OMS Friday Knight Live
October 6, 2023
New Information In This Newsletter:
- Next Week @ OMS
- Reminder for 8th Graders Taking Optional PSAT Thursday, 10.12
- 6th Grade Field Trip Reminders
- Can Tab Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House
- Fall Conference Format Survey- open for one more week
- End of Quarter Next Week- Canvas & Viewing Grades Info
- Upcoming OMS Fall Play Oct. 19-20
- Parents Still Make The Difference Oct. Newsletter
Next Week @ OMS
Friday, 10/13- No School for Students; Professional Learning Day for Staff
Interested in always knowing what is going on? Check out the OMS Website: Oxford Middle School / Homepage (bluevalleyk12.org)
Reminder for 8th Graders taking the Optional PSAT Thursday October 12
Any 8th grade student who is taking the PSAT on Thursday October 12 must bring a CHARGED CHROMEBOOK with them. Students will be transported to and from the Hilltop Campus between 9:00am and approximately 12:00pm. Students may not arrive late and will be staying in the testing center until the PSAT time is complete.
6th Graders Going on Timber Ridge Field Trip - Oct 11 or Oct 12
Please refer to your permission slip for the date, either Wed October 11 or Thurs October 12, your child is going to Timber Ridge. Please review the dress requirements as students without appropriate shoes are not allowed to participate in activities. Send a jacket/hoodie if the weather calls for it and don’t forget a sack lunch. If a student forgets an item the day of the field trip we cannot call them to pick it up.
If you need to order a sack lunch from the cafeteria, please fill out the form below and turn it into the Cafeteria by Monday October 9th at 9:00am.
Can Tab Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House
On behalf of the OMS Student Council and Community Service Club, a big "thank you" to all who contributed to our Ronald McDonald House Pop Tabs collection! As you can see, OMS did an awesome job!!! Your donations will go towards helping pay for lodging and food for families who have children who are ill and are staying at the KC Ronald McDonald House. Thank you for your generosity!
Fall Conference Survey Open for One More Week
We would still like feedback about our fall conference format. This survey will be open for one more week through 10.13. If you have not taken it, we would appreciate your feedback!
Thank you!
End of Quarter Information - Viewing Canvas Courses and First Quarter Grades
At the end of each quarter, courses in Canvas will conclude and will no longer be visible on the Canvas app and website. Courses for this year’s first quarter will conclude on October 12th at 11:59pm. Report cards will be generated and families will be able to view first-quarter grades on ParentVUE at the end of the day on Friday, October 20th.
How do I view my child’s report card?
Log in on ParentVue.
Select your elementary student’s name
In the left navigation bar, choose Report Card
Each new quarter, classroom teachers will publish their next quarter Canvas course. As courses are published, students and families will again be able to see current courses on the Canvas app and Canvas website. For Canvas parent resources, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/canvas.
Fall Play” The (Dis)Concert(ed) Choir
The fall play “The (Dis)Conert(ed) Choir will be performed Thursday October 19th and 20th at 7:00pm in the OMS Commons. Tickets must be purchased online and purchasing does not open until Saturday October 15th. Seating is open (no assigned rows and seats) and there are no purchases at the door. See links and instructions in the October 13 Friday Knight Live.
Parents Still Matter - October 2023 Newsletter
There are great articles this month on self-reliance and persistence, key areas for writing, activities and stress, effective study habits, and so much more!
Click HERE for the October 2023 edition
Helpful Repeated Information
Wrestling 6-8th Grade: Important UPDATED Information
The Blue Valley School District is now requiring any student participating in Wrestling to complete a KSHSAA physical and upload this document (pages 3 & 4 specifically, with all signatures completed and signed) to the district’s rSchool Website.
Please disregard the information from last week about the consent form as this will no longer be accepted for participation.
You must create an account on rSchool and upload the signed physical pages. If you have had a physical for another sport it will apply to all sports/cheer for the 23-24 school year. If you/your student is interested in participating, please sign-up using the link below:
Wrestling Sign-up Link (Click HERE)
If you have any questions, please contact Head Wrestling Coach, Zack Orrick, at zjorrick@bluevalleyk12.org
OMS Student to be featured on NPR in October
Oxford Middle School student, pianist Eddison Chen, will be featured on 91.9 Classical KC (Kansas City’s NPR affiliated 24 hour classical station) on October 12, 13,14 & 15.
During the afternoon of October 12th and morning of October 13th, KCNPR will air an interview with Eddison and his mother as well as some clips of him playing.
On Saturday October 14th 10-11am and Sunday October 15th 7-8pm, Eddison will be featured during our broadcast of NPR’s From the Top. This is a very prestigious program highlighting the best young classical musicians in America.
Follow along on Facebook/Instagram @classicalkc.
We are excited to hear Eddison share his talents!
UPDATED Directions to prevent game access on student chromebooks
Preventing Game Access from Student Chromebooks: Securly Filter Request
The number one complaint in past years from parents and teachers has been student access to game sites during the school day. Parents can now choose to place their 3-12th grade students in Seculy’s "High Restrictions Filter Group" by logging a BVCARE Technology ticket. *Educational Games sites used by curriculum will still be allowed.
To log a BVCARE Technology ticket, click here: Select your user type to login to BV CARE (bluevalleyk12.org)
ASK- After-School Homework Help
6th Grade
McBride rm. 12 WEDNESDAY
Mullin-Mall rm. 6 THURSDAY
7th Grade
Brown rm. 27 TUESDAY
Rindom rm. 20 THURSDAY
8th Grade
Savage rm. 39 MONDAY
Evans rm. 40 WEDNESDAY
Spanish
Harris rm. 26 WEDNESDAY
6th Grade Timber Ridge Field Trip Sack Lunch Orders
The 6th grade (half the grade per day) will be going to Timber Ridge for team building events October 11th & 12th. Permission slips were sent by the 6th grade teachers explaining which students will be going on which day. Students who need to order a sack lunch must return the following form to the cafeteria before 9:00am on Monday October 9th Click HERE for Sack Lunch Order Form
iReady and Fastbridge Scores
Course Fees Now Applied
Course fees have been added to student accounts. Not all courses have a fee associated with them. Please check in ParentVue to see if a fee applies to your student’s classes. You must use a computer browser to log into ParentVue to pay with a credit card (payments will not work via cell phone access). Fees may be paid in cash or check (exact amount for cash and checks made out to Oxford Middle School) at Oxford. Any questions may be directed to Christina Fowles, OMS Bookkeeper, CLFowles@bluevalleyk12.org
OMS Title I Notification
Dear Families:
Oxford Middle School has been identified as an official Title I school, based on the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits. Title I is a federal program where select schools receive targeted funds to provide additional reading support.
Federal guidelines mandate that Title I schools provide parents with a “right to know.” As a parent, you have the right to know information regarding qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers. This information can be found at https://appspublic.ksde.org/TLL/SearchLicense.aspx.
As a parent, you also have the right to view both district and building report cards, which can be found by going to www.bluevalleyk12.org, scrolling down to “District Quick Links” and selecting “Accountability Reports.” Parents also have the right to request access to students’ state assessment scores. These will also be shared via the KITE Parent Portal around the end of the school year.
Thank you,
Courtney Domoney
Principal, Oxford Middle
Securly at Home
1st Semester Clubs and Activities
Want to know what clubs and activities are available first semester? You can Click HERE for 1st Semester 2023 Clubs spreadsheet or go to the Activities page on the OMS website. See start dates, sponsors, and schedules for each club on the Activities page.
