Myla Mexico enjoying a little lizard fun with "Diego", the Bearded Dragon, during stay-cation in Mr. Horgan's science class.

Dear Overlook Families:

We are heading into a very busy but exciting time of year.

Please make sure you check all dates and pencil them in.

I have also added a "Save the Date" section for important June events as well.

We have seen tremendous growth in our students. Middle school is so challenging and there are definite peaks and valleys. Some of the most difficult school years are in middle school. However, I believe some of the most significant, beautiful growth occurs as students come into their own. If you're in a "valley" hang in there! You are not alone. The next peak is coming!

We have had the fortunate opportunity to have Veronika Patty in from Gardner Community Center giving a workshop to 7th and 8th grade students called "Training Active Bystanders". The program is interactive. TAB is a way to analyze harm-doing situations and assist participants in discovering the positive power of bystanders. The curriculum defines the role of target, harm doer, and bystander. It examines inhibitors to bystander action and how to overcome them. Moral courage, inclusive caring, responsibility for others, empathy, reciprocity and self-interest promote active bystandership.

Active bystandership does not mean aggression against the harm doer.

TAB stresses safety and discusses a variety of interventions techniques. It helps participants gain the competencies they need to create action plans if they decide to step forward when they witness something they feel is unfair, or wrong, or troubling in the future.

Lessons are interactive, using group activities, brainstorming and role plays. Participants drive discussion content based on the needs of their particular community.

TAB promotes support for the target, understanding of the harm doer, caring for those inside and outside one’s own group, moral courage and competencies to safely help those in need.

Bystander acts that stop harm doing to individual targets also stop the changes in a community that encourage harm to others. Active bystander help develop positive attitudes, behaviors and values in the whole community.

Importantly, we have a whole month of MCAS testing in May for various grade levels. Please make sure you student arrives on time to school with a Chromebook charged all the time but certainly on testing days! MCAS dates are below for your convenience and reference as well.

Sincerely,

Kristina Bogosh

May 3rd, 7-8:30pm

Overlook Middle School

ELA

March 28-29 - Grade 8

April 11-12 - Grade 6

April 25-26 - Grade 7

STE

May 9-10 - Grade 8

Math

May 16-17 - Grade 8

May 18-19 - Grade 7

May 23-24 - Grade 6

💐May 2023 Dates to Remember 🌼

Tuesday, 5/2 Say Something Presentation/Team Room/8th grade

Tuesday, 5/2 Soar Meeting 2-3pm Library

Wednesday, 5/3 Education Through the Arts/7-8:30pm

Wednesday, 5/3 Wingspan 2-2:30 Room 121

Monday, 5/8 PTO Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Monday, 5/8 7Navy TAB (Teaching Active Bystanders)

Tuesday, 5/9 7Navy TAB (Teaching Active Bystanders)

Tuesday, 5/9 MCAS/STE/8th grade

Tuesday, 5/9 PTO meeting/Library 6:00pm

Wednesday, 5/10 7Red TAB (Teaching Active Bystanders)

Wednesday, 5/10 MCAS/STE/8th grade

Thursday, 5/11 7Red TAB (Teaching Active Bystanders)

Thursday, 5/11 PTO Staff Appreciation Lunch

Thursday, 5/11 Soar Panera Bread Fundraiser 4-8pm (Leominster Location)

Friday, 5/12 Drama Club/Legally Blonde JR/ORHS Auditorium/7pm

Saturday, 5/12 Drama Club/Legally Blonde JR/ORHS Auditorium/2 pm & 7pm

Tuesday, 5/16 MCAS/Math/8th grade

Tuesday, 5/16 Student Council Meeting 2-3pm Room 214

Wednesday, 5/17 MCAS/Math/8th grade

Wednesday, 5/17 Wingspan 2-2:30pm Room 121

Thursday, 5/18 MCAS/Math/7th

Friday, 5/19 MCAS/Math/7th

Friday, 5/19 Letter from Nurse Taylor sent home re: SBIRT (see attachment below)

Tuesday, 5/23 MCAS/Math/6th

Wednesday, 5/24 MCAS/Math/6th

Thursday, 5/25 Last day of Quick Stop Cafe

Monday, 5/29 No School, Memorial Day

June 6 - 5th Grade Step Up Day (WES 5th grade visits Overlook during school day)

June 6 - 5th Grade Parent Night at OMS 6-8pm (Overlook Team Room)

June 7 - 5th Grade Step Up Day (JRB 5th grade visits Overlook during school day)

June 7 - Soaring Eagles Ceremony (Oakmont Auditorium) 6-7pm

June 22 - Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony (Oakmont Gymnasium) 6-7pm

June 22 - Grade 8 Farewell Dance (Following promotion ceremony in Oakmont Cafeteria- 8th graders only) 7-8:30pm

6 Blue students worked to create towers that can hold weight and withstand earthquakes. They were given a budget, a building code, and material constraints. Students designed on a blueprint for approval, and then built.

• 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/

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.

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.

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!

Students cannot enter the building before 7:20am as there is no supervision.

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.

Next meeting is May 9th at 6:00pm in the OMS Library.

All are welcomed to attend the meeting. Get the latest information about the school and how you can help from our Principal Kristina Bogosh.

Call for Volunteers for Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week!

We are in need of some volunteers during Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week for the following:

- Decorating on Friday, 5/5

- Breakfast clean-up and set up on Monday, 5/8

- Lunch clean-up and set up on Thursday, 5/11

Sign-up here to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094CA4AD29A5F85-teacher. If the slot you are interested in is full, please send an email to overlookmspto@gmail.com. We can always use more help!

Thank you to all who have already donated money or items! Your contributions are greatly appreciated. We still have a few items on the donation list for anyone interested in helping: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094ca4ad29a5f85-overlook#/, and cash donations are always welcome via check or Venmo @overlookmspto.

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 the current co-chairs about getting involved with SEPAC at awrsdsepac3@gmail.com (Kim Caisse's email) and awrsdsepac4@gmail.com (Dorene Francis' email).

See attachment below for more information on renewing MassHealth coverage.

Check out attachment below for Camp Marshall Summer Camp