OMS Friday Knight Live

1. OMS Conferences- new rescheduled date Thursday, 2.27.25
2. BVNW Counselors Visit 8th Grade Students Wednesday, 2.26.25
3. Homework Support for Students- ASK is available!
4. Recognize OMS Staff Members: February 2025 Noteworthy Knight
5. OMS Food Drive for local families in need 2/27-3/13
6. PTO News: Stock the Coffee Bar and Restaurant Nights
7. Upcoming Community Celebrations & Observances
8. OMS Parents & Guardians Invited: Sunflower House Social Media Presentation Mar. 4
9. Community Resources from OMS Social Worker
10. Coming Up @ OMS

Our rescheduled conferences for Wednesday, 2/12 will be rescheduled (again) and held next Thursday, February 27th. If you had a scheduled zoom conference, you will meet the teacher(s) at the same time you originally selected.

Please use these zoom links for any scheduled conferences you have scheduled: OMS Spring Zoom Conference Links February 2025

Thursday, 2/27

3:15-6:45 p.m. Walk-In Conferences @ OMS

7:15-8:30 p.m. Zoom Conferences

BVNW will meet with 8th grade students Wednesday, February 26th to verify high school enrollment choices. Students will meet with their counselor during social studies classes.

Third quarter has been crazy with so many inclimate weather days. If your student needs help getting back into a routine, please encourage them to attend ASK, our after-school homework help program. ASK is available Monday-Thursday from 3-4 p.m.

Please nominate any OMS staff member who has gone above and beyond to help you. You can nominate as many different staff members as you want each month. We want to show our appreciation and recognize our deserving staff members for all they do at OMS!

Click Here to nominate: https://forms.gle/R4zTjwwz1MjXBRXF9

The OMS PTO needs your help collecting food for local families in need. We will be collecting the following items from 2/27 through 3/13:

canned vegetables

canned fruit

rice

beans

crackers

peanut butter

mac & cheese

All donations can be placed in the collection bin in the front entry of the school. If you prefer to donate funds so that these items can be purchased, please venmo @Oxford-MiddleSchoolPTO (make sure to look for the OMS Knight image), and note that the funds are for food donations. You may also send a check to the school office, please make it payable to OMS PTO.

Parents and guardians coming to school for conferences on 2/27 or the Sunflower House e-Safety presentation 3/4 are invited to bring in donations during those events.

Coffee Bar Donations!

The OMS PTO needs your help stocking the staff coffee bar. Please click the link to sign up. All items can be dropped off at the school office next week. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4FAFAC2AAAF85-55263372-omsstaff

Restaurant Fundraisers - Save the Dates!

The OMS PTO has planned three more restaurant fundraisers, please save the following dates and help support the PTO! All proceeds will be used for staff support and end of year student activities.

· Cane's Chicken, 7501 W. 135th Street, March 4th.

· Chipotle, 7040 W. 135th Street, April 8th.

· Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 7592 W. 119th Street, May 6th.

Community Celebrations and Observances - to promote awareness and appreciation of our Blue Valley families.

• Some March Celebrations & Observances:

  
  

  • The Nineteen Day Fast - March 1-19 - a time of prayer, meditation, and fasting, some adult members of the Baháʼí faith refrain from food and water from sunrise to sunset each day. This practice might include prayers of spiritual preparation for the new year.

  • Ramadan - evening of March 1-30 - the holy month of fasting for the Islamic faith. For some Muslim families, it is a time for introspection, communal prayer, reading the Qur’an, and fasting between sunrise and sunset.

  • Ash Wednesday - March 5 - a Christian holiday signifying the first day of the Lenten season, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading to Easter. Some families will attend religious services and receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead.

  • Holi - March 14 - known as the Hindu festival of colors, Holi honors the triumph of good over evil and marks the beginning of Spring. Some families will light bonfires, throw colorful powder called gulal, eat sweets, and dance to traditional music.

  Eid al Fitr - March 31 - marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Some families will celebrate the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” by joining in communal prayer and meals, visiting family, gift-giving, and charity.

FOR ALL OMS PARENTS: Sunflower House Child Advocacy Center in KC will also host a parent information night at OMS to share valuable information about on-line safety and how to support your students and set guidelines for them when they are online.

Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Time: 6:30-7:30PM

Location: Oxford Middle School Commons

Topic: Keeping Kids Safe Online

Learn more about the possible dangers of internet usage, practical safety tips & tools, and the cybercrime reporting process.

There is no software that is 100% effective with keeping our kids safe online. There is no software that replaces having age-appropriate conversations with your child, reassuring them you will help if they encounter a problem. We are here to help when you have concerns or questions.

If you would like to attend, PLEASE RSVP through this link so we can plan for seating. We look forward to seeing you!

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Families will get a one-time benefit of $120 per year for each eligible child to help buy groceries during the summer months.

For more information, visit https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx

Friday, 3/14- End of 3rd Quarter; No School for Students

Families received an email this week with information about high school career ready programs in Blue Valley. Families who are interested in their 8th grade student touring the various programs need to sign up on the link provided in the informational email here: Career Ready Programs: 8th Grade Fieldtrips

8th grade families, please note the following dates for your enrollment forms for the 25-26 school year at Blue Valley Northwest High School.

