Originally delivered on 2/10/2025 6:00 am

SUBJECT: OHS Weekly Flash | Congratulations to our Reflections art competition participants

Weekly Flash

February 10, 2025

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

  • Updates from Principal Smyth 
  • PTA meeting recap
  • Congratulations to our Reflections art competition winners!
  • Save your recyclable cans and bottles for our 5th grade service project
  • Get your tickets for OHS parents night at R1DE, OHS night at the Bridgeport Islanders and the Sweetheart Dance
  • Sign up to volunteer or donate desserts for the Sweetheart Dance
  • Thank you for your donations to the Souper Bowl food drive
  • Updates on potential bus policy changes
Coming Soon
  • February 11 - Board of Education meeting, 7pm
  • February 14-17 - NO SCHOOL
  • February 19 - OHS Parents Night at R1DE spin studio, 6:30pm (tickets)
Looking Ahead
  • February 22 - OHS Night at the Bridgeport Islanders, 5pm (tickets)
  • March 1 - Sweetheart Dance (tickets)
  • March 4 - Early Dismissal, 1:40pm
  • SAVE THE DATE: April 3 - Parent Social at Boca Grille at H. Smith Richardson, 7-9pm
Click here for a printer-friendly list of 2025's key dates!

**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 you all had a wonderful weekend!


Last week was a bit interrupted with the delayed opening on Monday and the snow day on Thursday, but we had a full week nonetheless. We enjoyed a great assembly to kick off our community read of The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. It was very special to have a personalized video message from the author to the students at Osborn Hill, and the kids loved the book bingo facilitated by the Fairfield Public Library! Thank you parents for the wonderful support to help those in need through the Souper Bowl Can Collection! The students were excited to bring in cans on Friday and support their pick for the Super Bowl. The students overwhelmingly choose the Philadelphia Eagles as their pick to win the game. We also had a terrific PTA meeting on Friday, in which the Fairfield Police Department presented to our parents about digital awareness.

We have a 4-day week this week, with Friday off as part of our winter break. Here are a couple of important notices/reminders for this week:

  • Please continue to keep up with reading The One and Only Ivan. Here is a link to the padlet which includes the reading calendar.

  • Please make sure you update your SDM daily with any dismissal changes, especially with all of the ASA’s happening right now.


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


Sean F. Smyth, Principal

PTA Meeting recap

Thanks to all who attended our February PTA meeting. Here's a quick recap:

  • You can find a printable calendar of our key dates through the end of the school year here
  • We are looking for someone to help with our PTA presence on social media. Interested? Email info@ohspta.com
  • Our treasurers remind our committee chairs to please submit any reimbursement receipts
  • Our special guests - current OHS School Resource Officer Felicia Clark; former OHS SRO and Otter parent, Officer Jon Chlebowski, and Head of School Safety Sgt. Michael Stahl - gave parents a presentation on digital awareness
Congratulations Reflections artists!

Congratulations to the winners of the Osborn Hill competition of the National PTA Reflections art contest! The Award of Excellence winners will advance to the state competition, with a chance to go on to Nationals. We're so proud of all who participated! A special thanks to our judges Laura Haskitt (teacher), Hannah Grabinski (teacher), and Elena Cabrera (parent), and to Tanya Dunne for coordinating this year's event.

Music

  1. Award of Excellence- The Sound of Dissonance, Ari Melnikov, grade 5 
  2. Award of Merit- Mistakes are a part of Life, Everett Dvornek, grade 4 
  3. Honorable Mention- It’s OK, Hannah Boxer, grade 3 


Art

  1. Award of Excellence, It's OK to Fall, Hannah Boxer, grade 3 
  2. Award of Merit, The Imperfect Snowman, Mia Melnikov, grade 3 
  3. Honorable Mention, The One Eared Puppy Dogs, Madalina Gibson, grade 3 


Literature

  1. Award of Excellence- Read, Juliette Dunne, grade 4 
  2. Award of Merit- It’s OK! Juliana Aponte, grade 3 
  3. Honorable Mention- Our Imperfect World, William Salvatore, grade 5  


Photography

Award of Excellence- Fall, Raigan Sylvester, grade 3


Choreography

Award of Excellence- Roller Coaster of Imperfection, Adaline "Addy" Miller, grade K


Film Production

Award of Excellence- Peak Imperfection, Nick Miller, grade 4 

Save your cans and bottles for our 5th grade service project

Hang onto your deposit cans and bottles! Our 5th graders will be redeeming the recyclables to raise funds for their service project.  The proceeds will be used to purchase materials to create fleece blankets for children in need. We'll have a bin set up soon to collect!


Questions? Contact Rachel Parrish

We have three opportunities coming up in the next few weeks to gather with your OHS friends. We'd love to have you join us - but don't forget to get your tickets!

February 19 - OHS Parents Night at R1DE Spin Studio

R1DE spin studio in the Sportsplex is offering a class for OHS parents Wednesday, February 19 at 6:30pm. With a $15 donation to the OHS PTA, you can get your ride for free - plus a special offer of 3 classes for $49. Visit our website to submit your donation and register. Thanks to our OHS alumni family at R1DE for this opportunity!


Questions? Contact Diane Fields and Christine Rollo

February 22 - OHS night at the Islanders hockey game

OHS Night at the Bridgeport Islanders hockey game is Saturday, February 22 at 5pm. Click here to purchase your tickets. 5th grade families - make sure you get your tickets so your children can perform with the OHS Chorus during the first intermission!

We have a section reserved for OHS. All family members are welcome, and each child must attend with a ticketed adult responsible for them. Tickets come with a free hat!  A small portion of each ticket sale will go to the OHS PTA. 


Questions? Contact Kate Fierman

March 1 - OHS Sweetheart Dance

Get your tickets here for the Osborn Hill Sweetheart Dance! Tickets are on sale through February 24.


The Sweetheart Dance is Saturday, March 1. Every OHS student is invited to join the dance with one special adult (parent, caregiver, etc.). There will be a photobooth, craft area and games, hot chocolate bar and desserts, and of course, a DJ! In order to accommodate all students, the dance is divided into two sessions: 


4:30pm-6:15pm | Kindergarten - 2nd Grade students

7:15pm-9:00pm | 3rd - 5th Grade students


Learn more about ticketing options on our website!

Any questions? Reach out to the Sweetheart Dance Committee (Rebecca Hasiotis, Eva Elinskas, Livia Gillespie, and Marcia Lyman). 

Sweetheart Dance volunteers and dessert donations needed

Help us make the Sweetheart Dance a success! 

  • If you're not attending as a special adult, we can use your help! We are in need of volunteers for setup, to man the dessert tables and crafts, and more. Volunteers will receive an extra photobooth voucher to 'jump to the head of the line'. Click here to volunteer!
  • Calling all bakers, or baked good buyers! We are looking for cupcakes, cookies and other nut-free treats to fill our dessert table. Bonus points if they are star themed! Click here to sign up.
Thank you for your Souper Bowl donations!

Thank you to all who donated for our Souper Bowl Food Drive! The final tally was Eagles 340, Chiefs 166. The food was delivered to Bridgeport Rescue Mission. We are grateful to be part of such a generous community. A special thanks to Cindy Maggart and Elizabeth Johannesson for organizing, and their husbands for stepping in on collection day!

Update on potential bus policy changes

In last week's Flash, we talked about the Board of Education considering changing their policy to extend the elementary walker boundaries. The boundary for elementary students eligible for a bus would increase from .75 miles to 1 mile away from school, with increases from 1 mile to 1.5 miles for middle school. The Board of Education's Policy Committee discussed this at their meeting on February 4, starting at 1:13:00 in the recording. Listen here.

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

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