September 18-22 OMS participated in Start with Hello Week which promotes eliminating social isolation. Grade 8 made a "positivity palm tree" about traits to avoid falling into a negative disposition.

October is here, and with it comes a new edition of our monthly newsletter! As the leaves change colors and the weather gets cooler, we have a lot of exciting updates and events to share with you.

I hope you're all settling into the school year smoothly. Our students have been working diligently, and I am proud of their dedication to learning and growing. As we continue through the fall season, remember that our staff is here to support your child's education and well-being. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's team of teachers, if you have any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Events:

1. Monty Tech Tour Field Trip (Grade 8); Monday, October 23 (9:40-1pm): Grade 8 will be heading off to visit Monty Tech to learn about its programs and have lunch. Monty Tech is providing the bussing. Please be on the lookout for details in the coming weeks.

2. Monster Dash; Tuesday, October 31st (12:50-1:50pm)- Get ready to show your school spirit and costumes for a "Monster Dash" where students can choose to participate in a walk or run on the cross-country trail. Costumes must be school appropriate and only allowed to be worn during the Monster Dash race -plan costumes accordingly :)

Student Spotlight: We want to recognize the outstanding achievements of our students. If your child has received an award, made significant progress, or achieved something special, please let us know. We would love to feature them in our next newsletter.

Important Reminders:

• Please ensure your child's Chromebook is charged overnight/before school.
• Please check out our Chromebook Insurance - see below under "Important School Tech Info"
• Don't forget to check the school website and our social media channels for updates, announcements, and resources.
• Please ensure your child comes to school with appropriate clothing for the changing weather. Layers are a good choice as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.
• If your child is experiencing any academic challenges or needs additional support, please reach out to their teachers as soon as possible.

We're looking forward to a productive and enjoyable October. Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Wishing you all a fantastic October filled with learning, laughter, and memorable moments!

Sincerely,
Kristina Bogosh

The rain finally held off for a couple days in September and we were able to finally hold our Sidewalk Chalk Contest on September 27! Check out the winning chalk art below!

• 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.

Dates to Remember

Monday, October 2 1st Day of Enrichment #2

Tuesday, October 3 Student Council Meeting/room 214, 2-3pm

Thursday, October 5 Informational Meeting for Quick Stop Café Workers, 6:50-7:20am

Monday, October 9 No School, Columbus Day

Wednesday, October 11 Wingspan Meeting 2pm Room 121

Wednesday, October 11 Soar Meeting/ Library, 2-3pm

Thursday, October 12 First day of Quick Stop Café, 7:20-7:35am

Thursday, October 12 Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Friday, October 13 ALICE Safety Discussion with SROs/6th grade/PALS

Monday, October 16 ALICE Safety Discussion with SROs/7th grade/PALS

Tuesday, October 17 Yearbook Club meeting 2pm Room 207

Wednesday, October 18 No School, Professional Development

Thursday, October 19 Monty Tech VIP Program, 3-4:45pm

Friday, October 20 ALICE Discussion with SROs/8th grade/PALS

Monday, October 23 8th grade Monty Tech Tour, 9:40am -1:00pm

Wednesday, October 25 School Picture Absentee/Retake Day/ Staff photo

Wednesday, October 25 Flu Vaccine Clinic at Oakmont 3-6pm

Wednesday, October 25 Wingspan Meeting 2pm Room 121

Thursday, October 26 Monty Tech VIP Program, 3-4:45pm

Tuesday, October 31 Monster Dash Participants report to gym, 12:30pm

Monster Dash Spectators report outside, 1:15pm

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.

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!

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 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.

6 Green students Mr. Duncan's classes participated in a simulation activity about prehistoric cave art.

6 Blue students simulate the Earth's revolution around the Sun to discover why we have seasons.

• 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. 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.

See PDF link below for information on how to get your student's device insured.

See attachment below for more information on renewing MassHealth coverage.