Hello, OCS Family! 

At its meeting on Tuesday, October 5, the Onslow County Board of Education voted to continue current COVID-19 protocols and practices for the month of October. We appreciate all our staff  and families for continuing to do their part in helping the district maintain the in-person instruction our students need.  

Read below for more district news and updates.  

WORKDAY REMINDER 

 

Monday, October 11 is a teacher workday, so there will be no school for students. We look forward to welcoming you all back on Tuesday! 

ACCOUNTABILITY HIGHLIGHTS 

Recently released results from state testing for the 2020-2021 school year demonstrate the immense challenges educators across the state have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. OCS students have been impacted by not only COVID-19, but the effects of Hurricane Florence, as well.

Despite the many challenges over the past year, leadership from the Board of Education and Superintendent have kept our focus on in-person instruction.  

Although the US Department of Education waived accountability requirements for the state due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, school systems were still held to participation requirements. OCS assessed over 95% of our students, which was above the participation rate for the state. 

OCS also trended above the state in most measured areas, including Math 1, Biology, English 2, Reading in grades 3-8, and Science in grades 5 and 8. The district also exceeded the state 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate (OCS 89.4%; NC 86.9%), percentage of students achieving Silver or higher on WorkKeys (OCS 64%; NC 63.3%), and percentage of students meeting the ACT benchmark (OCS 57.6%; NC 55.2%). 

Recovering from the learning loss our students have experienced over the past year will be a process. The district will work toward recovery by focusing on strong core instruction through professional development and the implementation of instructional programming.  

Thank you to our staff and students for persevering and working hard to ensure instruction remains our top priority! 

EDULOG TRANSPORATION APP 

 

If your child uses school transportation, be sure to download the Edulog Bus Transportation Parent Portal App! The app is the easiest way to stay up to date on any bus routes or drop-off/pickup times.  

Learn more about the app on the OCS website: School Transportation Information. 

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held October 25-29. To be included in this class, apply by Friday, October 15 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video of the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held October 5 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!

We would like to thank you all for your support and patience as we have all worked together to implement new COVID-19 protocols in our schools. We are excited to share with you that your efforts are making a difference and that our number of students excluded due to COVID-19 exposure at school is heading in the right direction. With your continued support and diligence, we can continue to provide the in-person instruction our students need.  

Below, you can find other district news and updates. 

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF 

 

Thursday, September 30 was the official kickoff for the 2021-2022 Onslow County Schools United Way campaign!  

Administrators and United Way coordinators from across the county gathered that day to celebrate the contributions OCS made to United Way last year and to prepare for the new campaign. 

OCS serves as the largest donor to United Way, providing nearly $130,000 of needed funding for services and opportunities for families in our community just last year. In fact, earlier in September, United Way awarded OCS a “Circle of Excellence” award for its support. OCS district campaign coordinator Francine Hall was also named the countywide United Way coordinator of the year for her efforts in collecting donations during the challenging 2020-2021 school year.  

Last year, eight schools in Onslow County achieved 100 percent participation in the United Way campaign: Dixon Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Northside High, Northwoods Park Middle, Onslow County Learning Center, Onslow Early College, Southwest Middle, and Stateside Elementary. The schools at each grade level with the highest per-employee contribution were Heritage Elementary, Jacksonville Commons Middle, and Richlands High. 

Thank you to all who contribute to the OCS United Way campaign! You all make a difference in our community. If you are a district employee and want to contribute to the 2021-2022 campaign, please see your school or department United Way coordinator to learn more.  

FAFSA NOW OPEN 

Today is the day! The Free Application for Federal Student aid is now open for the 2022-2023 school year.  

We encourage families preparing for post-secondary education to visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more about FAFSA and how to apply for their share of billions of dollars in available student aid.  

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held October 11-15. To be included in this class, apply by Friday, October 1 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

Another class will be held October 25-29. For this class, please apply by Friday, October 15.  

EMPLOYEMENT INFORMATION SESSION 

 

Are you interested in working for Onslow County Schools as a custodian, school nutrition assistant or bus driver?  

A virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, October 26 at 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required to attend; you can register at http://bit.ly/ocsemployment.  

BOE MEETING OCTOBER 5 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, October 5 at 6 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include COVID-19 protocols and practices and 2020-2021 accountability performance results.  

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! Below, you will find the latest district news and updates.  

FAFSA OPENS OCTOBER 1 

We would like to remind our students and families who are preparing for post-secondary education that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens next week, on October 1! 

Those who are currently planning for college can also check out the Future-Focused Families website for a schedule of upcoming college information sessions, as well as recordings from past sessions you may have missed. Events coming up in October include discussions on paying for college, virtual college fairs, and more. All of this can be found on the OCS website: Future-Focused Families. 

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held October 11-15. To be included in this class, apply by Friday, October 1 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION SESSION 

 

Are you interested in working for Onslow County Schools as a custodian, school nutrition assistant or bus driver?  

A virtual information session on employment at OCS will be held on Tuesday, October 26 at 5 p.m. District representatives will share the steps to becoming employed by the school system.  

Pre-registration is required to attend; you can register at http://bit.ly/ocsemployment.  

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, in 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! Read below for all the latest district news and updates.  

OCS WELCOMES HOME 24TH MEU

 

This week, OCS is honoring those from our community who serve our country. 

Elements of the 24th MEU, a Marine unit from Camp Lejeune, began returning home this week.  The unit was called into Afghanistan to help with the recent evacuation effort. Onslow County Schools welcomes home the 24th MEU and thanks them for their service.   

If you drive by the OCS Central Office in the coming days, let the yellow ribbons on the trees out front serve as a reminder of the sacrifices those in our armed forces make for our freedom.  

OCLC CELEBRATES MENAC RELATIONSHIP 

 

The Onslow County Learning Center provides at-risk students with opportunities to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. The school’s mission cannot be accomplished alone. For 10 years now, OCLC has had a relationship with MENAC, Inc., an Onslow County nonprofit, which aims to provide mentorship to those in need.  

OCLC Director Felecia Walton said, “During weekly mentoring meetings at OCLC, students are coached on life skills, goal setting, good citizenship, how to get a job, and how to best present themselves... 

“You can tell when MENAC is on campus; the sights and sounds of camaraderie and building of partnerships are evident between our middle and high school students and the mentors.” 

According to Ms. Walton, MENAC is providing a beneficial service to the youth in our community and has gone above and beyond to make themselves available to students and their families.  

Thank you, MENAC, for your partnership and the mentorship you provide students in Onslow County! 

MARCHING BAND SHOWCASE 

 

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS  

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held September 27-October 1. To be included in this class, apply by Friday, September 17 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.   

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! Check out the latest district news and updates below.  

OCS TEACHER OF THE YEAR 

 

Chelsea D’Zurilla, an exceptional children teacher at Southwest High School, has been named the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year by Onslow County Schools.  

Superintendent Dr. Barry Collins and a group of district leaders surprised D’Zurilla with the news at her school on Friday, September 10.  

D’Zurilla has been making her mark as an EC teacher at SWHS since 2015 and has served as the EC department chair since 2017.  

In her classroom, D’Zurilla likes to focus on making a lasting impact on her students. As the teacher of students who often struggle with feeling intimidated by academics, she sees it as her duty to instill confidence and resilience.  

Through teaching a dedication to community service and focusing on the positive growth students have experienced over the last few challenging years, D’Zurilla hopes to change the way students think of their futures. She said she wants to show them that they can be the exception to what may be considered the norm and use their power for good.  

Congratulations, Mrs. D’Zurilla, and thank you for all you do! 

COVID-19 REMINDER 

Earlier this week, the OCS Board of Education approved an update to the district’s COVID-19 protocols.

