The Middle Matters
OMS Parent Newsletter Dec.5, 2022 - Jan. 6, 2023
Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day.
From the Principal
As we head into the heart of second quarter and prepare for semester two, I want to remind you of some additional supports we offer to help students with academic work:
*SOAR--Offered every other Wednesday, this time period is broken into two forty-minute sessions. Many teachers use this time to reteach, retest, or give students a place to catch up on work. Students can be assigned by a teacher or can choose to get extra help as needed. If students do NOT need academic support, they can choose enrichment activities.
*Saturday School--Offered one to two times per month. Generally, teachers request students to attend to catch up on missing work; however, if you feel your child could benefit from this three-hour session, please feel free to reach out to one of the principals.
*Homework Help--Offered every Wednesday after school (a few exceptions). Teachers may request your child to attend while some students choose to come in on their own to get a little help and have time to complete tasks. This runs in the Media Center from 2:45-3:45.
We want to help your child succeed, and these are some offerings we have outside the traditional classroom setting. Please reach out if you have any questions about these opportunities!
- Please remember to call the attendance line at 444.8705 if your family is going to be gone anytime during the holidays. Thank you!
- If you need to pick up your child early from school for an appointment, please give us as much notice as possible. It is often difficult with schedules, field trips and staff shortages to get kids down quickly to leave.
- Please make afterschool arrangements with your child in the mornings before school. Getting the messages to the classrooms often interrupts the instructional time.
Calendar
Monday, December 5:
B Day
Morning Choir - Choir Room - 7:00 am
Pledge of Allegiance - 8:10 am
Tuesday, December 6:
A Day
Jazz Band - Band Room - 7:00 am
Wednesday, December 7:
B Day
AVID - Walk-in Wednesday - 7:30 pm - Rm 101
Homework Help - 2:45 pm - Learning Stairs
Thursday, December 8:
A Day
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
Friday, December 9
B Day
Chamber Orchestra - 7:00 am - Orchestra room
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
Activity Night - 7-9 pm
Saturday, December 10
Saturday School 8:00 -11:00
Monday, December 12:
A Day
Morning Choir - Choir Room - 7:00 am
Pledge of Allegiance - 8:10 am
Superintendant's Advisory Council - 1:45 pm - Learning Stairs
Winter Choir Concert - 7:00 pm - OHS
Tuesday, December 13:
12 Days Before Break - Jingle Bell Rock
B Day
Jazz Band - Band Room - 7:00 am
OMS Winter Band Concert - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, December 14:
A Day
AVID - Walk-in Wednesday - 7:30 pm - Rm 101
SOAR - Intervention Day
Homework Help - 2:45 pm - Learning Stairs
Thursday, December 15:
B Day
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
Winter Orchestra Concert - 7:00 pm - OMS
Friday, December 16:
A Day
Chamber Orchestra - 7:00 am - Orchestra room
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
School Store- All 4 lunches
Popcorn Friday
Monday, December19:
B Day
Morning Choir - Choir Room - 7:00 am
Pledge of Allegiance - 8:10 am
Tuesday, December 20:
A Day
Jazz Band - Band Room - 7:00 am
Chamber Orchestra - Orchestra Room - 7:00 am
Auditions for Spring Play - 2:40 pm - 100B
Wednesday, December 21:
B Day
AVID - Walk-in Wednesday - 7:30 pm - Rm 101
Auditions for Spring Play - 2:40 pm - 100B
Homework Help - 2:45 pm - Learning Stairs
Thursday, December 22:
Husky Pride Day
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
Mixed Roots -2:45 pm
Friday, December 23- Monday, January 2:
NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK
Tuesday, January 3:
A Day
Jazz Band - Band Room - 7:00 am
Read Thru for Spring Play - 2:40 pm - Performance Platform
Wednesday, January 4:
B Day
College Wear Wednesday
AVID - Walk-in Wednesday - 7:30 pm - Rm 101
Homework Help - 2:45 pm - Learning Stairs
Thursday, January 5:
A Day
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
Read Thru for Spring Play - 2:40 pm - Performance Platform
Friday, January 6:
B Day
Chamber Orchestra - 7:00 am - Orchestra Room
Popcorn Friday
Morning Basketball - 7:15 am - Big Gym
Activity Night
Come to a Fiesta
- Admission: $5.00
- Must have a valid 2022-2023 ID.
