OVMS Conferences - Sept. 28, 2022
Bobcat Bulletin
September 28, 2022
Virtual Conferences
Fall Trimester 1 conferences will be held VIRTUALLY through Google Meet. Conferences will be held Thursday, October 13 and Monday, October 17 from 3:20-8 p.m. There will be a staff dinner break from 6-6:30 p.m. where staff will be unavailable.
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
Student grades
We encourage students and parents to closely monitor student progress throughout the year. This year, the only official grading periods will be the end of trimester reports. Directions to access gradebooks for Student and ParenetVue are outlined below. If you have questions related to login and password support, please call 763.506.HELP for assistance. If you have questions specific to grades or assignments in a particular class, please contact the teacher directly.
Attendance: Absences, early dismissal and late arrivals
Absence:
- A parent/guardian should use the ParentVue app to report an absence or call the attendance line at 763-506-5606 before 9:30 a.m.
- If you know in advance you are going to be absent, bring a note from home at least one day in advance to make arrangements.
- OVMS uses an automated calling system called Intouch to notify parents/guardians of their student's absence. If we do not receive prior notification from a parent/guardian about an absence, our automated calling system will contact you for more information.
Leaving building during school day, follow the procedure below:
- Students should bring a note from their parent/guardian to the Student Services Office before school in the morning
- Before leaving the building, sign out in the Student Services Office. A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST SIGN THE STUDENT OUT.
- If an unexpected appointment arises, please call the attendance line 2 hours before you need to pick-up your student. We will send a pass for your child so they're ready to be picked up when necessary.
Apparel - Oak View Middle School
Bobcat Apparel is ready for you to order! All orders are placed using the Ideal Advertising online store. Orders need to be placed by midnight on October 9. All orders will be delivered to Oak View Middle School for distribution.
Special message from Andover High School
Anoka-Hennepin Middle School Attendance Policy at Events:
Our goal is to provide a fun, safe and engaging opportunity for middle school students and families to support our high school athletes as they perform in football, band, dance and cheer. The following expectations are in place to ensure that all who attend experience a safe, welcoming, and positive environment.
Middle School Students:
- Students will be admitted to football games for $6 with a valid id (physical or digital) and guardian escort- with a 2:1 ratio of students to adults.
- Unsupervised students will not be permitted entry.
- The student code of conduct for school extends to all Anoka-Hennepin school events. Students running, throwing objects, using profanity, or causing other disruptions will be required to sit with their guardian for the remainder of the game.
- If the student’s guardian is not present, an administrator on duty will call home and escort the student to the front of the gate to wait to be picked up.
- There will be no refunds if a student is removed from the game before its conclusion.
- If a guardian has to be called about a student’s behavior, the student will not be admitted to a football game for the remainder of the year.
- Significant disruptions and policy violations are subject to further disciplinary action.
- Students are not permitted to bring footballs, soccer balls, etc. to games. Balls will be confiscated at the gate or by administration if brought to the stadium.
- Backpacks, skateboards, etc. are also not permitted.
- Students still on campus 15 minutes after the conclusion of a game will not be permitted to return to a game for the remainder of the season.
Middle School Guardians:
- Do not drop your student off unattended at the football game. It is expected that guardians supervise their students.
- Please review expectations of behavior with your student(s) before arrival and arrange for a meeting location at the end of the game.
- If your student’s behavior needs to be addressed, you may be asked to leave with your student before the end of the game.
- As stated above, please be aware that students still on campus, unsupervised, 15 minutes after the conclusion of an event will not be permitted to attend future events.
Talent Development opportunities
Write NOW!
Write NOW! is a creative writing club for students interested in writing stories, plays, poetry, song lyrics, graphic novels et al. Write NOW! will provide a safe, positive, and productive environment for student writers to learn and develop their creative writing skills. As their confidence grows, writers will be encouraged to share their work, enter contests, and attend workshops. There is no cost to join, and everyone is welcome!
Write NOW! Will meet on Thursdays (beginning October 6) from 3:10-4 p.m. in Room 312. Please contact Jessica.Rowles@ahschools.us with questions.
