ORMS Twister Talk Volume 20, Issue 4

December 2017

Erin Brilhart, Principal Oklahoma Road Middle School 410-751-3600 6300 Oklahoma Road 410-751-3604 (Fax) Jeffrey Hopkins, Assistant Principal Sykesville, MD 21784 www.carrollk12.org/oms

School Hours

Students Arrive: 7:55 - 8:20

Homeroom: 8:20 - 8:25

Classes: 8:25 - 3:00

Dismissal: 3:00 - 3:20

What’s in this Newsletter! Recognized Students

Adopt-A-Family

Helping the Community

Winter Concerts

Ted-Ed Club

Chess Club

ORMS PTA

Un-Fundraiser

Do You Hear the Music

Private School Transcripts

8th Grade Transition

Nurse Notes

Inclement Weather Info.

Middle Years

World Artists Writing Project

Black History Month Essay Competition

The ORMS Way

10 Ways to Stay Healthy During the Winter

ORMS Mission

Oklahoma Road Middle School provides an envi-ronment of respect and

collaboration where stu-dents develop skills and knowledge to become

responsible citizens and persevere through challenging

learning opportunities.

A select group of students were recently recognized for Quarter 1 exemplary behavior demonstrating our new initiatives the ORMS WAY and STRONG BODY/STRONG MINDS. Congratulations and keep up the great work!!

ORMS Way Award

Madison Ashley Ben Sasa Thomas Katie Hoadley Schwartz Avalos Maricic Chu McCarthy

Healthy Body/Healthy Mind Award Quarter 1

Aidan MacGrath 6th Grade

Emily Spampinato 6th Grade

Kevin Hyde 67h Grade

Michael Facto 7th Grade

Lela Haroldson 8th Grade

Skylar Owen 8th Grade

No Photo

Available

Cold Weather Shelter Needs:

Sweatshirts – new or used in good condition Sweat Pants – new or used in good condition Socks Underwear for men – Boxers preferred Underwear for children and women Gloves

Schools/Offices Closed

December 25 - January 1, 2018

Coming Soon: Ted-Ed Club – After school club for ORMS stu-dents starting in January. We are looking for stu-dents who are passionate. Students who have something to say. Thinkers and doers. Explorers and innovators. They might be the talkative kids who can’t stay seated, or they may be the quiet kids in the back of the room. Ted-Ed Club is a platform to spark curiosity and celebrate student ideas from around the world. This 13 session presentation literacy curriculum supports stu-dents in sharing their big ideas in the format of short, TED-style talks. Please contact Mrs. Rutters (jlrutte@carrollk12.org) if you are inter-ested in learning more or receiving information!

Ms. Barron will be starting up the Oklahoma Road Chess Club on Dec. 5, 2017. This is a recreational after school club intended for any students of Oklahoma Road Middle School who have an interest in playing chess for fun. Students who do not know how to play the game, but would like to learn are welcome and strongly encouraged to join. The club will meet immediately after third bus wave from 3:15 until 4:15 p.m. in the Team 3 area in Ms. Barron’s room on Tuesday afternoons starting December 5, 2017 and going until Tuesday, May 8, 2018. (No chess on Tuesday December 19, 2017). Participation on any particular date is voluntary. Transportation home will not be available and so must be arranged by the family. Students are welcome to bring their own chess sets. See Ms. Barron for a permission slip.

December 6th, Kismet Café in Eldersburg is participating in an ORMS PTA Fundraiser. It lasts the entire day, and no flyer is needed. So please support ORMS and stop by the Kismet Café!

Amazon will donate 0.5% on eligible

purchases to ORMS when you sign in to

shop at

smile.amazon.com

Everything's the same once you've logged on, just need to use this separate URL, select ORMS as your organiza-tion, and shop as usual for ORMS to earn the donations.

Send in your Box Tops and deposit in the bin in the Media Center.

The deadlines are November and

March.

PTA is in process of getting this ac-

count.

More information will be available at a later date.

Send in your labels that include the La-bel for Education

logo and UPC bar-code and deposit it

in the bin in the Media Center.

The A+School Rewards program earns ORMS

points for each transac-tion between October and March. It is linked to the school via your Bonus

Card. If you Bonus Card is already linked to

ORMS, you do not need to re-register.

For new registrations:

Go online to

www.martinsfoods.com/aplus

Martins Store ID: 20386

Giant ID Code: 03373

Free ORMS Funding Programs Please use the following programs that provide funding for

ORMS and the PTA at no cost to you!

6th Grade Rec Night: Friday, Dec. 1 (3:00 - 5:00pm)

7th Grade Rec Night: Friday, Dec. 8 (3:00 - 5:00pm) (Tickets will be sold from Dec. 4 - 8)

Next ORMS PTA Meeting

December 11th 7:00pm

DO YOU HEAR THE MUSIC?

ALL COUNTY BAND and ALL COUNTY ORCHESTRA Thank you to all ORMS students who prepared and auditioned for this year’s All County Ensembles. Congratulations to the following students who will be representing themselves and ORMS during the All County Concerts:

2017-2018 All County Orchestra Eighth Grade Madeline Blattau, Jolie Feltz, Sam Layton, Devanshi Mistry Seventh Grade Olivia Barr, Isabella Batarseh Sixth Grade Claire Chin, Flematu Fofana, Ella Nam, Mariah Talford

2017-2018 All County Band

Eighth Grade Jesse Jason, Sam Kashima, Skyler Owen, Serena Lee, Grace Morgan, Nathan Peterson, Rebecca Queen, Elizabeth Stebner Seventh Grade Abigail Cooney, Charles Burometto, Brandon DuBritton, Jeremy Frattali, Tyler Gallo, Riley Kirby, Morgan MacLean, Kaitlyn Scott, Lohini Suresh Sixth Grade Olivia Maciejewski, Veronica Sanchez, Joseph Weise

Private School Transcripts At this time of year, we begin receiving requests for transcripts and recommendations for students applying to private school next year. Students should bring their signed release and recommendation forms to the guid-ance office. We will distr ibute the forms to the cor rect teachers and send the completed recommenda-tions to the private school along with their transcript. Please do not have your student give the recommenda-tion form directly to the teachers. Once we have completed the paperwork, we will contact you to collect the proper fees for mailing and copying. The total cost will include $.15 per copy plus the cost of postage.

