School has started, and students are (hopefully) settling down into their new school year routines. Fall sports have begun, and school fundraising is in full swing. Read Oakland Mills' school newsletter to keep up with what's going on in our schools!

Thank you,
Sandy Cederbaum, Village Manager 
Amy Carpenter, Administrative Assistant

Oakland Mills Logo  
Oakland Mills School Happenings

                  September 15 , 2017        Issue: 24

Oakland Mills High School (OMHS)
 Website  
 
Congratulations to the OM boys' soccer team, who won 2 games vs Loch Raven and La Plata! 

Senior Information Meeting 
September 19 at 7-9 p.m.

National College Fair
October 30, 9:00am - 12:00pm and 6:30pm - 8:30pm 
October 31, 9:00am to 11:30am
Baltimore Convention Center
For sophomores, juniors and seniors

Student Driving and Parking on School Grounds
All students who wish to park on school grounds must obtain a permit and attend a safe driving session. For more information, click here.

OMHS Food Pantry
Sept. 28; Oct. 26; Nov. 30; Dec. 21; Jan. 25
3:00-5:00 pm
OMHS has a food pantry! Individuals and families looking to get food should enter OMHS through the double doors on the front right of the building. Signs will be posted.

OMHS PTSA: Please click  here.  
OMHS Boosters: Please click  here.

Oakland Mills Middle School (OMMS)
Website
 
Information meeting for Hispanic Parents
Oct. 5th
7:00-8:30 pm

Support OMMS!
Beginning October 6, 2017, Oakland Mills Middle School (ID#: 01024) has the opportunity to participate in and earn money for the school from A+ School Rewards, a great fundraising program run through your local Giant! Please follow this link for more information and instructions on how to register to support our school. 

OMMS PTSA : Please click  here. 

Stevens Forest Elementary School (SFES)
Website
 
SFES Ice Cream Social
September 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Back to School Nights
1st Grade: September 18, 5:30-6:45 p.m. 
2nd Grade: September 18, 6:45-7:30 p.m. 
3rd Grade: September 19, 6-6:45 p.m. 
Grades 4-5: September 19, 6:45-8 p.m.

SFES PTA:  
PTA meetings for the 2017-2018 school year will be held on the second Wednesday of the month in the Media Center at 6:30 p.m .

For ongoing SFES fundraising opportunities, click here.

Please click here for the SFES PTA website.

Talbott Springs Elementary School (TSES)
Website

Back to School Nights
Grades 1-2: September 18, 5:00-6:15 p.m*.
G/T Information: September 18, 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Grades 3-5: September 18, 6:30-7:45 p.m.*

*Parents who have children in either Grade 1 and 2 AND either grades 3, 4 and 5 should plan to attend starting at 5:30 PM.

PTA Back to School Movie Night
September 15, 2017 (Rain Date: September 29th)
Movie: "Trolls"
Bring your own dinner or order food from one of the delicious food trucks. The movie will start at sundown. A raffle also will be held for 6 NFL Official autographed Raven's jerseys. Raffle tickets will be $5 each, with no limit on the amount of tickets you can buy. All proceeds go to the Talbott Springs PTA in support of Talbott Springs Elementary School programs. Contact Mrs. Casey Otten at [email protected]

Green Apple Day of Service
September 23, 9:00 am
Come for a fun day of cleaning up TSES and making it a better place for the students. Bring a shovel and/or rake if possible. All are welcome!

Kindergarten Parent Information
September 25, 2017 at 3:15

Back to School Information for Hispanic Families
September 28 at 5:30 pm

PTA Fundraiser: TSES Magnets
The TSES Magnet is a great way to support TSES and the many programs offered by the PTA. Magnets are only $5.00 each and will be available for sale at most school events. Show your school spirit and purchase for your vehicles or refrigerators!

TSES PTA: 
PTA meetings for the 2017-2018 school year will be held on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm. 
 
Please click here f or more PTA information.

Thunder Hill Elementary School (THES)
Website

Back to School Night
Grades K-2: September 18, 6:30pm
Grades 3-5: September 19, 6:30pm
 
THES Book Fair
September 18th and 19th, 4:00-7:45 pm 
September 20th, 4:00-6:30 pm
THES Media Center 

THES PTA:
PTA meetings for the 2017-2018 school year will be held on the second Monday of the month in the Media Center at 6:30pm.

Please click  here for more PTA information.
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UPCOMING RESTAURANT NIGHTS

Chipotle Fundraisers (6181 Old Dobbin Lane, Ste. 100, Columbia):
  • TSES PTA, September 20, 5:00-9:00 pm
  • OMHS FAB, September 25, 5:00-9:00 pm
  • OMMS PTA, September 27, 5:00-9:00 pm
SFES Wendy's Fundraiser
September 25, 5:00-8:00 pm
6355 Dobbin Way, Columbia


Howard County Public School System 
Website
 
*No school for students September 21st and 22nd.

