Senator Snapshot
A Look At The Week Ahead: March 20 - March 24
The OMS musical is this week. Be Our Guest!
Don't forget to RSVP for VIP Day! More Info. below
Choose Happiness!!
Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Guardians,
“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” Maya Angelou
This week’s quote is brought to us by our Orchestra teacher, Ms. Spring. Our band, orchestra, and choir students did a phenomenal job this past Wednesday at the District 58 Festival of Music. The dedication and passion our students show by joining these groups at O’Neill is directly related to our wonderful music department.
Middle school, the great “in-between” in education. Middle school is that time in our Senators’ lives when social awareness really starts to become more prevalent to them. Our Senators arrive in 7th grade after being with the same peers for all of elementary school and a have whole group of new peers in each of their classes. Our Senators begin to make decisions every day based on many different aspects of their lives. Middle school often becomes a place where students are just trying to fit in, I think we can all relate to that.
Trying to “fit in” becomes a difficult part of middle school for everyone, not just our students but for our teachers that see the students every day and see their individual abilities and talents, the families that know their students better than anyone and see their Senator not always making the best choices, and for the Senator trying to decide if they want to be “normal” or they want to embrace their talents and/or interests. This is part of the learning opportunities we often talk about at O’Neill, students have to make mistakes to learn more about themselves. When our Senators make mistakes, they are given an opportunity to reflect on what they did and how that decision reflects on who they want to be moving forward.
The learning opportunities that come in middle school happen every day and are not always easy to navigate. O’Neill Middle School is a culturally vibrant school because of the people that make up all of its parts. We are all working together to shine a light on our Senators’ abilities and interests so that they can see what we as adults see, that they are amazing! Learning how amazing you are is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
As always, if you have any additional questions, call the main office (630) 719-5815 between 8 AM and 4 PM Monday - Friday.
Have a great weekend!
Mr. Durbala & Mr. Cobo
Volunteers needed!
- Butter Braid Pickup: We need 2 parent volunteers to assist with ButterBriad pickup on Wednesday, March 22 from 2:30-4:00 PM
- 8th Gr VIP DAY Photographers: We need 2 parent volunteers to take photos of our 8th grade students and their VIP's from 12:45 - 2:30 PM on Thursday, March 23. You will be provided an iPad to take photos in front of a backdrop.
- 7th Gr VIP DAY Photographers: We need 2 parent volunteers to take photos of our 7th grade students and their VIP's from 12:45 - 2:30 PM on Friday, March 24. You will be provided an iPad to take photos in front of a backdrop.
Please email our PTA President, Shannon Kuntz, at omsptapres@gmail.com if you can help out.
Cell phone usage: We need your help
- Students may only use their phones with permission from a teacher.
- Students need to see the nurse BEFORE contacting home if they do not feel well.
- Students are permitted to come to the office to use their phones.
- 3 Phone violations will result in loss of phone privileges at O'Neill for a period of time.
OMS PTA Butter Braid Pickup
Anyone who ordered Butter Braid pastries is reminded to pick them up on Wednesday, March 22nd from 2:45-4:00 p.m. at O’Neill.
- Students can pick up orders on their way home from school.
- Large orders can be picked up at school by parents until 4:00 p.m. Because these are frozen/perishable, we can't be responsible for orders not picked up by this time.
- For additional information on Butter Braids, including allergen notice, nutritional content, handling instruction, etc. please visit the Rite Bite website at www.ritebitefundraising.com
The Week Ahead: March 20 - March 24
Monday, March 20 - 2:10 PM dismissal - BELL SCHEDULE
6:00 PM: Musical Cast & Crew Arrival
7:00 PM: Beauty & The Beast Musical @ OMS
7:00 PM: Board of Education Meeting - Herrick Middle School
Tuesday, March 21
3:20-4:00 PM: Craft Club - room 124
3:20 PM: Scholastic Bowl vs Westview Hills - Library
6:00 PM: Musical Cast & Crew Arrival
7:00 PM: Beauty & The Beast Musical @ OMS
Wednesday, March 22
3:10 - 4:00 PM: ButterBraid pickup - Cafeteria
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM: Gaming Club - Room 210
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM: Track Meeting - Main Gym
7:00 PM: BPAC Loteria Night @ OMS
Thursday, March 23 - VIP DAY Bell Schedule
1:00 PM: VIP Day (8th grade)
Friday, March 24 - VIP DAY Bell Schedule
1:00 PM: VIP Day (7th grade)
Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31:
NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK
Monday, April 3:
SCHOOL RESUMES
O'Neill Musical - Be Our Guest!