ORMS 8th Grade High School Transition

December Dec. 5th and Dec. 6th: ORMS counselor’s classroom lessons on Graduation Requirements

January Jan. 11th: LHS Counselors present to students in classes and distribute Course Selection Sheets

Jan. 24th : Liberty High School Parent Presentation (6:00pm @ LHS) February

Feb. 7th and 15th: 8th grade students/parents meet with LHS Advisors and turn in Course Selection Sheets. 4:00 - 7:00pm @ LHS. Parents call LHS to schedule after Jan. 25th

April April 12th: 8th grade students to visit LHS 8:40-11:20AM

Parents of Sixth Grade Students

Please be aware that students starting seventh grade need two additional immunizations. These are the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis booster) and the MCV4 (meningitis). Many sixth grade students have already received these two immunizations. If your student has received them, please send an updated immunization record to the health room as soon as possible.

Proof that your student has received these immunizations is required on or before the first day of seventh grade. Thank you so much! Have Happy and Healthy Holidays!

Paula Brown, RN ORMS

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry or national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The CCPS provides nondiscriminatory access to school facilities in accordance with its policies and regulations regarding the community use of schools (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts). The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Gregory J. Bricca Director of Research and Accountability 125 North Court Street Westminster, Maryland 21157 410.751.3068

ADA ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT The Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or the provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Office of Community and Media Relations at 410-751-3020 or publicinfo@carrollk12.org, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Per-sons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed. Information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act is available from the Director of Facilities or the Supervisor of Community and Media Relations.

Raymond Prokop Carey Gaddis Director of Facilities Management Supervisor of Community & Media Relations 125 North Court Street 125 North Court Street Westminster, Maryland 21157 Westminster, Maryland 21157 (410) 751-3177 (410) 751-3020

When is the decision made? The decision to delay or close schools must be made no later than 6:00 a.m. in order to no fy bus contractors, radio and television sta ons, send a SchoolMessenger no fica on and post the decision on the CCPS website, social media, and Channel 21. However, every effort will be made to make the decision as early as possible. How is the public no fied? The Carroll County Public School System no fies parents and employees through SchoolMessenger phone calls and emails. Parents and employees may also opt to be sent a text message. Announcements are also placed on the school system’s website at www.carrollk12.org and posted on Facebook, Twi er, and CETV Channel 21. In addi on, local and regional radio and televisions are contacted. You can find the list of radio and television sta ons contacted in the CCPS Informa onal Calendar Handbook. Will we close schools when weather condi ons worsen? When the decision is made to open schools on me and buses have already begun to pick up students, parents rely on this decision and in many cases leave for work. Once students arrive at school and weather condi ons worsen, it may be necessary to dismiss students early. In these cases, the school system will give adequate no ce to parents using the procedures outlined under “How is the public no fied?” A decision to close schools three hours early will be made by 10:00 am, a decision to close two hours early will be made by 11:00 am, and a decision to close one hour early will be made by 12:00 pm. How does a re‐evalua on work? There may be an announcement made that schools will open 2 hours late with a “re‐evalua on.” Parents and employ‐ees will receive a second communica on by 7:30 a.m. no fying them of the final decision on whether schools will open late or close for the day.

10 Ways to Stay Healthy During the Winter As we settle deeper into this chilly season, try these 10 ways to incorporate more fruit and veggies into

your daily diet. Those extra nutrients will give you the energy you'll need to plow through the winter months.

1) Teach your kids to "Eat the Rainbow" every day. This is a fun way for kids to get the nutrition they

need. Kids love to keep track of all the colors they eat during the day — even green!

2) Take the Just One More for Healthy Living pledge as a family. Studies indicate families have higher suc-

cess rates achieving healthier lifestyles when they work together.

3) Get the kids involved. When children have a role in meal planning, they are more inclined to eat it. Get

them excited about the process!

4) Incorporate 30 extra minutes of activity into each day. This doesn't have to be 30 consecutive minutes.

Try parking in the farthest parking spot at the mall parking lot, taking the stairs, or walking the dog an

extra block.

5) Try going organic. This doesn't have to be expensive or inconvenient; you can get canned organic pro-

duce year round at your local grocer (Del Monte offers a complete line of organic canned veg-

gies). Some research indicates that organic produce can contain up to 40% more antioxidants than non

-organic, and contains no harmful pesticides.

6) Introduce your children to new foods regularly, and don't give up if they're not immediately a hit. The

more you offer new foods, the greater variety of foods your child will eat.

7) Let your child make choices. As long as she's selecting nutritious foods, it's okay to allow your child to

pick what she wants to eat, even if it means she's eating a particular food again and again for a while.

8) Always (or as often as possible) eat around the table with the family. Studies show that this promotes

healthy eating habits and decreases the risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases down the road.

9) Offer healthy snacks. If your child doesn't eat at one mealtime, you can offer a nutritious snack, such as

fresh fruit, vegetable, or whole-grain crackers, a few hours later.

10) The golden rules for high-energy eating: Never go more than four or five hours without eating, and in-

clude some protein at each meal or snack — like individual tuna salad packs, cheese sticks, or nuts.

Keep your cupboards stocked with healthy foods you can grab and eat on the go.