- Students must be present in school the day of the Activity Night in order to attend this evening.
- Students must have no unserved detention or no incompleted Suite 360 lessons in order to attend.
- Students must have a two (2) or a three (3) in Appropriate Conduct , (the A in PAW scores) for the second quarter , in order to attend this evening.
- If a student leaves during the Activity Night, they will not be allowed back in.
- Student must be picked up promtly at 9:00 pm
Fri, Dec 9, 2022, 07:00 PM
Owatonna Middle School, 15th Street Northeast, Owatonna, MN, USA
Frequently Asked Questions
My child has an unplanned absence. What should I do? Call the attendance line at 444-8705. Leave your child’s name, grade and a reason for absence. To ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, please list specific symptoms of illness for Public Health Tracking. Please leave parent's name and a phone number where we can reach you at in case we have further questions.
My child is going to be absent in the future. How should I handle this? You may call the attendance line in advance at 444-8705. Leave your child’s name, reason for absence and the date(s) they will be gone.
If I have questions about my child’s attendance, who should I call? You may call Mrs. Hunt at 444-8711.
My child will be late coming to school due to an appointment or leaving early due to an appointment? What should I do? For late arrivals: Please call the attendance line at 444-8705 before 9:00 am. State your child’s name and reason they will be arriving late. When they arrive, they may enter through the 15th St NE doors and go directly to the office to check in with Mrs. Denton to get a pass to class.
For early dismissals: Call the attendance line before 9:00 am. Leave your son/daughter’s name, reason for dismissal and the time you want them dismissed. They will receive a pass before their departure time. They may keep this pass to show their teacher. The student then proceeds to the 15th St NE doors and shows the Security Guard their pass. When they see you pull up, they may head out to your vehicle. It is not necessary to come in to the building.
The 15th St NE entrance are the only doors students may enter and exit through between 8:10-2:40 pm.
Can my child get homework if they are absent? Homework can be requested if the student has been gone more than two days. You may call or email the teachers to gather the homework. Typically we require one full school day to gather the homework for students. If possible, the teachers may email you the homework; otherwise, it may be picked up in the office at the end of the school day.
How is my child doing in school? Parent Portal is a very useful tool to follow your child’s progress in school with grades and attendance. If you have not yet requested a username and password, please contact your child’s counselor.
Lindsey Mesich: Students A through K 444-8724
Olivia Gullickson: Students L through Z 444-8548
If you have any questions about grades or assignments, please contact your child’s teacher. If you are concerned about a pattern that you are seeing with academics, please contact your child’s counselor. Their contact information can be found on the website.
Conferences are also held two times per year. You are encouraged to attend with your child. The dates are November 3 and 7 and again on March 9. All conferences are held in the individual classrooms and run from 3:30-7:00 pm. (These dates may be subject to change.)
Who do I contact if I am concerned about my child’s mental health and personal well being. Please contact the school social worker that corresponds to your last initial.
Janessa Jandt: Students A through K 444-8727
Chely Flores: Students L through Z 444-8719
How do I pay on my child’s lunch account? There is a payment box outside the office where your son/daughter can drop off payments. Please put it in an envelope and write your child’s full name and grade. You may also pay online on Infinite Campus. Just log into your Parent portal to access this option.
We are at home and having problems with our Chromebook, who do I call? Please call the Chromebook Technology Hotline at 444-8630 or fill out this form.
I have to work late and want to pick up my child late. Can they just hang out at the school? Can I drop them off early? All students must be dropped off after 7:55 a.m. and picked up by 2:50 p.m.