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PRINCIPAL’S NEWS
Effective
Parental Involvement
The following
information is excerpted from the
Marshall Memo summary of "The
How, Whom, and Why of Parents’ Involvement in Children’s
Academic Lives: More Is Not Always Better"
by Eva Pomerantz, Elizabeth Moorman, and Scott Litwack
in
Review of Educational Research, September 2007 (Vol.
77, #3, p. 373-410). The article focuses on the positive
and negative effects of parental involvement. We would
like to focus on the positive.
Parental
involvement occurs in two places:
-
"Involvement at school
includes general school meetings, attending
parent-teacher conferences, initiating contact with
teachers, attending school events like open houses
and science fairs, volunteering in the school, and
taking part in school governance. The research says
that this kind of parental involvement often has a
positive impact on achievement.
- Involvement at
home includes helping children with homework,
helping choose a course or a project, talking about
what happened in school, encouraging hard work and
achievement, and activities not directly related to
school work, such as reading to children or visiting
a library or museum. Research says that reading to
children and taking them on enriching trips helps
school achievement."
There is a negative
side. Some studies show that direct help with
schoolwork, by "doing"
an assignment for your child can actually have a
negative impact on achievement.
The authors cite
numerous studies that say parental involvement can
influence children’s achievement in two ways:
-
"It can develop skills
because:
- being
involved gives parents insights about what
children are learning in school, which allows
them to be helpful as they work with their
children;
- being
involved helps parents understand their
children’s level of achievement;
- being
involved helps parents’ to assist their
children; and
- teachers
tend to give extra attention to children whose
parents are involved.
- It can develop
motivation because:
- parent
involvement tells children that school is
important and helps develop their fundamental
motivation to do well;
- parent
involvement represents an active strategy for
dealing with an external agency (school),
which can give children a sense of control over
academic performance; and
- parent
involvement can help children become more
familiar with school tasks and see themselves as
more competent in the academic arena."
We encourage all of
our students' parents to
become active participants in the Oakmont school
community. The best way to get involved is to attend
school events, from Open House and Parent Conferences to
athletic contests, performing and visual arts
exhibitions. There are also some volunteer opportunities
through the Oakmont PTO, also some of our student
organizations welcome parent help. Please contact Mr.
Uminski or Mr. Smith to find out more about getting
involved at Oakmont.
Source: Marshall, Kim.
Marshall Memo 199, September 3, 2007.
Mr. Uminski
Mr. Smith
(978) 827-5907 X2157
(978) 827-5907 x2155
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Term 1
Progress Reports
will be mailed on Friday,
October 5.
Term 1 ends
October 26.
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PARENT-TEACHER
CONFERENCES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
12:20-4:00
p.m.
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Requests for conferences should already be submitted.
Please contact the school if you did not receive a
request form.
Schedules will be sent home October 10.
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PARTICIPATION
FEES
Unfortunately the school
committee was forced to
institute a $60 activity fee to fund our co-curricular
programs because of the recent reduction in our budget.
Numerous teaching and staff positions and supply
budget items have been eliminated. In order to avoid the
elimination of non-athletic co-curricula activities we
must come to the families of the District and ask, not
require, their support to maintain after-school programs
that are important to the culture of our schools and the
enrichment of our young people's
lives. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify
some things about this fee. First, the Student
Participation Fee is strictly voluntary. We certainly
encourage all students and parents to support the
variety of excellent co-curricular activities at
Oakmont. Our intent is for the Student Participation Fee
to provide access to clubs and activities and discounted
admission to school events for those students who pay
the fee. We strongly encourage all students to explore
the wide range of co-curricular offerings available to
them.
Some of the positions have been
funded through the operating budget, and every student
will benefit in some way from programs that are funded
through the co-curricula budget which is being
supplemented by the activity fee we are asking every
student to pay. The following paid positions benefit the
entire student body:
- The Graduation Advisor
organizes all of the activities associated with
graduation.
