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

ONSLOW COUNTY VOTING INFORMATION 

 

Early voting is now open in Onslow County! You can cast your votes and make your voice heard before Election Day at any of the following locations: 

1. Board of Elections, Georgetown Road 
2. Jacksonville Commons Recreation Center 
3. Onslow County Museum 
4. Swansboro Rotary Center 
5. Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church 

Early/One-Top voting will be open at the designated locations 8 a.m.-7 p.m., October 15-30, except for Sunday. Polling places will be open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on October 31.  

You can learn more about early voting or prepare to vote on Election day by finding your polling place on the Onslow County Board of Elections website. [LINK] 

See you at the polls! 

OCS CTE DIRECTOR RECOGNIZED 

 

Earlier this month, the Association for Career and Technical Education announced that OCS CTE Director Chris Bailey has been named the 2020 ACTE Region II Administrator of the Year. This award recognizes administrative career and technical education professionals for their outstanding leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and making significant contributions toward innovative, unique and effective CTE programs.  

Beginning his career as an agricultural education teacher, Bailey has served as a CTE teacher, career development coordinator, elementary assistant principal, high school assistant principal and CTE Director. He was the recipient of the Dave Berryman Leadership Scholarship in 2016 and the NC Southeast Region CTE Director of the Year in 2015 and 2018. Bailey is one of five finalists for the 2021 national title. 

Congratulations, Mr. Bailey! 

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN 2020 

This week, the OCS Human Resources Department was recognized for going above and beyond for the 2019 OCS United Way Campaign and winning the Central Office donation competition. We would like to thank HR and all other employees that helped us support United Way of Onslow County last year! 

If you would like to donate to the 2020 United Way Campaign, be sure to keep an eye out for more information from your school or department’s United Way coordinator in the coming weeks! 

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT 

On November 4, as part of National Scholarship Night, families are invited to tune into a local information session on the possibility of paying for post-secondary education with scholarships. See the flyer below for more information.  

A Spanish information session will be held on November 2.  

 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! Thank you for a great week at OCS. Find below the latest district news and updates.  

COVID-19 INFORMATIONAL UPDATE 

As state and local public health officials continue to monitor COVID-19 cases across the state, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has updated guidelines for NC public schools found in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12).  

The newest changes update quarantine and return-to-school procedures for students and staff. Please visit the OCS website to review the district’s screening flow chart, which includes these important changes: COVID-19 Informational Update. 

COASTAL ELEMENTARY TOPPING OUT CEREMONY 

 

Construction is well underway for the district’s newest elementary school. While a groundbreaking ceremony for Coastal Elementary Schools was unable to be organized due to COVID-19 restrictions earlier this year, Onslow County Board of Education members, commissioners and OCS staff came together to celebrate the new facility with a “topping out” ceremony. A topping out ceremony is a traditional rite for builders as they mark a milestone during construction.  

Board Chair Pam Thomas said she and her fellow Board members are proud of the work they did with the county commissioners to make the project possible and bring a much needed school to the Stump Sound area.  

Coastal Elementary School is set to open in August 2021. 

OCS POY ANNOUNCED 

 

Dr. Christopher Barnes, of White Oak High School, has been named the 2020-2021 OCS Wells Fargo Principal of the Year by Onslow County Schools.  

On Wednesday morning, Dr. Barnes was greeted at the entrance of his school and surprised with the news by OCS district leaders and Board of Education members, as well as his teachers and staff. He was treated to kind words and lighthearted jokes from OCS Chief of Human Resources and Student Services Dr. CJ Korenek and Superintendent Dr. Barry Collins. 

Dr. Barnes has been an educator with OCS for more than 20 years, with 17 of those years spent as an administrator. He started with the district by helping around the county office in the summer of 1993, got hired to teach at Richlands High School in 1997, and has since worked at several OCS sites. He has spent the last four years at WOHS, to which his staff says he brings a culture of family, teamwork and pride.  

