OMS Pirate Press Newsletter

Parent Square:

Oxford Public Schools will be moving toward the free online app called Parent Square for all Communication. Please sign up now so that you don't miss out on any important communications from the schools or district, including weekly newsletters and weather related school cancellations, as we will be moving away from the One Call Now system this year. Go to the following link to get started: https://www.oxps.org/apps/news/article/1961166

After School Snack Program: As part of the free breakfast/lunch program, the state has approved a free after school snack program. The program will begin at OMS on Monday, October 7th. In accordance with state guidelines, these snacks must be distributed at least 30 minutes after the close of the school day. Therefore, they will be available in the main office from 2:15-2:45 daily. Students will need to provide name to obtain snack for food services record keeping in compliance with the state regulations. A menu for the month of October Snacks is located in the food service section below.

Water Bottles: Please pack a refillable water bottle with your child daily and remind them to drink water throughout the day. With seasons changing and heat coming on soon, the air will be dryer and students will benefit from hydration. They are beginning to present with dry throats to the nurse yet are not consuming water. Please encourage this at home through discussions and packing a water bottle for them. Thank you!

• Important Notes and Updates
• Schedule for the Week of September 27-October 4, 2024 and Upcoming Events for Oct 7-11
• Save the Date Info for upcoming important OMS events
• Breakfast and Lunch Info
  
• From the Health Office
  
• Clubs and Activity Info
• FOMS events and fundraisers
• Money Madness and Butter Braid FUNdraiser!
  
• Fundraiser--Spirit Wear
• Community events
• Oxford Night at Worcester Railers with OMS grade 7/8 chorus singing National Anthem--ticket info in Community Info section.
• Save the Date info for upcoming events
• Important Reminders
• After School activity guidelines
• Guidelines for morning drop off and afternoon pick up
• Helpful district and school resources

• Monday, September 30th: Regularly scheduled day
• Musical Finding Nemo Practice 2-3:30

• Tuesday, October 1st: Regularly scheduled day
• After School Chorus begins this week. Students must have signed permission slip to stay after. See Mr. Sampson for more information.
  
• NJHS meeting. Students must have signed permission slip to stay after. See Ms. Wagner or main office for permission slips; Officer Speeches will take place at this meeting.
• Game Club begins this week. Students must have signed permission slip to stay after. See Ms. Berthiaume with any questions
• Esports Tuesday league Chess, NBA2K25 3:30-4:30; Students must have signed permission slip to attend.
• Musical Finding Nemo Practice 2-3:30
• Wednesday, October 2nd: Regularly scheduled day
• National Custodian Day! Please take a minute to thank our custodians for all they to do maintain our building!
• Therapy Dog Visit
• After School Band Students must have signed permission slip to attend.
• Art Club; Students must have signed permission slip to attend.
• Thursday, October 3rd: Regularly scheduled day
• Crocodile River Music Visits OMS
• Grade 7 students receive djembe drum lessons throughout the day
• Art Classes get to work with artifacts
• School wide assembly in afternoon
• Musical Finding Nemo Practice 2-3:30
  
• Esports Thursday League: Smash Ultimate and Rocket League 3:30-4:30. Students must have signed permission slip to attend.
• Library closed, no HW Center Club today.
• Friday, October 4th: Regularly scheduled day
• Pirates Cove School Store Open
• Finding Nemo Musical Rehearsal CANCELED today
  
• Library closed

Upcoming Events Next week Oct 7-11:

• Picture Day, Tuesday, October 8th. Please find the flyer with the order code below.
• Grade 8 Bay Path Tour permission slips due: Friday, October 11th

The Scholastic Book Fair is blasting off and heading to the Oxford Middle School. It should touch down in OMS Library on Monday, October 21st and orbit the Library until October 25th. As you might have guessed, the theme this year is “Books Are Out Of This World.” The Book Fair will be during School Hours Only.

All OMS students will have a chance to visit the Book Fair during their Specialists periods. Our book fair will feature fabulous books, school supplies and posters.

