In the Middle
Volume 17, Issue 3
Oconto Middle School & Bayshore Community Academy
Email: adam.dewitt@oconot.k12.wi.us
Website: http://oconto.wi.odm.schoolinsites.com/
Location: 400 Michigan Avenue, Oconto, WI, United States
Phone: 920-834-7806
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocontoschooldistrict/
Twitter: @ocontobluedevil
Principal Points
All of our students participate in the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI). The SRI is an adaptive assessment that measures reading skills and longitudinal progress. We can celebrate as we have performed better this year than last at this time of the year. It is always good to see growth and we know we can do better.
You can help improve reading comprehension skills at home by integrating the following six habits:
1. Make connections
2. Ask questions
3. Make mind movies
4. Make inferences
5. Figure out what's important
6. Monitor Comprehension
To read in more detail about the previous six habits, go to this site: 6 Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension. Happy reading over the break!
eParent
In partnership with the UW-Extension, you will receive weekly tips regarding online safety and other technology tips. Look for the email to begin in January.
From all of us at OMS and BCA, we wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What's upcoming?
1/13 early release
1/18 Dr. Martin Luther King Day
1/22 end of 1st semester, no classes
1/28 OMS-BCA Family Night
5th Grade
Please encourage your child to keep up on his/her schoolwork. Vacation is upon
us and some of the students are allowing the holiday spirit to affect school work and
habits. Please continue to check your child’s grades online or contact your child’s
teacher to make sure your child is current with his/her work.
Many students need their school supplies replenished. Please check with your
child to see if more pencils, colored pencils, paper, etc. are needed. Also, please make
sure your child has a working set of headphones.
Also, encourage your child to work on basic math facts at home. Extra practice
on basic division and multiplication facts at home can make a huge difference at school.
Keep reading at home for pleasure, too!
In the holiday spirit, the fifth grade had a picture decorating contest. Students
received pictures from their teachers to color. We offered some nice prizes for the
winners!
Have a great holiday season!
6th Grade: A great team effort was used to decorate their hall of the building and here are pics to prove it.
8th Grade
Our next field trip for 8th grade is set for Tuesday, February 2, 2016. We will be heading up north to Pine Mountain to go downhill skiing. They have a great ski school to help teach your child how to safely downhill ski; we encourage all students to learn and try new things! Be looking for more information on this trip after break.
Please be sure to check the parent portal to see if your child has missing or late work. If you have any questions or concerns on the progress of your child, please call to set up a meeting.
Bayshore Community Academy
National History Day Projects
On December 17th, BCA students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade visited UWGB for a day of National History Day research. We are amazed at the interesting information our students have been gathering! After the holiday break, students will start creating their NHD products. Students will be judged by several community members the week of January 25th.
Presentation Night
Mark your calendars! Our presentation night will be the same night as the OMS Family night on January 28th. Students will be presenting either their National History Day project or their IEP project to parents, students, and community members. Last year we had an AMAZING turn out and would love for this year to be even bigger!
Science
Our students have been learning about how our Earth's systems interact as well as the five factors that affect climate. Recently, students selected a specific location and graphed the location's average precipitation and temperatures. They looked at the data and analyzed why their location has the climate and precipitation that it does. All of their hard work is preparing them to analyze GRACE satellite data in the near future.
BCA Tree
If you haven't taken a drive through Holtwood Park at night recently, you should! Our students created ornaments to put on the tree and Mrs. Ross and several BCA families decorated it. Thank you to everyone who helped decorate the tree!
Hallway Decorating Contest
OMS and BCA participated in a Christmas hallway decorating contest to help celebrate the season! BCA students wrapped all of their lockers with different colored wrapping paper to make them look like gifts. They also decorated the bulletin boards like the bottom of a giant Christmas tree. Our hallway is very festive!
Community Events
Farnsworth Public Library
Farnsworth Library is Gearing Up for the Holidays!
December 22 Preschool and elementary age children and their families are invited to attend a series of Holiday Storytimes. These special storytimes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 6:30, December 1 – 22.
Children will register for a special drawing to be held at each Storytime to determine which books will be read that evening. The children whose names are drawn will each select a book to be read and will receive that book as a gift. Holiday Storytimes are sponsored by the Brayson Wusterbarth Foundation and The Friends of Farnsworth Public Library.
Friday morning Preschool Storytimes will continue to be held in December at the usual time of 10:30 – 11:30 AM.
Check out their website for more information: http://ocontolibrary.org/