MS Weekly Update 2026-2027

Happy Sunday, Middle School Families!

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful weekend! As we prepare for another busy week at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I want to share a few important reminders and expectations with our Middle School families.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – Monday, October 19

Tomorrow is Parent-Teacher Conference Day! This is an important opportunity for families and teachers to come together, celebrate student successes, discuss areas for growth, and establish goals for the remainder of the trimester. If you were unable to schedule a conference, please do not worry! Our teachers are available to meet with families throughout the school year. Simply reach out by email to coordinate a mutually convenient date and time.

While I always encourage in-person meetings because they allow for meaningful conversations and stronger connections, virtual conferences are certainly an option when needed.

One of the greatest predictors of student success is a strong partnership between home and school. When students know their parents and teachers are communicating, working together, and holding them to the same expectations, it makes a tremendous difference in their academic performance, accountability, and overall growth.

Our goal is not simply to discuss grades. It is to work together to help every student become the best version of themselves. We want our students to know that their success matters and that they have a team of adults supporting them every step of the way.

Important Schedule Reminders:

• Monday, October 19: No school for students due to Parent-Teacher Conferences.

• Tuesday, October 20: Two-hour delayed opening.

Fall Sports Wrap-Up & Winter Sports Expectations

As our fall sports season comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our student-athletes, coaches, and families who have represented and supported OLMC throughout the season. Whether you were on the field, on the court, or cheering from the sidelines, your school spirit and commitment to our community have not gone unnoticed!

Now, we turn our attention to the winter sports season!

Ms. Z will be sharing additional information regarding winter sports, including tryout dates and expectations.

I want to emphasize one important requirement: All students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA to be academically eligible for athletics. Academic performance will be reviewed as part of the tryout and eligibility process.

At OLMC, we believe in developing scholar-athletes. Wearing an OLMC uniform and representing our school is a privilege that comes with responsibility. We expect our athletes to demonstrate the same dedication in the classroom that they bring to practices and games.

Families, please take time to review your child's academic progress now. If grades need improvement, encourage your child to speak with teachers, complete missing assignments, and take ownership of their learning. We want every student to have the opportunity to participate, but academics must remain a priority.

Attention, 8th Grade Families – HSPT Registration

This is an important reminder to all 8th grade families to make sure your child is registered for the High School Placement Test (HSPT).

The HSPT is an important part of the Catholic high school admissions process, and we want to ensure that every student is prepared and registered.

Please do not wait until the last minute. If you have not completed registration, I encourage you to make this a priority.

Winter Formal Uniform Begins November 1

Families, we are now just two weeks away from transitioning to our winter formal uniform. Beginning November 1, all Middle School students are expected to arrive at school in the required winter uniform.

We are providing advance notice so that families have sufficient time to prepare and ensure their children have the appropriate uniform pieces.

Winter Uniform Expectations:

Boys:

• Long uniform pants are required. Shorts are no longer permitted.

• A button-down uniform shirt must be worn.

• Ties are required.

• Polo shirts are not permitted.

• SHORTS are NOT permitted

Girls:

• The required uniform blouse (button-down shirt) must be worn.

• Polo shirts are not permitted.

• All other winter uniform requirements must be followed.

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I want to be very clear about our expectations. Beginning with the winter uniform transition, students arriving in polo shirts or other noncompliant uniform items will be required to change into the appropriate uniform. Families will be contacted and asked to bring the correct uniform items to school.

We are communicating this expectation two weeks in advance because we want every student to arrive prepared and ready to learn. Our teachers and administrators should not have to spend instructional time addressing uniform concerns that can be prevented with preparation at home.

At OLMC, we speak often about excellence, and excellence is reflected in the little things: how we present ourselves, how we conduct ourselves, and how we take responsibility for meeting expectations.

Our uniform represents pride in our school, respect for our community, and a shared commitment to high standards. We appreciate your partnership in helping students understand that expectations matter and that following them is part of developing responsibility and character.

