The Cardinal Connection. 
front of school - flags
Monday, September 19, 2016

Florida flag
Ocoee, FL
Connect With OMS
Ocoee Middle School
   

I am not usually the sports analogy type of guy, but as we enter the second half of the first quarter, I can't help but to notice the correlation between the four quarters of a football game and the four "9-weeks" of the school year. Most would agree that it is the final seconds of many games that are the most exciting. That's what it all comes down to! The final push to win!! But we all know that what happens in the first quarter is just as important to achieving victory. It is the foundation on which the rest of the game, or in our case, year, is built.

Much of the content in Middle School is progressive. Meaning, students will struggle later if they do not understand and master the concepts that they learn in the early part of the year. Please stress to your students the importance of this early part of the year in developing good study habits and laying the foundation for future learning.

We will be cheering for them all the way!!

Mr. Sam Davis
Principal
Ocoee Middle School
(407)  877-5035
"An Apple Distinguished School"


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Upcoming Events This Week

Monday, September 19th
  • Fall Book Fair Begins
Tuesday, September 20th
  • PTSA/SAC Meeting, 6:00-7:00pm, Media Center
Wednesday, September 21st
  • Algebra/Geometry Tutoring Begins, 7:45am, Ms. Keith's Classroom (Lion Math)
  • AWAY Soccer Game vs. Wolf Lake MS, 5:00pm
Thursday, September 22nd
  • OMS Open House, 6:00-7:30pm
  • Book Fair open during Open House
Friday, September 23rd Save the Date
Thursday, September 29th
Vital Signs
vitals 
* Vital Signs courtesy of Ms. Kelsey Bergh

Cardinal R.E.D. - This Weeks' Faculty/Staff Highlight
Jill Medley, P.E. Teacher

Congratulations to Jill Medley, last week's Cardinal R.E.D. staff member!


Mrs. Medley (right) with Mrs. Carney who selected her as 
the Cardinal R.E.D. winner.

Teacher of the Year
Mr. Sam Metro, 8th Grade U.S. History

Congratulations to Mr. Sam Metro, Ocoee Middle School's Teacher of the Year! Mr. Metro has worked at OMS for 10 years and currently teaches 8th grade U.S. History on the T-Bird team. He is an outstanding teacher, mentor, and is dedicated to giving our students the best education possible. We are so happy to award him with this well-deserved and incredible honor. 

Congratulations, Mr. Metro!

 
2016-2017 OMS Teacher of the Year,
Mr. Sam Metro with Principal Davis
(Sept. 14, 2016)

Support Person of the Year
Ms. Pam McCoy, Attendance Clerk and Substitute Coordinator

Congratulations to Ms. Pam McCoy, Ocoee Middle School's Support Person of the Year! Ms. McCoy is our attendance clerk and also assists as our substitute coordinator. She always greets everyone with a smile, and gives 110% to her job every single day. OMS would not run as smoothly if it wasn't for her hard work and dedication day in, and day out. 

Congratulations, Ms. McCoy!

spoy 2016  
2016-2017 OMS Support Person of the Year,
Ms. Pam McCoy with Principal Davis
(Sept. 14, 2016)

College T-Shirt Day!
WEAR YOUR COLLEGE COLORS

Students and staff are encouraged to wear their favorite COLLEGE SHIRT or COLORS every Wednesday. Spread the word as we continue to build a college going culture at OMS!

college colors

Athletics

Congratulations to the OMS soccer teams for their great games against Apopka Middle School on Wednesday, September 14th. The boys won 3-1, and the girls put up a tough fight, but sadly fell a little short with a 2-1 loss. Both teams played excellent games and we're so proud of our teams! 

* Don't forget to come out and support OMS this Wednesday against Wolf Lake Middle School at 5:00 PM!


