Board Delays Return to Plan B In-person for Some Students

As a follow-up to the January 11th OCS Board Meeting and in response to some questions from staff and families, Board Chair Hillary MacKenzie, Vice Chair Brenda Stephens, and Superintendent Dr. Monique Felder developed the following summary to provide additional clarity based on the approved motion made at the January 11th meeting regarding a delay to the return to Plan B (in-person instruction) for some students.

Statement Regarding Recent Events & Democracy

As the nation and our children read, hear and watch about the riots at the U.S. Capitol building, we are reminded just how important it is for our school system to teach about and model civility and respect for our democracy.

COVID-19 Vaccines are Coming Soon!

COVID-19 vaccines are coming soon!

Orange High School Student Equity Team

According to Student Equity Team facilitator Kelly Arnold at Orange High School, “The students have the ideas, and they are the ones doing the work… They put the heart into it, and we (the adults) serve them.”

December 11, 2020 - Town Hall Meeting for OCS Staff

Dear Orange County Schools Community

Dear Orange County Schools Community: The Orange County Board of Education believes that in-person learning is the best way to provide educational opportunities for our Orange County Schools (OCS) students, and we look forward to having students back in the classroom. This is why we have authorized a hybrid return to in-person learning beginning January 26, 2021.

27 Orange High School students are inducted into M.A.P

Orange High School inducted 27 students into the Minority Achievers Program (MAP) November 17, 2020.

Josh Cvijanovic named 'Band Director of the Year'

Photo courtesy of J Rich Photography
Mr. Josh Cvijanovic from Cedar Ridge High School has been named the “Band Director of the Year” for 2020 by the Central District Bandmasters Association!

OCS Metrics Monitoring Task Force & Next Steps

As we make plans to return to school on January 25, 2021 under Plan B: Hybrid (in-person and remote with alternating weeks) for families choosing to send their children back to school, we would like to thank the members of the OCS Metrics Monitoring Task Force for their time and commitment over the past few months.

Andy Simmons named Athletic Director of the Year

NCSHAPE is pleased to announce that two Durham residents, Andy Simmons and Margratha Y. Chambers - are recipients of this year’s High School Athletic Director of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award respectively.

OHS Student named Semifinalist in 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program

HILLSBOROUGH—Orange High School senior Lucas Hales has been named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. There are 16,000 Semifinalists in this year’s annual NMSP.

OCS Board Approves October Return for Preschool and Exceptional Children 

The Orange County Board of Education approved the return to school for preschool and exceptional children on October 27. After a series of motions, it was decided at the September 29 meeting for all Exceptional Children (EC) self-contained students and preschool students to return for the start of the second nine weeks (October 27); small groups of students in all remaining grades will return Under Plan B with the start of the second semester (in January 2021).

Board Meeting Update - September 28

The Board of Education unanimously approved the consent agenda items, which included: minutes from the September 14, 2020 Special Called Meeting; the personnel report and recommendations; gifts and bequests; and the Code of Conduct Letter.

Statement from OCS Board of Education

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Cooper made a surprise announcement that public school districts across North Carolina can consider reopening schools under Plan A for all K-5 students effective October 5th. We appreciate that the Governor has given local school districts additional flexibility with this latest Executive Order, which allows local Boards to decide to operate under Plans A, B, or C.

September 18 is the Deadline for the First Student SEL Survey

The last day for students to complete the first of three SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) surveys is Friday, September 18. The purpose of this SEL survey is to collect baseline data that will inform each school’s and the district’s work as we continue to support students’ SEL growth and development.

Please Return School Lunch Forms

You will receive a free and/or reduced meal form for the 2020-2021 school year in the mail. While we are currently not in our school buildings, it is extremely important that this form is filled out and returned to us.

Board Approves Next Steps Towards Equity Resolution

At the September 14 Board of Education meeting, the OCS Board approved the Resolution for the Board’s Next Steps towards Equity in Education in OCS as acknowledgement of persistent racial intolerance, inequities and academic disparities in our district as defined by OCS Policy 1030.

Superintendent's Message for Families

As we enter Labor Day weekend, I’m sharing another update on what’s happening in and around Orange County Schools. We are making progress on our remote learning. I’ve seen so many families coming together to help each other.

Child Supervision Resources

As we work to meet the needs of our OCS families, we have pulled together multiple resources to share for supervision options and other family resources. This includes a program with the YMCA and Supervised Learning Labs.

Superintendent's Welcome Back Message

I’m so excited to welcome your students to the 2020–2021 school year. Your support for your students and our schools has been nothing short of amazing.