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OES Middle School

Family Orientation

August 25, 2025

Orientation Day work in the classrooms with students:

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• Community Commitments with Tech + Empowered Use Policy
• Tech Tools: Email, Toddle, and Calendar
• Learn about the weekly schedule
• Tour of the classrooms and meet teachers
• Find your locker
• Homework: Padlet name pronunciation, pronouns and

Empowered Use Review

What we’re doing this morning:

8:30-9:30: Review our Middle School approach to building community and empowering students through tech

9:30-10:15: Optional Q&A: What do you still need to know before the school year begins?

10:15-11: Tour of the Middle School to see classrooms and meet teachers

Community Commitments:

• Respect yourself, others, and the environment
• Build relationships
• Recognize the impact of your actions
• Respond constructively
• Take responsibility

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Building Community:

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• Gathering
• Attendance
• Birthdays
• Phones/Devices
• Inclusion
• Student support

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Gathering:

• Whole school grounding
• Part of something bigger
• Start the day with intention and connection
• Starts at 8:00am every day except Wed.--students should arrive by 7:50am
• Student-led
• Songs, important announcements, and birthdays

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Attendance:

• Cannot replicate presence

In the classroom

• Impact on collaboration
• Avoid extended absences for

vacations–significant catch up

• Students communicate with

teachers in advance

• Log in with Parent Portal

ASAP: safety is the priority

• Policies:
• Tardy: running late to class
• Absent: not attending class at all
• Early dismissal: leaving school early

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Attendance:

5 times tardy/absent in one semester:

• Automated email home letting you know
• Check Parent Portal (watch this video): Classes and Reports– Attendance
• Advisor conversation with student

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10 times in one semester:

• Email and advisor conversation with parent and child

to create support plan

Attendance:

• Check your child’s schedule for appointments
• Leave extra time for pick up–consider where they might be on campus
• Office doesn’t need to know after school changes. Call the office before 2pm and they will leave a note on your child’s locker.
• Come into the building: main office or wait at the curb

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MS Office number: (503) 768-3127

msoffice@oes.edu

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Marcy Morris, Lisa Casalino, and Ellen Pippenger, all work in the Middle School office to care for students, families, and faculty.

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Birthdays/Food:

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• Gathering song
• Optional: Treats for advisory
• Be aware of allergies: nut free (No Crumbl cookies–almond paste)
• Only on birthday or half-birthday date
• Only for advisory members
• Consumed during advisory
• Bring to office at start of day
• No gift exchanges/other personal celebrations at school (all holidays)
• Be mindful of sharing plans/photos online or in person

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Birthdays/Food:

• Consider impact of birthday swag from parties outside school
• No outside drinks (Starbucks, etc.)--water only in water bottles
• No using vending machines during school day or Extension
• Snacks for after school sports/activities only consumed then
• Snacks provided 2x/day and in Extension + lunch

Inclusion:

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• Help students think through how to be inclusive:
• Matching outfits?
• Social media posting/texting
• Conflict resolution
• Inviting people in (dining hall, walking to classes, recess, etc.)
• Conversations about others
• How you can help:
• Lead with questions/curiosity with child and school
• Ask for support directly

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Safety:

• Cannot be unsupervised on campus at any time
• Come directly to MS when dropped off in AM
• Directly to Extension if not picked up at car pick up/ athletics
• Door code at all buildings
• Stay home when sick
• Keep office in the loop if child calls home for pickup
• SPARC: buddy and cameras
• Need completed self-carry form for meds (OTC and prescribed)–includes trips
• Practice monthly emergency drills

Phones/Devices/Social Media at School:

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• “Away for the day”: No phones or personal internet connected devices/watches out during the school day
• No wearing headphones/earbuds unless for class
• Encouraging social connection/skills
• Only bring school iPad or laptop (no cases for laptops/iPads–take out to charge in public spot)
• Landline learning! Don’t text your child during the day
• Reach out to the office–call or email:

(503) 768-3127 or msoffice@oes.edu

• Partner with Middle School policies
• Consider the impact of what happens online in school
• Reach out for support: to school or family directly
• “Whoever your child is becomes magnified online” (Heitner)--monitor and mentor as needed

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Parenting Middle Schoolers and Technology:

• Model positive and healthy tech behavior
• Consequences are linked to relationships
• Discuss sexting: in All School handbook, reviewed with students in “Good to Know” and in H&W classes
• Go Guardian rolled out this fall–more to come
• Discuss where and when technology is used:
• Used and charged in public/family spaces when possible.
• Devices should not be in rooms overnight.
• Students should avoid using screens right before sleeping–want to promote healthy sleep
• Consider collecting devices when kids come

to your home --support each other

Technology in Middle School:

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• Tech support/innovation: Matthew Baylor

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• Primary tech tools: iPads/Macbook laptops
• Google Calendar and Email
• Toddle

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Matthew Baylor

Middle School Technology Coordinator / EdTech Program Coordinator

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Respect yourself and others

Only use your own account.

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Only take pictures of or record others, with permission.

When communicating online, use a tone and language, that you would use to talk to someone, face to face.

Why and how we use technology in the Middle School:

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• Creative and collaborative
• Vetted for safety by Tech Team with school oversight
• Learning and teaching focused
• Tools that encourage design thinking and iteration
• Integrated into all classes
• Understanding the how/why behind AI–policy in MS classes
• Technology classes grades 6/7 and Inquiry 8/Tech:
• Tech tools and experimentation
• Safety of digital footprint and digital citizenship
• Health and Wellness: digital diet, screentime, and relationships
• Build student responsibility, independence, and ownership

Gmail

• Every Middle School student will have an OES Gmail account: last name first initial@go.oes.edu (smithj@go.oes.edu).
• Students need to ask permission to send grade-wide or all school emails (i.e. lost and found).
• Students must consider Community Commitments in email communication.
• Students should contact teachers through email
• Teachers will do their best to respond to email within 24 hours or by Monday if over the weekend
• Teachers generally off email from 5pm-7:30am with exceptions

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Google Calendar

• Schedules for the day and week for all classes including:
• Class times and locations
• Homework posting
• Assessment/project due dates

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Tour of Toddle on iPads

(sixth grade)

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Tour of Toddle on laptops

(seventh and eighth grade)

Kathleen Hicks MS Counselor

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Steve Brennan Academic Support Coordinator

Student/Family Support in the Middle School

Mel Robinson

Chaplain Mel: MS/LS Chaplain and Community Engagement Coordinator

Casey Grabenstein

All School Health Coordinator

Laura Todis MS Assistant Head of Community: Restorative Practice; Health and Wellness: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Student/Family Support in the Middle School

Tara Verenna

MS Assistant Head of Curriculum and Instruction: Teacher growth and evaluation and Inquiry 8

Encourage student problem-solving

What to ask if your student feels stuck?

• Did you check the instructions on Toddle? Can you read them to me?
• Who is someone in your class who you could reach out to?
• Did you email your teacher your question?
• If your student is having technology issues:
• Did you restart?
• Did you close and reopen troublesome application/site?
• Email teacher(s) and use the Incident IQ app/link.

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Who to Go to for What?

• Tech trouble:
• Class specific: student reaches out to teacher first
• Device or app/program problem: Incident IQ app/link
• Social-emotional support: Kathleen Hicks, MS Counselor
• Academic support: Steve Brennan, Academic Support Coordinator
• Question about a class assignment or resource: Class Teacher
• Attendance/absence question/need to get info to my child/main office: msoffice@oes.edu
• My child’s overall experience: Advisor
• I have other questions, concerns, or inspiration:
• Laura Todis, Assistant Head of Middle School of Community
• Tara Verenna, Assistant Head of Middle School of Curriculum and Instruction (trips and curriculum)
• Ann Sulzer, Head of Middle School

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Veracross Information

• Reporting absences/checking attendance
• Calendar/schedule question
• Take this tour!

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What’s Next?

