The Middle Matters
OMS Parent Newsletter November 5-18, 2022
Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day.
From the Principal
Husky Pride Day: On Thursday, December 22, we will hold our first Husky Pride Day. This is a day designed to honor students who have demonstrated a strong combination of character and work habits. PAW scores that represent Practicing Kindness, Appropriate Conduct, and Work Habits are used to determine to what extent each student gets to participate in this day. Those who earn an average of 2.7 or higher (on a 3-point scale) with their PAW scores will have the option of choosing any of the options available, including off-site field trips. Some of these include Top Golf, ice fishing, trampoline park, etc. Those who do not earn an off-site field trip or do not want to leave campus will have a variety of sessions from which to choose on site. Please take time to discuss with your child their PAW scores; we believe these are as important as their academic grades. Character matters, and that is exactly what our Husky Pride program is designed to honor. The great part of PAW scores is that they can change, hopefully for the better. Everyone makes mistakes, and our PAW scores allow for growth (or decline if that is the case)! Because of the amount of planning that goes into scheduling over 1,000 students for this day, the scores students have in early December are the ones used to calculate participation levels!
OMS Conferences
OMS is hosting the final night of conceferences on November 7 at 3:30. We hope you take advantage of stopping in to see some of your children's teachers. As of right now, you are seeing scores for assessements and practice. As we head into quarter two, those scores will turn into grades. This is a great time to talk to your child's teachers about their academic progress as well as the character they display in school represented through PAW scores. Conferences are an open house format. There will be no hard copies of progress reports printed off. You may bring a phone with the Infinite Campus Parent Portal App or bring your child's Chromebook to conferences. This will allow you access your student's grades, schedule and their teacher's names and room numbers. Each team will be distributing last year's testing score reports. You may decide which teachers you would like to visit with or you may visit with them all. Conferences are done at 7:00 pm.
Please feel free to park on 15th St NE and enter the main doors or you may also park in the parking lot off of St Paul Rd NE and enter through door 13. We look forward to seeing you all of you here.
Calendar
Monday, November 7:
A Day
Morning Choir - Choir Room - 7:00 am
Pledge of Allegiance - 8:10 am
Conferences 3:30 - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, November 8:
B Day
Jazz Band - Band Room - 7:00 am
Practice A for One Act Play - Performance Platform - 2:40 pm
Detention - TBD- 2:45 pm
Wednesday, November 9:
A Day
College Wear Wednesday
Walk-in Wednesday for AVID - Rm 101 - 7:30 am
SOAR (See adjusted schedule below)
Practice B for One Act Play - Performance Platform - 2:40 pm
Homework Help - Learning Stairs - 2:45 pm
Thursday, November 10:
B Day
Morning Basketball - Big Gym - 7:15 am
Practice C for One Act Play - Performance Platform - 2:40 pm
Detention - TBD- 2:45 pm
Friday, November 11
B Day
Chamber Orchestra - Orch. Room - 7:00 am
Morning Basketball - Big Gym - 7:15 am
Wear Your OMS Shirt
Monday, November 14:
B Day
Morning Choir - Choir Room - 7:00 am
Pledge of Allegiance - 8:10 am
School Board Meeting - 5:30 pm - OHS
Tuesday, November 15:
A Day
Jazz Band - Band Room - 7:00 am
7th Grade Field Trip - A Christmas Carol - 8:30 am - Guthrie Theater
All Call for One Act Play - Performance Platform - 2:40 pm
Detention - Rm 304 - 2:45 pm
Wednesday, November 16:
B Day
College Wear Wednesday
Walk-in Wednesday for AVID - Rm 101 - 7:30 am
All Call for One Act Play - Performance Platform - 2:40 pm
Homework Help - Learning Stairs - 2:45 pm
Thursday, November 17:
A Day
Morning Basketball - Big Gym - 7:15 am
All Call for One Act Play - Performance Platform - 2:40 pm
Detention - TBD- 2:45 pm
Mixed Roots - 2:45 pm
Friday, November 18:
B Day
Morning Basketball - Big Gym - 7:15 am
School Store Open - All four lunches
One Act Play Performance 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 19:
Saturday School 8-11 am
One Act Play Performance 7:00 pm
Winter 2022-2023 Activities, Clubs and Organizations for Middle School Students
Activity or Club: Speech Team
Description: This is an opportunity for students who like to act, debate, talk about current events, present information, tell stories, or write stories. The Speech Team is for 7th and 8th grade (and 9-12 grade) students. Students have the opportunity to earn a varsity letter and advance to the MSHSL state speech meet.
