OMS Pirate Press Newsletter

• Schedule for the week of August 31-September 4, 2026.
• Open Sci Ed Curriculum Info and Photos from Science
• Upcoming Events/Save the Date
• Spanish Students Learning the Merengue
• Breakfast and Lunch Info
• Fall Sports Info--Last call for registration!
• Stem Structure Building Highlights
• Clubs and Activity Info: Book Club, Homework Center, NJHS, Student Council
• From the Health Office
• FOMS--About FOMS, Spirit Wear Fundraiser and More!
• OMS Sings at Worcester Railers Home Opener and Oxford Town Takeover Night on 10/17. Discounted Ticket info
• OXPS Events and Fundraisers
• Oxford Community Events
• Helpful School and District Resources

Please sign and have your child return all student forms AND please complete the online student handbook form sent via Parent Square.

Monday, August 31st

• School Forms due--submit to 1st period teachers.
• OMS Girls and Boys Soccer Practice begin today. Please Look to communications from coaches, which you should receive on or before Monday, August 31st. any questions, email Athletic Director Kevin May kmay@oxps.org

Tuesday, September 1st

• School Forms due--submit to 1st period teachers.
• PE Classes report to Auditorium today. Gymnasium closed for town voting.
• OMS Cross Country begins today after school Please Look to communications from coaches, which you should receive on or before Monday, August 31st. any questions, email Athletic Director Kevin May kmay@oxps.org

Wednesday, September 2nd

• School Forms due--submit to 1st period teachers.
• NJHS Meeting after school with Ms. Wagner. NJHS students must have signed permission slips to attend. Permission slips are available in the main office and in Ms. Wagner's room.

Thursday, September 3rd

• School Forms due--submit to 1st period teachers.

Friday, September 4th:

• No School today or Monday, September 7th for Labor Day Weekend

Dear Families,

We are excited to share that our science class is using a new curriculum called OpenSciEd.

This program helps students learn science by doing science. Instead of just memorizing facts, your child will figure out how the world works through investigation and hands-on problem-solving.

What is OpenSciEd?

• Phenomenon-Based: Every unit starts with a real-world puzzle or question (a phenomenon). Students work together to figure out the "why" and "how" behind it.
• Student-Driven: Students share their own ideas, design experiments, and ask questions. Learning is guided by what the class figures out together.
• Collaborative: Students talk in small groups and whole-class discussions. They learn to listen to others, share evidence, and build ideas as a team.

What Will Class Look Like?

More Talking and Doing: Your child will spend less time listening to lectures. They will spend more time building models, reading texts, analyzing data, and writing explanations.

• Sharing Ideas: It is normal for students to have incomplete ideas at the start of a unit. Figuring things out takes time, and mistakes are a key part of learning.

How You Can Support at Home?

• Supply your child with Materials Needed: a 3 ring binder and 3 hole punched college ruled paper.
• Ask Open Questions: Ask your child, "What are you figuring out in science?" instead of "What did you learn today?"
• Talk About the World: Notice everyday phenomena together, like weather changes, how things move, or how plants grow. Ask them what they think is happening.
• Support the Process: Remind your child that science is about asking questions and testing ideas. It is okay if they do not have the final answer right away.

We look forward to an exciting year of curiosity and discovery. Please reach out if you have any questions about our science class.

Fall Holidays and No School Days:

• Friday, September 4: No School
• Monday, September 7: No School, Holiday
• Monday, October 12th: No School, Holiday
• Tuesday, November 3rd: No School Students-Staff Professional Development Day
• Tuesday, November 11th: No School, Holiday
• Wednesday, November 25-November 29: Thanksgiving Break

Conferences:

• Monday, November 23rd: early release half day students; afternoon parent conferences at OMS and evening parent conferences at OMS (registration will be online via myconferencetime.com, information to be shared regarding registration week of November 9th)
• Tuesday, November 24th: early release half day students; (registration will be online via myconferencetime.com ; information to be shared regarding registration week of November 9th)
• Thursday, March 18th; evening parent conferences. (registration will be online via myconferencetime.com the week of March 1st)

School Student Events:

• OMS Chorus Sings at Worcester Railers Home Opener and Oxford Town Takeover Night on October 17th
• Halloween Dance: Friday, October 23, 2026 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• OMS Dinner Theater: Thursday, November 5th @ 6:00 p.m.
• OMS Winter Concert: December 10th 6 p.m.at OMS Auditorium

School Breakfast and Lunch Menus are posted monthly and can be found here: https://www.oxps.org/menus

Fall 2025 Athletic Try-Outs/Team Registration

Registration is now open on Arbiter Registration (formerly FamilyID) for fall sports. You may find a link to register for a sport below.

