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Old Announcements
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Visit Our School - Aug 11Parents/guardians and students are invited to a tour of Ottoson on Wednesday morning, August 11 at 9:30 a.m. Ms. Bouris and Mr. Gonsalves will lead tours and answer questions. The tours will last approximately one hour. Last Day of School Outing - June 21On this wonderful day, the last day of school, all of the students (all grades) will be going to Canobie Lake Park We are going to celebrate this day together as a school community. Permission forms were handed out to students in homerooms. For more
information, please click on the more button. Recognition Night - June 18Parents and guardians of 8th grade students are invited to the Eighth
Grade Recognition Ceremony. After the ceremony, students are invited
to a dance. Please click on the more button to read the
letter from the principals explaining the event. Support the Recognition NightThank you to all the families who have generously contributed to the Eighth Grade Recognition Committee fund. 45% of the eighth grade families have contributed to the drive. The Committee is still accepting donations of any amount from those who may have forgotten or not had an opportunity to contribute. Please bring your donation to Ottoson Middle School in an envelope marked "Eighth Grade Recognition Donation." Checks should be made payable to OPAC. Contributions may be given to any teacher or administrator on Friday evening and they will surely see it arrives to the appropriate area. The Wood Gym will become quite hot and humid with a large crowd of people. Please plan accordingly. Students are asked to hand their certificates to an adult and walk to the Cafeteria for the 8th grade dance. Once family members have departed, students will be served pizza, drinks and dessert. Thank you to all those who have generously donated their time and energy to planning this evening for the Ottoson Community. Approximately 25 parents have helped with collecting beverages (& seeking donations), organized certificates, stuffed envelopes, copied programs, managed funding, decorated, shopped and driven balloons and containers of ice around town. As always, it has been a pleasure working with the Ottoson Administration and support staff in organizing this special evening. Thank you. 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony Needs Your HelpThe 8th Grade Recognition Night is an important event for our 8th graders graduating from our school. It consists of a ceremony followed by a dance. It is organized and run entirely by parent/guardian volunteers that comprise the OPAC Recognition Committee. This is a fun event that is as much fun parent/parent volunteers as it is for students. The Recognition Committee is asking for donations and volunteers, including a specific request for donations of 6 packs and 12 packs of soda, juice, or water.
If you would like to help, please contact Jayne Thompson at
781-648-0533 or email her at LThomp@aol.com.
For more information please click on the more button.
8th Grade Talent Show AuditionsAttention all 8th Graders: We have decided to have a talent show to be held on Friday afternoon June 18th. See Mrs. Holton in Rm. 314 at her convenience to sign up your group for the talent show. All performers MUST audition (with all members present) in order to be considered for a performance in the talent show. The audition date will be announced soon. Return All BooksAll books must now be returned to the library. Only books being used for special end-of the school assignments may remain out past this date. 8th Grade Graduation Rehearsal - June 168th grade graduation rehearsal will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16. Language-Based Class Field Trip - June 10Language-Based class is going on a field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cluster 610 Field Trip - June 9Cluster 610 is going on a field trip to Blue Hills Observatory on June 9. All Books Are Due June 4All books must be returned to the library by Friday, June 4th. Only books being used for special end-of the school assignments may remain out past this date. Ottoson Spring Concert - June 1Ottoson Band, Orchestra and Chorus will perform their