OMS Pirate Press Summer Newsletter

Our summer break is quickly coming to a close. As we approach our first day of school, we wanted to share a few pieces of information that can help you to prepare. We will send out an additional correspondence the week of August 19th with specific first day/week information. We hope everyone has enjoyed their summer, our students have enjoyed some down time and are preparing for an awesome year ahead! Go Pirates!

On Wednesday, August 21st 4:30-6:00 p.m., we welcome any new student to OMS and their family to visit the school to tour the building.

On Wednesday, August 21st 4:30-6:00 p.m., we welcome OMS students and families to meet our administrative staff for Popcorn with the Principals.

Administrative Staff:

• Leigh Joseph, Principal
• Randy Richard, Assistant Principal
• Danny Keller, Assistant Principal

The Schedule for Wednesday August 21st Popcorn with the Principal event is below. Please note, there are no group assignments. We created three options for families, offering two presentation times and a self guided tour in order to accommodate family schedules. Please arrive to whichever time frame fits your family's needs best.

PRESENTATION AND TOURS:

Option 1:

4:30 - 4:40 arrival into auditorium

4:40 - 4:55 OMS Admin addresses group as a whole including students and parents

Introduction of present admin and staff members and student volunteers

Includes some basic info such as times, expectations, etc..

4:55 - 5:10 New students take a scavenger hunt tour of the building with volunteers

Parents can walk the building with their students or ask further questions in

Auditorium.

5:10-5:15 Goodbyes and popcorn to go in the lobby

Option 2:

5:15 - 5:25 Gathering of second group in Auditorium / Goodbyes to 1st group in lobby

5:25 - 5:40 speaking with group as a whole including students and parents

Introduction of present admin and staff members and student volunteers

5:40 - 5:55 New students take a scavenger hunt tour of the building with volunteers

Parents can walk the building with their students or ask further questions in

Auditorium.

5:55 - 6:00 Goodbyes and popcorn to go in the lobby

We are finalizing our student schedules. Student schedules will become available to students and families through the Power School portal on Wednesday, August 21st. However, please note: We may continue to need to make updates to schedules to balance classes in order to accommodate any newly registered students. If you are having difficulty accessing portal, please email tech support for OXPS techsupport@oxps.org

Registration for Fall Sports is Now Open! Please use the following link to register: https://sites.google.com/oxps.org/athletics/registration

Here are the sports offered for OMS students:

• Boys and Girls Soccer (grades 6-8)
• Boys and Girls Cross Country (Grade 6/7 at OMS and grade 8 at OHS-there will be an 8th grade waiver for OHS cross country)
• OHS Golf - (7th and 8th grade only)
• OHS Field Hockey - (7th and 8th grade only, but there is a grade 6 club, see below)
• OHS Football - (8th grade only)
• OHS Volleyball - (8th grade only)

Want to be involved and learn more about Field Hockey? Please consider joining the OMS Grade 6 Field Hockey Club. Information is below.

These assignments are not mandatory but highly encouraged to keep student skills sharp for the start of the new school year.

Math is a subject that if not practiced regularly, students have a difficult time retaining the information and applying it. In order for students to keep their foundational math learning solid and set them up for success for the 2024-2025 school year, Math teachers have shared summer math work for students to practice to keep their skills sharp. Please see below by grade level.

• Summer Reading: "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." We encourage our students to continue to explore the literary world by reading books, poems, short stories, articles. Please see staff suggestions for encouraged summer reading and information from Ms. Kennen that contains reading logs and incentives to encourage reading throughout the summer. "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."

Want to be organized and prepared for the new school year? The Supply Lists re located on the district website linked here https://oms.oxps.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2070226&type=d&pREC_ID=2128527 and below is a list of suggested school supplies for OMS students by grade level.

• Grade 6 Supply List Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cS3n1ujmEw_JMFu-FmRo5jCSScvBzWeLmUaIUkMl1sE/edit?usp=sharing
• Grade 7 Supply List Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r0BL-b7clmjGBu_oOjjsib1PvzU9wfaeJdjkH9T7igE/edit?usp=sharing
• Grade 8 Supply List Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19z7FHoImS0aF2wEDra7keOo43ZD6ZJMU0BMjlSYrA4s/edit?usp=sharing

• First Day of School for 2024-2025 School Year: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
  
• OXPS School Year 2024-2025 Calendar: https://4.files.edl.io/4acb/01/24/24/145713-e7ec4bb5-ee84-4575-880d-b5dc3f62160b.pdf
• Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conference Dates:
• Monday, November 25th afternoon and evening times available
• Tuesday, November 26th: afternoon times available
• Thursday, March 6th: evening times available

If you have not yet confirmed your transportation needs for the 2024-2025 school year via the survey previously circulated, please call Suzanne Kelley at 508-987-6050 ext 1128 or email her at skelley@oxps.org and she will assist you in recording your transportation choice. If you don't reach her directly, please leave a detailed message with your name, your children's full name, the school and grade they will be enrolled in for the 2024-2025 school year and their transportation choice--bus transportation or personal transportation for morning drop off and/or afternoon dismissal.

School Transportation Information can be found online via the district website at : https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/transportation

Want to be ready for the new school year with the latest Oxford and OMS gear? FOMS sponsors a year long OMS Spirit Wear Shop. You can order the latest in gear--t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, outerwear, hats, and more! . All proceeds benefit FOMS, which in turn benefit our OMS students and programs. Please see the link below to order and the flyer below for more info. https://www.kerringraphics.com/customer_portal/login.html?ut=b174a64a-ac5d-43a5-bfa2-424393e5bc8d

FOMS Spirit Wear Shop has started to add club and team clothing as well, should your child have special interests. There are several options--short sleeve tshirts, long sleeve tshirts, tank tops, shorts, sweatpants, a variety of sweatshirts, bags and much more! Stay tuned for more clubs and sports to come, as they are being added every week!

This group welcomes children ages K-8th grade. Registration information is attached below.

GRG Support group-join us!

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) and caregiver support group meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month from September to June @ 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Oxford High School. Coffee and snacks will be provided, please park in front and come in the main entrance. Feel free to contact Kimberly Rockwood with any questions-(978) 413-8989- all are welcome!

NAMI Support Group via Zoom:

We are collaborating with NAMI to offer a FREE new Support Group for caregivers of pre-teens and teens with mental health challenges provided for our Oxford families by the Central Mass chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

NAMI Support Group for Caregivers of pre-teens and teens with mental health challenges is a peer-led support group for any adult who cares for a child or adolescent who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. The group will enable you to gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. You are not alone. NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get what they need.

• FREE of cost to participants

• Designed for adult loved ones of young people with mental health conditions

• Led by family members of people with mental health conditions

• 60-120 minutes long and meeting weekly, every other week, or monthly (varies by location)

• No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed

• CONFIDENTIAL

The NAMI Support Group for caregivers of Pre-teens and Teens with mental health issues (POPTT) will begin on Wednesday evening, October 25th, from 7:00 – 9:00pm, via Zoom, and continue on the fourth Wednesday evening of each month. To sign up for this group, please email Robin at robinbahr1@gmail.com or Joy at cummingspj@worcesterma.gov. Please indicate that you are interested in joining the POPTT group; give your email address and the best phone number at which to reach you. The email link will be sent the day before each meeting.

• Are you getting text messages of our automated calls/texts/emails? If you are not currently receiving text prompts about school and district news, please send a message to the number 22300 and type ALERT in the message in order to receive texts in the future.
• Our District Calendar can be found via the following links:
• District School Day Calendar: https://4.files.edl.io/4acb/01/24/24/145713-e7ec4bb5-ee84-4575-880d-b5dc3f62160b.pdf
• District Events: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/district_calendars
• School Hours The link to the school hours is here: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/school_times
• • At OMS, doors will open to students (buses and drop-off) at 7:10--this is a change of 5 minutes from 23-24 school year. All OMS classes will begin at 7:20 a.m.
    
  • At OMS afternoon dismissal will run as follows: bus riders' dismissal 1:50; walkers, bike riders, and private transport dismissal 1:55
• Electronic Backpack: Please be sure to remember to check the electronic backpack for forms, letters, community announcements as well. The link to the electronic backpack for OMS is as follows: https://oms.oxps.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2070226&type=d&pREC_ID=2128528
• School Transportation Information: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/transportation