- The Assembly Director
writes grants and schedules cultural presentations
and activities in which all students participate. In
the past, full school assemblies included Roots of
Blues with performances by
Barrie Anderson and
Mike Welch, History of Jazz with
Made in the Shade, Peruvian Inca music with
Inca Son, and a performance by a traditional
African band. The grants have also funded field
trips to historical sites, a demonstration by Asian
artist Harushiga, the
Worcester Art Museum and the
Massachusetts Audubon Society. Mary Bath Barrett
has also taught yoga to our Fitness classes.
- The Webmaster maintains and
updates the school website.
- The Publication Supervisor
produces small printing jobs (forms, passes, event
tickets and advertising) and all the tickets and
programs for graduation.
The various student
organizations that are funded by the activity fee
organize student events such as dances, lip synch
competitions, Battle of the Bands, the Prom, Homecoming
activities, spirit competitions (interclass plays, broom
hockey, basketball, volleyball) etc.
If a student does not pay the fee
he/she will not be denied access to school events
such as Homecoming, Prom, or Graduation. The school will
NOT withhold transcripts if a student does
not pay the fee.
Co-curricular experiences provide experiences and
challenges that enrich students'
lives and often lead to career paths and lifelong
interests that otherwise would be unknown. The School
District, however, would not, and could not, require
students to participate in events that take place after
normal school hours. We believe that a student gets out
of Oakmont what he or she puts into Oakmont. Please
encourage your son or daughter to take as much as
he/she can from what we offer.
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MISSION STATEMENT
Oakmont Regional High
School provides an inclusive, nurturing environment where students
pursue academic excellence, practice respect, and prepare for
life-long participation in a global society.
CLUBS!
CLUBS! CLUBS!
Art Club
Bookstore Concert Band Drama Forum Magazine Concert Choir Interact
Jazz Band Math Team Mock Trial Model UN
Oakmont TV Peer Leaders Photo/Media Robotics Science Club Select
Choir Spanish Club Spring Musical Wachusett Winds
Latin Club Political Discussion
Ultimate Frisbee
And Many More
SCHOOL
COUNCIL
The
Oakmont School Council meets the first Wednesday of every month in
the Nims Library at 7 pm. All parents are welcome to attend. The
agenda first the October meeting included discussions about an
Appropriate Dance Policy and Junior parking. The Council also
reviewed the School Improvement Plan.
Next
meeting is November 7, 2007
FREE LECTURE
"Taking
the Mystery Out of the
College Admission Process"
Guest Speaker: Bill Hicks
Retired Guidance Counselor
October 17, 2007 7:30 p.m.
Sylvan Learning Center of Fitchburg
348 Lunenburg Street, Fitchburg
Call 978-882-0343 or
email
PARTICIPATION FEE PAYMENT
Fees can be paid by check
payable to AWRSD at the Oakmont Main Office or mailed to AWRSD at
11 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham, MA 01430
Attn: Sherry Kersey
PLEASE NO CASH
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FALL ATHLETICS
Participation by
sport:
- Varsity
Cheerleading -- 21
- Varsity CoEd
Cross Country -- 23
- Varsity/Junior
Varsity Field Hockey -- 33
- Varsity/Junior
Varsity Football -- 46
- Freshmen
Football* -- 22
- Varsity Golf*
-- 17
- Varsity/Junior
Varsity Boys Soccer -- 36
- Varsity/Junior
Varsity Girls Soccer -- 39
TOTAL
PARTICIPATION -- 237
*Funded through
outside source
YEARBOOK NEWS
Upcoming Deadlines:
- Senior Packets
should already be submitted
- Parent Messages
- Color Deadline
October 19
- B/W Deadline
December 1
Order forms will be
mailed home soon. Order forms will also be available at
Parent Conferences on October 11.
Yearbook sales will
be on-line starting October 5 at the
Jostens Website
See the
Oakmont Website for
additional Yearbook information.
PARENT
FEEDBACK
We want to
hear from you.
Please contact us
if you have a question or comment about this newsletter
or anything regarding your child’s education at Oakmont
Regional High School.
