Community Soar Report
To SOAR with eagles all you need is to BELIEVE you can fly
December 2020
Celebrations and Future Plans
Greetings Eagle Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. I am amazed at how quickly the school year is progressing and that mid-term is only a few days away. In a traditional year, we would be gathering at the school to celebrate the academic achievements of our students through the first term. Unfortunately, we are unable to gather this year and celebrate in person. However, we can still celebrate the accomplishments of students. I am incredibly proud to report that 73% of our students earned first or second honors for term one. This is a tremendous accomplishment considering the challenges that our students faced while diving into a brand-new instructional model. I can’t begin to thank our students for all of their hard work and dedication to academic excellence, our parents/guardians for all of the support at home, and the OMS staff members for all that they are doing to ensure that students continue to grow and learn. My hope is that students will use their mid-term grades to reflect on the first several weeks of term two and create a plan to ensure that they continue to excel academically through the last half of the term.
Last week, OMS sent a Find Out First asking parents/guardians to identify the instructional model that their children will participate in for the second semester (beginning January 28th). FCPS/OMS is asking that all parents/guardians complete the survey by Friday, December 11th so that schools can begin finalizing plans for the hybrid model. I know that there are many questions about the hybrid model, including what the hybrid model will look like at OMS. I am hopeful that the systemic Find Out First message that was sent earlier this week helped to answer some of those questions. In an effort to answer some of the OMS specific questions, there are two informational videos included on this month’s Community SOAR Report. Please take some time to review each video. If you have additional questions, I encourage you to complete the Hybrid Questionnaire form. The questions gathered on this document will be used to conduct a live town hall meeting on Wednesday, January 6th at 6:30 PM and on Friday, January 8th at 9:00 AM. This format will be the same as our town hall meeting in August, in which we discussed the virtual model. Additional information about the town hall meeting will be shared in the coming weeks via Find Out First.
This time of year often leads to increased stress levels. Add in a pandemic, changes in instructional models, and a plethora of unknows and we have the perfect combination for a stress level overload. Eagles, our motto of #OMSBetterTogether is more important now than ever before. Our teamwork, collaboration, and patience will be imperative to our overall success moving forward. Together we have been able to take on and conquer each challenge that we have faced thus far. I am confident that together we will continue to soar and rise above the challenges that lie ahead. Thank you for your continued support and please let me know if there is anything you need.
Sincerely,
Daniel L. Enck
Principal
Hybrid Informational Videos and Questionnaire
Important Information
Hybrid/Virtual Intent Form - As you know, on November 11, 2020, the Board of Education voted for Frederick County Public Schools to move from a virtual learning model to a hybrid learning model for students in grades PreK-12 at the start of the second semester on January 28, 2021. Any decision to change this timeline would be made by the Superintendent in collaboration with the local health department. Parents are able to choose for their child(ren) to participate in a full virtual model instead of hybrid.
As Dr. Alban shared in the December 2, 2020 Superintendent Newsletter, “Scheduling this model takes considerable time and planning, and we must start that process. One of the first steps is the completion of intent forms for families and staff.”
FCPS recognizes that your preference for virtual or hybrid instruction has been requested in previous surveys. However, we need to hear your current preference for your child’s instructional model for the second semester for planning purposes. We are providing additional pertinent information to assist you in making the instructional decision for your child. Please read the description of each learning model carefully prior to making a decision.
To access the intent form, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HybridOpenParentIntentDec20
- We ask that you complete one survey per child enrolled in FCPS.
- The intent form closes on Friday, December 11, 2020.
Please note at the beginning of the survey, you are asked to provide your child’s name, school, and grade. The information is important to adequately prepare for your child’s instruction.
Thank you for your commitment to supporting FCPS!
Hybrid Town Hall Meetings - OMS will be hosting two "Hybrid Town Hall Meetings" in January. The purpose of the meetings will be to answer questions about our transition to the hybrid model. The meeting will follow the same format as the August Town Hall Meetings in which parents/guardians can submit there questions by clicking HERE and completing the form. OMS administration will review the questions and address them during our live Town Hall. The "Hybrid Town Hall Meetings" are schedule for:
- Wednesday, January 6 at 6:30PM
- Friday, January 8 at 9:00AM
Additional details about this virtual event will be sent out via Find Out First the week of January 4th.