The approved changes will require face coverings for all staff, all students, and all visitors when indoors on all OCS school campuses. This change is to be fully implemented by Monday, September 13. The decision requiring face coverings comes in an effort to maintain in-person instruction as the number of students excluded from school due to close contact quarantines has increased. With some exceptions for extracurricular and athletic settings, students identified as close contacts do not have to quarantine if, during the exposure, both individuals were appropriately masked.  

Quarantine time for individuals identified as closed contacts has been amended to a minimum of 10 days symptom-free, without COVID-19 testing. Individuals identified as close contacts may return to school following this period of quarantine, provided no symptoms have been reported during that time.  

More information on these changes and current district COVID numbers can be found on the OCS website: OCS COVID-19 Information. 

FUTURE-FOCUSED FAMILIES 

 

In collaboration with the College Foundation of North Carolina and local partners, the OCS division of College and Career Readiness invites all high school students and families to virtual monthly meetings to discuss planning for post-secondary education.  

The next session, called “Competitive Scholarships and Honors College Programs,” will be held Tuesday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. You can register at https://bit.ly/3mjyGOV.  

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held September 27-October 1. To be included in this class, apply by Friday, September 17 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

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! Read below for the latest district news and updates.  

COVID-19 REMINDER 

As the school year continues, please remember that staying home when sick, wearing face coverings and getting vaccinated are important parts of maintaining in-person instruction. With some exceptions for extracurricular and athletic settings, according to both the NC StrongSchools Toolkit and current board-approved OCS protocols, students identified as close contacts do not have to quarantine if, during the exposure, both individuals were appropriately masked.  

COVID vaccinations can also help reduce the number of staff and student close-contact exclusions. Vaccines are readily available at the health department and many other locations across our county. Health officials strongly encourage vaccination for those eligible, as a strong line of defense against the delta variant. The same NC StrongSchools Toolkit and current board-approved OCS protocols state that individuals identified as close contacts of someone who is COVID positive do not have to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated and remain asymptomatic.  

All current, approved OCS COVID-19 protocols can be found on the district website: OCS COVID Protocols. 

Thank you for continuing to do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and maintain in-person instruction for our students.  

HOLIDAY REMINDER 

 

We would like to remind our families that, in observance of the Labor Day holiday, Onslow County Schools will be closed on Monday, September 6.  

Have a safe and restful holiday weekend. We will see you Tuesday! 

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held September 13-17. To be included in this class, apply by September 3 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

Another class will be held September 27-October 1. The deadline for that class will be Friday, September 17.  

BOE MEETING SEPTEMBER 7 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 7 at 6 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include COVID-19 protocols and practices, a Clyde Erwin Elementary Magnet update, and the 2022-2023 OCS Calendar.  

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. (Enter Public Site).   

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 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! Catch up on all the latest district news and announcements below.  

WELCOME BACK! 

 

We would like to thank all of our staff and students for a successful start to the 2021-2022 school year! It was wonderful to see students back in our buildings, ready to take on a new year full of new opportunities.  

As we move forward in the new year, please remember to stay home if you are sick, follow all quarantine and testing guidelines, and continue to take the precautions necessary to keep our school community safe and healthy.  

The latest OCS COVID-19 Protocols can be found on the district website: OCS COVID Protocols.  

FUTURE-FOCUSED FAMILIES 

In collaboration with the College Foundation of North Carolina and local partners, the OCS division of College and Career Readiness invites all high school students and families to virtual monthly meet-up sessions known as “Future-Focused Families.”  

Topics will help guide families plan for enrolling, enlisting, and employment after high school. While the content may be most beneficial to high school seniors and their families, all are welcome and encouraged to attend one or all sessions. 

The first virtual session, called Into the Unknown, will explore NC Careers and CFNC resources, focusing on how to use these tools to plan for the future. This session will be held Thursday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m. Register for the online event here: Future-Focused Families Registration. 

RURAL TEACHER NETWORK 

This month, the first cohort of the Public School Forum of North Carolina’s newly launched Rural Teacher Leader Network met. The network is designed to bring together diverse groups of educators across North Carolina who seek to strengthen their practice, foster community with teacher leaders from other rural districts and develop their own leadership capacity in order to guide other teachers in their schools. The network aims to create a strong and lasting community of rural educators with a focus on equity, trauma-informed practice, global education, and teacher leadership. 

