Originally delivered on 12/16/2024 6:00 am

SUBJECT: OHS Weekly Flash | Shop our spiritwear pop-up Wednesday

Weekly Flash

December 16, 2024

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

  • Updates from Principal Smyth 
  • Shop OHS Spiritwear at our pop-up shop Wednesday at dismissal
  • Read along with One Book, One School in February - books available!
  • PTA provided gifts to OHS staff 
  • Find teacher favorite things on our website
  • Submit art for the Variety Show program by January 6! Tickets still available.
  • Grades 3-5: book order forms for Chris Grabenstein due today
  • December thanks from the PTA
  • We'll see you next year!
2024
  • December 16  - Order forms for Chris Grabenstein books due
  • December 21 - January 1 - NO SCHOOL
2025
  • January 2 - Back to school!
  • January 6  - Deadline to submit Variety Show program artwork
  • January 9 - Grades 4&5 Orchestra and Grade 5 Chorus winter concerts
  • January 14 - Early Dismissal @1:40pm
  • January 16 - PTA Meeting @9pm on Zoom
  • January 20- NO SCHOOL
  • January 21 - Author Chris Grabenstein visits Gr 3-5
  • January 24 - Variety Show Dress Rehearsal
  • January 25 - Variety Show, 2pm

**Follow us on OHS Families Facebook & OHS_Families Instagram to stay in the know, and check out our OHS PTA website!**

Dear OHS Families,


I hope this message finds you well, and you are enjoying some holiday festivities, as well as coping successfully with the stresses that sometimes come at this time of year.


We had a great week at OHS! The teachers engaged in some wonderful professional learning to grow their craft, and we all enjoyed some holiday cheer. On Monday, our kindergarten play- based learning coach spent the afternoon with our kindergarten teachers, and they worked on plans to implement the next phase of play-based learning, which will be more elaborate play scenarios to foster student engagement and learning. We also had our HMH reading coach here on Friday: She and our reading department spent 45 minutes with every grade level, planning details for our upcoming module and resolving questions the teachers had about the program. Finally, on Friday morning Ms. Patti DiMeglio and the OHS band entertained us with beautiful holiday carols as we arrived to school.

I want to thank all of the parents who came out to the PTA meeting on Friday morning. We had a very fruitful meeting under the leadership of Melissa Miller, and we enjoyed some coffee and baked goods. The PTA support at OHS is a tremendous asset to our school!


A few important reminders for this week:

  • We will be finishing hearing screenings this week on all students.

  • Please make sure you update your SDM daily with any dismissal changes.

  • Friday is the last day of school before the holiday break, and it is a full day of school. The students will have holiday sing-alongs on Friday morning. 

  • Students will return to school on Thursday, January 2nd.


I hope you all have a terrific week ahead! Take care.


Sean F. Smyth, Principal

Shop our Spiritwear Pop-Up Wednesday at dismissal

Calling all shoppers! Do your otters have OHS gear on their holiday wish lists? Stop by our OHS Spiritwear Pop-Up Shop Wednesday from 3-4pm by the main entrance.  We'll have Ozzie stuffies, bows, keychains and more!

If you're looking for OHS apparel, you can purchase shirts, hoodies, pajama pants and more year-round through our Puddlebear shop. Click here to shop!


Questions? Contact the Spiritwear Committee

Read Along with One Book, One School

We are bringing One Book, One School to OHS!  One Book, One School is an opportunity to create a shared reading experience within our entire school community where we all read the same book at the same time. In February, we will read "The One and Only Ivan" together, spread out over the course of the month.  Participation only involves 15-30 minutes a night - reading along with a brief 10-15 page segment and working on any accompanying activities/questions that make sense for your child's age and interest level. We will pair this with in-school programming where possible.


Would you like to read with us?
The PTA has a limited number of books available to share. Would your family like to participate in this exciting One Book, One School event for the first time at OHS? Click here to let us know if you're interested, and if you need a book! We'll collect responses until January 7, but the earlier notice the better so we can plan to distribute the books.


Any questions? Contact Jen Ruwisch or Lauren Castaneda.

