OGMS Newsletter

Hello Ockley Families,

I shared in the last Newsletter information about a Roosevelt cluster “Know Your Rights” event that will connect students and families to resources. It is tentatively being scheduled for March 6th and March 14th and I will share out more information soon.

Over the past weeks, I have had lots of questions from students, staff and families regarding the recent executive orders about immigration and schools, which are resulting in a feeling of uncertainty about safety and the well-being of our students and staff. We welcome all students, regardless of immigration status, and we are committed to ensuring that we uphold our Sanctuary designation that is in place in Oregon. Additionally, we follow the expectation set out by the Oregon Department of Education that “Oregon schools are still prohibited from providing information or assistance to immigration officials unless required by a judicial subpoena.”

I am asking for your partnership in making sure that we have up-to-date contact information for you and your student. If you have not done so already, please complete the yearly student verification form to ensure we’re reaching you via the right contact information and in the right language.

I shared some resources in the last Newsletter. Here are some more informational resources:

• Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) webpage with a family resource hub and culturally specific information for families in the Portland area.
• The Immigrant Legal Resource Center Little Red Card is meant to help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations. The cards can be printed out in your preferred language and carried on your person. We have red cards available and our Social Worker is sharing them out to families.
• Immigrant Rights Resources One Pager

In Partnership

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

One of my favorite activities at Ockley are our Quarterly Student Celebration Assemblies. Today, we added in a special Bike Raffle for our students with 90% or better attendance over the first half of the school year. Our winners are thrilled with their new bike...in fact one immediately asked if they could go lock it up in the Bike Cage!

In addition to our usual recognition of students on the Honor Roll, Ockley Green Core Value awards and student performers, we surprised our teaching staff with a student selected teacher at each grade-level that also exhibits our Core Values of Care, Collaboration and Growth. Congrats to Mr. Huy Bui, Ms. Kate Chapman and Mr. Truong!! This is well-deserved recognition for these amazing educators.

Please make sure that we have updated information regarding your child's immunizations. Here are upcoming dates to be aware of:

• February 5, 2025 - Health Department mails exclusion orders to children's families who are not up-to-date on their immunizations.
• February 19, 2025 - Immunization deadline. All children who are not up-to-date or complete on their immunizations will be excluded from their school or child care facility.

We are grateful for our teacher leaders, Ms. Halbig and Ms. Chapman, for leading our learning on Standards-Based Grading to support our District's implementation of this more informative grading practice. See more information below from our District Middle Grades Redesign team.

Our Dancers will perform during the Pre-Game Show at the Blazer Basketball game on Tuesday, March 18th. You can support our Capstone Dancers raise funds for their End-of-Program field trip with the purchase of tickets reserved for Ockley Green.

See more with our Event Flyer.

February 4th - Late Start, Students @ 9:30 AM

February 4th - OG Supporters Meeting @ 7:00 PM

February 26th - Early Release @ 1:45 PM

March 11th - No Late Start, reverts to regular student day