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OMS Pirate Press Weekly Newsletter
Week of June 17-18, 2024
Thank you!
Thank you to our FOMS group for all of their support and dedication to OMS this year, but most recently with their support of Spree Day and our Class trips. These events would not be what they are without their financial support and in person support with assisting with chaperoning the event.
Thank you to our parents and caregivers who gave up time to chaperone these class trips and Spree Day events as well. You all are incredible and very much appreciated!
Spree Day Fun!
Students had a great day rotating through relays, inflatables, lawn games, and the fan favorite dodgeball bracket tournament! Students cooled off on the inflatable waterslide, got soaked in the over under game, and tried their best to soak their teachers by hitting the Dunk Tank bullseye. Fun was had by all! Thank you FOMS and OMS Student Council for your support of this event!
Grade 5 Step Up Day!
Grade 5 students visited OMS on the morning of Thursday, June 13th for their annual Step-Up Day. Students had a brief presentation of the daily schedule, their course program of studies, introduction of staff, information about clubs, activities, sports, basic rules, and were treated to a tour of the building by our NJHS and Student Council students.
Grade 8 Completion and Awards Ceremony
On Friday, June 14th, OMS honored the 8th grade students with their certificate of completion and several other academic awards and recognition for other accomplishments such as honor roll streaks, citizenship, leadership, school spirit, and service to school. It was a nice day with our students, staff, and families celebrating our grade 8 students as they move on to the high school.
Grade 8 Semi Formal
The 8th grade culminated their year and time at OMS with semi-formal dance!
OMS Art
Our Art students designed and painted our new Be the 3 Sign to adorn our OMS hallway!
Schedule and Important Notes and Highlights for the Upcoming Week
Schedule for the Week of June 17-18 2024 and Related Info
Important Info for the week ahead:
- If you are leaving Oxford Public Schools at the close of this school year, students need to return their chromebook and charger to OMS Main Office.
- Fall OHS Weight Room: Workouts have concluded for the school year.
- Bus Survey for 2024-2025 School Year: Please remember to complete the OXPS Bus Survey for each of your children enrolled in OXPS schools.
- Library Book Info: All library books need to be returned to the library by Friday, May 24th. We will close book check out on Friday, May 24th. Notices will be sent home after May 24th to those who have not returned books.
- 8th grade Events: Very Important for Grade 8 Students and Families!
- June 17th: 8th grade Minute to Win It Activities; Wear your OMS made tie-dye t-shirts or OMS colors--Black and Orange.
Daily Schedule:
- Monday, June 17, 2024: B Day
- No After school clubs or activities today.
- Graded 8 Minute to Win It Activity
- Tuesday, June 18, 2024: C Day
- Half Day of School, dismissal 10:45
- Bagged to go lunches (turkey and cheese) available for students to take home today.
- Schools Out for Summer!
Grade 5-6-7 Course Selection and Schedule Process Information
- Course Selection Information for grades 5-7 for 2024-2025 School Year: We are in the process of our scheduling mapping for next year. Please see important details below to be aware of:
- Core Content areas: All students will have math, ELA, history, science.
- Math Placements grade 7/8: Data is being finalized now and students recommended for Pre Algebra in grade 7 and Algebra in grade 8 will be notified in the coming days by way of US Mail letter to confirm placement for next year. Please sign this letter and return to OMS.
- Unified Arts areas: All students will have PE annually, and students will have a balance of STEM, Art, Music, Technology throughout their years here, as designed by grade level.
- Music Options:
- Next year students will have a choice of taking chorus, band, or general music as part of their regular weekly schedule. This past year, students have all taken general music with pull-outs for chorus and band during extension and unified arts blocks. Next year, we will be scheduling chorus, band, and general music classes separately as part of their weekly schedule.
- Email Correspondence went out on the evening of Wednesday, June 12th by email with a link to complete a Google Form to complete for your child's music choice--band, chorus, or general music. If you haven't completed the form, please access the link here to select your child's music class: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFj2PRytG6S9iQpxJbsHkO2DIf_oO9L44KOWEReD4AmMH3eg/viewform?usp=sf_link
- Spanish/Reading and Literacy:
- Grade 6 will take exploratory Spanish.
- Grade 7/8: We hope to begin offering Spanish I and Reading and Literacy to grade 7 and 8 students. This process will be phased in over the next 2 years. Students in grade 7 and 8 who are at grade level for ELA standards and skills and have a strong grade average for ELA and Exploring Spanish will be recommended for Spanish 1. Students who successfully complete Spanish 1 at OMS will have Spanish 1 on their high school transcripts that will count toward their years of foreign language. Many 4 year universities require a minimum of 2 years foreign language and successful completion of Spanish 1 at OMS will count toward those 2 years. Those not taking Spanish 1 will have Reading and Literacy.
- Families of current grae 6 and 7 students recommended for Spanish 1 were notified by email on Thursday, June 14th by way of US Mail letter to confirm placement for next year. Please sign this letter and return to OMS or complete the link sent in the email to those selected students' families.
- Schedules for 2024-2025 School Year will be released to students and families the week of August 17th.
Fall Sports Registration
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
- Boys and Girls Cross Country (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
- OHS Football - 8th grade only
Summer School
- Summer School: Summer school will be available for students in grade 8 for English and Math. Summer school will be offered at OHS for this group. Counselors will be reaching out to grade 8 families of students who failed English, Math or 2 core subjects to enroll them in summer school.
Summer Reading
- 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."
Save the Date:
Save the Dates:
- Last Day of School for 2023-2024 School Year: With 3 snow days so far, the last day of school is currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th, which is a scheduled half day of school.
- 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
OXPS Bus Survey for the 2024-2025 School Year
Caregivers, We are in need of your support to complete a form on PowerSchool informing OXPS about your child's transportation to and from school for next year. The process is free. This will help us create better routines for pick up and drop off at the schools, and provide us with a list of students who need a bus stop. This form must be completed for each child. The link for information on how to complete this survey is https://4.files.edl.io/547c/05/22/24/125820-9747d4bd-e70a-4264-8477-771224067061.pdf
Thank you for your support in assisting us in planning early for the next school year.
School Menu and Food Services Information
Summer Food Service Announcement
Oxford Public Schools will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program this year. Information is linked below.
Please respond to the following survey to indicate whether you choose to participate in the program and if so which meals are needed (breakfast, lunch, or both), how often you'd like to participate each week, and which site is most convenient for you to attend. https://forms.gle/LHLqquHeUbNcGkTe6
- The June OMS menu is copied below.
From the Health Office
- Ms. Packard is on maternity leave 5/20 until the close of the year. Please contact Nurse Iott with any questions or concerns mailto:tiott@oxps.org
- The Department of Public Health has issued guidance to help keep families safe this summer. The guidance covers topics such as insect bites, swimming, window and car safety, sun and heat protection, and preventing rabies exposure.
- 7th Grade Physicals
- According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Laws, a physical examination is required for each student upon entry into public school or entrance into a new public school district plus at intervals of three to four years thereafter. To be in compliance with this law the Oxford Public Schools, requires updated physical examinations in the 4th, 7th and 10th grades.
- If you have not done so already, please send in a current physical complete with an updated immunization record. If you are unsure what your child is missing please email school nurse at mailto:tiott@oxps.org You may send in a copy with your child or have the pediatrician’s office fax it to 508-987-2588.
Given you and your family’s busy schedules, I appreciate your time and effort regarding this Oxford Public School requirement.
Friends of Oxford Middle School (FOMS) Fundraisers and Info
FOMS Spirit Wear Fundraiser
FOMS is sponsoring an 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
*****NEW***** FOMS Spirit Wear Shop has started to add club and team clothing. So far, they have field hockey, soccer, track and field, art club, music, and Yearbook club added. 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!
Incoming Grade 6 Field Hockey Club-Fall 2024-
Want to be involved and learn more about Field Hockey? Please consider joining the OMS Grade 6 Field Hockey Club. Information is below.
Oxford Community Youth Athletics
OCC Summer Outdoor Basketball Clinics
Interested in sharpening your basketball skills or having some fun playing hoops this summer? Consider registering for the summer outdoor basketball clinics run by OHS Varsity Coach P at OCC this summer. Information and Registration is below.
Oxford Annual Boy's Basketball Clinic 2024
The Oxford Public Schools will sponsor a Boys’ Basketball Clinic to be held this summer at Oxford
High School. The Clinic will be held 3 days. Please see the attached flyer.
Oxford Webster Youth Football and Cheer 2024 Registration
This group welcomes children ages K-8th grade. Registration information is attached below.
Field Hockey Clinic and Girls Basketball Clinic
Please see attachments below for information regarding local field hockey clinic and girls' basketball clinic.
Community Groups and Supports
Th NAN Project Informational Meeting about Children's Mental Health
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
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
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.
Helpful District and School Resources
- 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/b2fc/08/30/23/192743-caa5596d-7c83-451f-8868-d753af9ebf0d.pdf
- District Events: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/district_calendars
- School Hour changes, per district updates and the implications for OMS students. The link to the school hours is here: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/school_times .
- 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