end-of-the-year concert on June 1 at 7 p.m. in the Wood Gym. Cluster 640 Field trip - May 26Cluster 640 is going on a field trip to Blue Hills on May 26. Cluster 650 Field Trip - May 20Cluster 650 is going on a field trip to Blue Hills on May 20. MCAS Schedule6th Grade MCAS Schedule: 7th Grade MCAS Schedule: 8th Grade MCAS Schedule: We will begin the test right after homeroom. Students will be reminded to make every effort to be at school on time and to bring a reading book with them in the event they are done with their test early and have a few moments to spare. All students are invited to have a "free breakfast" on the day they are testing. Breakfast will be available from 7-7:55 a.m. each day of MCAS. We are in need of parents or guardians who can help serve "MCAS breakfast" - handing out cereal bars/juice/muffins, etc. If you are interested in volunteering some time (even 5 minutes) between 7 and 7:55 a.m. Monday - Thursday of next week, please contact Stavroula Bouris. 8th Grade Recognition Committee Meeting - May 13The 8th Grade Recognition Night is an important event for our 8th graders graduating from our school. It consists of a ceremony followed by a dance. It is organized and run entirely by parent/guardian volunteers. This is a fun event that is as much fun for parent/guardian volunteers as it is for students. If you are a parent/guardian who would like to participate in organizing this event, please contact Jayne Thompson at 781-648-0533 or email her at LThomp@aol.com. The kick-off meeting will be held on May 13 at the home of Lee and Jayne Thompson, 163 Crosby Street - up the hill from Bishop School. Call 781-648-0533 for directions or questions. The organizing effort is divided into the following sub-committees: Book Fair - May 10 to 14A Scholastic Book Fair is coming to the Ottoson Middle School Library/Media Center, for all students grade 6-8, May 10-14. Mrs. Ruddock is working with the company to stock good quality books for summer reading assignments and enrichment reading. The Whole Class Reads are: The Great Brain By John D. Fitzgerald for incoming 6th graders; A Long Way From Chicago and/or A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck incoming 7th graders; and Tangerine by Richard Bloor for incoming 8th graders. Students can buy books at the fair. The books can be paid for with cash or check (made out to Ottoson Middle School Library). Students can also select books and put them on-hold for next day pick-up if their eyes are bigger than their pocketbooks. Volunteers are needed to help run the sale and be cashiers. Please Call Mrs. Ruddock or Ms. McNamara at 781 316 3745 ext 1677 to sign up for a.m. or p.m. shift. Ottoson Parent Advisory Council (OPAC) Meeting - May 11The next OPAC meeting is on Tuesday, May 11, in the evening, between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. If you are a parent or guardian interested in getting more involved in Ottoson community, then the ideal way to start is to attend an OPAC meeting. OPAC meetings are open to all parents and guardians, and are held in Teachers' Conference Room next to the main office. School Council Meeting - May 11The next meeting of Ottoson School Council is on Tuesday, May 11, between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. The meeting are open to public and are held in Teachers' Conference Room next to the main office. Open House for Parents of 5th and 6th Graders - Apr 29Parents and guardians of current 5th and 6th grade students are
invited to Parent/Guardian Orientation on Apr 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. We
strongly encourage all parents and guardians of 5th and 6th graders to attend
this important event. For more information, please click
click the more button.
No School - Apr 9No school on Friday, Apr 9 - Good Friday. Visits by 5th Grade Students - Apr 5 to 8All fifth grade students and their teachers will visit Ottoson in the week of April 5. During their visits, the students will hear brief explanations about what to expect next year, will tour the building, and will participate in question-and-answer sessions. Arlington Pantry Food Drive - Mar 15 to Apr 8The OPAC Community Service Committee is sponsoring a community service effort to collect items for the Arlington Food Pantry.
