Bobcat Bulletin April 20, 2023
April 20, 2023
Upcoming events
Tuesday, April 25: MCA Reading
Thursday, April 27: Virtual Conferences
Tuesday, May 2, 2023: Math MCA
Tuesday, May 9, 2023: Science MCA (8th grade only)
Thursday, May 11: Art Show open reception from 5:30-8 p.m.
Thursday, May 25: Final Bobcat Den for 22-23 school year
Monday, May 29: No School - District closed, holiday
Thursday, June 8: Last day of school/End of year field trips
Tuesday, June 13: End of Trimester 3 grades available online
MCA Tips
April 25, 2023 - Reading
May 2, 2023 - Math
May 9, 2023 - Science (8th grade only)
In the coming days before test day, PREVIEW what the MCA testing is like using the Student Readiness Tool: https://srt.testnav.com/mn/mn-srt.html
- The evening before a test day, fully charge your Chromebook and place Chromebook and wired headphones for use with your Chromebook in your school bag.
- Pack a book or a magazine to read, a puzzle book or coloring book for something to do if you finish the test early. (You will stay in the classroom until 11:17 a.m. and must have a silent, non-electronic activity to avoid distracting other students.)
- Go to bed at a time that allows a restful sleep.
- The day of the test, eat breakfast (at home or school) with protein to avoid sugar crash.
- Leave your phone, earbuds, bluetooth headphones, smart watches and calculators at home or in your locker or school bag powered off.
- Report directly to your first period class at 8:25 a.m. (NO PRIDE class on test dates).
- RELAX, do your best!
Testing will be from 8:25 -11:17 a.m. on a single day. Makeup dates will be scheduled if needed.
Virtual Conferences
Spring Trimester 3 conferences will be held VIRTUALLY through Google Meet. Conferences will be held Thursday, April 27 from 3:20-8:30 p.m.
Conferences need to be scheduled with teachers using the My Conference Time website. After you sign up for conferences, you will receive a confirmation email, which will contain the conference meeting link. PLEASE save this confirmation email because it contains the link you will use to meet with the teacher virtually. You will receive a separate confirmation email and meeting link for each teacher with whom you schedule an appointment.
Please note we have teachers who are part-time and others who travel between multiple buildings, which limits their conference schedule.
If a teacher's conference schedule is full, you can always email them with questions or to possibly set up an alternate phone conversation.
We have included additional MyConferenceTime resources for parents below as needed.
MyConferenceTime Help for Parents:
• OMS Virtual Conference - Directions for Parents/Guardians
• Videos to help you sign up for conferences
Spring music concerts
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
6:30 p.m. Band 7 at Andover H.S. Auditorium
8:00 p.m. Band 8 & Jazz Band at Andover H.S. Auditorium
Thursday, May 11, 2023
6:45 p.m. Choir 6 (Day 2 students) at OVMS Cafetorium
8:00 p.m. Choir 6 (Day 1 students) at OVMS Cafetorium
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
6:45 p.m. Band 6 (group 2) at OVMS Cafetorium
8:00 p.m. Band 6 (group 1) at OVMS Cafetorium
Thursday, May 18, 2023
7:00 p.m. Orchestra 7 with Chamber Orchestra at OVMS Cafetorium
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
7:00 p.m. Choir 8 & Choir 7 at OVMS Cafetorium
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
6:45 p.m. Orchestra 6 at OVMS Cafetorium
8:00 p.m. Orchestra 8 at OVMS Cafetorium
Congratulations to our A and B Honor Roll students. View lists
Bobcat Den - homework help
Oak View Students have a place, after school, to:
- Work on homework
- Get help from a teacher
- Get caught up from being absent
Bobcat Den is located in the Media center
- The Den began Monday, Oct. 24 and ends Thursday, May 25. (No Den on April 27 due to conferences)
- The Bobcat Den runs Mondays through Thursdays from 3:10 to 4:15 p.m.
- On Tuesdays and Thursdays there are activity buses students can take home - these buses usually depart by 4:30 p.m. On Mondays and Wednesdays, students will have to arrange their own transportation home (for safety reasons, students will not be allowed to linger in the building after the Den).
- The purpose of the Bobcat Den is to provide a safe, organized place for students to receive additional academic support. Students who are off-task and.or disrupt the opportunity for others will be removed from the Den and may lose the privilege of future participation.
(Students should bring all necessary materials when they report for help.) View Bobcat Den Flyer (PDF)
Please join us Thursday, May 11 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Oak View Middle School for the Art Show open reception.
