Dear Oak Middle School Families,

Cycle 4 began on Friday, marking the halfway point of the school year. This is a great time to check in with your students about their homework routines and classwork.

Did you know you can set up Schoology to receive alerts about missing assignments?

Here's how:

Log in to your parent Schoology account - not your child’s account. (Need help? Click HERE)
Click on your name in the top right corner and select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Navigate to the Notifications tab.
Under "Academic," locate the option for Overdue Submissions.
Enable email or mobile notifications to receive updates whenever assignments are marked as missing.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns. We are committed to working together to ensure a successful year for all our students.

In partnership,

Hallie Burak
Principal
508-841-1210
hburak@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

Michelle Dillon
Assistant Principal Grade 7
mdillon@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us
508-841-1205

Scott Yonker
Assistant Principal Grade 8
508-841-1213
syonker@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

This is a reminder that the Shrewsbury High School Curriculum Night for 8th Grade parents will take place on Tuesday, February 11th, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Shrewsbury High School.

If you require an interpreter for this event, please email Toby Alvarez at talvarez@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us by 2:00 PM on Friday, January 31. In your email, kindly include the following information:

• Your name

• Your 8th Grade student’s name

• The language you prefer for interpretation

If you have previously required translation services but no longer need that service, please reply to this message to let us know and we will update your student’s profile accordingly.

The high school faculty and staff look forward to meeting you at Curriculum Night!

Best regards,

Scott Yonker

Grade 8 Assistant Principal

Opportunity to meet an Aerospace Engineer who works for NASA!

On January 31st, our Lunch and Learn guest speaker will be Ms. Katie McBrayer, an Aerospace Engineer at NASA working on the exciting Moon to Mars project! For those familiar with Mr. McBrayer from the First Robotics team, Ms. McBrayer is his daughter and a proud Shrewsbury High School graduate from the class of 2014.

During her talk, Ms. McBrayer will discuss her work as an aerospace engineer, share how she pursued this career, and answer students' questions about the Moon to Mars project and her role at NASA.

Students must register to meet Ms. McBrayer, since space is limited. Students can register here. The first 15 students for each lunch will be selected, so register early!

Parents/guardians: We need your help! If your child contacts you during the school day stating they feel sick and need to be dismissed home, please encourage them to come to the health office and we will call you. We are trying to cut down the number of students texting home and dismissing themselves during the school day. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you!

Oak Nurses

Please remind your child that cell phones and smart watches are not to be used to message others during the school day. Overall, students are adhering to the Code of Conduct and not using phones during the school day. This makes a positive impact on learning and behavior. This rule extends to smart watches as well. If your child is wearing a smart watch during the day, it should be set to block notifications or on the "Do Not Disturb" setting. As always, if you need to contact your child during the school day please call the main office.

POISE, a parent support group for Shrewsbury Speech and Debate, is excited to announce an incredible opportunity for your middle schooler this winter break!

With POISE: Becoming a Confident Public Speaker
Looking to build confidence and master the art of public speaking? Join our Public Speaking Camp from February 18 to February 20, where students will have a blast learning how to:

• Express themselves clearly

• Captivate an audience

• Share ideas with confidence

Through engaging activities, interactive coaching, and expert tips, participants will gain skills to become confident speakers while having fun and making new friends!

Bonus: Campers will be coached by members of Shrewsbury High School's award-winning, nationally ranked Speech and Debate team, which is recognized among the top 20 teams in the country!

Sign Up Now: https://www.shrewsburysd.org/poise/wintercamp

Oak PTO News | 1.26.25

Get Pumped! The Harlem Wizards are coming to town.

Do you have children in a Shrewsbury elementary school? Ask their school leaders or PTO members about the upcoming Harlem Wizards game on April 1. The Sherwood/Oak PTO would like all elementary schools to get in on the fun and have a chance to raise money for their school. The more tickets sold, the more their school can earn. Tickets will be going on sale soon, so stay tuned!

Want to get involved or just share your ideas? We’re all ears.

Fill out this quick 2024-2025 Sherwood/Oak PTO survey.

Join the PTO on Zoom the first Thursday of every month.

Whether you just want to listen in and ask questions or want to get involved, join the monthly PTO Zoom meeting to get all the info you need.

