OPMS

Here's to another great school year at Orchard Park Middle School. Go Quakers!

Thanks,

Mary Kate Graham

OPMS Proud Principal

Join Orchard Park Middle School PTO as a member and help our students’ days feel fuller, brighter, and more fun. 🎒 Your membership supports school events, classroom needs, and student programs—from dances to enrichment activities. Even if you can’t volunteer often, joining the PTO shows your support for our kids, teachers, and staff. 💚

You can complete your membership form and pay your $5 dues by clicking on the link below:

All events for 2026-27 school year are in need for volunteers. Please think about participating in all our amazing opportunities and fun for our students.

Our first day of school is Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Homeroom begins at 8:05 AM. Due to safety concerns, students may not enter the building before 7:45 AM unless they are meeting a teacher/club. School dismissal is at 2:40 PM, and buses depart at approximately 2:50 PM.

As a note, dismissal typically takes a little longer on the first few days of school as drivers are learning routes and students are finding their buses. Please be patient with us!

*Afterschool Late Bus (4:00 PM) information will be shared at a later date/time, as they do not begin to run until the end of September.

If you would like to drop off any medications for your student, you may do so during the Back to School Celebration on Thursday, September 3rd, between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Our school nurse, Karen Niewczyk, will be located in the health office to assist you.

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.

Below you will find a list of dates for the release of information in Parent Portal for the 2026 - 2027 school year. All information will be posted by 4:00 PM on the release date. Your child will receive a paper copy of their most up-to-date schedule in their homeroom on the first day of school. Please keep in mind that many variables factor into the scheduling of students. The counselors, teachers, and administrators have the best interest of your child’s academic and emotional needs at heart when scheduling. For questions or concerns regarding any student scheduling issues, please contact the Counseling Center at 209-6233.

Important Upcoming Dates for the OPMS start of 2026-2027:

August 21 at 4:00 PM : All Student Schedules Posted on Parent Portal

August 26 at 4:00 PM : Locker Numbers Posted - Student locker numbers will be posted on the Parent Portal.

September 3, 2026 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: 6th Grade Orientation - There will be a 6th Grade Student Orientation which includes students being bussed to the school with an opportunity to tour the building, meet some of their teachers, and ask questions.

September 3, 2026 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: PTO Welcome Back Night - Students and parents can take self guided tours of the building, set up lockers, and purchase locker ladders and locks. Parents must supervise their children the entire time.

September 9, 2026: First Day of School

September 18, 2026: 6th Grade Activity Night

September 22, 2026: School Pictures in PE Class - All Grades

September 22, 2026: 6th Grade Open House - 6:30 PM

September 23, 2026: School Pictures in PE Class - All Grades

September 29, 2026: 7th & 8th Grade Open House - 6:30 P.M.

Team/Teacher specific School Supply Lists for the 2026-2027 school year are linked below. Please note that the satellite lists are at the end of the corresponding grade level supply list. If you have any questions regarding school supplies please feel free to email or call the Counseling Center at (716) 209-6233 or email pbaldo@opschools.org

The OPMS PTO will have a limited number of Recycled Locker Ladders for sale at OPMS between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. In addition, locks will be available for purchase, $8 each, cash or check made payable to OPCSD.

Color coding the supplies helps students stay organized. You are welcome to get a colored binder that coordinates with the subjects that need a binder, or you can make the binder easily identifiable with a piece of colored paper or colored tape. Subject materials will be color coded as follows (refer to supply lists for more specific information):

• English – Yellow

• World Language – Purple

• Math – Green

• Reading – Orange

• Science – Blue

• Social Studies – Red

• Satellites – Black or White (or any color not listed above)

*All OPMS students will receive a Student Agenda on the first day of school.

Hello 6th Grade Parents! We are very excited that your child will be attending Orchard Park Middle School, and we look forward to seeing them at our 6th Grade Orientation Day on Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM. Our WEB Program will help get your 6th grader off to a great start!

WHAT IS WEB?

