Dear Oak Middle School Families,

Happy Lunar New Year from Oak Students!

We have several important events happening this week!

Middle Level Art Show
Join us on Monday, February 3rd at 4:30 PM at Oak Middle School for our Middle Level Art Show. Stop by to see the incredible artwork our students have created—we hope to see you there!

8th Grade Music Performances

• 8th Grade Orchestra: Monday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM
• 8th Grade Chorus: Tuesday, February 4th at 7:00 PM
• 8th Grade Band: Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00 PM

Come support our talented musicians during these special performances!

Early Release Day Reminder
This Tuesday, February 4th is an Early Release Day with dismissal at 12:00 PM. Please ensure your child has a plan for dismissal before they leave for school in the morning. A "grab and go" lunch will be available—see details below.

Exciting News from Shrewsbury Crew!
For the first time in the 88-year history of Shrewsbury Crew, we are thrilled to now offer Crew to 8th-grade middle school athletes for Spring 2025!

• To learn more about how you or your child can participate in this opportunity, please attend the Information Night on Wednesday, February 5th at 6:00 PM in the Oak Middle School Cafeteria.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns. We are committed to working together to ensure a successful year for all our students.

In partnership,

Hallie Burak
Principal
508-841-1210
hburak@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

Michelle Dillon
Assistant Principal Grade 7
mdillon@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us
508-841-1205

Scott Yonker
Assistant Principal Grade 8
508-841-1213
syonker@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

On January 8, 2025 the following documents were unanimously approved by the School Committee:

1. An updated School Committee policy on bullying prevention and intervention
2. An updated district bullying prevention and intervention plan

These are aligned with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 37O.

Open this link for more information regarding how to report suspected bullying and for a summary of the district’s bullying prevention and intervention plan. Please also review this form with you child. We will be sharing the form with them in Schoology as well.

Dear Families,

One of the three commitments in the Shrewsbury Public Schools Strategic Priorities includes Enhanced Well-Being of All, "Shrewsbury Public Schools prioritizes the social, emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health of all students and staff by creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments. This is accomplished by intentionally providing learning opportunities where all Shrewsbury Public Schools students and staff feel valued, supported, and empowered." As part of this ongoing work, the district gathers student feedback from students in grades 3-12 about the degree to which they experience belonging, equity, and inclusion in our schools. Student feedback informs the work in which we engage each day-at school and at home. Panorama is the survey tool that the district uses to accomplish this goal. Panorama's data tools help to ensure that we collect valid and reliable information.

Panorama’s student survey is brief. Students complete the survey in 10-15 minutes during the school day. School leaders and educators receive a significant amount of data that informs teaching and learning across the district. Panorama's survey tool components and related question sets can be reviewed in their entirety below:

• SEL survey topics

• Equity and Inclusion survey topics

• Click here to read an FAQ document that the company developed

Opt Out Option

While we seek to obtain feedback from as many students as possible, families may opt out if you do not want your child(ren) to participate in the survey. Students who opt out will be provided with an alternative task during the survey administration. To opt your student(s) out of the fall administration of the Panorama survey, please send an email to surveyoptout@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 14th.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

This week's Lunch and Learn guest speaker on Friday, February 7th is Ms. Sera Perrotta Laboratory Animal Veterinarian at Charles River Labs. Charles River Labs (CRL) in Shrewsbury is part of the Safety Assessment business of Charles River. They are a key partner in the drug development process, working with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and other organizations. Ms. Perrotta works in a lab and tests medicines on living organisms to help get them approved by the FDA so they can be sold to people who need them. Registration is not required - all students are welcome to stop by during their lunch period!

On Sunday, January 26th, the Oak Speech Team traveled to Andover to participate in the Pike School’s Stand Up for Speech Tournament. We had 50 students compete; eight of these students double-entered (competed in two regular categories) and 15 students also competed in one round of Big Question Debate.

