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Parents, Guardians, and Students:

OTHS Homecoming Week will take place September 21-26, 2026. In preparation for a full week of activities, please review the important reminders below:

Homecoming Shirt Sales 

• Homecoming shirts are pre-order only.

• To place an order, visit https://omella.com/9fn3y or go to www.oths.us/homecoming 

• Order deadline: September 1, 2026

Homecoming Dance Reservation Sales

• Reservation sales will be open August 31- September 24, 2026 at www.oths.us/homecomig 

• Outstanding fees must be paid before purchasing a reservation, per the Student Handbook.

• To check and pay fees, log into your Skyward account and select “Fee Management” or visit the District Office.

Dance Reservation Sale Phases

Dance reservations will be sold in four phases. To be eligible to purchase during a given phase, all outstanding fees must be paid by 3:00 PM on the Friday prior to the start of that phase.

Example: To purchase a reservation on Monday September 7, fees must be paid by 3:00 PM on Friday September 4.

Guest Forms 

If an OTHS student wishes to bring a non-OTHS guest to the Homecoming Dance, a Guest Form must be completed in advance and submitted to the student’s Assistant Principal. All guest reservations should be purchased in the same transaction as the OTHS host reservation. 

Guest Forms are available now at: 

• www.oths.us/homecoming 

• Outside Smiley room 206

• Milburn Main Office 

   

Additional Homecoming Information

All details about Homecoming Week—including Student Car Show Applications, Court Nomination Dates, Bash details, Parade information, Dress-Up Days, Shirt Sales, and Reservation guidelines—are available on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document at:

www.oths.us/homecoming 

If you have additional questions, please contact stuco@oths.us

⭐We are excited to invite you to OTHS Parent Connects Open House Night on Tuesday, August 18 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at both OTHS Smiley and Milburn campuses.

📣Parent Connects Night includes presentations from the Counseling Department, an Activity Fair to showcase OTHS clubs and activities, and an Open House Meet & Greet to give parents and teachers the opportunity to meet.

👍More details and a full schedule of events are below!

OTHS Parent Connects Open House Night is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at both OTHS Smiley and Milburn campuses.  See below for details of the event:

Parent Connects Night includes presentations from the Counseling Department, an Activity Fair to showcase OTHS clubs and activities, and an Open House Meet & Greet to give parents and teachers the opportunity to meet.

MILBURN SCHEDULE

5:30pm-7:00pm – Activity Fair

5:30pm-6:00pm - Driver Ed Parent Presentation

6:00pm-6:30pm – Grade Level Presentation – Freshmen

6:30pm-7:30pm – Open House Meet & Greet

SMILEY SCHEDULE

5:30pm-6:00pm – Dual Credit Presentation

5:30pm-6:00pm - Financial Aid Presentation

6:00pm-6:30pm – Grade Level Presentations – Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors

6:30pm-7:30pm – Open House Meet & Greet

SESSION INFORMATION

• Activity Fair – 60+ OTHS clubs and activities will be on display in the Milburn Cafeteria for parents to browse and see what OTHS offers.

• Driver Ed Presentation – ​OTHS Driver Education teachers will present important information for any parents of freshmen currently enrolled in 1st quarter Driver’s Ed.

• Dual Credit Presentation - OTHS School Counselors will present three programs offered at OTHS that allow students to earn college credit while enrolled in high school coursework.

• Financial Aid Presentation – A representative from SWIC will present on financial aid options for students planning to attend college.

• Grade Level Presentations – OTHS School Counselors and Social Workers will share important information relevant to each specific grade level.
  • Locations:
  • Freshmen - Milburn Auditorium
  • Sophomores - Smiley Multi-Purpose Room
  • Juniors - Smiley Panther Center

  • Seniors - Smiley IMC

Week 1 and our students are already learning the life skills that will help make them better. Every OTHS student is learning CPR. Putting their skills to the test, our Physical Education teachers guide them on the ABC’s of saving a life. It’s a great day to be a Panther.

Just another example of our staff Elevating Every Student!

OTHS Students and Families,

We hope you are having a wonderful first week of school at OTHS! With fall athletic events beginning this week, we want to remind all students and guests of our event policy and spectator guidelines. This policy can also be found in the student handbook (available on the OTHS webpage). Please review the information below, and we hope to see you cheering on the Panthers at OTHS events this year!

General Rules

1. Only students from OTHS and the opposing school are allowed to attend the games/events by themselves with a Student ID. Students are to watch the games/events from their respective school’s side or designated location.
2. All attendees should be prepared to show IDs to school/security personnel.
3. Students from non-participating schools will be admitted with a parent/guardian. They will not be admitted by themselves.
4. Jr. High/Middle School/Elementary students will only be admitted with a parent/guardian, and must remain in the company of that parent/guardian throughout the event.
5. Backpacks and bags are strictly prohibited. Any necessary bags are subject to search by school/security personnel.

Students

1. Once in the stadium/gymnasium, students should find a seat.
2. There is no re-entry for students who leave the game/event.
3. Students should follow the directions of all staff and security at the game.
4. Students must have timely transportation at the end of the games/events

Event Conduct

1. The School District expects mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among all people on school property or at a school event. 
2. No person on school property or at a school event shall threaten, harass, intimidate, or use profane language toward an employee, student, Board Member, sports official, or any other person. 
3. Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by Board Policy 8:30 may be ejected from school property and may be denied future access to school buildings and/or events.

 GO PANTHERS!

“Take chances, make mistakes… but KNOW YOUR BUS!”

Ms. Frizzle has officially arrived at OTHS!

As we get ready to hit the road for a new school year, we want to make sure our Panther families have the latest bus information at their fingertips.

Bus Locator

How to Track Your Student’s Bus

Important Bus Information & Resources

Before you send your Panther off on their next great adventure, take a quick trip to our website!

www.oths.us/businfo

So buckle up, Panthers… it’s going to be an AMAZING year!

OTHS Students and Families, 

All of us at OTHS are looking forward to the first day of school on August 11th! Please see the attached Back-to-School Newsletter. Highlights include back-to-school reminders, the class schedule for the August 11th early release day, and upcoming events. 

26-27 Back to School Newsletter 

We can't wait to see you, Panthers!

Dr. Beth Shackelford, Superintendent

It's almost time for another great school year to begin at OTHS! We welcome students and families to visit us next week during our building walk-through hours and back-to-school events. 

Walk-through information:

Walk-throughs at both campuses will be held as follows:

• Monday, August 3 - 12:00pm-7:00pm

• Tuesday, August 4 - 7:30am-2:30pm

• Wednesday, August 5 - 12:00pm-7:00pm

• Thursday, August 6 - 7:30am-2:30pm

Services available include:

• Unofficial building tours: Students may walk the building to locate their lockers and classrooms.

        Note: Students must provide their own combination lock for their locker.

• Student IDs: Returning students may pick up their 2026–2027 school ID at the Security Desk. Incoming freshmen will have their photos taken during freshman orientation. Any new student who still needs an ID photo may have one taken at the Security Desk, including any freshman students who are unable to attend freshman orientation.

• Schedule changes: The school counseling office will be open for students to meet with a school counselor regarding schedule changes for the fall semester (Tuesday through Thursday only). 

        Note: Students may not request changes to lunch hours, teacher assignments, or the order of their schedule. 

• Fee payments: Fees may be paid in the district office at Smiley, main office at Milburn, or online via Skyward.

• Electronic device checkout: Devices may be checked out through the computer department.

