OPMS

Dear OPMS Parents, Students, and Staff:

We hope you are having a wonderful week. Please take a moment to review the important events and time-sensitive information below.

Beginning with the start of the second marking period, Orchard Park Middle School will be making adjustments to our daily schedule to better accommodate transportation needs and ensure student safety.

Homeroom and Class Times: Starting Thursday, November 6, homeroom will be shortened from 10 minutes to 7 minutes. Each class period will gain an additional minute. Our school day will now officially end at 2:35 PM, which is the dismissal time we have been following throughout this year.
Late Buses: Beginning Tuesday, November 12, late buses will run at 4:00 PM (instead of 3:30 PM) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students who stay after school must be with a staff member or under adult supervision in the building until bus departure.

These changes are being made in response to the ongoing bus driver shortage and to support smooth, safe dismissal procedures for all students.

Thank you for your flexibility and support as we continue to adjust in ways that best serve our students.

Our school will be holding a lockdown drill the week of October 27. This is one of two drills required before the end of the calendar year. We approach them in a calm and supportive way to make sure students feel safe while learning these important routines.

As always, the purpose of this drill is to ensure that students and staff are familiar with our safety procedures and know how to respond in the event of an emergency. We appreciate your support as we work to maintain a safe learning environment for everyone.

The next Orchard Park Middle School PTO meeting will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the OPMS Library. We encourage all parents and guardians to attend, share ideas, and stay connected to what’s happening at OPMS. Your involvement helps strengthen our school community. We hope to see you there!

Halloween Duck Sale

The OPMS PTO is also looking for volunteers to help sell Halloween Ducks during lunches on 10/27, 10/28, 10/29. and 10/30. Sign-up using the link below!

Halloween Duck Sale Volunteer Sign-Up

OPMS Code of Conduct

A copy of the District Code of Conduct is included in the Student Agenda. Please sign off electronically in the Parent Portal by Friday, September 26 that you and your child have read and understand the information in the Student Agenda and Code of Conduct. There is a link in the Parent Portal on the left-hand menu and in the forms section of the PowerSchool App. The Student Agenda information and district Code of Conduct are linked below.

OPCSD Code of Conduct

OPMS Student Agenda Pages 25-26

OPMS World Affairs Club; Washington DC Trip It’s trip registration time

The OPMS World Affairs Club’s sole purpose is to bring 8th grade students to Washington, D.C.

each spring. All 8th graders are eligible to be members of World Affairs Club and may choose to

participate in the trip. The trip will be May 1, 2, and 3, 2026; so it is time to register. Click the link below for more information. WorldStrides is the tour company that we work with.

When you click the link below you will find:

1. A cover letter, which details the program information and highlights of the trip (a sample itinerary).

2. Trip details: dates, pricing, and registration process.

3. Information on how to apply for FLAG Scholarship funding, which is available to families with an

adjusted gross income of up to $85,000.

4. Information explaining how to register and manage your account with World Strides online, including

the option to purchase trip insurance.

5. Registration ID information: www.worldstrides.com

The Orchard Park Trip ID # is 222429

The registration window will remain open until January 26, 2026.

FYI- There will be two optional fundraising opportunities’ that students may participant in, one in the fall and one in the spring. More information to follow.

Please contact Mrs. Sanchez at ksanchez@opschools.org with any questions.

OPMS WorldStrides DC Trip Info 2026

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FAQ's (1).docx

OPMS 8th Grade DC Trip FAQ Document

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OPMS Yearbooks for Sale

Back-to-School pricing is available. Click the image below to buy your 25-26 OPMS yearbook today!

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Our school office will be open, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM to address any concerns you may have. Here's to another great week at Orchard Park Middle School. Go Quakers!

Thanks,

Mary Kate Graham

OPMS Principal

A note to our families at Orchard Park Middle Schools:

The OPMS Observer is the weekly newsletter that is sent to families. You will receive a text link and an email each time a new issue is released. This is the best source of receiving updated information weekly from the school.

The Orchard Park Central School District is committed to partnering with parents and guardians to support strong student attendance, helping every child reach their full potential each day. We understand that absences can add up, often due to illness or other unexpected circumstances, and our goal is to work together with families to support students’ academic success.

To make the process easier, parents and guardians can now submit attendance notes and pick up information online. Simply log in to the Parent Portal, click on Attendance Notes, and complete and submit the form. Please view the video below for detailed instructions.

Here are some important reminders for our traffic patterns to help keep all of the OPMS community safe. We understand that the pick-up/drop-off traffic lines can be long, however, the safety of our students and staff is critical.

Drop off: Buses use the front loop on South Lincoln. Parent drop-off is not allowed in the front loop. Parent drop-off is behind the building, please enter the lot from 20A and follow the directions of the staff. Student drop-off is not allowed before 7:45 a.m. This is to prevent a potentially serious safety risk, as students aren’t permitted to go to homeroom before then, and there is limited supervision in the foyer.
Pick up: Parents should use the front loop for student pick up for early releases and normal dismissal at 2:30 p.m. The buses will use the lot behind the school for pick up.

OPMS AM/PM Transportation Procedures

Please check the Parent Portal throughout the year to receive information on your child’s academic progress. Information such as report cards are now solely on the Parent Portal. If you are having difficulty accessing the Parent Portal, please contact the Counseling Center at 209-6233.

Also, please update your contact information on the Parent Portal by selecting the "Update Information" page. Additionally, update your settings to continue to receive important communications from the Middle School and the District. If you have trouble logging into Parent Portal click the link below for more assistance.

PowerSchool Parent Portal Login Information

PTO Meeting Dates 25-26

The OPMS PTO monthly meeting dates are included below. All PTO meetings will take place at 9:00 AM at OPMS. Meetings will take place in the OPMS conference room.

September 15, 2025

October 6, 2025

November 3, 2025

January 12, 2026

February 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

April 20, 2026

May 11, 2026

OPMS PTO Amazon Wishlist

Follow the OPMS PTO on Facebook

OPMS Membership Toolkit