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Spartan Newsletter, May 30, 2025

Posted Date: 5/31/25 (:00 AM)
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Orcutt Academy High School: Home of the Spartans Logo

SPARTAN NEWSLETTER

May 30, 2025

Finishing Strong with the Class of 2025!

We are in the home stretch, Spartans!
As we close out this incredible school year, we are especially proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025—a class that has led with heart, resilience, and school spirit.
These past weeks were all about honoring their work, growth, and legacy here at OAHS.
A group of graduates pose together, some kneeling, with a banner that says 'SPARTANS'.

Senior Awards Night

Last Wednesday evening, we welcomed students and families to campus for Senior Awards Night—one of our favorite traditions of the year. We honored achievements in academics, athletics, leadership, service, CTE, arts, scholarships, and more.
Congratulations to all of our seniors who were recognized! Your hard work and commitment inspire us, and we can’t wait to see where your path leads next.
A large crowd gathers in a gymnasium for an event, facing a stage.
People seated in a gymnasium, likely attending a ceremony or event.
A young woman in a graduation gown holds a certificate, smiling with two adults.
A young man smiles, holding a scholarship certificate with an older man.

Also, huge shout-out to our PTSA for making the event beautiful and providing refreshments for all of our guests!

Two people stand on a stage in front of a 'SPARTANS' banner.

Senior Capstones – A New OAHS Tradition

This year marked the first-ever Senior Capstone Project at OAHS, giving students the opportunity to explore their passions and leave a lasting impact on the school and community.

As a culminating experience, each group also presented their project before a panel of district leaders, community members, and OAHS founders in the District Board Room—an authentic and meaningful moment to showcase their work.

Capstone topics ranged from community service and campus improvements to health & wellness, creative arts, and environmental action. Just a few of the projects included:

  • Joe Nightingale Spirit Mural
  • Can-Paigne Against Hunger
  • Clothing Drive
  • Timeless Tunes for Seniors
  • Dogs on Campus
  • Rebranding the Santa Maria Art Council
  • Pine Grove Garden
  • Cybersecurity for Senior Citizens
  • OAHS Outdoor Seating
  • Watercolors with the Elderly
  • Sandy Hands, Clean Lands
A saxophone is featured in a dark image with the text: How Can We Use Our Current Talents to Enrich Our Community?
Clothing items are displayed on tables outdoors, possibly for a sale or donation.
A diverse group of musicians plays jazz instruments in a well-lit room.
Children's hands playing in a sandbox with sand and small toys.
If you’d like to explore more of these outstanding first-year Capstone projects, selected presentations are available here:
Senior Capstone Projects (1,3,5)
Senior Capstone Projects (2, 4)
A huge thank you to Michelle Clayton, Carrie O’Keefe, Jordan Willis and Josh Ostini for their leadership in launching this new OAHS tradition—and congratulations to our seniors for setting the bar high!

Senior Final Rally & Goodbye

We closed out last week with our Final Rally, where the entire student body came together to send off the Class of 2025 in Spartan style! It was a fun, emotional, and high-energy way to celebrate all that this class has accomplished.

Catch some of the highlights in our End of the Year/Senior Rally Reccap here:
 

ASB SPOTLIGHTS

Senior Spotlight: Ashley Barrientos

Ashley has been a standout on and off the court during her time at OAHS. She played Varsity Basketball all four years, helped lead the team to State as a freshman, earned CIF honors every season, and served as team captain for two years. She also holds the school record for most three-pointers in a game!!

Academically, Ashley has earned a 4.5 GPA, made the Principal’s List all four years, is a National Honor Society officer, a member of CSF, and is this year’s ASB President. She’s passed multiple AP exams and is bilingual in Spanish.

Her favorite part of OA is the supportive staff who help students succeed, and her favorite memory is a big home game win over Righetti. Ashley’s advice to freshmen: focus on your academics first—the social side will come naturally.

Next year, Ashley will be heading to UCLA—congratulations, Ashley! We’re proud of you!

Thank You, Senior Spotlight Class of 2025

A huge thank you to all of the seniors who were featured in this year’s Senior Spotlight series. You’ve inspired us with your leadership, hard work, and heart. We are proud of each and every one of you and can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. Once a Spartan, always a Spartan!
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

A schedule for Spring Semester Finals, detailing dates, times, and activities.
Graduation announcement for the Class of 2025, including important information.
CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOL CALENDAR
 

HISTORY MADE – CIF Champions!

We can’t close out this week without celebrating an incredible achievement:
A softball team celebrates a victory on the field, with a scoreboard in the background.
CONGRATULATIONS to our Orcutt Academy High School Girls’ Softball Team on winning the CIF Central Section Division V Championship! The Lady Spartans earned a 3-0 victory over Dos Palos High School in a hard-fought game at Fresno State University.
A softball team poses with a trophy on a baseball field, celebrating a victory.
This marks the first-ever CIF championship win in a team sport for OAHS—a truly historic moment for our school! We could not be more proud of this team for their hard work, resilience, and determination all season long.

WAY TO GO, LADY SPARTANS!
A softball team poses for a photo on a sunny day, with 'Fresno' in the foreground.

To the Class of 2025—thank you for your leadership, heart, and resilience.

You’ve made OAHS a better place, and we can’t wait to see all you’ll accomplish next. Finish strong, Spartans!

Sincerely,

Rhett Carter
The Spartan Code