Please see the following table for important due dates based on your grade level:

Course Entry Due into StudentVUE- February 12th

Paper Enrollment Form Due- February 13th

Turn in location- OMS Counseling Office

OMS 6th and 7th graders will receive their enrollment forms for the 2025-26 school year during Flex classes the week of Feb. 3.

OMS Counselors will be sharing information with all students about elective class choices for the coming year and how to complete their enrollment forms. Enrollment forms MUST BE SIGNED by the student and by a parent/guardian prior to returning them to OMS.

All completed enrollment forms are due to the OMS Counseling Office by Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Students who will be in 7th and 8th grades next year have the option of taking their PE credit through online PE. Online PE is only offered in the fall semester and is for students who want to complete their PE requirement outside of school. This gives students the opportunity to take an additional preferred elective during the school day.

If your student is interested in the online PE option, they must indicate it on their enrollment form (due February 12). For more information about the online PE course (including requirements and FAQs), please read the attached document for details.

Questions about enrollment? Please contact your student's OMS Counselor!

Jill Gouger (A-K) jgouger@bluevalleyk12.org

Allyson DiNitto (L-Z) adinitto@bluevalleyk12.org

Our Green Team is sponsoring a challenge to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic film to keep it out of our landfills and oceans. What is plastic film? Plastic grocery bags, soda case plastic wrap, bread bags, ziploc bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, and so much more!

Once the 1,000lb limit has been collected, it will be recycled into an outdoor bench for our courtyard!

Current Plastic Weight Turned In: 547 Pounds 2.13.25

Pull Tabs/Pop Tabs are being collected to help raise money for the local Ronald McDonald House. Pull those tabs from soda, vegetable, soup, fruit, tomato sauce cans and so many more!

Current Pop Tab Weight Turn In: 48 pounds 2.7.25

Click HERE for the OMS Student Made Recycling Video

The schedules for our five (!) boys basketball teams have been updated. Click HERE for the 2025 OMS Basketball schedule. Please note that there are games where there will not be any bus service from OMS. The updated schedule contains a link the the 2025 OMS Boys Basketball Team Rosters.

OMS families, we have now doubled the number of home basketball games for January and February! We need your help – without volunteers we cannot run the concession stand. Click HERE to volunteer at the concession stand.

Have you ever wondered how to monitor your child’s usage on their Blue Valley device? We have parent tools that allow you to receive notifications to ensure your child is using their device safely. School staff members monitor these devices during the school day and intervene, when necessary. However, parents can receive alerts if concerns arise when students use devices after school hours–including weekends and school breaks. Check out the Securly Home Parent Portal App here.

Students will begin making slides to be included in the 8th grade celebration video. Your students will work on these in their flex class. Please make sure your student has digital copies of a baby/young child picture and current picture for the video. All pictures must be school appropriate.

Please refer to the OMS website for the 2nd Semester Clubs and Activities. In addition ASK, after school homework sessions, have also changed. ASK takes place Monday-Thursday from 3-4 p.m.

Middle school course fee payment for the second semester is open and online now. Your ParentVUE login and password are required to pay course fees.

• Course fees are assigned based on your student’s enrollment. Some seventh and eighth grade exploratory/elective classes include course fees.

• Course fees are assigned for the first semester only.

Questions regarding fee payment should be directed to OMS bookkeeper, Andrea da Valinha Lopes.

adavalinhalopes@bluevalleyk12.org

913-239-5508

This month’s newsletter has articles on physical activity links to academic gains, how to talk about tough issues, note taking, family meetings, and more!

Click HERE for the January 2025 newsletter

In the latest Blue Valley Schools’ BV Unmuted podcast episode, Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan discusses the upcoming Kansas Legislative session and the district’s five priority positions with Board of Education members Gina Knapp and Jan Kessinger and Chief Financial Officer Jeremy McFadden.

🎙️ To listen to the podcast episode, visit www.bit.ly/BVPriorities.

Parents/Guardians please do not bring in restaurant or fast food for your student for lunch. If your student is coming in late or returning from an appointment please have them eat lunch before they return to OMS. Restaurant/fast food is not allowed in the cafeteria.

Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, 6:30-10 p.m.

Join friends for a great adult night out with live music, a silent auction, a wine and bourbon pull and more! Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support music and performing arts programs throughout the district, and YOU can be part of the fun! Check out our new location at Fiorella’s event space in OP for a great over-21 night out. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and YOU choose the “Best of Blue Valley” live band when the competition wraps up at 10 p.m. Bands are made up of BV parents, teachers and staff and funds provide significant funding for performing arts programs including band, orchestra, choir, theater, debate and competitive speaking. Get tickets today at Event Details.

Can’t make it to the event in person? No worries! Visit Silent Auction to start your bid on incredible auction packages and see what your school submitted. Check back frequently as more items are added to the offerings every week. The auction will close on Friday, February 21 at 8:45 p.m. and you do not have to be present to win!

Bands:

Young Medicine- Lakewood Elementary

Modern Thieves- Mission Trail Elementary, Leawood Middle, Blue Valley North

KC Prime- Leawood Elementary and Leawood Middle

Hope to see you Friday, February 21, 2025, as we Rock the Valley for BV Schools!

You can also vote by donation for your favorite adult school-affiliated band, and the winner receives a $1,000 grant to their school of choice. The 2025 band names, order of performances and school representations are as follows:

PTO Concessions Help Needed

Can you help with concessions for home basketball games? Boys home game schedule is now loaded!

Click HERE for PTO Concessions sign up

PTO Memberships & Donations

The OMS PTO needs your donation! All donations help support staff needs and student activities. If you have not already given to the PTO this year, please click this link:

https://omspto.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/156152925. We appreciate your support!

If you have questions, please contact Debra Burgess at dhburgesskc@gmail.com Thank you!

OMS families, every school has procedures in place for the safety of our students and to provide the best learning environment for everyone. Each year we check and update our procedures on everything from forgotten lunches,no outside restaurant food, to visitors in the building. Please refer to our 2024 2025 Student Planner, our School Information or Families tabs on the OMS Website, or our Parent Reference Sheet for our How-To’s including:

• Reporting an Absence

• Dropping off forgotten homework, shoes,lunches, etc

• No outside restaurant food

• Visitors in the building

• Sports eligibility

• Lunch money accounts

• So much more!

Low Income Energy Assistance Program applications now open. Flyers in English and Spanish

Click Here for English Flyer

Haga clic AQUÍ para ver el folleto en español

Angel Clothing Foundation - Angel Clothing Foundation is a non-profit that offers free Boutique style clothing sizes infant to 3XL. Clothing is distributed to low-income families in need, women leaving domestic violence situations, and the homeless. This includes clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children.

The store is currently open Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at (420 S. Kansas Ave., Olathe, KS 66061) with no appointment necessary. If you are in need of immediate emergency assistance 24/7, please call or text 913-208-5209. Donations and volunteers are always welcome.

Family Support & Resources: We know there may be times when unexpected circumstances present a hardship for families in our community. Blue Valley has resources within each school available to help students through challenging times, including counselors, social workers, school psychologists and building administrators. On the District website, the Student Well-Being page provides valuable information for families who may need support outside of what the school provides. We also want to make sure you are aware of a Family Support and Resources link under the Families heading on our school website. Information submitted on this form related to a specific situation and family need will be reviewed by the building principals and the school social worker. While we cannot guarantee that we can provide the requested resources, we will do our best to identify and recommend available support.

Families of bus riders, please sign up for Durham Bus Services notifications. Get the information if your student’s bus is late or going to be in a different numbered bus. Click HERE for Durham’s Website and Textcaster Link

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all our schools. We are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of situations. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

OMS Families, please share any candid photos you take during the school year This is for the yearbook so:

• No blurry or out of focus shots

• Upload a few shots (but no duplicates please)

• Please put in folder associated with your grade or event

• OMS events only

• .jpg or .png ONLY (no .HEIC)

Click HERE to upload photos for the 2024 2025 Yearbook

OMS has many clubs and activities before and after school. Look at our Activities page for clubs starting next week and check back often for updates. Click HERE for OMS Activities page

Click HERE for 24 25 Club Listing by Day

OMS families, every school has procedures in place for the safety of our students and to provide the best learning environment for everyone. Each year we check and update our procedures on everything from forgotten lunches to visitors in the building. Please refer to our 2024 2025 Student Planner, our School Information or Families tabs on the OMS Website for everything including:

• Reporting an Absence

• Dropping off forgotten homework, shoes, etc

• Visitors in the building

• Outside/restaurant food

• Sports eligibility

• Lunch money accounts

• So much more!

For students who do not receive bus transportation, families may fill out this form to see if other families near them are interested in arranging a carpool. Anyone who fills the form out will want to check regularly for new additions. Families who use this form will reach out to other parents and guardians on this form to arrange any carpools.

OMS Carpool Interest Form

Please help our OMS carline move smoothly by following the OMS traffic loop. All cars enter the parking lot through the south entrance and exit through the south entrance.

Parents/Guardians may NOT drop kids off in our south parking lot. This creates a safety hazard for staff entering and exiting the parking lot before and after school. Thank you for keeping our community safe!

Bell Schedules & Calendar / Bell/Class Schedules (bluevalleyk12.org)

OMS FAQs: student handbook, lockers, etc.

Building & Traffic Flow Map

OMS Staff Directory

Want to keep up on the latest OMS announcements and information? Check out the NEWS section on the OMS website. NEWS is located under the About Us tab.

Click HERE for OMS NEWS

Attendance Number: 913-239-5505

Mrs. Domoney, Principal: cdomoney@bluevalleyk12.org

Mr. Holsapple, Assistant Principal: jholsapple03@bluevalleyk12.org

OMS Calendar

OMS School Website

OMS Library Homepage