Congratulations to all the students who participated, and a special shout out to the following students for earning recognition in their category:

Children’s Literature:

Vasudha Madhusudhan, 2nd place

Saket Nikte, Honorable Mention

Bhavishka Yadanaparthi, Honorable Mention

Declamation:

Kashvi Naik, 3rd place

Irina Biswas, 6th place

Ruchir Mangaonkar, Honorable Mention

Demonstration:

Rakshana Subramanian, 3rd place

Jatin Talla, 4th place

Dramatic Performance:

Katherine Zhang, 6th place

Aparna Sinha, Honorable Mention

Duo:

Maansi Inavolu & Bhavishka Yadanaparthi, 4th place

Free Verse/Poetry:

Dhruv Jain, 4th place

Alim Nadaf, 5th place

Pragathi Senthilkumar, 7th place

Impromptu Speaking:

Vaibhav Vinodhkumar, 1st place

Sameeksha Singh, 4th place

Rishabh Mehta, 5th place

Miftah Sifat, 6th place

Sharan Veershetty, Honorable Mention

Katherine Zhang, Honorable Mention

Original Oratory:

Vaishnav Mohan, 1st place

Irina Biswas, 2nd place

Grahitha Sandeep, 3rd place

Abrar Haq, Honorable Mention

Abhiraaj Konduru, Honorable Mention

Prose:

Janani Arunachalam, 2nd place

Shivani Shankar, 3rd place

Rakshana Subramanian, 4th place

Big Question Debate Winners:

Grahitha Sandeep

Vaibhav Vinodhkumar

Nirav Sadavarte & Jatin Talla

Miftah Sifat & William Zhang

Irina Biswas & Tahiya Rahman

A special thank you to all the parents and SHS students who volunteered as judges for our team; we cannot participate in tournaments without you!

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

This is a reminder that the Shrewsbury High School Curriculum Night for 8th Grade parents will take place on Tuesday, February 11th, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Shrewsbury High School.

If you require an interpreter for this event, please email Toby Alvarez at talvarez@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us by 2:00 PM on Friday, January 31. In your email, kindly include the following information:

• Your name

• Your 8th Grade student’s name

• The language you prefer for interpretation

If you have previously required translation services but no longer need that service, please reply to this message to let us know and we will update your student’s profile accordingly.

The high school faculty and staff look forward to meeting you at Curriculum Night!

Best regards,

Scott Yonker

Grade 8 Assistant Principal

Please remind your child that cell phones and smart watches are not to be used to message others during the school day. Overall, students are adhering to the Code of Conduct and not using phones during the school day. This makes a positive impact on learning and behavior. This rule extends to smart watches as well. If your child is wearing a smart watch during the day, it should be set to block notifications or on the "Do Not Disturb" setting. As always, if you need to contact your child during the school day please call the main office.

POISE, a parent support group for Shrewsbury Speech and Debate, is excited to announce an incredible opportunity for your middle schooler this winter break!

With POISE: Becoming a Confident Public Speaker
Looking to build confidence and master the art of public speaking? Join our Public Speaking Camp from February 18 to February 20, where students will have a blast learning how to:

• Express themselves clearly

• Captivate an audience

• Share ideas with confidence

Through engaging activities, interactive coaching, and expert tips, participants will gain skills to become confident speakers while having fun and making new friends!

Bonus: Campers will be coached by members of Shrewsbury High School's award-winning, nationally ranked Speech and Debate team, which is recognized among the top 20 teams in the country!

Sign Up Now: https://www.shrewsburysd.org/poise/wintercamp

Oak PTO News | 2.1.25

Get Pumped! The Harlem Wizards are coming to town.

Do you have another child in a Shrewsbury elementary school? Ask their school leaders or PTO members about the upcoming Harlem Wizards game on April 1. The Sherwood/Oak PTO would like all elementary schools to get in on the fun and have a chance to raise money for their school. The more tickets sold, the more their school can earn. Tickets will be going on sale soon, so stay tuned!

Want to get involved or just share your ideas? We’re all ears.

Fill out this quick 2024-2025 Sherwood/Oak PTO survey.

Join the PTO on Zoom this Thursday.

