OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL

All kids matter, are important, and can grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

As we begin a new year, we stop to consider and appreciate the year that is behind us. January brings with it lots of excitement and happenings at OMS. Below is a short summary of a few of these events.

Conferences: OMS will run the last two conference sessions on January 29th from 3:45-5:45 PM and February 5th from 3:45-6:45 PM. More information will be sent out through Skyward the second week of January.

Theatre: There is a wonderful opportunity for our learners to participate in a theatre production this month. The details of this are in the newsletter below.

MAP Testing: Students will be taking the NWEA MAP test in Math and Reading in January. We want learners to do their best on this test and we hope to see growth results in comparison to their Fall results.

8th Grade HS Planning: As our 8th grade group is finishing their middle school career, there are a lot of behind the scenes planning taking place to support them in their transition to the high school. A timeline is listed below.

The OMS Spelling Bee will take place the week of January 20th. The OMS Champion will compete at the CESA 11 Regional Bee on February 19, 2025. The Wisconsin Scripps State Spelling Bee will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Mitby Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. (3550 Anderson St, Madison, WI 53704) - The CESA Regional Bee will advance 4 spellers.

The following information will help you to learn about the Kindness Retreat® to be presented by Youth Frontiers, Inc. on Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at Camp Wapo from 9:15 am - 2:15 pm.

Youth Frontiers (YF) is a nonprofit organization that has been delivering retreats to schools since 1987. They provide schools with experiences that inspire character, civility and community so that our next generation of leaders are grounded in character.

Student will be loading the bus at 8:30 am, arriving at Camp Wapo at 9 am, and the event starts at 9:15 am. After the event, students will load busses approx. 2:15-2:30 pm, arriving back to OMS around 3:00 pm.

Visit youthfrontiers.org/kindness-retreat for more information on Youth Frontiers and to watch a video about the Kindness Retreat. To view an outline of the retreat day, go to: youthfrontiers.org/kindness-retreat-outline

See the Kindness Retreat Primer for more information about the objectives and benefits of the retreat.

Sincerely,

Your School Counselors,

Lisa and Kristin

The audition for Storybook Theatre’s production of The Little Mermaid will be held on January

20th, 2025 from 3:30 to 5:30 at the Osceola High School Auditorium. Students in grades 5th

through 8th grade are welcome to audition. Approximately 50-60 local students will be cast to

appear in the show with the Storybook Theatre Tour Actor/Director. There is no guarantee that

everyone who auditions will be cast in the play. Students wishing to audition must arrive by

the scheduled starting time and stay for the entire two-hour session. The first 2-hour rehearsal

begins approximately 15-minutes after the audition. No advance preparation is necessary!

Students should be ready to come and have a good time!

Rehearsals will be conducted every day from 3:30 to 7:45 in the Osceola High School

Auditorium. Although not all cast members will be needed at every session, those auditioning

must have a clear schedule for the entire week and if selected., be able to attend all rehearsals

required for their role and be available for all scheduled performances. A detailed rehearsal

schedule will be distributed at the conclusion of the audition. Cast members scheduled for the

full 4 hours and 15 minutes will be asked to bring a snack to be eaten during the 15-minute break

between sessions.

The performances will be held on January 24, 2025 @ 7:00 and January 25, 2025 @ 2:00 in the

Osceola High School Auditorium. To cover the expenses, we hope to collect approximately

$3500 in free will donations from those in attendance. There will be no tickets for this show.

Storybook Theatre is a professional touring theatre company serving the Twin Cities Metro Area

in Minnesota, bringing extraordinary theatrical experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire

young artists through summer and school year programs.

For any questions, please contact:

Chad Leonard | leonardch@osceolak12.org | 715.294.2127 x 4104.

Below are the upcoming OMS conference dates. More information will be sent out through Skyward the second week of the January.

Wednesday, January 29th 3:45-5:45 PM (2 hours)

Wednesday, February 5th 3:45-6:45 PM (3 hours)

January 14-16: OHS Registration Information Sessions

January 22: 8th -11th Grade Course Fair at OHS (12:30-3:14)

January 29: 8th Grade Parent Night at OHS (6:00-7:00)

February 4: Course requests due in Skyward

As of the end of December, our staff has given out 750 electronic PRIDE awards to students. As a parent, you will receive an email notification when your child has received a PRIDE award, including why the award was given. Each Monday we randomly select two students from each grade level who earned a PRIDE award from the week prior to receive a special prize in the office.

Please remember that students will still go outside for recess for 20 minutes daily. Students need to have winter jackets, hats, and mittens to stay warm. We want kids to be safe and protected from the ever-changing Wisconsin weather!

Holiday Break: December 23rd - January 3rd

Staff Inservice: Friday, January 3rd

5th Grade Kindness Retreat: Thursday, January 9th

MathCounts (Hudson): Wednesday, January 15th

End of Quarter 2: January 17th

Winter NWEA MAP testing window: January 13th-24th

NO SCHOOL: Monday, January 20th

The Little Mermaid auditions: Monday, January 20th from 3:30-5:30 PM

The Little Mermaid performances: Friday, January 24th at 7 PM & Saturday, January 25th at 2 PM

OMS Conferences: Wednesday, January 29th from 3:45-5:45 PM

8th Grade Parent Night at OHS: Wednesday, January 29th from 6:00-7:00 PM

MathCounts (Eau Claire): Thursday, January 30th

OMS Conferences: Wednesday, February 5th from 3:45-6:45 PM

If you have not done so yet, please pay the following:

*$10 Activity Fee (check memo: Activity Fee)

*Lunch Money (put into provided envelope) (can be done online)

*$35 Device Protection Plan (DPP) (family cap is $105) (check memo: DPP) (one family can be in one check) (can be done online)

*$20 Yearbook (check memo: Yearbook)

Please write a SEPARATE CHECK for each item above. Fees go into separate accounts, which is why it is important that they are separate checks and/or the correct change is provided.

All vehicles drop off and pick up at the main entrance. Please pull ahead as far as possible in the lanes to help with the buses exiting the shared parking lot. Only buses drop off and pick up at the pool doors. Please use the overflow loop in the shared parking lot if there is a line.

Only buses should use the bus exit. This is important safety information to keep our students safe.

NWEA testing. We will be taking our winter MAP tests during the window of January 13th-24th.

In our schedule this year, there are five Encore offerings that 5th grade students will participate in during the course of the year. Each of these offerings will take place for approximately seven weeks except for Media/Explore, which will occur for 14 weeks. The 5th grade Encore offerings are as follows:

1. Music/PE

2. PE/Art

3. STEM

4. Media/Explore

5. Media/Explore

Athletic Director: Mr. Trevor Scholz

Here is the link to the OMS Athletics Webpage. It is very important to sign up for your student's team Remind information (informational sports app).

Please contact Mr. Scholz with any sports related questions at scholzt@osceolak12.org.

OMS School Counseling Site

24-25 Student & Family Resources

Mental Health Task Force Resource Guide

Darren L. Cain - Principal

ADDRESS:

1029 Oak Ridge Drive | Osceola WI 54020

EMAIL: caind@osceolak12.org

PHONE: 715-294-4180 x3010

WEBSITE: https://www.osceola.k12.wi.us/schools/middle/