Japanese Club
Konnichiwa! O genki desuka? ‘Hello’ and ‘How are you?’ is just the beginning of your exploration into Japanese communication, characters, culture, and cuisine. This club aims to give you an east to your west as you absorb ‘all things Japanese’. There is no cost to join, and everyone is welcome!
Japanese Club meets Thursdays (beginning October 27) from 3:10-4 p.m. in Room 309. Please contact Jennifer.Clark@ahschools.us with questions.
Knowledge Bowl
Do you like trivia? Are you competitive? Then, Knowledge Bowl is for you! Come to the informational meeting after school on Tuesday, October 4th in room 309 to learn more. Knowledge Bowl will meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month (beginning October 25) from 3:10-4 p.m. in room 309 and competitions take place November - January. There is no cost to join, and everyone is welcome! Please contact Jennifer.Clark@ahschools.us with questions.
New: Families have the option to enroll in the Device Protection Plan
Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.
Over 28,000 Chromebooks are distributed to students the first week of school. As careful as students and schools are, accidents do happen each year - and hundreds of Chromebooks are returned at the end of the school year with damages.
The Technology Protection Plan is optional; it is not required, however, by electing not to participate in the Protection Plan, families may be required to reimburse the school district for the replacement or repair of damaged Chromebooks assigned to their student/s. Damaged or broken screens may cost between $100 to $190 depending on parts needed; or the replacement cost for the entire device could be up to $410.
Families can opt-in to the Device Protection Plan:
- Log into A-HConnect.
- Select “My Student Information,” and then select “Fees.”
- Parents must select or decline coverage under the Device Protection Plan.
If you forget your login and password, call 763-506-HELP (4357) or email 506help@ahschools.us.
- The plan cost is $20 per student or $60 per family per school year.
- If the student qualifies for reduced priced meals, the cost of the Protection Plan will be reduced to $10 ($30 for families).
- If the student qualifies for free school meals, the cost will be reduced to zero.
Anoka-Hennepin 2022-23 school handbook
The Anoka-Hennepin School District has updated its school handbook for the 2022-23 school year. Parents/guardians will be required to view and sign off on the handbook as part of the district’s back to school verification process through A-HConnect, and families can preview the School Handbook now for important information and updates about the upcoming school year.
To access the forms through A-HConnect, click on the lock icon and log in at the top right corner of any district or school website. Then, select "my student information." For login/password assistance, call 763-506-HELP or email 506help@ahschools.us.
Volunteer news
Oak View Middle School has many volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. We look forward to working with you. 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.
Please direct volunteering questions to Volunteer Services Coordinator, Cindy Roerig at 763-506-5730 or Cindy.Roerig@ahschools.us
Community Education after school athletics & activities
The Community Schools program is dedicated to student success by providing quality programs year-round in safe, accessible environments to enhance the positive growth of youth. Visit www.ahschools.ce.eleyo.com to register for classes.
Middle school athletic programs are coordinated by Anoka-Hennepin Community Education. Sports are supervised and led by certified coaches, licensed teachers and/or knowledgeable staff who emphasize skill development, participation, teamwork, leadership, social growth, sportsmanship and respect for others. Learn more about the variety of team and individual athletic and recreation opportunities.
Athletics/activities fill quickly; please plan accordingly if you would like to participate. Payment in full is due at the time of registration. We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover online.
In order to participate in athletics and activities at OVMS, you need a Sports Qualifying Physical on file in our Community Ed office (wellness checkups do not count). Sports physicals are good for 3 years from the date of the visit, so if you have had one done within the past 3 years, we simply need a copy of that doctor signed physical form.
If you have questions or need registration assistance, please contact Community Education Secretary Ruthi Bratsch Landaeta at 763.506.5642 or ruth.bratschlandaeta@ahschools.us
Transportation
To find your student's bus information follow these step-by-step directions. Contact the transportation department at 763-506-1125 with questions.
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.
Upcoming events and important dates
October 13 & 17: Virtual Conferences
October 20 & 21: MEA - No school
This e-newsletter is published by Oak View Middle School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.