Who Are We Helping? More than 300 Arlington residents in need are served by the pantry each
month, mostly elderly and very young families. The food will be gathered on Thursdays, so any student who would like to help with counting and loading the car, please come to the lobby after school on Thursdays. Yearbook Orders - until Mar 26Yearbooks can be ordered now and until March 26 in homerooms. The cost is $12. It can be paid by a check made out to the Ottoson Middle School, or in cash with an exact change. Ordering the Yearbook now is the only way of guaranteeing that you will receive one in June. Exploration Evening - Mar 25Ottoson School will have an open-house for non-core subjects, such as music, drama, art, technology, and physical education. Please come and observe our students bake cookies, create a Power Point lesson, search the Internet, videotape a skit, demonstrate Project Gadget, and a lot more. The event is scheduled for Mar 25, between 7 and 9 p.m. Visitors will be given programs and maps at the entrance doors, and will be able to visit the classrooms and meet the teachers. Please be aware that every student must be accompanied by an adult. 5th grade students and their parents or guardians are extended special invitation to take this unusual opportunity to see and explore the non-core subject available to them next year. All-Town Band Concert - Mar 23An All-Town Band Concert will be held on March 23 in Ottoson Wood Gym at 7 p.m. Please come early (these events are usually crowded), and please come through the front entrance. You don't need a ticket, but if you would like to support the performing arts at Ottoson, you may purchase a few goodies being offered by Ompapa (Ottoson Middle School Performing Arts Parents Association) before and after the concert. All items are $1, but larger donations are welcome. All-Town Orchestral Concert - Mar 18An All-Town Orchestral Concert will be held on March 18 in Ottoson Wood Gym at 7 p.m. Please come early (these events are usually crowded), and please come through the front entrance. You don't need a ticket, but if you would like to support the performing arts at Ottoson, you may purchase a few goodies being offered by Ompapa (Ottoson Middle School Performing Arts Parents Association) before and after the concert. All items are $1, but larger donations are welcome. High School Program Selection for 8th Graders - Mar 8 to 12Program selection for high school courses will take place between Mar 8 and Mar 12. Guidance counselors will meet with the students and advice them on their selections. They will help the students fill out the required forms. Each form has two copies; the pink copy must be signed by a parent or a guardian and returned to the homeroom teacher; the yellow copy is to be retained for reference. The forms will be forwarded to the high school on Mar 12. Please click on the more button to review
the most recent Program of Studies.
Parents or Guardians who wish to request a change in their child's program after this time must write to the department head of the course in question. Fiddler on the Roof - Mar 4, 5This year's student play is Fiddler on the Roof. It will be performed on Thursday, March 4 and Friday, March 5. High School Questions and Answers - Mar 2The principal of Arlington High School, Mr. Woodcock, and several
members of the high school administration and faculty will be at
Ottoson on Tuesday, March 2, to discuss with the parents and guardians of the 8th
grade students the scheduling and the course selection for the next year.
In an informal questions-and-answers session, they will answer concerns
that parents and guardians may raise, including concerns about the choice
of the appropriate high school academic levels. The
meeting will be held at Ottoson cafeteria, starting at 6 p.m. (Parents and
guardians of 7th graders are also welcome.) For more information, please review the letter from the high school
principal by clicking the more button. High School Tour for 8th Grade Students - Feb 278th grade students will be taken on a tour of the high school on Friday, Feb 27. Instead of coming to the Ottoson, the 8th grade students are to go directly to Lowe Auditorium in the high school where they will meet their homeroom teachers, and hear an introduction by the high school principal. The students will be brought back to the Ottoson on school buses around 11 a.m. The students will have two options, either a 60 minute tour of the building
with an in-depth look at classrooms, labs, guidance, cafe, shops, etc. (option
#1), or sit in and observe a selected class, followed by a 15 minute tour of key
areas (option #2). The students who are interested in option #2 need to
fill out a form and return it to the homeroom teacher by Wednesday, February
25. For more information, please review the letter from the high school
principal by clicking the more button. High School Orientation - Feb 25Arlington High School will host an orientation
program for parents and guardians of 8th grade students. This two-hour
