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.

Only a few updates for you for this week. Last week I had a lot of updates, so if you forgot to read last week's newsletter, feel free to check it out again.

A few things to note...

Ottoson is excited to introduce the 84 Movement. This club is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco and vaping products and advocating for healthier choices in our community. We know that the tobacco and vaping industries target young people, and it's time for us to take a stand. Join us to learn more about the risks associated with these products and share your ideas. Our first meeting will be after school on Wednesday, October 10th from 3:15-4:15, location TBD (likely the health classroom). Please see Ms. Ferrazzani for more information!

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

This Week:

• Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024
• Ski Club Informational Meeting
• After school in room 332
• Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2024
• The 84 Movement; 3:15 to 4:15 (location TBD; likely the health room)
• Friday, Oct. 11
• Panorama Opt-Outs Due: follow the instructions

Looking Ahead:

• Oct. 14 - Nov. 14: Panorama Survey Window Open
• Monday, Oct. 14
• No School; Indigenous People's Day
• Wednesday, Oct. 16
• Coffee and Conversations via Zoom with Principal Rubino; 11 a.m.
• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82016907168?pwd=OKaqamZxVukvCsoVKxjH8eYasaUmPg.1
• Topic: Signs of Suicide (SOS) Screener
• Early Release @ 1:20; Staff PD
• Thursday, Oct. 17
• Signs of Suicide (SOS) Parent Information Night; 6 p.m. @ OMS media center/library
• SOS opt-out form due today
  
• Wednesday, Oct. 23
• OMS Community Conversations: Interrupting Hate Speech: An opportunity to engage in dialogue centered around building our collective capacity to promote inclusivity in and out school; 6 p.m. @ AHS Cafetorium. Hybrid - A Zoom link will be included for families wishing to join remotely.
• Wednesday, Nov. 13
• School Picture Retakes

Arlington Public Schools District Calendar

Our district values your feedback! We are surveying Arlington Public Schools families to understand your perception of our school and district effectiveness. We need your feedback to ensure we continue to provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and careers. To administer these surveys, we have partnered with Panorama Education to conduct our 2024 Fall Family Survey, Student Survey, Student SEL & Well-Being Survey, and Teacher Survey.

Opt-Out and Additional Information

The survey opt-out for students will be available for families on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you do not have an account or need assistance logging in, please contact your child’s school. The main page of the Parent Portal has a list of staff members at each building to contact.

Once logged onto the portal, please follow the instructions to complete the opt-out form.

Please notify us by Friday, October 11th, if you would like your child to opt out of taking either student survey.

Please find a copy of the Student Surveys for grades 3-5 and 6-12 and the SEL & Well-Being surveys for grades 3-5 and 6-12. The Student Survey will take students about 8-20 minutes, and the SEL & Well-Being surveys will take approximately an additional 8-12 minutes.

We appreciate your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact Matt Coleman at mcoleman@arlington.k12.ma.us.

When teens are struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, it is common for them to turn to each other. This is why it is important for every student to learn Act, Care, Tell (ACT). In SOS students learn to look for the warning signs of suicide.

As parents, It can be tough to bring up the topic of depression and suicide, but these conversations are essential. Please join us in learning more about the SOS program at Ottoson.

October 16th at 11am on Zoom

October 17th at 6:30 at Ottoson

Please help us plan accordingly and RSVP HERE.

(The zoom link will be provided only to those who RSVP)

For questions related to the sessions, please contact Suzanne Hawkins, district social worker at shawkins@arlington.k12.ma.us

Here are a few reminders from the OMS Health Office:

If your student has a life threatening allergy requiring epinephrine (Epipen) or asthma needing a rescue inhaler and you have not provided the Health Office with a new action plan and the required medication, please do so as soon as possible. A new action plan is required at the start of every school year.

If your student is a 7th grader, please sign in to your SNAP Health Portal and update the standing order medications permissions for this school year so that the nurses can provide your student with necessary medications if needed when they visit the health office.

If your student is an 8th grader, we are excited to announce that we will be rolling out the SNAP Health Portal for all families with 8th grade students. Beginning the week of September 30th, all Grade 8 families may begin using the SNAP Health Portal. The portal is a fast and easy way for you to communicate health information for your child to the school nurse and receive information from the school nurse. Please watch your inbox for an email from noreply@studentehr.com. If you already have a SNAP Health Portal login from a student in a different grade/school, once you receive your invitation for your 8th grader, just log in and your 8th grade student should be viewable in the drop down menu with your other student.

If you have any questions please reach out to the Ottoson School Nurses at ottoson.nurse@arlington.k12.ma.us.

Our best,

Sarah Barker and Jillian Gomes

Ottoson Middle School Nurses

As you may remember, this summer I started a book club for the OMS community. We read and discussed “Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times” by Phyllis L. Fagell.

