Oakland Mills School Happenings
October 18, 2021 | Issue 94
Oakland Mills High School
OMHS Class of 2023 Hoodie Fundraiser
Order until midnight 10/18
Click HERE. Proceeds will go towards prom and other junior class events.
OMHS Class of 2023 Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness
Through midnight 10/18
Click HERE. Proceeds will go towards the Class of 2023 for The Breast Cancer Research Fund.
OMHS Fall Play, "Almost, Maine"
October 21st & 22nd, 7:00 p.m.
October 23rd, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Click here to purchase your tickets.
OMHS Food Pantry Distribution
October 27th, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
at OMHS (front parking lot)
Directions and procedures HERE. For donations, see the "Donate or Volunteer" box below. **Donations needed!**
GO SCORPS!! OMHS Sports Schedules and Scores
Visit County Sports Zone to find more info about schedules and scores.
Oakland Mills Middle School
PTSA Meeting
October 18th, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
OMMS Media Center
OMMS Restaurant Night at Pizzaman
October 19th, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
5810 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
Dine-in or carry out only. 15% of your sub totals will go to OMMS PTSA. Flier HERE.
Help Needed!
The PTSA is continuing to support OMMS staff through a beverage and snack station in the Teacher’s Lounge. All items bought through Amazon can be shipped directly to the school. Items purchased from other stores can be dropped off at the front office by you or your student. Individually wrapped servings are best. Click HERE to see some suggested items.
Stevens Forest Elementary School
PTA Meeting
November 2nd, 7:00 p.m.
Available in-person (SFES media center) and on Zoom
SFES PTA Restaurant Night at Pizzaman
October 29th, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
5810 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
Flier HERE.
PTA Trunk or Treat Reading Village
October 29th, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
SFES
Dress in costume and remember your trick or treat bags!
  • 5:30 PM: Storytime & Craft, Howard County Pop-Up Mobile Library Van
  • 6:00 PM: Costume Parade & Activities
  • 6:30 PM: Trunk or Treat - stroll through a Reading Village with trunks decorated like your favorite children's storybooks.
Talbott Springs Elementary School
TSES Trunk or Treat ~ URGENT! Community Volunteers Needed!
October 29th
5:00 p.m. setup, 6:00 p.m. start
In order for the TSES PTA to host a Trunk or Treat event on October 29th, help is needed! The PTSA is seeking additional families to bring a car and to decorate it for the trick or treaters! No trunk? No problem! You can host a table for trick or treaters! Please sign up using using one of the following forms:
Contact Tricia Blackman at tndblackman@gmail.com with questions.
TSES Restaurant Night at Chipotle
October 20th, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Fliers: English / Spanish
TSES PTA Meeting
November 18th, 7:00 p.m.
TSES Blessings in a Backpack 2021-22
Help TSES students who may be facing hunger. Learn more HERE.
Thunder Hill Elementary School
THES Restaurant Night at Pizzaman
October 27th, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Carry-out and dine-in only.
PTA Meeting
November 10th, 6:30 p.m.
Howard County Public School System
School Closure Dates
November 4th: Closed for students (Professional work day for staff/teachers)
November 22nd & 23rd: Close 3 hours early
November 24th through 26th: Closed for Thanksgiving holiday
Emergency/Weather Closings
Click HERE for info.
Updates to COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Requirements for Staff, Visitors and Student-Athletes, Oct. 1, 2021
Click HERE.
Free RTA Bus Passes Available to Students
HCPSS has partnered with Howard County Government and the Regional Transit Authority of Central Maryland (RTA) to provide free RTA bus passes to students, which can be used at any time throughout the year. Students may pick up a free bus pass in the school office.
***Family File***
HCPSS uses Family File, accessible via HCPSS Connect, for parents/guardians to complete emergency information and share preferences. Information must be verified/updated for each child every year.
Application for Free Student Meals
Apply for free student meals (FARMS) HERE.
Daily Health Check Reminder
Parents/guardians MUST perform a COVID-19 health check every day before your student leaves home. A student or staff member should NOT come to school with any of these symptoms:
  • fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
  • sore throat
  • cough
  • difficulty breathing
  • diarrhea or vomiting
  • new onset of severe headache (especially with fever), or
  • new loss of taste or smell
Information for Students who Must Quarantine
Visit this page for information on instructional supports during quarantine and other info.
Kindness Pantry Partnership
The Howard County Public School System has partnered with The Kindness Pantry to support teachers and students by providing an inventory of school supplies to schools. Click HERE to donate.
Board of Education Meetings
  • October 21st, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Hybrid Meeting
  • November 2nd, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Hybrid Meeting
  • November 18th, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Hybrid Meeting
Hybrid meetings are virtual and in-person (more info) and will be streamed live/viewed on the HCPSS board website or on Comcast channel 95/Verizon 42 in Howard County.
HCDrugFree Medication Disposal Event
National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month
Teen Advisory Council
HC DrugFree Medication & Sharps Disposal Collection
October 23rd, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Wilde Lake Village Center, Columbia
More info HERE.
October: National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month
 
