November 4, 2025

Dear Onteora High School Families,

I hope that this letter finds everyone well. It is nice to see so many students taking advantage of the various opportunities that the high school offers. Congratulations to all of the student-athletes for having an amazing fall season.

Although we are sending our high school updates through ParentSquare, I would like to provide the following summary:

End of Quarter 1
The first marking period will officially end on Friday, November 7. We expect to have report cards ready and available on the student/parent portal by the end of the day on Thursday, November 13. Please note that the grading tab on the student/parent portal will be disabled at the end of the day on Friday, November 7, to allow teachers to record new grades and reconcile their gradebooks. This is necessary to ensure that only accurate grading information appears in the portal. If you are concerned about a specific grade/assessment, you can always reach out to the appropriate teacher.

Academic Support
As a reminder, many of our departments are offering after-school help sessions. These sessions can be found on our website under “Student Resources” or by selecting this link.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Registration
We have made a concerted effort to notify all AP students that they must register for AP Exams now. As per College Board policy, any late registrations will incur a $40 late fee. Any questions or concerns should be directed to Mrs. Turck at sturck@onteora.k12.ny.us.   

SAT Prep Sessions
Onteora High School is pleased to offer after school SAT review sessions. Students may attend any or all sessions to take practice tests and receive feedback. The sessions will be from 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM in room 120 and will focus on test strategy, improving test speed, and math and English skills. Students will work on sections of practice tests each time they attend. All questions will be reviewed and students will receive individual feedback. Additional supplemental materials will be provided for students to take home if they wish. The complete schedule can be found by on our website by selecting this link.

Junior & Senior Parent Meeting (Virtual): The Financial Aid Process
The Onteora High School's Counseling Department will host an online informational session about "The Financial Aid Process" for parents of juniors and seniors on Thursday, November 13, at 6 P.M. via Zoom. Advanced registration is required. Please email jperry@onteora.k12.ny.us by noon on 11/12 to receive the Zoom link. Additional information can be found at the post on our website or on ParentSquare.

Winter Sports
The winter sports season will begin on Monday, November 17, for high school students. Registration through ArbiterSports/FamilyID is now open. Please note that all student-athletes must be registered and cleared on ArbiterSports/FamilyID before they can participate in winter sports. Students may not register themselves, as a parent/guardian must complete the registration process. In order for a student to be eligible to begin tryouts and practices, the student must be cleared by our Medical Director. An updated physical must be on file. To request a school physical, please send an email to our school nurse, Sabrina Blakely, at sblakely@onteora.k12.ny.us.  Additional information can be found on the Athletic Department’s website.

Holiday Help Resources
We have compiled and published a list of holiday help resources available to Ulster County residents on our website.

Upcoming Calendar Events
November 6:               Early Dismissal at 2:20 P.M. [Countywide Emergency Evacuation Drill]
November 7:               End of Quarter 1
November 7:               Grading Tab on Student/Parent Portal will be disabled after school
November 11:             School Closed – Veterans Day
November 12:             Student Picture Make-up Day
November 13:             Quarter 1 Report Cards Available
November 17:             JV/V Winter Sports Season Begins
November 20:             SEL Circles for Student in Grades 9 and 10
November 21:             All-State Area Music Festival for Band & Orchestra (11/21-11/22)
November 26:             School Closed – Thanksgiving Break
November 27:             School Closed/District Closed – Thanksgiving Break
November 28:             School Closed/District Closed – Thanksgiving Break

I look forward to providing an additional update as we approach the holiday season. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lance Edelman
High School Principal