Montera Middle School eBulletin

(scroll down for more information)

Monday, November 1 - Basketball tryouts begin, 3:45-6:00 PM. See all dates below.

Wednesday, November 3 - PTO board meeting, 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM

Thursday, November 4 - Pep Rally, 3rd and 4th periods

Saturday, November 6 - Campus work day, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Monday, November 8 - Make-up School Picture Day

Tuesday, November 9 - Montera Prospective Families Night, 6:00 PM

Wednesday, November 10 - Wellness Day, lunchtime

Friday, November 12 - Afterschool Program closed

Thursday, November 18 - Round Table Pizza fundraiser

Thursday, November 18 - Parent Engagement night, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Friday, November 19 - Afterschool Program closed and Sports canceled

Friday, November 26 - Golden State Warriors Montera fund raiser night

Subscribe to the Montera google calendar here!

Donate to Montera Now!

Help Montera reach the finish line. We need to raise $8,000 to support the Montera Mini-Grant Program. This program enables our teachers to get funding and purchase books and supplies for special projects. For example, last year our 6th-grade team purchased copies of March by John Lewis for each student, while the music department bought ukuleles for Music Exploration class. Let's do this!!!

Make your tax-deductible gift here: Donate to Montera PTO

November PTO Board Meeting - Everyone is welcome!

When: Wednesday, November 3, 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM

November Agenda

1. Toro Tours For Prospective Families

2. Work Day
3. Community Grant
4. Lunch Volunteers
5. Garbage Cans
6. April/May Auction Planning
7. Warriors Game

You can find the Zoom link on Schoology, Parent Square, and in the school calendar here.

Pep Rally - Parents neeeded!

When: Thursday, November 4th, during 3rd and 4th periods

Our Pep Rally is Thursday, November 4th during 3rd and 4th periods on the field. The administration is asking for adult presence. We will need 10 volunteers.

Contact PTO President Loryn Hudson if you can help: president@monterapto.com

Campus Work Day!

When: Saturday, November 6, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Thank you for giving the Montera campus some much-needed TLC! We need your help for November.

The plan for November is to:
1. Paint the yellow benches in the courtyard and 8th-grade circle
2. Clean the windows in the courtyard and MUR.
3. Pick up trash.
4. Prepare Planters
5. Wash walls to get rid of dirt and cobwebs.
6. Vacuum and sweep under portable ramps.

Can’t be there for long? No problem. Join us for however long you can.

Thank you.

Loryn, Jason, Paul, Pam, Jennifer, and Stephen

Girls Soccer Coach needed!

Montera Sports is looking for a girls soccer coach. Please contact Kenya Latimore at kenya.latimore@ousd.org

OUSD details are here https://www.oakmssports.org/youth-leagues/girls-soccer/

In-person Campus Tours for Prospective Parents -- Volunteers Needed

School options season is almost upon us. Montera will host virtual information sessions and several in-person tours.

The first virtual information night will take place on

** Tuesday, November 9th, at 6:00 PM**

The following in-person tours all begin promptly at 9:30 AM:

Wednesday, November 17
Friday, December 10
Wednesday, December 17
Friday, January 7
Friday, January 21

Sign up to lead or attend tours:

Parent Engagement Night - virtual event

When: Thursday, November 18, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Please join us for our second parent engagement event. Our counselors will lead a discussion about social-emotional learning in middle school and answer your questions.

Zoom link will be posted on Parent Square and/or Schoology

(You can eat your Round Table pizza while attending this event!)

Looking for concert attire

The Montera Music Program is excited to hold its first in-person concert on December 2nd and 3rd.

We have several students that need concert attire. If you have a long black sleeve button-up, black pants, black shoes, and/or a black dress to donate, please contact Bridget Davies at bdavies1212@gmail.com

8th Grade Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and NYC Trip

If you are interested in learning more about Montera's 8th grade trip to Philadelphia, D.C. and NYC this spring, please contact Kimberly Delaney at kimlaney11@gmail.com

Montera ASP is Now Offering Subscription For Recurring Payments

Afterschool Families can sign up for monthly payments. Subscribe here https://www.ousd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=11131

Basketball Tryouts

When:

November 1st and 5th Girls tryouts
November 8th, 12th, 15th, 7th and 8th grade Boys
November 29th and December 3rd 6th Grade Boys

Students will need to come to practice in gym clothes to try out and athletic shoes.

If a student makes the team they will need to have a physical before January1st. All tryouts will be 3:45-6:00pm. Please register and upload your forms here as soon as possible. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8wkN7zpV8GXdENeHLlBB4DrLLbM_DlmlF-K_JFQCBpniKyg/viewform).

Hip Hop Dance Class Coming Soon!

