Hello, OCS Family! Read below for the latest district news and updates.  

EARLY RELEASE REMINDER 

We would like to remind our families that Thursday, February 9 will be an Early Release Professional Development Day for all students other than those attending Onslow Early College High School. Please be prepared for students to be released from school early on that day.  

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 

 

February is here, and this month, we encourage you to reflect on black history and the immeasurable contributions African Americans have made to our nation and local communities.  

MIDDLE SCHOOL MATHCOUNTS 

 

On Thursday, February 2, OCS middle school students came together to put their math skills to the test.  

Teams from middle schools across the district gathered at Jacksonville Commons Middle School for the MATHCOUNTS competition and vied for the gold. 

MATHCOUNTS is a national coaching and competition program designed to stimulate 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students’ interest and achievement in mathematics. At this regional competition, students participated in four rounds of challenges, both as teams and individually. Rounds included the “sprint round,” the “target round,” the “team round,” and a fast-paced challenge called the “ciphering round.” 

Thank you to all who participated, and congratulations to the winners! For more information and a full winner list, see the OCS website: Middle School MATHCOUNTS. 

ALL-COUNTY ORCHESTRA CONCERT 

This weekend, music students from our middle and high schools will perform in the Onslow County All-County Orchestra Concert. Stream it live on the district YouTube channel on Saturday, February 4 at 3:30 p.m.! 

 

BOE MEETING FEBRUARY 7 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held Tuesday, February 7 at 6 p.m. in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include Instruction Services best practices, a redistricting overview, and the 2023-2024 Head Start grant application approval. 

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf   

A livestream of this meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia   

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Check out the latest updates from the district below.  

OCS IS HIRING BUS DRIVERS! 

 

Are you ready for a new career? OCS is hiring! 

Starting pay for bus drivers in Onslow County is $16 an hour, and those who sign on now will receive a $2,500 sign-on bonus.  

With a Monday-Friday schedule and nights, weekends and holidays off, this is a perfect opportunity for those who are retired, those who are stay-at-home parents, or those looking for extra income. Training will be provided, and the district will help new hires obtain a CDL driver’s license.   

Check out a full list of upcoming classes and learn how to apply at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

CONTACT INFORMATION 

 

In order to stay up to date on the latest from the district, including crisis communications and notifications of changes to the school schedule, we encourage our families to ensure that their most recent contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, is on file at their schools. Having current and accurate information is essential in our effort to provide the OCS family with important notices and updates.       

If you or someone you know has not been, or has stopped, receiving district notices, please contact your school’s data manager to confirm that your contact information is entered correctly. 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

The Onslow County Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, January 25. All agenda items were discussed in closed session, pursuant to open meetings law. You can find more information about this meeting on the OCS website: News from the Board. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Thank you for making this week great! See below for the latest district news and updates.  

WORKDAY REMINDERS 

 

We would like to remind our families that Monday, January 23 and Tuesday, January 24 are teacher workdays for students on the traditional calendar.  

We will see you all on Wednesday! 

SWMS MILITARY ADOPTION 

 

On Wednesday, January 18, Southwest Middle School and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 solidified their partnership through the Adopt-a-School Program.  

Adopt-a-School promotes mutually beneficial relationships between the military and schools by allowing military units to “adopt” a school. The program is a source of pride for many schools in the community and a highlight of the school day for many children. Marine volunteers share the core values of the Marine Corps and provide a positive impression while giving back to the community. This also allows schools to provide support to the adopted units during deployments, holidays, and other times of need. 

We are proud that our schools have formed strong, lasting relationships with our local military community. Congratulations to Southwest Middle and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464! 

BUS ROUTE UPDATES 

In our ongoing effort to make our bus routes more efficient for our students, we will be implementing some changes to routes in the Swansboro area effective Wednesday, January 25.  

Any updates to your child’s bus stop information can be found on the OCS district website: Find My Bus Stop.  

Changes will also be posted on the OCS School Transportation page under Swansboro School Bus Delays. If you have questions about these changes, the OCS School Transportation Department can be reached at (910) 455-2211 x37000. 

BOE MEETING JANUARY 25 

The Onslow County Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, January 25 at 9 a.m. at the OCS Central Services Office.  

