OMS Return to School
Parent & Student Edition 20-21
Welcome to OMS! You were missed!!
I am so excited to be the first to welcome you to the 2020-21 school year. We all know that this year will be like none other...buckle up, it's going to be a great ride!
This is the first of many communications that you will receive in the next few weeks as we prepare for the first day of school. This newsletter will explain the few updates to the calendar and bell schedule, and it will give students and families an idea of what our days will be like. Although we will go into great detail with our students once they are in school, I encourage families to review the information with their children.
Tomorrow, families will receive an email directing them to complete the yearly registration process - that will be mandatory before schedules are released.
Next week, we will focus our attention on the first week of school and what students should do to prepare for those days. We'll also introduce you to some of the adults that will be helping our students this year.
Some of you have asked me about the SCHOOL SUPPLIES needed for the school year. Please know we are issuing all students a Chromebook, power cord, and bag on their first day of school. We will be expecting students to charge their computers at night, bring them to school each day, and use them in every class. Each student should plan to have in their bag: a notebook to take handwritten notes and pencils and pens. Those things will be necessary for each student, as sharing items will be discouraged.
More later...there's a lot here to take in. Thank you for your patience as we have worked to provide clear guidance for the 20-21 school year.
Go Wildcats!
Mrs. Dacia Beazley, Principal
Incoming 6th Grade WEB Day Cancelled
The good news is that thanks to the leadership of Mr. Smokovitz and Mrs. Werner, we are exploring alternative ways to both welcome and orientate our incoming 6th graders to the OMS community that are more relevant (given our current reality). Our 8th grade WEB Leaders will be wearing their t-shirt uniform on the first day of school in order to welcome students and help them find their classes.
Coming Soon: WEB leader activities in 6th grade Advisory classes!
OMS Registration Day Cancelled
- To ensure that you receive the schedule, be certain to complete the INFORMATION UPDATE prior to August 24th. https://updateregistration.oxfordschools.org/login
REQUIRED: Complete Information Update Process ONLINE
To complete this process, go to https://updateregistration.oxfordschools.org/login.
- USERNAME is the last 7 digits of the home phone number in Powerschool (5554040).
- PASSWORD is the date of birth of the youngest child - 6 digits (041204 is April 12, 2004)
There are several IMPORTANT new forms (related to the pandemic) to complete in the Information Update system. Additionally, to stay informed on the pandemic situation, it is essential that you check your contact information in the Information Update system.
School Photo Day - 9/2 & 9/3
9/2: A-L Last Names
9/3: M-Z Last Names
HR Imaging will follow all social distancing guidelines. View video here.
First Week of School Schedule
Week 1:
• Students with the last name beginning with letters A-L will report to school on Monday, August 31, and Wednesday, September 2.
• Students with the last name beginning with letters M-Z will report to school on Tuesday, September 1, and Thursday, September 3.
Week 2:
• Students with the last name beginning with letters A-L will report to school on Tuesday, September 8, and Thursday, September 10.
• Students with the last name beginning with letters M-Z will report to school on Wednesday, September 9, and Friday, September 11.
• If you have students of the same household with different last names that would cause them to attend different days, parents may choose to send them all on the same two days. Parents, if this applies to you, please contact your child’s principal if he/she will be attending school on a day differing from their last name assignment.
Week 1 & 2: Student Bell Schedule
Before I leave for school...
Is my Chromebook charged? (You will receive a Chromebook on your first day of school!)
Do I have my mask?
Do I know what I’m eating for breakfast and lunch?
Which classes do I have today?
- Do I have my supplies ready? (Chromebook, pencils, charging cord, notebook paper, water bottle)
Arrival
Parent drop-off:
You will be dropped off at the Fieldhouse doors
Enter Fieldhouse door #12 and go directly to your first class for the day
Put your mask on before you leave your vehicle
Bus drop-off:
Please wait until you are directed by your bus driver to exit
You will be dropped off by the main office
Enter door #14 or #1 and go directly to your first class for the day
Keep your mask on while exiting the bus
Parking Lot Procedures
The arrows indicate the directional flow of traffic during student drop off.
Blue arrows indicate the drop off zone for students.
When you pull into the blue arrow drop off zone, please pull as far ahead as you can before having your student exit the vehicle.
*Do not pull up to the main building walkway and stop if there is space ahead*
If you elect to walk your student(s) to the building entrance, please park in an empty space and walk your student to the sidewalk with your mask on. You will need to re-enter the traffic flow in the yellow arrow section.
Only buses are permitted to drop off by the front office area.
Riding the Bus
Complete the Transportation Application by August 17: https://www.oxfordschools.org/departments/transportation
Important clarification: We cannot maintain social distance on buses.
- All students must wear a mask at all times, classrooms, hallways, common areas, bus, etc.
