OPAC - Ottoson Parent Advisory Council

Ottoson Middle School

What is OPAC?

Dear Parents and Guardians,

OPAC – The Ottoson Parent Advisory Council - is the parents’ organization that
supports the middle school and works to foster a welcoming environment for parents,
teachers, staff, and students. Our activities this year include developing fund raising
strategies to support our teachers, organizing information meetings for parents, offering a
community dinner, creating a bimonthly newsletter, sponsoring eighth-grade graduation,
publishing a directory, and staffing a book fair.

You might find that parents become involved in the middle school in a different way
from how you were accustomed to in the elementary school. First, the structure of
schooling has changed: students have a number of teachers, not just one as in the
elementary school, and the schedules are more complicated. Second, teenagers often
claim they do not need or want their parents in the school building. Third, parents move
on to a new stage in their own lives, many returning to work full time or returning to
projects they had dropped while volunteering at their child’s elementary school.
Nevertheless, Department of Education data show that parent involvement in middle
schools is just as important, maybe even more important, to student success as in the
earlier grades.

The Ottoson School needs your support and welcomes your ideas. We are working on
some innovative programs for parent participation that will better fit into your life and
address a number of specific needs at the Ottoson School. Your time and expertise are
valued at whatever level you can provide. Please contact us. We would love to hear from
you.

Jo Anne Preston
Cindy Wells

Co-Presidents, OPAC

What does OPAC do?

Our activities to support Ottoson include:

Book Fair Days and Spaghetti Dinner Evening

OPAC and the OMS Media Center invite you to purchase books and materials for the Media Center.  The event is held in February.  The Spaghetti Dinner is held during an evening of the Book Fair week and is a chance to meet other parents/guardians and school staff.

Create and Distribute the Ottoson School Directory

Each year, OPAC gathers sponsorship for, and creates for the OMS parent/guardian community the directory of registered students.
If you would like to help with the Directory, please  email dearOPAC.

Copying Program

Teachers have shared with OPAC that copying is one of their greatest needs. OPAC has set up a “Copy Box” for teachers to drop off copy material for class with instructions and due dates. Parents can come in for an hour during the week to copy material for teachers. Simply pick up the material from the “In Box”, use the school copiers, and return copied material to the “Out Section of the Box”. Teachers are very appreciative! To Volunteer to help your child’s teachers with this project email dearOPAC.

Library/Media Center Assistance

Library/Media Center Committee assist with general operations of Library/Media Center. Volunteers can make regular, weekly, or short-term commitments.  If you would like to help at the Library/Media Center, please  email dearOPAC.

Grade and Cluster Grant Money

OPAC provides $300 per cluster and $1500 per grade per year for teacher needs related to students not covered by regular school funds.  If your student's cluster hasn't taken advantage of this, encourage them to!  To obtain OPAC teacher grant money forms, please email dearOPAC.

8^th Grade Recognition

8th Grade Recognition Committee is responsible for the June graduation ceremony and the dance that follows. We coordinate our plans with staff and the Student Council.  If you would like play a part in putting together this event, please email dearOPAC.
 

Teacher Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation Committee coordinates two teacher appreciation events, the Fall Dinner and the Spring Teacher Appreciation Brunch.  The committee also helps to coordinate baked goods to these events.  If you would like to join the Teacher Appreciation Committee, or if you have specific ideas, please email dearOPAC.
 

Web Site

Nearly all students and parents/guardians at Ottoson have access to Internet, so the web site is becoming an increasingly important means of communicating with home.  Our objective is to inform students and parents/guardians about upcoming events, administrative procedures, academic programs, school activities, learning resources, general facts, and other school-related issues.

We welcome information from the Ottoson community.  Please send information or comments to ottosonwebmaster@arlington.k12.ma.us or dearOPAC.

Lots of Other Activities

OPAC volunteers help in many other activities that are not covered by the regular committees.  If you have specific ideas, please contact the OPAC Coordinators.  For more information, please go to email dearOPAC.

When does OPAC Meet?
Come hear about the school, what we've been doing, meet your student's parents and provide your input at our monthly meetings!  Usually coffee and snacks or a light breakfast are provided.

2011-2012 OPAC Parent-Principal Coffee Meeting Schedule
(every other month, 2nd Friday of the month)

Friday  December 16, 2011   

Friday  January 13, 2012     

Friday  February 10, 2012

Friday  March 9, 2012

Friday  April 13, 2012

Friday  May 11, 2012

Friday June 8, 2012

All Meetings are held at the SCHOOL CAFETERIA from 9 - 10:30 AM unless otherwise noted

Who are OPAC?

The 2011-2012 OPAC officers are: 

Co-Presidents………………....Jo Anne Preston
                                                  Cindy Wells
 
Vice-President………………...Tim Ruggere
 
Treasurer……………………...Carol Chicarello
 
Recording Secretary…..............Thea Frost
 
Corresponding Secretary...........Nancy Lowe
 
Technology Specialist…….…...Carl Wagner
 
 

2011-2012 Standing Committees

Annual Fund…………………...Volunteer Needed - parent(s) needed!
 
Building Respect Task Force…..Linda Magram
 
LGBT Coordinator……………Anna Watson
 
Book Fair/Media Center………Nancy Lowe
 
Cherry Blossom Festival………Sue Sheffler
 
8th Grade Recognition Chair…..Volunteer Needed - 8th grade parent(s) needed!

How can I donate to OPAC?

We suggest a $50 annual donation per family to minimize holding fundraising events, but any donation would be greatly appreciated.

OPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization, and your contribution is tax deductible. Please ask your employer about matching gifts!

What OPAC documents are there?

Minutes of Meetings 

You can access the minutes of previous OPAC meetings.

This page was last updated on January 17, 2012