OPMS

Dear OPMS Parents, Students, and Staff:

Tomorrow is the big day! As we prepare to welcome your children back to school, I want to emphasize how, together, we can make this school year truly exceptional.

One of the most powerful ways we can support our students is by engaging with them about the importance of kindness and positive interactions. I encourage you to chat with your children daily, remind them to be kind, and follow up to see if they made a positive impact on someone else's day. These small conversations can lead to significant outcomes, helping our students excel not only as compassionate, responsible individuals but also in their academic pursuits.

No child is too old for a reminder about the importance of kindness, making a positive difference in the lives of others, and staying focused on their studies. When we all work together—parents, teachers, and staff—we create an environment where our students can thrive academically and grow into well-rounded individuals.

I am excited to see the amazing things we will accomplish this year at OPMS, and I look forward to partnering with you to ensure that every student has the opportunity to excel both in and out of the classroom. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school community. Let’s make this a great school year!

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 is a Cycle 1 Day.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Our school office will be open, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM to address any concerns you may have.

Here's to another great school year at Orchard Park Middle School. Go Quakers!

Thanks,

Mary Kate Graham

OPMS Principal

A note to our families at Orchard Park Middle Schools:

The OPMS Observer is the weekly newsletter that is sent to families. You will receive a text link and an email each time a new issue is released. This is the best source of receiving updated information weekly from the school.

Parents are welcome to bring their student into the building after 3:30 PM today if they missed the locker setup time last Thursday. Please note that students will not be allowed to enter the building this evening without a parent.

Our first day of school is Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Homeroom begins at 8:00 AM. Due to safety concerns, students may not enter the building before 7:45 AM unless they are meeting a teacher/club. School dismissal is at 2:30 PM, and buses depart at approximately 2:40 PM.
The OPMS school day runs from 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM.
At 2:30 PM, students will be dismissed from the building. Please communicate with your student if they are not taking the afternoon bus and have alternative transportation (i.e. parent/guardian pick-up or walking home). You do not need to notify the school regarding short-term changes in transportation.

*Afterschool Late Bus (3:30 PM) information will be shared at a later date/time, as they do not begin to run until the end of September.

Here are some important reminders for our traffic patterns to help keep all of the OPMS community safe. We understand that the pick-up/drop-off traffic lines can be long, however, the safety of our students and staff is critical.

Drop off: Buses use the front loop on South Lincoln. Parent drop-off is not allowed in the front loop. Parent drop-off is behind the building, please enter the lot from 20A and follow the directions of the staff. Student drop-off is not allowed before 7:45 a.m. This is to prevent a potentially serious safety risk, as students aren’t permitted to go to homeroom before then, and there is limited supervision in the foyer.
Pick up: Parents should use the front loop for student pick up for early releases and normal dismissal at 2:30 p.m. The buses will use the lot behind the school for pick up.

OPMS AM/PM Transportation Procedures

All students will receive an OPMS Agenda. This will be distributed to students on the first day of school. This is an extremely important organization and communication tool. All teachers use the agenda for recording assignments. Please review the handbook (first pages of the Agenda) with your child and reinforce school expectations.

We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all of the children in our school. Therefore, we must request compliance with our procedures, designed to reduce exposure to food-based allergens. Please call the Health Office at 209-6261 if you have any questions or concerns.

Please check the Parent Portal throughout the year to receive information on your child’s academic progress. Information such as report cards are now solely on the Parent Portal. If you are having difficulty accessing the Parent Portal, please contact the Counseling Center at 209-6233.

Also, please update your contact information on the Parent Portal by selecting the "Update Information" page. Additionally, update your settings to continue to receive important communications from the Middle School and the District. If you have trouble logging into Parent Portal click the link below for more assistance.

PowerSchool Parent Portal Login Information

Team/Teacher specific School Supply Lists for the 2025-2026 school year are linked below. Please note that the satellite lists are at the end of the corresponding grade level supply list. If you have any questions regarding school supplies please feel free to email or call the Counseling Center at (716) 209-6233 or email pbaldo@opschools.org

Color coding the supplies helps students stay organized. You are welcome to get a colored binder that coordinates with the subjects that need a binder, or you can make the binder easily identifiable with a piece of colored paper or colored tape. Subject materials will be color coded as follows (refer to supply lists for more specific information):