Dear Oak Middle School Families,

We have some exciting events coming up at Oak Middle School!

Spirit Week:

Monday, 10/29: Pajama Day

Tuesday, 10/30: Blue & Gold Day

Wednesday, 10/31: Dress as Your Favorite Character Day

School Dance: Join us on Friday, November 1, for our school dance! Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door. If your family is experiencing financial hardship and would like your child to attend, please reach out so we can make arrangements.

Lunch & Learn Coming to Oak Middle School:
We are excited to announce the launch of our very own "Lunch & Learn" speaker series, modeled after the popular program at Shrewsbury High School. This initiative aims to provide middle school students with valuable opportunities to explore and learn about potential future careers. We plan to kick off the program in November and are currently looking for guest speakers who can share their experiences and insights.

Guest speakers will meet with students during lunch periods, between 11:10 AM - 1:15 PM.

We also need your help supporting respect and responsibility at Oak Middle School.

At our recent community meeting, we recognized students who demonstrated respect—one of our core values. We continue to emphasize the importance of speaking respectfully and ensuring that our language choices are inclusive and free from hurtful content. While some comments may be intended as jokes or made between friends, they can still cause harm and negatively impact our school community. We encourage everyone to think before they speak and strive to build each other up with kindness.

We need your help in reinforcing these values by discussing them with your child at home. Your support plays a crucial role in fostering a positive, respectful atmosphere at school.

We are also focusing on treating our school spaces with care. This means picking up after ourselves, not throwing trash on the floor, and using the bathrooms appropriately. Small actions like these can make a big difference in keeping our school clean and welcoming for everyone. We appreciate your help in encouraging these habits at home.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. 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

Lunch and Learn Guest Speakers Needed for Oak Middle School

Oak Middle School is starting it’s own "Lunch and Learn" speaker series and we are looking for guest speakers. Modeled after the Shrewsbury High School "Lunch and Learn” program, the OMS Lunch and Learn is designed to provide our middle school students with valuable opportunities to explore and learn more about potential future careers. We are hoping to start the Guest Speaker program in November. Guest speakers will meet with students at Oak Middle School, during the 5 lunch periods between 11:10am - 1:15pm. An overview of the Lunch and Learn program can be found here and the registration form is here. A schedule of open time slots can be found here. Contact kkeohane@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!

The Oak Social is next Friday, November 1, 5:30 - 7:00

Seventh and eighth graders are invited to Oak’s first social of the year! This year’s theme is Starry Night. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 cash or check made out to SMS PTO. This is a student drop off event.

Please help fill our concession stand for the Oak Social!

You can simply choose an item from the Amazon Wish List and have it delivered to the school, or pick up an item listed on the Sign Up Genius and drop it off at the Oak office. Thank you in advance!

• Amazon Wish List

• Sign Up Genius

Sign Up for the Oak Spelling Bee

Oak’s 5th annual spelling bee will be held on Thursday, December 19 at 6:00 pm! The cost will be $20 per student with a maximum of 50 students per school.

Sign up today!

Parent Survey: We’d love your input

Please take a few minutes to fill out our 2024-2025 Sherwood/Oak PTO survey. Your input will help us as we continue to plan for this year and think ahead for the next!

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, November 7 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.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Shrewsbury Public Schools during the week of December 2, 2024. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.

Shrewsbury Public Schools will be undergoing a Group B monitoring review that addresses special education teacher and related service personnel licensure and professional development; parent, student, and community engagement, including compliance with Child Find requirements; facilities and classroom observations; implementation and oversight of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); time and learning, and equal access.

The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.

Shrewsbury Public Schools will host an orientation about the review process in collaboration with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Charles Agong, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3753 to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report that includes information on further actions that may

Beginning Monday, October 28, the Food Service point-of-sale system will not have the option for students to charge a second meal or charge a la carte items if they have a negative food service balance or insufficient funds in their online account to cover the cost of an item. For more information, please click on the following link to the Food Services website.

Oak will be offering a student Yoga class after school on Wednesdays, starting October 30th.

Registration is now open through our enrichment registration site, Eleyo.

Schedule: Wednesdays 3:15-4:15

Dates: Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, Dec 4 and Dec 11

Cost: $40 for the 6-week session

Teacher: Ms. Pierce

You will need to enter a credit card at the time of registration, but your card will not be charged until we have sufficient enrollment.

Contact Karen Isaacson if you have any questions or need any assistance. kisaacson@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

Oak Middle School will be hosting a Veteran's Day Assembly on November 8th 2024 at 9:20 A.M. We would like to host as many veterans connected to Oak Middle School and the greater Shrewsbury community as possible. We are also looking for three veterans that would like to participate in the ceremony. Students are preparing interview questions for veterans and we would be happy if you could share some (middle-level appropriate) stories that are meaningful to you about your service. Questions will be provided in advance to give you time to prepare, so no surprises! We would love to hear from you!

At the very least, we would like to recognize your service by including your name and affiliation in a slideshow that will be used during the assembly should you not be able to attend. If you have a veteran in your family or friend group, please reach out to them to fill out the form.

All parents/caretakers are invited to join our district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). This committee plays a critical role in shaping the policies and practices that impact our students with disabilities, and we value your participation.

Please read the attached letter from Meg Belsito, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, to learn more. An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 29th, with time and location to follow.

We will be offering a Ski Club for the 2025 winter season. The Ski Club is not a team. All skiers and snowboarders are welcome to join! Registration opens October 2, 2024 and acceptance will be on a first-come first-served basis. The earlier you get your pass the more likely you are to reserve a spot. Please note that we are limited to 100 students.

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.

October

Fall Spirit Week:

10/29 Pajama Day

10/30 Blue/ Gold day

10/31 Dress as your favorite character

31 - Advisory Day - Panorama Fall Survey

31 - No Homework Due Friday November 1st, no quizzes, tests or other assessments on November 1st

31 -No BCOE

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