The Middle Matters
OMS September 21-25, 2020 Parent Newsletter
Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day.
Calendar
Monday, September 21, 2020
Group 1 - A Day
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Group 1- B day
No Tech Tuesday in the Cafeteria
Kona Ice - all four lunches
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
College Wear Wednesday
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Group 2 - A Day
No Tech Thursday in the Cafeteria
Friday, September 25, 2020
Group 2 - B day
Kona Ice - all four lunches
Kona Ice Visit
Kona Ice will be here on Tuesday, September 22 and Friday, September 25 during all four lunches.
Please bring exact change. Please bring your money to school in the morning. Due to COVID, we will not be able to get the money to students that have forgotten it.
PE on Wednesdays
Our amazing PE Department is offering physical activities for students on Wednesdays. This is available to ALL students who are not required to be online and are caught up on their school work. We highly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities; this past Wednesday was filled with students enjoying a variety of activities. Students/Families are responsible for their own transportation. **Please check Google before leaving if the weather looks threatening! This next Wednesday, September 23, sessions will run at the following parks from 9:00-10:00 AM and 12:00-1:00 PM:
Manthey Park: Soccer/Basketball/Volleyball (Burgmaier)
Brown Park: Kickball/Tennis/Sidewalk Chalk (Flohrs)
Dartt's Park: Basketball/Tennis (Webb)
Lincoln Elementary Fields: Flag Football/Pickleball (Storm)
Leo Rudolph Nature Preserve: Hiking (Hunst)
Hybrid Schedule/Distance Learning
*We listened to your feedback from last spring's experience and believe we have created a schedule that best fits the Hybrid Model guidelines we have to follow and offers live options for Distance Learners. While it may not be perfect, it does allow students to follow the choice they made (in person or distance) and allows teachers to meet these choices.
*For Hybrid learners, Group 1 generally follows Monday/Tuesday and Group 2 follows Thursday/Friday. There is one exception the week of MEA in October. Please refer to the calendar you received at Information Day.
*Distance Learners are following a Group 1/Group 2 schedule as well. Teachers will be live with students on the days assigned to them according to their group. Some students are live streaming with an entire online class, and others are joining classes with Hybrid students. Some have a combination of the two depending on their class selections. Students who are Distance Learners are expected to be online with their teachers at the assigned time based on our daily bell schedule. For instance, if a student has English first period on A Days, they would need to be online with their teacher at 8:10 according to their Group 1/Group 2 assignment.
*Wednesdays are designed with A-Day in the morning, and B-Day in the afternoon. This is the day when Hybrid and Distance Learners can reach out to their teachers for help with assignments (that will come once we get into our schedule). Teachers will offer a Google Meets session students can access IF they have questions or need help with homework. Students do not have to be online on Wednesdays but have the option if they need help.
*While this may not clear up all of your questions, hopefully it addresses some of them. If you need further clarification, please feel free to reach out to the counselors and/or administrators.
Morning Drop-Off/Social Distancing
Just a reminder that students do not come into the building until 7:55 in the morning. Many students are dropped off much earlier than that. We do not have outside supervision to ensure students are following social distancing guidelines and wearing their masks. Please remind your child(ren) that this responsibility is on them when they are outside the building in the morning. It takes all of us to work together to ensure the safety of students and staff!
Parent Portal
Chromebooks
On school days when students are working virtually and are having technical issues with their Chromebook, you may call our Chromebook Technology line at 444-8630 or fill out the form.
OMS Lunch Pick-up
Hybrid Learning for Secondary Students: Students will have the opportunity to take free meal bundles home on their last in-person learning day to be eaten on their distance learning days. Meals are available at the end of the school day. Students in Group 1 typically pick up to-go meals on Tuesday and students in Group 2 pick up to-go meals on Friday.
Distance Learning: Meal bundles are still available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at Owatonna Middle School - 500 15th Street NE - Main Entrance / Door #1
Meal bundles contain multiple days worth of meals.
Families can come to OMS to pick up meals for all children ages 1-18 years. To assist us with meal planning, please complete a weekly form available here to sign up for distance learning meal bundles.
