Osceola Middle School
December 2023 Newsletter
All kids matter, are important, and can grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Happy December!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! The holiday season is already upon us and the next few weeks will be bustling with events, planning, family, and fun! There is a lot of information within this December newsletter. As always, please reach out with any questions.
Chieftain Pride: Hex 3 is now underway and our Chieftain Pride theme this hex is INTEGRITY--doing what is right when no one is watching. This will be the focus of our Advisory learning and will also be what staff members are watching for and recognizing each week.
Music: We have two exciting performances coming up this month! We are looking forward to both our band and choir concerts in the next couple of weeks. They have been practicing hard and fill our halls with wonderful music each morning!
Weather: Another friendly reminder that we still go outside for recess for 15+ minutes following lunch and students need to have winter jackets, hats, and mittens to stay warm! I understand it is not always cool in middle school to have these items, but we want kids to be safe and protected from our Wisconsin weather!
Report Cards: With the end of Hex 2/Tri 1, report cards will be mailed out on Monday so you will receive them early next week. Grades are all finalized in Family Access, so you can check there now for a sneak peak! As always, please reach out to teachers if you have any questions. Please see below for more information about standard-based grading.
School Report Cards: Although our 2022-2023 school report card is just one small snapshot of what we do at OMS, I’m very proud to announce that Osceola Middle School again ranked as "Significantly Exceeds Expectations" and is in the top 5% in the state of Wisconsin! Congratulations to our students and staff on this amazing accomplishment! This continued honor does not come without hard work, dedication, creativity, and setting high expectations--the devotion to learning and growing from our staff and students is noticed and deeply appreciated.
Spelling Bee
OMS students wishing to compete in the 2024 Spelling Bee should attend an informational meeting to be held during advisory on December 8, 2023 in Mrs. Newman's room (106). The OMS Champion will compete at the CESA 11 Regional Bee on February 8, 2024.
The Wisconsin Scripps State Spelling Bee will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the Mitby Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. (3550 Anderson St, Madison, WI 53704) - The CESA Regional Bee will advance 4 spellers.
Students of Hex 2
Our most RESPECTFUL students of Hex 2:
Our Chieftian Pride focus for hex 2 was RESPECT. Each week, staff wrote notes to students who stood out to them as RESPECTFUL. Those notes were displayed in the library until the end of the hex. At the end of hex 2, each staff member nominated a student as the most respectful. Grade level teams then decided on one student per grade who encompassed what it means and looks like to be a RESPECTFUL Chieftain. Our winners are:
6th Grade | Makenna Gorman
Makenna was selected by the 6th grade team as our Hex 2 Most Respectful Student!
Makenna, we appreciate the hard work and effort that you put toward your learning each day! You also posess a very positive attitude and we feel you set a wonderful example for your classmates. We enjoy having Kenna in class very much! It is students like Makenna that makes teaching so enjoyable. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, The 6th grade Team
7th Grade | Sam Geyer
Sam was selected by the 7th grade team as our Hex 2 Most Respectful Student!
Sam, you work hard daily and go above and beyond. You show respect to all and are a joy to have in class. We appreciate your work ethic as well as your ability to help classmates. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, The 7th Grade Team
8th Grade | Hannah Davis
Hannah was selcted by the 8th grade team as our Hex 2 Most Respectful Student!
Hannah, you consistently go above and beyond to show kindness to all students. You have great manners and use them. You are quick to help anyone and always do it with a smile on your face. You are a joy to have in class!
Thanks, The 8th Grade Team
Local Resources
If you need any resources for your family, especially throughout the holiday and winter season, below is a link to many local resources. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stoppelmoor, our OMS Guidance Counselor.
Fall Party Fun!
Our amazing help!
Jim "setting up" the ping pong tables ;)
7th Grade Courage Retreat
Our school believes that to do well in school, students need to feel connected to their school community. In our ongoing effort to create a positive and caring school culture, we are having a Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat® .
Youth Frontiers (YF) is a nonprofit organization that has been delivering retreats to schools since 1987. They provide schools with experiences that inspire character, civility and community so that our next generation of leaders is grounded in character. On the Courage Retreat, the YF Programs Staff will focus on creating a more positive school community by engaging students in a variety of activities that enhance self-confidence, empathy and connectedness.
This high-energy, interactive retreat is scheduled for Friday, December 15th for the 7th grade class and will be held at Camp Wapogasset from 9:00am-2:15pm.
To reinforce the positive effects of the retreat, we believe it’s important for the entire community to be involved in supporting and communicating the messages delivered on the retreat. Because of this, we encourage parents and caregivers to inquire about their student’s retreat experience by asking the following questions:
1. What activities did you find fun?
2. What were the small-group leaders like?
3. What were some of the social fears that you discussed during the small-group conversations?
4. What’s a fear you really struggle with?
5. What is one thing you can do Monday at school to show more courage?
Visit youthfrontiers.org/courage-retreat for more information on Youth Frontiers and to watch a video about the Courage Retreat.
