OPMS

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend! Please take a moment to review the information below as we get ready for another great week at OPMS.

From September 15th to October 15th, we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich history, diverse cultures, and countless contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities. Throughout the month, we encourage our students, staff, and families to explore and appreciate the vibrant traditions, impactful stories, and incredible achievements of Hispanic and Latinx individuals both past and present. Let’s take this opportunity to learn from one another and continue to build a school culture that embraces inclusion and unity!

On Wednesday, October 2, we celebrate School Custodial Workers Recognition Day and honor the incredible custodial staff who work tirelessly to keep OPMS safe, clean, and welcoming. Our custodians play an essential role in creating a positive environment for students and staff alike, often going above and beyond to ensure our school operates smoothly behind the scenes. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to our custodial team for their hard work and dedication. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in showing how much we appreciate all they do for our school community!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Clubs and Activities website, created in response to valuable feedback from parents and families. You asked for a common location to find information on the many opportunities available to students, and we listened! A special thank you to Mrs. Panepinto for her hard work in designing this fantastic resource. We also want to extend our gratitude to all of our club and activity advisors for their contributions in making this site a comprehensive guide for our students and families. This new website will serve as a one-stop hub where students can explore the wide range of extracurricular opportunities, and families can stay informed about the exciting activities happening at our school. We hope this will make it easier than ever to get involved and stay connected!

Please click the link below to access the website. The website will be linked to the OPMS homepage this week!

On Friday, October 4, 2024, all OPMS students will be dismissed 15 minutes early at 2:15 PM.

As we reach the halfway point of the marking period, it's a great time to touch base with your child about their progress. We encourage all families to log into the Parent or Student Portal to review grades, attendance, and any upcoming assignments. Having these conversations now can help set students up for success in the remainder of the marking period.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress, please don't hesitate to reach out to their teachers or school counselors. Let's work together to ensure a strong finish to this marking period!

This past weekend, we had the exciting opportunity to participate in the annual Homecoming Parade for the very first time! It was a proud moment for our middle school to be represented alongside the rest of the district on Saturday morning. A huge thank you to Mrs. Knight for her creativity and dedication in organizing and designing our fantastic float. We'd also like to extend a big thank you to Mrs. Panepinto and some of our amazing OPMS students, who helped decorate the float, toss candy, and walk in the parade. Thank you to the OPMS PTO for providing us with some of our supplies. The energy and spirit were contagious, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s float—bubbles and dog treats are definitely on our list!

As we continue to foster a positive and respectful learning environment, it’s important that all students and families understand our school’s expectations. The Orchard Park Central School District Code of Conduct outlines these expectations, helping to ensure that our school remains a safe and inclusive place for everyone.

The Code of Conduct serves not only as a set of guidelines for student behavior but also as a resource to support students in making positive choices and understanding the impact of their actions. By reviewing this document, you will gain insight into how we uphold equity, respect, and accountability in our school community.

We ask that all parents/guardians take a few moments to review the Code of Conduct with their child and sign off on the acknowledgment in the Parent Portal by Friday, October 4, 2024. The acknowledgement can be found under the forms tab of Parent Portal. If you have any issues logging in, please access the troubleshooting document. Your partnership is essential in reinforcing these values at home and in supporting your child's success at school.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we can create a learning environment where every student feels valued and empowered to thrive.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Our school office will be open, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM to address any concerns you may have. Here's to another great week at Orchard Park Middle School. Go Quakers!

Thanks,

Mary Kate Graham

OPMS Principal

The OPMS Observer is my weekly newsletter to families. I will send The OPMS Observer out weekly, typically on Mondays. You will receive a text link and an email each week to the newsletter. This is the best source of receiving updated information weekly from the school. I do provide quite an abundance of information in these newsletters and I will remove information in which the deadline has past.

We are excited to share that families have the option to participate in the 8th-grade trip to Washington, D.C. in May 2025! This trip offers students a chance to explore our nation’s capital, visit historic landmarks, and engage in enriching experiences. For more details, including the itinerary and costs, please refer to the documents linked below. We encourage all families to consider this wonderful opportunity for their students! Stay tuned for more updates!

OPMS and OPHS use the “Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) designed specifically for students in grades 6-12 and staff to report any type of serious or potentially violent concerns of unsafe behavior or threats of harm to self or others. Say Something is a youth violence prevention program from the national nonprofit organization Sandy Hook Promise and is provided and sustained at no cost to OPCSD.

“Tipsters” can send reports on anything from school threats they’ve seen or overheard to personal crises including sexual harassment, self-harm, and depression. The system enables school administrators and those in law enforcement to create effective interventions and intervene upon at-risk individuals to help prevent violence, suicide, bullying, self-harm, and other forms of threatening behavior.

All tips submitted receive an immediate response by one of the highly skilled crisis counselors at the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center; this person then determines the necessary support steps. When credible tips are received that are life-threatening and require immediate attention, the crisis center will notify school-based representatives, even after hours. And, in cases of imminent threat, the crisis center will contact local 911 dispatch and involve law enforcement. Users can submit a tip by calling 1-844-5-SAYNOW or by visiting www.saysomething.net. The free app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store, where students can submit tips instantly.

We will be reviewing information about Say Something in our Code of Conduct assemblies this week with all grade levels and will share more about student training in the next issue of The Observer.

Parents and guardians are able to submit attendance notes and pick up information online, i.e. excuses for absences. Log in to the Parent Portal, click Forms, and complete and submit the General Attendance Form.

Watch the video below for more detailed instructions.

*Please know paper attendance messages will still be accepted.

Parents, please pay particular attention to the attendance policy in the student agenda, which includes procedures for early release from school. It is essential that your child is in school as much as possible and on time. Please make doctor, dentist, and other appointments before/after the school day. Please keep in mind that all procedures are in place for the safety and well-being of your child. An important note: children will not be able to walk unaccompanied to an appointment during school hours.

While cell phones remain an important aspect of communication between students and parents, they can also limit our students' ability to focus and stay on task during instructional time. Because of this, our school policy is that cell phones are "Away for the Day". Students should have their cell phones turned off and placed in their backpacks and lockers. We believe this is the best policy to support our students' instructional and social needs during the school day and will also help decrease negative exchanges via social media during the school day.

Exceptions to the cell phone policy include those students who require the use of the device for documented medical/emergency care plan needs. Please communicate with school administration if you have any questions.

Please check the Parent Portal throughout the year to receive information on your child’s academic progress. Information such as report cards are now solely on the Parent Portal. If you are having difficulty accessing the Parent Portal, please contact the Counseling Center at 209-6233.

Also, please update your contact information on the Parent Portal by selecting the "Update Information" page. Additionally, update your settings to continue to receive important communications from the Middle School and the District. If you have trouble logging into Parent Portal click the link below for more assistance.

The OPMS PTO monthly meeting dates have been changed from Wednesdays to Mondays. The meetings will take place in the OPMS Library from 9 - 10 AM on the following dates:

• October 7, 2024
• November 4, 2024
• January 13, 2025
• February 10, 2025
• March 10, 2025
• April 7, 2025
• May 12, 2025

Friday, October 4, 2024

• 15-minute early dismissal day

Monday, October 7, 2024

• PTO meeting in the main office from 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Monday, October 14, 2024

• No School - Indigenous Peoples Day

Friday, October 18, 2024

• 7th/8th Grade Activity Night