Dear Parents and Guardians:

As we approach the end of the year, I am delighted to share some exciting updates and important information with you in our December newsletter.

Celebrating Achievements: I am immensely proud of our students and staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the first two quarters. Our classrooms have been buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and a quest for knowledge. From outstanding academic performances to remarkable achievements in extracurricular activities, our middle schoolers continue to shine bright.

Let's take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of our students both inside and outside the classroom. Your support as parents plays a crucial role in their success, and we are grateful for the collaborative efforts that contribute to our school's vibrant community.

Upcoming Events: As we step into the festive season, we have planned several events to spread joy and build a sense of togetherness within our school community. Please mark your calendars for the following:

• Winter Concert: December 20 in the Oakmont Auditorium from 7-9pm
• Holiday Spirit Week: December 18-22
• Community Service Drives: Toys for Tots Ashburnham thru December 5; Toys for Tots Westminster thru December 3

We encourage students and parents alike to actively participate in these events, fostering a sense of unity and goodwill during this special time of the year.

Reminders and Important Dates:

• Winter Break: Please note that our school will be closed from Monday, December 25 through January 1 for the winter break. We wish you and your family a restful and joyous holiday season.
• Parent Portal: Check out your child's progress half way through the quarter on December 11. This is an excellent opportunity to reflect on their progress and set goals for the upcoming quarter.
• Fundraiser: Sunday, December 3rd is the PTO sponsored Music Bingo & Raffles at the Brewyard from 5-7pm.
• Personal Devices: A reminder that SMART watches, other personal electronic devices, and cell phones are not allowed during the school day, nor is the school responsible if these items become lost or stolen. If students do choose to bring a personal device to school, it needs to remain off and in their locker for the entirety of the school day.

Gratitude: As we reflect on the year gone by, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support. The partnership between parents, students, and our dedicated staff is what makes Overlook Middle School such an exceptional learning environment. Together, we will continue to inspire and empower our students to reach new heights.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with warmth, joy, and cherished moments with loved ones.

Best regards,

Kristina Bogosh

Principal

Overlook Middle School

Team 7 Navy celebrated the students who earned high honor and honor roll for quarter one with an award ceremony. The top 10 ten students in each core subject were also recognized. Keep working hard for quarter two!

In Mrs. Woodworth's class last month, students simulated the moon's revolution around the Earth in an interactive activity to show why we see phases of the moon from Earth! Nice job, Grade 6!

Please see information below for a fundraising opportunity by the OMS PTO that will help to defray the costs of the Washington trip for DC.

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.

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

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.

Students are only allowed water for drinks in class. There have been some young business entrepreneurs at OMS that have been selling the popular "Prime" drinks (as well as other things such as candy). 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 these drinks at school or on the bus.

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.

• 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/

1. PTO next meeting December 12th at 6pm.

2. 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.

This past year was our first year of the new PTO at the middle school and we are proud of all we accomplished: Teacher appreciation week activities, Holiday Hot Cocoa, Concessions at Drama Club performances, and more. We have big plans for MORE this next school year and need your support to make it happen.

To become a 2023-2024 PTO member:

● Fill out the membership Google Doc: https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/overlookmspto/home

● Pay the $5 dues with cash or check to “OMS PTO” and bring it to the office. Or Venmo @overlookmspto and comment “2023 membership for (your name).”

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.

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. Please contact Justine Muir if interested in SEPAC jmuir@awrsd.org.