Masks can be taken off outside when with their cohort class- instruction, recess, breaks
We encourage frequent, short breaks outdoors to allow students an opportunity to take their masks off
Students must use hand sanitizer before entering the bus
Each bus will have hand sanitizer dispenser mounted for regular use
Bus driver and all students must wear facial coverings while on the bus
Each bus will have a supply of disposable masks for students that forget
The students will load the bus from the back to the front
We will enforce assigned seating for all with family members sitting together
We will clean and sanitize the bus before morning and afternoon routes
Children must not be present when cleaning the bus
We will keep windows open whenever possible while the vehicle is in motion
Entering the Building
Make sure that your mask is on at all times and you are maintaining 3-6 ft apart from others
At this point, you will not have a locker so you will report directly to your first class
Report directly to your advisory class on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Report directly to your 1st hour class on Wednesdays
Pay attention to traffic flow signs
In most hallways, you will stay to the right of the hall (just like vehicles on a road)
Some hallways are one-way only
See maps listed below
First Floor Traffic Flow
· All hallways have two-way traffic flow except for the music and 6th Blue hallways. Please see the blue arrows to note the traffic flow.
· Stairwell A: Down only
· Stairwell B: Up only
· Maintain 3-6 ft social distance in all hallways
Second Floor Traffic Flow
- All hallways have two-way traffic flow except for the 2nd level main hallway. Please see the blue arrows to note the traffic flow.
- Stairwell A: Down only
- Stairwell B: Up only
- Maintain 3-6 ft social distance in all hallways
Entering your first class
Wait for direction from your teacher
He/She will provide you with your assigned seat
It is important that you remain in your assigned seat unless given permission from your teacher
Maintain 3-6 ft. between others
If you need to, you will order your breakfast & lunch during this time
Class Transition/Hallway Passing
Transition from class to class:
Wait for direction from your teacher
There will be staggered release times to minimize students in the hallway
Exit your classroom and turn right
There will be a few classrooms where you will exit and turn left
Stay to the right of the hallway unless it is a one-way hallway
Maintain 3-6 ft. apart from others
Report directly to your next class and wait for your teacher to invite you into the classroom
Teachers will be disinfecting desks and tables during the transition time
Restroom use:
If there is available space, you may enter the restroom
Use the restroom in a quick fashion
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water
If there is not available space, please pay attention to social distancing stickers and wait your turn
Need water?
All drinking fountains will be closed
All bottle filling stations will remain open
Please bring a reusable water bottle
Maintain 3-6 ft. apart from others
Pay attention to social distancing stickers and wait your turn to fill your water bottle
Phase 4: Student Bell Schedule (Week 3 and beyond)
Food Service - Breakfast & Lunch
Breakfast is eaten during Advisory class. Teachers will assist students with their orders.
IMPORTANT CHANGE for Lunch Purchase - We ask all students purchasing lunch do so through the Nutrislice app by 9 a.m. Students can purchase lunches on Nutrislice up to 24 hours in advance.
- Reminders will be given several times during advisory
- Students may still bring their own packed lunches.
Health and Safety:
- Food Service staff will use masks, face shields, and gloves to serve food.
- Increased cleaning of table, seat and floor areas will follow CDC protocol in between each lunch period.
- All adults present in the cafeteria will contribute to cleaning, due to the increased lunch space.
- We will maintain our 3 lunch periods, as the spacing described below will be sufficient.
Lunch Areas:
- Blue Team: Report directly to the Commons area
- Gold Team: Report directly to the Gym
All Students:
- You will sit with your advisory class at designated tables
- You are allowed to remove your mask while you are eating
- When you are done eating, please put your mask back on
- Stay seated until an adult directs you to exit the area
- Transition back to class
To pick up pre-ordered food, all lines will be monitored by noon aids and OMS staff, maintaining 3-6ft spacing.
Each purchased lunch option will be placed in a separate area in each location for student pick up. This will prevent some students from naturally congregating.
Lockers & Backpacks
In an effort to reduce hallway congestion and points of contact, students will not have access to their academic lockers. Students will be provided with a Chromebook and computer bag.
- String backpacks, computer cases, etc, will be allowed in the hallways to allow for quick transitions to their classrooms.
Students will have access to lockers in their PE classes for changing purposes a few weeks after the school year begins. The PE teachers will socially distance the lockers and adjust the student access time to accommodate safety precautions.
Gatherings & Activities
No indoor assemblies with students from different classrooms
No large scale assemblies of more than 50 students
No off-site field trips
Athletics
We will continue to follow MHSAA published guidance
Coaches and trainers will continue to perform temperature checks before practices
Temps and symptom check recorded in health questionnaires daily
Frequent hand washing (before and after practices/events)
All equipment disinfected before and after use
We will continue to provide individual water bottles to athletes
No handshakes or other unnecessary physical contact
No large scale indoor spectator events
Large scale outdoor and stadium events limited to 100 people
Clubs
Please see your club advisor for additional information.
OCS Return to School Website
Oxford Middle School
Email: kristie.saterstad@oxfordschools.org
Website: https://oxfordmiddle.oxfordschools.org/
Location: 1420 East Lakeville Road, Oxford, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 969-1800