Principal Rubino's Newsletter

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· Swahili: Katika sanduku nyeusi juu ya jarida, chagua Jarida la Tafsiri ili kuchagua lugha taka.

Happy snowy Monday!

Congratulations to OMS students, Ameila Vice, Olivia Caruge, and Chinyere-Helene Wosu-Faucher whose artwork will be featured during today's MLK Day Celebration in Arlington. Thanks for inspiring all of us to be changemakers in our community. You'll have to attend the celebration at the Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. to see their inspiring pieces: The Sunrise, Our Hearts, and King's Dream. Each piece reflects Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of inclusivity, peace and hope.

Starting this week, I will be meeting with each learning community to continue conversations around preventing and interrupting hate speech. I will also discuss how this connects to our core values and what that means to actively live those values both in and out of school. As mentioned previously, this is ongoing work that requires ongoing dialogue and connects to the OMS school goals around creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment. We are working together to define hate speech and develop tools to interrupt it. As a result of this ongoing work, we will be able to explain the impact words, actions and inactions have on our community.

If you attended our first community conversation on preventing and interrupting hate speech, please take a moment to provide us with some feedback to help plan the next community conversation that will take place in February.

As always, please remember our core values: Engage, Empower, Excel: We work hard; we are kind, we speak our truth. Have a great week!

Please read on for important information for this week and beyond.

This Week:

• Monday, Jan. 20
• No School: MLK Day
• MLK Day Celebration: 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall
• Tuesday, Jan. 21
• Coffee and Conversation with Principal Rubino via Zoom: 10:30 a.m.
• Topic: Mid-year update
• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83108322191?pwd=nILw0Eyux3HcVbh4ogq3Z6gsPn99Ud.1
• APS Budget Forum: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (see below for more info)

Looking Ahead:

• Monday, Jan. 27
• AMC 8 Competition: After school
• Tuesday, Jan. 28
• Last Day of Q2
• SPACE Workshop: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at AHS
• Wednesday, Jan. 29
• First Day of Q3
• Wednesday, Feb. 5
• Early Release at 1:20 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 11
• OMS Community Conversations on Interrupting and Preventing Hate Speech
• Session 2 with Dr. Kalise Wornum
• 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at OMS
• Monday, Feb. 17 - Friday, Feb. 21
• February School Vacation Week - No School!

Arlington Public Schools District Calendar

Students in 8th grade math classes work together to explain how to simplify expressions with exponents.

Students in FACS classes bake their own spanakopita and it smells oh so yummy!

Tuesday, Jan. 21, APS will hold a forum to inform the community about the APS budget process. The forum will take place from 7pm-8pm and includes a virtual option; community members can register to attend the forum virtually via Zoom here. Questions can be submitted ahead of time to this form.

Sat. Jan, 25

Ottoson's Literary and Art Magazine, Mirabile Scriptu is looking for original student work in:

• Poetry
• Short Stories
• Essays
• Visual Art (paintings, drawings)
• Photography

Our editorial team will select and present a diverse collection of student voices and perspectives, highlighting the talent within our school!

Editorial meetings will begin after Winter Break. To get involved, students can join our Google Classroom: 6yn2mot

Work can be submitted anytime! Literary and Art Magazine Submission Form

If students have questions or want more information, they can reach out to Ms. Harte by stopping by Room 305 or emailing kharte@arlington.k12.ma.us.

Thank you for your support!

If your family is in need of support, please complete the APS Family Support Request Form. Once you complete this form we will share your responses with the family engagement department and/or school social workers or counselors to support your family.

Lost & Found items can be retrieved from Ms. Duffy at the main office. Please take a look and see if anything you are missing has been found. Everything remaining will be donated after Thanksgiving!

Photo Gallery Link :

• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBlZCVjwomB0pHxObTkPqovawPv5lqqL?usp=sharing

What is SEPAC? The Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a volunteer group of parents, guardians, and caregivers that works to build a supportive community inclusive of all students, caregivers, educators, and stakeholders. It provides families with training and resources and collaborates directly with district administrators and the Arlington School Committee to promote effective family-district communications and appropriate service delivery and accommodations to students with disabilities. Learn more

Regular attendance is crucial for your child’s success. Please make every effort to ensure they are present and on time every day. This will be a focus of our administration and counseling team this year and you can expect to receive communication from the main office if your child is tardy or absent from school.

Please take the time to read through the handbook to review our policies regarding school attendance.

The best way to report any attendance issues (absence, tardy, or dismissal) for your child is by sending an email to the Ottoson absentee line – omsattendance@arlington.k12.ma.us

Please make sure to give us:

• Student Name

• a reason for the absence or tardy

• expected date of return

• for dismissal, the name of the person who will be dismissing your child

Students should arrive each day ready to learn, with all necessary materials and a positive mindset.

Ottoson does have AM/PM programming. Click here to register.

We encourage all students to stay hydrated throughout the day by bringing water bottles. Only water is permitted in the classrooms.

To maintain a focused and healthy environment, beverages such as coffee, energy drinks, or popular "pink drinks" from outside establishments like Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks are not allowed in the building.

At Ottoson Middle School, we are dedicated to providing an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Our faculty and staff are passionate about teaching and are here to support your child every step of the way.

We are excited about the year ahead and the opportunities it holds for academic growth, personal development, and building strong, lasting connections. Together, we will create a supportive and vibrant school community.

We believe in open communication and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns throughout the year. Our partnership with you is vital to your child’s success, and we are here to support you as well. Please reach out to your child’s teachers if you have any questions. You can expect communication from your child’s teachers and teaching team early on in the school year.

Your child’s grade-level assistant principal can help to provide communication and support. Ms. Lindsay Migliero will be working primarily with grade 8 students and families and Mr. Christopher Mahoney will be working primarily with grade 7 students and families.