Welcome Back to School!
On the latest   Superintendent's Corner , Interim Superintendent Michael Martirano welcomes the HCPSS community back to a new school year and celebrates a new day for Howard County schools.

School Redistricting
 
P rogress made by the AAC is posted regularly on the school system website. Please follow the links for more information about the most recent updates from the   August 8th meeting ,   AAC Draft Scenario maps  and  AAC Draft Plan survey (open until August 20th).  To get your suggestions or concerns heard and forwarded to the AAC email  [email protected] .
 
2018-19 Redistricting Process Timeline
 
Superintendent's Redistricting Recommendations:
  • Tuesday, October 3, 7:30pm, Presentation to the Board of education of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan: Attendance Area Adjustment recommendations are made by the Superintendent at a Board of Education meeting, taking into consideration the input from the AAC and the public.
 
Board of Education Public Hearings and Work Sessions
  • Thursday, October 26, 7pm, Public Hearing I
  • Wednesday, November 1, 7:30pm, Work Session I
  • Thursday, November 2, 7:30pm, Work Session II
  • Tuesday, November 7, 7pm, Public Hearing II
  • Thursday, November 9, 7:30pm, Work Session III
  • Tuesday, November 14, 7:30pm, Work Session IV
Approval of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan
  • Thursday, November 16, 7:30pm, Approval: The Board of Education reviews the recommendations and decides whether it will move to approve changes in the school attendance areas at a Board of Education meeting. After the Board of Education's Attendance Area Adjustment decision citizens may submit appeals.
Bright Minds Foundation 4th Annual Golf Tournament
October 4, 2017
Breakfast/Registration 7:30 - 8:45 am
Waverly Woods Golf Club 
2100 Warwick Way, Marriottsville

Community members are invited to enjoy a beautiful day playing golf with HCPSS Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano, and hear his update about the school system at lunch.

The golf tournament benefits the Bright Minds Foundation, which supports education, aspirations and the opportunity to succeed for all students within the Howard County Public School System.

For more details, including sponsorship opportunities, Contact Pat Sasse or visit www.brightmindsfoundation.org.

Fall 2017 Issue of Parent Pages
The Howard County Office of Children and Families produces a quarterly newsletter called Parent Pages. Information in this issue:
  • Getting a fresh start on the school year 
  • Parent-school partnerships 
  • Tips for dealing with back-to-school anxiety 
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Resources for parents concerned about their child's development
  • Parent workshops calendar

Free and Reduced Meals
Free & Reduced Meal Forms

All students receiving free and reduced meals (FARM) must complete a new form each school year. Benefits are carried over each year but expire in September. Free and reduced meals applications may be completed online or can be picked up at the school. For assistance in completing the application, please contact your school. For additional information regarding the FARM program, visit the Howard County Public School System Website here or call 410-313-6743.

Crossing Guards Needed
 The Howard County Police department is currently looking for crossing guards. More information and an application link are available here . 

Board of Education Regular Meetings 
  • Thursday, September 19, 4 p.m.
All meetings are held in the Boardroom of the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City.
   

Oakland Mills Education Committee

Committee meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at The Other Barn.  Everyone is welcome.

For more information contact Oakland Mills Board Chair and Education Committee Chair, Jonathan Edelson at [email protected] 

 
Dispose of your expired or unwanted prescription medications at 
HC Drug Free's free permanent drop-off location 
Community Outreach, 10741 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia 
 
Sharps and Medication Drop-off Event:
October 28
10:00 am to 2:00 pm 
HC DrugFree  
Located in the Parking Lot beside Slayton House and the
Columbia Swim Center in Wilde Lake 
10451 Twin Rivers Rd, Columbia
 

Volunteer Opportunities

Please be sure to check out the volunteer opportunities at each individual school.

Blessings in a Backpack
Please support Talbott Springs in this Community Outreach program. One hundred percent of the money raised goes to purchase food. To support Blessings in a Backpack, visit  blessingsinabackpack.org and select Talbott Springs. All donations are tax deductible. We thank you for your support for our students in need.  

A-OK Mentoring 
Make a difference! Help enhance the academic and social development of identified Howard County elementary school students in schools near you through a consistent, supportive relationship with a child.  Volunteers must be available weekday, daytime hours to meet one-on-one with an assigned student during the school day or with students in small groups in afterschool programs.
Please sign up at  www.aokmentor.org.