• Student Homework to complete:
• Padlet name pronunciation and invitation to share pronouns
• Tech Empowered Use Review with you

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• Read family email that went home on Friday, August 8th to get dates on calendar
• PLEASE complete all forms through Magnus and school

policy forms as soon as possible!

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First Day of School: August 27

Students only bring paper, pen/pencil, school device and power cord, and water bottle

• Students can start arriving at 7:30am--not a late start Wed.(late start Wed. begins September 3)

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• 8:00 am: All MS Gathering

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• 8:30 am: All School Belltower Gathering (families welcome and coffee following)

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• Students will attend all classes for shortened blocks to meet teachers (except Tech, Health & Wellness, and Religion)

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• Academic School day ends at 3:15pm–students can:
• Go home by carpool (use car signs please!) or bus
• Stay for Extension until 5:30pm

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What’s Next?

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• Wednesday, August 27th: First Day of School: 8:00am start!
• Tuesday, September 2:
• 8:30-9am: Sixth Grade Fall Trip Meeting for parents/guardians: Zoom meeting
• 7-8pm: 8th Grade Relationship Retreat meeting for parents/guardians: Middle School Commons–no recording, slides will be shared
• Wednesday, September 3:
• First late start Wednesday–classes start at 8:45am–in the building by 8:35
• 9:00-10:00am: Seventh grade Fall Trip meeting for parents/guardians: Zoom meeting
• Thursday, September 11th 6:30-8:45 pm: Back to School Night: only adults
• Overnight Student Trips:
• 7th grade: Tuesday-Friday, September 16-19
• 6th/8th grades: Wednesday-Friday, September 17-19
• Friday Aardvark Newsletter emailed on alternate weeks from MS Messenger

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Athletics Info

*More info in August 4th email from Angela Thomas*

Thursday, August 28th : Practice begins for these teams

• Boys Soccer - will meet on the OES Turf 3:30pm-4:50pm
• Future practices are Mondays through Thursdays on the OES grass or the Montclair grass field adjacent to OES from 3:30pm-4:50pm
• Girls Soccer - will meet on the OES Turf 3:30pm-4:50pm
• Future practices are Mondays through Thursdays on the OES grass or on the Montclair grass field adjacent to OES from 3:30pm- 4:50pm
• 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - will meet at the OES Athletic Center Van Hatcher Court 3:30pm-4:50pm
• Future practices will be Monday through Thursday at SPARC from 3:30pm-4:50pm
• 7th/8th Grade Girls Volleyball - will meet at the OES Athletic Center Morissette Court 3:30pm-4:50pm
• Future practices will be Monday through Thursday at the OES Athletic Center for OES Blue & OES West, and OES Green & will practice at SPARC from 3:30pm-4:50pm

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Athletics Info

*More info in August 4th email from Angela Thomas*

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Tuesday, September 2 (*updated from Zoom and in person presentation*)

• Coed Cross Country - will meet at the OES Track 3:30pm-4:50pm–
• Future practices Mondays, Tuesdays,and Thursdays at SPARC from 3:30pm-5:00pm

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Wednesday, September 3

Practice begins for Coed Fencing - will meet at SPARC from 3:30pm-5:00pm

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Tuesday, September 9th (double checked and this date is correct)

Practice begins for Coed Tennis - will meet at SPARC on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 3:30pm-4:50pm

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• Subscribe to the Athletics Calendars in the Parent Portal (once teams are made for boys soccer and 7/8th volleyball)

Parent Partnership Connections:

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MS Parent Partnership Reps:

• 6th grade Parent Rep: Mackenzie Douglas: parent of Beckham (6th) and Boden (7th) Douglas
• 7th grade Parent Rep: Kate Williams: parent of Emerson Paine (7th)
• 8th grade Parent Rep: Desiree Bliss : parent of Sabine (8th) and Harper (10th) Bliss

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All School Parent Partnership Chair: Tracy Bryant: parent of Andy and Lizzie (10th) and Lizzie (4th) Bryant

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Parent opportunities: monthly Parent Rep emails, Parent Partnership meetings, Parent/Guardian Affinity Groups, and Parent Socials

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Reach out with any questions!

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Questions?

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