program will be held in Lowe Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 25,
starting at 6 p.m. It will include a brief overview of the
high school programs and procedures, and an
explanation of the grade 9 course selection process. In
addition, Minuteman Regional Technical High School will also provide
a twenty-minute overview of their offerings. (Parents
and guardians of 7th graders are also welcome.) For more information, please review the letter from the high school
principal by clicking the more button. Chorus Needs BoysChorus is looking for boys to join for the second half of the school year. Interested students should sign up with their guidance counselors. No School Due To Bad Weather - Jan 16Due to the extreme cold there will be no school on Friday, January 16th. Everyone enjoy the long weekend. Winter Concert - Dec 16The Ottoson Middle School Winter concert will be held on Dec 16 at 7:00 p.m. The concert will feature the school Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. Please come and enjoy an evening of music, and take this opportunity to cheer our young musicians. Parent-Teacher Conferences Rescheduled to Dec 15Due to school cancellation on Monday, December 8, Parent-Teacher conferences that were scheduled for that day have been rescheduled to Monday, December 15. If you are a parent or guardian originally scheduled for December 8, you will have the same meeting time on December 15. If you cannot attend a conference on December 15, there are still a few spots available for December 10. Please call the school if you need to make any changes. Students will be served lunch and dismissed after lunch. Parent-Teacher Conferences - Nov 20, Dec 2, 4, 8, and 10This is a reminder for parents and guardians who had scheduled
conferences with teachers. Please come 10 minutes early to give yourself
time to find your first appointment. If you are new to Ottoson, or if you
forgot how the conferences are conducted, please click on the more button. If you have not received conference time notification, please call the main office. If you have not scheduled conferences, there is still a small number of openings available. Please note that teachers' work-to-rule action does not affect the conferences; these conferences were covered by prior contracts. Early Dismissals on Dec 2, 8, and 10Students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. on Dec 2, Dec 8, and Dec 10. On those days teachers will participate in parent-teacher conferences. Please note that students will be served lunch prior to the dismissals. Arlington Schools Closed on Monday, Dec 8Superintendent Kathleen Donovan has announced that the Arlington Public Schools will be closed Monday, Dec 8, for snow removal. Coat Drive - Nov 10-26Join us in helping others to stay warm this winter by donating any outgrown or extra winter coats that you may have around the house! Clean out those closets and send your coats to school for the annual Coats for Kids Drive. Donated coats can be dropped into the big box in the school lobby. American Education Week - Nov 17-21American Education Week is a nationwide observance of a partnership between schools and communities. It is the time "to remind ourselves that teaching and learning are a home and classroom team effort." In Arlington, we encourage parents or guardians to sit in with their children during regular classes. If you are a parent or guardian who would like to do this, please check your child's schedule, and notify the main office or the guidance counselor of when you will be coming. The guidance counselor will escort you to your child's classroom. Student Pictures Retake - Nov 18Students who missed the picture taking in September or who would like a retake of the pictures they got, will have another opportunity on Nov 18 at 8:00 a.m. Anyone who is interested should come to the main office a day or two before the Nov 18 date and pick up the required order form. Those requesting a retake must also bring with them the old picture package containing the unwanted pictures. No School - Nov 11No school on Tuesday, Nov 11 - Veterans Day. Parent-Teacher Conferences Request FormsMost parents or guardians should have received by now the Parent-Teacher Conferences Request Form. These forms were sent by 1st class US mail to parents or guardians of most students. (Forms for some special-ed students were sent in the backpacks.) Please fill out your form as soon as possible and give it to your child to return to his or her homeroom teachers. The conferences are scheduled by parent volunteers on the first-come-first-served basis. Parent-Teacher Conferences provide a valuable opportunity to meet
one-on-one with your child's teachers and discuss the concerns that you or
the teachers may have. If you are new to Ottoson, or if you forgot how the
conferences are conducted, please click on the more button. Get School Notices Via E-MailIf you would like to receive school notices by
e-mail, please fill out the e-mail distribution sign up from.