Mr. Uminski
Mr.
Smith
(978) 827-5907 X2157
(978) 827-5907 x2155
SCHOOL RINGS
Representatives
from
Balfour will be at Oakmont during
Parent Conferences on October 11
from 6-9 p.m. They will
also be at school lunches on October 12 and
October 15 to take ring orders.
Educating For Success—Now and in the Future
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Oakmont
Alumni Association will sponsor a Sock Hop for former
students in the Wyman-Therrien Gym on Friday, October 5
at 8:30 pm.
Admission to the
Oct. 5 football game v. Holy Name free with dance ticket
or membership card.
OAKMONT PTO NEWS
The PTO will meet Wednesday,
Oct. 10, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m in the teacher’s lounge at Oakmont
for an informative meeting with guest speakers Principal David
Uminski and Assistant Principal Greg Smith.
Thank you to those who brought
baked goods to the open house. We received many comments on the wide
variety, appearance, and taste.
Our recent fundraiser at the
Johnny Appleseed Festival was a success, thanks to the wonderful
prizes donated and the volunteers who helped at the booth during the
day – even in the rain!! Now we need your input. How can we support
our students and programs with the funds? How can our volunteers
help out at Oakmont?
We hope to become a more active
PTO this year, so please bring your ideas and a friend!
If you have questions, contact
one of the following:
- Nancy Kochan
-- 874-6294
- Nancy Knihtila
-- 874-1662
- Karen Quinones
-- 874-1610
- Ruth Murphy
-- 874-6388
- Ellen Sheehan
-- 874-2986
PSAT
Saturday, October 20
Deadline for registration is
Friday October 12, or until 150 students have registered.
See Guidance News
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NEWS FROM THE
NURSE
Field Turf
Concerns
The nurse’s office
has recently been receiving many calls from concerned
parents of Oakmont athletes regarding our newly
installed artificial turf field. Apparently, many
students have been observed to have fine red rashes on
exposed skin areas, especially the legs, after using the
field. I would like all
parents of Oakmont athletes to be aware that I have
investigated this issue, and feel that what may be
occurring is “turf burn”, a minor abrasion caused by the
skin rubbing against the turf during a game or warm-up.
Any abrasions which occur on the artificial turf should
be cleansed with an antiseptic, which is the same
treatment that should be used when abrasions occur on
natural turf. I would also
like parents to know that the artificial turf has not
been chemically treated for any reason by the
manufacturer or the school district. The composition of
the turf is essentially monofilament fishing line over a
base of rubber and sand.
Any further
questions regarding the turf can be directed to
Mr. Uminski or
Mr. LaRoche.
CALENDAR OF OCTOBER EVENTS
-
Oct. 1 -- School Council --
Nims Library @ 7 p.m.
-
Oct. 4 -- Fall Pep Rally -- New
Gym @ 1 p.m.
-
Oct. 5 -- No School --
Professional Development
-
Homecoming Parade -- Roy
Bros. @ 6 p.m.
-
Homecoming Game -- Hurd
Field @ 7 p.m.
-
Alumni Sock Hop --
Wyman-Therrien Gym @ 8:30 p.m.
-
Oct. 6 -- Homecoming Dance --
Cafeteria @ 6 p.m.
-
Oct. 10 -- PTO Meeting --
Faculty Lounge @ 7 p.m.
-
Oct. 11 -- Half Day --
Parent-teacher Conferences
-
Oct. 12 -- PSAT -- Oakmont
Regional High School @ 7:45 a.m.
-
Oct. 25 -- National Honor
Society Induction -- Monty Tech @ 6 p.m.
-
"Are you smarter than a
fifth grader?" -- Alumni Auditorium @ 7 p.m.
-
Oct. 26 -- Term 1 Ends
-
Oct. 31 -- Senior Halloween
Party -- Cafeteria @ 6 p.m.
-
Nov. 1 -- No School -- NAWWG
Professional Development
-
Nov. 7 -- School Council --
Nims Library @ 7 p.m.
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