Girls having some fun making prototypes in Ms. Bunting's class.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we enter November, we want to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. This month not only showcases the beauty of fall but also presents opportunities for reflection and growth for both our students and our community.

In this newsletter, you'll find updates on upcoming events, highlights from recent activities, and important reminders. Here are a few key points:

Gratitude and Reflection: November is a time for gratitude, and we want to express our appreciation for your continued support and partnership with our school. Our dedicated teachers and staff are thankful for the privilege of educating and nurturing your children, and we value your engagement in their educational journeys.

Upcoming Events: Please check our school calendar for several events happening this month, including Parent Conferences, the Scholastic Book Fair, Camo Day in support of our veterans, and the AWFAE's Night of Excellence. We encourage both you and your child to participate actively in these events to stay connected with our school community.

Parent Conferences: You should have received an email on October 23 from one of your child's team teachers. You can book an appointment with your child's team if you have concerns about your child's progress, behavior, or other concern by following the directions in the email. You also received separate emails from each individual Enrichment Teacher (as they teach the whole school).

Please note that middle school is different from elementary school and each grade level has around 200 students. If you have no concerns at this time and concerns arise later in the year, please don't hesitate to reach out to meet with the team or individual teacher as the year progresses. Teachers are happy to meet with families and it doesn't have to be just during November!

Safety Reminders: The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. As temperatures drop, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Additionally, please keep track of where your child is after school. There is no supervision at sporting events, and students should not remain after school unless with a teacher or advisor. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a safe environment for our school community.

Community Engagement: Our school is more than just a place for academics; it’s a lively community. We invite parents to engage with our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) or other school-related committees. Your involvement can make a significant difference in our school’s life.

Thanksgiving Break: As Thanksgiving approaches, we wish you all a happy and safe holiday. Our school will be closed for the Thanksgiving break, so please refer to the school calendar for specific dates.

In closing, we want to stress that your partnership is invaluable. Together, we can help our students thrive academically and personally. Please stay informed by reading our monthly newsletters, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. We are here to support you and your child throughout the school year.

Wishing you a wonderful November filled with growth and gratitude.

Warm regards,

Kristina Bogosh and Lori Shattuck

OMS Student Council promoted all students and staff to wear pink for breast cancer awareness and research. All the money raised from the event went to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Check out all the pics below of many of the students who participate! Way to go OMS!

Please see information below for a fundraising opportunity that will help to defray the costs of your own trip!

Coming prepared to school doesn't just mean bring a pencil and notebook - it also means making sure chromebook is charged. Please ensure your child's nightly routine includes charging their chromebook for the next day of learning.

Students cannot enter the building before 7:10am as there is no supervision.

Breakfast begins at 7:20 (students can exit the bus at this time if eating breakfast only).

Classes begin at 7:35am.

Dismissal is at 1:50pm.

Please be sure to not park in the general parking areas to let students off or pick them up. Use the line that goes behind the school. This is a safety concern with students running through parking lots and parents disrupting traffic patterns.

Also, please pay attention to staff members directing traffic. Do not drive-by when they ask you to stop.

Passing busses with flashing lights is a $250 traffic citation.

Students should not be wearing pajamas or slippers to school. This is part of our dress code. We do on occasion have a spirit day where students are allowed to wear pajamas as a "treat" but appropriate, everyday school attire does not include pajamas or slippers. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for school. Thank you!

• If students come to school in slippers or pajamas we may ask that parents come and bring the appropriate attire to school for students to change.

SMART watches are considered a personal device. Teachers have found that they can serve as a considerable distraction to students during class. They are also banned by the state during MCAS testing. We ask that all SMART watches be left at home or in the lockers during the school day. Please and thank you.

Students are only allowed water for drinks in class. There have been some young business entrepreneurs at OMS that have been selling the popular "Prime" drinks (as well as other things such as candy). Students are not authorized nor allowed to sell anything at school. Moreover, these drinks are not allowed. Please ensure that your student is not bringing these drinks to school or buying or selling these drinks at school or on the bus.

We see the school and home as a partnership. We ask to review these expectations with your child in an effort to create unified expectations from both the school and home fronts. Please see the matrix attachment below to review with your child.

• If your student requires an epipen or inhaler at school or during after school activities, they must have written parent permission and doctor's orders on file with the health office whether the medication is in the health office or they are carrying it. If you are not sure about the status of your student's paperwork or have any questions, please contact me at ntaylor@awrsd.org.

• According to the Massachusetts school immunization requirements, it is recommended that students receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine at age 11-12. One dose is required in Grade 7-12. It is typically given at the physical before entering Grade 7.
• The meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) is also required with the first dose typically given in Grade 7 and the second dose given in Grade 11.
• Please submit documentation of these vaccines when your child receives them. This may be faxed by your physician's office to 978-827-4986, emailed to me or brought to school by your child (not recommended as frequently it is forgotten in the backpack).

• **In order to play sports, you must have an up-to-date physical in the last 13 months and must go to the Athletic website page and complete the online registration. Any questions please contact Athletic Director edawley@awrsd.org.

• Lastly, we want parents to know that if students call a parent/guardian to pick them up because they are not feeling well and a nurse has not officially dismissed them for medical reasons, this is an UNEXCUSED absence. We ask parents to discourage their child from trying to call home to be dismissed.

OMS Boys and Girls Team Basketball Tryouts

December 2-5

• NIH Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449671/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27247125/
  
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183915/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kGZvNbfrNag
• WEBSITE: https://www.humanetech.com/youth
• https://www.humanetech.com/take-control
• https://www.humanetech.com/future-generations
  
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdtQZAuVsflH0SuM9E6BMNyDkq9NPcjq/view
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zvHPmlIQios-a2llfLFyj6DbdMWB5h8S/view
• Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia
• PEW Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rv0g8TsnA6c
• TIME Article: https://time.com/5555737/smartphone-mental-health-teens/
• INFOGRAPHIC: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/technology-addiction-concern-controversy-and-finding-balance-infographic

• Smithsonian & NMAAHC WEBSITE (Race): https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
• Anti-Defamation League WEBSITE: https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/talking-young-children-about-bias-and-prejudice
• Oakland Library Resources DOCUMENT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0lCA3FlulVhK6DFE2d3uYCipc6ApY8Gn2rMwm6fYqw/edit
• PJ Library WEBSITE (Antisemitism): https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/february-2022/how-to-talk-to-children-about-anti-semitism
  
• Nick Helps WEBSITE (Bullying Prevention): https://www.nick.com/nick-helps/bullying-prevention/

It may have been the warmest Monster Dash on record! It was balmy and sunny! Check out the collage of pics below with our spirited students, parent volunteers, and staff!

Thank you so much for supporting our PTO......Check all that is happening!

1. We are so appreciative of all the donations and volunteer hours you have given to October's Monster Dash, our fall membership drive, donations to November’s Parent Teacher Conferences, and attendance at our October PTO meeting. Check out our October meeting minutes here October PTO Meeting Minutes

2. Make sure you save the following dates:

November 1st-MCM Cake Roll and Cookie Dough Fundraiser begins for Washington DC trip

November 5th-Parent teacher conference treats for the staff-Donations accepted through Venmo overlookmspto

November 9th-Craft Fair to support Washington DC trip

November 12th-15th-Book Fair-Will be looking for volunteers

November 13th-Washington Sponsorship Letter (Second Round) 6pm OMS Library

No PTO meeting in November due to conferences, Veteranś Day and Thanksgiving

3.We invite YOU to become a MEMBER of the Overlook Middle School PTO. We have 155 members for the 2024-2025 school year!

We appreciate the support you’ve given over the years at your elementary school and hope you will consider becoming a member at Overlook to continue your Support of the teachers, staff, students and community at Overlook.

To become a 2024-2025 PTO member:

● Fill out the membership Google Form: 2024-2025 Membership Form

● Pay the $5 dues with cash or check to “OMS PTO” and bring it to the office. Or Venmo @overlookmspto and comment “2024 membership for (your name).”

Take a look at our website https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/overlookmspto/home or our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram OverlookMSPTO for all the latest information.

Please check the Portal regularly. Google Classroom is not an accurate indicator of grades. Please reach out to the teacher directly if you have any questions.