The Lions Roar

THE LION'S ROAR NEWSLETTER

OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL

September 19, 2021

In this Issue:

LAUSD WEBSITE

Oak Middle School Website

Oak PTA E-mail

HEAR US ROAR!

OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEKLY UPDATE

Academics, Athletics, Activities and the Arts

CHALLENGE SUCCESS IS COMING TO OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL:

Challenge Success is a partnership between Oak Middle School and Stanford University for the 2021-22 school year. Through this partnership, Oak will examine policies and practices that connect to student well being. We are looking forward to this work and learning how we can make Oak the very best it can be. Our Oak Challenge Success team is comprised of teachers, counselors, parents and students.

STUDENT SURVEY: As a part of our work with Stanford Challenge Success, we want to get input from our students. A survey will be going out to students the week of September 27th. The Student Survey is a 30-40 minute online survey for middle school students that helps schools gather data and insights that lead to actionable changes designed to improve student well-being, belonging, and engagement with learning. Over 300,000 students have taken this survey since it was developed by researchers at the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2007.

Please read the attached information about student participation in the Challenge Success Survey

Check out the Parent Square additional information sent earlier today.

SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP:

Our leadership students are busy getting ready for P.E.A.C.E. week for next week. P.E.A.C.E week is district wide and stands for People, Exhibiting Appreciation and Compassion for Everyone. Our 7th and 8th grade leadership students are now hosting the 6th grade lunch time leadership students. Together they organized activities and completed posters for next week's activities.

SPOTLIGHT ON 8th Grade Social Science: 8th grade students in Mrs. La Vache's and Mr. Luttrell's History classes are using their research to answer questions about their chosen Enlightenment Philosopher. Some questions students need to answer include: what are they best know for and why are they considered to be the greatest Enlightenment Philosopher? Check out the student work below:

SPOTLIGHT ON Physical Education:

This week in PE: Mr. Meckna's unit is all about flag football, Mr. Stembridge's class is focusing on soccer and Mrs. Velasco's and Mrs. Reynold's classes are working on Oak Olympics. This week they are challenging students on planks, wall sits and the 100 yard dash! Check out the kids in action:

SPOTLIGHT ON 8th Grade Science: This week in 8th grade science our students presented their Biodiversity Projects. This project consisted of the students working individually or in small groups to create a landscape design using California native plants. Growth rate, sun exposure, water amount, and maintenance were just some of the many factors they needed to consider when designing their landscape. An exhibit walk was held to show off the final designs, where each group had a student present as the remaining students conducted a gallery walk.

Students in Science 6 are following up with their kinetic energy unit by conducting "alley cat bowling" experiments. How is kinetic energy affected by height and mass?

SPOTLIGHT ON Social Science: Students in Mrs. Spatharos' classes used skills of latitude and longitude by playing "battleship" with partners.

SCHOOL SAFETY...

Parents and guardians....Please remind all skateboard and bike riders that helmets are REQUIRED. If a student fails to bring a helmet to school....they can not ride or skate home. A parent or guardian MUST either bring a helmet or pick up the mode of transportation. Please see page 10 in the Minder Binders for more information. Thank you for assisting with this safety concern. When riding bicycles we ask that all students stop at all 4 way stop signs. Many of our students are racing across intersections and driveways without looking. Please review bicycle safety rules at home.

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ASB AND YEARBOOK CORNER

Morning announcements this week: Click here for announcements for the week o f September 13th.

DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW.....

...Lunches and breakfast are free to all students?

...Campus opens at 8:20 each day

...Dress code is strictly enforced .Please see page 13 in the Minder Binder

...Air pods are not permitted on campus (they get lost daily)

...Fridays are Oak spirit days. Need an Oak shirt? You can order online and the orders are dropped here at school.

...if you ride a bicycle or skateboard to school you MUST have a helmet.

DID YOU KNOW... OUR WELL SPACE CALLED THE DEN IS NOW OPEN?

Monday September 20th: All students are welcome to join us for Mindful Monday Guided Meditation from 8:10-8:40AM. If you would like to participate, please visit us in the Den before 1st period. Come and learn mindful strategies for staying calm, centered and ready to learn.

Thursday September 23: Before school from 8:10-8:40 AM, please join us for the 4th session of a ten-part series on Taming Anxiety. It is alright to join the group even if you did not attend the first few meetings. This week we will learn about cognitive distortions or thought distortions and their role in anxiety, and what you can do to identify them and reframe your thought in a more balanced way.

