Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and that you're enjoying the arrival of spring! As we head into the month of March, I wanted to take a moment to update you on some important events and reminders here at Overlook.

1. Upcoming Events: We have several exciting events planned for this month, including the first ever Cornhole Tournament at OMS on March 22 after school! We encourage all families to participate and showcase their talents and skills on the boards! More details about these events will be provided in the coming weeks. Additionally, there is a SEPAC workshop available on March 20 regarding understanding Basic Special Education Rights and Eligibility. (See SEPAC section below for details).

2. MCAS Standardized Testing: As part of our ongoing efforts to assess student progress and performance, standardized testing will take place during the following dates listed below. Please ensure that your child is well-rested and prepared for these assessments.

   ELA March 26 & 27 - Grade 8 makeups March 28-29

   April 9 & 10 - Grades 6 & 7 makeups April 11-12

   Any student who still needs to make up will be April 11-23.

   Math

   April 23 & 24 - Grade 8 Make-ups (as soon as possible)

   May 2 & 3 - Grades 6 & 7 Make-ups (as soon as possible)

   STE (Grade 8 only)

   May 15 & 16 - Grade 8

   Civics (Grade 8 only)

   June 4 & 5

3. Health Office: Overlook has had several cases of strep throat this week affecting all grades. Symptoms may include sore throat, headache, stomach ache or fever; not all symptoms need to be present. If your child is not feeling well with any combination of these symptoms; it's recommended that you consult with your child's doctor about a throat culture. Nasal congestion is typically not associated with strep.

   Also a reminder that students should be 24 hours fever, diarrhea or vomit free without medication before returning to school after an illness.

   Thank you. Nancy Taylor RN

4. Community Engagement: We value your partnership in your child's education and encourage your active involvement in our school community. If you're interested in volunteering or participating in upcoming events, please reach out to our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) or the school administration for more information.

5. Stay Connected: Remember to stay connected with us through our school website, social media channels, and newsletters for the latest updates, announcements, and resources. We appreciate your ongoing support and participation in our school community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. Together, we can continue to make this a successful and fulfilling academic year for our students.

Warm regards,

Kristina Bogosh

Washington DC News (10 weeks and counting)

A few updates from your Washington DC advisors:

The final DC payment to Nation's Classroom is due March 10th. If you do not complete this payment you should expect to be contacted by Nation's Classroom and your child may be in danger of not attending the trip. If you have any questions or concerns about your payments please contact Nation's Classroom at inspire@nationsclassroom.com or call (877) 270-1776.

Thank you to the PTO for raising money to make it financially possible for all interested 8th-grade students to attend this trip. Based on the money raised the PTO has been able to purchase T-shirts designed by Triss Plooster and backpacks designed by Ellarie Healey for all students and teachers.

Mark your calendars for the mandatory parent meeting on April 4th at 6:00 pm in the Team Room. We will be discussing the agenda, expectations for both parents and students, and health needs. We will also be looking for parent volunteers to help at luggage drop-off. Please make every effort to attend. If you can not attend we will be sending home the Google Slide presentation.

This meeting is for parents ONLY, not students. Due to space in the Team Room, we cannot accommodate both parents and students during this meeting. Students will have their meeting at a later date.

Please make every effort to attend, but if at least 1 parent or caregiver is unable to attend, we will be sending home the Google Slide presentation the next day. Please take the time to review it and understand the expectations and consequences outlined.

We look forward to seeing you on April 4th. If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to e-mail Kristin Belkin at kbelkin@awrsd.org or Colleen Moran at cmoran@awrsd.org.

Triss Plooster and Ellarie Healey are the winners of the DC Trip 2024 T-Shirt and Backpack designs! Congrats! See designs below!

The new February edition has arrived! Check it out HERE.

The 8th grade Parent Yearbook Ad deadline is Friday, March 29. This 8th grade parent only option may be purchased and completed through the buytheyearbook.com website.

Yearbook orders/sales will end on Friday, April 12. Go to www.buytheyearbook.com and use the code 719089.

If you feel inundated with emails or have trouble keeping up with email, Parent Square has a great feature if you download the application to your phone. The application will allow you to receive text notifications on school information/updates without having to rummage through your email's inbox to find them.

7th Grade Students worked with Veronika Patty, Gardner's community outreach coordinator, to learn about the dangers of vaping through a fun escape room activity. 7th grade health classes are participating in this program.