WEB is a nationwide program designed to welcome and support 6th graders by connecting them with WEB Leaders, who are positive, responsible, hand-selected 8th graders. Your student’s WEB Leaders will help them feel more comfortable as well as help them achieve success in their first year of middle school.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

1. A day or two before orientation, your child will receive a phone call from their WEB Leader personally inviting them to orientation day and giving the details of where to be and what time. The Leaders can also answer any questions they may have.

2. Your student is encouraged not to bring backpacks, purses or other items as the day is quite active. Because the day is active, please make sure that your student wears comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement.

3. Cell phone use is forbidden on this day, and this is a student only function.

A few other other important details:

• Your child's team assignment for the 2026-27 school year is now available on the Parent Portal. Please direct any scheduling questions to Mrs. Lunduski at klunduski@opschools.org. Mrs. Lunduski will be your 6th grade student's school counselor for their three years at OPMS.
• Transportation: We have arranged for the bus to pick your child up at their regularly scheduled time so that they can experience their first ride to the middle school with their 6th-grade peers. Please have your child at their bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. There may be a need for flexibility regarding the arrival time as this is the driver’s initial run. Please check Parent Portal for transportation information. You do not need to communicate with OPMS if you are planning to drive your student or if they are planning on taking the bus for the orientation. Bus information will be available on Parent Portal on: _______
• At the conclusion of the orientation program, the bus will transport your child home. Your child’s bus number and approximate pick-up time is available on the Parent Portal. We encourage you to allow your child to experience the bus ride with their 6th-grade peers.

This event is for 6th-grade students only. However, If you would like to return to the building on the evening of Thursday, September 3, 2026, to familiarize your child further with our building and their schedule, please know that you are welcome! This will be a time for you and your child to informally travel around the building together. Details are shared above. This is a fun time for families to come together and visit the Middle School as well as an opportunity for your child to set up their locker prior to the first day of school.

We look forward to meeting all of our sixth graders soon!

We hope you are enjoying your summer. To support our students as they prepare for the upcoming school year, we've provided summer reading information for each grade level. Summer is a great time to relax, recharge, and keep the habit of reading going strong.

Please click on the documents below to access the materials specific to your child's grade level for the 2026–2027 school year. Each document outlines the expectations and resources to help students stay engaged with reading over the summer. More information about summer reading can be found on the OPMS Library Website.

Thank you for encouraging your child to read, explore, and grow this summer. We look forward to seeing all they’ve learned and discovered when we return in the fall!

Thank you!

The OPMS ELA Department

Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, all New York State schools, including those in the Orchard Park Central School District, will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. The cost of meals will be fully covered by state reimbursement. Each student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch per day.

Please note that additional meals or a la carte items must still be purchased separately. Prices for these meals are listed below:

• Breakfast (Grades K–12): $2.00
• Lunch (Grades K–5): $2.90
• Lunch (Grades 6–12): $3.00
• Adult Breakfast: $3.10 + tax
• Adult Lunch: $5.20 + tax

Payments for a la carte items must be made at the time of purchase. Students can pay directly at the register, or families may add funds to their child’s account via myschoolbucks.com or through the Parent Portal. Checks can be made payable to Orchard Park CSD.

Even with universal free meals this year, we encourage families to complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application, as eligibility may qualify your household for additional benefits beyond school meals. Applications are available online at www.opschools.org or in your child’s cafeteria and are accepted throughout the school year.

Households that were approved in the previous year must submit a new application by October 1st to remain eligible.

Please remember: participating in the program not only supports your student—it also benefits the district as a whole by contributing to funding and resources based on need. If you need an application printed and sent to you, please call Jody Schwarz at (716) 209-6244.

• 6th Grade Orientation 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• PTO Back to School Celebration 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

• FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Monday, September 14, 2026

• PTO Meeting @ 7:00 PM in OPMS Library

Thursday, September 17, 2026

• OPMS Early Dismissal @ 10:30 AM - GO BILLS!

Friday, September 18, 2026

• 6th Grade Activity Night

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

• School Picture Day in PE - All Grade Levels
• 6th Grade Open House 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

• School Picture Day in PE - All Grade Levels

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

• 7th and 8th Grade Open House 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM