OCS Family Updates - October 10, 2025 World Mental Health Day

Community Listening Sessions

Let’s talk about building the future of Orange County Schools together! Join a conversation with Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones and district leadership to learn about the state of our schools and set priorities for the next five years in the OCS 2026-2031 Strategic Plan. 

Mark your calendars for Monday, November 3 (6:00-7:30pm, Cedar Ridge High School) and Tuesday, December 2 (6:00-7:30pm, Orange High School)! Learn more here.
 

¡Empoderando! October 15 at Orange High School, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Join OCS Family Academy at Orange High School on Wednesday, October 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for a celebration of Hispanic Heritage at the annual OCS “Empoderando” event.

This year's theme is “In Unity, Our Roots Grow Stronger.” All are invited, we hope to see you there for music, dancing, art, cultural history, poetry, and more! Visit our Family Academy page for details.

World Mental Health Day, October 10

By providing the students of Orange County Schools with the tools, support, and resources to become mentally healthy, we are assisting them in their abilities to function and cope in our ever changing society. These steps in place are aligned to the OCS vision of “preparing every learner for lifelong service and success.” October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and we are proud to offer resources and services that support Mental Health and Wellness for every OCS student.

Learn more and connect with the supportive Mental Health team in Orange County Schools at orangecountyfirst.com/mentalhealth!

Now Seeking School Champions! Help OCS Improve Two-Way Communication

If you are eager to grow your knowledge and be an effective advocate for Orange County Schools and our students, this may be the right fit for you! “School Champions” will have early access to important district information, join a focus group on improving communications, and train to engage a wide variety of community members. Must be a parent or guardian of a current OCS student(s) and commit to scheduled monthly meetings or focus groups (online or in-person).

Applications are now open! Learn about the OCS School Champion program and submit your application today! https://bit.ly/ocsschoolchampions

2026-27 FAFSA Now Open

The 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open. Students should complete the form as soon as possible since many colleges and states award aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority deadlines are June 1, 2026 for UNC System schools and Aug. 15, 2026 for NC community colleges, and earlier for private institutions.

“Many states, including North Carolina, also use the FAFSA to award state grants, and colleges use the FAFSA to award their own scholarships. In North Carolina, submitting the FAFSA is a prerequisite for receiving the Next NC Scholarship, which covers full tuition and fees for all North Carolina community colleges and more than half the cost for public universities for most families making $80,000 a year or less,” says Education NC.

Completing the FAFSA unlocks access to Pell Grants, work-study, loans and state and institutional aid.

Learn more and find FAFSA resources here!

Celebrate the Good Blog Post: “Meet North Carolina’s Principal of the Year”

In the latest “Celebrate the Good” blog post from the NC Department of Public Instruction, read the outstanding interview with Jason Johnson, Wells Fargo 2025 NC Principal of the Year! Mr. Johnson reflects on his first few months in the role, connecting with educators statewide, and shining a spotlight on the success of NC’s public schools.

Learn more at the “Celebrate the Good” Blog!