OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL

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

The holiday season is upon us and the upcoming weeks will be busy with planning, shopping, celebrations, family, and food. Our holiday break runs from December 23rd - January 3rd. This is a wonderful time for students to connect with family members and take a break from academics.

Music: There will be two exciting performances coming up the early part of December. On Thursday, December 5th, the Choir will be presenting a concert at 7 PM. On Thursday, December 12th the Band will have a concert at 7 PM. Both performances will take place at the OHS Auditorium.

December Dress Up Days:

Monday, December 16th - Holiday PJ Day

Tuesday, December 17th - Grade Colors: 5th white, 6th blue, 7th green, 8th red

Wednesday, December 18th- Wacky Holiday Day

Thursday, December 19th- Ugly Sweater Day

Friday, December 20th- All Out Christmas Day & Party from 1:50-3:14 PM

OMS students wishing to compete in the 2024 Spelling Bee should attend an informational meeting to be held during advisory on December 3, 2024 in Mrs. Newman's room (106). 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.

Our school believes that to do well in school, students need to feel connected to their school community. In our ongoing effort to create a positive and caring school culture, we are having a Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat® .

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 is grounded in character. On the Courage Retreat, the YF Programs Staff will focus on creating a more positive school community by engaging students in a variety of activities that enhance self-confidence, empathy and connectedness.

This high-energy, interactive retreat is scheduled for Friday, December 13th for the 7th grade class and will be held at Trollhaugen from 9:00am-2:15pm.

To reinforce the positive effects of the retreat, we believe it’s important for the entire community to be involved in supporting and communicating the messages delivered on the retreat. Because of this, we encourage parents and caregivers to inquire about their student’s retreat experience by asking the following questions:

1. What activities did you find fun?

2. What were the small-group leaders like?

3. What were some of the social fears that you discussed during the small-group conversations?

4. What’s a fear you really struggle with?

5. What is one thing you can do Monday at school to show more courage?

Visit youthfrontiers.org/courage-retreat for more information on Youth Frontiers and to watch a video about the Courage Retreat.

Please fill out the form below to let us know if your child has permission to attend. This form will also ask if your child will be bringing a bagged lunch from home or a school bagged lunch on the Courage Retreat. The permission form is due by 12/4/2024.

Permission/Lunch Form

Respectfully,

Lisa Stoppelmoor and Kristin Boileau

OMS School Counselors

5th Grade Families: Youth Frontiers will be returning to provide a KINDNESS RETREAT for our 5th graders. SAVE the date for Thursday, January 9th, 2025. More information will be coming out later in December to sign your child up for this as well as to make lunch choices.

Below are the upcoming OMS conference dates. More information will be provided in the January newsletter.

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 during OMS WYN (11:04-11:46)

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 4th: Course request due in Skyward

As of the end of November, our staff has given out 607 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.

The winter skiing season is upon us! For the 24/25 season, Trollhaugen is offering a student/parent/group pass option. This pass is available on Saturdays to Osceola students, grades 5-12. The pass is good from 3 to 9 pm starting the week of December 7, 2024.

Parents are responsible for completing registration forms and payment through Trollhaugen. PLEASE COMPLETE and TURN IN FORMS/A PICTURE TO TROLLHAUGEN PRIOR TO DEC. 7. There are no chaperones and no transportation through Osceola.

Trollhaugen offers beginner lessons, and equipment rental (including a special student discount rate). Attached you can find the 24/25 Group Pass program. Paper forms are also available at the Osceola Middle School and the Osceola High School.

Please remember that students will still go outside for recess for 20 minutes. 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!

Staff Inservice: Monday, December 2nd

OMS Choir Concert: Thursday, December 5th at 7:00 PM (OHS Auditorium)

OMS Band Concert: Thursday, December 12th 7:00 PM (OHS Auditorium)

All School Party: Friday, December 20th 1:50-3:14 PM

Holiday Break: December 23rd - January 3rd

Staff Inservice: Friday, January 3rd

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

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

Practice Schedule:

2nd-8th Grade

*Starts December 9th

*Monday & Thursday practices in the high school mezzanine wrestling room

*5:45-7:00 PM

If you have questions about the wrestling program, please reach out to Clint Strom at stromc@osceolak12.org

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/