Cash or checks will be the accepted form of payment as well as the eWallet option. Please make checks payable to the: Town of Oxford. Information about the eWallet can be found on the Book Fair website. The Book Fair Homepage/Website is: www.scholastic.com/bf/oxfordmiddleschool2

Hope to see everyone at the Book Fair! It will be a “blast!”

• Grade 8 High School Transition Info:
• Bay Path Info:
• Informational Meeting at OMS RE: Bay Path Regional Vocational/Technical High School Admissions: September 27th during advisory.
• Bay Path tour Wednesday, October 23, 2024 in the morning. Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School will be hosting our annual 8th Grade Tour on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024. Our students will take the bus there in the a.m. and will be back before lunch at 11:40 or bagged lunches will be provided by Bay Path. Permission Slips will be distributed in advisory and are due by Friday, October 11, 2024.
• OHS Info:
• OMS Students will tour OHS on October 28th
• OMS grade 8 students and families will get an invitation to tour OHS and learn more about their programs for the evening of October 29th.
• OMS School Picture Day: Tuesday, October 8th
  
• Traxx from Worcester Railers visits OMS lunches: October 16th
• OMS Chorus sings National Anthem at Worcester Railers: October 19th. Ticket Info below in Community Info section
• OMS Scholastic Book Fair: October 21st-October 25th during school hours. See section below titled, "Scholastic Book Fair."
• Halloween Dance for OMS Students: Friday, October 25, 2024 6:30-8:30; OMS students only, no guests. Students must be present in school on Friday 10/25 for at least half the day and be in good standing behaviorally to attend. Students with behavioral infractions and/or suspensions leading up to dance, may not be allowed to attend. Tickets are $5 and will be on sale Oct 15-24 at lunches. Ticket sales are final. Tickets will not be available at the door.
• Haunted Hallways: Thursday, October 31st.
• Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conference Dates:
  • Monday, November 25th afternoon and evening times available
  • Tuesday, November 26th: afternoon times available
  • Thursday, March 6th: evening times available
• OXPS School Year 2024-2025 Calendar: https://4.files.edl.io/4acb/01/24/24/145713-e7ec4bb5-ee84-4575-880d-b5dc3f62160b.pdf
• Upcoming Calendar Notes for school closures/early releases:
• October 14: no school-holiday.
• November 5th No School Students for Election Day and Staff Professional Development day.
• November 11th: Holiday
• November 25 and 26 half day early release students for conference days (see below)
• November 27-December 1: School closed for Thanksgiving Break

Student meals are free this year and available daily to students.

Our breakfast for the first day of school will be grab and go.

Students arriving late to school will be able to obtain a grab and go breakfast daily upon arrival.

The lunch menu is linked here: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/food_menus

After School Snack Program: As part of the free breakfast/lunch program, the state has approved a free after school snack program. The program will begin at OMS on Monday, October 7th. In accordance with state guidelines, these snacks must be distributed at least 30 minutes after the close of the school day. Therefore, they will be available in the main office from 2:15-2:45 daily. Students will need to provide name to obtain snack for food services record keeping in compliance with the state regulations. A menu for the month of October Snacks is located in the food service section below.

Do you want to play or learn a variety of games with your peers? Then gaming club may be for you! Students will have the opportunity to learn and play a variety of games such as chess, checkers, board games, card games, and family style games. This is a great way for students to interact, socialize, and build community. This club will take place every other Tuesday beginning on October 1st in the cafeteria. Dates of gaming club are as follows: Oct 1&15, Nov 19, Dec 3 & 17, Jan 7 & 21, Feb 4, March 4 & 18, April 1 & 15, May 6 & 20. You can join by week, month or year. Students interested should obtain a permission slip, get it signed and return to the Main Office or adviser, Ms. Berthiaume. Questions, see Ms. Berthiaume mailto:dberthiaume@oxps.org See flyer below.

Attention video gamers, we are getting ready to kick off our Fall-Winter season of Esports, which is an online gaming platform where students compete against students We have two offerings--Rocket League, which is limited to students ages 13 and up who compete against students across the state and nation. That club will meet on Thursdays along with Super Smash League. Equipment is provided for this platform.

There will also be a Tuesday section that has a variety of school appropriate games such as Chess, NBA2k24, and Splatoon. Students may need to bring their own equipment to school on these days and store the equipment with Ms. Kniskern for the day.

There will be an informational meeting on Tuesday, September 24 after school with Ms. Kniskern. Students need signed permission slips to attend the informational meeting and future esports days. Please reach out to Ms. Kniskern with any questionsmailto:akniskern@oxps.org

Are you interested in learning more about videography and video editing? Join Video club! Video club will begin on Tuesday, October 8th and run on Tuesdays after school through December 17th with Mr. Janerico. Students will need permission slips to attend. Permission slips are in the main office or can be picked up with Mr. Janerico. Questions? Email Mr. Janerico mailto:jjanerico@oxps.org

After school band will run on Wednesdays after school from 2:00-3:15 with Mr. Kim in the band room 122. Students staying for band will need a signed permission slip to stay for this club. Students will be able to take late buses home. Late buses begin September 8th and run between 3:15-3:30. Students interested should see Mr. Kim or reach out by email with any questions mailto:mkim@oxps.org

Homework Club will begin on Tuesday, September 10th!

Need help, time, and resources with homework, research, projects, and studying? The Homework Center will run on Mondays-Tuesdays-Wednesdays-Thursdays after school 2:00-3:00, with the exception of the once a month faculty days held mostly on Mondays. Students wishing to stay will need a blue Homework Center form signed by a teacher with a specific assignment/project to work on and the parent/guardian signature. See or email Ms. Kennen for permission slips and with questions. mailto:akennen@oxps.org .

The Homework Center will be closed on the following dates: October 3-4; October 7; October 10, October 16.

National Junior Honor Society had its first meeting on September 17th in Ms. Wagner's classroom. Students who did not attend need to see Ms. Wagner to make up the meeting time as part of the NJHS bylaws.

The next scheduled meeting for NJHS is October 1st. At this meeting, NJHS will be electing new officers for this school year. Officer speeches are due to Ms. Wagner by September 27th.

The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is an organization that recognizes middle school students for their academic excellence, character, citizenship, leadership, and service. Students with qualifying grades and conduct/citizenship are invited to apply annually.

Are you interested in reading some great books? How about discussing and sharing your favorite books with other students? If so the Book Club may be for you.

The book club will run after school on the dates below from 2:00-3:00 in the OMS Library with Ms. Kennen.

Book Club Dates for the fall:

September 26; October 17 and 31, November 7 and 21; December 5 and 19

See or email Ms. Kennen for more information about the club's next book and next meeting. akennen@oxps.org . Students wanting to stay will need to submit permission slips.

Do you like to sing? Do you like to act? Or maybe you love creating scenery or helping behind the scenes. Don't miss out on being a part of this year's OMS Musical Production! Auditions for speaking roles were on Thursday 9/19 and Friday 9/20 after school in the auditorium. Students only needed to stay for one day to audition for a speaking role. Speaking role info is posted outside the auditorium and the cafeteria. Missed it but still want to participate? Please see Ms. Nasis in room 285 or email her mailto:cnasis@oxps.org . The rehearsal schedule is copied below. Ms. Nasis will be creating a Google Classroom and invite all students affiliated with the production.

Are you interested in having a voice to help plan events and activities for OMS? Student Council may be for you. Students interested in pursuing student council must complete recommendation forms and submit to Ms. Granger. Please see or reach out to student council adviser, Ms. Granger with any questions mailto:cgranger@oxps.org . The next student council meeting is October 9th.

Are you interested in art, exploring new art mediums, improving your artistic skills? Join Art Club! Art Club has limited space for 20 students per session. Art club will have 2 sessions as outlined below:

• Session 1 will run on Wednesdays September 18th through November 6th; Permission slip linked below. "Art Session 1 2024"
• Session 2 will run on Thursdays November 7th through January 8th

Fall Art Club Session 1 is now full. We will announce sign ups in late October for fall/winter Art Club.

• Please if you have not done so already, please return the health forms to the school nurse and send in a current physical with update immunization records It is important we have update information in our system.
• Those wanting to drop off medication for your child to take during the school year please contact me. You will need a doctor's order and a signed parent/guardian consent form when dropping off the medication. We cannot accept medication from a student. This includes students requiring inhalers and epipens.
• As we enter the colder New England months, we inevitably will have periods of cold and flu symptoms that will arise. Please see the attachment to help guide you with regard to protocols and suggestions for when to attend school and/or when students may need to stay home to recover.

Feel free to reach out anytime with questions or concerns: acronauer@oxps.org.

• All students are expected to depart campus by their recorded departure means (bus or parent pick-up/walking). If a parent/guardian needs to alter the afternoon departure means, we must have a note on file.
• All students must depart at dismissal time unless we have written permission where the student will be staying for a supervised school activity.
• Students staying after school at OMS must have a signed permission slip to stay in a staff supervised club or activity.
• Students are not permitted to remain on campus to hang out before an athletic or school event that they want to attend later in the day.

We reach out to request the assistance of all parents/guardians/families who drop-off and pick-up your children off at Oxford Middle School. These requests are being made in order to keep everyone on campus safe, manage traffic on campus, and expedite student arrival to school. Safety is paramount and your cooperation will help to support safety of those on campus and expedite the arrival and dismissal process for all OMS students and families.

Morning Drop Off:

If you drop-off your child off in the morning, we ask for your cooperation in assisting us with getting our students inside OMS in a safe and expedient way by doing the following:

• Arrive on campus to drop off between 7:00-7:15 a.m.

• OMS doors open at 7:10 a.m.

• Proceed to the Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up Area to drop students via the following method:

  • Proceed and/or wait along the left side of the entry lane with grassy area on your left, following the flow of traffic toward the drop-off lanes..

  • Proceed to the cross over drive between the grassy area and the flag pole with the grassy area on your left and flag pole on your right.

  • When traffic is clear in main exit lane of our campus, travel across to the Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up lane.

  • Drop in the student drop off lane at OMS only.

  • PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD in the drop-off lane to drop off your child.

  • DO NOT stop to drop in a space that is convenient for you or the child as that creates traffic and safety issues on campus. Please be considerate of buses and of other families looking to drop their child in an expedient way to get them to school on time and in a safe manner.

  • Do not block the bus lane.

• School begins promptly at 7:20 a.m. Please have your child on campus to be in class on time for 7:20, which typically means that you must drop on or before 7:15 for this to happen.

• The front of the building is reserved for school transportation only and/or medical drop offs that are pre-arranged.

• Do not drop off in front of the building in the bus lane until after 7:25 a.m. for late arrivals.

Afternoon Pick-Up

If you pick-up your child off in the afternoon, we ask for your cooperation in assisting us with dismissing our students from OMS campus in a safe and expedient way by doing the following:

• Arrive on campus for 1:55 student pick-up.

• OMS dismisses students taking buses at 1:50 or bus arrival.

• OMS dismisses student walkers and parent/guardian pick up at approximately 1:55 following departure of buses. This is done in this order so that buses can leave campus in a timely manner so that they can pick up Barton and Chaffee students according to schedule.

• When arriving to campus to pick-up in the afternoon:

• Proceed and/or wait along the left side of the entry lane with grassy area on your left, following the flow of traffic, toward the pick-up lanes. .

• Proceed to the cross over drive between the grassy area and the flag pole with the grassy area on your left and flag pole on your right.

• When traffic is clear in main exit lane of our campus, travel across to the Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up lane.

• There are 3 pick up lanes along the sidewalk.

• PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD in each lane, filling lane along sidewalk first, then middle lane, then left lane next to bus lane.

• DO NOT stop to pick up in a space that is convenient for you or the child as that creates traffic and safety issues on campus.

• The crossing guard will direct you to depart campus, one lane at at time until campus is cleared of parent/guardian vehicles.

• As the crossing guard dismisses each lane, stay to the right when exiting right and stay to the left if exiting left onto Main Street in order to expedite departures from campus.

• Please be considerate of buses and of other families looking to pick-up their child.

• Do not block bus lane.

Please note that our drives have one way pattern of traffic. Please note there are DO NOT ENTER signs coming from the faculty lot/front of building to the entry lane of our campus. Also, please remember to be cautious of speed when entering our campus as well.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience in the morning and afternoon to follow these guidelines to keep our campus and our students safe and everyone arriving and departing our campus in an efficient and timely manner.