Coming prepared to school doesn't just mean bring a pencil and notebook - it also means making sure chromebook is charged. Please ensure your child's nightly routine includes charging their chromebook for the next day of learning.

SMART watches are considered a personal device. Teachers have found that they can serve as a considerable distraction to students during class. They are also banned by the state during MCAS testing. We ask that all SMART watches be left at home or in the lockers during the school day. Please and thank you.

Students cannot enter the building before 7:10am as there is no supervision.

Between 7:10-7:20, drive around the back of the building and have student exit by south side of building and walk up the front sidewalk to the front doors.

Between 7:20-7:30 drive around back of building and have student exit through the back door monitored by a staff member.

Breakfast begins at 7:20 (students can exit the bus at this time if eating breakfast only).

Students exit bus at 7:30.

Classes begin at 7:35am.

Dismissal is at 1:50pm.

Please be sure to not park in the general parking areas to let students off or pick them up. Use the line that goes behind the school. This is a safety concern with students running through parking lots and parents disrupting traffic patterns.

Also, please pay attention to staff members directing traffic. Do not drive-by when they ask you to stop.

Passing busses with flashing lights is a $250 traffic citation.

Students should not be wearing pajamas or slippers to school. This is part of our dress code. We do on occasion have a spirit day where students are allowed to wear pajamas as a "treat" but appropriate, everyday school attire does not include pajamas or slippers. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for school. Thank you!

• If students come to school in slippers or pajamas we may ask that parents come and bring the appropriate attire to school for students to change.

Students are only allowed water for drinks in class. There have been some young business entrepreneurs at OMS that have been selling the popular "Prime" drinks (as well as other things such as candy and sneakers!). Students are not authorized nor allowed to sell anything at school. Moreover, these drinks are not allowed. Please ensure that your student is not bringing these drinks to school or buying or selling these drinks (or any items) at school or on the bus.

We see the school and home as a partnership. We ask to review these expectations with your child in an effort to create unified expectations from both the school and home fronts. Please see the matrix attachment below to review with your child.

• If your student requires an epipen or inhaler at school or during after school activities, they must have written parent permission and doctor's orders on file with the health office whether the medication is in the health office or they are carrying it. If you are not sure about the status of your student's paperwork or have any questions, please contact me at ntaylor@awrsd.org.

• According to the Massachusetts school immunization requirements, it is recommended that students receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine at age 11-12. One dose is required in Grade 7-12. It is typically given at the physical before entering Grade 7.
• The meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) is also required with the first dose typically given in Grade 7 and the second dose given in Grade 11.
• Please submit documentation of these vaccines when your child receives them. This may be faxed by your physician's office to 978-827-4986, emailed to me or brought to school by your child (not recommended as frequently it is forgotten in the backpack).

• **In order to play sports, you must have an up-to-date physical in the last 13 months and must go to the Athletic website page and complete the online registration. Any questions please contact Athletic Director edawley@awrsd.org.

• Lastly, we want parents to know that if students call a parent/guardian to pick them up because they are not feeling well and a nurse has not officially dismissed them for medical reasons, this is an UNEXCUSED absence. We ask parents to discourage their child from trying to call home to be dismissed.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new, free MPY Parenting Solutions Library. To date, over 2,200 videos have been borrowed. MPY is offering the MPY Parenting Solutions Library in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. When parents grasp the interconnection between the brain, body, and behavior, they experience reduced stress levels, resulting in less stress for their children.

The Peace At Home Parenting Solutions team, comprised of experts with advanced degrees, stays abreast of the latest advancements in child development. With more than 30 specialists focused on child and adolescent development, including specific issues such as difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, handling racism, navigating grief, and other matters parents and our partners identify. These experts present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.

Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. The 24 library presentations focus on the topics below. Each presentation includes a 10-minute videos and handouts.

· Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle and High School Students

· Parenting Principles for Progress Not Perfection

· Mental Health Knowledge and Skills

· Support Your Anxious Child Library

· ADHD and Autism: How to Help Your Child Thrive

The Home Parenting Library may easily be accessed using the link: https://peaceathomeparenting.com/mpy-solution-libraries/ No log in or passcode is needed.