RSVP for VIP DAY
VIP Day is designed to allow our students to bring any Very Important Person in their life to join them for some time at O’Neill! With the size of OMS, we are asking students and families to limit their VIPs to two (2) individuals over the age of 18.
VIP Day will take place on March 23rd for 8th-grade students and March 24th for 7th-grade students. While VIP day has traditionally been an 8th-grade event, next year, the event will become a 7th-grade event.
This event will begin at 1:00 PM in the afternoon and our VIPs will see our Music groups (Orchestra, Choir, and Jazz Band) perform a few pieces. After those performances, students will be able to give a tour of O’Neill to their VIPs. The VIP Day event will end at 2:45 PM.
Please mark your calendars and complete the appropriate registration link below by Monday, March 20.
Get Your Gear for Track Season
- March 22 - beginning at 6 PM
- Special discounts
- 10% of all sales come back to OMS!
CLICK HERE for more information.
Track Season is coming!
We are wrapping up our Boys’ Volleyball and Girls' Basketball seasons. I wanted to give you some advance notice about our Spring sport - Track.
PLEASE NOTE that ALL students must have a current sports physical prior to the first day of practice for Track. Physicals are good for 13 months.
Click for the IHSA Physical Form
OMS Track is a no cut sport and all students are welcome to participate. Students will be expected to run daily at practice during the track season. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 22nd from 3:25-3:45 PM in the Main Gym and we will have an activity bus for students who ride a bus and stay for the meeting. The first practice will be on Wednesday, April 5th. Students will dress in their PE uniforms for Track practices. More information about track practice times will be distributed at the informational meeting on March 22nd.
The OMS Track meet schedule is below:
Tuesday 4/18: O’Neill, Glencrest, Glenside, Marquardt
Location - Glenbard East HS - 4:30 PM
Wednesday 4/26: O’Neill, Glencrest, Herrick, Marquardt
Location - Glenbard South HS - 4:30 PM
Thursday 4/27: O’Neill, Herrick, Glenside, Westlake
Location - Glenbard East HS - 4:30 PM
Wednesday 5/3: O’Neill, Glencrest, Marquardt
Location - Glenbard South HS - 4:30 PM
Friday 5/5: O’Neill, Glenside, Herrick, Westlake
Location - Glenbard East HS - 4:30 PM
Tuesday 5/16: DMVA Conference Meet - 1:00pm
Location - Benedictine University
Wednesday 5/17: DMVA Conference Meet Rain Date
Questions regarding the Track season should be directed to Bobby Mueller: rmueller@dg58.org
School Lunch Menu
Students and families are reminded that ALL students must use their student ID when buying anything from the cafeteria. Students were given a temporary ID at the beginning of the year and a 2nd ID during our recent picture day.
Any student without their ID will be sent to the main office to get another copy. After 3 times students will be charged $1 for a new ID.
OMS STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Our Newspaper Club has been hard at work and recently published the Sixth edition of the OMS student newspaper.
Click HERE to read the March edition!
Important Parent Reminders
Trimester 2 Grades are now final: CLICK HERE for more information
Register for the 2023-2024 School Year: Parents are reminded to register their children for school next year. CLICK HERE for more information.
Math Practice in SSP: As a warmup for IAr and Spring MAP testing students will begin working with Khan Academy 2 days per week in SSP. We are confident that this dedicated practice time specific to each student's deficit areas will increase scores.
District 58 Calendar: View the 2022-23 school year calendar.
Upcoming Dates to Note:
Spring Break: March 27-31, 2023
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (if no emergency days are used)
- View the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
Is your child not feeling well? Please be diligent with reporting if your child is not feeling well. 1) Keep students home from school if they do not feel well. 2) Students with covid related symptoms should be kept home. Please call the office to report your student's absence.
Unexcused: After the break, students will be marked unexcused if O'Neill does not hear from a parent regarding a student's absence.
Coats: The weather is unpredictable. Students that wear a coat to school should be putting their coats in their lockers and not wearing in classrooms
Morning Announcements: Did you know you can read our daily announcements? The announcements read to students each morning are also available on the OMS website so families can also stay informed. Click here to see a sample
Face Coverings: Face masks are optional for students and staff
Activity bus: Students that stay after school for clubs, sports, extra help, or detentions can take the activity bus home at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Live stream of athletic events and concerts
Meet the Senator Staff
Mental Health Resources
O'Neill Middle School
Email: mdurbala@dg58.org
Website: https://dg58.org/on/
Location: 635 59th Street, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630-719-5815
Twitter: @ONeillPrincipal