Hello, OCS Family! Thank you for a great week of learning in Onslow County. See below for all the latest news and updates from the district.  

ART IN THE AIRPORT 

The first Art in the Airport exhibit of the 2023-2024 school year has opened at Albert J. Ellis Airport!

For over 10 years, Onslow County Schools has partnered with OAJ to showcase the talents of our visual art students. The newest installment, “Art in the Airport: Dream Big,” opened Monday, November 27, and features the work of 17 of our high school student artists. 

The exhibit features an array of colorful artwork that shows the range of dreams and imaginations our students have. 

“Dream Big” will be on display throughout the next couple of months, so take some time to check it out as you travel through OAJ this holiday season!   

See a video, photos, and a full list of artists on the OCS website: Art in the Airport. 

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR  

Join us at White Oak High School on Friday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the annual Holiday Craft Fair!  

At this event, you can browse and purchase a wide variety of student-made products from our School-Based Enterprise Vendors, just in time for the holidays! 

BOE MEETING DECEMBER 5 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5 in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include the election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, an Instructional Services update, the 2024-2025 school calendar approval, the final adoption of policies in the 6000 series and policies related to the Parent Bill of Rights, a feasibility study for the everyday use of metal/weapons detections systems in Onslow County high schools, and a closed session in accordance with the Open Meetings Law, G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (8) to formulate plans by a local board of education relating to emergency response to incidents of school violence or to formulate and adopt the school safety components of school improvement plans by a local board of education or a school improvement team. 

A sign-up sheet will be available for those wishing to speak.   

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf   

A livestream of the regular meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia 

DID YOU KNOW?  

Did you know that the Onslow County Schools graduation rate has risen to 91.1 percent? 

As of this year, our graduation rate is up from 88.5 percent and exceeds the state average. OCS is 1 of 31 districts that met or exceeded the state’s four-year cohort graduation rate. 

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Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
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Hello, OCS Family! Read below for the latest district news and announcements.  

HOLIDAY REMINDERS 

We would like to remind our families that Wednesday, November 22 is a teacher workday, and there will be no school for students that day.  On November 22, the OCS Central Office will be available to the public by appointment only and the reception desk will be closed.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, OCS will be closed for staff and students on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24.  

We will return to our normal schedule on Monday, November 27.  

SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE 

Dear OCS Family,   

We are entering an exciting time of year, where we all prepare for the holiday season and plan for all the giving that is to come. Before we get there, however, we have the opportunity to take pause in November and reflect on all we already have and are grateful for.  

Personally, in addition to my health and my family, I have a great deal to be thankful for: 

Our wonderful teachers, administrators, support staff, nurses, maintenance workers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodians, who work with our students each and every day to make the most of their educational experiences and opportunities. 

Our Board of Education and district staff: instructional services, human resources, student services, community affairs, finance, instructional technology and operations – all of whom are dedicated to supporting our schools and the best interests of our students.  

The parents of our district who trust us with their children, the students who come to school eager to learn and who remind us all of why we have chosen to dedicate our lives to public education, and our volunteers who give of themselves freely to contribute to our success.  

It is my hope that you all will take some time this week to connect with family and friends and reflect on all in your life that makes you feel grateful.  

May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with those you love! 

Sincerely,   

Barry D. Collins, Ed.D.   
Superintendent, Onslow County Schools 

CHRISTMAS CHEER 

Christmas Cheer, a program through Onslow Community Outreach, helps provide Christmas meals and gifts for local families who struggle financially.     

Applications for assistance through the Christmas Cheer program are open through December 1. Individuals or families in need of gifts and/or food for the holiday season are eligible to apply. If your family is in need of assistance for the holidays this year, please contact your school counselor or school social worker for information on how to apply.     

If you would like to lend a helping hand this season, Christmas Cheer is accepting donations of toys, food and money, and is also looking for volunteers to help with distribution. Learn more about how to donate or volunteer your time at http://onslowco.org/cc.     

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

The Onslow County Board of Education met in special session on Friday, November 17, for the purpose of conducting interviews with law firms for the position of General Counsel.   

In a 5-2 vote, the Board selected Poyner Spruill LLP to represent the district starting in March 2024.  

A full summary and video of the meeting can be found here: News from the Board. 

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Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
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Hello, OCS Family! Check out all the latest district news and updates below.  

HOLIDAY REMINDERS 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and we would like to remind our families of our holiday hours next week.  

There will be no school for students Wednesday, November 22 through Friday, November 24.  

All OCS offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24.  

We will reopen with our regular schedule on Monday, November 27.  

Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday! 

