O'Maley Family Focus

October 19 2022

Dear O'Maley Families,

Please see information about October and November events below. If you know of someone who is not receiving information about O'Maley events, please remind them to verify their email and cell phone information with Ms. Oliver in the main office and to check their spam/trash folder in email. To save paper and trees, we very rarely send information on paper.

Reminder about the Halloween Dance and Activity Night: All students must have a completed permission form in order to attend. The electronic form and online payment link can be found below. Students may pay at the door. Admission is $6. If you would like your student to bring home a paper form, please have them see their grade level guidance counselor. We are still seeking volunteers. Please sign up using the form below.

We have an exciting opportunity for our students to participate in the Gloucester 400 Stories Project and contribute to the 2023 celebration of Gloucester's 400+ years of history. Information is below.

8th Grade Families: If you have not already completed the interest survey for a possible Washington DC trip this fall, please link below to your preferred language. The form should be submitted by Friday 10/21. If you need a different language, please let me know. We will make a decision about the trip over the next week or two, and in the interim, I will be sending out a FAQ to answer some of the questions I have received.

English: https://forms.gle/Nfj2VNc2sKHPQ4uy8
Spanish: https://forms.gle/eJTGZdbPQqtay2MA9
Portuguese: https://forms.gle/KX5FLQyv8QpnMjG47

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Best Regards,

Principal Lynne Beattie

Check out O'Maley's new website at https://omaley.gloucesterschools.com/

Please follow @omaleyprincipal on Twitter or Instagram.

Gloucester 400 Story Project

Next year (2023), the city of Gloucester will remember and reflect upon 400+ years of history. Leading up to and throughout 2023 there will be a series of events, as well as the collection of 400+ written true stories, videos, and poems from Gloucester residents including any student attending school in Gloucester. The stories, videos, and poems will be shared on social media and become part of a historical collection. Selected written stories may be included in a commemorative book to be published in late 2023.

Please encourage students to participate in this first opportunity for them to participate in the upcoming celebration:

Attention all students! Get ready to tell your true story and be part of history. Next year (2023), the city of Gloucester will remember and reflect upon 400+ years of history. Leading up to and throughout 2023 there will be a series of events, as well as the collection of 400+ written true stories, videos, and poems from Gloucester residents including any student attending school in Gloucester. The stories, videos, and poems will be shared on social media and become part of a historical collection.

More details to come, but for now, start thinking about your story, video and poetry ideas! Or, if you want to get started right away and have questions, email studentstoriesgloucester400@gmail.com.

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Upcoming Events

October Early Release Days at 11:00 a.m.:

October 20, Parent Conferences 12:00-2:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m.
October 27, Parent Conferences 12:00-2:00 p.m.

October 24-28 - Scholastic Book Fair 8:00-2:00 p.m.

Sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0b49aaac2ca3f85-scholastic1

Shop online Oct. 24-Nov. 6: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/omaleymiddleschool

October 24-28, O'Maley Spirit Week Themes:

Monday Oct. 24 - Favorite Movie Character Day
Tuesday Oct. 25 - Pajama Day
Wednesday Oct 26 - Decades/Throwback Day
Thursday Oct 27 - Adam Sandler Day
Friday Oct 28 Sports Day

October 25 6:00-7:00 p.m., O'Maley PTO Meeting (New date!)

Friday, October 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m., O'Maley Halloween Dance & Activity Night (See information below).

November 8 - No School - Staff Professional Development Day

November 18 - School Picture Retake Day

November 18 - O'Maley Academy Fundraiser at Cape Ann Lanes, Sponsored by O'Maley PTO

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HALLOWEEN DANCE & ACTIVITY NIGHT - OCTOBER 28TH

As mentioned above, a group of students worked with O'Maley administration to develop guidelines for us to hold a positive and safe dance and activity night at O'Maley. Prior to COVID we had several dances at which behaviors caused us to consider curtailing our practice of holding dances at all. After reflecting on the amount of time that has passed and that our students had not been given a chance to show that they could assist in creating a welcome environment for a dance we invited input. Students came up with the following recommendations and guidelines:

We will host non-dancing activities in the gym in addition to a dance with DJ in the Commons.
Bags will not be allowed.
Devices will not be allowed. Phones are available throughout the building if needed, students who bring a device will have to check it at the door.
A photo booth will be available for photos with friends.
Concessions will be sold by PTO between the gym and the Commons. Snacks and trinkets will be sold. No food or drink is allowed to be brought into the building.
All school rules apply.
A permission form signed by a parent or guardian will be required for entry.

In order for this event to take place, we need 12-15 parent volunteers in addition to an equal number of staff who have committed to attending. Hosting both the dance and activities requires many adults in order to supervise all areas. Volunteers must:

Arrive at 5:45 p.m. for instructions and organization.
Be vigilant with supervision; report concerns to O'Maley faculty or administration immediately.
Pass a CORI prior to the event. (CORI checks can be completed at 2 Blackburn with a drivers license).

Chaperones may be placed in the gym, Commons, near bathrooms, at the door, and around concessions.

If you are interested in volunteering, please link here to complete this form. Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you in advance!

Please link here to access the permission form and option to pre-purchase tickets at $6 per student. The permission form is required for entry. Pre-purchasing tickets is optional.

O'Maley Halloween Dance Permission Form

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O'Maley Academy Fundraiser November 18th - Cape Ann Lanes - Sponsored by PTO

Time: Doors open at 5pm. We will have two times available to bowl. 5:00pm to 6:30pm and 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

Cost per Bowler: $20 and includes 1.5 hours of bowling and shoe rental.

What: We would like to have 4 bowlers per lane so grab your friends! As usual, the restaurant will be open for dinner or snacks. We will also have a raffle table with hundreds of $$ in prizes for you to try your luck at and the arcade will be open to keep all ages entertained.

How to Pay: We would prefer everyone pay ahead of time for bowling. Please Venmo $20 per bowler to PTO President Rachel Refalo @Rachel-Refalo225 to reserve your spot. Otherwise we will accept cash or Venmo the night of the event for bowling or the purchase of raffle tickets. Cash or cards may be used for dinner.

Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B49AAAC2CA3FE3-omaley1

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Student Drop Off & Pick Up

The best way for students to get to school is by bus. If it is absolutely necessary to drive your child, please be mindful that traffic can be challenging, and many students are walking to school.

All student drop off and pick up occurs in the rink parking lot. Pull in and turn right, and drop your student off on the sidewalk. Please do not drop off or pick up in the circle as it holds up traffic. The driveway in front of the school building is for buses only.

Communication and Contact Information

Communication is essential for our ongoing partnership. Please be sure to keep your email address and phone numbers up to date in the student information system by informing the office if there are changes. Almost all communication from O’Maley will be electronic. Our newsletter, the O’Maley Family Focus is sent at least monthly via a link to Smore, and can be translated into your preferred language on the Smore site. If you do not have an email address, please let us know so that we can send you hard copies or a link to documents via SMS text messages.

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Cell Phone Policy at O'Maley

Over recent years increased cell phone use has become problematic at schools. As our policy states: Cell phone use creates a distraction to the learning process and is detrimental to positive social interaction in the community. While we relaxed some aspects of our policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be returning to full enforcement of our policy which prohibits cell phone use during the hours of 7:35 a.m. - 1:55 p.m. Students may not have cell phones on their person (or if carrying them, in bags) during those times. Options are provided for storing them during the school day, and those students/families who do not wish to take advantage of the options should leave phones at home. You may read the full policy online in our handbook or at this link: Cell Phone Policy

Please note that the O’Maley faculty will be reviewing this policy during the 2022-2023 school year and any revisions will be communicated.

Online Learning Acceptable Use and Chromebook Policies

As with the handbook, the information about acceptable use of the GPS network and Chromebook is important to know and understand. Chromebooks are a necessary tool for learning these days, and must be treated with care. Students should always carry their Chromebook with the case on, and treat it carefully. Signature forms will be sent home with students on the first day of school and should be returned the following day.

GPS Online Learning Services and Chromebook Use - English

GPS Online Learning Services and Chromebook Use - Portugues

GPS Online Learning Services and Chromebook Use - Spanish