We offer the following sports during the fall season:

We offer the following sports at OMS. Note--OHS sports will have practices to start the school yar while OMS Sports begin Tuesday, September 2nd. More info to follow from coaches.

• Boys Soccer (grades 6-8); Coach Mr. Chris Perron
• Girls Soccer (grades 6-8); Coach Ms. Bonnie Lou Piat
• Cross Country (grades 6-8); Coach Mr. Bradley Mayotte

Additional OHS Sports, that grade 7 and 8 students may be invited to join, if waiver is granted by state. See notes next to each sport regarding grade and waiver status.

• Football (JV &Varsity) (Grade 8 may invited)
• Volleyball (JV & Varsity) (Update: No Waiver for grade 8 at this time, unfortunately)
• Boys Soccer (Varsity only)
• Girls Soccer (Varsity only)
• Field Hockey (Varsity only) (Grade 7 and 8 may be invited, awaiting waiver from MIAA)
• Golf (Grade 7 and 8 may be invited, awaiting waiver from MIAA)
• Fall Cheer
• Cross Country (Grade 8 may be invited, awaiting waiver from MIAA)

The link to Register: Fall Athletic Registration

Questions, email Athletic Director, Kevin May kmay@oxps.org

• After School: Students must be in a scheduled, supervised activity after school. Students are only permitted to stay after school if they are on a OXPS sport or have been invited by staff to stay for help session, detention, or a club or activity AND have a signed permission slip to do so.
• Late Buses: Beginning August 31, we will have late buses for the school year, which will run at approximately 3:15-3:30.

Are you interested in reading some great books? How about discussing and sharing your favorite books with other students? If so the Book Club may be for you.

Book Club Meets will hold an informational meeting after school on September 10, 2026 after school until 3:00 p.m. in the library with Ms. Kennen.

Book Club Fall Dates:

October - 5 (Location to be determined because of Staff meeting)

26 - Library

November - 9 - Library

30 - Library

December - 14 - Library

21 - Library

Do you love drama??? No, not that kind of drama...... do you love theater, stage, set design? We've got a spot waiting for you.....

Drama Club welcomes all students of all levels and experience. The club will help those to work on dramatic skills and overcome stage fright. In addition they explore theater, acting, set design and stage crew, costuming and make-up, etc. This fall the Drama Club will produce a dinner theater murder mystery and in the spring, we will have our annual musical.

Any student grades 6, 7 or 8 that are interested in joining the drama club this year should attend an informational meeting next Tuesday, September 8 in the auditorium. Students will need a signed permission slip in order to stay after. Permission slips are available in the main office and with Ms. Nasis.

Any questions, please reach out to Ms. Nasis cnasis@oxps.org

Need help, time, and resources with homework, research, projects, and studying? The Homework Center will run on Tuesdays-Wednesdays-Thursdays after school 2:00-3:00, Beginning September 8, 2026. Students wishing to stay will need a blue Homework Center form signed by a teacher with a specific assignment/project to work on and the parent/guardian signature. NHS and/or NJHS tutors available weekly at Homework Center. See or email Ms. Kennen for permission slips and with questions. mailto:akennen@oxps.org .

NJHS will hold its first meeting on September 2, 2026. NJSH students must have signed permission slips to attend. Permission slips are available in the main office and in Ms. Wagner's room.

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is a group of grade 7-8 students who have been selected to join NJHS as they excel the 5 NHHS pillars--scholarship, leadership, character, and citizenship. Students nominated and selected for the honor of NJHS have earned academic excellence (85% or better in all subject matters) during their time at OMS and display outstanding character and citizenship with conduct grades of A through D. Annually in the spring, those meeting minimum NJHS qualifications are invited to apply.

