Principal Rubino's Newsletter

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.

We have made it to the final week of school (+ a half day!) for the 2024/2025 school year! This will be my final newsletter of the 2024/2025 school year. Early to mid-August, I will publish the 2025 back-to-school newsletter. Though this is my final newsletter of the school year, I still have a final communication to share with families regarding an update on the electives we are piloting in 2025/2026 school year; that communication will be shared prior to the end of this school week.

I'm so excited to celebrate our 8th grade students this week. We have many end-of-year activities planned for our 8th grade students starting with the field day and BBQ on Tuesday. Wednesday, the moving on ceremonies will take place on the softball field across from the school. Please refer to the detailed email I shared with 8th grade families last week for any questions on the events. As a reminder, all school rules apply during all of our end-of-year activities and failure to follow school rules during an event can result in removal from the event planned the next day. Let's end the year strong on a positive note celebrating one another's successes. The weather looks to cooperate (hooray!), so it should be a fun, celebratory week for all.

Quick note: If you have emailed me recently and were expecting a response and I haven't yet responded, feel free to reach out again. My email inbox has been quite busy lately and I may have inadvertently missed your message as I do try to respond to all emails in a timely fashion.

As this is my final official newsletter of the school year, I want to wish all students, families, and caregivers a restful and joyful summer break. The end of the year always brings a wave of reflection, and I find myself thinking back on the many moments—big and small—that shaped our time together. It’s also a bittersweet goodbye to our 8th-grade students and families as they transition to high school. I truly hope our students and families found this school year to be a year of learning and growth, even through the challenging experiences. In the moments that test us and challenge us, learning occurs.

To our 8th graders: I wish you all the best as you move on to new adventures. May you look back on your time at OMS as a place where you built resilience, discovered your strengths, and had some fun along the way.

To our rising 8th-grade students and families: I’m excited to see how you step into leadership next year and help shape the culture of our school.

Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing summer—and don’t forget to make time to read!

Finally, as always, please remember our core values: Engage, Empower, Excel: We work hard; we are kind, we speak our truth. Have a great week!

Happy Father's Day to all who celebrate!

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

This Week:

• Tuesday, June 17

• 8th Grade Field Day & BBQ

• Rehearsal for Moving-On Ceremony

• Wednesday, June 18

• 8th Grade Moving-On Ceremony (Earth/Fire/Water: 9:15 a.m; Thunder & Air: 11 a.m.); ceremonies take place on the softball field across from OMS

• 8th Grade Dance - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at OMS

• Thursday, June 19

• No School - Juneteenth

• Friday, June 20

• 8th Grade Canobie Lake Field Trip (leave OMS at 10 a.m. and return by 5:30 depending upon traffic); 8th grade students may arrive at school by 9:30 a.m. this day.

• 7th Grade Boston Field Trip

• Monday, June 23

• Last Day of School: Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.

• ALL 8th grade students report to AHS for orientation even if you plan to attend a private school or Minuteman.

Arlington Public Schools District Calendar

National History Day competition took place this week at the University of Maryland. OMS had 4 projects (7 students) compete in the contest.

One website received 3rd place in the nation, and they were also awarded the Outstanding Affiliate Entry for Massachusetts at Nationals (Junior Division). Two other projects also received an Honorable Mention.

Awards:

-3rd place in Junior Individual Website Category

- Awarded the Outstanding Affiliate Entry for Massachusetts at Nationals (Junior Division)

Title: Defining Family: The Legal Battle for LGBT Rights in Braschi v. Stahl

Student: Yueshin Yu

LINK

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recognized the Ottoson Green Team with a certificate and prizes for "going 'above and beyond' with their efforts to promote sustainability and responsible leadership in their communities." Thank you to all OMS Green Team members!

On Wednesday, 8th grade students at Ottoson presented their Civics Action Projects to each other and over 100 caregivers and community members. The projects ranged from mental health, the environment and climate change to transportation and affordable housing.

• Tuesday, June 17 - Field Day & BBQ
• Wednesday, June 18 - Moving On Ceremony & Dance (6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 19 - No School/Juneteenth
• Friday, June 20 - Canobie Lake Field Trip: Due to the hours of operation for the amusement park, we will leave for Canobie Lake from OMS by 10 a.m. and will return to OMS by about 5:30 p.m. (traffic depending) so that students will have ample time at the park that day. As a result, 8th grade students are allowed to arrive at school between 9:30 and 9:45 that day (Friday, June 20).
• Monday, June 23 - Last Day of School - ALL 8th grade students report to AHS for orientation even if you plan to attend a private school or Minuteman.

Dismissal Process: Since the Moving On Ceremony takes place during the school day, many families choose to dismiss their child following the event. If you plan to dismiss your child, please do the following:

• Fill out this Google Form.

• After the ceremony, please report to the tables outside the main door.

• The tables will be labeled with each LC. Please stand in the line at the table that is assigned to your child’s LC.

• One of the admin assistants will confirm your child’s dismissal and then you are free to leave.

Youth football is back in Arlington! With the support of AHS Football and head coach Frank Roche, Arlington Youth Football Club is a newly formed non-profit organization looking to provide grades 5-8 a fun and informative football experience. Check out our website for more information and to register by June 1st for an early bird special.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce that our free Parenting Solutions Library is now available in Spanish. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace at Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.

The Peace at Home Parenting Solutions Library is a free, valuable resource for PTOs, SEPACs, ELLPACs and other parent-oriented groups. We request your assistance sharing this valuable and free resource through school-based newsletters and school-based organizations. For your convenience, we have created this handout. Please contact MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels at margie@mpyinc.org with questions.

If your family is in need of support, please complete the APS Family Support Request Form. Once you complete this form we will share your responses with the family engagement department and/or school social workers or counselors to support your family.

Lost & Found items can be retrieved from Ms. Duffy at the main office. Please take a look and see if anything you are missing has been found.

Photo Gallery Link :

• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBlZCVjwomB0pHxObTkPqovawPv5lqqL?usp=sharing

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 Mr. Christopher Mahoney will be working primarily with grade 7 students and families.