• FOMS will be announcing more details soon about upcoming FOMS fundraisers:
• In October we will sell the delicious BUTTER BRAIDS with a delivery right before Thanksgiving.
  

• January we will be hosting a Winter White Out dance (grades 6-8).

• And in March, the delectable NOTHING BUNDT CAKES will be sold.

Congratulations to OMS Grade 6 on winning the FOMS Money Madness! Sixth grade students will be the recipient of a Pajama and Popcorn Movie event on Tuesday, November 26th.

Thank you to all students and families for their support and contributions.

Want to be ready for the new school year with the latest Oxford and OMS gear? FOMS sponsors a year long OMS Spirit Wear Shop. You can order the latest in gear--t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, outerwear, hats, and more! . All proceeds benefit FOMS, which in turn benefit our OMS students and programs. Please see the link below to order and the flyer below for more info. https://www.kerringraphics.com/customer_portal/login.html?ut=b174a64a-ac5d-43a5-bfa2-424393e5bc8d

FOMS Spirit Wear Shop has started to add club and team clothing as well, should your child have special interests. There are several options--short sleeve tshirts, long sleeve tshirts, tank tops, shorts, sweatpants, a variety of sweatshirts, bags and much more! Stay tuned for more clubs and sports to come, as they are being added every week!

On Saturday, October 19th is Oxford Night at the Worcester Railers home-opener. OMS grade 7/8 chorus students will be singing The National Anthem. Game time is 6:05 and our OMS chorus will perform at 6:00. Ticket information is attached below in "Oxford Night Oct 19." We hope you can join us, wearing your Oxford Pride gear! Go Pirates, Go Railers! Link here for tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Oxfordnight1

OHS yearbook has partnered with Savers to do a clothing and household item fundraiser. Please see the attachment below to see how you can help to do some fall cleaning, pay forward your unneeded items in good condition by donating, while also helping OHS Yearbook to fundraise to reduce cost of the OHS yearbook. Items to be donated may be dropped at Oxford High School.

Oxford Pollinators invite you to join them in the Pollinator Habitat Community Challenge. This challenge asks you to replace a portion of your lawn or hardscape and replace with native plants. Any size counts. The goal is to provide 1 acre of new native plantings overall in our community. Plantings can take the form of a wildflower meadow, small large garden, raised bed, deck planter, window boxes, etc. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Please consider supporting the OXPD Operation Santa efforts to supply area families in need of gifts and necessary items during the holiday season by attending the Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser at P & D Pizza on October 21, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 (dine in or take out). Donations are $10 per person. Tickets are on sale at the Oxford Police Department. Fill your bellies while helping to fill the hearts and needs of local families. See the flyer below for info.

Oxford/Webster Youth Travel Basketball will be holding our tryouts at OHS on 9/26 and 9/27. Please see the attached flyer for information regarding tryouts. For more information, please go to https://www.oxfordwebsterbasketball.com. or email mailto:oxfordwebsterbasketball@gmail.com

• Are you getting text messages of our automated calls/texts/emails? If you are not currently receiving text prompts about school and district news, please send a message to the number 22300 and type ALERT in the message in order to receive texts in the future.
• Our District Calendar can be found via the following links:
• District School Day Calendar: https://4.files.edl.io/4acb/01/24/24/145713-e7ec4bb5-ee84-4575-880d-b5dc3f62160b.pdf
• District Events: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/district_calendars
• School Hours The link to the school hours is here: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/school_times
• • At OMS, doors will open to students (buses and drop-off) at 7:10--this is a change of 5 minutes from 23-24 school year. All OMS classes will begin at 7:20 a.m.
    
  • At OMS afternoon dismissal will run as follows: bus riders' dismissal 1:50; walkers, bike riders, and private transport dismissal 1:55
• Electronic Backpack: Please be sure to remember to check the electronic backpack for forms, letters, community announcements as well. The link to the electronic backpack for OMS is as follows: https://oms.oxps.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2070226&type=d&pREC_ID=2128528
• School Transportation Information: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/transportation
• School Breakfast and Lunch Menu: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/food_menus