Dates and times: Although time is spent in December selecting and researching material for the speech, regular practices start in January. Students sign-up for a 20-minute practice with a speech-coach each week at a time that works with their schedule. Speech meets are Saturdays in February and March primarily. Speech works well with most other activities.
Registration: Sign-up is open on the OHS activities sign-up site https://owatonna2063a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/
Cost: $70 activity fee. Scholarships are available similar to other varsity activities.
Questions: Contact Mr. Anderson manderson9@isd761.org or in room 305.
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Activity or Club: Theater (Spring Show)
Description: In Theater, students work together to put on a play. Students can get involved as actors or members of the stage crew. Actors perform a role in the play. Stage crew members gather props and costumes, design scenery, and help with lights and sound during the performances.
Dates and times: Auditions: December 20th or 21st. After school in room 100-B; Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:45-4:15 at the stage; Performances: March 10th and 11th, 7:00 pm at the stage
Students can sign up: Applications for auditions will come out in December. Applications for stage crew will come out in January. Students can pick up an application with their English teacher or on the board outside room 100B.
Cost: No cost for this activity
Questions: Contact Ms. Charlton in room 100B or echarlton@isd761.org
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Activity or Club: Activity Nights at OMS
Description: Students get to have fun playing Bingo, dancing, swimming, playing basketball, and more. Food, snacks, candy, and beverages available for extra cost. Time with friends and supervised by adults. Parents can volunteer to help at activity nights also.
Dates and Times: Friday, December 9th from 7-9pm, Friday, February 17th from 7-9pm, Friday, April 21st from 7-9pm
Student need:
* Current OMS Student ID
* $5 or year-long activity pass from student council
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Activity or Club: Mixed Roots
Description: We are a group that comes together to learn about each other's backgrounds and explore & appreciate cultural diversity. Open to all current OMS students.
Dates and Times: Last Thursday of each month, 2:45-3:45 Learning Stairs at OMS
No registration.
Cost: No cost
Questions: Contact Janessa Jandt jjandt1@isd761.org or Aracely Flores aflores@isd761.org with any questions.
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Activity or Club: Kids First Winter Sports
Description: Boys and Girls Wrestling (6th, 7th, 8th grade), Boys Basketball (7th and 8th grades). Wrestling practices every school day, 3:00-5:00pm. Competitions (Meets) are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Wrestling is for Boys and Girls. Owatonna will have at least 3 girls again this year in the MS program. We would love to have more since there is a separate girls division at the State Tournament that started last year. Last year the OHS program had 2 girls who both made it to State. One State Champion and the other was a 3rd place finisher.
Basketball practices every school day, 3:00-5:00pm. Games are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Transportation is provided to and back for Away games/meets.
Dates and Times: Boys Basketball season January 3-February 23; Wrestling season November 21- January 26.
Parent Information Meetings: Basketball- December 6, 6pm OMS;
Registration: https://owatonna2063a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/
Cost: $140, Scholarships available with Free/Reduced Lunch $70
Questions: Contact Sean Hughes shughes@isd761.org
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Visitors
All visitors must enter through Door #1 on 15th St NE. All visitors must have a scheduled appointment or be here under special circumstances. You will need to present a valid ID in order to enter. Please let our security officer know who your meeting is with and he will call them down to the security office to escort you to and from your meeting.
Reminders
- Every student must bring their Chromebook to school every day, fully charged. This does affect students' PAW scores under Work Habits! Teachers will be using these on a daily basis; it is crucial your child brings his/her computer to school every day!
- Cell Phones are "AWAY FOR THE DAY". No cellphone usage between 8:10-2:40. Phones must be put away in lockers and not on their persons.
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.
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. Hunt 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 Mesich: Students A through K 444-8724
Olivia Gullickson: 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 November 3 and 7 and again on March 9. All conferences are held in the individual classrooms 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.
Janessa Jandt: 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 Infinite Campus. Just log into your Parent portal to access this option.
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.