I plan to hold a second event to discuss this book, so if you haven't read it yet or were unable to make the first event, here's your chance. The date is TBD, but it will likely be an evening in November or December. After that event, we will select a book to read for the second half of the school year. I hope you will consider reading this book and joining me in a dialogue.

CLICK HERE to see the book on Amazon.

The Menotomy Math Club at Ottoson Middle School is an exciting new club designed to deepen students' engagement with mathematics. The club will meet every Friday morning from 7:25 to 8:25 AM starting from September 27 (room TBD).

Unlike traditional math programs, the Menotomy Math Club focuses on the creative side of mathematics—problem creation. This innovative approach will allow students to design their own math problems and develop critical thinking skills in preparation for a mathematics competition organized by the club later in the school year.

By participating in the Menotomy Math Club, students will:
- Enhance their problem-solving abilities through original problem creation.
- Develop critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Foster teamwork and collaboration in a supportive environment.

We believe this club will not only enrich students' understanding of mathematics but also inspire a lasting interest in STEM fields. If you have any questions or would like more information on how you can get involved, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you for supporting this exciting new initiative at OMS!

For more information, please email Prathamesh Gupta at pgupta2029@spyponders.com.

BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. An affinity lunch group is a group of people who come together to share a common interest or experience. In the context of BIPOC, an affinity lunch group is a group of people who come together to discuss and support one another in their shared experiences as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The purpose of this type of group is to create a safe and supportive space for BIPOC individuals to connect and share their experiences, and to provide a sense of community and solidarity.

Robotics club uses LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kits. Students will get hands-on experience building and programming their own robots, exploring the exciting world of robotics and coding. Perfect for aspiring engineers and tech enthusiasts, this club offers a fun, educational environment where imagination and technology come together. We meet every other Thursday (starting in October) from 3-4PM in Ms. Fradin's room. Reach out to lfradin@arlington.k12.ma.us with questions.

The yearbook club will start meeting after February break. It is open to all students, and the day of meetings will be determined by what works best for the students. Anyone interested can email scarlson@arlington.k12.ma.us

The Ottoson Insider is a student-run newspaper club at Ottoson Middle School, offering a platform for students to share news, stories, and opinions about school events, student life, and current happenings. Whether you're interested in reporting, photography, creative writing, or design, The Ottoson Insider provides an opportunity to develop your skills, work as part of a team, and have your voice heard. This is your chance to stay informed and inform others—because The Ottoson Insider is a news source for Ottoson students, by Ottoson students! Meetings will be held Thursdays from 3-4 in Room 305, beginning September 26th.

Mirabile Scriptu, Ottoson’s Literary and Art Magazine, is a space for students to showcase their creativity through original writing and artwork. Whether you're passionate about poetry, short stories, essays, painting, or photography, Mirabile Scriptu celebrates student voices and imaginations. Our editorial team works together to solicit, select, edit, and present a diverse collection of submissions, creating a publication that highlights the talent within our school. Share your vision, inspire others, and be a part of something amazing! Our first information meeting will be Monday, October 7th. Google Classroom Code: kcipbzt

History Day is a National contest. Students will research a topic based on this year’s theme: "Rights and Responsibilities in History." Each project will use primary and secondary sources. Students will create a project and compete at the district contest in March. First meeting: Friday 9/20 after school in Mr. Levy's classroom (445) Contact information: Mr. Levy: jlevy@arlington.k12.ma.us History Day google classroom code: ogghykw

Jewish Club: Jewish students and staff members gather together to celebrate and connect at various intervals during the year. Build positive memories and experiences associated with a proud Jewish identity!

Art Club - a guided open-studio art club! Art Club meets Thursday after school in room 326. Students will work on both independent projects and group projects and activities. There is no requirement to sign up - students can come any time in the year!

World of Difference Peer Leaders

*Provide students with opportunities to develop and practice leadership and social action skills

*Provide a forum where young people can learn about and discuss bias and discrimination

*Use positive peer influence to promote healthy, supportive and respectful educational environments

Thursdays 3-3:30 in room 214 Vicki Ross vross@arlington.k12.ma.us

AAPI Affinity Group, Wednesdays from 3-4. A designated safe space for the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students of OMS to gather and talk about shared experiences, learn about each other's' cultures, and discuss about identity in a predominantly white community. Email is abonnettekim@arlington.k12.ma.us

Drama Club. The club will meet every other Monday at 3:00PM until rehearsals for the fall show begin. The first meeting will be Monday, September 16th. Students are welcome to join the google classroom for additional information. 5fbnjgl

Current Events Club: We will investigate current events and create posters, bulletin boards, flyers or newsletters to keep OMS informed. This club will run after school on Tuesdays in room 457.

