FROM THE PRINCIPAL   

February 2008

Dear OHS Family, It maybe difficult to believe but the 2007-2008 school year is already more then half over! In just three months, seniors will prepare themselves for myriad activities culminating in graduation (June 5, 2008). Students in all grades, most especially those in grades nine and ten, will prepare to take the High School Assessments. We are already planning for 2008-2009 academic year. In fact, students have been selecting courses for next year. The registration process continues for a while longer. Ask your son or daughter about the courses they are choosing. Included in this newsletter, is some important information about activities of interest to you and your student. You will also find some of this information on our web site at http://schools.bcps.org/schools/chs/overlea/ Preparation for the HSA administration is of the utmost importance. If your child is in Algebra I, Government, Biology or English 10, he or she must take the HSA’s when they are given in May. The Maryland State Department of Education requires all diploma bound students entering high school in 2005 and after, to pass each assessment in order to meet graduation requirements. There is a possibility some students can still meet these requirements if they do not pass all assessments. Students must achieve very high scores on two or three assessments to reach a combined score of 1602. For more specific information about the HSA’s, visit the Maryland Department of Education web site. Information about HSA’s and how to access the state’s web site are also on the OHS web site. Students who have failed one of more HSA’s will have multiple opportunities to get additional assistance. Overlea High School will provide several intervention programs to prepare students for the HSA’s. We have:

• Semester courses in Algebra I, Government, Biology, English 10 to which some students are assigned during the school day.
• Beginning in April, after school and Saturday HSA sessions will be available. Students should attend one or both programs, depending on how many assessments they need to pass.
• Some teachers also hold weekly coach classes for students currently enrolled in Algebra I, Government, Biology and English 10 to provide additional support and help students master subject content taught in class.