OGMS Newsletter

Hello Ockley Families,

In the 2022-2023 school year, OGMS rolled out a cell phone policy at the start of Quarter 3. Over the past two years, we have seen a decrease in cell phone use during instruction, but many of our students continue to struggle to keep their phones away, often resulting in multiple redirections throughout the day. We have been collaborating with Jefferson High School and Tubman Middle School to take a collective step to support our "Off & Away" policies and require that any personal electronic device be stored in a Yondr pouch throughout the entire school day, starting February 3, 2025.

As you may be aware, last week, the PPS School Board passed a resolution to ban cell phones at all schools, starting next year. Here at Ockley, we feel prepared to support this ban now and believe the Yondr pouches will be a positive tool to support our students in meeting this expectation. By starting this year, in conjunction with other schools in the Jefferson Cluster, it will allow us to learn what works best for our school community in the use of these pouches and better prepare us to start next year with the momentum needed to successfully implement the new resolution of no cell phones.

We also believe this policy will help minimize distractions and create a more focused, engaging learning environment. It supports our ongoing commitment to improving student safety and well-being. By reducing the use of personal electronics during the school day, we aim to encourage more active engagement in learning, increase face-to-face interaction, and foster a stronger sense of community.

To provide more details, we will have a joint Yondr Family Information night with Jefferson High School and Tubman Middle School on Wednesday, January 22nd, 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This will be hosted by Jefferson High School in the Cafeteria. During this time, we will discuss the Yondr pouch system in detail and answer any questions you may have. We encourage you to attend to learn more about how this change will benefit our school and support student engagement in learning, reduce peer conflicts and improve our students' mental health.

Here is more information on how the Yondr pouch system works and why it is needed:

• Impact of Phone-Free Schools
• How Yondr Works

In Partnership

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Schools in the Roosevelt cluster are working on a Know Your Rights Resource Night to provide families space to gather information regarding immigration and connect to available resources from local organizations. We will send more information out, including the date, soon.

You can also learn more at the ACLU Immigrants' Rights webpage.

You can reach out to our Social Worker, Ms. Genie Gomez @ ggomez@pps.net for support.

Hello Ockley Green families and friends -

We would like to thank you for taking the time to look at our traffic circulation map provided by the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School team. PBOT staff visited our campus to conduct a traffic circulation observation and suggested the following modifications to improve traffic flow and student safety around our campus during the peak hours of arrival and dismissal.

Check out this informative Walk and Ride Safe flyer that includes resources to find the safest route to and from school.

Thank you,

-PBOT’s Safe Routes to School team

Dear Ockley Green Families,

On January 31st, we will host grade-level assemblies featuring a raffle to celebrate students with over 90% attendance. Regular attendance is crucial as it is linked to higher academic achievement, improved test scores, and valuable peer interaction within our community. We will continue to proactively support students to regularly attend school and every class. We value your partnership in supporting with positive attendance for your child. Some ways that families can support are:

• Establish a Routine: Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine.

• Prioritize Health: Encourage healthy habits like regular sleep, balanced meals, and physical activity.

• Communicate with the Teacher: Stay informed about your child's progress and any challenges they may be facing.

• Celebrate Successes: Reward your child for good attendance and academic achievements.

• Plan for vacations during school breaks to avoid missing important lessons
  
  

We thank the SUN Program for providing prizes to enhance school attendance and the partnership with our families to collectively support your child’s attendance.

Come join our Garden Crew at Ockley Green this Saturday

1/18/25

10:00 AM - Noon

Wheelbarrows, shovels and weeding tools would be helpful!

Our Dancers will perform during the Pre-Game Show at the Blazer Basketball game on Tuesday, March 18th. You can support our Capstone Dancers raise funds for their End-of-Program field trip with the purchase of tickets reserved for Ockley Green.

See more with our Event Flyer.

January 21st - Winter Dance Showcase

January 22nd - Yondr Family Information Night @ Jefferson Cafeteria, 6:00 - 7:00 PM,

January 27th - NO SCHOOL - Grading Day

January 28th - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Planning Day

February 4th - Late Start, Students @ 9:30 AM

February 26th - Early Release @ 1:45 PM