Wingspan 2025-2026

We are proud to introduce our new Assistant Principal, Mr. Rich. The Wingspan asked the questions we all want to know; here is what we found out!

1. What's your favorite app? Ways - I get lost a lot when driving around to new places.

2. What's your go-to fast food order? McChicken or McDouble

3. Favorite sport/team? Basketball is my favorite sport. New England Patriots are my favorite team to follow.

4. What do you do on the weekends/days off? I try to exercise as much as I can. Go for a run. Spend time with family

5. What's your favorite movie? For The Love of The Game

6. If you could hang out with a character from any show, who would it be and why? Chandler Bing from Friends

7. If you could go anywhere right now where would you go? Alaska

8. Do you have any pets? Yes, 2 dogs - Gretta and Tufty.

9. If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? Be able to fly

10. Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am a night owl.

11. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Darth Vader - I'm a huge Star Wars fan!!!

Christmas

Christmas originated for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The date of December 25 started in the 4th century BC. While it is unknown when Jesus’s birthday actually occurred, the Roman church set December 25th, because it was nine months later after the conception of Jesus. Exchanging gifts was a tradition from bringing gifts to infant Jesus. The tree of an evergreen represents hope, external life, and the light of Jesus.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, known as the festival of lights, is a Jewish tradition lasting eight days of observance. The foods are fried in oil to show the miracle of oil, they also make latkes, ( potato pancakes) and donuts filled with jam. The most popular game is dreidel, which is a spinning top with four sides and Hebrew writing on all sides. The start of Hanukkah in 2025, is December 14 during sundown and the end is December 22.

Kwanza

Kwanza is known for an African American culture, community and heritage, never religious though. Throughout the culture, they celebrate the seven principals: Unity, Purpose, Creativity, Responsibilities, Faith, Cooperative Economics, Self Determination, and Exchanging gifts. People often give gifts on the last day of celebration, books or a heritage symbol. In 2025, Kwanzaa is December 26th through January 1st.

Winter Solstice

The longest night and shortest day symbolizes the sun’s light of renewal, marking the first of winter, in the Northern Hemisphere. The date for the solstice is on December 21, 2025. This date means that the 21 on a Sunday, will mark the first day of winter and will mark the shortest day of the year. Many cultures believe that it is about death and rebirth. People reflect, and leave the darkness in the past and welcome in the light. Ancient Rome celebrated by having feasts and gift giving. Some people believe that mythical beings are trying to “steal the sun” so some people stay awake trying to ward off the mythical beings. Ancient Rome celebrated by having feasts and gift giving.

Source: https://www.flextrades.com/blog/winter-celebrations-winter-holidays-around-the-world-1/

The 80s is a decade we all love for its fun bright colors and exciting music. A time of new media and entertainment, with better film quality entering the picture and new trends popping up all over. The 80s are most notable for their bright and fun clothing. While, it is usually much more over done in media then how it actually was during the time, bright colors were definitely in. Denim and neon was the new craze of the time, especially at concerts and parties. Another pattern that was popular at the time was prints of irregular shapes of colored clothing, of course the iconic scrunchie was popular at the time. However your average outfit usually consisted of at least one piece of denim, maybe two and a striped shirt or plain. Most of the time they weren't always walking around looking like highlighters, that's mostly exaggerated in newer day media.

Speaking of the media, the 80s was a time to be alive in the movie scene. With new exciting slashers and sci-fi thrillers coming out, some may argue that this was the best decade for film making media. Movies like, E.T, Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, and Star-Wars are still notable almost 40 years later! Not only were movies the charm of the time, the music was also captivating, introducing new genres like pop-punk and dance/party-pop being the most popular.

Upbeat music that you could blast and dance to was all the rave. “Call me” by Blondie was the most popular song in the year 1980, showing that this new-wave pop was starting to come into the spotlight. The 80s were many things, but predictable was not one of them. Upbeat and vibrant bands and singers like, Tears for Fears, Queen, Kiss, David Bowie were popular, and at the same time they had more melancholy bands like The Smiths and The Cure be just as popular. While both carrying the same pop underwaves the the 80s is famous for their very different versions of it.

Slang is another thing that is vastly different from what it is today. Sayings like “rad”, “mint” or “dope” are all variations of cool. Other popular sayings like “Gag me with a spoon”, or “eat my shorts”, were often used in conversation as a term of dislike or disrespect towards someone. Funny, not so funny enough the most drastic change from then isn't in media or clothes at all, it's in the prices of everything! Just $1 in 1980 would approximately be around $4 in today's worth! You could probably go around town with just $5 and be set, but now you need at least $15 to afford anything!

Sources: The Best 80s Movies A 1980s Fashion History Lesson: Lycra, Power Suits, and ...

We are so proud of our students who continue to SOAR demonstrating positive characteristics!

Students were asked what their favorite school lunch was and while there are many of options here at OMS, home or packed lunch was voted the most favorite. Other top choices were breakfast for lunch and pizza! Thanks for voting!!