Did you know that 20% of teens say they have taken a prescription drug without having a prescription for it themselves, and close to 4% report misusing over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine to get high?

Help raise awareness of the dangers of OTC cough medicine and prescription drug misuse during National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month (NMAAM) in October.
Teen Advisory Council
November 15th
5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Online
Check website for required registration

If your teen is looking for a meaningful and fun way to earn community service hours while making our community a better place to live, encourage them to join HC DrugFree's Teen Advisory Council (TAC).

TAC is open to all Howard County High School Students. Public School, Private School, and Homeschool students are encouraged to join. To access the 2021-22 school year registration form please click here. Community service hours available to students, but only if a current 2021-22 TAC registration form is on file with HC DrugFree.
 
Email your signed registration as well as a photo to admin@hcdrugfree.org or mail a hard copy our office. Ongoing opportunities to earn community service hours are available to TAC members.
Oakland Mills Board of Directors
Education Committee
school_supplies_desk.jpg
Virtual OMCA Education Committee meeting
October 26th, 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Meet (click HERE)

The Oakland Mills Community Association's Education Committee supports and advocates for all Oakland Mills schools and county-wide on a variety of issues. All interested individuals are welcome to join the conversation!

For more information contact Oakland Mills Board of Directors Chair and OMCA Education Committee Chair Jonathan Edelson at jledelson.omca@gmail.com.
Community Resources
Oakland Mills Online (OMO) is an online social learning platform founded by Oakland Mills families to keep our community connected while we are socially isolated.
Oakland Mills United (OMU) is a community group started by recent OMHS graduates that advocates for the OM community and its schools and offers tutoring and college help. OMCA is a proud partner with OMU.
Oakland Mills Local Leadership Team's mission is to make the village of Oakland Mills an inclusive, equitable and connected community that values and supports the healthy development of all children, youth and families.
HC DrugFree provides resources and education on prevention, treatment, recovery, and health and wellness to help Howard County residents develop knowledge and skills to understand and address behavioral health (substance use and mental health) disorders. HC DrugFree website
Need Help?
Columbia Community Care
Free Supplies & Food Distribution
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to Noon
In front of Oakland Mills Middle School
Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry
October 27th, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Free, no contact. See the OMHS block for more info.
Oakland Mills United
Free tutoring and help understanding the college process HERE.
Free Student Meals
Click HERE to apply.
The Howard County MultiService Center Free Grab-and-Go Meals
If you are in need of food and cannot get to the center please call 410-313-0220 to schedule an appointment.
Mons. & Weds.: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Third Sat. of Each Month: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Howard County Government's List of Food Distribution Sites HERE.
Donate or Volunteer
Columbia Community Care
Donation drop off:
Collection bins for non-perishable food/personal items will be available at the following locations after site hours:
  • Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church - 3165 St. John’s Lane, Ellicott City. Place items in green bin located near the gym area of the church
  • Wilde Lake Interfaith Center (10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Columbia) - collection containers near church office entrance
More donation drop-off sites and list of needed items HERE.

Volunteer Information
Volunteers needed to restock, translate, and shop/deliver (beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays). More info and sign up HERE.
Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry
Donations always welcome! Donate in-person on the second Wednesday of the month, make a monetary donation, or order donations through the pantry's Amazon Wishlist. Visit the the OMHS Food Pantry Website for more info.
Oakland Mills United
Tutors needed! More info HERE.
Blessings in a Backpack at Talbott Springs ES
The Blessings in a Backpack program continues to help TSES students this school year. Learn more HERE.