42Fifty

The OH Floral Design team earned first place at the State competition this past weekend, highlighting the strength of the school’s career and technical education program and the dedication of students who chose to compete. “I think it shows that our investment in career and technology courses is where kids can learn skills that lead to careers after high school,” Floral Design Director Meegan McCarthy said. “In order to be eligible for the team, you have to have [taken the] Floral Design I [course] that shows you all the basic skills and things you need to know in order to be able to work in the shop.” Students must complete Floral Design I before trying out for the competition team to learn foundational techniques and shop skills. In the weeks leading up to State competition, team members participate in refresher training during class, after school, and whenever they are available to refine their designs and timing.

In light of recent events regarding ICE, like the murders of Reneé Good and Alex Pretti, OH students planned a walkout to show their frustration and anger against ICE.  On Friday, Feb. 6, observers saw around 700 OH students who left the school building and met outside Ken Pickerill Stadium. According to the @oswegostoool, student planners arranged to walk from OH to Hudson Crossing Park in downtown Oswego, bringing awareness to what is currently going on with immigration enforcement. “[The protest] was very comforting, knowing that so many people care, and that so many people are on your side,” said OH sophomore, Josselyn Rusell, “and knowing that everyone has their own stories of who has been affected in their family, or if they've even been affected, it's so comforting, and it feels like the biggest community.”  The goal of the protest was to ‘skip their lessons to teach one,’ with other protests from schools such as Plainfield East High School and Oswego East having theirs planned. A couple of students thought organizing one was the best solution.

OH is already halfway through its '25-26 school year, and students are looking forward to ending the year strong. Seniors and early graduates are especially looking forward to graduating and moving on to the next chapter of their lives. “I graduate in May this year,” said OH senior Victor Sanchez, “[and] I’m pretty excited to move on.”    As good as these celebrations sound, there are some final hurdles seniors have to overcome to receive their diplomas and a handshake. There are some graduation requirements that are not course-based.    “[One] of the graduation requirements [that] students need to complete [is] a FAFSA form," said OH counselor David Mattes. "[Students] can either complete the FAFSA or [they] can opt out.”