Library/Media Updates - Winter book club is just beginning! 6th grade is reading Survivors: Empty City by Hunter, and 7th & 8th grade are reading A Whole New World by Braswell. Our next meetings are December 7 for 6th grade & December 8 for 7th & 8th grade. The club is during lunch from 12:15-12:45 pm, once a week. Sign up by sending Katelyn Weber a Schoology message or email to katelyn.weber@fcps.org.
Curbside pick up will be Monday December 14- Friday December 18 from 8 am- 5pm. Please ensure that an adult can bring you to OMS to pick up the items. A cart labeled alphabetically will sit outside the front doors that week. Use the following links to put holds on specific book titles or use the Google form to receive a holiday book bundle. Sign up
Schoology Group Code: S6ZM-8SNT-53NST
Mid-Term Grades- Monday, December 14th is mid-term. Teachers will be working on updating and finalizing all mid-term grades between Monday, December 14th and Friday, December 18th. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to check grades in Schoology on Tuesday, December 22nd. The grades that will be posted on December 22nd will represent the "mid-term" grade. Additionally, OMS will be printing and mailing interims for students who have earned a "D" or "F" in any class at mid-term. Please reach out to your child's teacher(s) if you have specific grading questions.
Student of the Week/Month - Earlier this month, OMS staff began selecting individual students who they wanted to acknowledge and commend for their work ethic, perseverance, and dedication to supporting the Oakdale 3-R's (Ready, Responsible, and Respectful). Identified students will receive a personalized "Student of the Week" certificate in the mail. Additionally, each student recognized as a "Student of the Week" will be entered into the "Student of the Month" contest. Each team (6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, and Electives/PE) will select one student to represent their team as the "OMS Student of the Month." These students will receive a special award delivered to them by an OMS staff member.
Wednesday Rotations - We will continue our Wednesday "A-day" or "B-day" rotations through Term Two. The weeks for this term are as follows:
- Week of 12/14: A Week
- Week of 12/21: B Week
- Week of 1/4: A Week
- Week of 1/11: B Week
- Week of 1/18: A Week
- Week of 1/25: B Week
Construction Update
Construction update from Keller Brothers Inc.:
November Progress
- Roof installed. (Minus metal trim work)
- Completed interior wall framing, door frame installs, and in wall blocking.
- In wall and overhead Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Sprinkler work underway.
- Completed brick tie, flashing, vapor barrier installs at exterior walls.
- Prep work for spray foam at exterior walls.
- Field measured for windows, casework, lockers, and restroom partitions.
- All drywall and insulation delivered.
December look ahead key milestones:
- Complete spray foam install at exterior walls.
- Brick install underway.
- Window Contractor mobilizes to the site and start installs by the end of the month.
- Continue in wall and above ceiling Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing work including inspections.
- Obtain interior framing and insulation inspections and start wall close ins and drywall finishing work.
- Set roof top mechanical equipment by the end of the month.
Interior Framing
Science Lab Rough-Ins
Drywall and Insulation Delivery
Important Dates/Upcoming Events
Friday, December 11th - FCPS Hybrid/Virtual Student Intent form due
Monday, December 14th - Term Two: Mid-Term
Tuesday, December 22nd - Interims Issued (current Schoology grade = mid-term grade)
Thursday, December 24th - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Friday, December 25th - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Monday, December 28th - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Tuesday, December 29th - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Wednesday, December 30th - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Thursday, December 31st - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Friday, January 1st - Schools Closed - Winter Break
Wednesday, January 6th - Hybrid Town Hall Meeting via Google Meet at 6:30PM
Friday, January 8th - Hybrid Town Hall Meeting via Google Meet at 9:00AM
PTSA Updates
Hebba Hassanein - President
Joyce Hamba - Vice President
Jonathan Munemo - Vice President
Lisa Nelson - Secretary
Suzanne Trotter - Treasurer
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Wednesday, January 13th - PTSA Board Meeting @ 6:30 via Google Meet
PTSA Social Media Links and Website:
Facebook - @OakdaleMSPTSA
Instagram - @schoolOakdalemiddle
Twitter - @MiddleOakdale
Website - https://oakdalemsptsa.wixsite.com/mysite
Contact Us:
Oakdale Middle School
Email: daniel.enck@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/oms/
Location: 5810 Oakdale School Rd, Ijamsville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-5500
Twitter: @FCPS_OakdaleMS