Dear Overlook Families,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and that you are enjoying a wonderful summer break. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I wanted to share some exciting updates and important information regarding your child's education.

Additional Enrichment Classes

We are pleased to announce that starting this year, students will be required to take two additional enrichment classes during F block at some point in the school year. These classes are designed to enhance your child's learning experience by providing opportunities to explore new interests, deepen content knowledge in that area, and develop valuable skills. We will be assigning these additional classes that will follow a sequence over the course of their three years at Overlook (i.e. if they are assigned PE/Health and Art this year, next year they may be assigned two different classes such as Engineering and Digital Literacy, and so on.)

We also will be enhancing our Digital Literacy curriculum for 7th and 8th graders and incorporating coding and robotics! Our engineering classes will also be working on further developing their design skills and creating projects on the 3-D printers!

Connections, Community, and Character Class

Additionally, students in F Block PALS, at some point in the year, will take a Connections, Community, and Character class that is rooted in the Choose Love curriculum.

"Connections, Community, and Character" is a dynamic and engaging class designed to equip middle school students with crucial skills that will serve them well throughout their school years and beyond-- especially for when they enter college and/or career. This course focuses on building a strong foundation in personal development and social responsibility by fostering key principles such as courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion-in-action.

Course Objectives:

1. Developing Good Citizenship: Students will learn what it means to be an active and responsible member of their community, understanding the importance of civic engagement and the impact of their actions on others.

2. Building Courage: Through various activities and discussions, students will cultivate the courage to stand up for what is right, face challenges head-on, and make positive choices even in difficult situations.

3. Practicing Gratitude: Students will explore the power of gratitude, learning how to appreciate the people and opportunities in their lives and how expressing gratitude can improve their overall well-being, connection, and relationships.

4. Embracing Forgiveness: This course will help students understand the importance of forgiveness, both for themselves and others, as a way to move forward and maintain healthy, positively connected relationships.

5. Compassion-in-Action: Students will be encouraged to put compassion into practice through projects and daily acts of kindness, learning how empathy and understanding can create a more inclusive and supportive community.

Activities & Lessons include:

Interactive Discussions: Engaging conversations about real-life scenarios and ethical dilemmas to help students develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Role-Playing Exercises: Activities that simulate various social situations to practice empathy, communication, and conflict resolution.

Reflective Journals: Personal writing exercises to help students process their experiences, understand their emotions, and set goals for personal growth.

Expected Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of how their actions influence their community and the world around them. They will be better prepared to navigate middle school and beyond with confidence, and resilience.

This class aims to create thoughtful, compassionate, and proactive individuals ready to make a positive difference in their communities.

Recommended Parent Reading!!

If you don’t know me (Mrs. Bogosh) well enough yet, I am a HUGE proponent of adolescents not having cell phones or having very limited access. I have bore witness to drastic changes in students’ overall well-being since the 2010s. I recommend ALL parents and educators read The Anxious Generation by John Haidt. Haidt tackles and explains what has happened to our kids and offers critical evidence about why it has happened since screens have become a normalized part of kids’ development. He argues how the negative effects of screen time (especially unsupervised) outweigh the benefits. It is a fascinating read and ties together research from child development, the brain, and societal changes in parenting.

Summer Literacy For Students

In the event you missed the information sent about summer reading, please check out our Summer Literacy Website Page, the directions for each grade level can be found on the right hand side, or read the instructions on this summer reading handout.

Athletics

Watch for an email in August from our Athletic Director, Eric Dawley, regarding fall sports registration. In order to participate in fall sports at Overlook, a student must be registered and have a physical on file with the school nurse that is valid within the last 13 months.

Team Assignments

Team assignments will be communicated to families in mid-August. Please keep an eye on your email for this important update, as it will help you and your child prepare for the new school year.

Student Schedules

Student schedules will be distributed on the first day of school. Our staff will be available to assist students in finding their classes and getting settled into their new routines.