The students can stop back to the Art room to pick up their work any time after May 23.
Thank you for all your hard work!
Student of the Month
Grade 6: Tyler Alexander, Kanin Mahoney, Cody Lavigne, Aili Keane, Kaylee Kunza and Ireland Christianson
Grade 7: Chloe Landry, Hudson Dehnicke, Foster Montgomery, Hailey Posner, Chase Rhodes and Addie Erickson
Grade 8: Jadyn Bravo, Cameron Gillespie, Savannah Anderson, Christian Heid, Cate Evenson and Isaiah Croaston
Student of the Month - Physical Education
Montgomery: Tyson Hibma (gr. 7) and Sylvia Hennessey (gr. 7)
Nicols: Isabella Mendoza (gr. 8) and Logan Wheeler (gr. 8)
Peterman: Libby McNabb (gr. 8) and Henry Lien (gr. 8)
Whiteford: Michael Jones (gr. 6) and Peyton Dworsky (gr. 8)
Academic Excellence Student Recognition
Student Academic Recognition
Oak View Middle School is pleased to recognize outstanding student academic excellence.
- Sixth graders who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher during their entire time at Oak View will receive an Academic Excellence Award certificate in the mail in June.
- Seventh graders who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher during their entire time at Oak View will receive an Academic Excellence Award certificate in the mail in June.
- Eighth graders who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for their entire time at Oak View by the end of trimester II (of their 8th grade year) will be invited to an Honors Program in May, where they will receive an Academic Excellence Award certificate.
Student cumulative GPA information can be found on ParentVue under the Course History tab
District Middle School Honor Band - 2023
Congratulations to the Oak View Middle School band students who participated in the 2023 Anoka-Hennepin Middle School Honor Band.
Chloe Gindele, flute; Rebecca (Blaise) Dickey, oboe; Damien Xiong, clarinet; Ella Himel, bass clarinet; Elisabeth (Ella) Olson, trumpet; Lars Oredson, trumpet; Taylor Bohmert, baritone and Chase Shimon, tuba
Each middle school in our school district selected 8th grade band students to form a 70 member group. The ensemble rehearsed all day and then performed a concert on the afternoon of Saturday, March 25 here at Oak View Middle School.
This year’s district honor band was conducted by Mr. Steve Lyons, Band Director at Champlin Park High School.
Oak View Celebrates Staff Appreciation Week
Oak View Middle School has designated the week of May 8 - 12 as Staff Appreciation Week! We have a tremendous staff at Oak View, and we celebrate the contributions of each and every member of our staff! In addition to a few planned activities, please encourage your student to share a kind thought or word with a staff member. Positive feedback from kids and parents goes a long way to support the work we do. In addition to acknowledging our staff's dedication, we are honored to partner with supportive parents as we work with our great students at Oak View!
Child nutrition update
Universal School Meals program to begin in the fall of 2023
On March 17, the Minnesota Legislature approved and the Governor signed a bill providing “Universal School Meals,” which means every student may receive free breakfast and lunch beginning in the fall of 2023. The program will cover one breakfast and one lunch for every student, however ala carte and other meal choices will not be covered.
Families will need to continue purchasing meals for their students for the remainder of this school year, as the new bill will not forgive or pay for any meal debt accrued before Sept. 2023.
If your family needs immediate assistance with free or reduced-priced meals, or access to other educational benefits (such as high school athletics and activity fees; ACT, SAT and AP fees; Comcast internet and SNAP membership discounts; Xcel Energy account assistance and more), please visit ahschools.us/childnutrition to complete an application.
The district’s child nutrition program is working to provide details for all families in preparation for the 2023-24 school year. Stay tuned to your back to school communications for specific details about this benefit for your family in the summer of 2023.
Register now for summer youth programs
From arts and crafts, to sports, theater, language, and engineering, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education offers a class or camp to engage and delight youth of all ages.
Browse summer opportunities and register.
The summer months are a perfect time for children to try new things, stay active, have fun, make friends! Choose from a variety of youth programs and activities scheduled to take place in June, July and August.
