHS Parent Group would love families to provide LOHS Staff with Christmas cookies! We are requesting 2-3 dozen homemade cookies from our families that would like to donate. Due to airborne allergies in the school, we CANNOT accept cookies containing PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER/ TREE NUTS (and also bring in a copy of the recipe)!

Please deliver cookies to school Dec. 17 and 18 between 7am-2pm. The staff will get to partake in a Christmas buffet of cookies, creating a platter to take home to share with their families this season! (When delivering, there will be a table at the front doors for drop off). Please sign up and thank you in advance for sharing the joy of the season with all our teachers and staff! Any questions, contact Kristi Pavelich at Kristi.Pavelich@lok12.org.

National Honor Society (NHS) is raising money to fund the Cell Out for Soldiers Event!

LOHS Bands and Choirs present a FREE Winter Wonderland Concert on Wed, December 17!

See below for details.

The Black Student Union is collecting socks for the homeless now until December 19th. The BSU will have tables set-up during all lunches Dec. 16-18 to collect donations, or you can also bring them to Ms. Humes in the Attendance Office. Thank you for your support!

We want to make sure you are aware that AI-enabled glasses are NOT permitted at school in accordance with our Student Handbook policy regarding personal technology devices (PTD). These devices can record, capture, or process information in ways that may compromise student privacy and classroom integrity. For these reasons, students will not be permitted to wear AI-enabled glasses if brought to school.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe, focused learning environment.

Protect the Thunder.

LOHS Administration

Nominate a Teacher of the Year! 🌟

Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond to make a lasting impact? We're looking for outstanding educators who shine in the classroom, support students after school, or uplift the community through their dedication and passion.

Teacher eligibility:

• Full Time Certified High School Classroom Teacher.
• At least 5 years of teaching in Lake Orion Schools.
• Mr. Meerschaert (2025), Mr. Steele (2024), Ms. Srock (2023), Mr. Bodiya (2022), and Ms. Burns (2021) are not eligible due to having won the Teacher of the Year award within the last 5 years.

Nomination Criteria:

Nominate a teacher who meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Creates an engaging and supportive learning environment.
• Makes a difference in students' lives through after-school programs, mentoring, or extracurricular activities.
• Contributes to the community through volunteerism, leadership, or innovative projects.

How to Nominate:

• 2026 Teacher of the Year Nomination – Fill out form

Deadline: 1/7/2025 at 11:45 pm

Conversations about fentanyl can feel daunting, but they’re one of the most meaningful ways parents and caregivers can help teens stay safe when it comes to prescription drug misuse. When our youth understand why these choices matter—and know that they can come to you with questions—they're better equipped to navigate real-world situations with confidence.

You don’t have to navigate conversations about fentanyl alone, and NOCC is here to help by sharing these practical tips to help families open the door to these discussions! Starting with the basics of what fentanyl is, why counterfeit pills are risky, and why medications should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor can set a strong foundation on the facts. From there, creating a plan together can empower teens to know what to do if they ever feel pressured or unsure.

Conversations around fentanyl don’t have to be perfect. Ongoing open and honest communication can make all the difference.

For facts to guide your discussion and resources for families, visit the NOCC website. Thank you for taking these small steps with us to make a big difference for our youth and community!

Keep up to date on all GAP Clubs & Extracurricular After School Activities on X (formerly Twitter)! New clubs will be announced over the next few weeks. See below for the many groups running this week. Reach out to Mr. Kimball if you have questions.

Here's the look at our live broadcast schedule for the final school week of 2025!

As always, you have access to all broadcasts via our website at www.dragonbroadcasting.org.

***There are a variety of scammers out there trying to get you to click on their fake link. WE are Lake Orion High School's broadcast program, and WE will always post the correct info!***

LOHS students created over 300 homemade holiday cards this season that are being delivered to senior homes in the Lake Orion community. The cards were thoughtfully crafted with colorful pictures and a meaningful message of hope and holiday joy.

Work Permits WILL NOT be signed between December 20, 2025- January 4, 2026. Please remind students to have their work permit signed BEFORE leaving school on Friday, December 19 if they want to work over the holiday break!

Over holiday break, students have the opportunity to continue to volunteer, loading Christmas baskets for the Lions Club on Saturday, December 20 and both Mondays of break, can join Forgotten Harvest at Canterbury Village in the distribution of groceries. All events are outdoor opportunities, so remind students to dress appropriately and wear closed toe shoes! All details in x2VOL.

Informational meetings coming up. Please reach out to Julie Barnes with any questions.

If you want more information regarding all things related to the Class of 2026 and Senior Year, go to the LOHS Senior Class of 2026 website. The Senior Bulletin along with important dates and much more will be found on that page.