To access the form, please click on the more button. Cluster 610 Field Trips - Oct 15 through Oct 20Student from cluster 610 will go in small groups to Habitat. These field trips will occur between Oct. 15 and Oct. 20. Cluster 620 Field Trip - Oct 20Cluster 620 is going on an all-day field trip to Mt. Manadnock on Monday, Oct 20. Cluster 650 Field Trip - Oct 23Cluster 650 will go on an all-day field trip to the Museum of Science on Thursday, Oct 23. Welcome Back Dance - Oct 24For Ottoson students who wish to boogie, there will be a Welcome Back dance on Friday, October 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and must be purchased in advance in the cafeteria during lunch. Only Ottoson students can attend. The dance is sponsored by OSAC. Cluster 630 Field Trip - Oct 24Cluster 630 will go on a field trip to the Battleship Cove on Friday, Oct 24. Cluster 810 Field Trip - Oct 24Cluster 810 will go on a field trip to Salem on Friday, Oct 24. No School on Oct 27Teachers have their Professional Day on Monday, Oct 27, so there will be no school that day. Noteworthy AM/PM ActivitiesThe AM/PM program provides worthwhile activities before and after school to all students. Two noteworthy activities, among many, are Homework Help and Writing Club. Homework Help meets Monday through Thursday at 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. in Media Center. The supervising teacher, Mr. Chris Carlson, will try to help any student who requests help. The Writing Club meets Mondays and Wednesday after school in the computer lab. This club offers students a chance to work on their stories in an informal setting. No School on Oct 13No school on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct 13 Student Directory Form due Sep 30Don't forget to fill out and return the student directory form by September 30 if you would like to have your child included in the school directory. The directory will be distributed to all students later in the year. Meet Your Child's Teachers - Sep 25Thursday, September 25, 2002, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 Ottoson will have an open house for parents and guardians. This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child's teachers. You will follow your child's typical school day, but each period will last only 12 minutes. Teachers will introduce themselves and will outline the material they plan to teach, as well as their expectations and grading policies. Each student will bring home an individualized schedule for his or her parents or guardians to follow during the open house. Please bring this schedule with you and start your visit by reporting to the first classroom on that schedule. Extra copies of schedules will be provided by guidance if you forget yours. Student Pictures - Sep 23, 24This Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23 and 24, a professional photographer will
be taking pictures of all students. The students must bring with them the filled
out order forms and the payments. For more information, click on the more button. Letter From The Principal - Sep 15Ottoson Principal, Stavroula Bouris, sent a letter to all
parents regarding impact of budget cuts and scheduling difficulties.
Please click on the more button for the full text of the letter. First Day of School - Sep 4School starts at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 4. Cluster PlacementCluster placement will be mailed to every student shortly before the start of
school. Summer ReadingTo all students: Have a wonderful summer, but please do not forget to read a few books. To access the recommended reading list and the reading requirements, please select one of the links below. Summer reading list and requirements for 6th grade Summer reading list and requirements for 7th and 8th grade Summer reading list and requirements for 9th grade Visit Our School - Aug 14Parents/guardians and students are invited to a tour of Ottoson on August 14 at 9:30 a.m. The tour will last approximately one hour. | ||||||||
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Last Day of School Outing - Jun 21The Ottoson Middle School is planning the end-of-the-year trip to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH, an Moneay, June 21, 2004. The cost of the park entry fee and the round trip transportation is $27. The entry fee includes unlimited rides, but not the extras such as the arcades or the shops. Any student in need of financial assistance should see his or her homeroom teacher. Each student was given the Arlington Public School Field Trip Release Form, and an accompanying envelope. Please have a parent or a guardian sign the form and put it in the envelope along with the payment. Please write the following on the front of the envelope:
The checks should be made payable to Ottoson Middle School. All release forms and payments must be returned no later than Tuesday, June 8, 2004 (no exceptions). On the day of the trip, students must be in their homerooms no later than 8:15 a.m., with departure scheduled for 8:30 a.m. We are planning to return to Ottoson at approximately 3:30 p.m. Students should either bring bag lunches or money to buy food at the park. Please note that glass containers are not allowed, so use only plastic or paper. Students who wish to play arcades or other games, or buy photos or souvenirs will need extra spending money for these activities. The recommended amount for food and extras is $10 to $15. Please do not forget to take with you any medications you require, EpiPens, or inhalers, but please leave jewelry, Walkmans, and other valuables at home. Please note that any student failing to follow park or school rules during the trip will be returned to Ottoson early by a faculty chaperone. Also, please note that although all students were given the release forms, some students may be excluded from the trip based on chronic attendance or discipline problems. Recognition Night - June 18Letter to parents and guardians of 8th grade students regarding the Eighth Grade Recognition Night and the dance that follows the ceremony. Dear Parents/Guardians of 8th Grade Students: We invite you and your eighth grade student to attend the Ottoson Recognition Evening, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on June 18, 2004 in the Wood Gym/Auditorium at the Ottoson Middle School. During the awards ceremony, many students will, without advance notice, receive special awards for outstanding performance and/or achievement. Also, all students will receive a Certificate of Recognition for their contributions and accomplishments during their years at Ottoson. Parents/guardians may enter the gym beginning at 6:00 p.m. Our capacity will accommodate three family members per student. Please enter from the lower parking lot and be seated in the upper gym. Any individuals who cannot climb the stairs may enter through the main entrance of the school. The auditorium is handicapped accessible. Eighth grade students will be expected to be in their homerooms no later than 6:00 p.m. Our program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Due to our tight schedule, we will ask you to hold your applause until all of the students being recognized in each category have had their names read and are standing. The dance in the cafeteria will begin immediately after the awards ceremony. Every 8th grade student will be expected to be present for the entire dance. No one is required or expected to have a "date". It will be an INFORMAL dance where appropriate attire is expected and "formal clothes" are not recommended. Limousines are not appropriate and they will not be allowed on school property. The dance will end at 10:00 p.m., no one is allowed to leave before that time and arrangements must be made in advance to pick students up promptly at the entrance of the school. If you have any questions, please call the co-chairs of the eighth grade recognition committee, Lee and Jayne Thompson 781-648-0533, Lthomp@aol.com. We hope you will join us in this celebration of your child's completion of the eighth grade. Sincerely, 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony Needs Your HelpDear Grade Eight Families, We need donations to cover costs of decorations, refreshments, pizzas, snacks, and music. We are also seeking more volunteers to help in several areas listed below. Families are asked to donate 6 packs and 12 packs of various
types of soda, lemonade, juice, and water. Caffeine-free
drinks are best - Sprite, Gingerale, 7-Up Orange soda, diet
sodas. Please drop off soda at your earliest convenience to
one of the following homes: Immediately following the ceremony (approximately 7:45 pm) all eighth grade students are invited to the cafeteria to the Recognition Evening Dance. We recommend that the students give their certificates to a family member before going to the cafeteria. The Dance will be chaperoned by members of the faculty and administration (no parents of guardians). We will have a DJ, pizza, and refreshments. Parents or guardians must pick up their students after the dance at 10 p.m. The subcommittees that organize this even are listed below. Beverage coordinator - Jan Tobin, 781-646-4923 Decorating - Chairperson needed, as well as several volunteers
for each area - 2:30pm until 4:30pm on June 18th (please bring
scissors and tape). The decorating subcommittee consists of
the following two groups. Balloon Pick up - Chairpersone Karen McDonald, 781-643-6114. Grade 7 Parent Volunteers - Chairperson: Emily Ranken,
781-316-1572, emranken@aol.com. Clean up - Chairperson needed. Certificates - We have a chairperson and enough volunteers in this committee to complete the preparation and verification of certificates. Donation form: Student Name _________________________________________ Cluster _________________________________________
Enclosed is a contribution to the Eighth Grade Recognition Evening
in the amount of ___________________________________________________________________ Thank you so much for your generous support. Open House for Parents of 5th and 6th Graders - Apr 29Parents and guardians of current 5th and 6th grade students are invited to Parent/Guardian Open House on Apr 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. Open House for parents and guardians of 5th grade students will begin at the Ottoson's Wood Gym with a welcome and general remarks by the principal, Stavroula Bouris, and with brief presentations by a guidance counselor and several representative of faculty and parental organizations. The topics will cover the Ottoson cluster system, the subjects being offerred, the extracurricular activities, and other issues related to the transition to the middle school. After the presentations in the Wood Gym, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to participate in small group presentations, in which small groups of parents can visit cluster rooms, meet with some of the current sixth grade teachers, and further discuss the curriculum and the overall sixth grade experience. Orientation for parents and guardians of 6th grade students will begin at Ottoson's cafeteria with general remarks by assistant principals, John Gonsalves and Edward Halpin, and brief presentations by representatives of faculty and parental organizations. The topics will cover, among others, the transition to only three clusters, the two math programs being offered (Impact Math and Connected Math), and the prerequisites for high school placement. After the presentations in the Cafteria, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to participate in small group presentations, in which small groups of parents can visit cluster rooms, meet with some of the current seventh grade teachers, and further discuss the curriculum, high school placement, and other issues that relate to the second year of transition into the