OMS Friday Knight Live

OMS Families,

Our staff returned this week and we are busy getting ready for school to start next week! We can't wait to see our students and start the 24-25 school year!

Have a great weekend!

1. Important Back to School Dates
2. 6th Grade & New Student Orientation Monday, August 12th
3. Student Class Schedules 1 p.m. Monday, August 12th
4. OMS Expectations
5. Back to School Night Thursday, August 15th
6. Interested in a Carpool This Year?
7. Grade-Level Socials
8. Cross Country Information
9. OMS Traffic Flow
10. Share Priorities as Blue Valley Refreshes its Strategic Plan

**Read below in Helpful Repeated Information for LOTS of Back to School Information**

*Detailed information below

August 12- 6th Grade & New Student Orientation 7:50-10:00 a.m. *students only

August 13- First Day of School 7:51-3:00 p.m.

August 15- Back to School Night 6-7:30 p.m. *parents/guardians only

August 23- Friday Knight Club 5-7 p.m. *students only

All 6th grade students will attend 6th grade orientation on Monday, August 12th from 7:50 am-10:00 am. Pick up your schedule, go to each of your classrooms, meet your teachers, and practice your combination at your locker. You can see your old friends and make new ones! Those students who ride buses will have bus service that day. This event is for students only.

Orientation for 7th and 8th grade students new to Blue Valley is Monday, August 12th from 8:30 am-9:15am. They will receive their schedules and have a tour of the building. (This orientation is for new students only.) Students will meet in the 6th grade pod.

Questions? Contact OMS counselors

Jill Gouger (last names A-K) jgouger@bluevalleyk12.org

Allyson DiNitto (last names L-Z) adinitto@bluevalleyk12.org

Student class schedules will be available to view on ParentVue & StudentVue Monday, August 12th at 1:00 p.m. ParentVUE (edupoint.com)

6th graders will receive a printed schedule at 6th Grade Orientation on Monday, August 12th.

7th & 8th grade students may pick up printed copies Tuesday, August 13th before school begins. Students may also print off or write their own schedules at home.

**Elective class change requests will not be accepted before school starts. Requests are not guaranteed and are based on class size availability. Please watch the Friday Knight Live newsletters once school begins for class change requests and deadlines.

Please help your student be successful by reviewing OMS expectations prior to the beginning of the school year.

OMS Student Handbook

Two items to note:

Personal Technology Devices are not used during the school day (7:51-3:00 p.m.). This includes cell phones, airpods or earbuds, and smart watches. These items must be put away during the school day to allow our students to focus on learning.

Backpacks are not used throughout the school day to allow our classes ample space for students to comfortably move around and learn. Backpacks are stored in lockers during the school day.

Thank you for reviewing our expectations at home so we can have a great school year!

For students who do not receive bus transportation, families may fill out this form to see if other families near them are interested in arranging a carpool. Anyone who fills the form out will want to check regularly for new additions. Families who use this form will reach out to other parents and guardians on this form to arrange any carpools.

OMS Carpool Interest Form

The OMS PTO is sponsoring grade-level socials for students to connect and kick off the school year. Students can have a snack and hang out with friends from 3-4 p.m. in the commons and gym on the following days:

6th Grade: Wednesday, August 14

7th Grade: Thursday, August 15

8th Grade: Friday, August 16

All 7th and 8th grade students are invited to join the cross country team see below for the information handbook, the practice calendar, and meet schedules.

Click HERE for the Cross Country calendar

Click HERE for the Cross Country Team Handbook

Cross Country Informational Meeting on Wednesday, August 14th from 3:05 – 3:30 in Coach Reid’s classroom – Room 22 for any 7th or 8th graders interested in joining the cross country team.

Questions – Coach Reid mareid@bluevalleyk12.org

Please help our OMS carline move smoothly by following the OMS traffic loop. All cars enter the parking lot through the south entrance and exit through the south entrance.

Parents/Guardians may NOT drop kids off in our south parking lot. This creates a safety hazard for staff entering and exiting the parking lot before and after school. Thank you for keeping our community safe!

The 2024-25 school year is an exciting time in Blue Valley Schools as we have the opportunity to look to the future while refreshing our strategic plan.

Your input is invaluable as we prioritize the goals and initiatives that will guide us through 2030. This survey is your chance to voice what you believe should be our top priorities, ensuring that our plan reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.

💻 2025-30 Strategic Plan Survey (3-5 minute survey)

The survey will remain open through Aug. 21. For more information about the strategic planning process, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/strategicplan.

We are looking forward to having you and your student at OMS this year. Need a place to start for Oxford information? Click here for more information:

Oxford FAQ 2024-2025

We are looking for paraprofessionals to work with our students this year. Please apply online if you or anyone you know is interested in joining our OMS community and supporting our amazing students!

Blue Valley School District - Frontline Recruitment (applitrack.com)

Please make sure you have completed registration and paid all necessary fees for your student to begin the school year. Mrs. Domoney will send weekly emails to individual families if registration and fees are incomplete.

Middle school registration for the 2024-25 school year is open and online now for current students and families. Registration is required annually and is the time to update your child’s information (phone, email, emergency contacts, health information, etc.). At this time, you have access to pay all required fees with the exception of course fees. Course fees will be assigned in September.

Completing registration now confirms that your child will attend school in August and helps the district appropriately staff classrooms. Thank you for providing important information as part of the registration process. For more information about registration, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/registration.

Please contact OMS registrar, Brandy Castle, with any questions about the registration process.

bdcastle@bluevalleyk12.org

913-239-5516

The OMS student planner includes school schedules and student expectations. This would be a great resource to look at prior to the school year: 2- 2023-2024 Student Planner - Body.pdf - Google Drive

Families who live near 119th St. and 69 Highway should be aware that there will be closures due to the 69 Expressway construction project. This will begin in mid to late August and last for approximately 60 days. Please open the attached map for alternate routes to Oxford Middle.

7th and 8th grade students are asked to power on their chromebooks and download any software updates before school starts. Please log a BV CARE ticket from the website for any chromebook issues before school starts.

BVCare

We have created a Parent Reference Sheet and QR Codes for your reference during the school year. Scan the QR codes for links to reporting absences, adding money to lunch accounts, school day bell schedules, ParentVue, Canvas, bus company, and so much more!

Click HERE to download the 24-25 Parent Reference Sheet

The school supply lists for the 2024-25 school year are available on the OMS Website under the Families tab. Click HERE for the School Supply page.

Parents and guardians, come and meet your student's teachers and see their classrooms. Please bring a copy of your student's schedule (with classroom numbers) or have it available on a mobile phone. This event is for parents/guardians only -- no students please. 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Schedules will be viewable in ParentVue:

https://ks-blu-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx

Please make sure your student has everything they need to participate in fall athletics (8th grade) & cheer (7th & 8th grade). Click here for detailed information:

2024 Fall Sports Information - Google Docs. Please contact Assistant Principal Jon Holsapple with questions: 913-239-5514 jholsapple03@bluevalleyk12.org

Whether your summer was full of adventure and activities or a celebration of no-schedule days, you can start now to help your child transition to a smooth start of the school year. Some tips from other parents who survived the middle school years:

• Start now by adjusting bed-times and morning wake-up-times by 30 minutes every few days

• Read! Get your child to read – fiction, magazines, comic books, graphic novels, non-fiction on their favorite subject

• Decide as a family how to keep everyone up to day on calendars, events, practices, games/meets, and club meetings

• Physical activity - some physical activity every day will prepare them for walking to and from school, around the building, PE, and sports

• Discuss homework time for the school year. Would your child rather do homework first then relax/play OR relax/play then do homework? Set a time for homework and a time for playing or relaxing.

• Start limiting electronics and social media

• Reconnect with friends in person before school starts

• Start gathering backpacks and school supplies

• Have your child memorize a parent phone number and their home address! YES, really!

• Label first and last name on every item your child will bring to school (don’t forget lock screens on phones) and put a keychain or luggage tag on your chromebook case

• Have a plan for lunches and water bottles – it’s time for your child to be responsible for packing (and remembering) lunches and water bottles

• Have one location for all items that need to go to school – uniforms, shoes, computers, homework, special projects, etc. Your child needs to be the one to bring them to school or practice.

• Designate a place and time for permission slips and other school papers that parents/guardians need to sign

• Plan how your child will get home from school on regular days and on days with clubs/activities. Your child should not call everyday for a ride home.

• Double check that you have filled out all the registration forms, medicine releases, athletic forms, etc. before school starts

The OMS website has most of the information you will need for and during the school year. You can find the school calendar, class and lunch schedules, links to the lunch payment system, staff lists (including email addresses), rules about cell phones, how to notify us of a student absence, candid student and event photos, sports schedules, clubs and activities, and so much more! Our website is updated multiple times a week so check here for current updates! OMS Website

Bell Schedules & Calendar / Bell/Class Schedules (bluevalleyk12.org)

OMS FAQs: student handbook, lockers, etc.

Building & Traffic Flow Map

OMS Staff Directory

Want to keep up on the latest OMS announcements and information? Check out the NEWS section on the OMS website. NEWS is located under the About Us tab.

Click HERE for OMS NEWS

OMS Phone Number: 913-239-5500

Attendance Number: 913-239-5505

Mrs. Domoney, Principal: cdomoney@bluevalleyk12.org

Mr. Holsapple, Assistant Principal: jholsapple03@bluevalleyk12.org

OMS Calendar

OMS School Website

OMS Library Homepage