Whether you just want to listen in and ask questions or want to get involved, join the monthly PTO Zoom meeting to get all the info you need.

Next meeting: Thursday, February 6 at 7:00pm.

Here’s how to join: https://app.zoom.us/wc

Meeting ID: 851 4598 4921

Let’s get social.

Follow the Sherwood/Oak PTO on Facebook @ShrewsburyMiddleSchoolPTO and Instagram @sherwood.oakpto for news and information.

We have recently given students the chance to recognize their teachers/staff members for going above and beyond, and now we would like to extend that same opportunity to families. If you would like to acknowledge a teacher or staff member for their amazing work, please fill out the form linked HERE. We will be sharing this recognition directly with the staff member(s) so they know how much their efforts are appreciated.

February

4 - Early Release Day - District PD

3 - Art Show 4:30-6PM Auditorium Foyer and Hallway

3 - Orchestra Concert 7PM

4 - Band Concert 7 PM

5 - Chorus Concert 7 PM

6 - No BCOEI

If students are interested in joining a club or activity, they should check the Oak Middle School Schoology page. This is where all up-to-date information about dates, times, and advisors is posted. They can also check the club and activity wall in the main office or the cafeteria windows. Many clubs and activities will be starting soon, and we encourage students to get involved beyond the school day!

Below is a PDF of the different offerings.

Free late bus service will be available for students at Shrewsbury High, Oak Middle, and Sherwood Middle Schools on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Buses depart SHS at 3:50 PM and the middle schools at 4:20 PM.

This limited service has fixed routes (red, green, blue) with centralized stops, which may not cover all neighborhoods. Please review the schedule to choose the best route and stop. Families are responsible for pickup from the centralized stops.

Sign up using the school’s Google form.

More info: https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/transportation/late-bus.

Questions? Contact April Yu at transportation@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or 508-841-8363.

Attendance:
Massachusetts law (G.L. c. 76, § 1) requires students aged 6-16 to attend school. Principals must meet with families if a student has 5 or more unexcused absences. You may receive a notification if your child’s attendance is concerning. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more school days, excused or not. Consistent attendance is critical, and we will support students trending toward absenteeism.

Child Safe Procedures:
If your child will be absent or late, please call 508-841-1200 (option 1 for Oak Attendance) the night before or the morning of the absence. Clearly spell your child’s first and last name. If we don't receive a call, we will contact parents or emergency contacts to ensure the child's safety. Remember, students absent from school cannot participate in after-school activities.

Early Dismissal:
Early dismissals should be rare as they disrupt learning and end-of-day routines. Notify the office (talvarez@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us) and your child's teachers via note or email. Students cannot arrange dismissals themselves.

The Food for Families Pantry at Oak Middle School is open and available to support any family, no matter the size or duration of the need. Families can choose between the Weekender Program, which provides individual meals for students to take home on Fridays, or the Biweekly Program, offering groceries and household items every other Friday. Both options are confidential, and no documentation is required. To access the pantry, contact the OMS nurses at 508-841-1204 or oaknurse@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us.

The Locker is a donation-based program at Oak, providing clothing and personal care items for families in need within our district. We strive to offer support in a discreet and confidential manner, ensuring your comfort throughout the process. If your child would like to help select items, they are welcome to visit our neatly organized closet to choose what they prefer. Alternatively, we can send items home with your student or arrange pick-up through the health office.

Please complete this form if you would like help:

https://forms.gle/tnuzo69hdmZXvNjA6

Please enter through the water tower entrance, drive up the hill, and pull up as far as possible—ideally to the second entrance. This helps ensure an efficient drop-off process and is considerate of other parents.

Students should exit the car on the Oak building side.

Grade 7

Last Names A-L: Laura Candelaria

LCandelaria@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-1240

Last Names M-Z:

Jennifer Lencioni

JLencioni@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-1214

Grade 8

Last Names A-L:

Amy Wallace

AWallace@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-8761

Last Names M-Z:

Kristen Minio

KMinio@Shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

508-841-1212