middle school. We strongly encourage all parents and guardians of 5th and 6th graders to attend this event. It will convey a lot of very important information. We look forward to seeing you on the 29th. Also, please note that this is not an event for students. Letter From AHS Principal - 8th Grade OrientationTo: Parents of Grade 7 and 8 Ottoson Students From: Stephen L. Woodcock, Principal, AHS Re: Orientation, Scheduling and Student Tours As we enter year two of the new student course selection process, we would like to invite and encourage you to attend the Arlington High School New Student Orientation Program on February 25th at 6PM in Lowe Auditorium. This two-hour presentation will include an overview of course level requirements, academic expectations and a preview of the grade 9 courses by the department chairs. In addition, Minuteman Regional Technical High School will also provide a twenty-minute overview of their offerings. Parents of grade seven students are also encouraged to attend this presentation in order that you may begin to understand the course selections, levels and expectations as you and your child prepare for his/her secondary experience. A second and less detailed presentation will be held on March 2nd at 6PM at the Ottoson for those parents who were unable to attend the orientation program on the 25th. Principal Bouris and members of her counseling staff will review what the middle school is doing to prepare students for their transition to the high school. This year we have redesigned the eighth grade student tours to include a voluntary opportunity for students to sit in a grade 9 or 10 course, thereby better acquainting themselves with the high school classroom experience. If your child would like to sit through a full class as part of his/her tour, we would like you to complete the other side of this form and return it to his/her homeroom teacher no later than Wednesday, February 25th. The staff at AHS will make every attempt to meet your child's request for a classroom visit; however, depending upon the number of requests, that may be impossible. If a larger than expected number of students signs up for the classroom experience, additional tour dates may need to be added to meet the demand. Eighth grade tours of Arlington High School are scheduled for Friday, February 27th. Students should report directly to Lowe Auditorium at Arlington High School. Students will return to the Ottoson at about 11:00 a.m. Request Form Please complete this form and return it to your child's homeroom teacher no later than Wednesday, February 25th. Requests made after this date cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability. My child would like to sit through an actual Arlington High School class. I understand that the specific course may have to be changed depending upon the room capacity. Student's Name............ Homeroom Teacher........ Please select a first and second choice by placing a 1 or 2 and please indicate the desired level. For example: In the example above, the student's first request is French 1 at the beginning level, and if that is unavailable, then the student would like to schedule English at the Advanced Level as his second choice. Levels For English, History, Science: Levels for Foreign Language: Selection Priority and Level English............ Parent-Teacher Conferences - Nov 20, Dec 2, 4, 8, and 10Parent-Teacher Conferences provide a valuable opportunity to meet one-on-one with your child's teachers and discuss the concerns that you or the teachers may have. The conferences are held at various times on November 20 and December 2, 4, 8, and 10. Your specific time is scheduled according to the submitted request form. The conferences are scheduled by parent volunteers; the school office is not handling the scheduling. Letters with the dates and times of conferences are mailed to all parents and guardians ahead of the conferences. These letters contain a voice mail number (781-316-3745) specially set up for questions or concerns regarding the conferences. On the day of the conferences, please come at least ten minutes ahead of your scheduled time, and proceed to your child's homeroom. If you loose your way, there will be student guides throughout the building to help you. Outside your child's homeroom, you will either find a list that will tell you where is your first conference, or the student guides will have this information. Please consult the list or the student guides for each subsequent conference. You will meet one-on-one with each of your child's cluster teachers, but each meeting lasts only five minutes for grades 7 and 8, and seven minutes for grade 6. Although this is a very short time, a lot of information can be conveyed if no time is wasted. So please be prepared to talk about things that may concern you, and listen carefully to what the teacher has to say. Also please keep in mind that these short conferences represent a grueling schedule for the teachers. The student guides are the timekeepers, enforcing the 5 or 7 minute limits, and thus preventing the stacking up of delays. To make things run smoothly, both teachers and parents must be mindful of these time limits. If a meeting with a world language teacher is also scheduled in the same block of conferences, then this meeting is either before or after the other cluster conferences. PicturesThis Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23 and 24, a professional photographer will be taking pictures of all students. Home room teachers will instruct the students on which of the two days will be their turn. Please dress appropriately. Each student was given an order form for prints. Please fill out the form and attach a check for the correct amount. Both are needed on the day of the pictures. The checks are payable to Errico Studio. There are four package combinations to choose from, plus several add-on's and special backgrounds.
