Oglethorpe County High School
“Excellence for every student, every day!”
Please join us in congratulating our Teacher of the Year Travis Sertich and our Support Professional of the Year Mia Tucker! 🎉
These incredible educators go above and beyond every single day — inspiring students, supporting staff, and making our school a better place to learn and grow. Their dedication, patience, and passion don't go unnoticed, and today we get to say a huge THANK YOU! 👏
🍎 To our Teacher of the Year, Mr. Sertich: thank you for the countless hours, the creative lessons, the many extra hours, and the heart you pour into every student you teach.
💙 To our Support Professional of the Year, Ms. Tucker: thank you for being the steady hands and warm smile that keep our students going — your impact is felt in ways big and small every day.
We are so lucky to have you both on our team. Congratulations — you've earned it! 🏆
Announced Intruder Drill Scheduled for September 17th
Dear Oglethorpe County Schools Families,
The safety and security of our students and staff remain our highest priority. As part of our commitment to maintaining safe learning environments, Oglethorpe County Schools will conduct an announced Intruder Drill on Thursday, September 17, 2026. This drill is required by Georgia law and allows students and staff to practice the procedures that would be used in the event of a school security emergency.
The drills will occur at the following times:
• OCHS: 8:10 a.m.
• OCMS: 9:00 a.m.
• OCES: 9:50 a.m.
Prior to the drill, school staff will review procedures with students in an age-appropriate manner. During the drill, students may hear either an announcement over the intercom or the Centegix alert system indicating that an intruder drill is in progress. Students and staff will then follow established safety procedures, including securing classrooms and remaining in designated safe areas until the drill concludes.
The Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office and local EMS personnel will be present to assist and observe as we conduct the drills. Their partnership helps ensure that our schools continue to follow best practices in school safety and emergency preparedness.
The drills are expected to last approximately 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, visitors will not be permitted to enter school buildings, and student checkouts will be temporarily suspended. Normal school operations will resume immediately following the completion of each drill.
We recognize that safety drills can create anxiety for some students, particularly younger children. We encourage families to talk with their children beforehand and remind them that these drills are like fire drills or severe weather drills. Practicing safety procedures helps ensure that students and staff know how to respond calmly and appropriately if an emergency ever occurs.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide safe and secure learning environments for all students and staff. If you have questions about the intruder drill procedures, please contact your child's school principal.
Sincerely,
Dr. Phillip Powell
Superintendent
Oglethorpe County Schools
Ms. O’Tuel and Ms. York’s Community Based Instruction classes practiced their vocational and life skills at Cici’s Pizza earlier this week! They learned about proper restaurant cleaning and sanitation, work expectations, and practiced their restaurant etiquette. Lots of hard work and a well earned pizza lunch! 🍕
Goooo Patriots!
Senior Wednesday was for Senior crowns!
Keep showing up, Patriots! We're proud of you! ⭐️
Senior Tuesday was favorite childhood character day!
Exciting news for our Oglethorpe County Middle & High School students! 🎉
Frazil Slushies are available during lunch for only $2! 💙
💵 Payment requirements: Students must have money available on their account OR have cash/check in hand at the time of purchase.
🚫 No charges are allowed.
Come grab a cold, refreshing Frazil for just $2! 🥤❄️
Frazil Slushies are available during lunch for only $2! 💙
💵 Payment requirements: Students must have money available on their account OR have cash/check in hand at the time of purchase.
🚫 No charges are allowed.
Come grab a cold, refreshing Frazil for just $2! 🥤❄️
🍕🍔🍱It's never too early to start thinking about lunch!
September menus are here! Take a look and see what's being served in our cafeterias next week.
And don't forget- ALL students eat FREE!
💙 Patriot of the Month: Tim Hayes! 🚌⭐
Help us congratulate Tim Hayes, one of our amazing bus drivers and our August Patriot of the Month!
Tim was nominated for the incredible care, patience, and kindness he shows one of our self-contained students. He goes far beyond simply getting students safely to and from school—he makes sure she is ready for the day, greets her with a smile, helps her when she needs extra support, and even fixes her hair when needed. ❤️
This year brought a big transition as she moved from elementary school to middle school. Having Mr. Tim there each morning to welcome her, encourage her, and help her feel safe and comfortable made that transition a little easier.
One nominator shared that “his caring presence helped make what could have been a difficult transition feel much more comfortable.”
That is what Patriot Pride is all about.
Mr. Tim, thank you for showing up every day with compassion, patience, and a genuine heart for our students. Your job may be getting students from Point A to Point B, but the impact you have along the way is so much greater.
Congratulations, Tim! We are proud to celebrate you! 💙🚌
This week in Dr. Wolfe’s 10th Grade Lit. & Comp. III classes, students became Source #1! They collected qualitative data from their own generational experiences, then dumped, clustered, connected and collaborated on ideas to identify patterns, themes, and claims. This student-generated evidence becomes the first of four sources they will analyze, compare, cite, and synthesize as they build an evidence-based argumentative essay.
We are so proud of OCHS Senior Victor Ross for being chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month for August. Victor demonstrates leadership, character, and commitment to his school and community on a daily basis. Congratulations Victor!
Picture day is September 3rd!
Our ECE3 students learned all about confidentiality from Dr. Powell today, getting ready to head out for their internships at OCES! 💛 Professionalism starts here. #FutureEducators
Senior meeting today. These seniors are already all smiles thinking about graduation!
Today, the percussion students divided into groups to work on various pieces while Mr. Jones adjusted the pedal on the vibraphone. Teachers and students hard at work!
Seniors, get ready for an exciting senior week! ⭐️🎓
Today in journalism, students learned how to conduct a video interview. Students wrote their own questions to ask one another and provided feedback on each others questions.
All families who signed up should now be receiving their meals through Helping Hands Summer Meals Program!
We have also arranged for anyone who did not sign up and who is not receiving boxes delivered to home to come to the Multi-Purpose Building on Thursday, July 9th from 11am-1pm to pick up boxes through the Happy Helpings program!
No sign up required! If you cannot come at this time, please contact Kasey Taylor at ktaylor@oglethorpe.k12.ga.us to arrange a different time!
Ms. Taylor is also looking for volunteers to help distribute Helping Hands food boxes. If you can help this Thursday or any other Thursday in July, please reach out to her at her email address listed above!
All families who signed up should now be receiving their meals through Helping Hands Summer Meals Program!
We have also arranged for anyone who did not sign up and who is not receiving boxes delivered to home to come to the Multi-Purpose Building on Thursday, July 9th from 11am-1pm to pick up boxes through the Happy Helpings program!
No sign up required! If you cannot come at this time, please contact Kasey Taylor at ktaylor@oglethorpe.k12.ga.us to arrange a different time!
Ms. Taylor is also looking for volunteers to help distribute Helping Hands food boxes. If you can help this Thursday or any other Thursday in July, please reach out to her at her email address listed above!