Freshman Orientation:

Freshman Orientation for the OTHS Class of 2030 will be held Monday, August 3^rd at the Milburn campus. Please see the schedule below:

• Last names A-G: 12:00pm-2:00pm

• Last names H-O: 2:30pm-4:30pm

• Last names P-Z: 5:00pm-7:00pm

      Note: All incoming freshmen and parents are encouraged to attend. Students will receive their schedule, have their ID picture taken, receive a Chromebook, and participate in a     tour of the campus. Please complete the online registration process prior to attending to ensure your student can receive a school-issued Chromebook at the event.

Sophomore Walka-Palooza:

Sophomore Walka-Palooza for the OTHS Class of 2029 will be held on Wednesday, August 5^th at the Smiley campus between the hours of 12:00pm and 7:00pm.

• Participating students will receive a complimentary gift courtesy of the OTHS Student Council. 

• Students who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize.

   

Fall Sports Meeting: All students interested in Fall Sports should plan to attend the Fall Sports Meeting. The meeting will be held Sunday, August 2^nd at 6pm in the Panther Dome at the Smiley campus. For more information on the athletic program, visit https://www.othsathletics.us/. 

Registration: If you have not registered for the 2026-2027 school year, registration information can be found here: https://www.oths.us/district-info/student-registration

Parking Passes: Parking passes for the 2026-2027 school year will go on sale at 8:30 am Monday, August 3^rd  for seniors with all fees paid, and at 8:30am Tuesday, August 4^th for juniors with all fees paid. More information, including the link to purchase, can be found here: https://www.oths.us/students/parking-pass-information

First Day of School: The first day of school is Tuesday, August 11^th for all students. August 11^th is an early release day. Students will run through a shortened schedule and lunches will not be served. Milburn will dismiss at 11:30am and Smiley will dismiss at 12pm. 

We can't wait to see you, Panthers!

Due to service issues with Skyward, OTHS will be modifying the schedule for parking pass sales as follows:

Phase 1 (seniors only): Thursday 7/23 at 8:30 am. To be eligible, fees must be paid by3:30 pm on Wednesday 7/22.

Phase 2 (juniors and seniors): Monday 7/27 at 8:30 am. To be eligible, fees must be paid by 3:30 pm on Friday 7/24.

Parking passes will still be available for pickup during the walk-through dates in August. Please see the parking pass information on our website for more details.

If Skyward services remain unavailable, we will make additional adjustments to the parking pass sales timeline and communicate any changes as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Dear 9^th Grade Students and Families,

Fall semester schedules will be available for viewing in Skyward beginning Monday, July 20.

The Skyward login link has changed. To access your Skyward Family Access account, please visit www.oths.us and select the Skyward link from the homepage. If you saved the email sent on April 28 containing your Login ID and temporary password, please note that the Skyward login link included in that email is no longer valid.

If you need assistance accessing your account, please contact the OTHS Computer Department at ComputerDepartment@oths.us.

• Students may access their fall semester schedule using their Skyward account. Printed schedules will not be distributed. We recommend using the desktop version of Skyward to view schedules.
• Please note that schedules are subject to change prior to the first day of school. Students should refer to Skyward on Monday, August 10 for the final version of their schedule.

Freshman Orientation and Schedule Changes

We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2030 to Milburn Campus!

Freshman Orientation

• Monday, August 3
• 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Students should attend their assigned session based on their last name:

• A–G: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• H–O: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
• P–Z: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

During Freshman Orientation, students will:

• Receive their class schedule
• Have their student ID photo taken
• Pick up their Chromebook and student ID
• Become familiar with Milburn Campus before the first day of school

Students and families may also meet with a school counselor during Freshman Orientation to request schedule changes. Students will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are unable to attend Freshman Orientation, schedule changes may also be requested during the following walk-through dates:

• Tuesday, August 4 | 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM
• Wednesday, August 5 | 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Thursday, August 6 | 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Students attending on these dates may also:

• Take their ID photo (if not already completed)
• Pick up their Chromebook and student ID (if needed)
• Walk through the building to locate classrooms and lockers

Schedule changes may also be requested by email at schedulechange@oths.us. All fall schedule change requests must be submitted prior to the first day of student attendance on Tuesday, August 11.

