Weekly Flash

October 2, 2023

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

Updates from Principal Hudspeth
- School Dismissal Manager replaces paper notes; ParentSquare launch
Harvest Faire is Saturday
- Wristband and raffle tickets online sale ends Tuesday
- Cakes needed for the Cake Walk game
- Volunteers needed to staff attractions
- New this year - Sensory Friendly bounce time
Pink Pledge Day is Friday
Book Fair is next week
Redistricting update
Picture retakes are Nov. 1
Thanks from the Diversity Committee

October 6 - Pink Pledge Day
October 7 - Harvest Faire 10am-3pm
October 10-13 Fall Book Fair
October 19 - PTA Meeting @7pm
October 20 - Pajama Day fundraiser

October 25 & 26 - Early Dismissal @1:40
October 27 - Spirit Day
October 31 - Halloween parades
November 1 - Picture retakes

Dear OHS Families,

Today is a big day! We have two new applications going into full implementation officially today: School Dismissal Manager and ParentSquare.

School Dismissal Manager (SDM)

This system is the more pressing of the two for families to log into officially and set up the default dismissal plans. Starting today, 10/2, any changes to dismissal plans (called “exceptions” in SDM) on particular days, will need to be made in SDM by 2:30 pm on the day of the dismissal. At 2:35 all dismissal plans are shared with the appropriate staff. Here is the SDM welcome letter you should have received on 9/20/23 with your login information. If you did not receive the information directly from SDM, please check your junk/spam folders. If you do not find it there, please reach out and we will check your info in the system.

ParentSquare

Though today is the first official day of ParentSquare implementation, it has been in full gear at our school for several weeks now. Teachers and Room Parents are set up in the system and using it to communicate and all of my messages that would normally go in an IC Blast are being posted in ParentSquare. If you are having trouble logging into the system, please reach out for help.

Diversity Week Thank You

This past week, we celebrated the differences that make us unique with lessons throughout the week, stations for grades 3 & 5, and a special presenter for grades 4&5. I want to say a special thank you to Alexis Macilvain, Priya Mohan, Taisa Skubiak, Joanne Fredericks, and Christine Rollo for all the planning that went into making the week possible. They were thoughtful in the designs of the lessons, the station planning, and in getting together so many volunteers. We had lots of volunteers to help with the stations and it was great to see how people shared of their skills and interests in the stations. Ryan Martin from the Ryan Martin Foundation and Matthew had an engaging presentation for fourth grade and an opportunity for our fifth graders to use the basketball wheelchairs in a mini-field day- type relay races. Thank you to all who volunteered and organized to make this week so special.

Have a great start to October!

David

Harvest Faire is Saturday!

Our fall tradition is back - the Osborn Hill Harvest Faire! Join us at OHS this Saturday, October 7 from 10am-3pm for games, inflatables, crafts, face painting, a bake sale, our Harvest Faire Raffle, and more.

**Please note that we can only accept CASH or CHECK at the Faire!**

Buy your wristbands online by Tuesday

To take part in any of the games, crafts, inflatables, etc. your kids will need tickets or a wristband. You can purchase wristbands and tickets on the OHS PTA website for a discount, or in-person Saturday. Online sales end on Tuesday!

Raffle tickets available online until Tuesday

A Nintendo Switch! Airpods! Giants tickets! We have some amazing prizes - big and small - in our Harvest Faire raffle. Check out the list on our website and buy online until Tuesday, or in person at the Harvest Faire. You do not have to be present to win!

Donate a cake!

Let them win cake! We will once again feature our popular Cake Walk game (sort of like stand-up musical chairs - and the prize is a CAKE!) which means we need cake! Home-made or store bought, we'll take them all. You can drop off your cakes at OHS Friday afternoon or Saturday by 10am.

Volunteers Needed

We need your help to make this event a success! Sign up here to man a station or help set up and clean up. You can split a shift with a friend, or if you have an OHS alum we'd love their help!

Sensory Friendly Bounce Time

New this year- we're introducing an option for children with special needs to enjoy time in the inflatables without a crowd or feeling rushed. This option will take place at the end of the Harvest Faire from 3:00-3:30. Wristbands cost $5 and can be purchased onsite. Parents are asked to supervise their children for this special jump time.

Questions? Contact Rebecca Hasiotis and Meredith Anastasio

This Friday - Dress Up and Donate for Pink Day

Ok, so what's the Pink Pledge? It's a community-wide awareness and fundraising campaign throughout October. You’ll see the Pink Ribbon popping up all over town!

What's this fundraising for?

All proceeds go directly to the Norma Pfriem Breast Center (NPBC) which supports patients and their families who cannot afford services that range from medical to spiritual and everything in between. There's even an Angel Fund that will help patients who aren't able to pay their rent or child care, etc. due to having to take a leave from work. Each year, NPBC helps ~1,500 families!

How can you participate?

First, donate online here or send a cash donation this Friday, October 6 to participate
If you've made a donation, send your kiddos to school in their craziest, pinked out outfits on Friday to show your support!

Questions? Contact Jen Kelley.

Our fall book fair is next week! Students will preview the fair with their classes on Monday, October 9 and the sale will run from Tuesday October 10 - Friday October 13.

Kids can shop independently with eWallet

Can' make the fair? Create an eWallet account so your student can visit the fair and shop for books. Have an account from last year? Remember to log on and activate the eWallet option for any leftover funds!

Teacher wish lists

Look for your favorite teachers' bin by the registers to purchase books they would love to add to their classroom library! Purchase at the fair and present the book in person.

We need your help!

Questions? Email Rhiannon Kelty, Ashley Maguire & Christine Rollo

Redistricting Update

The Board of Education has had 2 meetings since we last updated you on the redistricting charge (you can watch those here). It seems clear that the Board does not want to move forward with a redistricting plan for the 2024-2025 school year, due to the overcrowding concerns and bussing issues present in the submitted plans. The Board of Ed plans to discuss next steps at the October meetings and decide how to move forward, and how to let the State know of their findings. As it stands now, redistricting most likely will not be happening for the 2024-25 school year.

Our next OHS PTA meeting will take place Thursday, October 19 at 7:00pm. Board of Ed member Jessica Gerber will be at the meeting to take questions and give updates. Please consider coming to this meeting!

School Picture Day - TAKE TWO

Did your child miss Picture Day or are you not completely satisfied with your child’s student portrait? No worries, your child can do a retake on Wednesday, November 1st!

You'll need to return the undamaged portrait package to the photographer on Retake Day. Retake packages will be distributed at the school approximately 3-5 weeks following Retake Day.

Please note that class photos will be distributed to every student at a future date. We are awaiting their arrival. Class photos DO NOT need to be returned to the photographer, should you opt for a retake.

Questions? Email Coffee Pond or our School Secretary Theresa Budlowski.

Thanks from the Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who made last week’s Diversity celebration a success: Mr. Hudspeth for his support, our OHS Teachers for executing the week’s lessons, Ms. Budlowski and the custodial staff for their facilitation, our OHS Librarians for the book cart, RMF for their insightful presentations, Caitlin Carmenati for the assistive technology, our very own Melissa Salvatore for her incredible ASL talents, and our exceptional volunteers who donated their time and absolutely rocked the stations event!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Have news to share? Email Jen Braun by 10am Friday
to include in the following Monday's OHS Weekly Flash.

SUBJECT: OHS Weekly Flash | Harvest Faire this Saturday!