OMS Pirate Press Weekly Newsletter
Week of May 27-31, 2024
Hiking Club Adventures
The hiking club wrapped up this past week. We had 23 students who participated throughout the weeks. Every week the group went on new adventures and walking/hiking paths around the OMS/OHS campuses. OMS staff members Mr. Tremblay and Mrs. Crutcher joined Ms. Greenough and student hikers from time to time. The grand finale of their walk, pictured below, included walking over the floating bridge for those that dared to do so. Fun was had by all!
A Visit from Therapy Dog, Maple
Animal Assisted Therapy Services visits us every Wednesday. This week we had a visit from a different therapy dog, Maple, who is a 6 year old golden doodle. Maple was gentle, docile, and loved being pet and groomed by our students, and sit in on reading circle times.
Who Said Learning Can't Be Fun?
Students in Mr. Moriarty's grade 6 Western Civ class just completed studies of the Abrahamic monotheisms as part of the frameworks for Ancient Israel and the Arabian Peninsula. As a fun review challenge, Mr. Moriarty created the challenges based on the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Students completed a Blooket review game within their teams to determine difficulty levels for their physical challenges. One challenge was a timed obstacle course of sorts, another involved figuring out a riddle based on the Five Pillars of Islam and spelling out the correct answer on plates, and then the blindfolded task which had students taking different routes and getting help from different vantage points based on their academic review performance.
Spree Day Preparations
OMS is in the preparing for Spree Day, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11th with a rain date of Wednesday, June 12th. If you are available and interested in volunteering to help supervise Spree Activity Events and OMS students, please see the link below to sign up. Please know that a CORI will need to be completed in advance of assigning and you will need to sign a district chaperone form.
Please reach out to our OMS Staff Spree Chairs Ms. Granger mailto:cgranger@oxps.org or Ms. Blood mailto:mblood@oxps.org with any questions.
Link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AA5AF2BA4F8C07-49553163-spree#/
#Attendance Matters
Attendance Matters Stats and Info
Week of May 17-23, 2024: OMS Attendance Rates:
- Grade 6: 96.5% Great job grade 6!
- Grade 7: 93% Nice improvement, grade 7!
- Grade 8: 95.9% Great job, grade 8!
- OMS: 95% Way to go OMS! We hit our goal this week!
Our goal is 95%.
OMS Week of May 10-16 Perfect Attendance Subway Lunch Winners
We raffled a Subway luncheon, choosing one student at random who had perfect attendance for the week of May 10-16th.
We will hold our last raffle drawings next week to wrap up our Attendance Matters mission.
Schedule and Important Notes and Highlights for the Upcoming Week
Schedule for the Week of May 27-31, 2024
Major Events this week:
- Oxford Town Take Over Day at Woo Sox Saturday, May 25, 2024
- Oxford Town Take-Over Day at Woo Sox game at Polar Park, Worcester. Info below in community section. Don't miss it! OMS chorus is signing The National Anthem or JROTC presenting the flags and colors as well as many Oxford Youth Groups there as well!
- Grade 8 MCAS Civics Test May 28-29! Please send students to school witch charged chromebooks,. These are the last of MCAS tests for the year!
- Grade 8 Semi Formal Ticket Sales extended through May 31st, $15 per ticket
- Grade 6 Field Trips this week by class (see below under daily schedule).
- NJHS Induction Thursday, May 30th 6:00 p .m. OMS Auditorium
Daily Schedule:
- Monday, May 27, 2024:
- No School, Memorial Day
- Tuesday, May 28, 2024: C Day
- Grade 8 MCAS Civics exams in advisory classrooms
- Wednesday, May 29, 2024: D Day
- Grade 8 MCAS Civics exams in advisory classrooms
- Grade 6 Field Trip Dinosaur State Park- Douka and Wagner
- Thursday, May 30, 2024: E Day
- History Club
- Book Club
- Advisory Day; Grade 8 visited by OHS Dean of Students in advisoy
- NJHS Induction 6:00
- Grade 6 Field Trip Dinosaur State Park -Ehalt and Kane
- Friday, May 31, 2024: A Day
- Grade 6 Field Trip Dinosaur State Park -Moriarty and Racicot
Important Notes and Highlights for Week of May 27-31, 2024
- Grade 8 Civics MCAS Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29th.
- This is a field test.
- Students need to bring their charged chromebook
- Spree Day Volunteers Needed:
- OMS is in the preparing for Spree Day, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11th with a rain date of Wednesday, June 12th.
- If you are available and interested in volunteering to help supervise Spree Activity Events and OMS students, please see the link below to sign up.
Link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AA5AF2BA4F8C07-49553163-spree#/
- Please know that a CORI will need to be completed in advance of assigning and you will need to sign a district chaperone form.
- Please reach out to our OMS Staff Spree Chairs Ms. Granger mailto:cgranger@oxps.org or Ms. Blood mailto:mblood@oxps.org with any questions.
- Grades 6 and 8 Field Trip Reminders:
- Grade 6 Field Trips are Wed-Thurs-Fri
- Douka and Wagner on Wednesday 5/29
- Ehalt/Kane on Thursday 5/30
- Moriarty/Racicot on Friday 5/31
- Grade 8: Field Trip is Friday, June 7, 2024 to View Boston, Prudential Center.
- Grade 8 semi formal is Friday, June 14th 7:00-9:00.
- Tickets are now on sale in OMS Main Office $10 through May 17th and $15 May 20-24th. Tickets not on sale at door.
- This is a semi formal dance, not formal. dress pants, collared shirt, skirt, blouse, dress/sundress.
- Grade 8 students may take an OMS grade 7 or 8 student as a guest, but the grade 8 student is responsible for ticket purchase and must host them--arrive with them.
- No formal wear or limos. Light refreshments will be served.
- Reach out with questions or concerns about attire.
- Flyer below.
- Library Book Info: All library books need to be returned to the library by Friday, May 24th. We will close book check out on Friday, May 24th. Notices will be sent home after May 24th to those who have not returned books.
- Woo Sox Town Takeover Day: Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Polar Park, Worcester. See info below under Community Events. OMS chorus students will be singing.
MCAS Testing Information
MCAS Dates
- MCAS Dates and Preparation: While students are expected to bring their OMS issued chromebook to school daily, it is especially important to be sure that students have their chromebooks with them for the following days for MCAS preparation and MCAS exams:
- Last MCSA Exams are:
- MCAS Civics Grade 8: May 28-29; this is a new test being given by DESE and is a pilot field test.
2. How to best support your MCAS Test Takers:
- A good night sleep. Recommend bed by 9, remove technology before bed.
- A nutritious breakfast to feed the brain.
- Hydration, drink water.
- Charge their Chromebook the night before.
- Send them to school on time with their chromebook all charged and with charger in hand, a clear refillable water bottle
3. MCAS Rules/Guidelines:
- Absolutely no cell phones, earbuds, or other electronic devices are to be out, seen, or used during MCAS. Failure to comply may result in student scores being compromised/nullified by state.
- No snacks or beverages other than water during MCAS testing in test sites.
- It is recommended that students bring an alternate book/magazine to read when finished with MCAS. OMS Library is closed during the school day on MCAS testing days as it is a test site location.
Save the Date:
Save the Dates:
- Grade 8 recognition: Friday, June 14, 2024 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Auditorium. Max 2 guests per student. More info to come
- Grade 8 semi-formal: Friday, June 14, 2024 7:00-9:00 p.m.
- Semi Formal.
- Ticket Info: May 6-17 $10 each; May 20-24 $15 each; tickets not sold at door
- 8th grade students are allowed to bring 1 guest from either OMS grade 8 or OMS grade 7
- Light refreshments will be provided as part of ticket price
- Additional candy/snacks may be purchased
- Spree Day: June 11, rain date June 12. More info to come.
- Grade 6,7,8 Class Trips: Field Trips have been announced and classes are in the process of disseminating permission slips
- Grade 6: Dinosaur State Park, 2 classes per day due to max numbers at location May 29, 30, 31st
- Grade 7: Went to Ultimate Obstacle, classes split over 2 days due to max numbers at location: May 14 and 15
- Grade 8: Friday, June 7th to View Boston at Top of the Hub Prudential Center.
