Dear Oak Middle School Families,

This is a friendly reminder that there will be no school on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We also want to share a couple of important reminders. Since returning from winter break, we have noticed an increase in students using their smartwatches, such as Apple Watches, to send messages during the school day. Please remind your child that per our Code of Conduct, cell phones should be on silent or turned off and kept in their lockers or backpacks during the school day. Smartwatches should be set to “Do Not Disturb” mode to ensure they are not used for messaging or other distractions. Overall, we are pleased that students are following these guidelines, which positively impacts both learning and behavior.

We also need your help when it comes to students feeling unwell during the school day. If your child contacts you to say they are not feeling well and want to be dismissed, please encourage them to visit the health office first. Our nursing staff will assess their condition and contact you directly if dismissal is necessary. This process helps us ensure that all students are properly cared for and reduces the number of students texting home to dismiss themselves without visiting the health office.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns. 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

Parents/guardians: We need your help! If your child contacts you during the school day stating they feel sick and need to be dismissed home, please encourage them to come to the health office and we will call you. We are trying to cut down the number of students texting home and dismissing themselves during the school day. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you!

Oak Nurses

Please remind your child that cell phones and smart watches are not to be used to message others during the school day. Overall, students are adhering to the Code of Conduct and not using phones during the school day. This makes a positive impact on learning and behavior. This rule extends to smart watches as well. If your child is wearing a smart watch during the day, it should be set to block notifications or on the "Do Not Disturb" setting. As always, if you need to contact your child during the school day please call the main office.

The Oak Speech Team is excited to share the results from our first two competitions of the year.

On December 7, 2024, a small group of 8th grade students represented the Oak Speech Team at the JT Thomas Winter Speech Tournament in Taunton. Congratulations to the following finalists:

Maansi Inavolu and Bhavishka Yadanaparthi, 1st place in Duo

Shivani Shankar, 1st place in Prose

Irina Biswas, 2nd place in Original Oratory

Abrar Haq, 4th place in Original Oratory

Katherine Zhang, 4th place in Impromptu

And to the team of Akshaya Seshadri and Katherine Zhang for winning their Big Question Debate round.

On Sunday, January 12th, thirteen novice (new to speech!) students participated in the Happy New Year Novice Tournament at Sherwood Middle School. Congratulations to the following students for being ranked first in at least one round of competition:

In Children’s Literature: Saket Nikte, Katherine Terova, Ivana Wu

In Declamation: Adhvik Aravind, Ruchir Mangaonkar, Aayush Saha

In Demonstration: Jason Lin

In Original Oratory: Shameer Chaudhary, Pallavi Padala

The team is gearing up for our next competition, Stand Up for Speech at the Pike School in Andover, on January 26th.

POISE, a parent support group for Shrewsbury Speech and Debate, is excited to announce an incredible opportunity for your middle schooler this winter break!

With POISE: Becoming a Confident Public Speaker
Looking to build confidence and master the art of public speaking? Join our Public Speaking Camp from February 18 to February 20, where students will have a blast learning how to:

• Express themselves clearly

• Captivate an audience

• Share ideas with confidence

Through engaging activities, interactive coaching, and expert tips, participants will gain skills to become confident speakers while having fun and making new friends!

Bonus: Campers will be coached by members of Shrewsbury High School's award-winning, nationally ranked Speech and Debate team, which is recognized among the top 20 teams in the country!

Sign Up Now: https://www.shrewsburysd.org/poise/wintercamp

This week's Lunch and Learn guest speaker is Mr. David Lambert, a licensed mental health counselor based in Westboro. He also works with probation and parole agencies in MA. He is passionate about helping children and adults work through their challenges and is eager to speak with students interested in pursuing a similar path. Mr. Lambert initially studied to become a middle school math teacher but changed his career direction during college. He wants students to know that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away, and he is hoping to inspire students who are interested in helping others. Registration is not required - all students are welcome to stop by during their lunch period!

We are approaching that time of year when we begin to register all 8th grade students for classes at Shrewsbury High School. Mark your calendars: An information night for the parents of all incoming grade 9 students is planned to take place at SHS on Tuesday, 2/11/25 at 6:30 PM (Snow Date Wednesday, 2/12/25 or Thursday, 2/13/25 at 6:30 PM). Stay tuned for more information regarding high school registration in the OMS Weekly Newsletter in the coming weeks.

Want to get involved or just share your ideas? We’re all ears.

Fill out this quick 2024-2025 Sherwood/Oak PTO survey.

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, February 6 at 7:00pm.

Here’s how to join: https://app.zoom.us/wc

Meeting ID: 851 4598 4921

Save the Date! Harlem Wizards Game | April 1, 2025

The Sherwood/Oak PTO will once again be hosting the Harlem Wizards right here in Shrewsbury to play a game of trick basketball against Shrewsbury teachers and administrators. Since last year's event was such a big success, this year it will be held at Shrewsbury High School so even more families can get in on the fun. We'll be inviting all of the Shrewsbury Elementary schools to participate and raise money for their schools as well. Stay tuned for more details and ticket sales.Stay tuned for more details and ticket sales.

Let’s get social.

Follow the Sherwood/Oak PTO on Facebook @ShrewsburyMiddleSchoolPTO and Instagram @sherwood.oakpto for news and information.

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.

January

20- No School

23 - No BCOEI

23 - Cycle 3 Ends

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