FinalForms is the application that LOCS uses for athletics. All student athletes and parents/host-parents/guardians are required to set up an account (there is no cost) and register for the sports the student is interested in playing. Click here to access the application.

For the health and safety of our student athletes, Sports Physicals are MANDATORY for middle/high school athletics per the MHSAA and must be uploaded to FinalForms BEFORE tryouts. For school year 2025-26 the physical should be completed after 4/15/25 to be valid. Click here for the form to be completed by a medical professional.

The Pay to Participate fee is for an unlimited number of sports in one school year. Excluded are self-funded sports which are Water Polo, Ice Hockey, Alpine Ski Racing, Dance, Powerlifting, Figure Skating, Equestrian and Mountain Biking. The fee is non-refundable and due after tryouts and no later than the first contest.

• $335 per high school athlete for the school year
• $260 per middle school athlete for the school year
• $745 maximum fee per family for the school year
• Reduced fees for students who qualify. Contact Food Services at 248-814-0201 for information.

Please make all checks or money orders payable to Lake Orion Community Schools. Credit card payments can be made online in FinalForms or through PaySchools which is accessed through the district website.

Apply at: lakeorion.familyportal.cloud

Also submit this form: Sharing info with other programs (release form)

Looking for information about participating as a student athlete, the athletic schedule, or how to purchase tickets to sporting events, please visit the athletics website: Athletics Calendar - Lake Orion Community Schools (lakeorionschools.org)

Stop in for drop-in tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:35 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. in the LC Quiet Room behind the check in desk.

Or arrange 1-on-1 tutoring with a NHS student in a specific subject. Reach out to your teacher, counselor, or Ms. Lee for contact information.

LOHS utilizes School Dismissal Manager (SDM) for reporting absences and early dismissals. It is accessible through SDM Website or smartphone app - no need to call the school.

• First time users must sign in to SDM using the welcome email sent to families at the end of August. Email Ms. Humes for assistance.
• When signing your child out early, please remind them to check their email for the SDM confirmation.
• They will need to show the SDM confirmation email to their teacher and the front door attendance clerk when leaving.
• There’s no need for parent/guardian to come into the building once permission has been given via SDM or phone call.

• for SDM, contact Ms. Humes at patricia.humes@lok12.org or 248-693-5420 option 1.
• for the early dismissal line, please contact Jennifer Ply at 248-693-5420 option 2.

The intent of the Distinguished Dragon program is to ensure that staff members who go above and beyond their regular duties are appreciated. The additional effort or support can range from helping an individual to helping a group or any effort that seems worthy of praise.

The staff member can be nominated by a student, parent, community member or even their own colleague. We ask for the submitter's name and contact information to follow up with specific questions if necessary. Please complete the form entirely so the individual can be appropriately honored for their contributions.

To nominate a LOCS employee, click here.

Dr. Daniel Haas - Principal

Amy Thebo - Principal's Secretary

Anthony Kiner - Associate Principal for Juniors and Seniors

Danielle Bredemus - Assistant Principal for Sophomores

Brad Bailey - Assistant Principal for Freshmen

Christopher Bell - Athletic Director

Secretary Lindsay Korsan

Phone: 248-693-5640

Counselors - assigned by students last name:

A-Cot Christy Bell

Cou-Grz Melissa Bruno

Gu-Led Natalie Parraghi

Lee- Pep Michele Novak

Peq-Sta Fawn Bullock

Ste-Z Scott Boeneman

Heather Rutledge - Special Education Teaching Consultant

The 2025-26 Lake Orion Community Schools calendars are available by visiting the LakeOrionSchools.org calendar page. A single sheet of the important dates is also listed on that page.

OK2SAY is available state-wide for public and private schools in Michigan; anybody can submit a confidential tip. Specially trained technicians receive the tips and filter the information to the appropriate agency to provide a timely and effective response

For your families that may need assistance with food, below are some resources:

• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) interactive map, Where can I get TEFAP?
• Find Help - Michigan 2-1-1 for other local resources available.
• Attached is a list of food pantries and assistance resources for Oakland County.
  

Check out LOCS' Flickr albums for pictures of all our events, Homecoming Game, Pep Assemblies, Invitationals, Graduations, first day of school pics and more.

Website: https://www.lakeorionschools.org/high-school-home

Location: 495 East Scripps Road, Orion Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248)693-5420
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LkOrionHS
Twitter: @LkOrionHS

Instagram: lkorionhs

LOCS has several available district positions, posted at LakeOrionSchools.org/Jobs, including a significant need for bus drivers.

Additionally, for those looking for work on a variety of different shifts, LOCS has several custodian openings. Those positions are available as well.