Teaching Positions

We are thrilled to announce several new position changes in our teaching staff and introduce new members of our faculty:

• 6th Grade Math: Ms. Jacklyn White (transferring from previous Digital Literacy position)

• 7th Grade Science: Ms. Jennifer Hodson

• 7th Grade English Language Arts: Ms. Julia LeBlanc

• 8th Grade English Language Arts: Mr. Connor Slattery (transferring from 7th grade ELA)

• Engineering: Mr. Jonathon Pack (alumni and recent student teacher)

• Digital Literacy/Computer Science: Ms. Katrina Bunting (formerly our Instructional Coach)

• Achieve Program: Mr. Peter Vautier (transferring from the OASIS program at Oakmont)

Each of these educators brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for teaching that will greatly benefit our students.

Welcome Night

On Monday, August 19th from 4-6pm 😃we will be hosting with our PTO a Welcome Night for any new, incoming students whether that is an incoming 6th grader or anyone new to the school. This will be hosted from 4pm-6pm. There will be activities (such as games, tours, locker practice, etc.) and informational sessions as well as informational tables set up. We encourage everyone to come! It is a great time every year!

We are excited about the new school year and the opportunities it brings. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to welcoming your children back to school in August!

Warm regards,

Kristina Bogosh, Principal

Lori Shattuck, Assistant Principal

July 23 - Washington DC Fundraising Process through PTO Meeting at Forbush Library from 6-8pm

August 10 - Bake Sale to support DC trip at Valley View Barbell in Gardner from 9am-1pm

August 13 - 4th Annual National Night Out at Oakmont from 5:30-8:00 https://natw.org/

August 19 - Welcome Night at Overlook 4-6pm

August 26 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

An email of the following lists will be sent home via email as well. These lists are the same no matter what team your child is placed on, so you can start your shopping now!

A special thank you to those who have ordered these supplies already through the PTO fundraiser last spring! These are the same supplies in that fundraiser order, so if you did that you are all set!

*Unfortunately, the fundraiser ended at the end of the year. The PTO may continue with that fundraiser so be on the lookout in Spring 2025 for the opportunity to do one-click shopping and support the PTO!

Did you miss our parent night back in May?

Check out the slide show below.

I am Jen Jensen, the ELA teacher on 8 Orange and the DC trip coordinator for this year. We are well underway planning the DC trip for the '24-25 school year! The trip is being run by Nations Classroom and takes place May 6-9, 2025. We will be visiting places like Arlington National Cemetery, Holocaust Museum, various memorials and Smitsonian museums throughout the city. It is four days of non-stop action! We are still accepting students on the trip and would really like to have around 20 more sign up to ensure that we get four buses of students going.

Do you still want to sign up for Washington? Well contrary to belief...YOU STILL CAN! Check out the flyer below for all the info!

Those who have already signed up......REMEMBER payments are taken out on the 10th of every month. 2 down, 8 to go!!!

We need EVERYONE to help! Please take a look at the attached slide presentation to get an idea of what we do all year to get ready for this trip and pay for this trip. There is a lot I bet you didn't know! This can't be done without everyone helping! Washington DC Trip Intro-Can you help?

July 23rd-Washington Parents!! Come help us start the fundraising process for ALL students to be able to attend the 8th grade Washington Trip. Meet us at the Forbush Library in the Eloranta Room on July 23rd from 6-8pm. All are welcome!

Follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/eaglesgo2dc/ for updated information

Thank you,

Jen Jensen

jjensen@awrsd.org

As always, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!

PTO Updates & News

1..We invite YOU to become a MEMBER of the Overlook Middle School PTO.

We appreciate the support you’ve given over the years at your elementary school and hope you will consider becoming a member at Overlook to continue your support of the teachers, staff, students and community at Overlook. Becoming a member doesn't mean that you are signing up for anything or volunteering your life away. Becoming a member only means that you are willing to support our program as we support our students and staff.

The past two years we have accomplished many things with your help: Teacher appreciation week activities, Holiday Hot Cocoa, Concessions at Drama Club performances, fundraisers to bring ice cream trucks to the students, educational activities and a brand new Overlook Marquee . We continue to have big plans for MORE this school year and need your support to make it happen. We had 130 members last year, we hope to increase that number this year!

To become a 2024-2025 PTO member:

● Fill out the membership Google Doc: OMS PTO Membership Form

● Pay the $5 dues with cash or check to “OMS PTO” and bring it to the office. Or Venmo @overlookmspto and comment “2024 membership for (your name).”