The Board will go into closed session to consult with Board attorneys and discuss plans for emergency response to incidents of school violence, pursuant to Open Meetings Law.  

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf   

A livestream of this meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! We hope you all had a great week of learning. Read below for the latest news and updates from the district.  

HOLIDAY REMINDER 

 

As a reminder, OCS will be closed Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. We will see you all on Tuesday! 

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION RECOGNITIONS 

Congratulations to Rebecca Huggins, OCS secondary ELA coordinator, Courtney Hughes, of Clear View Elementary, Nicole Lancaster, of Silverdale Elementary, and David Gould, of Parkwood Elementary, for recently being awarded their National Board certifications! 

The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards' mission is to advance the quality of teaching and learning through a voluntary advanced certification. That vision is inspired by the model of other professions, such as medicine, where board certification symbolizes accomplished practice, both within the profession and in the larger community.  

Achieving National Board certification is a great accomplishment in the teaching field, so congratulations to you all, and thank you for your dedication! 

PARENT ACADEMIES 

Remember, the next parent academy session will be held Thursday, January 19 and will focus on making college affordable! Sign up at https://bit.ly/Jan19PA.  

See a full list of upcoming sessions below:  

 

OCS IS HIRING BUS DRIVERS! 

We are hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $16 an hour, and those who sign on now will receive a $2,500 sign-on bonus.  

Training will be provided, and the district will help new hires obtain a CDL driver’s license.  

Learn more and see a full schedule of classes at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Thank you for a great first week back from winter break. We have high hopes for 2023 to be a wonderful year! 

Read below for the latest district news and updates.  

PARENT ACADEMIES 

The new year brings with it new opportunities for families to learn about postsecondary education!  

Below is a schedule of upcoming information sessions. The next session, Making College Affordable, will be held virtually on January 19 at 5:30 p.m. Sign up at https://bit.ly/Jan19PA.  

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA CURRICULUM REVIEW 

 

OCS Curriculum & Instruction is excited to host an ELA Middle School Curriculum Review, which will be held on Tuesday, January 10 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.  

Vendors will be on site to share samples of curriculum, discuss aspects of their programs, and answer questions.

Community members and parents are encouraged to attend in order to view the options for adoption in the 2023-2024 school year.  

OCS IS HIRING BUS DRIVERS! 

 

We are hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $16 an hour, and those who sign on now will receive a $2,500 sign-on bonus.  

Training will be provided, and the district will help new hires obtain a CDL driver’s license.  

The next training class will be held January 23-26. Register by Thursday, January 12 to join!  

Learn more at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video of the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held January 3 can be found here: News from the Board. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family!  

 

As we come to the end of 2022, we hope that you all have had a wonderful time celebrating all things good with those you love, and that you have had the opportunity to reflect on this year and all it brought with it.  

In a couple of days, we will welcome 2023, and we wish you all a new year full of joy and endless possibilities.  

Warm wishes for a happy new year! 

HOLIDAY REMINDER 

Please remember that OCS will remain closed for the holidays until Tuesday, January 3. Students and staff will return to school on that day. We look forward to welcoming you all back in the new year! 

BOE MEETING JANUARY 3 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held Tuesday, January 3 at 6 p.m. in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include discussion of the 2023-2024 school calendar and an award of contract for upcoming school improvements.  

In accordance with Board Policy 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf  

A livestream of this meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia  

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Catch up on the latest from the district below.  

HOLIDAY REMINDERS 

 

Winter break is finally here! We would like to remind our families that students will return to school on Tuesday, January 3.  

The OCS Central Services office will be closed to the public starting Wednesday, December 21 at 12:30 p.m. and remain closed throughout the holidays. We will reopen with our regular business hours on Tuesday, January 3.  

There will not be a Weekly Update on Friday, December 23. Updates will resume on Friday, December 30.  

We wish you all a happy holiday! Have a safe and restful break with those you love.  

BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS AWARDED 

We are excited to share that, this year, Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation has given 55 Bright Ideas grants to Onslow County teachers!  

Each year, Jones-Onslow provides grant applications to teachers and principals, grades K-12, in Jones and Onslow counties, as well as the Topsail area of Pender County. This year, educators in Onslow County were awarded a total of $49,886! 

Bright Ideas grants help schools fund innovative learning opportunities for students that are not covered by regular school funds. Educators submit proposals for what they would like to do with a Bright Ideas grant, such as projects, activities, etc., and may apply for individual grants up to $500 or in teams for grants up to $2,000.  

See a full list of this year’s Onslow County Bright Ideas grant recipients here: Bright Ideas Grant Winners 2022. 

Congratulations to all winners and thank you to JOEMC! 

MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA CURRICULUM REVIEW 

 

OCS Curriculum & Instruction is excited to announce an ELA Middle School Curriculum Review, which will be held on Tuesday, January 10 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.  

Vendors will be on site to share samples of curriculum, discuss aspects of their programs, and answer questions.  

Community members and parents are encouraged to attend in order to view the options for adoption in the 2023-2024 school year.  

OCS IS HIRING BUS DRIVERS!  

 

We are hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $16 an hour, and those who sign on now will receive a $2,500 sign-on bonus.  

Training will be provided, and the district will help new hires obtain a CDL driver’s license.  

A new class schedule is now up on the OCS website! Check out a full list of upcoming classes and learn how to apply at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Thank you for a great week. Catch up on the latest from the district below.  

CHRISTMAS CHEER DONATIONS 

 

Thank you to all of our staff and families who contributed to this year’s food drive for Onslow Community Outreach’s Christmas Cheer program.  

Many families across the county rely on schools as their main source of daily meals. When children are on break from school, many may go without regular meals. This is especially true over the holidays.  

To help meet the community's needs, Onslow Christmas Cheer helps provide meals and gifts for families that struggle to afford them. Assistance for the program comes from many different areas, but the school system has been a tremendous support for Christmas Cheer over the years. 

With your help, today we were able to deliver thousands of food items and toys from across the district to the Christmas Cheer building for distribution to Onslow County families in need.  

DHS MILITARY ADOPTION 

 

On Friday, December 2, Dixon High took a moment to celebrate and solidify its partnership with 3d Marine Raider Battalion from Camp Lejeune.   

The Adopt-a-School program promotes mutually beneficial relationships between the military and schools by allowing a military unit to “adopt” a school. The units support schools through mentorship, volunteerism, and more. In return, schools help their units by sending them letters of encouragement and care packages while they are deployed.   

The relationships OCS has with the U.S. military are invaluable, and the mutual benefits cannot be understated. We are proud to support those who defend our freedom and work hand-in-hand with our military partners to provide opportunities for students.   

Way to go, Bulldogs! 

MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA CURRICULUM REVIEW 

OCS Curriculum & Instruction is excited to announce an ELA Middle School Curriculum Review which will be held on Tuesday, January 10 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.   

Vendors will be on site to share samples of curriculum, discuss aspects of their programs, and answer questions regarding their curriculum.   

Community members and parents are encouraged to attend in order to view the options for adoption in the 2023-2024 school year.   

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FORMER BOARD CHAIR 

To Superintendent Collins, Members of the Board of Education, and Staff: 

Monday was my last full day on the Onslow County Board of Education, and I want to express my pleasure of serving as your Chairman. I have had the distinct honor of being on the Board of Education for the last eight and a half years. I have enjoyed serving with the professional men and women on the Board. I want to personally thank Superintendent Barry Collins for his leadership and guidance. I want all our staff to know how much I appreciate your hard work and dedication to the students in Onslow County Schools. 

The last few years have been filled with challenges that have tested our resolve to provide an education to our children. It is my opinion that we would not have been able to succeed without each of you showing up every day and doing your best. This school district cannot function without the dedicated men and women at all levels in our district. I wish you the best in this school year and all the years that follow. 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your families. Goodbye and God bless you all. 

Bob Williams 

Former Chairman, Onslow County Board of Education 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

 

In the December 6 meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education, three members were administered the oath of office, and the Board held its annual election for chairperson and vice-chairperson.   

Newly elected Angie Todd and Bradley Williams, as well as recently re-elected Bill Lanier, were sworn into office Tuesday night, surrounded by family and friends.  

In its first order of business, the new Board elected a chairperson and vice-chairperson. Members voted using a ballot system and elected member Bill Lanier as Board chairman and member Ken Reddic as vice-chairman. 

Read more and see a video of the meeting on the OCS website: News from the Board. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! Thank you for a great week of learning. See below for the latest from the district.  