PTA funds at work - recognizing OHS staff at the holidays

On behalf of the entire OHS community, each holiday season we use PTA funds to give gifts to members of the OHS community who have been instrumental in supporting our PTA operations, supporting our OHS community at large, and who might not typically get a gift because they are not associated with a classroom. Thank you for your support of OHS PTA fundraising efforts throughout the year to make this happen!


This year, the PTA gave gifts to the following staff: Arlene Clawson, Cafeteria Manager; Theresa Budlowski, Main Office; Bill Augustine, Custodial Staff; Karen Buturla, Cafeteria Aide; Kerri Knight, Cafeteria Aide; Donna Callahan, Main Office; Jessica Gerber, Main Office; Qamil Kalici, Custodial Staff; and Kat Devanney, OHS Cook. 

Find teacher favorites on our website

Trying to guess which restaurant in town is your teacher's favorite? Do they prefer Starbucks or Dunkin'?  Candy or candles? 'Tis the season for tough questions... but you can find the answers to all of these and more on our OHS PTA website!  


We've done the leg work for you and surveyed OHS teachers and staff for their favorite things. You can find them by selecting "Staff Favorites" under the School Info tab, or by clicking here.


A reminder - a portion of the funds collected by room parents at the beginning of the year are budgeted for a class holiday gift for the homeroom teacher. Your room parents can provide more information on class gifts.

Variety Show art contest deadline January 6

Calling all artists! We are accepting artwork submissions to appear in the Variety Show program. It's a wonderful opportunity for children who are not involved in the show to participate. All of the submissions will be posted on the new PTA Bulletin Board right across from the APR (just by the bathrooms)! You have the winter break to work on your artwork - deadline for submissions is Monday, January 6. Art should be done on white paper in a black sharpie (regular or fine point, both work), and can be brought to the office.


Tickets still available

There are still tickets available for the Variety Show! Performers and non-performers can buy as many tickets as you need. Tickets are $18 each which includes credit card processing and transaction fees. They'll remain on sale until January 10, if we don't sell out first!

Purchase Tickets on our website

Volunteers needed for the program

We are looking for volunteers to assist with creating the Variety Show program. If you're interested in getting involved, please email us at ohsvarietyshow2025@gmail.com.  


Any other questions? Contact the Variety Show Committee.

Order your Chris Grabenstein books before author visit

The award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of over five dozen fast-paced and fun books for kids Chris Grabenstein is visiting Grades 3-5 on January 21st.  Book order forms and payment are due to the office TODAY - you can download a book order form here. We cannot accept any orders after today!


Any questions? Contact Kate Fierman

Next time you're in the building, check out our new PTA bulletin board! You can find it in the main hall before the library, between the bathrooms. This month the IDEA committee has decorated the board highlighting holiday traditions. Next month we'll feature student artwork submissions for the Variety Show program. Take a look!

December thanks from the PTA

Each month, the PTA spotlights leaders who have poured tremendous time into events and activities. Their leadership is really the heart and soul of our community. Here's a shout out for December:  


  • Thank you to the Variety Show Committee as they prep for an amazing show next month - Sarah Fridman, Marissa Jacobson, Kim Oliver, Anne Truman, Brittany Cianciulli

  • Thank you to our Website & Membership Chairs for navigating the challenges with our website provider this month - Amy Brennan, Kate Quas, and Ali Galperin

  • Thank you to Teacher Appreciation Committee and Teacher Lounge Manager for continuing to spread our thanks to the OHS staff throughout the year - Kim Dragovic, Tanya Dunne, Dana Zuskin, Maria McKeon, Danielle Brower 

  • Thank you our Flash Chair, Jen Braun, who consistently helps us get the Flash out every week, along with many Special Flashes this month

  • Thank you to our Programming Team, Kate Fierman and Jess DeFeo, who have some exciting programming planned for 2025

  • Thank you to our IDEA Committee who have helped us launch this new committee this year and the beautiful Holiday Lights bulletin board: Rachael Myers, Katie McHale, Melissa Miller

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

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