Student council is a group that learns about school leadership, celebrates school spirit, cares about our OMS Community, and encourages student voice. Student Council will hold its first meeting after school on September 9, 2026 with Mrs. Blood. Any student interested in participating in student council should attend this meeting. Students attending must have signed permission slips to attend. Permission slips are available in the main office and in Ms. Blood's room.

FOMS is Friends of Oxford Middle School and they are our PTO. Please consider joining FOMS and/or supporting their fundraising efforts, as they support OMS. FOMS helps to support end of year class trips, Spree Day, guest speakers, and appreciation days for students and staff. Please see more information below about FOMS Fundraisers and FOMS meetings. See the flyer attached below to learn more about FOMS.

Any questions? Reach out to FOMS by email: oxfordfoms@gmail.com

FUNDRAISERS:

• Oxford Spirit Wear Store is Open! Please visit the store to get all of your Oxford Pride Gear. A percentage of each order goes to FOMS- MA, Oxford Middle Pirates - School Spirit Shirts & Apparel
• FOMS will be holding a Pie/Cookie Dough Fundraiser this fall with delivery before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Stay tuned, more info to come!

GET INVOLVED WITH FOMS:

• You can join FOMS by attending meetings. Upcoming meeting dates are as follows:

1. 9/9 at OMS @ 5:30
2. 10/14 at OMS @ 5:30
3. 11/12 - moved to Thursday due to Veterans Day; at OMS @ 5:30
4. 12/9 at OMS @ 5:30

• You may also support FOMS by volunteering to work in the OMS School Store, Pirates Cove. Pirates Cove volunteer sign ups - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FACAC2AA4FB6-65220110-pirates

Greetings from the OMS school nurse! I hope you all had a great summer!

Just a few reminders to families that have students who need to have medication administered here at school. This includes inhalers and epipens.

Medications in Schools

• Prescription medications require an updated physician's written order and must be in the original container.
• All medications also require a consent form from parent or guardian. The form can be found on the OMS website under the Nurse page.
• All medications should be transported to and from school by a parent or guardian (we cannot accept medication from a student). This includes inhalers and epipens.
• If you are dropping off an inhaler, I will need the Asthma Action Plan provided by your student's health care provider.
• If you are dropping off an epipen, I will need the Allergy Action Plan provided by your student's health care provider.

Ms. Cronauer will be available before and after school this week to receive any medication your student may need throughout the school year. (This does not include Tylenol/ibuprofen which the school has on hand. You will be receiving a form about that on the first day of school).

As always if you have any questions please feel free to reach out anytime at: acronauer@oxps.org

I look forward to a happy and healthy school year!

OMS Chorus is scheduled to sing America the Beautiful at the home opener of the Worcester Railers on Saturday, October 17th, which happens to be Oxford Town Takeover Night. Secure your discounted tickets as a member of the Oxford community via the following link: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Oxfordtown2

See the attachment below.

Below you will find the OXPS School Calendar for the 2026-2027 School Year as well as information about school hours for each school within the OXPS district.

• Link to School District Calendar: https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/10103/2026-2027_school_calendar_-_final_approved_3.pdf
• Link to School Day Times: https://www.oxps.org/school-times

The first day of school for OMS students is Wednesday, August 26th.

OMS Doors will open daily at 7:05 a.m. with our school day starting at 7:15 a.m. promptly. Our school day will close each day at 1:45.

"Order a limited time Oxford blanket! These are great to bring to outdoor sporting and spirit events. All sales will support the OHS yearbook. See the attached PDF with the link to place your order. The online story will close on 9/18."

• Are you getting text messages of our automated calls/texts/emails? If you are not currently receiving text prompts about school and district news, please send a message to the number 22300 and type ALERT in the message in order to receive texts in the future.
• Our District Calendar can be found via the following links:
• District School Day Calendar: https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/10103/2025-2026finalcalendar.pdf
• District Events: https://www.oxps.org/school-calendars
• School Hours Link: https://www.oxps.org/school-times
• At OMS, doors will open to students (buses and drop-off) at 7:05 a.m. and OMS classes will begin at 7:15 a.m. This is a change from 24-25 school year, as we will now be opening doors and beginning and ending our day at OMS 5 minutes earlier than last year.
• At OMS afternoon dismissal will begin at 1:45 p.m.
• School Transportation Information: https://www.oxps.org/transportation