A committee comprised of a community member, district staff members, last year’s principal of the year and last year’s teacher of the year interviewed and observed finalists before making a selection.  

Next, Dr. Barnes will go on to compete at the regional level. 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! Thank you for another great week at OCS. See below for the latest district news and updates.  

COMMUNITY WIFI ACCESS 

OCS has developed programs to provide community WiFi access for students who need it. The district has made free WiFi access available on certain campuses for students who may not have reliable internet access at home. This service is currently available at 8 OCS sites from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekends. More sites will soon be available as well.  

Another option for families in need of reliable internet access is filling out a request form to receive a MiFi hotspot device. These devices issued to students are provided through a grant from Sprint/T-Mobile.  

You can read more about these programs and get a list of WiFi access areas here: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/40207. 

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PARADES 

 

This week, six of our elementary schools were paid a visit by the Jacksonville Police Department. As part of their observance of National Night Out, JPD paraded by the schools to greet students and uplift their spirits. National Night Out is an annual awareness event designed to enhance the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.  

JPD representatives said that it is important to interact with the community’s children in a positive way to show them that police officers and other community helpers can be trusted and are here to help.  

We are grateful for the partnership we have with our law enforcement agencies and appreciate all they do! 

SUSANNE LONG NAMED EC DIRECTOR 

 

OCS is pleased to announce that longtime district employee Susanne Long has been named the new Executive Director of Exceptional Children & Continuous Improvement. Long brings to the role vast instructional knowledge and experience, having worked in education for many years and most recently serving as the OCS director of continuous improvement.  

The district is proud to have Mrs. Long serve in this role and looks forward to having her work with our EC staff and families to serve our students.  

CENSUS 2020 

The deadline to complete the 2020 Census has been extended through October 31! That means it is not too late to submit your responses and help our community gain access to millions of dollars in funding over the next 10 years. Learn more at 2020census.gov. 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video from the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held on October 6 can be found here: News from the Board. 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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 the latest district news and updates.  

OCS PLAN A TRANSITION 

Beginning Monday, October 5, Kindergarten and 1st grade students currently participating in face-to-face instruction through Cohort A and Cohort B will transition to Plan A, attending school in person Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Until the week of November 30, all students will continue to learn remotely on Wednesdays.  

Second and 3rd grade students will transition to Plan A on October 19, with 4th and 5th grade transitioning on November 2. Middle and high school students will continue attending school under Plan B until further notice from the governor.  

See below for an overview of what families can expect under Plan A:  

SCHOOL NUTRITION UPDATES 

In order to make the most efficient use of our available resources, beginning Monday, October 5, the Student Nutrition Department will be discontinuing curbside meal service at Clyde Erwin Elementary, Hunters Creek Elementary, Northwoods Elementary and Southwest Elementary. 

Meals will continue to be available for curbside pick-up during scheduled meal hours at the following School Nutrition Hub sites: Dixon Elementary, Jacksonville High, Northside High, Richlands Elementary, Southwest High and Swansboro High. 

On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, curbside pick-up is from 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. On Wednesdays, curbside pick-up is from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. 

DIGITAL LEARNING  

The statistics above from the Instructional Technology department highlight the great scale at which OCS students and staff have been using digital teaching and learning tools to facilitate remote learning over the last month. Thank you to our awesome IT and DLT staff for the work you have put in to make remote learning possible for our district.  

As students continue to participate in remote learning, we would like to remind our Cohort A and B families of the remote learning expectations and resources available to them, here on the OCS website: Blended Learning Under Plan B.  

An updated set of virtual learning expectations for Onslow Virtual School students can be found here: OVS Learning Expectations.  

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

Onslow County Schools is hiring bus drivers for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications for the October 6-8 driver class are due no later than Monday, October 5. You can find more information on the application process and future class dates here: OCS Bus Driver Classes. 

FAFSA KICKOFF 

Attention OCS seniors and high school families! Yesterday marked the FAFSA Kickoff, which means it’s time to start thinking about how to pay for college. Visit studentaid.gov to get started on your FAFSA application and learn more about federal student aid.  

CENSUS 2020 

Last call! The deadline to complete the 2020 census has been extended to Monday, October 5. This is your last chance to submit your responses and help our community gain access to millions of dollars in federal funding over the next 10 years. Learn more at 2020census.gov. 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video from the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held on September 29 can be found here: News from the Board. 

BOE MEETING OCTOBER 6 

On Tuesday, October 6, the Onslow County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.  

Due to COVID-19, the number of participants in the meeting room will be limited. Face coverings will be required. A monitor will also be available at the Regional Skills Center for viewing.  

Agenda items include the Beginning Teacher Support Program plan.  

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! Find the latest district news and updates below. 

OCS APOY ANNOUNCED 

 

Donna Chadwick, of Jacksonville Commons Elementary School, has been named the 2020-2021 Assistant Principal of the Year by Onslow County Schools!  

Superintendent Dr. Barry Collins, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Beth Folger, and a group of district administrators joined Chadwick’s family in surprising her with the news at her school on September 22. 

Chadwick has been an assistant principal for three years, all of which have been spent at Jacksonville Commons Elementary. Prior to becoming an administrator, she was an elementary school teacher and a Title I Reading Specialist.  

In her nomination letter, JCE Principal Deborah Hoffman said that Chadwick is a strong advocate for teachers and students, having spent countless hours finding ways to improve instruction in her school.  

Hoffman also said, however, that Chadwick is not just about academics.  

“She is also the master of staff morale,” said Hoffman. “She brings ‘the happy.’ Donna’s happy-go-lucky personality is consistent, and it is authentic. People – staff, students, parents, strangers – are drawn to her.” 

Congratulations, Mrs. Chadwick! 

2020 CENSUS 

Wednesday, September 30, is the deadline to complete the census! Currently, Onslow county has a self-response rate of just 57.1 percent. With your help, we can get a complete count for our community! 

Your response to the census could help our community gain access to millions of dollars in federal funding over the next 10 years. If you have already submitted your census form, check in with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to do the same! 

You can learn more about the census and how to respond at 2020census.gov. 

COLLEGE PREP EVENTS 

Attention high school students and families! We have a number of events coming up this fall that will provide students and families opportunities to learn about colleges, funding for college, Governor’s school, and the NC School of Science and Math. Below is a list of upcoming events. You can download a PDF of this with clickable links here: https://bit.ly/3mWlw8K

PLEASE NOTE: One of the NCSSM information sessions has been rescheduled. Please plan accordingly.  

 

REGISTER TO VOTE 

The deadline to register to vote is approaching! If you would like to make your voice heard in November’s election and are not yet registered to vote, be sure to do so by October 9! 

You can learn how to register, check your status, and find your polling place all on the Onslow County Board of Elections website.  
See below for more important dates regarding the upcoming election:  

 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video from the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held on September 21 can be found here: News from the Board.  

BOE MEETING SEPTEMBER 29 

On Tuesday, September 29, the Onslow County Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.  

Due to COVID-19, the number of participants in the meeting room will be limited. Face coverings will be required. A monitor will also be available at the Regional Skills Center for viewing.  

Agenda items for the meeting include a closed session for personnel discussion, a Return to Learn update, Resiliency Retention Reward, next steps for the ENCRSC, and the Onslow County public bike trail.  

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! Thank you for another great week. You can find the latest district news and updates below.  

OCS RETURN TO LEARN 

Yesterday, Governor Cooper announced that, no earlier than October 5, school systems across the state have the flexibility to bring their elementary students back following Plan A. 

District staff are reviewing the Governor's information and looking at how this decision will be implemented in OCS. More details will be shared in the coming days. 

IMMUNIZATION CLINIC 

The Onslow County Health Department will be hosting another Saturday, in-house Immunization Clinic for area students ages 11 years and older on September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. North Carolina state-required vaccines, including Tdap and meningococcal, will be offered for rising 5th to 7th and 11th to 12th graders. Recommended vaccines, like HPV and influenza, will also be offered. The parent accompanying children to their appointments may schedule a flu vaccine appointment for themselves at the same time. 

Appointments are required. Call 910-347-2154 ext. 8810 to schedule an appointment. See below for more information.   

 

REGISTER TO VOTE 

The deadline to register to vote is approaching! If you would like to make your voice heard in November’s election and are not yet registered to vote, be sure to do so by October 9!  

You can learn how to register, check your status, and find your polling place all on the Onslow County Board of Elections website.  

See below for more important dates regarding the upcoming election: 

 

2020 CENSUS 

September 30 is the deadline to complete the census! Currently, Onslow County has a self-response rate of just 56.7 percent. With your help, we can get a complete count for our community! 

Your response to the census could help our community gain access to millions of dollars in federal funding over the next 10 years. If you have already submitted your census form, check in with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to do the same!  

You can learn more about the census and how to respond at 2020census.gov.  

COLLEGE PREP EVENTS 

Attention high school students and families! We have a number of events coming up this fall that will provide students and families opportunities to learn about colleges, funding for college, Governor’s school, and the NC School of Science and Math. Below is a list of upcoming events. You can download a PDF of this list with clickable links here: https://bit.ly/33DykYJ  

 

BOE MEETING SEPTEMBER 21 

On Monday, September 21, the Onslow County Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.  

Due to COVID-19, the number of participants present in the meeting room will be limited. Face coverings will be required. A monitor will also be available at the Regional Skills Center for viewing.  

Agenda items for the meeting include the discussion of Return to Learn plans.  

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! You can find the latest district announcements and updates below.  

IMMUNIZATION CLINIC 

During an ordinary school year, proof of required immunizations and health assessments must be received within 30 days of when a child first attends school. Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 156 extends this deadline. This year, the 30-day “grace period” for all students will begin on October 1, 2020, meaning proof of all required immunizations is required no later than October 31, 2020. 

The Onslow County Health Department will be hosting another Saturday, in-house Immunization Clinic for area students ages 11 years and older on September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. North Carolina State required vaccines, including Tdap and meningococcal, will be offered for rising 5th to 7th and 11th to 12th graders. Recommended vaccines, like HPV and influenza, will also be offered. The parent accompanying children to their appointments may schedule a flu vaccine appointment for themselves at the same time.

Even though the deadline has been extended, we urge all parents not to delay. If any parents have children that still need state-required immunizations, we encourage them to make an appointment and take advantage of this great opportunity provided by the Health Department. 

Appointments are required. Call 910-347-2154 ext. 8810 to schedule an appointment. See below for more information.  

 

CENSUS 2020 

 

Time is running out to complete the 2020 Census! If you haven’t completed the 2020 Census yet, you can still respond online, by phone, or by mail until September 30. If a census taker comes to your home, please cooperate; the U.S. Census Bureau keeps your answers safe and confidential.  

Census results shape the future of communities, as census data informs how billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed for health clinics, school lunch programs, disaster recovery initiatives, and other critical programs and services for the next 10 years.  

Currently, Onslow County has a self-response rate of just 55.9 percent. You can help our community work toward a complete count by completing the census and encouraging those around you to do so as well. See 2020census.gov for more information. 

COLLEGE WORKSHOP  

On October 1 at 6 p.m., The College Foundation of North Carolina is offering a free 1-hour workshop on Making College Accessible and Affordable for families in Onslow County. Topics on the agenda include FAFSA, scholarships and residency.   

If interested, you can register at http://bit.ly/OnslowCFNC or contact Brittany Privott at Brittany.Privott@cfi.org for more information.   

SCHOOL EXPRESS  

The School Express program allows businesses in our area to partner with the school system by offering discounts to OCS employees. If you own a business and would like to offer a discount on your product or services to employees of Onslow County Schools, you can fill out the online participation form here: School Express Participation Form. A list of participating businesses will be sent out to the nearly 4,000 OCS employees. Discounts and offers are accepted on a rolling basis and our discount list will be updated periodically. If your offer has a set expiration date, please indicate that date in the form, otherwise it will remain on our list until you request to have it removed. Thank you for your support of Onslow County Schools! 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! Find the latest district news and updates below.  

HOLIDAY REMINDER 

 

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, there will be no school for students or staff on Monday, September 7. We would like to remind our families that the A/B Cohort days will not be adjusted for holidays or missed days of school. So, next week, we will see Cohort A students in person on Tuesday, all students will learn remotely on Wednesday, and we will see Cohort B for in-person instruction on Thursday and Friday.  

Have a safe and restful holiday weekend! 

SCHOOL NUTRITION INFORMATION  

Great news! OCS has been notified that the USDA summer nutrition program waiver allowing school systems to provide free meals has been extended until December 31. This means that until December 31, every school-age child 18 years or younger who lives in Onslow County will be eligible to receive meals while in school, or from any of our Student Nutrition Hub sites, at no cost. 

Meals will be available to students at their home school when they are on campus for in-person learning. On days when students are participating in remote learning and are not on campus, and for our students in the Onslow Virtual School, meals will be available for curbside pick-up during scheduled meal hours at the School Nutrition Hub sites. For state accountability purposes, a student ID must be shown for curbside meal pickup. 

You can find more information, including hub sites and pick-up times here: School Nutrition Information.  

OCS TOY ANNOUNCED 

 

Congratulations to Dr. Zadda Bazzy, the 2020-2021 Onslow County Schools Teacher of the Year!  

Dr. Bazzy, a music teacher at Queens Creek Elementary School, spent 19 years in education in Manatee County, Florida, before joining the staff at QCE in 2017.  

When it comes to teaching, Dr. Bazzy said she has found that a student-centered approach is the best way to ensure that students feel  empowered to take charge of their own learning. She said, “when teachers choose to relinquish their position as the ‘sage on the stage’ and transition to a ‘guide on the side,’ student engagement and higher order thinking increases dramatically.”  

One of the biggest challenges in her career, Dr. Bazzy said, was the transition to virtual instruction in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, she says she chooses to see obstacles as opportunities.  

“One can find unexpected blessings in these unprecedented times,” Bazzy said. “My students have developed digital literacy and digital citizenship skills, and I personally have grown as an educator more in the last few months than I have in the last several years.” 

Next, Dr. Bazzy will go on to compete at the regional level. Winners at the regional level will compete for North Carolina Teacher of the Year. 

CENSUS 2020 

The deadline to complete the 2020 Census is fast approaching, but it’s not too late! If you have not yet completed your census form, please do so by September 30. Your responses to the census could help bring millions of dollars’ worth of federal and state funding to Onslow County.  

Find out more about the census and how to respond at 2020census.gov! 

OCS ATHLETICS UPDATE 

Beginning September 7, a new set of OCS administrative guidelines regarding athletics will take effect. You can read a full list of new guidelines here: OCS Athletics Information.  

COLLEGE WORKSHOP 

On October 1 at 6 p.m., The College Foundation of North Carolina is offering a free 1-hour workshop on Making College Accessible and Affordable for families in Onslow County. Topics on the agenda include FAFSA, scholarships and residency.  

If interested, you can register at http://bit.ly/OnslowCFNC or contact Brittany Privott at Brittany.Privott@cfi.org for more information.  

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video from the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held on September 1 can be found here: News from the Board.

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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! Thank you for a great second week of the 2020-2021 school year. Read below for the latest district news and updates.  

COVID COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES 

The new academic year is underway, and we realize that you may have questions about what will happen if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at your child’s school. The following procedures have been developed to make sure families get the information they need. As circumstances develop and district staff review communication processes, these procedures may be subject to change.  

