page background

O'Maley Family Focus

October 8, 2021

O'MaleyFamily FocusOctober 8, 2021

Please remind students to bring their own masks to school!

No School Monday, October 11

Dear O’Maley Families,


As you are probably aware, we are headed into a three day weekend with no school on Monday, October 11th. I hope you are able to spend some relaxing time as a family and enjoy the change in routine that the long weekend brings.


One of the questions I often get from parents as they try to talk to their kids about school is, "How do I get them to tell me what they did all day?" Getting information out of them can be one of the biggest challenges of living with a middle schooler! Most commonly, when asked what they did in school today, our students will answer, "nothing." As a parent, you know that isn't true. Asking specific questions can be helpful. Below are some suggestions.



  • What was the best thing that happened at school today?
  • What was something different that happened today?
  • Who did you hang out with at recess and what did you do?
  • Tell me about _____ today (pick a subject).



I hope you have a wonderful long weekend!


Please read on and contact me at any time with questions or concerns.


Best,

Principal Lynne Beattie


Topics in this issue of Family Focus:


  • Upcoming Events
  • PTO Staff Appreciation Luncheon
  • Conference Days
  • COVID-19 Updates & Weekly Testing Sign-Up
  • 2-Liter Bottles needed for art
  • Midterm and the Schoolbrains Community Portal

Upcoming Events

  • Monday, October 11, 2021 - No School - Indigenous People's Day
  • Thursday, October 21, Early Dismissal at 11:00 am - Parent Conferences 12:00-2:00 & 6:00-8:00 pm
  • October 25-29 Spirit Week. Stay tuned for more info.
  • Tuesday, October 26, 6:00-8:00 pm - Instrument Rental/Pick-Up Night in the O'Maley Cafe
  • Thursday, October 28, Early Dismissal at 11:00 am - Parent Conferences 12:00-2:00 pm
  • Thursday, October 28, 6:00-7:00. pm - First O'Maley PTO Meeting in the O'Maley Library.
  • Friday, October 29 - Pre-Halloween Costume Day
  • Tuesday, November 2 - No School, Election Day
  • Thursday, November 11, 2021 - No School, Veterans Day
zoom_out_map

From PTO

On Thursday October 21st O'Maley PTO will be hosting its first Staff Appreciation Luncheon of the school year!! Donations can be made through Paypal at the link below. Help us say Thank You to our AMAZING staff that keep our children focused on their education despite all the noise going on in the outside world.


https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XKTD8E98X8RNQ

Conference Days

As do all of our schools, O'Maley has scheduled conference days scheduled in the fall and spring. This years dates are October 21 and 28 as well as March 10. On these days, teachers are able to meet in person or virtually to provide an overview of your child's progress or to discuss specific topics.


There are limited time slots for conferencing, so to ensure that they see parents of students who have been met with challenges, teachers will send invitations to those families. If you are wondering whether you should schedule a conference, or would like to do so, please email your child's teacher team.

zoom_out_map

COVID-19 Updates & Weekly Testing Sign-Up

COVID-19 at O'Maley: We had two new cases of COVID-19 reported at O'Maley this week. Close contacts have all been notified and informed of proper protocols. If you have not been contacted, your child has not been identified as a close contact Since we started school August 31st there has been a total of five cases reported among the O'Maley. See the new GPS COVID Dashboard for updated data each week: https://backtogether.gloucesterschools.com/updates/dashboard-covid-cases


Weekly Testing: All groups at O'Maley tested negative for COVID-19 this week. Testing will continue on Mondays at O'Maley. Sign up information is below. Please make sure your child knows that he/she/they is to be tested, and remind them to listen for announcements for testing.


To Sign Up for Testing: Link here: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma?district=Gloucester.I encourage families to sign their children up to be tested. Individuals signed up to participate last year DO need to re-register. Parents/Guardians MUST complete the form to give permission in order for a student to be tested.


Similarly to last year, students and staff will be tested with samples collected in groups of up to 10. If a sample is found to be positive, all individuals tested from that group will be notified and retested at school. Unless an individual is found to be positive, there is no need to quarantine.


Masks & Distancing: Per the Massachusetts DESE and the Gloucester School Committee, all students and staff will be masked in GPS buildings except at lunch or mask break when they are socially distanced at 3 feet or more. Masks are not required outdoors. For details on our health and safety protocols district wide, please visit the GPS COVID Guidance and Updates website at https://backtogether.gloucesterschools.com/.


Students must bring their own masks to school each day. While we all wish we did not have to wear them, masks continue to be required indoors at school. Thank you!

zoom_out_map

Clear 2-Liter Bottles Needed!

We have an upcoming opportunity to work with artist Marilu Swett from the Boston Sculptures Guild. Marilu has proposed a sculpture project having students create individual lanterns that as a whole will formulate a collective light show. You can help! Please save Clear 2 liter bottles for us, send them into school and to the art teachers. The projected date for construction is October 12 and 13th.

Midterm Progress and the Schoolbrains Portal

We have reached midterm for Term 1. To access information about your child's progress, the best way is to access the Schoolbrains Community Portal. Our Portal is open for all students and families, and parents/guardians who are new to the portal should have received an email containing your login information. If you did not receive an email, or already had one and have forgotten it, please email Mr. Destino, jdestino@gloucesterschools.com or Mr. Hurley, dhurley@gloucesterschools.com and they will send it to you.


Information about the portal, what you will find there, and how to login is below.


Parent Letter re. Schoolbrains Community Portal


Link to the Schoolbrains Community Portal Login


Student/Guardian How-to

Drop Off & Pick Up

As you know if you have been to O'Maley, there can be a great deal of traffic at drop off and pick up. If you MUST drive your child to school, PLEASE turn into the parking lot next to the rink and continue along the side to drop off and pick up your child.


PLEASE DO NOT:


  • park along Cherry Street
  • stop along the island or on the Cherry Street side of the parking lot
  • drive up over the hill and in front of the school
  • encourage your child to run across the street or parking lot to reach your vehicle


Following these directions will keep traffic moving, will prevent buses and other vehicles from being blocked, and most importantly, will keep everyone safe.


Students should NEVER run across the street or parking lot to or from cars.


Thank you for your help to keep everyone safe.

Free Breakfast & Lunch Every Day

No need to pre-order. Students can enter the cafeteria for breakfast at 7:20 and order lunch directly from the kitchen upon arrival at their designated lunch time.


Students at O'Maley have 15 minutes to eat lunch and 15 minutes of recess outdoors; in inclement weather, recess is held in the auditorium or gym.

Communication

  • Communication and Contact Information: Communication is essential for our ongoing partnership. Please be sure to keep your email address and phone numbers up to date in the student information system by informing the office if there are changes. Almost all communication from O’Maley will be electronic. If you do not have an email address, please let us know so that we can send you hard copies or a link to documents via SMS text messages.