BE PRO BE PROUD 

Our middle and high school CTE students had the opportunity this week to test their skills in various professional trades stations in the Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop tractor trailer. Through advanced simulations, students learned about professions such as driving, heavy equipment operation, and more. 

Be Pro Be Proud aims to enlighten middle and high school students about the diverse and well-paying career opportunities in the trades without needing a traditional four-year degree. The program also emphasizes the trades’ critical role in our society.  

Thank you to Be Pro Be Proud, as well as our OCS CTE staff, for making this wonderful opportunity available to our students! 

CHRISTMAS CHEER 

Christmas Cheer, a program through Onslow Community Outreach, helps provide Christmas meals and gifts for local families who struggle financially.    

Applications for assistance through the Christmas Cheer program are open through December 1. Individuals or families in need of gifts and/or food for the holiday season are eligible to apply. If your family is need of assistance for the holidays this year, please contact your school counselor or school social worker for information on how to apply.    

If you would like to lend a helping hand this season, Christmas Cheer is accepting donations of toys, food and money, and is also looking for volunteers to help with distribution. Learn more about how to donate or volunteer your time at http://onslowco.org/cc.    

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR 

Join us at White Oak High School on Friday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the annual Holiday Craft Fair! 

At this event, you can browse and purchase a wide variety of student-made products from our School-Based Enterprise Vendors, just in time for the holidays! 

DID YOU KNOW? 

Did you know that seven OCS schools were in the top 25 percent of schools in the state in terms of growth last year?

Jacksonville High School, Swansboro High School, Onslow Early College High School, New Bridge Middle School, Onslow Virtual School, Morton Elementary School, and Northwoods Elementary School were identified as being in the top 25 percent of schools in the state in terms of growth, based on 2022-2023 testing data.   

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
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Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! See all the latest news and updates from the district below.  

VETERANS DAY 

Thank you to all of the schools who held special Veterans Day programs this week to honor those who have served. Just today, Parkwood Elementary School reaffirmed their relationship with their adopting unit through the Adopt-a-School program and held a special Veterans Day assembly. 

Remember, OCS will be closed for the Veterans Day holiday on Friday, November 10.  

Please have a safe, long weekend, and be sure to set aside some time to reflect on and be grateful for the sacrifices made by all who have served in the armed forces to defend our freedom.  

EARLY RELEASE REMINDER 

We would like to remind our families that Wednesday, November 15 will be an Early Release Professional Development Day. Please be prepared for students to be released from school early on that day.  

PARENT ACADEMY 

Join us Thursday, November 16 for the next Parent Academy session.  

This session will be a virtual Pre-FAFSA Information Night, where students and families can learn about FAFSA and financial aid options available for college.  

Join the session at https://bit.ly/ParentAcademy23-24. 

CHRISTMAS CHEER 

Christmas Cheer, a program through Onslow Community Outreach, helps provide Christmas meals and gifts for local families who struggle financially.   

Applications for assistance through the Christmas Cheer program are now open. Individuals or families in need of gifts and/or food for the holiday season are eligible to apply. If your family is need of assistance for the holidays this year, please contact your school counselor or school social worker for information on how to apply.   

If you would like to lend a helping hand this season, Christmas Cheer is accepting donations of toys, food and money, and is also looking for volunteers to help with distribution. Learn more about how to donate or volunteer your time at http://onslowco.org/cc.   

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video of the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held on November 7 can be found here: News from the Board.  

DID YOU KNOW?  

Did you know that Onslow County Schools has a school resource officer on every school campus?  

All of Onslow County’s elementary, middle and high schools have at least one dedicated SRO, and some schools have two.  

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
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Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! See the update below for all the latest news and announcements from the district.  

METAL DETECTOR FEASIBILITY STUDY  

OCS staff are currently conducting a feasibility study into the use of metal detectors or weapon detection systems in our high schools. As part of this process, we would like to get feedback from all parents, all staff, and our current high school students. Be on the lookout for a link which will allow these groups to provide their input on this important school safety project. 

HOLIDAY REMINDER 

We would like to remind our families that, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday, OCS will be closed next Friday, November 10.  

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS 

To celebrate the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, the United States Air Force Presidential Honor Guard drill team performed at three of our high schools this week.  

Northside High, Dixon High, and Swansboro High hosted performances by the drill team, and students were treated to an impressive show.  

Thank you to the US Air Force Presidential Honor Guard for taking time to visit our schools and help us honor those who have served!  

PARENT ACADEMY: IEP ROAD TRIP 

Join us on Thursday, November 9, at 6 p.m. in the Family Education and Professional Development building on the OCS Central Office campus for the next session in the Parent Academy series!   