OCS is proud to have 10 of our teachers participating in this networking opportunity. Thank you to all the teachers who are representing Onslow County! 

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held September 13-17. To be included in this class, apply by September 3 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver. 

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! We hope you enjoy your last bit of summer! Read below for the latest district news and updates.  

SCHOOL STARTS MONDAY! 

 

Schools on the traditional calendar will welcome students back on Monday, August 23! We will see our preschool families one week later on Monday, August 30.  

OCS STRONGLY RECOMMENDS FACE COVERINGS

Information from the Onslow County Health Department (OCHD) and Onslow Memorial Hospital indicate a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Onslow County. Unfortunately, this increase aligns with the start of the new school year.

Based on this increase in case numbers, input from the Onslow County Health Director, and to better protect the health and safety of our school community, OCS strongly recommends the wearing of face covers by all staff, students, and visitors inside any OCS facility until further notice.

NCDHHS and the current OCS COVID-19 Protocols and Practices do not require quarantine after exposure to a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 if both individuals were masked during the exposure. Wearing face covers will help us better maintain in person learning and reduce quarantine exclusions from school.

Face coverings will still be mandatory for passengers using OCS transportation as required by Centers for Disease Control Order.

OCS, OCHD and Onslow County Government officials will continue to monitor the county’s COVID case numbers as school resumes on Monday. Based on our current protocols, the superintendent may take additional steps, including the required use of face coverings and/or other measures for an individual school or schools to reduce COVID transmission.

Here are some other important things to keep in mind:

• Onslow County Virtual Schools are not open to new enrollments.
• Health officials encourage all eligible persons to get vaccinated.
• All middle and high school students will adhere to the NCHSAA’s rules and regulations. When competing outside Onslow County, athletic teams will comply with the home team’s face covering requirements.

The full set of protocols, including quarantine and exclusion procedures, can be found on the OCS website: 2021-2022 COVID-19 Protocols.  

SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE 

Greetings, 

This past school year was a challenge for our entire community. The move to cohorts and expanded virtual learning disrupted schedules, increased stress on families and school staff, and changed the way many students interacted with their friends and classmates. 

On behalf of the Onslow County Board of Education and all our administrators, teachers and staff, I would like to thank everyone for their support over the past year. 

As the children come back to our school buildings, know that we are committed to providing an inviting and secure learning environment for all our students and staff, refocusing on instruction, and increasing support for our students as we all work together to get back on track. 

OCS is proud to be your public school system. We are also proud of our dedicated and hard-working staff who serve over 26,000 students each day, the outstanding people who transport, feed, teach and support the most important resource in our community – our children. 

The dedicated team of professionals at OCS are here to serve the children of Onslow County. Together, we will get back on track, and together we will have a great school year. 

Thank you, and God bless, 
Dr. Barry D. Collins,  
Superintendent 

SCHOOL NUTRITION INFORMATION 

 

Ahead of the new year, we would like to remind our families that, through a waiver from the USDA, OCS will continue to provide meals free of charge for all students through June 2022.  

While meals will be free this year, families can still apply for meal benefits to receive access to other benefits, including college application fee waivers, discounted testing fees, and more. You can apply for meal benefits online at www.lunchapplication.com. Paper applications, which can be found on the school nutrition website, can be printed and returned to the school or sent directly to the School Nutrition office at P.O. Box 99 Jacksonville, NC 28540. Please contact the OCS School Nutrition office with further questions.  

Other important school nutrition information, including menus, prepayment options, and more, can be found on the department website: School Nutrition. 

SCHOOL CASH ONLINE 

Did you know you can pay school fees online? 

Through School Cash Online, parents can pay registration fees, course fees, field trips, yearbooks, spirit wear, athletic fees and more! This service does not replace the current system in place to prepay for your student’s meal accounts.  