Please fill out the form below to let us know if your child has permission to attend. This form will also ask if your child will be bringing a bagged lunch from home or a school bagged lunch on the Courage Retreat. The permission form is due by 12/8/2023.
Respectfully,
Lisa Stoppelmoor
OMS School Counselor
Upcoming Dates
December 7th: Choir Concert | 7pm OHS Auditorium
December 14: Band Concert | 7pm OHS Auditorium
December 22: All School Party (12:30-3:20)
December 25-January 2: No School
January 2: Teacher In Service
January 3: School resumes
January 3: 7th and 8th grade Girls Basketball starts
January 3: 6th-8th grade Wrestling starts
Winter Celebrations
Dress Up Days
Monday 18: Winter PJs
Tuesday 19: Twin/Triplet Day
Wednesday 20: Ugly Sweater Day
Thursday 21: Swap Day (students dress like teachers and teachers dress like students)
Friday 22: Holiday Spririt Day
All School Party
Friday, December 22 | 12:30-3:20
Rotations: Students will participate in two winter fun rotations from 12:30-1:30
Rotations will consist of: crafts, outisde movement, swimming (6th), gym tournament (7th/8th), coloring, bingo, sledding, karaoke, just dance, and more!
Movie with Hot Cocoa 1:30-3:20
Concessions: Our Student Council concessions cart with pop, chip, and candy will move from room to room. Items will range from $1-2 each.
Community Education Opportunities
Ski Club
The winter skiing season is almost upon us! For the 23/24 season, Trollhaugen is offering a student pass/group pass option. This pass is available on Mondays to Osceola students, grades 5-12. The pass is good from 3 to 9 pm starting the week of December 11, 2023.
Parents are responsible for completing registration forms and payment through Trollhaugen. PLEASE COMPLETE and TURN IN FORMS TO TROLLHAUGEN PRIOR TO DEC. 11. There are no chaperones and no transportation through Osceola Community Ed.
Trollhaugen offers beginner lessons, and equipment rental (including a special student discount rate). Attached you can find the 23/24 Group Pass program. Paper forms are also available at the Osceola Intermediate School, the Osceola Middle School, and the Osceola High School.
Youth Open Swimming | 3rd-8th Grade | December
The Osceola Aquatic Center is offering a youth after school open swimming option for December. Wednesdays in December kids in grades 3 -8 are welcome to join us for an after school open swim.
Dates for the December program are Wednesdays, December 6, 13, and 20
Times: After school until 4:15.
The cost is $5 per swim date or pool memberships are honored
Please Register Here Register no later than December 6.
OMS students will check in at the Aquatic Center Office after the dismissal bell. OIS students will take Bus 20 from OIS to OMS and enter the pool doors to check in and get ready for swimming. There is no return shuttle to OIS. Please email your child's teacher and oisdismissal@osceolak12.org to inform them of your child's enrollment in this program. We do share the class list with staff, but your help makes sure kids get on the correct bus. If your child is in Kids Klub, please let Kids Klub know of your child's participation.
Pick up is at OMS Pool doors at 4:15ish (kids are out of the pool at about 4:10)
Please contact Dani Pratt with any December Community Education questions
OMS Drop Off and Pick Up
Another friendly reminder about our after school safety flow:
All vehicles drop off and pick up at the main entrance. Only buses drop off and pick up at the pool doors. Use the "overflow" loop in the shared parking lot if there is a line.
AFTER SCHOOL SAFETY FLOW: Only buses should use the bus exit. Everyone else will be directed to use the four-way stop closest to OHS if they are not picking up a student at the OMS front doors. This flow is all for safety purposes.
2023-2024 Athletics Information
Athletic Director: Mr. Trevor Scholz
Here is the link to the OMS Athletics Webpage. It is very important for you to sign up for the Remind for the teams your child is on.
Boys Basketball: First practice is Thursday, October 12th. Season ends on December 11th.
Please contact Mr. Scholz with any sports related questions.
Hex Dates and Daily Schedule
Schoology
Helpful Links!
Osceola Board of Education
Committee Meeting
Osceola District Office Conference Room
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 5:00pm
Regular School Board of Education Meeting
Osceola District Office Conference Room
Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 at 6:30pm
Regular School Board of Education Meeting
Osceola District Office Conference Room
Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 at 6:30pm
Contact Information
Amanda Meyer, Principal
ADDRESS:
Osceola Middle School1029 Oak Ridge Drive | Osceola WI 54020
EMAIL: meyera@osceolak12.org
PHONE: 715-294-4180 x3010
WEBSITE: https://www.osceola.k12.wi.us/schools/middle/
*Please call or email for an appointment