On Sat. May 16, OH celebrated the graduating class of 2026. Along with an announced 700 graduates, thousands of friends, family, and staff watched in support aa the 139th OH graduating class walked across the stage and began a new chapter of life.
That chapter, according to OH SchoolLinks data, will take the Class of '26 to a wide range of places in the United States, but as Graduation Keynote Speaker and OH '26 graduate Hailey Nass said, "Time is pushing us into something new. The clock isn't going to stop ticking, so don't wait for that perfect time: take the risk."
That "something new" for a majority of graduates, 62.44%, means seeking a 4-year degree from a college or university. However, 84.71% plan to continue their education in some way with post-high school education, according to self-reported data as collected by SchoolLinks, the SD#308 student information platform used by Student Services to help students with college and career planning.
Culinary and Restaurant Management courses have been popular at OH for many years as students put their skills to use for others. And there is a reason why they're popular: the results are delicious.
Students in these courses have served teachers, staff, and students a variety of meals throughout the year.
Just yesterday, students in Restaurant Management served up the end-of-year barbeque for teachers, which included hot dogs, hamburger patties, grilled corn-on-the-cob, a variety of desserts, and more.
OH students competed at the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference in Peoria on April 24, winning a total of six medals including three gold (Katelyn Thilk; baking and pastry arts, Kaleb Stumpenhorst, Addison Terrazas), two silver (Nathan Overstreet; cabinetmaking, Jacob Dillon; masonry), and one bronze medal (Ashely Dauderman; baking and pastry arts) in various competitions. From these awards, four students have the opportunity to compete at the Atlanta SkillsUSA National Competition in early June.
In April, OH students tested their technical skills and career readiness against students statewide through high-pressure, hands-on competitions designed to reflect real-world industry standards.
“It’s a great opportunity for all high school kids and even post-secondary students to just compete and do things that you love,” said OH senior Stumpenhorst, who won First Place for Cabinetmaking.
What better way than to start the morning off with coffee and donuts? Well, OH staff would say the better way is to have those items delivered by some of OH’s most kind-hearted students.
Many of the students in OH's special education program deliver coffee and donuts to teachers every Tuesday and Friday during first period and bring joy to the school day, and it has brought benefits to the students, too.
“It’s fun because I get to do jobs,” said OH senior Evan Bates, a student who participates in the Cup of Happiness program.
On April 10, OH participated in the Day of Silence, a national student-led demonstration where the classes are quieter than usual. Participants take a vow of silence to protest the bullying and harassment of the LGBTQ community in schools.
OH science teacher and True Colors sponsor Maggie Daly said, “The purpose [[for Day of Silence]] for students to be silent the way that members of the LGBTQ community are sometimes silenced, both in expressing who they are as well as the silencing that has come from the loss of life in the community.”
True Colors, which sponsors this day, is an after-school program at OH for the LGBTQ+ community, led by students with three board members and two sponsors.