OPMS

The OPMS PTO meeting will take place this evening at 7:00 PM via Google Meet. The meeting link is provided here. We hope you are able to join us.

Marking Period 3 will end on April 15 and Marking Period 4 will begin on April 16. At that time, some students will begin following new schedules for their satellite classes. Please remind students to check their schedules and reach out with any questions or concerns as we transition into the new marking period.

Last week, we celebrated Assistant Principal Appreciation Week—a time to recognize and thank the amazing assistant principals who help make Orchard Park Middle School such a supportive and successful place for students and staff. Please join us in showing appreciation for Mrs. Panepinto and Mrs. Pawlowski. Their hard work, dedication, and care for our school community make a lasting impact each and every day. Whether it’s supporting students, partnering with families, or leading with heart, they play an essential role in all we do at OPMS. Thank you, Mrs. Panepinto and Mrs. Pawlowski, for all that you do!

On Saturday, April 4, we celebrated School Librarian Appreciation Day to recognize the outstanding work of our incredible library team: Mrs. Godios, Mr. Kloster, and Mrs. Wardner. At OPMS, our library is a vibrant hub of learning, exploration, and connection—and that’s thanks to the dedication and passion of this amazing team. Whether it’s helping students find the perfect book, supporting research and digital literacy, or creating a warm and welcoming space for all, their impact is felt throughout our school. Please join us in thanking Mrs. Godios, Mr. Kloster, and Mrs. Wardner for the many ways they support and inspire our students and staff each day!

Here are the updated NYS Assessment Dates for this spring:

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

• NYS ELA Assessment

Thursday, April 16, 2026

• NYS ELA Assessment

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Thursday, April 30, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

• NYS Science Assessment

🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Orchard Park Middle School PTO's GLOW Dance Party fundraising event. We are having our first ever GLOW Dance Party for the student body. Come and meet your friends for a night of music, dancing and fun. Stations will be set up to purchase glow party gear, body paint, glow in the dark hair chalk, wands , tattoos, sunglasses and more.

Tickets are $5 and include entry, a glow item, a piece of pizza and a drink. Additional snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the cafeteria for $1/$2. Glow items such as bracelets, necklaces, crowns, slapbands, tattoos, glow body paint, hair chalk and more will be available for purchase in the small gym for $1/$2/$3 at separate stations

Get ready to DANCE!! Our favorite DJ Gabriel will be spinning in the gym, lighting up the night with great music and a glowing blacklight atmosphere. Plan on wearing white to light up the gym, come buy some glow in the dark gear and have fun with your friends!! The PTO would not be able to have these events without the participation and generosity of our families. This event is all about raising funds to support upcoming events for the remainder of the year and the 2026-27 school year.

We would like to thank our sponsors VENTURA’S CAR STAR and LUNAR REI for helping make this happen!!

• Tickets can be purchased by clicking on the link below. At this time, tickets will not be for sale at the door.
• The PTO is also looking for several volunteers to help with the evening. You can access the sign-up genius to sign-up below.
• Only OPMS students will be allowed entry into the dance.

More information about logistics will be shared after spring break!

Do you enjoy building, designing, creating, and solving problems? 8th Grade Advanced Technology is a great opportunity for students who want to take their technology and engineering skills to the next level. This course goes beyond the traditional 8th grade technology class by diving deeper into concepts, offering greater challenges, and encouraging students to think creatively and work more independently. Through hands-on projects, design challenges, and problem-solving activities, students will strengthen their skills while exploring real-world technology and engineering concepts. Students may also have the opportunity to compete in regional events like SUNY Niagara (NCCC) Tech Wars, representing the school against other local schools in exciting technology and engineering competitions. Please complete your application video by April 24, 2026.

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.

Click the image below to buy your 25-26 OPMS yearbook today! The sale ends this week!

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

Monday, April 13, 2026

• OPMS PTO Meeting @ 7:00 PM via https://meet.google.com/qpm-wyhh-ene

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

• NYS ELA Assessment
• Last Day of Marking Period 3

Thursday, April 16, 2026

• NYS ELA Assessment
• First Day of Marking Period 4

Friday, April 17, 2026

• PTO Glow Dance from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

• SEPTSA Meeting

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Thursday, April 30, 2026

• NYS Math Assessment

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

• NYS Science Assessment

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.