Teen Court Training

Is your student interested in: being an attorney, deputy, juror, clerk, or being eligible for a scholarship or stipend, or to earn 3 hours of community service every night they volunteer?
  • When: October 6th, 2016 4:45pm-7:00pm
  • Where: 2000 E. Michigan St., Orlando, FL 32806
  • For more info: [email protected] or 407-836-9517, email 
Teen Court is normally held every Tuesday & Thursday evening (5:00-7:30pm)

REFER 5 FRIENDS CONTEST!
  • The 5 friends have to attend the Teen Court training
  • The 5 friends have to attend 3 nights of Teen Court prior to 12/15/16!
  • You must turn in the 5 friend's names to a Teen Court staff member by 12/15/16 in order to get credit for the referral! The sooner you turn in your referrals the better. Good Luck!
PTSA Spirit Night
This Friday, September 23rd, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Lets skate Your PTSA has planned a spirit night at Let's Skate on Friday September 23rd from 5-10 p.m. For every paid skater who mentions OMS at the door, your PTSA receives $1 back! 

Let's Skate is located at 14207 West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden. Present your Ocoee discount card for $6 admission and skates for one person ($2 savings). This event will not be supervised (chaperoned) by Ocoee Middle School, so please consider this when deciding whether to accompany your children or drop them off. 

Please stop by the PTSA table. We will be selling our OMS discount cards for $20, so purchase on before they are all gone! We will also be selling spins for the Prize Wheel for $1. We hope to see you there!

Book Fair

gifts
Great ideas for the 2016 holidays!
The first OMS Book Fair starts this week!! It will be held in the Media Center from September 19th-23rd from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Book Fair will also be open the evening of Open House on September 22nd from 6:00pm to 7:30pm! The online Book Fair dates will be September 11th-24th.

If you have any questions, please contact our Media Specialist Mrs. Michele Hipolito at [email protected]

Free and Reduced Lunch Information and Application

Applications to receive free/reduced meals are due by September 30. Parents, don't forget to fill out your application today! The earlier you submit your application; the more benefits your student is able to receive. To apply online please log on to: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

If your child is currently on free/reduced lunch, their free/reduced Lunch status will expire on September 26, 2016. It is required that an application is completed each year. For more information, go to: https://www.ocps.net/op/food/Pages/FreeandReduced.aspx

Algebra/Geometry Tutoring

Algebra and Geometry tutoring will begin this week for all students in Algebra 1 Honors or Geometry Honors. Tutoring will be held every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:45am to 8:30am. On Wednesday mornings, it will be held in Ms. Keith's room (Lion Math) and on Thursday mornings,
it will be held in Ms. Weldon's room (Panther Math). 

Students do not need to sign up to attend, they may come when they feel they need the help. We can't wait to see you there!

School Picture Ordering

Even though school pictures took place on Friday, September 9th, you can still order pictures at www.strawbridge.net using the school code: 0342. 

Boys & Girls Club at OMS

With the school year now underway, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida would like to make you aware of two programs available here at Ocoee.

First, we are offering a Mega Morning program daily from 7:30am - 9:00am, starting the first day of school. The cost for this program is $45 for August and December and $72 for the remaining months. This program offers our students the opportunity to come on campus early and get prepared for the day as well as having a little fun! Checks or money orders must be made payable to Mega Morning.

In addition to Mega Morning, we are also offering our FREE After School Zone program which runs daily from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. This program is a great way for members to meet new friends and be active after school. We have a wide variety of program choices and can even help members with their homework! During our program, members can participate in a variety of clubs from sports, to homework help, to video games and much more. Members are also served supper during our program.

If you are interested in signing your child up for either program, you can pick up an application in the main office and return it to Mrs. Shaw. Or, if your child has already participated in either our After School Zone, or Summer Zone program, just have your child give their name to Mrs. McCoy in the main office and she will put them on a list to be re-enrolled.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Shaw at [email protected]

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Copyright Notice
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS - Ocoee Middle School is forbidden without written consent.  Thank you for your support of Ocoee Middle School and the Orange County Public Schools. Please contact Kelsey Bergh at [email protected] with any questions or for further information.