Dear OHS Families,
It is hard to believe we have reached our final four days of school – Please note, both the last two days of school (6/12 and 6/13) are early release days at 1:40pm. This will likely be the last principal update in the Flash for the year from me, and there is a great deal to share.
Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony Tuesday
This is an important time of year to acknowledge people moving on from our school. On Tuesday we will be celebrating our grade 5 students advancing to their middle school careers during our Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony in the morning. The community knows this fifth grade is ready for their next chapter and wish them the best in their next steps. They will be missed!
Thank You to Families Moving On
At the Moving Up Ceremony we will recognize the families that are moving up and out of OHS with their youngest child in fifth grade. I want to thank everyone in that group as well as any other families who are moving away over the summer and will not be at OHS come fall. Thank you for all you have done for our community and I hope you take happy moments from OHS with you.
Staff Retirements
We also have some special staff members retiring this year. I want to thank them for their years of service to our community and we wish them the very best in what they choose to do after OHS. Both have given so much to our students and school over the years:
- Rebecca Wicke was a grade 2 teacher this year but has taught every grade at OHS between kindergarten and third grade. Mrs. Wicke has been at OHS for 22 years after teaching in Stamford and elsewhere in Fairfield. Mrs. Wicke is looking forward to new adventures and time with her grandkids.
- Sally Disilvestro, kindergarten paraeducator, has been a dedicated, caring support to our youngest students for years. Mrs. D jumps in to help wherever it is needed around the school and is quick with a smile or act of kindness. Mrs. D deserves an enjoyable and relaxing retirement.
Congratulations, Rebecca and Sally! We wish you the best on your next endeavors!
FLHS Senior Visit
On Monday afternoon, we are going to have a special visit of former OHS students who are graduating from high school this year. The seniors will come by for a short parade around the school and be cheered by current students and staff and many of their former teachers. We started this newer tradition three years ago and it has been a treat each year.
OHS Alumni Chorus
Along these lines, Laura Haskitt, with help from OHS Alum Aidan Guernsey, organized a special evening on Wednesday when former OHS students now in middle school and high school came after school to put together a concert for families of music from their time at OHS and a new piece or two. It was a beautiful concert and touching to see so many past students and families returning to sing with Laura. It was hopefully the start of a new tradition. Thank you, Laura!
Thank You, PTA Volunteers and PTA Presidents
The collaboration between our PTA and the school has an enormous impact on our community. Thank you to all who have given of their time and talents this year to help our PTA bring out the most for our students, families, and staff. I am continually impressed by all that the PTA does for our community. It is a gift to our school culture and to the growth and development of our students. Thank you!
I again want to thank Rachel Parrish for all her dedication and diligence as PTA president this year. Rachel’s care for our community and willingness to advocate for our school has been a huge gift to all of us. It has been a treat to work closely with her this past year.
I am happy Melissa Miller will be PTA president this coming year to help with the transition of the new principal. The PTA is in good hands.
I want to thank Jen Braun, who has organized the Flash this past year. It is a big job that must happen every week and Jen takes great care in making sure my messages are accurate and look great, even when I get them in last minute. Thank you, Jen!
CT Invention Convention
We had four students in the Connecticut Invention Convention at UCONN on Saturday, 6/8: Joaquin Aponte with Swaps–Book Exchange System, Liam Redgate with Liam’s Lice Lock, Nuala O’Connor with Bin Buddie, and Lilly Hoey with Bump Flush. Looking forward to hearing how it all went!
3rd Trimester Progress Reports Available Thursday Afternoon
Progress reports will be available in IC after our early dismissal on the last day of school (6/13).
24-25 Class Section Update and Placement Release
It is looking like we will have three sections of kindergarten in the 24-25 school year. We need six more kindergarteners to enroll in order to keep four classrooms at that grade level. For the rest of the school, we will have four sections of classrooms in grades 1, 2, and 3 and three sections in grades 4 and 5.
With the opening in grade 2 due to Mrs. Wicke’s retirement and if we do in fact need to move down to three sections in kindergarten, Mrs. Courtney Jamison has kindly agreed to move to second grade next year. Mrs. Jamison has a close connection to grade 2, since her mom retired from many decades as a grade 2 teacher. Mrs. Jamison will be a great addition to the second-grade team.
We are currently awaiting word on our fourth grade 3 teacher. We are expecting to welcome a teacher from another school in the district but we are awaiting final word. Final word will likely come over the summer.
Family Literacy Showcase – 7/10 and 8/14
The district is offering some online information sessions through HMH during the summer. There are a few options for sessions on 7/10 and 8/14. This will be information related to the resources used with the new ELA curriculum starting next school year. Please see the attached flyer for more information including how to sign up.
Beginning of Year 24-25 Save the Date
Please note in your calendar, the kindergarten visit, new family visit, and a chance for all students to visit their new classroom and teacher will take place on Monday, August 26th, the day before school starts. Times for those visits will go out in the summer update.
Thank you again for the kind send off in the form of celebrations, letters, gifts, and kind words. I am going to miss this community more than I can express. You can count on me thinking about all of you a great deal and knowing that because of our wonderful community of students, staff, and families, OHS will continue to be the special school I have known it to be these past decades.
Happy Summer and best wishes to you all,
David