Yearbooks Photos Taken September 7 Ready to Order
Families whose students had yearbook photos taken on September 7, your photos are ready to view and order. You should have received an email from JostensPIX with your link. All questions need to be directed to Jostens. If you did not receive the email, here is the ordering information:
View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login
OXFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Event Code: FE227623
You will need your child’s Student ID number/Lunch Code
Social Worker Resources for Mid-September
New resources have been added to the Social Worker Resources OMS web page. Read about the National Alliance on Mental Illness and their support of individuals and families of those affected by mental illness.
Order Yearbooks NOW
If you want a 2023 2024 yearbook for your student please order it now. Go to ParentVue → Fees → Optional Fees and select the 23-34 YRBOOK for $25. Extra yearbooks are not available at the end of the year. Avoid end of the year tears and order today!
Not Better Without You: Don’t Wait to Start the Conversation
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Click HERE for the Johnson’s County article for information, resources, and upcoming events.
Parent Volunteers Needed for Hearing/Vision Screening
Nurse Piper is in need of 6 volunteers to help with class lists, paper sorting, and student class escorts during Hearing and Vision Screening on Wednesday October 25. Volunteers are needed from 7:30am - 11:00am. We need you the entire time and, unfortunately, cannot accommodate partial volunteer shifts.
Click HERE for the Hearing Vision Volunteer Sign Up
Parents Still Make a Difference - September 2023
Newsletter for middle school parents. Articles include: Academic honesty, importance of attendance, information on sleep, a wish list from middle school students, and more!
Click HERE for the Sept 2023 newsletter
Counseling Corner – Career Café Participants Needed!
Are you passionate about your job? Do you wish you knew more about what kinds of skills, knowledge, and duties your job required before you were looking to start a career? We are excited to offer Career Café once a month where a small group of students can meet with you, learn about your profession, and be able to ask questions about what it’s really like to be in the work force. All professions welcome! If you are interested in being a participant, please fill out the following Google form and we will contact you for specifics. Thank you for your consideration!
Career Café Google Form: https://forms.gle/zrgxU5efGHCso6z28
Change in BV Testing for Middle School Students
As seen in the annual assessment notice shared last week, there are some changes to student assessment in Blue Valley this Fall. As a result, you may notice a change in some of the tests your student is being asked to take this year.
We have replaced MAP Reading testing with the Fastbridge FASTtrack reading assessment. The benefits are:
Fastbridge testing provides comparable student results with fewer questions.
Teachers get information that is easier to act upon.
Fastbridge is endorsed by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).
Families will get a printed student report.
We have also eliminated MAP Math testing. The reasoning is as follows:
Starting last year, we asked students to complete iReady diagnostic testing as iReady became our math resource for grades K-5.
Last fall and spring, we double-tested students in math as we administered both MAP math and the iReady diagnostic in both terms.
Through analyzing results, we learned that iReady and MAP produced similar overall information. In other words, the correlation between iReady and MAP data was extremely strong.
Students in 8th grade Algebra I do not take the iReady diagnostic and therefore will complete the Fastbridge FASTtrack math assessment.
Crossing Guards Needed
All City Management Services is looking for additional school crossing guards to ensure the safety of students as they arrive and depart from school. Visit https://acmssafety.com/careers for more information.
Football and Volleyball Games Added
Games have been added to the football and volleyball schedules. Click HERE for the Athletics page on the OMS website. Check your specific sport for schedules.
BV Student Code of Conduct
The Blue Valley Board of Education approved updates to Board Policy 3500 - Behavior and Discipline at the August 14, 2023 Board of Education meeting. As part of this approval, there is a Student Code of Conduct document. We ask all families and students within our school community to review the contents, policies and procedures within this Student Code of Conduct.
Administrative actions taken as a result of a violation of the code of conduct are determined following proper investigation, review, and/or consideration of the age/grade of the student, context, and situation in which the behavior in question occurred. The scope of authority of the Blue Valley Student Code of Conduct applies at all times when students are on school buses or other vehicles used by the district to transport students, school district property, or engaged in official school activities. Additionally, this code of conduct applies to any student whose conduct at any time or place has a direct and immediate effect causing substantial disruption impacting the order of school operations and/or the sense of student and staff safety that exists in the school or school-related environment.
