Title 1 Newsletter SEPTEMBER 2016

Knightly News from the Castle

WELCOME TO THE CASTLEwhere TEAMWORK makes the big dream work!!

September is National School Success Month

ADMINISTRATION MESSAGE
On behalf of your Oak Park Middle School administrative team, Barbara A. Longo, proud principal and your two assistant principals, Dr. Charles Williams and Diane Reid-Goolsby, WELCOME to the 2016-17 school year! We have much to celebrate about at The Castle this year. Oak Park Middle School students with support and guidance from teachers and staff have earned a C! We’re moving on up! We have worked hard to improve, yet there is still much work to do. It’s a team effort, so join the journey as we continue to rise up in Lake County!
As we begin the new school year, we want to introduce and acknowledge our new teachers at Oak Park Middle School.
Marcia Brown, 6th Grade Intensive Reading
Ralph Coleman, 7th/8th Grade Math
Melanie Duvall, 7th Grade Science
Sirdarious Roundtree, 6th/7th/8th Grades Physical Education
Traci Rozzelle, 8th Grade Social Studies
Mark Bailey, Band
Simon Thomas, In-School Suspension
Please join us in welcoming these new faculty members!
This year there have been a few changes to the school’s routine.
  • Students are being issued lockers for a $2.00 rental fee.
  • All backpacks must be placed in students’ lockers every morning prior to going to breakfast in the cafeteria or the gym. Students may not carry backpacks around during the school day. At the end of each day, students will retrieve their backpacks to take home.
Reminders:
  • Electronic devices are to be turned off and put away out of sight during the school day, unless you have a teacher’s permission to be using it for educational purposes.
  • Baseline testing has begun. Please make sure your child arrives to school on time, having had a good night’s sleep. Breakfast is served in the cafeteria to all students.
As stated last year by Ms. Longo, “Together, we will cross the finish line and restore pride and honor to our school. Join me in taking our school, Oak Park Middle, to becoming an ‘A’ school, once again.” Let’s keep our eyes on the prize: 558! You can do it Silver Knights!

Lake County Schools, FL does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability or marital status in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices. The district also provides equal access to its facilities to the Boy Scouts and other patriotic youth groups, as required by the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.Questions, complaints, or requests for additional information regarding discrimination or harassment may be sent to:

Compensation and Employee Relations - Lake County Schools - Phone: 352-253-6519

Family Resource Center – Parent Involvement

The mission of the Family Resource center is to provide a place where parents, family members, students, and staff can find a variety of activities, materials, training and resources to assist in bridging the gap between parent, teacher, student and school.Parent Involvement is key. If we can get everyOak Park Middle Schoolparent or family member to commit Just 2 Hours to helping out, we can do amazing things for our kids and our school this year.

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

MATH/SCIENCE

Math Baseline tests will be conducted on August 31st and September 1st

The school year is now under way and OPMS science teachers are looking forward to a fun-filled year of experiments and learning. To facilitate our ability to plan and carry out hands-on activities, please make sure that your student has signed and returned the lab safety contract.

In the sixth grade, students will be discovering the joys of being a scientist as they learn how to conduct experiments. Seventh graders will be elaborating on the skills they learned in sixth grade as they form groups and conduct mini science fair projects. Finally, 8th graders will tackle science fair as they rediscover how scientists explore the world around them.

SOCIAL STUDIES

It is never too early for students to start practicing for the EOC Civics exams. Practice links can be found on Mrs. Graham-Vann OPMS Website. Also it is mandatory for my Civics students to bring their ISSN Notebooks to class with them every day.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ARTS

ELA will be completing baseline testing for both reading and writing during the months of August and September. This includes the FAIR and Lake Standards Assessment. Students and teachers will use this information to help move forward in mastering the standards. All Language Arts classes are keeping a notebook related to the standards and the students will use them throughout the year in class to understand and practice skills that they will be tested on in the spring. If asked, your middle schooler should be able to explain how he or she used the notebook in class.

Reading - Students are off to a great start!

We are currently doing our pre-test for Achieve 3000 through Friday. Students will begin using the Achieve 3000 curriculum on Monday the 22nd. I am encouraging and challenging to do their Absolute Best. Parents, please join me by encouraging and challenging your child to read nightly for at least 25 minutes. Reading logs will go home on next week.Thank you for all you do!

COACHES

Volleyball intramurals are underway. The team will be established on Friday, September 2nd. The first game of the season will be on September 20th versus Eustis Middle

ELECTIVES

Introduction to Technology classes will be working towards receiving certification in Programming and Logic by the end of the semester.

Self-Respect Willingness to learn Always positive Willing to give / Page 1 of 3