Science Olympiad or (SciOly) Division B (middle school level) is planning to meet after school on Mondays. We will typically meet in Miss Little's classroom, room 210 and will be joined, usually virtually, by Science Olympiad members from AHS Science Olympiad for help with various topics and preparation for competitions.

Science Olympiad Division B or (SciOly) is a club for interested students who share a common curiosity for science and learning as well as participating in team based competitions. You can still participate in Science Olympiad without competing, we can discuss this further at our meetings. This is a club you will be able to continue to participate in at AHS in the high school division if you are interested in doing that.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Miss Little (8th Grade Science Fire LC) at klittle.arlington.k12.us.ma who will be the advisor for SciOly at Ottoson.

Queer Students Alliance will be held on Tuesdays after school 3-3:45 in room 232. It is a drop-in club, you do not have to come to every meeting, and everyone is welcome! If you have any questions email Ms. Miller (kmiller@arlington.k12.ma.us). Google Classroom code: u6kq7l7

KnitWits - crochet and knitting club. Fridays from 3 - 4:00 in Room 302 Hang out with friends, chill, and do some hand crafts. No experience necessary - we can teach you and we have materials!

Take climate action with the Ottoson Green Team!

We meet Wednesdays from 3-4pm in Room 232

Our google classroom code is 2pwwqiq

The Middle School Student Council is a group of students who plan fun events, and work on projects that improve the school community. It's a great way to develop leadership skills, make new friends, and make a positive impact at school! Meeting dates: Thursdays from 3 - 4 p.m. in room 446. Please reach out to Ms. Akeson (kakeson@arlington.k12.ma.us) for more information.

There are many voluntary opportunities at Ottoson for extra singing outside the school day. Our small groups are open to any Ottoson students who are in chorus, band or orchestra, OR who cannot schedule big groups due to a scheduling constraint. So if you have a friend in those circumstances who loves to sing, please send them our way! In addition to the concerts, the small choral groups perform at Great East Festival and go to an amusement park in the spring. If you are interested in auditioning for small groups, you can try out for Harmonics or Dynamics. If you don’t want to audition, you can join Bel Suono or Singing Bros. *All students accepted into Harmonics and Dynamics must also participate in Bel Suono or Singing Bros*

Bel Suono is for grades 7 and 8 female identified singers as well as students who are non-binary; the group sings SSA music. Bel Suono meets Friday mornings from 7:30-8:20am in rm. 102. There is no audition, come to be assigned your voice part on Friday morning, September 13th from 7:30-8:20am. Please join the google classroom with code: wnxhxcl

Singing Bros is for grades 7 and 8 male identified singers as well as students who are non-binary, we sing SATB music. Singing Bros meets Friday mornings from 7:30-8:20am. No audition, come to be assigned your voice part on Friday morning, September 13th from 7:30-8:20am. Google Classroom code is 46yqap2.

Harmonics is open to all grade 7 and 8 students. The group sings SATB music and is for the more experienced singer. There is an informational meeting on Tues. September 10th at 3pm in rm. 102. The audition will be on Sept 17th from 3-5pm (you can leave after you audition). Approximately 20 singers are accepted. Rehearsals are Tuesday afternoons from 3-3:45 and accepted singers must commit to the rehearsals. To learn more about the audition process for Harmonics, please join the google classroom at code tz3flao.

Dynamics (show choir) open to grade 7 and 8 students. Please see Mr. Smith in rm. 101 for audition information! Dynamics (Show Choir) meets Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7:30-8:20am.

First info session will be September 11 at 7:30am in Mr. Smith's room 101(we will go through the audition song). Auditions are September 16th at 7:30 am. Dynamics google classroom code is icrmbvi. The practice tracks music and dance for your audition will be posted in GC August 28th.

Junior Districts

There is an opportunity for all singers to audition for Northeast Junior District Festival. The auditions will be on February 1, and if accepted, the festival is March 12, 14, and 15. We start working on music in late October. This is an incredible opportunity for interested singers! Check out https://www.northeasterndistrict.org/junior.html. Google classroom is h3idxzj.

Spring Musical

This year we will be performing Newsies Jr at the beginning of May. Auditions will be the first week of November. Google classroom code for the auditions is i7o5sba. If you have any questions, email the director, Mrs. Antonakas at nantonakas@arlington.k12.ma.us or the music director Mr. Smith at nsmith@arlington.

Drama Club

This year’s director of the Drama Club is Ms. Scott. Be sure to go see her and say hi in rm. 222. You can email her at bbeldenscott@arlington.k12.ma.us. Drama club google classroom code is: 5fbnjgl

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 Dr. Michelle Crawford will be working primarily with grade 7 students and families.

The staff list will be available on the website at the start of school. We are in the process of updating it to reflect the new learning community assignments and new OMS staff. I will feature our new staff, including photos, in a future newsletter.