Students at Oxford have been made aware of behavioral expectations and the Code of Conduct through administrator sessions during FLEX classes.
OMS Social Worker Provides Resource Information
Sue Ellen Jayne is Oxford’s social worker. She can assist with connecting OMS families with needed resources and services. Ms. Jayne has a resource page on the OMS website where we post community connections. Her page can be found under Families → Social Worker Resources OMS
School Day Access
Visitors, including parents and guardians, are not permitted in the building during the school day unless they have a scheduled appointment or meeting. Once the school day has begun at 7:50am visitors must ring the doorbell (located to the right of the main doors). Adults who are picking up a student early must wait outside for the student to exit the building. Please see the School Policies and FAQs page on the OMS website for more information about the door entry system, item drop off, and student absences.
Important Travel Outside of the USA Information
This important message is for any family or staff that will travel out of the United States during the school year. Please click here to read the restrictions and recommendations for Out of the Country travel. Blue Valley resources such as Canvas, Classlink, and school email are not accessible out of the country unless you have a personal device with a VPN on it.
A.M. Practices and 1st Period Attendance
Students who attend morning practices for football, cross country, or volleyball must be on time for 1st period at 7:51am. Students who choose to go home and change clothes must be in their 1st period seats on time or they will be marked late unexcused.
School Hours
Students need to be in their first hour class by 7:51 a.m.
6th & 7th grade students report to the Commons before 7:45 a.m. when they may go to lockers and classrooms
8th grade students report to the GYM before 7:45 a.m.
Students who eat breakfast will eat in the commons and then report to the commons or gym
School is dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Students who are not staying for a club or activity exit the building by 3:10 p.m.
Interested in OMS Spiritwear?
The PTO has created an online store that is open year round. 1st Place Spiritwear has a wide variety of Oxford pride clothing and accessories. A portion of each sale goes back to Oxford PTO to support our school! Mind the sizing guide as sizes tend to run small.
Preventing Game Access from Student Chromebooks: Opt-In Option for Securly Filter
The number one complaint this past year from parents has been student access to game sites during the school day. Parents can now choose to place their 3-12th grade students in the High Restrictions Filter Group by signing up here. The link has detailed information about the differences between the Default and High Restrictions Policies. The Securly update will be effective September 1.
*Educational Games sites used by curriculum will still be allowed.
Interested in a carpool this year?
For students who do not receive bus transportation, families may fill out this form to see if other families near them are interested in arranging a carpool. Anyone who fills the form out will want to check regularly for new additions. Families who use this form will reach out to other parents and guardians on this form to arrange any carpools.
Parents/Guardians For Your Refrigerator
We have created a Parent Reference Sheet and QR Codes for your reference during the school year. Scan the QR codes for links to reporting absences, adding money to lunch accounts, school day bell schedules, ParentVue, Canvas, bus company, and so much more!
Click HERE to download the 23-24 Parent Reference Sheet
Looking for OMS Information? Try the Website!
The OMS website has most of the information you will need for and during the school year. You can find the school calendar, class and lunch schedules, links to the lunch payment system, staff lists (including email addresses), rules about cell phones, how to notify us of a student absence, candid student and event photos, sports schedules, clubs and activities, and so much more! Our website is updated multiple times a week so check here for current updates! OMS Website
For the Latest Announcements and Information
Want to keep up on the latest OMS announcements and information? Check out the NEWS section on the OMS website. NEWS is located under the About Us tab.
Contact Us! We Are Here To Help!
Attendance Number: 913-239-5505
Mrs. Domoney, Principal: cdomoney@bluevalleyk12.org
Mr. Holsapple, Assistant Principal: jholsapple03@bluevalleyk12.org
**Cross Country Practice Monday 8/21 & Tues 8/22**
Due to predicted heat, Cross Country practice will take place @6:00am both Monday August 21 and Tuesday August 22.