2. Take a look at our website https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/overlookmspto/home or our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram OverlookMSPTO for all the latest information and all the events we have hosted.

3. Thank you to all we ordered your back to school school supply kits from 1st Day School Supplies. Over 80 families made their lives less stressful and got all their back to school shopping done with one click. By ordering these kits, PTO earned a portion of the proceeds. These proceeds will go directly back to our school and students.

4. Be on the lookout for our Spirit Wear Fundraiser. We will be selling OMS spiritwear including t-shirts and dry-fit shirts. Show your school pride by purchasing a brand new OMS Eagle pride design. PTO will earn a portion of the proceeds. More information is coming soon!

5. Save the date for upcoming events:

July 23rd-Washington Parents!! Come help us start the fundraising process for ALL students to be able to attend the 8th grade Washington Trip. Meet us at the Forbush Library in the ELoranta Room on July 23rd from 6-8pm. All are welcome!

Aug 10th-Washington Parents! We are having a bake sale to cut down costs on incidental items such as T-shirts, deodorant, glow sticks and backpacks. Valley View Barbell in Gardner has graciously offered to host this bake sale at their powerlifting competition, lots of super nice, hungry, strong people looking for snacks during the meet. We need help baking breakfast baked items and a couple volunteers to help run the table. Please complete the form to sign up to help. Bake Sale FormThis trip can only happen with the help of EVERYONE! Any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us at overlookmspto@gmail.com

August 19th-Welcome Night for 6th grade/New Students at Overlook Middle School. Drop in anytime for this FREE event from 4-6pm. Lots of great activities including tours of the building, Q&A sessions with current students, trying out a locker, taking a picture with our Eagle mascot, meeting administration and staff, raffles plus lots of fun activities. Be on the lookout for more details on our social media and parent square.

Welcome Back Staff lunch-The last two years, PTO has hosted a Back to School Lunch for the OMS staff during their PD days in August. We are looking for monetary donations that will be used towards this lunch. If you are interested in donating to this event, please send any donations to our Venmo account by August 19th.

OMSPTO Venmo Account Make sure you label it Welcome Back Lunch

Last but not least don't forget about Summer Reading!!! 2024 Summer Reading Link and Directions

Have you printed the 2024-2025 School calendar? 2024-2025 School Calendar

If you feel inundated with emails or have trouble keeping up with email, Parent Square has a great feature if you download the application to your phone. The application will allow you to receive text notifications on school information/updates without having to rummage through your email's inbox to find them.

Students are not allowed to use cell phones in school. Some students have thought it would be a good business to rent out their old cell phones to students who lost cell phone privliges at home! This is not allowed or condoned. Please monitor your child's cell phones.

Students are only allowed water for drinks in class. There have been some young business entrepreneurs at OMS in the past that have been selling the popular "Prime" drinks (as well as other things such as candy and sneakers!).

Students are not authorized nor allowed to sell anything at school. Moreover, these drinks are not allowed. Please ensure that your student is not bringing these drinks to school or buying or selling or renting out any items at school or on the bus.

Coming prepared to school doesn't just mean bring a pencil and notebook - it also means making sure chromebook is charged. Please ensure your child's nightly routine includes charging their chromebook for the next day of learning.

SMART watches are considered a personal device. Teachers have found that they can serve as a considerable distraction to students during class. They are also banned by the state during MCAS testing. We ask that all SMART watches be left at home or in the lockers during the school day. Please and thank you.

Students cannot enter the building before 7:10am as there is no supervision.

Between 7:10-7:20, drive around the back of the building and have student exit by south side of building and walk up the front sidewalk to the front doors.

Between 7:20-7:30 drive around back of building and have student enter through the back door monitored by a staff member.

Breakfast begins at 7:20 (students can exit the bus at this time if eating breakfast only).

Students exit bus at 7:30.

Classes begin at 7:35am.

Dismissal is at 1:50pm.

Please be sure to not park in the general parking areas to let students off or pick them up. Use the line that goes behind the school. This is a safety concern with students running through parking lots and parents disrupting traffic patterns.

Also, please pay attention to staff members directing traffic. Do not drive-by when they ask you to stop.

Passing busses with flashing lights is a $250 traffic citation.