• NIH Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449671/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27247125/
  
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183915/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kGZvNbfrNag
• WEBSITE: https://www.humanetech.com/youth
• https://www.humanetech.com/take-control
• https://www.humanetech.com/future-generations
  
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdtQZAuVsflH0SuM9E6BMNyDkq9NPcjq/view
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zvHPmlIQios-a2llfLFyj6DbdMWB5h8S/view
• Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia
• PEW Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rv0g8TsnA6c
• TIME Article: https://time.com/5555737/smartphone-mental-health-teens/
• INFOGRAPHIC: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/technology-addiction-concern-controversy-and-finding-balance-infographic

• Smithsonian & NMAAHC WEBSITE (Race): https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
• Anti-Defamation League WEBSITE: https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/talking-young-children-about-bias-and-prejudice
• Oakland Library Resources DOCUMENT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0lCA3FlulVhK6DFE2d3uYCipc6ApY8Gn2rMwm6fYqw/edit
• PJ Library WEBSITE (Antisemitism): https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/february-2022/how-to-talk-to-children-about-anti-semitism
  
• Nick Helps WEBSITE (Bullying Prevention): https://www.nick.com/nick-helps/bullying-prevention/

PTO Updates & News

Next meeting is March 12th at 6:00pm in the OMS Library.

1. All are welcome to attend the meeting. Get the latest information about the school and how you can help from our Principal Kristina Bogosh and Vice Principal Lori Shattuck.

We will be looking for eager parents to participate in committees to help plan teacher appreciation week on May 13th-17th and concessions at the upcoming drama performance of “The Wizard of Oz” in April . Come hear what it is all about on March 12th.

We are starting now looking for donations for our teacher and Staff Appreciation week in May. We are looking for donations that can be raffled off during teacher and staff appreciation week. All donations will go back to our staff, thanking them for all they do. Can you Knit? Do you have a special service or own a business? Do you have a season ticket? Would you like to donate a gift card? If you would like to donate something please e-mail overlookmspto@gmail.com. We appreciate all you are willing to do.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Corn Hole Tournament on March 22nd at 1:50 after school. Fun and Prizes!! Also, be on the lookout for an upcoming school supply opportunity. Get all the school supplies you need for each grade without going to the store and before this year ends. Details to come!

A huge thank you to PTO who raised over $8,000. This allowed us to pay for student scholarships, t-shirts, and backpacks for all students and teachers attending the trip.

We would also like to thank all of our generous sponsors for your support and help in sending our 8th-grade Eagles to Washington. The PTO could not do what it does without the support of a caring community. Thank you again for your thoughtful gift to the Overlook Middle School PTO DC Field Trip.

Gold Sponsors

• Batallas Electric.

Silver Sponsors

• Ashburnham Dental Arts

• Central Mass Organics

• McCaffrey Insurance

• Red Carpet Disposal

• Wachusett Brewing Company

• Wachusett Restoration

• Yamin Orthodontics

• Zen Yoga

Bronze Sponsors

• A'NA Nails
• Athol Savings Bank
• Brother's Pizza
• Cushing Academy
• Dr. Rowe Orthodontics
• Edward Jones-Jahan Manasseh
• Gelinas and Ward,LLP
• GFA Gardner
• Hampton Fish Co.
• Lana Kopsala-Coldwell Banker
• Overlook PTO
• Pelletier Properties
• Walker Orthodontics

Take a look at our website https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/overlookmspto/home or our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram OverlookMSPTO for all the latest information.

Please check the Portal regularly. Google Classroom is not an accurate indicator of grades. Please reach out to the teacher directly if you have any questions.

Registration information below.

General membership to the Ashburnham-Westminster Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is open to all AWRSD parents/guardians of children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans and other interested parties. We are in need of volunteers to help plan workshops, staff tables at local school and community events, become future leaders, assist other parents, and plan new activities and projects. We welcome you to learn more about SEPAC and our work on our website, https://sites.google.com/view/ashburnham-westminster-sepac. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashwestsepac. Please contact Justine Muir if interested in SEPAC jmuir@awrsd.org.

Ash-West SEPAC in collaboration with AWRSD Department of Pupil Services, invites parents and caregivers to this informative workshop on basic rights. This workshop focuses on Evaluation and Eligibility and is a comprehensive introduction to special education laws and procedures. We will dive into the purpose of the law, referrals, evaluations, and the team meeting process including determining eligibility. Further discussion will focus on services, placement, and what to do when you receive a proposed IEP. You will learn what to do if the student is not eligible and the parent’s procedural due process rights for resolving disputes.

See flyer below for details to register.