You can register for School Cash Online now at https://onslow.schoolcashonline.com/.

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held September 13-17. To be included in this class, apply by September 3 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver. 

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 all the latest district news.  

2021-2022 COVID-19 PROTOCOLS 

In its meeting on Tuesday, August 10, the Onslow County Board of Education approved COVID-19 protocols for the 2021-2022 school year.  

Here is a summary of what was decided: 

• Face coverings in schools will not be mandatory. Individuals can wear face coverings, if they choose. 
• Face coverings will be mandatory for passengers using OCS transportation as required by Centers for Disease Control Order. 
• Onslow County Virtual Schools are not open to new enrollments. 
• Health officials encourage all eligible persons to get vaccinated.  
• All middle and high school athletes will adhere to the NCHSAA’s rules and regulations. When competing outside Onslow County, athletic teams will comply with the home team’s face covering requirements.  

The full set of approved protocols, including quarantine and exclusion procedures, can be found on the OCS website: OCS Reopening Information.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES 

 

Remember that back-to-school resources, including supply lists, open house dates, and quick links to helpful information are all available on the OCS website: 2021-2022 Back-to-School Information.

We look forward to seeing our students on the traditional school calendar on Monday, August 23 and our preschool families on Monday, August 30! 

OCS RETIREMENT RECEPTION 

 

Earlier this week, OCS took the time to recognize and thank a group of people who have made a great difference in the lives of Onslow County children: OCS retirees.  

Retirees from 2021 gathered at Southwest High School for an afternoon of fellowship as district leaders thanked them for their dedication to OCS.  

Thank you, retirees, for all you have contributed to OCS over the years! 

FIRST YEAR TEACHER TRAINING

 

This week, OCS' newest teachers began their journeys with the district at First-Year Teacher Training. This annual, 3-day training session allows those new to education to receive an introduction to the district and its practices ahead of the return of all the district's teachers. 

Thank you, first-year teachers and OCS instructional staff, for all the preparations you have made to welcome students back for the 2021-2022 school year!

OCPL BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR CANCELED 

As we shared with you last week, the Onslow County Public Library had planned to host a back-to-school fair this Saturday, August 14. Unfortunately, this event has been canceled. Please stay tuned for future events and opportunities to receive educational resources.  

NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary and video of the Onslow County Board of Education meeting held August 10 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! We hope you are enjoying your last weeks of summer! As a reminder, today was the last day of summer meal service at all sites. We look forward to resuming food service for students when school starts back on August 23.  

COASTAL ELEMENTARY DEDICATION 

 

On Thursday, elected officials and members of the community gathered to celebrate the opening of Coastal Elementary School in Holly Ridge.  

Coastal Elementary will be the district’s 21st elementary school and 40th physical facility. The school will address overcrowding at Dixon Elementary and can house approximately 850 students.  

Also dedicated on Thursday, was the school’s media center, which has been named Pamela E. Thomas Media Center in honor of the late Onslow County Board of Education Chair Pam Thomas.  

We look forward to filling this school with students on August 23! 

BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES 

 

Back-to-school information and resources for the 2021-2022 academic year are now available on the OCS website at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/backtoschool2021.  

Here you can find school supply lists, open house dates and times, as well as quick links to useful back-to-school resources.  

OCS HIRING BUS DRIVERS 

 

OCS is hiring bus drivers! Starting pay for drivers is $15 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 driver class will be held August 23-27. To be included in this class, apply by August 13 at www.onslow.k12.nc.us/busdriver.  

OCPL BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR 

The Onslow County Public Library will be hosting a back-to-school fair for families on Saturday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library’s main branch in Jacksonville.  

Students interested in learning more about college can speak with representatives from the College Foundation of NC, who can provide information on scholarships, FAFSA, and more.  

 

BOE MEETING AUGUST 10 

The regular monthly meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 10 at 6 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items include the Local School Mental Health Plan, COVID-19 protocols for 2021-2022, and Elementary Literacy and CKLA Implementation.  

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. (Enter Public Site).  

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