Before requesting a schedule change, please review the OTHS Curriculum Guide for course descriptions, grade-level recommendations, and prerequisites.

The following schedule change requests are not permitted:

• Requests to change lunch or advisory periods
• Requests to change or add a specific teacher
• Requests to change or rearrange the hours of scheduled courses

We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2030 to OTHS and wish everyone a great start to the school year!

Sincerely,

OTHS School Counseling Office

OTHS Students and Families, 

Online registration through your District 203 Skyward Family Access account is now active. Please visit the OTHS website for information regarding registration, building walk-through days, fee payment, IDs, electronic devices, etc. The registration page link is as follows: https://www.oths.us/district-info/student-registration

As a reminder to juniors and seniors, registration fees must be paid before students will be eligible to purchase a parking pass. More information about parking including eligibility requirements and timelines can be found here: https://www.oths.us/students/parking-pass-information 

O'Fallon Township High School District  203 is currently working with Discovery Works Collaborative to conduct a random-sample telephone, text and online survey to gather community feedback about the future of our school facilities. 

Residents may be contacted as part of this important research effort. If you receive a phone call, text message or online survey invitation, please take a few minutes to participate.

Because this is a random-sample survey, not every resident will be contacted. The survey is designed to hear from a cross-section of the community, so the District can better understand community priorities and use that feedback to support future planning and community engagement.

💙💛🎓 The countdown is on! Join us as we celebrate the Class of 2026 at the OTHS Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 30th at 10:00 AM.

Families, friends, and community members can watch in person with a ticket and our online livestream by visiting: www.oths.us/graduation 

Congratulations to our graduates, we can’t wait to celebrate your accomplishments and bright futures! 💙💛

Today we celebrate our incredible School Speech Pathologists for the difference they make in the lives of our students every single day! Thank you for helping students find their voice, build confidence, and achieve success both inside and outside the classroom. Your dedication, patience, and compassion make our Panther family stronger!

🏅 Congratulations to our 2026 Scholar Athletes! 🏅

Today, we celebrate the incredible dedication, discipline, and hard work of our student-athletes who have achieved a 3.50 cumulative GPA from the start of high school through the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year.

These students continue to prove that excellence happens both in the classroom and in competition. We are proud of the commitment they show every day as they represent our school with pride, leadership, and determination.

👏 Congratulations on this outstanding achievement! 👏

See the Full List Here

Attention OTHS parents and guardians: please join us for our annual Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC) meeting Tuesday, May 12th, from 6:30-7:30pm in the Panther Center at the Smiley campus. We will discuss the 2026-2027 student handbook, special education, academic programming, and extracurricular programming. We look forward to seeing you there!

💙Today we celebrate the incredible school nurses who care for our students each and every day. From bandages and ice packs to compassion and comfort, our nurses do so much more than treat symptoms, they help keep our Panthers healthy, safe, and supported. 💪

Thank you, Nurse Becker, Nurse Kesting and Nurse Petty, for the countless ways you care for our students and staff. Happy School Nurse Appreciation Day! 💙🩺🍎

This week, we proudly celebrate the incredible educators who make a difference every single day at OTHS. 🍎💙

Thank you for the passion, patience, creativity, and care you pour into our students and school community. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom, helping shape confident learners, strong leaders, and compassionate people.

To all of our educators, thank you for inspiring, encouraging, and believing in our students every day.

We appreciate you not just this week, but all year long.

Today we celebrate an incredible leader, mentor, and advocate for our students—Mr. Howe!

On this Principal Appreciation Day, we want to thank you for your unwavering commitment to our Panther Community. Your leadership, positivity, and dedication to OTHS is inspiring every day.

From the big decisions to the everyday moments in the halls, your impact does not go unnoticed. OTHS is a better place because of you.

Thank you for all that you do, Mr. Howe!