Programs are open to all families, and most will be held at Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine. Depending on the activity, some classes will also be held at off-site locations. Programs are available for children in preschool to grade eight.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I add money to my student's Lunch Account? (Directions to add money to student lunch account)
- I need to pick my student up during the day, what is the process? Please call the Attendance line at least 1-2 hours in advance or send a note with your student the morning of the appointment. (Attendance, Absences, Early Dismal and Late Arrival policy)
- Do I need to come in to pick up my student? Yes, a parent/guardian must sign the student out. (Attendance, Absences, Early Dismal and Late Arrival policy)
- Do I need my identification to enter the building during the school day? Yes, all visitors/parents/guardians must scan their identification, typically a driver's license, before entering the building.
- How do I report if my student is going to be absent, will be picked up early, or arriving late? Please call the attendance office at 763-506-5606. (Attendance, Absences, Early Dismal and Late Arrival policy)
- Can I report my student's attendance online? Yes (Directions to report student attendance online)
Volunteer news
Thank you to our amazing volunteers!
April 16-22 was National Volunteer Recognition Week. Volunteers make our school an exceptional place to work and learn! Thank you SO much for all of the time and energy you give to make our school and community a great place to grow! Our students and staff are so grateful for your generosity. We are truly grateful for our volunteers!
Oak View Middle School has many volunteer opportunities throughout the school year, including helping teachers prepare materials, field trip chaperoning, popcorn popping, and a variety of other activities. Please visit our Volunteer Webpage to find the two required volunteer forms (Volunteer Application and Criminal Record History Release form). Once you sign up to be an OVMS volunteer, you will receive regular email notices for current and upcoming volunteer opportunities.
We are currently looking for volunteers for the following events:
- April 25, May 2, May 9: Hallway Monitoring during MCAs
- May 9, 10, 22: Spring Art Show Set-up and Take-down
- May 25: District-Wide Middle School Track Meet @ Andover High School
If you're interested in helping out, please fill out your volunteer application forms and head over to Sign-Up Genius to sign up.
Technology support
MS Parent/Student Technology Resources
For help with your Chromebook, send an email to:
Michele.Dunleavy@ahschools.us and Lisa.Cole@ahschools.us
or call Michele Dunleavy 763-506-5726 or Lisa Cole 763-506-5639
** Remember to try a Hard Reset before asking for help.
Health services
Minnesota state law requires all students to have routine childhood immunizations before entrance to 7th and 12th grade. Your student could need one or more vaccinations or a legal exemption to meet these requirements. You may check your student’s immunization records in AH Connect.
Be aware that 7th grade students should have a Tdap booster after the age of 7 years, 3 polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella (or medical provider proof of chickenpox), 3 hepatitis B, and one meningitis shot to enter 7th grade. All 12th grade students require a second meningitis booster dose to enter 12th grade. Any entry on the shot record of 1/1/1900 indicates that your child had a case of the disease and does not need the vaccine. Please check with your school health service department or private medical provider if you are unsure which immunizations your child is lacking.
Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 31
Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 31: Body image and eating disorders, disordered eating
There are many factors that may impact the way we feel about ourselves and the way we show up each day, and one of these factors that impact many, including students is body image.
Adults and teens alike are presented with body image media on a daily basis through various forms of traditional and social media which can have a mental and physical impact on an individual. In this episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin's parent involvement coordinator, hopes to connect parents and guardians with resources if they suspect their child may be experiencing body dysmorphia or even eating disorders.
The most common types parents might hear or think about are anorexia or bulimia. But there is so much more that can affect a person's life when it comes to eating disorders, and that can often be referred to as disordered eating, which may include restrictive eating, compulsive eating or irregular or inflexible eating patterns.
Burgard was joined by Dr. Heather Gallivan, clinical director at Melrose Center and Anoka-Hennepin licensed school nurse Jessica Patterson, to learn more about how parents can support their children if they are experiencing body dysmorphia and/or eating disorders and how schools can help connect families with support.
Tune in to the Parent Engage 360 Podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or at ahschools.us/parentengage360.
Melrose Center provides care for all types of eating disorders and has helped guide thousands of people toward recovery using evidence-based treatment. As a resource for anyone experiencing eating disorders or those that might be caring for an individual experiencing eating disorders, Melrose Center hosts a podcast titled Melrose Heals a resource. Listen to the Melrose Heals podcast on Spotify.
The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.
Transportation information
Real-time bus information through FirstView app
Anoka-Hennepin families can check where their bus is — live — through a transportation app, called FirstView. The app monitors regular school bus routes in real-time. Best of all, it’s free for parents/guardians and students to use.
To find your student's bus information follow these step-by-step directions. Contact the transportation department at 763-506-1125 with questions.
This e-newsletter is published by Oak View Middle School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.