- Last Day of School: With 3 snow days so far, the last day of school is currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th, which is a scheduled half day of school.
Stay After School Reminders
Stay After School Reminders
Students must have a signed permission slip to stay after school with a supervised club, activity, help session, or Homework Center. We need verification of staying after in writing. Homework Center is by teacher recommendation only for days they are not available to work with students. Students must be engaged in work in the homework center or they will be sent to spend the remainder of time with our Admin until late buses or parent/guardian arrival and put future time in homework center in jeopardy. On the rare occasion that students forget to have the slip signed that was provided/requested by the teacher, we ask that you please email main office staff kdupuis@oxps.org and jestrella@oxps.org before 1:00. However, this should be the exception not the rule. If this method is abused, we will have to suspend this practice. We will not be arranging last minute requests to stay after when the teacher had not requested it and slip was not provided in advance. We will not accept calls as the method of request, as we must have documentation. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this.
Cell Phone and Electronic Device Reminders
- Chromebooks: Students are reminded that Chromebooks are a daily necessary item for school and should be present with them daily, charged and ready to go. Students are encouraged to bring their charger with them to maintain connectivity throughout the day. Chromebooks should be treated with respect and are property of OXPS.
- Cell Phone/Personal Electronic Device Reminder: OMS has an away for the Day Cell Phone/Personal Electronic Device Rule. Students are not permitted to access, use, or have cell phones/personal electronic devices, including earbuds, visible during the school day. We've had an uptick in Cell phone and earbud visibility and usage. Please help us to keep our educational time uninterrupted by not contacting your child via cell during the school day. Instead, if you need to get a message to them, please contact 508-987-6074. Students will received progressive consequences for failure to comply with these expectations. Thank you for your support and cooperation as we keep our time at OMS focused on academics and safety.
Food and Snack Information
As a middle school, we do not have a scheduled snack time like elementary school. Students should bring a clear, refillable water bottle to school. Students should not be consuming snacks in classrooms without permission and the hallways should be clear of food and drinks other than water. Students permitted to consume a snack in the classroom are responsible for cleaning up and they should not become a distraction from learning. Students are only permitted to access the vending machines during lunches and after school. We do ask if packing a lunch or snack, please consider the type of snack and whether it's appropriate for a school environment. As a reminder all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch and please send your children to school with refillable water bottles, as we have water refill stations throughout the building.
School Menu and Food Services Information
- The May OMS menu is copied below.
From the Health Office
- Ms. Packard is on maternity leave 5/20 until the close of the year. Please contact Nurse Iott with any questions or concerns mailto:tiott@oxps.org
- Unsure of whether your child should attend school with an ailment?
- Check out the guidelines: https://www.smore.com/n/4tsnm-nurses-notes
- FYI Guidelines on Viral Respiratory Infections: https://www.smore.com/n/g1mp5-nurses-notes
- 7th Grade Physicals
- According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Laws, a physical examination is required for each student upon entry into public school or entrance into a new public school district plus at intervals of three to four years thereafter. To be in compliance with this law the Oxford Public Schools, requires updated physical examinations in the 4th, 7th and 10th grades.
- If you have not done so already, please send in a current physical complete with an updated immunization record. If you are unsure what your child is missing please email school nurse at mailto:tiott@oxps.org You may send in a copy with your child or have the pediatrician’s office fax it to 508-987-2588.
Given you and your family’s busy schedules, I appreciate your time and effort regarding this Oxford Public School requirement.
Friends of Oxford Middle School (FOMS) Fundraisers and Info
FOMS Spirit Wear Fundraiser
FOMS is sponsoring an 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
*****NEW***** FOMS Spirit Wear Shop has started to add club and team clothing. So far, they have field hockey, soccer, track and field, art club, music, and Yearbook club added. 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!
FOMS Pirates Cove School Store Days
Pirates Cove School store will be open during lunches on the following days:
- June 7
OMS Club Info-Get Involved!
Book Club
Do you love to read? If so the Book Club may be for you.
