OPMS

Monday, January 12 · 7:00 – 8:00pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 713-489-7334‬ PIN: ‪412 064 329‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qpm-wyhh-ene?pin=4268230864993

As we return from winter break, many students are excited to come back with new technology they may have received over the holidays and are eager to share with friends. This is a good time to review expectations for personal devices during the school day.

In accordance with New York State law and district policy, cell phones, smartwatches, and other smart devices, including smart eyewear such as Ray-Ban Meta glasses, must be turned off and kept in lockers from bell to bell. These devices may not be worn, used, or accessed at any point during the school day. The district’s cell phone policy is linked below for your reference.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a focused learning environment and protect student privacy.

We’re inviting OPMS families to share their thoughts through a short survey about our beginning-of-year events, including Back to School Night, Open House, and Parent–Teacher Conferences. Your feedback will help us understand what worked well, what made participation difficult, and how we can continue to strengthen communication and connection with families. The survey should take about 5–7 minutes to complete. No decisions have been made, and your responses will help inform future planning and shared decision making. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspective. We truly value your partnership. The survey link is below.

World Language presentations will be held on January 12, 13, and 14 during the school day for our 6th grade teams. Your student will need to select Spanish or French as a course in 7th and 8th grade. They will receive one high school credit upon successful completion of the two year course. Emails will be sent on January 15th with instructions on how to select Spanish or French through the Parent Portal. The deadline for selections will be Friday, January 30, 2026.

Our OPMS Lost and Found has been set up in the foyer, and it’s already full of clothing, water bottles, and lunch boxes that have been left around the building during the first marking period. All items will be on display in the lobby through January 27, 2026. After that date, any unclaimed belongings will be donated. If your student is missing something, please encourage them to take a look. On a regular basis, Lost and Found items are kept in the lobby next to the front guard desk.

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.

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.

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

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 2:35 p.m. The buses will use the lot behind the school for pick up.

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.

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 - Meeting moved to 7:00 PM in the OPMS Library

January 12, 2026 - @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

February 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

April 20, 2026

May 11, 2026

Monday, January 12, 2026

• PTO Meeting @ 7:00 PM via Google Meet
• Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene
• Or dial: ‪(US) +1 713-489-7334‬ PIN: ‪412 064 329‬#

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

• Board of Education Meeting from 7:00 - 9:00 PM @ OPMS

Monday, January 19, 2026

• NO SCHOOL - MLK JR. DAY

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

• Last Day of Marking Period 2
• Last Day of Semester 1

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

• First Day of Marking Period 3
• First Day of Semester 2