Moving Forward Together

Middle School is such an important time in a child's development. Our students are learning to become more independent, take ownership of their choices, manage responsibilities, and prepare for the expectations of high school.

As educators and parents, we share the responsibility of guiding them through this journey. Sometimes that means celebrating their accomplishments, and other times it means holding them accountable and helping them learn from their mistakes.

What matters most is that we are working together, communicating openly, and consistently reinforcing the same message: We believe in our students, we expect their best, and we are committed to helping them succeed.

Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and commitment to our OLMC Middle School community. I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at Parent-Teacher Conferences!

Have a blessed Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!

Monday, October 19

• No School for Students
• Parent/Teachers Conferences

Tuesday, October 20

• 2 Hour Delay
• Morning Care starts at 9 AM

Wednesday, October 21

• Penny Drive MHS

Thursday, October 22

• Penny Drive MHS

Friday, October 23

• D.H Scholars -Keynote Presentation 4-630 CCBC (Closed Event)

Please see the sports schedule for this week:

Monday:

🏈 Flag Football: HOME game vs. Concordia Prep 4:00 8th Grade Celebration Game

🏐 Volleyball "B" Team: (optional) practice 3:00-4:30

Tuesday:

⚽ Boys Soccer "A" & "B" Teams: games @ Park (Sugar Campus); A: 4:15 B: 5:15

⚽ Girls Soccer: HOME game vs. Bryn Mawr 4:00

🏐 Volleyball "A" & "B" Teams: games @ Gerstell; A: 3:45 B: 4:45 (A team dismiss @ 2:00)

Wednesday:

🏈 Flag Football: practice 3:15-4:45

🏐 Volleyball "A" & "B" Teams: (optional) practice 3:15-4:30

Thursday:

⚽ Girls Soccer: HOME game vs. Garrison Forest 4:00

🏐 Volleyball "A" & "B" Teams: HOME games vs. Concordia Prep; A: 4:00 B: 5:00

8th Grade Celebration Game (4:00)

Friday:

🚫 No sports

If you have any questions about fall athletics, please email Ms. Znamirowski (sznamirowski@olmcmd.org) and Mr. Healey (phealey@olmcmd.org). Go Cougars!

Last Week:

This past week, students began Unit 2, which explores the dystopian genre through the novel "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.

This Week

This next week, students will read chapters 6-10 of "The Hunger Games." HTey will also have a 15 word spelling test on Friday.

Last Week

Students reviewed signed decimal operations.

This Week

Students will practice signed fraction operations.

Last Week:

We finished the UNIT 0 Foundations of Algebra, had our Unit Test and Started the Unit 1 : Geometry Basics

This Week:-

We will learn about measuring segments and solving for the distance and midpoint.

Last Week:

This Week:We will start learning how to solve rational equations and absolute value equations.

Last Week:

We finished learning about evaluating algebraic expressions and solving-one step equations

This Week:We will start our lesson about solving two step equations and solve word problems involving two step equations.

Last Week:

This week we finished an assignment (Bible hunt & ACRE review). This led us to notes and a discussion about Apostolic Succession.

This Week:We will work on the Hierarchy of the Church.

Last Week:

This week the class finished working with Ser that is part of the TO BE verb. continue learning about Dias de los muertos. counting, reading, writing, and listen to the song and deciderata.

This Week:

The class will learn about feeling, location using Estar part of the TO-Be verb will finish the paragraph about the new friend. continue with Dias de los muertos, and listen to Deciderata.

Last Week:Students learned about reconstruction era.

This Week: We will begin looking at industrial and economic growth in the late 1800's

Last Week:

We wrapped our introduction to atomic chemistry and the periodic table of elements.

This Week:Students will be researching elements for a slideshow presentation.

Last Week:This past week some classes wrapped up volleyball and others began the next unit which is focused on games that involve strategy and teamwork. Classes that did have PE this week either played a game called slide-tag, a mix of foosball and sharks and minnows, or a communication focused partner game called Minefield where one partner played the direction giver and the other was the direction follower.

This Week:The classes will participate in various partner and group activities that will vary by grade level and student needs. Clear communication, teamwork, and strategy will be emphasized in each class. Connections to various sports and non-sport games will be made so students realize that these skills are useful to everyone regardless of athletic interest and ability. All games will require critical thinking from the students as they will have to determine the best methods of being successful.

Last Week:

Students painted a landscape with acrylics. The main objective is to indicate depth through overlapping. We also discussed and utilized transparent, translucent, and opaque paint applications.

This Week:

We will complete the landscape and then begin a STEAM lesson using light and fluorescence.

Last Week:

This week we finished looking at character, point of view and conflict. We also had our 3rd spelling test. Please feel free to email me with questions about progress reports.

This Week:We will begin planning our narrative stories for the end of the unit! Students can begin thinking about story ideas!

Last Week

We wrapped up our unit on proportional relationships and began the next topic on integers.

This Week:We reviewed integer operations and solved word problems involving integers.

Last Week:We learned how to research, take notes, for our saints projects. Students chose a saint who they were interested in and researched them in class.

This Week:Students will present their saints project on Wednesday, Oct. 14th! They should complete either a poster board or Google Slideshow on their chosen saint and turn it in on Wednesday. We will also be studying parables of Jesus in the New Testament.

Last Week:Studenst created maps of the 13 colonies to study for quiz and completed wirk with New England and the Middle Colonies

This WeekWe will continue studying the 13 colonies, looking at life in the south and then comparing and contrasting different regios. Students should be studying the names and locations of teh 13 colonies (can look on IXL) for an upcoming quiz.

Last Week:

This week the class worked with que = what using que to ask different questions, also will be practicing with buscar = to look for something.

This Week

The class keep working with demonstrative adjectives, learning counting to 1,000 and gende. will use que and buscar for writing, and for the conversation. continue with dias de los muertos.

Last Week:This past week some classes wrapped up volleyball and others began the next unit which is focused on games that involve strategy and teamwork. Classes that did have PE this week either played a game called slide-tag, a mix of foosball and sharks and minnows, or a communication focused partner game called Minefield where one partner played the direction giver and the other was the direction follower.

This Week:The classes will participate in various partner and group activities that will vary by grade level and student needs. Clear communication, teamwork, and strategy will be emphasized in each class. Connections to various sports and non-sport games will be made so students realize that these skills are useful to everyone regardless of athletic interest and ability. All games will require critical thinking from the students as they will have to determine the best methods of being successful.

Last Week:

Students painted a landscape with acrylics. The main objective is to indicate depth through overlapping. We also discussed and utilized transparent, translucent, and opaque paint applications.

This Week:

We will complete the landscape and then begin a STEAM lesson using light and fluorescence.

Last Week

Most seventh grade classes started a new song that required them to play two parts as the background of the song. We will need more time to master these patterns for "Old Texas."

This Week:We will work on singing and playing the existing accompaniment for "Old Texas." We will add two other parts to our song that will require partner work for this song.

Last Week:

We finished learning about solving literal equations and multi-step equations.

This Week:

We will start learning how to solve rational equations and absolute value equations.

Last Week

Students reviewed signed fraction operations.

This WeekWill will be moving on from rational number operations and beginning working with algebraic expressions.

Last Week

Started the lesson in Chapter 2: Cell function and structure. We finished the the lesson 1(cell and life) and cell theory.

This Week

We start at lesson 2( The cell) this is revisiting the structure and function of cell

Last Week

Students learned how to determine important information in magazines, newspapers, playbills, etc. They read another chapter of their novel and have been building on previous information.

This Week:

Students will learn their new spelling words and take their next spelling test. Students will learn another reading comprehension strategy, read the next chapter in their novel, and start on their new unit.

Last Week

This week the class worked with necesitar and ayudar, querer, to need, help, to want. we use this vocabulary with in the conversation, writing sentences and a pargraph.

This Week:

Next week the class will work with household chores , Cocinar, Ayudar, Lavar using this actions to learn about verbs and how to use verbs in Spanish.

Last Week:We studied ancient India and early Hinduism, taking notes of new vocabulary words in class.

This Week::Students will study more on ancient Indian religions, including Buddhism. They will get to choose a project of their choosing this week to wrap up our early river valley civilizations unit!

Last Week

This week we got very caught up with anti bully week and talked a lot about the ten commandments and the great commandment- love God & Love your neighbor. Students continued to work through their bible scavenger hunt from last week and they took a quiz based on that.

This Week:Next week, we will be reading about the tower of babal and Noah’s Arc. Students will have a small quiz on Friday based on those stories.

Last Week:This past week some classes wrapped up volleyball and others began the next unit which is focused on games that involve strategy and teamwork. Classes that did have PE this week either played a game called slide-tag, a mix of foosball and sharks and minnows, or a communication focused partner game called Minefield where one partner played the direction giver and the other was the direction follower.

This Week:The classes will participate in various partner and group activities that will vary by grade level and student needs. Clear communication, teamwork, and strategy will be emphasized in each class. Connections to various sports and non-sport games will be made so students realize that these skills are useful to everyone regardless of athletic interest and ability. All games will require critical thinking from the students as they will have to determine the best methods of being successful.

Last Week

Most classes work on playing an accompaniment in the meter of 3. They used the keyboards to accompany the song in class.

This Week:Students will begin a new song that will focus on playing a short melody and a background accompaniment using the keyboard and percussion instruments.

Last Week

We introduced rocks and their differences from minerals

This Week:

Students will do small group projects researching one of three types of rocks to create a slideshow for class.

Last Week

Students reviewed signed fraction operations.

This WeekWill will be moving on from rational number operations and beginning working with algebraic expressions.

Last Week:

We already reviewed the steps for multiplying and simplifying fractions.

This Week:Next, we will begin learning the rules and step-by-step strategies for dividing fractions, including how to use the reciprocal to solve division problems.

Last Week:

We learned how to convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions, as well as how to simplify fractions.

This Week:

We started learning the process for multiplying and dividing fractions.

Last Week:

Students learned some image editing techniques.

This Week:

Students will create short fall or Halloween themed story presentations.

Last Week

This week, our dancers learned a lyrical combination to add to our jumping phrase. We focused on connecting movements smoothly while incorporating musicality, expression, and fluid transitions.

This Week

Next week, we will explore individual and group partnering skills to build teamwork, trust, and coordination. Dancers will learn how to connect and collaborate with others while incorporating creative partnering techniques into their movements.

Last Week:

This past week, students learned about the Exposure Triangle and discussed how aperture, ISO, and shutter speed work together to effect the result of a photo.

This Week:

Next week, students will begin filming for our second Cougar News Episode.

Last Week:

We finish the paper stomp challenge.

This Week:

We will start on Engineer a Balloon Car that can go the farthest

Last Week:

Students learned to use functions.

This Week:

Students will learn about list data types and create random student pickers with editable groups.

Last Week

This week we did improvisation in preparation to begin working on a class presentation.

This Week:Next week we will create our presentation.

Last Week:

Students practiced transitioning between the four main chords. They added three new chords to try in two new songs.

This WeekStudents will choose two songs to demonstrate their best ukulele playing skills. They will play in small groups of four to six students to show they can stay together as a group.

Last Week

Students completed an oil pastel composition. in addition they experienced a quick hands on STEAM lesson with Sumi ink and dish soap to create marbled paper. They then used that paper to create a collage indicating positive and negative shapes and spaces.

This Week:

Next week any students needing to catch up will complete the previous compositions and then begin an "art in the dark" fluorescent paint STEAM activity.

Last Week

Students started their second simulation. We are not alone.

This Week: Students received the countries that they are representing and have begun the research on the countries.