Meals for Non-Enrolled Children: Meals can be picked up for any child age 1-18 in the Owatonna community and surrounding area at no cost starting Tuesday, September 15th. Meal pick up is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at
Owatonna Middle School - 500 15th Street NE - Main Entrance / Door #1
Meal bundles contain multiple days worth of meals. Families can go to any of the three locations to pick up meals for all children ages 1-18 years old. To assist us with meal planning, please complete a weekly form available here to sign up for meal bundles.
Middle School Pick up/Drop Off
We just wanted to remind everyone that there is no student drop-off before or after school hours on 15th St NE. The cones will be out as a reminder. Please do not drive around the cones.
When dropping off in the morning, please drop off on St. Paul Rd. If you use the parking lot, pull all the way around the lot to the outdoor basketball court to drop off at Door 13. You may do the same in the afternoon for pick up. We do not want students dropped off at the athletic entrance. When you are leaving the parking lot, as the signs indicate, it is right turn only.
We are concerned with the safety of our students and continue to look for the best way to handle student drop-off and pick-up. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Another reminder that students do not enter the building until 7:55. Likewise, we'd like all students to be out of the building by 2:50. At this time we do not have any before or after school programs. Teachers and staff may have meetings, etc. Please keep this in mind when determining your child's drop-off and pick-up times. Ensuring students are out of the building by 2:50 also allows our custodial staff to begin cleaning!
Classroom Interruptions
Learning is taken very seriously at OMS; therefore, we try to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum:
-Please do not bring or arrange deliveries of bouquets, balloons, stuffed animals and the like to students. They will not be accepted.
-Encourage students to remember their Chromebooks, lunches, gym clothes, musical instruments, etc. We do not have staff to deliver these items, nor do we call the classrooms to have the students come down and pick up the items.
-Make afterschool arrangements with your student before school, if possible. We do not interrupt classrooms for these types of messages.
We believe that taking these simple steps will reduce interruptions to the classroom and will help our students stay more focused on their learning.
No Visitors
During this unique time, we are not allowing visitors into the building unless it is under special circumstances or by appointment only. If you do have a scheduled appointment you will need to present a valid ID in order to enter.
OMS Telephone Directory
Main Office: 444-8700
Attendance Voicemail: 444-8705
Nurses Office: 444-8706
Nutrition Services: 444-8716
Police Liaison: 444-8789
Owatonna Bus Company: 451-5262
Kids First/Middle School Athletics: 444-8504
Chromebook Technology Hotline: 444-8630
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. Denton 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 Hugstad-Vaa: Students A through K 444-8724
Jessica Procopio: 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 October 22 and 26 and again on March 11. All conferences are held in the gyms 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.
Sue Schroeder: 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 the My Payments Plus site. It can be found on the OMS Homepage.
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.
A Look Ahead.....
The Homecoming parade scheduled for October 2nd has now been cancelled. Therefore, we will run a full day schedule on October 2nd from 8:10-2:40. It will be a Group 2, B-day.
Tuesday, October 6
Picture Retake Day - - Group 1 - 8:10-10:30 am (Stage area)
Thursday, October 8
Picture Retake Day - - Group 2 - 8:10-10:30 am (Stage area)
Please note the difference in this weeks schedule:
October 12: Group 1
October 13: Group 2 (This is a Tuesday and Group 1 does not attend, Group 2 will attend.)
October 15-16
NO SCHOOL - MEA
School Funding is on the Ballot
The November election is not just about who will be our next President - also on the ballot are two school funding requests for Owatonna Public Schools (OPS). If voters approve both OPS ballot questions, funds would help maintain quality academic programs and activities for all students, appropriate class sizes and career-technical education opportunities. If voters do not approve both requests, the district will face millions in budget cuts over the next three years, resulting in class size increases, cuts to academics, activities and more. Learn about the two levy requests at our Levy 2020 website.
Owatonna Middle School
Website: https://oms.isd761.org/
Location: 500 15th St NE, Owatonna, MN, USA
Phone: 507-444-8700
Twitter: @Owatonna_MS