OPMS

April is National Poetry Month, and our students and staff have done an incredible job celebrating the power of poetry all month long! Through activities like "Poetry Pears", "Chalk the Walk," and our beautiful "poet-tree" filled with student poems in the lobby, OPMS has been buzzing with creativity and connection. We are so proud of how our students embraced these opportunities to share their voices and talents with one another. To close out the month, we will be hosting Poetry Slams after school on 4/28, 4/29, and 4/30 where students can step up to the mic to share their work and enjoy some treats. It’s been a wonderful celebration of student creativity, and we look forward to seeing it continue at the Poetry Slam! A special thank you to our ELA department for their creative ideas, hard work, and leadership in making this celebration such a success!

Our OPMS PTO plays a huge role in supporting our students, staff, and school community. Many of the events and opportunities our students enjoy each year are made possible because of their time, effort, and commitment. Here’s just a glimpse of what the PTO helps make possible:

• Classroom grants for teachers
• Fall activity nights for 6th grade and 7th/8th grade students
• Glow Party
• 8th Grade Moving On Celebration
• 7th Grade Field Day activities
• Staff Appreciation Luncheon
• And so much more

Quite simply, these events would not happen without the support of our PTO and the families who get involved. The PTO is currently seeking candidates for the 2026–2027 school year:

• Vice President
• Secretary
• Webmaster/Communications

If you’re interested in serving on the board, please reach out to Presidentopmspto@gmail.com.

Your involvement truly makes a difference for our students and school community.

Next week is Staff and Teacher Appreciation Week, and the OPMS PTO is looking for volunteers to help make it a special experience for our staff.

There are several opportunities to support the events planned throughout the week, including:

• Assisting with making popcorn for staff on Wednesday, May 6 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Donating desserts or treats for staff on Friday, May 8

If you’re able, please consider signing up to contribute or assist. If you’re not able to volunteer your time or are unable to pick up and drop off a dessert, the OPMS PTO is always accepting donations through Venmo (@OPMSPTO). Thank you for helping us recognize the people who make a difference for our students every day.

Here are the updated NYS Assessment Dates for this spring:

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Thursday, April 30, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

• NYS Science Assessment

As we approach the NYS Grades 3-8 assessments, we want to provide clarity on the procedures for families choosing to refuse participation, as well as share why participation in these assessments can be beneficial for your student and our school community.

Refusing vs. Opting Out
While the term opting out is commonly used, the New York State Education Department does not offer an official opt-out option for state assessments. Instead, families may choose to have their student refuse participation in the assessments. We use the term refusal to reflect the correct process.

Why Participation Matters
Participation in state assessments provides valuable insight into your student’s progress toward meeting grade-level learning standards. The results help inform instruction, identify areas where additional support or enrichment may be needed, and contribute to important school-wide decisions about programs and resources. Participation also impacts our school’s accountability status and can influence funding and support from the state.

Refusal Procedures
For families choosing to have their student refuse participation in the NYS assessments, please follow these procedures:

• Students must bring a signed note on the day of the assessment and hand it directly to the proctor in their testing location.
• Notes will not be accepted in advance, as it is difficult to ensure accuracy with early submissions.
• A note will serve as a refusal for that specific assessment (ELA, Math, or Science) and will apply to both days of testing for that subject.
• If you wish for your child to refuse participation in all assessments, they will need to bring a new note for each test administration or verbally inform the proctor that they are refusing to participate.
• Students who refuse to participate in state assessments remain in the testing location during administration and can read quietly while the school is in testing mode.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to ensure a smooth and respectful testing environment for all students.

As we move into the spring months and warmer weather, I would like to take a moment to review our after-school expectations and late bus procedures to help ensure the safety of all students.

The expectation is that students ride their regular bus home at the end of the school day unless they are staying after school for an approved reason such as extra help, a supervised activity or club, athletics that are in session, or detention. Staying after school is a privilege, and we expect students to follow all school expectations while they are in the building. If a student is unable to do so, they may lose the opportunity to stay after school and may need to arrange for a ride home immediately following the activity.

Most after-school teacher sessions, clubs, and activities end at 3:10 PM. Students are then supervised in the cafeteria until the late bus departs at 4:00 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays through the end of May. Students must remain under the direct supervision of a staff member during this time. Students who are staying for athletics with practices that begin after 4:00 PM should ride their regular bus home and return to their practice location about 10–15 minutes before the start time. This helps ensure that students are properly supervised and accounted for.

We have had situations in the past where students leave campus after dismissal to walk around the village or visit local stores such as 7-11 and then return to school. Moving forward, students are not permitted to leave school grounds after dismissal and return to the building for any reason, including waiting in the cafeteria or riding the late bus. If a student attempts to do so, we will contact home and the student will need to be picked up. They will not be permitted to ride the late bus that day.

We have also noticed an increase in students choosing to stay after school simply to socialize with friends. While we value opportunities for students to connect, remaining after school without a supervised academic, athletic, or extracurricular purpose is not allowed. Our after-school program is designed to support learning and structured activities, and we need to ensure that all students staying in the building are engaged in a planned and supervised experience.

We understand that some of these expectations may feel different from previous years or sports seasons. However, these procedures are in place to ensure that students are supervised at all times and to support both student safety and the school’s responsibility while students are in our care. We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations with your child.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance is required for all final exams and instructional activities. Please pay particular attention to the exam dates and times. Morning exams begin at 8:00 am. Afternoon exams begin at 11:45 am.

If your student is unable to complete a final exam in June, they will have an opportunity to make it up in August. Makeup exams are scheduled for August, and more specific information regarding dates, times, and locations will be shared later this summer.

Due to scheduling constraints during the regular final exam week, we are unable to offer individual makeup exams at that time. Our staff is fully engaged in proctoring assessments throughout each day, and in order to maintain the integrity of the exams, alternate versions must be created for any makeup sessions.

Students are expected to complete all required final exams, so it is important that they are available during the August testing window if a makeup is needed.

If you have any questions or need to notify us that your student will require a makeup exam, please reach out to the main office.

We are excited to announce that we are now taking orders for Class of 2030 t-shirts for your 8th-grade student! These special shirts are a great way for your child to commemorate their time in middle school and celebrate their upcoming transition to high school. The shirts need to be ordered by May 15, 2026.

In addition, we are offering parents the opportunity to donate a t-shirt to a student in need. If you choose to do so, there is an option to do so when placing our order. To place your order, simply visit OP Middle School Spirit Sale website and follow the instructions.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing our 8th graders proudly wearing their Class of 2030 shirts!

A copy of the District Code of Conduct is included in the Student Agenda. Please sign off electronically in the Parent Portal by Friday, September 26 that you and your child have read and understand the information in the Student Agenda and Code of Conduct. There is a link in the Parent Portal on the left-hand menu and in the forms section of the PowerSchool App. The Student Agenda information and district Code of Conduct are linked below.

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 to 3:30 PM to address any concerns you may have. Here's to another great week at Orchard Park Middle School. Go Quakers!

Thanks,

Mary Kate Graham

OPMS Principal

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.

The Orchard Park Central School District is committed to partnering with parents and guardians to support strong student attendance, helping every child reach their full potential each day. We understand that absences can add up, often due to illness or other unexpected circumstances, and our goal is to work together with families to support students’ academic success.

To make the process easier, parents and guardians can now submit attendance notes and pick up information online. Simply log in to the Parent Portal, click on Attendance Notes, and complete and submit the form. Please view the video below for detailed instructions.

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 2:35 p.m. The buses will use the lot behind the school for pick up.

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.

You can update your contact information in the following ways.

• On the internet based Parent Portal, click on "VIEW/CHANGE CONTACT INFO".
• On the PowerSchool App, go to MORE, then click FORMS, then click CONTACTS VIEW/CHANGE FORM.

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.

The OPMS PTO monthly meeting dates are included below. All PTO meetings will take place at 9:00 AM at OPMS. Meetings will take place in the OPMS conference room.

September 15, 2025

October 6, 2025

November 3, 2025 - Meeting moved to 7:00 PM in the OPMS Library

January 12, 2026 - @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

February 9, 2026 - @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

March 16, 2026 - @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

April 13, 2026 - @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

May 11, 2026 - @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

Orchard Park is fortunate to have a strong partner in OPSEPTSA, the Orchard Park Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association. OPSEPTSA is a welcoming network of parents, family members, teachers, students, administrators, and community members who work together to support students with special needs and their families. Their mission is to advocate for the education and well-being of every child while helping families navigate services within the Orchard Park Central School District.

Through monthly informational meetings, OPSEPTSA provides valuable opportunities to connect with other families, hear from guest speakers and service providers, and learn more about topics such as CSE meetings, student rights under New York State Education Law, and resources available both in and outside of school. These meetings are a great way to ask questions, share experiences, and stay informed about upcoming events and supports in our community.

All families and community members are welcome to get involved. To learn more, become a member, or attend a meeting, you can follow OPSEPTSA on Facebook and Instagram or email opseptsa@gmail.com to sign up. Working together, we can continue to ensure that every student receives the support they need to thrive. Meeting dates for the 25-26 school year are below:

October 22, 2025

November 19, 2025

December 17, 2025

January 21, 2026

February 25, 2026

March 18, 2026

April 22, 2026

May 20, 2026

June 17, 2026

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

• OPCSD School Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Thursday, April 30, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Friday, May 1, 2026

• World Affairs - DC Trip
• 8th Grade Field Trip

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

• Spring Orchestra Concerts

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

• NYS Science Assessment
• Spring Band Concerts

Thursday, May 14, 2026

• Spring Chorus 6 and 7 Concert

Thursday, May 21, 2026

• Spring Chorus 8 Concert

Monday, May 25, 2026

• Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

We are getting ready for our annual Spring Clean Out, and we would love your help. In partnership with Wesleyan Church of Orchard Park, we are collecting new and gently used clothing for families in the Orchard Park community. The church has transformed one of their buildings (6779 Powers Road) into a fully stocked clothing closet that is available to families throughout the year during scheduled hours. This has become a valuable resource for many in our community.

As part of this district-wide effort, we encourage families to consider donating items. Donations can be dropped off at any time in the bin located behind Busy Bee Hall at the Powers Road location. Volunteers will also be available on May 12 from 4:00–6:00 PM for those who prefer to drop items off in person. Thank you for your continued support of our Orchard Park families. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.