At this session, families can learn all about the IEP process, special education terminology, and how to prepare for and participate in IEP meetings.   

Register for the session at https://bit.ly/IEPRoadTrip.   

BOE MEETING NOVEMBER 7 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7 in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include the annual independent audit report, an instructional services update, and an overview of 2024-2025 school calendar development.  

A sign-up sheet will be available for those wishing to speak.  

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf  

A livestream of the regular meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia 

DID YOU KNOW?  

Did you know that OCS has implemented a Standard Response Protocol?  

The Standard Response Protocol OCS implemented at the start of the 2023-2024 school year is part of the “I Love You Guys” model program and aims to streamline emergency communication between administration, staff, parents, and the larger school community. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! See all the latest news and updates from the district below.  

COLLEGE FAIR 

On Tuesday, October 24, our students and their families had the opportunity to connect and meet with representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities at a college fair at Sturgeon City.  

Events like this are important for our families and give them some of the support they need as they plan and prepare for postsecondary education.  

Thank you to all who made this opportunity possible for our students!  

PARENT ACADEMY: IEP ROAD TRIP 

Join us on Thursday, November 9, at 6 p.m. in the Family Education and Professional Development building on the OCS Central Office campus for the next session in the Parent Academy series!  

At this session, families can learn all about the IEP process, special education terminology, and how to prepare for and participate in IEP meetings.  

Register for the session at https://bit.ly/IEPRoadTrip.  

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION 

Join us on November 2 at 6 p.m. in the Jacksonville High School auditorium for an information session about the dangers and realities of human trafficking, as well as how to protect your children from it, from True Justice International.

STEM SATURDAYS 

OCS is partnering with the Boy Scouts of America to bring the STEM Saturday series to our students! 

Students in grades 6-12 are invited to register for a series of FREE, fun, STEM-focused learning opportunities on Saturdays throughout this school year.  

Check out the schedule above and register at https://ecc.tentaroo.com/. 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video of the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held on October 24 can be found here: News from the Board. 

DID YOU KNOW?  

Did you know that OCS students, parents, staff, and community members can use an anonymous reporting system?  

Say Something provides youth and adults a secure, anonymous reporting platform for concerns related to violence, suicide, bullying, self-harm and other forms of threatening behavior. Tips are received by trained personnel, who will notify the proper authorities, whether they be school administrators or law enforcement.   

You can find more information about Say Something here: Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Thank you for a great week of learning. Check out the latest news and updates from the district below.  

OCS NAMES PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR 

Congratulations to Lisa Marshall, of Northwoods Elementary School, the 2023-2024 OCS Wells Fargo Principal of the Year! 

Marshall has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and has been with OCS since 2006. After starting her career in another county, she joined OCS as a teacher at Northwoods Elementary and has since gone on to serve as the assistant principal of Northwoods Elementary for 7 years and as principal for the past 3 years.  

Marshall’s staff say that her dedication to creating a positive and supportive environment for her school is unmatched and that her leadership led to NWES being identified as part of the top 25 percent of all schools in North Carolina in terms of growth.  

Next, Ms. Marshall will go on to compete at the regional level.  

DMS CAREER DAY 

Wednesday, October 18, was an exciting day for Dixon Middle School, as students had the opportunity to explore possibilities for their futures at Career Day.  

Nearly 40 businesses, organizations and government entities gathered at the school to present to students what their jobs are all about. Presenters included first responders, small business owners, and even a former NFL coach! 

We are always excited to see this type of community engagement in our schools, and we thank everyone who made this day possible for our students.  

COLLEGE FAIR 

On Tuesday, October 24, our families are invited to join us at Sturgeon City from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for an exciting opportunity to learn more about post-secondary education. The CACRAO College Fair will feature representatives from more than 50 colleges! 

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION 

Join us on November 2 at 6 p.m. in the Jacksonville High School auditorium for an information session about the dangers and realities of human trafficking, as well as how to protect your children from it, from True Justice International.  

DID YOU KNOW? 

Did you know that OCS uses an emergency response system called Raptor? The Raptor app allows any staff member to initiate an alert in response to an emergency on their campus. The app immediately notifies all employees on campus, as well as district leaders, to streamline and quicken the response. Within the app, staff members can communicate directly with our safety and security staff, post status updates, check in with one another, and more.  

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Read up on all the latest from the district below.  

EARLY RELEASE REMINDER 

We would like to remind our families that Wednesday, October 18, will be an Early Release Professional Development Day. Please be prepared for students to be released from school early on that day.   

STUDENTS COMMEMORATE BEIRUT BOMBING 

Students from Northwoods Park Middle met with survivors from the Beirut bombing on Friday, October 13, to tie yellow ribbons and learn the history behind the Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville.  

The City of Jacksonville will hold its official ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the bombing on Monday, October 23. 

PARENT ACADEMY 

OCS has two Parent Academy sessions coming up next week!  

On Tuesday, October 17, join us in the Jacksonville High School media center from 4-7:30 p.m. for help with filling out college applications. On Thursday, October 19, you can learn more about the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics!  

COLLEGE FAIR 

On Tuesday, October 24, our families are invited to join us at Sturgeon City from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for an exciting opportunity to learn more about post-secondary education. The CACRAO College Fair will feature representatives from more than 50 colleges!  

DID YOU KNOW?  

Did you know that this year, OCS worked with the Onslow County Sheriff's Office and the Jacksonville Police Department to employ two full-time Safety and Security Officers?  

These officers will be 12-month employees of the school system and will provide support to the district’s safety and security team. Among their duties will be providing backup for SRO absences, as well as assisting with internal security assessments. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Please read below for all the latest news and updates from Onslow County Schools.  

WORKDAY REMINDER 

We would like to remind our families that Monday, October 9 is a teacher workday. There will be no school for students. 

BASES 2023 

Onslow County Schools hosted the 2023 BASES reception on Friday, October 6, and it was certainly a day of celebration!   

BASES – Businesses Assisting Schools in Educating Students – is a program designed to join businesses, community organizations and schools together as a cohesive network in the education of children. 

During the 2022-2023 school year, OCS BASES coordinators reported more than $385,000 in donations and 2,400 hours of volunteer service given across the district from hundreds of community partners. This year, OCS was proud to give awards to 143 businesses and organizations from Onslow County and beyond.  

Thank you to all who attended this year’s BASES reception, and all those in our community who support our schools each day!  

Read more about BASES and see a full list of award recipients on the OCS website: BASES 2023. 

PARENT ACADEMY 

The next Parent Academy session will be held Thursday, October 12! 

Join our staff in person or online to learn about North Carolina Governor’s School and how students can apply. This session is designed for current high school juniors, but all are welcome! 

See the OCS website for a full list of upcoming Parent Academy sessions: Parent Academy 2023-2024. 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

Summaries and videos of the Onslow County Board of Education meetings held on October 2 and October 3 can be found here: News from the Board. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Check out the update below for all the latest from the district.  

FEDERAL IMPACT AID CARDS 

This week, our families received notice that it is time to fill out Federal Impact Aid Cards. Federal Impact Aid is a program that provides funding for school districts in proximity to military installations that educate military and federally connected children.   

Onslow County Schools serves around 28,000 students, and roughly 34 percent of them are federally connected or come from military families. Serving military families is an important part of what we do at OCS, and the funding we receive from Federal Impact Aid provides needed support.  

If you have not yet done so, please be sure to fill out the Federal Impact Aid Card sent home with your child, regardless of your family’s military status. Accurate and complete information is greatly important to the Federal Impact Aid process.   

Thank you all for your support of OCS! 

2023-2024 UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN 

The Onslow County Schools United Way Campaign for the 2023-2024 school year is underway!   

Each year, OCS asks its employees to donate to United Way of Onslow County, which provides funding for programs and agencies across our county. Programs supported by United Way include the CHEW program, which provides food for students in need, the Onslow women’s center, Sponsors for Academic Talent, Onslow Community Outreach, and more.  

During last year’s campaign, OCS employees pledged nearly $138,000 that would go toward funding assistance and opportunities for those in need in the Onslow County community. We are proud to serve as the largest donor to United Way each year, as community is at the heart of all we do.    

Onslow County Schools’ goal for this year is to raise $140,000 for United Way. With your help, we can achieve it! If you work for OCS and would like to contribute to the 2023-2024 campaign, please see your school or department’s United Way coordinator to learn more. 

Read more about the success of last year’s campaign on the OCS website: OCS United Way. 

BOE MEETING OCTOBER 2 

A special meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 2 in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.   

The Board will meet for the sole purpose of going into a closed session – pursuant to the Open Meetings Law, § 143-318.11(a)(3 and 8): (3) to consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged and (8) to formulate plans by a local board of education relating to emergency response to incidents of school violence or to formulate and adopt the school safety components of school improvement plans by a local board of education or a school improvement team.  

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf   

A livestream of the regular meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia 

BOE MEETING OCTOBER 3 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3 in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include an instructional services update, an update on Woodland Elementary construction and redistricting, an award of contract for an HVAC project, and a discussion about metal detector use in schools. 

A sign-up sheet will be available for those wishing to speak. 

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf 

A livestream of the regular meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools