Our students had the pleasure of listening to the OMS Band and Chorus perform the Winter Concert during the school day on the day before break at Oakmont. What a beautiful show. Our band and chorus really know how to delight and captivate their audience! Bravo!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable holiday season with your families. As we begin a new year at Overlook, I’d like to share some key updates and highlights in this January newsletter.

Brain Break at OMS and Game Drive

We are very happy to announce that we are ahead of our intended schedule to introduce a Brain Break for our kids during the day. We have managed to gather 15 minutes of time to allow students to get some fresh air (weather permitting) with a decent movement break during each day. If the weather is rainy/snowy, we will have the brain break indoors where students can play a pick up game of cards, checkers, Connect Four, etc. This is a time where students will be off the computers and a healthy time to socialize and/or move.

We are looking for some help. We would like to outfit each classroom with a variety of quick indoor games for times when the weather is not cooperating, as well as some outside games for the spring.

We have put together an Amazon Wish List and would ask parents and friends of the community to donate from the Amazon list below, if possible. We would be very grateful!

If interested, we would love your support for our Overlook Brain Break Drive. Here is the list that will ship directly to the school:

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2FIN1UNAV2CAI

MCAS Dates are here!

Please take note of the following MCAS dates for your child. Grade 8 has tests in each discipline (ELA, math, science & technology engineering, and civics).

Overlook MCAS Testing Schedule 2025

English Language Arts

April 1 & 2 - Grades 7 & 8 (makeups April 3 & 4)

April 7 & 8 - Grade 6 (makeups April 10 & 11)

Math

April 29 & 30 - Grades 7 & 8 (make-ups May 1 & 2)

May 13 & 14 - Grade 6 (make-ups May 15 & 16)

STE (Grade 8 only)

May 19 & 20 - Grade 8 (make-ups May 21 & 22)

Civics (Grade 8 only)

June 3 & 4 (make-ups June 5 & 6)

Upcoming Events

Keep an eye out for details about upcoming school events, extracurricular activities, and community outreach programs. Your participation is vital to our students’ success, and we greatly value your support.

Grade 8 Events:

• Oakmont Tour: Students will tour Oakmont during the school day on January 9.
• Family Presentation: Grade 8 families are invited to attend a presentation about Oakmont’s Program of Studies and course selection process on January 9 at 6 PM in the Oakmont Auditorium. (This will be rescheduled in case of inclement weather; date TBD.)
• Course Selection: Scheduled for January 10.

Reminders & Announcements

• Attendance & Communication: Regular attendance and communication with teachers are essential for your child’s success. Please check PlusPortals frequently and don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers or schedule a meeting if needed.
• ParentSquare App: Stay updated by downloading the ParentSquare app, which sends notifications directly to your phone.

Safety First

Student safety remains our top priority. Please review school safety guidelines with your children and remind them to keep their hands to themselves, even when "playing around," to avoid unintentional harm. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our school office.

Parent-Teacher Collaboration

Open communication between parents and teachers is vital. If you have questions or concerns, schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher or reach out to your student's counselor. Working together, we can provide the best support for our students. Here’s to a successful and fulfilling start to 2025!

Warm regards,

Kristina Bogosh and Lori Shattuck

We need our students to be present and on time for testing. Please avoid doctor appointments and trips on these dates. If a student misses the testing window it does have negative effects on the school's state rating and standing.

English Language Arts

April 1 & 2 - Grades 7 & 8 (makeups April 3 & 4)

April 7 & 8 - Grade 6 (makeups April 10 & 11)

Math

April 29 & 30 - Grades 7 & 8 (make-ups May 1 & 2)

May 13 & 14 - Grade 6 (make-ups May 15 & 16)

STE (Grade 8 only)

May 19 & 20 - Grade 8 (make-ups May 21 & 22)

Civics (Grade 8 only)

June 3 & 4 (make-ups June 5 & 6)

New club added after the holiday break! Mr. Bradt will be starting a Dungeons and Dragons club again for this year! See link button above for details and direct any questions to Mr. Bradt at zbradt@awrsd.org.

Also, we will be continuing play club on Wednesdays despite the weather. It will be outside when possible but will be in the cafeteria and/or library for some indoor play. Please be sure to register your child we can take up to 75 registrations and we still have plenty of spots left as of this month!

Play Club is a program with a philosophy that free play with no adult planning or interfering allows students to make their own fun and solve their own problems while building resilience, social interaction, and creativity!!! This is important even for those in their adolescent years.

Play Club uses a loose parts approach for play. Loose parts are any materials that can be used in countless, open-ended ways. It can include hula hoops, balls, traffic cones, bales of hay, boxes, chalk, natural materials, craft materials, etc.

Play Club is a mixed-age group for any of our students in grades 6-8. Mixed-age play encourages cognitive development as children engage in activities that require problem-solving, negotiation, and shared-decision making. It also can allow for diverse perspectives by bringing various experiences to the environment and broadens a child's worldview.
It is different from a traditional recess. Here is a graphic below.
In a world where devices are a constant in our everyday lives, it is our belief that students require opportunities for free play. We want to provide an after-school opportunity for our students at Overlook. Included in this introduction is an attachment about the goals of Play Club and what the benefits are to free-play with minimal adult interference. Play Club operates on a paradigm of "You can handle it." Students will have to resolve their issues independently through a communication protocol called "Conflict Corner" which is also attached.

There are very simple ground rules for students:
1. Play respectfully: Do not deliberately hit or physically hurt another.
2. Get permission to leave the area/grounds.
3. Listen to the adults, who will intervene only when they must.

The Details
WHO: Any student in grades 6-8. (At this time maximum of 75 students can join play club.)
WHAT: Play Club
WHEN: Every Wednesday, except 1/2 days. From 2-3:30pm. Rain or Shine. Starting October 2nd.
WHERE: Outside on the OMS field (If raining or during winter months, students will play in the cafeteria, library, and/or gym, if available).
WHY: Kids need free play; it builds healthy relationships, problem-solving skills, creativity and innovation. Schools who have implemented free play report happier children and reduction in bullying.

If a student wants to join Play Club they and their parents will need to:
1. Complete this REGISTRATION FORM linked below (which also includes an acknowledgement of the Play Club Pledge - see attached). The Play Club has a limit of 75 students at this time. Students must be registered to participate. We understand if they cannot attend every date but would like a commitment to attend minimum of 75% of the dates.
2. Review the "Conflict Corner" expectations. Students will have to enter the "Conflict Corner" to resolve any spats or problems on their own.
3. Ensure timely pickup at the end of Play Club.

6 Blue students designed and created bases for astronauts to live on Mars.

Coming prepared to school doesn't just mean bring a pencil and notebook - it also means making sure chromebook is charged. Please ensure your child's nightly routine includes charging their chromebook for the next day of learning.

Students cannot enter the building before 7:10am as there is no supervision.

Breakfast begins at 7:20 (students can exit the bus at this time if eating breakfast only).

Classes begin at 7:35am.

Dismissal is at 1:50pm.

Please be sure to not park in the general parking areas to let students off or pick them up. Use the line that goes behind the school. This is a safety concern with students running through parking lots and parents disrupting traffic patterns.

Also, please pay attention to staff members directing traffic. Do not drive-by when they ask you to stop.

Passing busses with flashing lights is a $250 traffic citation.

Students should not be wearing pajamas or slippers to school. This is part of our dress code. We do on occasion have a spirit day where students are allowed to wear pajamas as a "treat" but appropriate, everyday school attire does not include pajamas or slippers. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for school. Thank you!

• If students come to school in slippers or pajamas we may ask that parents come and bring the appropriate attire to school for students to change.

SMART watches are considered a personal device. Teachers have found that they can serve as a considerable distraction to students during class. They are also banned by the state during MCAS testing. We ask that all SMART watches be left at home or in the lockers during the school day. Please and thank you.

Students are only allowed water for drinks in class. There have been some young business entrepreneurs at OMS that have been selling the popular "Prime" drinks (as well as other things such as candy). Students are not authorized nor allowed to sell anything at school. Moreover, these drinks are not allowed. Please ensure that your student is not bringing these drinks to school or buying or selling these drinks at school or on the bus.

We see the school and home as a partnership. We ask to review these expectations with your child in an effort to create unified expectations from both the school and home fronts. Please see the matrix attachment below to review with your child.

• If your student requires an epipen or inhaler at school or during after school activities, they must have written parent permission and doctor's orders on file with the health office whether the medication is in the health office or they are carrying it. If you are not sure about the status of your student's paperwork or have any questions, please contact me at ntaylor@awrsd.org.

• According to the Massachusetts school immunization requirements, it is recommended that students receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine at age 11-12. One dose is required in Grade 7-12. It is typically given at the physical before entering Grade 7.
• The meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) is also required with the first dose typically given in Grade 7 and the second dose given in Grade 11.
• Please submit documentation of these vaccines when your child receives them. This may be faxed by your physician's office to 978-827-4986, emailed to me or brought to school by your child (not recommended as frequently it is forgotten in the backpack).

• **In order to play sports, you must have an up-to-date physical in the last 13 months and must go to the Athletic website page and complete the online registration. Any questions please contact Athletic Director edawley@awrsd.org.

• Lastly, we want parents to know that if students call a parent/guardian to pick them up because they are not feeling well and a nurse has not officially dismissed them for medical reasons, this is an UNEXCUSED absence. We ask parents to discourage their child from trying to call home to be dismissed.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Handguns-in-the-Home.aspx

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/ten-things-parents-can-do-to-prevent-suicide.aspx

• NIH Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449671/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27247125/
  
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183915/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kGZvNbfrNag
• WEBSITE: https://www.humanetech.com/youth
• https://www.humanetech.com/take-control
• https://www.humanetech.com/future-generations
  
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdtQZAuVsflH0SuM9E6BMNyDkq9NPcjq/view
• NYT Article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zvHPmlIQios-a2llfLFyj6DbdMWB5h8S/view
• Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia
• PEW Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/
• VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rv0g8TsnA6c
• TIME Article: https://time.com/5555737/smartphone-mental-health-teens/
• INFOGRAPHIC: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/technology-addiction-concern-controversy-and-finding-balance-infographic

• Smithsonian & NMAAHC WEBSITE (Race): https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
• Anti-Defamation League WEBSITE: https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/talking-young-children-about-bias-and-prejudice
• Oakland Library Resources DOCUMENT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0lCA3FlulVhK6DFE2d3uYCipc6ApY8Gn2rMwm6fYqw/edit
• PJ Library WEBSITE (Antisemitism): https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/february-2022/how-to-talk-to-children-about-anti-semitism
  
• Nick Helps WEBSITE (Bullying Prevention): https://www.nick.com/nick-helps/bullying-prevention/

Thank you so much for supporting our PTO!

We have also collected several sponsorships from our Ashburnham/Westminster community. Thank to the parents who have helped send letters and asked community members for donations. Special thanks to Sherri Bean and Jenna Lavery who have attended every sponsorship meeting and personally asked local businesses for their help.

Thank you to those businesses who have helped our Eagles go to Washington! These businesses include:

Gold Sponsors-National Grid

Silver Sponsors-Ashburnham Dental Arts, GFA Gardner, Hampton Fish Company, Prospective Realty

Bronze Sponsors-Athol Saving Bank, Cushing Academy, Pelletier Properties, Rowe and Canary Orthodontics, Valley View Barbell

Want to become a PTO member? We are always accepting

Fill out the membership Google Form: 2024-2025 Membership Form

● Pay the $5 dues with cash or check to “OMS PTO” and bring it to the office. Or Venmo @overlookmspto and comment “2024 membership for (your name).”

Take a look at our website https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/overlookmspto/home or our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram OverlookMSPTO for all the latest information.

Please check the Portal regularly. Google Classroom is not an accurate indicator of grades. Please reach out to the teacher directly if you have any questions.