Milestones testing begins next week at the elementary school and the following week at the middle school. Please review the attached flyer for helpful testing tips to support your student's success. Please also review with your high school students as they prepare for their End of Course, AP and class exams beginning late April!
We are pleased to announce that transportation will now be available from the middle and high school to the Patriot Health Hub on Mondays and Thursdays. The bus will depart at 12:45 p.m. and return students to school by 2:30 p.m. This service may be used for behavioral health appointments or medical visits. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse, or call Kristina Turner at 706-743-8128, or email her at kturner@oglethorpe.k12.ga.us. You may also contact the Patriot Health Hub directly.
Nominations now being accepted for the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame. Please visit https://aptg.co/QXF40P for an entry form!
Entry forms can be found by visiting NHS Color Fun Run. Any questions, please email Jennifer Yauck at jyauck@oglethorpe.k12.ga.us.
Congratulations to Carlie Gabriel on being selected as the March Rotary Student of the Month!
Oglethorpe County High School is pleased to announce that Stanley Lattimore is returning as Head Wrestling Coach!
Before his career in education, Coach Lattimore wrestled at the collegiate level at Ellsworth College, Iowa, and Oklahoma City University where he was a NJCAA All-American, three-time national qualifier, and earned a top-eight finish at the NAIA National Championships.
Growing up in the Athens and Winterville area, Lattimore started his coaching debut as the assistant wrestling coach at Clarke Central High School from 2016-2018. He then moved with Coach Tim Stoudenmire to coach at Oglethorpe County High School from 2018–2022, helping lead the team to a State Dual Championship in 2021 and a State Dual Championship Runner-Up finish in 2022.
Most recently, Lattimore has been the Head Wrestling Coach at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens. He has coached six GHSA State Champions and multiple state placers, emphasizing fundamentals, mental toughness, and hard work.
Coach Lattimore is committed to developing well-rounded athletes who value accountability, teamwork, and positive sportsmanship. With his competitive experience and leadership as Head Wrestling Coach, Lattimore plans to continue to build up the established OCHS wrestling program with a focus on athlete development, growth, and excellence!
Before his career in education, Coach Lattimore wrestled at the collegiate level at Ellsworth College, Iowa, and Oklahoma City University where he was a NJCAA All-American, three-time national qualifier, and earned a top-eight finish at the NAIA National Championships.
Growing up in the Athens and Winterville area, Lattimore started his coaching debut as the assistant wrestling coach at Clarke Central High School from 2016-2018. He then moved with Coach Tim Stoudenmire to coach at Oglethorpe County High School from 2018–2022, helping lead the team to a State Dual Championship in 2021 and a State Dual Championship Runner-Up finish in 2022.
Most recently, Lattimore has been the Head Wrestling Coach at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens. He has coached six GHSA State Champions and multiple state placers, emphasizing fundamentals, mental toughness, and hard work.
Coach Lattimore is committed to developing well-rounded athletes who value accountability, teamwork, and positive sportsmanship. With his competitive experience and leadership as Head Wrestling Coach, Lattimore plans to continue to build up the established OCHS wrestling program with a focus on athlete development, growth, and excellence!
Beautiful sunset at the Gary Mathews Invitational! Congratulations to our seniors! 💙❤️
The Oglethorpe County School System is pleased to announce Dr. Phillip Powell as the finalist in the search for the district's next superintendent.
https://tinyurl.com/Superintendent-Finalist
https://tinyurl.com/Superintendent-Finalist
Five Oglethorpe County School District students spent this past Tuesday and Wednesday as Pages at the Georgia Capitol for the Georgia House of Representatives.
Eighth grader, Camden Huff spent Day 23 of the 2026 Georgia Legislative session with House Representative (124) Trey Rhodes. High School students - John Adams, Jack Baldwin, Jake Huff and Lincoln Paradise spent Day 24 with HR Rhodes and HR Steven Sainz of District 180. Georgia State Senator Lee Anderson of Georgia’s 24th Senate District and HR John Corbitt (174) provided an early morning tour and greeting to the Georgia Capitol.
In addition to earning a crisp $10 bill, they each had an opportunity with House Speaker Jon Burns (159) who shared the House Gavel to bang the sound block at the rostrum of the House Chamber.
While their visit occurred before Cross Over Day, they observed bill presentations and voting on many topics including banning cell phones in high school and Math coursing and instruction.
Eighth grader, Camden Huff spent Day 23 of the 2026 Georgia Legislative session with House Representative (124) Trey Rhodes. High School students - John Adams, Jack Baldwin, Jake Huff and Lincoln Paradise spent Day 24 with HR Rhodes and HR Steven Sainz of District 180. Georgia State Senator Lee Anderson of Georgia’s 24th Senate District and HR John Corbitt (174) provided an early morning tour and greeting to the Georgia Capitol.
In addition to earning a crisp $10 bill, they each had an opportunity with House Speaker Jon Burns (159) who shared the House Gavel to bang the sound block at the rostrum of the House Chamber.
While their visit occurred before Cross Over Day, they observed bill presentations and voting on many topics including banning cell phones in high school and Math coursing and instruction.
🌟 What is Georgia’s STAR Student & STAR Teacher Program? 🌟
Each year, Georgia recognizes one outstanding senior from every high school as the STAR Student (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition).
To be named a STAR Student, a senior must:
✔️ Have the highest SAT score in their graduating class (taken through one test date)
✔️ Be in the top 10% or top 10 students of the senior class
Once selected, the STAR Student chooses the teacher who has made the greatest impact on their academic journey to be honored as the STAR Teacher.
This incredible program is sponsored statewide by the PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
We are so proud of our Kayden and Mrs. Yauck who represent the very best of our school community!
#STARStudent #STARTeacher #AcademicExcellence
Each year, Georgia recognizes one outstanding senior from every high school as the STAR Student (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition).
To be named a STAR Student, a senior must:
✔️ Have the highest SAT score in their graduating class (taken through one test date)
✔️ Be in the top 10% or top 10 students of the senior class
Once selected, the STAR Student chooses the teacher who has made the greatest impact on their academic journey to be honored as the STAR Teacher.
This incredible program is sponsored statewide by the PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
We are so proud of our Kayden and Mrs. Yauck who represent the very best of our school community!
#STARStudent #STARTeacher #AcademicExcellence
You’re invited to join ParentGuidance.org tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17 at 8pm ET for Ask a Therapist Live. This webinar is an opportunity to ask a licensed clinical therapist questions about parenting, your child’s well-being, or anything that’s been on your mind. Participation is anonymous and free. Visit https://cookcenter.info/ATLFeb17 to register today!
We have also included the free Monthly Mental Health Series Calendar for February. Visit https://www.oglethorpe.k12.ga.us/o/ogs/page/social-emotional-learning-support for all available resources for you and your family!
Looking to connect better with your child? Parent Coaching pairs you with a parenting coach and therapist-created resources to help you navigate the challenges of parenting.
Get no-cost, one-on-one support from a Parent Coach to help you navigate challenges with your child or family. It's confidential, flexible, and here for you.
Visit https://www.oglethorpe.k12.ga.us/o/ogs/page/social-emotional-learning-support for more information on Parent Coaching and resources available for your family!
Get no-cost, one-on-one support from a Parent Coach to help you navigate challenges with your child or family. It's confidential, flexible, and here for you.
Visit https://www.oglethorpe.k12.ga.us/o/ogs/page/social-emotional-learning-support for more information on Parent Coaching and resources available for your family!
Oglethorpe County Schools will operate on a 2 hour delay on Tuesday, February 3. Thank you to our roads department who have been working diligently to get roads treated and prepared, and to our local Emergency Management Agency for their support and guidance.
As always, families should use their best judgment regarding roads in your area. Please be patient with our bus drivers as they navigate the routes 2 hours later in the morning.
Students may begin being dropped off at 9:30 am. Please do not drop off students any earlier as the schools will not be open. Buses will pick up 2 hours later than the usual pick up time.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support as we work to keep our students and staff safe.
All Oglethorpe County Schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, Monday, February 2nd.
The safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. While some main roads are clear, many back roads remain unsafe, and refreezing conditions are expected overnight.
Stay warm and safe!
Oglethorpe County Schools will operate on a regular schedule tomorrow. Thank you to all those who played a part in keeping us safe and warm during the ice storm. Looking forward to having everyone back in our buildings tomorrow.
Although road conditions continue to improve and the main roads look good, there are still too many back roads and dirt roads that remain too icy for our buses to safely transport students. Therefore, Oglethorpe County Schools will be closed for students on Tuesday, January 27.
Teachers and paraprofessionals will observe a workday from home. All staff should watch for an email with more information.