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.
June Meeting: May 30th, June 6th last meeting
Homework Club and Center
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, but some rare Tuesdays due to long weekends 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 . No homework club Monday, June 10 2024
Grade 8 Fall Football Workouts:
OMS Grade 8 Students interested in playing football at OMS in the fall: Grade 8 students interested in playing football at OHS in the fall of 2024 are invited to participate in the Football weight training program. The program runs Tuesday-Thursday for OMS Students 2:00-3:30 at OHS weight room. Students will need a permission note from parents to attend, submitted to OMS office. Students will take late buses and get picked up from OHS at conclusion of club meeting time. Any questions, please contact Coach Jeff Clarkson mailto:jeffrey_clarkson@msn.com
Community Events
Oxford Town Takeover Day at Woo Sox
Oxford Day at WooSox: Oxford will be the special guest at the WooSox Town Takeover Day on May 25, 2024. We will have several Oxford students involved in the game day proceedings as well. All proceeds this year will go to support the Booster Club, which does an amazing job supporting athletics, performing arts and various clubs/activities for our students. Tickets are now available via the following link, just look for Oxford on Saturday, May 25th! https://www.milb.com/worcester/tickets/town-takeovers
Oxford Community Youth Athletics
Oxford Annual Boy's Basketball Clinic 2024
The Oxford Public Schools will sponsor a Boys’ Basketball Clinic to be held this summer at Oxford
High School. The Clinic will be held 3 days. Please see the attached flyer.
Middle School Field Hockey Clinic
There will be a middle school field hockey clinic at Shepherd Hill, Dudley May 28th 3:00-4:00 p.m .This clinic is for new and experienced players. Please see attached info and sign up sheet.
Oxford Webster Youth Football and Cheer 2024 Registration
This group welcomes children ages K-8th grade. Registration information is attached below.
Field Hockey Clinic and Girls Basketball Clinic
Please see attachments below for information regarding local field hockey clinic and girls' basketball clinic.
Community Groups and Supports
Th NAN Project Informational Meeting about Children's Mental Health
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
GRG Support group-join us!
The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) and caregiver support group meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month from September to June @ 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Oxford High School. Coffee and snacks will be provided, please park in front and come in the main entrance. Feel free to contact Kimberly Rockwood with any questions-(978) 413-8989- all are welcome!
NAMI Support Group
NAMI Support Group via Zoom:
We are collaborating with NAMI to offer a FREE new Support Group for caregivers of pre-teens and teens with mental health challenges provided for our Oxford families by the Central Mass chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).
NAMI Support Group for Caregivers of pre-teens and teens with mental health challenges is a peer-led support group for any adult who cares for a child or adolescent who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. The group will enable you to gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. You are not alone. NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get what they need.
FREE of cost to participants
Designed for adult loved ones of young people with mental health conditions
Led by family members of people with mental health conditions
60-120 minutes long and meeting weekly, every other week, or monthly (varies by location)
No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed
CONFIDENTIAL
The NAMI Support Group for caregivers of Pre-teens and Teens with mental health issues (POPTT) will begin on Wednesday evening, October 25th, from 7:00 – 9:00pm, via Zoom, and continue on the fourth Wednesday evening of each month. To sign up for this group, please email Robin at robinbahr1@gmail.com or Joy at cummingspj@worcesterma.gov. Please indicate that you are interested in joining the POPTT group; give your email address and the best phone number at which to reach you. The email link will be sent the day before each meeting.
Helpful District and School Resources
- 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/b2fc/08/30/23/192743-caa5596d-7c83-451f-8868-d753af9ebf0d.pdf
- District Events: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/district_calendars
- School Hour changes, per district updates and the implications for OMS students. The link to the school hours is here: https://www.oxps.org/apps/pages/school_times .
- 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
- Athletic Schedule: https://sites.google.com/oxps.org/athletics
Bus Stops and Times:
- Bus stops and times are currently posted on our website at:
- Here are additional instructions for parents to view buses traveling in real-time on the First Student website when awaiting pickup or drop off:
- If you have any questions please email our bussing team at transportation@oxps.org.