Students should not be wearing pajamas or slippers to school. This is part of our dress code. We do on occasion have a spirit day where students are allowed to wear pajamas as a "treat" but appropriate, everyday school attire does not include pajamas or slippers. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for school. Thank you!

• If students come to school in slippers or pajamas we may ask that parents come and bring the appropriate attire to school for students to change.

We see the school and home as a partnership. We ask to review these expectations with your child in an effort to create unified expectations from both the school and home fronts. Please see the matrix attachment below to review with your child.

• If your student requires an epipen or inhaler at school or during after school activities, they must have written parent permission and doctor's orders on file with the health office whether the medication is in the health office or they are carrying it. If you are not sure about the status of your student's paperwork or have any questions, please contact me at ntaylor@awrsd.org.

• According to the Massachusetts school immunization requirements, it is recommended that students receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine at age 11-12. One dose is required in Grade 7-12. It is typically given at the physical before entering Grade 7.
• The meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) is also required with the first dose typically given in Grade 7 and the second dose given in Grade 11.
• Please submit documentation of these vaccines when your child receives them. This may be faxed by your physician's office to 978-827-4986, emailed to me or brought to school by your child (not recommended as frequently it is forgotten in the backpack).

• **In order to play sports, you must have an up-to-date physical in the last 13 months and must go to the Athletic website page and complete the online registration. Any questions please contact Athletic Director edawley@awrsd.org.

• Lastly, we want parents to know that if students call a parent/guardian to pick them up because they are not feeling well and a nurse has not officially dismissed them for medical reasons, this is an UNEXCUSED absence. We ask parents to discourage their child from trying to call home to be dismissed.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new, free MPY Parenting Solutions Library. To date, over 2,200 videos have been borrowed. MPY is offering the MPY Parenting Solutions Library in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. When parents grasp the interconnection between the brain, body, and behavior, they experience reduced stress levels, resulting in less stress for their children.

The Peace At Home Parenting Solutions team, comprised of experts with advanced degrees, stays abreast of the latest advancements in child development. With more than 30 specialists focused on child and adolescent development, including specific issues such as difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, handling racism, navigating grief, and other matters parents and our partners identify. These experts present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.

Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. The 24 library presentations focus on the topics below. Each presentation includes a 10-minute videos and handouts.

· Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle and High School Students

· Parenting Principles for Progress Not Perfection

· Mental Health Knowledge and Skills

· Support Your Anxious Child Library

· ADHD and Autism: How to Help Your Child Thrive

The Home Parenting Library may easily be accessed using the link: https://peaceathomeparenting.com/mpy-solution-libraries/ No log in or passcode is needed.

• NIH Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449671/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27247125/
  
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183915/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kGZvNbfrNag
• WEBSITE: https://www.humanetech.com/youth
• https://www.humanetech.com/take-control
• https://www.humanetech.com/future-generations
  
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdtQZAuVsflH0SuM9E6BMNyDkq9NPcjq/view
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zvHPmlIQios-a2llfLFyj6DbdMWB5h8S/view
• Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia
• PEW Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rv0g8TsnA6c
• TIME Article: https://time.com/5555737/smartphone-mental-health-teens/
• INFOGRAPHIC: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/technology-addiction-concern-controversy-and-finding-balance-infographic

• Smithsonian & NMAAHC WEBSITE (Race): https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
• Anti-Defamation League WEBSITE: https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/talking-young-children-about-bias-and-prejudice
• Oakland Library Resources DOCUMENT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0lCA3FlulVhK6DFE2d3uYCipc6ApY8Gn2rMwm6fYqw/edit
• PJ Library WEBSITE (Antisemitism): https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/february-2022/how-to-talk-to-children-about-anti-semitism
  
• Nick Helps WEBSITE (Bullying Prevention): https://www.nick.com/nick-helps/bullying-prevention/

Please check the Portal regularly. Google Classroom is not an accurate indicator of grades. Please reach out to the teacher directly if you have any questions.

General membership to the Ashburnham-Westminster Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is open to all AWRSD parents/guardians of children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans and other interested parties. We are in need of volunteers to help plan workshops, staff tables at local school and community events, become future leaders, assist other parents, and plan new activities and projects. We welcome you to learn more about SEPAC and our work on our website, https://sites.google.com/view/ashburnham-westminster-sepac. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashwestsepac.