Principal Rubino's Newsletter

In the black box at the top of the newsletter, select Translate Newsletter to pick the desired language.

· Portuguese: Na caixa preta na parte superior do boletim, selecione Traduzir Boletim informativo para escolher o idioma desejado.

· Spanish: En el cuadro de Negro en la parte superior del boletín de noticias, seleccione Traducir Boletín de escoger el idioma deseado.

· Arabic : في المربع الأسود في أعلى النشرة الإخبارية، حدد ترجمة الرسالة الإخبارية لاختيار اللغة المطلوبة.

· Vietnamese: Trong hộp đen ở phía trên cùng của bản tin, chọn dịch ký nhận để chọn ngôn ngữ mong muốn.

· Swahili: Katika sanduku nyeusi juu ya jarida, chagua Jarida la Tafsiri ili kuchagua lugha taka.

I'm so proud of the work of the OMS Peer Leaders who actively demonstrated throughout this past month how OMS students are different and united. The powerful message is a wonderful example of how the OMS community lives out our core values. Please read more about the bracelet project below! Thank you to the student peer leaders and Ms. Vicki Ross for leading the group and supporting the students' efforts.

Congratulations to OMS students who performed in the All Town Orchestra Concert this past weekend. Next up, the All Town Chorus Concert!

Now that the weather is starting to warm up (and hopefully stays that way!) students will wait outside until the bell rings at 8:25 a.m. If students wish to eat breakfast, they may do so when the cafeteria opens at 8 a.m. The AM program begins at 7:30 a.m. Only students enrolled in the AM program can enter the building to attend programming at 7:30 a.m. If you wish to enroll, you may do so here. As a reminder, families cannot drive into the school parking lot to drop off children.

I am planning to host an event for BIPOC families with Dr. Kalise Wornum and I would like to know your availability. Can you please complete this form to let me know a timeframe that works best for you? Once I have gathered input, I will select a date that works for most and also fits with Dr. Wornum's schedule.

The midpoint of Quarter 3 is this Friday. This is a good time for students and families to check grades in PowerSchool and reach out to teachers for extra help.

As always, please remember our core values: Engage, Empower, Excel: We work hard; we are kind, we speak our truth. Have a great week!

Please read on for important information for this week and beyond.

This Week:

• Monday, March 3
• Rising 7th grade caregiver info session at OMS
• 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Wood Gym
• Tuesday, March 4
• PTO Meeting; 7 p.m. @ OMS

Looking Ahead:

• March 10 - 14
• There will be some options for students regarding courses for rising seventh grade students (current sixth grade) and rising eighth grade students (current 7th grade) and we will begin talking with students about this process. Current eighth grade students will begin course selection for AHS in late March. You will hear directly from AHS and I will update 8th grade families when I have more information to share.
• Friday, March 14
• Heritage Day; 9 - noon in OMS Media Center
• Wednesday, March 19
• Civics Day
• YRBS

• Sunday, March 30
• METCO Bridging Two Communities Walk; 1 - 3 p.m. @ Franklin Park
• Tuesday, April 1
• SPACE Workshop - 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• SPACE is designed for families who find themselves struggling to navigate and support their child's anxiety.
• Tuesday, April 8
• SPACE Workshop - 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• SPACE is designed for families who find themselves struggling to navigate and support their child's anxiety.

Arlington Public Schools District Calendar

This month, the Peer Leaders led a diversity/unity project. The project demonstrated that although we are different (strands or colors in the bracelets), we are all united (those materials combined to make a bracelet) as students at OMS. We contacted the community on "Everything is Free Arlington, MA" to get donated bracelet-making materials through our faculty advisor, Vicki Ross. Then, the Peer Leaders handmade 200 bracelets for Ottoson students, which they handed out on February 28th during lunchtime. Students wrote community building messages on the post-it notes while picking out a bracelet.

Hello,

I am working on a graduate project focused on family engagement and would love to hear from caregivers about their experiences with homework. Your insights on how you and your child navigate homework and how schools can better support families would be invaluable. If you're interested, please take a moment to complete this short survey.

Thank you for your time and input!

Hilary Dawson

Team Chair/OMS

Arlington METCO is thrilled to invite you to the annual Arlington METCO Bridging Two Communities Families Walk! This special event, sponsored by Arlington METCO in partnership with FAM – Friends of Arlington METCO and Arlington-based organization GuineaFowl Adventure Company, is a wonderful opportunity to come together, connect, and celebrate our vibrant community. Please see the attached flyer for more details, and sign up here. This is a great annual event for the whole family! We hope to see you there!

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce that our free Parenting Solutions Library is now available in Spanish. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace at Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing 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. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.

The Peace at Home Parenting Solutions Library is a free, valuable resource for PTOs, SEPACs, ELLPACs and other parent-oriented groups. We request your assistance sharing this valuable and free resource through school-based newsletters and school-based organizations. For your convenience, we have created this handout. Please contact MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels at margie@mpyinc.org with questions.

Ottoson's Literary and Art Magazine, Mirabile Scriptu is looking for original student work in:

• Poetry
• Short Stories
• Essays
• Visual Art (paintings, drawings)
• Photography

Our editorial team will select and present a diverse collection of student voices and perspectives, highlighting the talent within our school!

Editorial meetings will begin after Winter Break. To get involved, students can join our Google Classroom: 6yn2mot

Work can be submitted anytime! Literary and Art Magazine Submission Form

If students have questions or want more information, they can reach out to Ms. Harte by stopping by Room 305 or emailing kharte@arlington.k12.ma.us.

Thank you for your support!

If your family is in need of support, please complete the APS Family Support Request Form. Once you complete this form we will share your responses with the family engagement department and/or school social workers or counselors to support your family.

Lost & Found items can be retrieved from Ms. Duffy at the main office. Please take a look and see if anything you are missing has been found.

Photo Gallery Link :

• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBlZCVjwomB0pHxObTkPqovawPv5lqqL?usp=sharing

What is SEPAC? The Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a volunteer group of parents, guardians, and caregivers that works to build a supportive community inclusive of all students, caregivers, educators, and stakeholders. It provides families with training and resources and collaborates directly with district administrators and the Arlington School Committee to promote effective family-district communications and appropriate service delivery and accommodations to students with disabilities. Learn more

Regular attendance is crucial for your child’s success. Please make every effort to ensure they are present and on time every day. This will be a focus of our administration and counseling team this year and you can expect to receive communication from the main office if your child is tardy or absent from school.

Please take the time to read through the handbook to review our policies regarding school attendance.

The best way to report any attendance issues (absence, tardy, or dismissal) for your child is by sending an email to the Ottoson absentee line – omsattendance@arlington.k12.ma.us

Please make sure to give us:

• Student Name

• a reason for the absence or tardy

• expected date of return

• for dismissal, the name of the person who will be dismissing your child

Students should arrive each day ready to learn, with all necessary materials and a positive mindset.

Ottoson does have AM/PM programming. Click here to register.

We encourage all students to stay hydrated throughout the day by bringing water bottles. Only water is permitted in the classrooms.

To maintain a focused and healthy environment, beverages such as coffee, energy drinks, or popular "pink drinks" from outside establishments like Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks are not allowed in the building.

At Ottoson Middle School, we are dedicated to providing an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Our faculty and staff are passionate about teaching and are here to support your child every step of the way.

We are excited about the year ahead and the opportunities it holds for academic growth, personal development, and building strong, lasting connections. Together, we will create a supportive and vibrant school community.

We believe in open communication and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns throughout the year. Our partnership with you is vital to your child’s success, and we are here to support you as well. Please reach out to your child’s teachers if you have any questions. You can expect communication from your child’s teachers and teaching team early on in the school year.

Your child’s grade-level assistant principal can help to provide communication and support. Ms. Lindsay Migliero will be working primarily with grade 8 students and families and Mr. Christopher Mahoney will be working primarily with grade 7 students and families.