The Middle Matters
OMS Parent Newsletter 2022-2023 Aug. 29-Sept. 9
Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day.
Welcome to OMS!
Thank you to each of you who attended our Open House. If you missed out on this, your child's schedule and locker number can be found in Infinite Campus; all information went live this morning for students. For those of you who attended, please make sure to read Away for the Day, our change in cell phone policy. We truly believe this is the right decision for students' academic and emotional well being. We appreciate your support with this.
As we head into this year, we are focusing on consistency with student expectations. The past two years have been challenging on students and staff. We want students to know the expectations and what it takes to meet them. We want each and every student to be successful! Administration will be visiting each classroom at the beginning of the year to talk through our guidelines for a successful year.
We do have dress guidelines for school. This includes no crop tops, sagging pants that show undergarments, etc. Please refer to the Student/Parent Handbook for more details. We understand today's styles may include items we do not want in the school building. How your child dresses outside of the school day is up to you and them, but we do have guidelines for appropriate dress just like teams do!
Let's work together to make this a great year!
Julie Sullivan
Principal, Owatonna Middle School
Chromebooks
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!
6th Grade Orientation
Monday, August 29, 2022
8:10-2:40
- Busses will run as usual this day.
- Attendance WILL be taken.
- This day is for 6th graders only.
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.
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.
Student Drop-off and Pick up - NEW THIS YEAR
Calendar
Monday, August 29:
6th Grade Orientation (see details above)
Tuesday, August 30:
A Day
First Day of School
Wednesday, August 31:
B Day
Thursday, September 1:
A Day
Friday, September 2:
NO SCHOOL
Monday, September 5:
NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 6:
B Day
Wednesday, September 7:
A Day
Thursday, September 8:
B Day
Friday, September 9:
A Day
This year we are beginning automated phone calls and emails. Any student that is marked absent at 8:30 am and their absence is unverified in Infinite Campus will be getting an automated phone call and email home to the parents stating the following:
Good Morning,
You are receiving this message from OMS because your child has been marked absent and their absence has not been verified. Please call the attendance line at 444.8705 and leave a reason for absence. If you believe you have received this message in error, please call 444.8711. If the absence is not verified it will be marked unexcused.
Thank you for your support!
2022-2023 OMS Calendar
CELL PHONES
Students will not have access to their phones from 8:10-2:40 for the 2022-2023 school year. Backpacks, phones, and winter jackets will be left in lockers. As you plan for this year, we would appreciate discussions at home with your child about phone use expectations. We feel this is the best decision for students' academic and emotional well being, and we appreciate your support in this change.
Bus Passes will be handed out for those that qualify for transportation in Husky Connections classes on August 31. The Owatonna Bus Company will require passes to be presented to the drivers on September 6. Please let your kids kids know they must have them with in order to ride the bus. Please call the Owatonna Bus Company at 451-5262 if you have any questions.
School Lunch Payments In Infinite Campus Parent Portal
This year, families can make online payments to their meal accounts, as well as view student account activity and set up automatic payments, in their Infinite Campus Parent Portal. There will be no cash payments accepted at the cash registers for school lunches. We are no longer using MyPaymentsPlus.
OMS Activity Night
- Admission: $5.00
- Must have a valid ID.
- Students must be present in school in order to attend this evening.
- Students must have no unserved detention or ISS in order to attend.
- If a student leaves during the Activity Night, they will not be allowed back in.
- Student must be picked up promtly at 9:00 pm
Fri, Sep 23, 2022, 07:00 PM
Owatonna Middle School, 15th Street Northeast, Owatonna, MN, USA
SOAR: An Intervention Block
On September 28, we will have our first SOAR intervention. As we continue to work on grading, we believe it is important to offer intervention within the school day. Because we want grades to reflect what students know against the standards and learning targets designated by the state, the only category that goes toward a student's grade is assessments. The SOAR block (Skills, Organization, Accountability, Responsibility) offered every other Wednesday is designed to help students who may need reteaching, extra time practicing, or time to retake assessments.
Those who are not pulled by a teacher for classroom needs will have the option to sign up for enrichment activities that cover a wide variety of options. We are excited for this oppotunity for our students as they work to show proficiency in 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.