Out of an abundance of caution, Oglethorpe County Schools, offices, and the Patriot Health Hub will all be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026, due to the forecasted winter storm that will impact our community. All extracurricular activities through Monday night have been cancelled. Stay safe and warm!
Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and Oglethorpe County School System greatly appreciates our School Resource Officers and the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Department.
Thank you to all the agencies who assisted in locating and bringing the missing juvenile back safely.
Just a reminder there will be a food pantry at OCHS on Thursday, November 20. Please see the flyer for all the information!
Our very own Bill Sampson has been named as a Hidden Hero by GLISI (Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement)! He found out through an email, but in true Mr. Sampson fashion, he was humble about this recognition; he didn’t share this exciting news, and we didn’t find out until we read it in The Echo this past week. The description of Mr. Sampson below describes his incredible work as the principal of the high school!
From those nominated, they select the top 3 based on votes. You can vote every day; however, we are behind as this information has been out for a week. So please share and ask your friends and family to vote for our incredible high school principal!
You can vote once per day through November 21.
https://hiddenheroes.glisi.org/2025/gallery (search for Bill Sampson)
Reason for Nomination: In a time when school leadership demands both courage and compassion, Mr. Bill Sampson stands as a quiet force of transformation in rural Georgia. For the past three years as principal, he has led with a clear vision, to ensure every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life. His leadership isn’t about comfort but about conviction and intentionality. He has made bold, sometimes uncomfortable changes that are reshaping systems, strengthening instruction, and reigniting hope across our school community.
What makes Mr. Sampson a Hidden Hero is the way he leads from both the sidelines and the center. He’s the first face at Friday night football games, the loudest cheer at basketball and volleyball, and the steady presence in the stands during baseball, softball, wrestling, cross country, and track. Known affectionately as a “gym rat principal,” he doesn’t just attend he invests. His constant support reflects his belief that every student deserves to be seen, valued, and celebrated in their own lane of excellence.
Behind the scenes, his leadership has shifted our school culture toward academic growth, collaboration, and high expectations. He empowers teachers to innovate, guiding us to rethink what’s possible through cross-curricular projects, college readiness initiatives, and data-informed support. Under his guidance, community partnerships have strengthened, student engagement has increased, and new pathways to success have opened for learners once overlooked.
During a school improvement meeting, when faced with tough data, he said simply: “If we’re serious about success for all, we have to do what’s hard and do it together.” That moment captured his ethos: lead with integrity, act with courage, and always center students.
Mr. Sampson doesn’t seek the spotlight, he creates it for others. His leadership transforms lives, making him the very definition of a Hidden Hero.
From those nominated, they select the top 3 based on votes. You can vote every day; however, we are behind as this information has been out for a week. So please share and ask your friends and family to vote for our incredible high school principal!
You can vote once per day through November 21.
https://hiddenheroes.glisi.org/2025/gallery (search for Bill Sampson)
Reason for Nomination: In a time when school leadership demands both courage and compassion, Mr. Bill Sampson stands as a quiet force of transformation in rural Georgia. For the past three years as principal, he has led with a clear vision, to ensure every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life. His leadership isn’t about comfort but about conviction and intentionality. He has made bold, sometimes uncomfortable changes that are reshaping systems, strengthening instruction, and reigniting hope across our school community.
What makes Mr. Sampson a Hidden Hero is the way he leads from both the sidelines and the center. He’s the first face at Friday night football games, the loudest cheer at basketball and volleyball, and the steady presence in the stands during baseball, softball, wrestling, cross country, and track. Known affectionately as a “gym rat principal,” he doesn’t just attend he invests. His constant support reflects his belief that every student deserves to be seen, valued, and celebrated in their own lane of excellence.
Behind the scenes, his leadership has shifted our school culture toward academic growth, collaboration, and high expectations. He empowers teachers to innovate, guiding us to rethink what’s possible through cross-curricular projects, college readiness initiatives, and data-informed support. Under his guidance, community partnerships have strengthened, student engagement has increased, and new pathways to success have opened for learners once overlooked.
During a school improvement meeting, when faced with tough data, he said simply: “If we’re serious about success for all, we have to do what’s hard and do it together.” That moment captured his ethos: lead with integrity, act with courage, and always center students.
Mr. Sampson doesn’t seek the spotlight, he creates it for others. His leadership transforms lives, making him the very definition of a Hidden Hero.