OCS will report suspected, presumptive, or positive cases of COVID-19 to the Onslow County Health Department and work with them for follow-up and contact tracing. If a person with COVID-19 was in an OCS facility while infectious, we will coordinate with local health officials to notify affected employees and families.    

Because of our obligation to protect the privacy of students and employees, the district cannot release specific information about a confirmed case. The names of the people affected, and other personally identifiable information, will be provided to public health officials in accordance with reporting requirements; however, this information will not be released to the public or the media.   

Under current procedures, unless a positive COVID-19 case results in a significant disruption of a campus’ ability to safely operate or deliver instruction, only those identified as close contacts will be notified.   

These guidelines, as well as other important information regarding COVID-19, can be found in the OCS Return-to-Learn Parent Guide on the district website. 

SCHOOL NUTRITION INFORMATION 

Monday, August 31 will be the last day that meals will be available to children free of charge. Beginning Tuesday, September 1, families who do not receive meal benefits should be prepared to pay full price for any meals. Families, regardless of meal benefit status, should also be prepared to show their student’s OCS ID badge/card at point-of-pick-up.  

Carry-over meal benefit status from last school year will expire on September 28. To begin receiving meal benefits or prevent a lapse in coverage, please complete and submit your application as soon as possible.   

Meals will be available to students at their home school when they are on campus for in-person learning. On days when students are participating in remote learning and are not on campus, meals will be available for curbside pickup by students or parents at a School Nutrition Hub site. For details regarding hub sites and pickup times, please see the OCS website here: Student Nutrition Updates. 

Cash payments will not be accepted at nutrition hub sites, so all families are encouraged to take advantage of our online K12PaymentCenter service. 

TECC BEST OF THE BEST 

 

Thompson Early Childhood Center is in the running to be named the best preschool in the area in the Jacksonville Daily News Best of the Best competition! 

Head over to www.jdnews.com to cast your vote and show your love for TECC!  

BOE MEETING SEPTEMBER 1 

On Tuesday, September 1, the Onslow County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.  

Due to COVID-19, the number of participants present in the meeting room will be limited. Face coverings will be required. A monitor will also be available at the Regional Skills Center for viewing.  

A sign-up sheet will be available in the lobby of the Skills Center for those wishing to address the Board during either comment period of the regular meeting. If space is not available in the meeting room, speakers will be individually granted access to address the Board at the appropriate time.  

Agenda items for the meeting include a Census moment, a scholarship report, and a Return-to-Learn update.  

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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

OCS Families, 

We would like to thank all our students, staff, and families for a great opening to the 2020-2021 academic year. After five months away from the classrooms, it was exciting to see students back at our schools! With the successful conclusion of our first week, we hope everyone has a better feel for our new schedule. 

District and school staff will be taking a close look at what has worked well, and what still needs to be improved, as we refine our processes and procedures. Moving ahead with this new school year, the health and well-being of our OCS school community will continue to be our number one priority. We will remain focused on taking the extra steps necessary to ensure the safety of our students and staff.   

We appreciate your support, flexibility and understanding. Have a great weekend and be sure to check out the rest of this latest edition of the OCS Weekly Update. 

 

STUDENT NUTRITION INFORMATION 

 

Through a waiver from the USDA, OCS will continue to provide meals free of charge for all students through August 31. The current waiver expires at that time. Beginning September 1, parents of students who do not receive meal benefits should be prepared to pay full price for any meals.  

Meals will be available to students at their home school when they are on campus for in-person learning. On days when students are participating in remote learning and are not on campus, meals will be available at School Nutrition Hub sites.  

You can find more information about Student Nutrition procedures for 2020-2021 here: Student Nutrition Updates.  

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

 

Onslow County Schools is hiring bus drivers for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications for the August 25-27 driver class are due no later than Friday, August 21. You can find more information on the application process here: OCS Bus Driver Classes.

CONTACT INFORMATION 

In order to stay up to date on the latest news and updates from the district, 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