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR 

 

Thank you to all who joined us at White Oak High this week for the Holiday Craft Fair hosted by our school-based enterprise students and staff.  

The sale featured products like t-shirts, mugs, greeting cards, ornaments, jewelry, and more, all hand-crafted by OCS students! 

Our school-based enterprise programs allow students to get hands-on experience running a business from start to finish. Not only do students make the items they sell, but they also work on advertising their products, facilitating transactions, and handling money.  

Through participating in sales events like this, students get the opportunity to practice real-world skills while earning money to grow their programs.  

 

BOE MEETING DECEMBER 6 

The Onslow County Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 5 p.m. in the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center, located at 261 Northwest Corridor Blvd., Jacksonville, NC.  

The purpose of this meeting will be to administer the oath of office to Board of Education member Bill Lanier who was re-elected in November, and newly elected members Angie Todd and Bradley Williams.  

The Board will then meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Agenda items include the election of chairperson and vice-chairperson and a DoDEA STEM Initiative overview.  

In accordance with Board Policy: 2335 – Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials, Board materials will be available online as soon as possible at http://www.boarddocs.com/nc/onslow/Board.nsf   

A livestream of this meeting can be found on the OCS Multimedia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/OCSMultimedia 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest from the district, including crisis communications and notifications of changes to the school schedule, we encourage our families to ensure that their most recent contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, is on file at their schools. Having current and accurate information is essential in our effort to provide the OCS family with important notices and updates.       

If you or someone you know has not been, or has stopped, receiving district notices, please contact your school’s data manager to confirm that your contact information is entered correctly. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools

Hello, OCS Family! See below for important reminders and a special Thanksgiving message.  

HOLIDAY REMINDERS 

 

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, OCS will be closed for staff and students on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25.  

We will see you all on Monday, November 28! 

SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE 

Dear OCS Family,  

Fall is a wonderful time of the year. The days get shorter, the leaves begin to change and there is a chill in the air. Athletic teams are wrapping up their fall seasons, schools are hosting fall festivals and we all begin preparing for the heart of the holiday season, which is right around the corner. Before we get there, however, November, with both Veterans Day and Thanksgiving holidays, provides us with a chance to stop and reflect on all that we are thankful for. 

This includes our amazing teachers, administrators, support staff, secretaries, nurses, bus drivers, social workers, cafeteria workers, and custodians, who work with our students every day to make sure they have the best educational experiences and opportunities.  

Our Board of Education and district staff: instructional services, human resources, student services, finance, information technology and operations – all of whom work tirelessly to support our schools and our educational mission. 

The parents of our district who trust us with their children, the students who come to school ready to learn and who remind us daily of why we have chosen to do what we do, and our volunteers who contribute so much to the success of our school system. 

Finally – reaching back to Veterans Day – we are thankful for our military families, who make up such a large part of our community, and for the many sacrifices they have made – and continue to make – in support of our country. 

As we move into what can be a very hectic part of the year, it is my hope that each of you will take some time over the upcoming holiday to connect with family and friends and reflect on those things for which you are truly thankful. 

Sincerely,  

Barry D. Collins, Ed.D.  
Superintendent, Onslow County Schools 

ART IN THE AIRPORT 

 

The walls of Albert J. Ellis Airport have come to life with a new batch of OCS student artwork!   

Students, teachers and families gathered at OAJ on Monday, November 21 to celebrate the newest installment of Art in the Airport. OCS has partnered with OAJ to showcase the talents of our visual arts students for several years, and the newest exhibit, “Captivating Your Imagination,” features the work of 19 of our talented high school visual arts students.   

“Captivating Your Imagination” will be on display at OAJ throughout the holiday season, so if you find yourself traveling, take a moment to explore the beautiful work of our student artists!  

See the OCS website for more photos and a full list of artwork: Art in the Airport. 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest from the district, including crisis communications and notifications of changes to the school schedule, we encourage our families to ensure that their most recent contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, is on file at their schools. Having current and accurate information is essential in our effort to provide the OCS family with important notices and updates.        

If you or someone you know has not been, or has stopped, receiving district notices, please contact your school’s data manager to confirm that your contact information is entered correctly. 

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:    
Facebook - @OCSNC    
Twitter - @OnslowSchools    
Instagram - onslowcountyschools