Next meeting: Thursday, February 6 at 7:00pm.

Here’s how to join: https://app.zoom.us/wc

Meeting ID: 851 4598 4921

Let’s get social.

Follow the Sherwood/Oak PTO on Facebook @ShrewsburyMiddleSchoolPTO and Instagram @sherwood.oakpto for news and information.

We have recently given students the chance to recognize their teachers/staff members for going above and beyond, and now we would like to extend that same opportunity to families. If you would like to acknowledge a teacher or staff member for their amazing work, please fill out the form linked HERE. We will be sharing this recognition directly with the staff member(s) so they know how much their efforts are appreciated.

January

29 - No Homework Due Thursday January 30th no quizzes, tests or other assessments on January 30th

30 - Advisory Day

February

4 - Early Release Day - District PD

3 - Art Show 4:30-6PM Auditorium Foyer and Hallway

3 - Orchestra Concert 7PM

4 - Band Concert 7 PM

5 - Chorus Concert 7 PM

6 - No BCOEI

David Lambert, Mental Health Counselor at Lunch and Learn on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Mrs. Jena Adams, a parent of two SHS alumni and the Associate Director at the Center for Health Impact from the Lunch and Learn on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Mrs. Adams spoke with students about the meaning of "Public Health" and shared insights into what it is like to work in the field.

If students are interested in joining a club or activity, they should check the Oak Middle School Schoology page. This is where all up-to-date information about dates, times, and advisors is posted. They can also check the club and activity wall in the main office or the cafeteria windows. Many clubs and activities will be starting soon, and we encourage students to get involved beyond the school day!

Below is a PDF of the different offerings.

Free late bus service will be available for students at Shrewsbury High, Oak Middle, and Sherwood Middle Schools on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Buses depart SHS at 3:50 PM and the middle schools at 4:20 PM.

This limited service has fixed routes (red, green, blue) with centralized stops, which may not cover all neighborhoods. Please review the schedule to choose the best route and stop. Families are responsible for pickup from the centralized stops.

Sign up using the school’s Google form.

More info: https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/transportation/late-bus.

Questions? Contact April Yu at transportation@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or 508-841-8363.

Attendance:
Massachusetts law (G.L. c. 76, § 1) requires students aged 6-16 to attend school. Principals must meet with families if a student has 5 or more unexcused absences. You may receive a notification if your child’s attendance is concerning. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more school days, excused or not. Consistent attendance is critical, and we will support students trending toward absenteeism.

Child Safe Procedures:
If your child will be absent or late, please call 508-841-1200 (option 1 for Oak Attendance) the night before or the morning of the absence. Clearly spell your child’s first and last name. If we don't receive a call, we will contact parents or emergency contacts to ensure the child's safety. Remember, students absent from school cannot participate in after-school activities.

Early Dismissal:
Early dismissals should be rare as they disrupt learning and end-of-day routines. Notify the office (talvarez@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us) and your child's teachers via note or email. Students cannot arrange dismissals themselves.

The Food for Families Pantry at Oak Middle School is open and available to support any family, no matter the size or duration of the need. Families can choose between the Weekender Program, which provides individual meals for students to take home on Fridays, or the Biweekly Program, offering groceries and household items every other Friday. Both options are confidential, and no documentation is required. To access the pantry, contact the OMS nurses at 508-841-1204 or oaknurse@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us.

The Locker is a donation-based program at Oak, providing clothing and personal care items for families in need within our district. We strive to offer support in a discreet and confidential manner, ensuring your comfort throughout the process. If your child would like to help select items, they are welcome to visit our neatly organized closet to choose what they prefer. Alternatively, we can send items home with your student or arrange pick-up through the health office.

Please complete this form if you would like help:

https://forms.gle/tnuzo69hdmZXvNjA6

Please enter through the water tower entrance, drive up the hill, and pull up as far as possible—ideally to the second entrance. This helps ensure an efficient drop-off process and is considerate of other parents.

Students should exit the car on the Oak building side.

Grade 7

Last Names A-L: Laura Candelaria

LCandelaria@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-1240

Last Names M-Z:

Jennifer Lencioni

JLencioni@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-1214

Grade 8

Last Names A-L:

Amy Wallace

AWallace@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-8761

Last Names M-Z:

Kristen Minio

KMinio@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-1212