Name and address of photographer: Errico Studio Photographers, 259 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144, telephone 617-776-4611. Letter From The Principal - Sep 15Dear members of the Ottoson community: We are together again to start another great year. As we begin our second full week of school I wanted to address some of the concerns teachers, students and parents have expressed regarding scheduling. On the first day of school many students received schedules with blanks. These blanks have become directed studies which are the result of the budget cuts. The budget cuts impacted the following programs and departments: ACE and ACE writing, health, reading, special education programs, drama and FACS (family and consumer science). With the reduction in staff and the loss of programs directed studies have replaced courses once offered to students. ACE and ACE writing are no longer offered. Health, as a separate year-long course for seventh and eighth graders, has been eliminated. The physical education teachers will incorporate six units of the health curriculum into their physical education classes. This class elimination results in a directed study. Last year drama met twice a week for seventh graders. This course could not be offered to seventh grade students this year. These two directed studies are half-year courses. FACS met three times per week last year for sixth graders, this year it meets twice. This reduction results in a directed study for half the year. Reading services and special education programs have also been impacted with reductions. On a positive note, the band, orchestra and chorus now have two scheduled meeting times within the school day, Tuesday and Thursday seventh period. This past week schedules were adjusted to make sure class sizes were not outrageous and unmanageable. We are still working on some classes where there are thirty students enrolled. I apologize to students and staff who were inconvenienced as their schedules were adjusted. I know this confusion heightened your stress level. I appreciate all of your patience and understanding. Sincerely, First Day of School - Sep 4School starts at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 5. Arriving sixth graders will be directed to the cafeteria. Seventh graders should go to the blue gym. Eighth graders should go to the upper gym. During the first day, students will be introduced to their teachers, participate in discussions about their classes, hear program descriptions, and tour the building. Teachers will be monitoring students moving from class to class. Students will eat lunch during one of three 20 minute lunch periods. Students may either bring lunch from home, or purchase lunch at school. Typical cost is between $1.75 and $2.50. Price of milk is 35¢. Seventh grade students must have the required immunizations. They will not be admitted without having the proper medical documentation that indicates the following immunizations: 2nd measles vaccine, 3 hepatitis vaccines, chicken pox or varivax vaccine, and tetanus booster within the last 5 years. Students not in compliance will be sent home. Any questions should be directed to the Nurse, at 781-316-3744, ext. 2107. If a parent or a guardians needs to come to the office, please note that all exterior doors will be locked after the students arrive in the morning. (The doors can always be opened from the inside.) To enter the building, please go to the entrance next to the main office and ring the door bell. The receptionist will release the electronically activated lock and let you inside. Please go immediately into the office to check with the receptionist, before going anywhere else. Sometime during the first few days, each student will receive his or her Ottoson Agenda Book. The Agenda Book is a specially designed notebook that contains: (1) a calendar with spaces for writing down homework assignments, (2) a place for exchanging notes between parents/guardians and teachers, and (3) a list of school rules and expectations. It is important that parents/guardians, as well as students, familiarize themselves with the Agenda Book, and use it throughout the school year. Cluster PlacementEvery student is placed in a specific cluster. The placement information is mailed to the parents or guardians shortly before the start of school. If you are new to the school, you should know that each grade is divided into several clusters. Students within each cluster share the same teachers. They attend most of their classes within a few adjacent rooms. Each cluster is like a small school within a large school. A great deal of effort goes into deciding which students end up in which cluster. A number of factors are considered, including balance of abilities, peer relationships, special needs, and numbers of students. Please note that cluster assignments are not subject to change except when warranted by program changes or by extenuating circumstances approved by the principal. |
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This page was last updated on Monday, August 30, 2004 |