Montera is partnering with Destiny Arts to bring Hip Hop Dance Class to our afterschool on Thursday afternoons. Please email afterschool@monterapto.com if you are interested.

Destiny teaching artists are supported to engage and partner with classroom teachers so that they can co-create a positive classroom culture and draw connections to classroom curriculum.

Golden State Warriors - Montera fundraiser night!!

When: Friday, November 26th vs. Portland

Special reduced rates for tickets, plus Montera will receive $20 per ticket purchased.

More details coming soon.

Montera Relief Fund is Back to Help Toro Families in Need

Last year the pandemic prompted the Montera community to create the Montera Relief Fund to help Toro families in need. Last year we were able to raise almost $20,000 for groceries, small cash grants distributed confidentially by administrators to families, and a holiday gift drive.

Once again, we have families of students who have been hit hard by COVID and need your help. Trusted Montera staff find out what the families need and personally deliver it. The Coordination of Services Team confidentially handles requests from families.

Can you donate now to help Montera families in need?

If you are a student or family in need of support, reach out to any teacher or staff, Ms. Harambe at tina.harambe@ousd.org, or Coach D or Mr. Latimore at sports@monterapto.com. All support is confidential.

Montera Safety Bargaining Team Survey

Ms. Ranahan (7th Grade Math) and Mr. Pettengill (6th Gr. Humanities) have joined the OEA Safety Bargaining Team and are seeking YOUR input into our upcoming negotiating sessions.

Fighting for safety in our schools is going to take all of us working together. Please ensure the bargaining team hears as many voices and perspectives as possible by completing this feedback form: https://tinyurl.com/SeptSafetySurvey

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Volunteering on Campus

Registration and clearance are required to volunteer onsite at Oakland public schools. Go to https://www.oaklandedfund.org/programs/volunteer/parent-volunteers to complete the registration. You will receive an immediate email with clearance options and instructions from osv@oaklandedfund.org.

Email president@monterapto.com once you are cleared.

Email volunteers@monterapto.com with any questions.

Supplies Request

Little emergencies always come up, and Montera could use your help in keeping the supply closet full. Below is a list of items most in need. Please bring items to Nurse Elizabeth Hurt at the front office.

First Aid

Latex free band-aids (NOT with antibiotic medication in it) in assorted sizes. EVERY teacher needs at least one box and the front office and nurse's office also need a supply.
Tweezers for splinters (not the plastic ones)
Ice packs for PE and front office
Vomit bucket for front office and pick up waiting area

Feminine supplies

Cleansing wipes
Assorted pads
Tampons
Assorted sizes back-up underwear (S/M/L/full-figured)

Add whatever you can think of... Thank you!

Toro Store

Over 30 items to choose from including short, 3/4, and long sleeve t-shirts, zip-up and pullover hoodies, sweatpants, hats, beanies, tote bags, masks, and vests.

https://stores.inksoft.com/montera_middle_school/shop/home

If your student is feeling ill

If your student is feeling ill with new symptoms such as: a fever of over 100F (37.8C) or higher, cough, severe headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell (children may say that food "tastes bad" or "tastes funny"), difficulty breathing, vomiting or diarrhea – student should STAY HOME and notify the office. You can call the main office at (510) 879-3211.

Returning to school:

Get medically cleared (doctor's note or negative PCR test, AND symptoms have improved and student is fever-free for 24 hours - OR -
10 days have passed since onset of symptoms and student is no longer feeling ill

If your student tests positive for Covid-19

Plan on staying home at least 10 days
Notify the school of the results
Work with the Contact Tracing Team

COVID Information from the District

You can find a comprehensive FAQ from OUSD here. The district is following county and state guidance. Below are a few key points for what happens when someone at a school site tests positive for COVID-19:

OUSD is required to report every single positive case to the ACPHD.
A response team conducts contact tracing for each positive case and notifies families of students with prolonged close contact.
If you are not notified, then your student was not determined to have prolonged close contact with the person who tested positive, so there is not a need to get tested unless your student develops symptoms.
Vaccinated students do not need to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.
Unvaccinated students who are asymptomatic can do a modified quarantine, continuing to attend school but testing twice a week for two weeks following exposure and not participating in any extracurricular activities.
Exposed unvaccinated students may choose to stay home for 10 days with an excused absence. If so, they should contact their teachers for assignments during that time.

COVID Testing Information

COVID TESTING: Covid testing is available at multiple OUSD sites throughout Oakland. Find locations and times here.

TESTING PRE-REGISTRATION: Before attending an OUSD Covid testing site for the first time, you must register here. This is a one time only registration and can be done at any time. Families are encouraged to pre-register so they are ready to go should they need to get tested.