OCS Family Updates - October 21, 2025 - Unity Day, College Corner, School Champions and More!

One week each year, students can apply for free to NC colleges and universities. Learn more in our COLLEGE CORNER below! Wear Orange this Wednesday, October 22 to promote bullying prevention. And find upcoming OCS events to help you support your child of any age to success at home and at school. Thanks for sharing these invitations with anyone who may be interested!

Let’s Build the Future of OCS Together!

Mark your calendars for Community Listening Sessions on Nov. 3 and Dec. 2, and help shape the future of our schools in the OCS 2026-2031 Strategic Plan. Learn more and join us.

“What Every Parent Needs to Know About Vaping (E-Cigarettes) and More”

Join OCS Family Academy Thursday, November 20 at A.L. Stanback Middle School from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Starting at 5:30 p.m., Infinite Campus Parent Portal support begins and food trucks will have meals for purchase. See the attached flyer and learn more here!

Ready to Become a School Champion? Learn More and Apply Now!

Open to parents or guardians of current OCS students (eligible to volunteer). Help OCS improve two-way communication and become an effective ambassador for our schools and our students. Click to join an upcoming information session (starting October 22) or apply today!

#UnityEveryDay: Wear Orange for Unity Day, National Bullying Prevention Month 

Wednesday, October 22 is Unity Day, a day of community, kindness and awareness in a show of unity for National Bullying Prevention Month. Wear Orange this Wednesday (tomorrow!) to show strength in numbers and fight together against bullying! www.pacer.org 

COLLEGE CORNER

College Application Week, October 20-26

This is the 20th year that NC colleges and universities will waive application fees during College Application Week, October 20 to 26. Review the list of colleges taking free applications this week, which includes all 58 NC Community Colleges. To waive fees, students must submit applications via the CFNC Application Hub. Learn more and apply for free! www.cfnc.org/apply
 

The FAFSA Is Now Open! Claim financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form opened on Sept. 24, one week ahead of the anticipated Oct. 1 launch. The application will be open until June 30, 2027, but colleges and states often award aid on a first-come, first-served basis.

• The deadline to submit your FAFSA form is June 1, 2026 for UNC System institutions, Aug. 15, 2026 for North Carolina community colleges, and as soon as possible for private institutions, according to studentaid.gov.
• Completing the form makes current and prospective college students eligible for need-based financial aid including federal Pell Grants, work-study programs, and student loans. Anticipated in July 2026, Pell Grants can also be used to cover tuition, fees, and other expenses for short-term workforce training programs.
• 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.

Students should complete the FAFSA form every year they plan to receive aid.

 

As always, thanks for reading and sharing these updates!