At lunch on the Thursday the 23rd come The Den to learn about the power of making mistakes. Mistakes are an important part of learning.

Friday September 24th come join us for mindful movement in the morning before school. It’s relaxing, fun, and a great way to start your day! At lunch come and join us for a discussion about the value of self-compassion, and what you can do to have more self-compassion in your life.

Go Oak Lions!

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GO TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND NEW YORK?

DID YOU KNOW....The Oak Choir Booster club has ways for families to dine out and support the arts?

Click here for Taste of Los Al

DID YOU KNOW...LAEF is introducing a new fall after-school class taught by LAHS LAHS Video Production/Griffin News Teacher, Connor Brown. Theis class will occur between September 16 and December 16! Sign up now at LAEF4kids.org.

Filmmaking for Beginners – Los Alamitos High School Film teacher Mr. Brown teaches middle school students at LAHS, the basics of filmmaking and story-telling. Students will learn how to write movie scripts, be actors/actresses, be a film director, operate cameras and edit together clips to make their own short videos! ($175) Class fee increases after September 7th.

Multi-class discounts available – 10% off the 2nd class and 15% off any class thereafter. It is applied to a family or individual student. All registration information including class descriptions and instructor bios are presented at LAEF4kids.org/afterschool. Call (562) 799-4700 x80424 or email programdirector@LAEF4Kids.org.

DID YOU KNOW....FAMILIES CAN JOIN OUR OAK PTA?

Oak PTA

CLICK HERE FOR PTA MEMBERSHIP FORM

Click here for the form

DID YOU KNOW.... SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

We are looking for parents to be a part of our 2021/2022 School Site Council! What is School Site Council?

The School Site Council (SSC) is intended to be a decision-making body that represents all stakeholders of the school community. The school principal, teachers, other school personnel, parents and students make up this group. Their primary responsibility is to identify common goals and assist the leadership team in establishing a plan to achieve the goals.

Are you interested in being a part of Oak’s School Site Council (SSC?) If so, please click here: https://forms.gle/29iFmS5TkaKuuF3s6

Check out the School Site Council Flyer Below:

DID YOU KNOW....OAK CLUBS ARE STARTING THIS WEEK? CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF CLUBS

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School Calendars can be found by clicking here:

School Calendars

CHECK OUT WHAT IS NEW AT THE OAK SPIRIT WEAR STORE: New face masks with the Oak Logo. Type in casswimshop.com. There are tabs at the top and click on team store. The teams are in alphabetical order so go to Oak Middle School.

YOU MUST PUT IN THE CODE TO SEE OAK PRODUCTS.

CODE IS: OAK (ALL CAPS)

Purchase Oak Spirit click here On-line

Gear up to show your school spirit on Fridays!

Oak spirit wear is available for purchase or go to casswimshop.com search Oak.

HEAR US ROAR!

Erin Kominsky

Principal, Oak Middle School

ekominsky@losal.org

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OAK THIS WEEK?

MONDAY September 20: Regular School Day 8:40-3:00

P.E.A.C.E. week theme: Oak students will be remembered as PEACE makers

P.E.A.C.E stickers and poster signing at lunch

TUESDAY, September 21: Regular School Day 8:40-3:00

PTA meeting 7:00 p.m. click here for PTA zoom link

P.E.A.C.E. week theme: Walk around the track. We invite Oak students to do a walk around the track TOGETHER! Meet new friends !

Wednesday, September 22: Modified Day dismissal 2:00

P.E.A.C.E. week theme: Oak students celebrate diversity! View the diversity mural at lunch puzzle pieces completed by all students.

THURSDAY, September 23: Regular School Day 8:40-3:00

P.E.A.C.E week theme: Oak students value friendship. Friendship bracelet making at lunch.

FRIDAY, September 24:

P.E.A.C.E. week theme: Spirit Competition! 2nd period with the highest participation will get a trophy and donuts! We are Oak Lions!

Spirit Day! Show your Oak Middle School Pride.

Regular School Day 8:40-3:00

Oak Middle School PTA Board

2021-22

PTA meeting via zoom

7:00 p.m.

Click here for link

Oak Middle School PTA

Association Meeting Agenda

Time: 7:00 pm

Date: 9/21/2021

Location: Zoom meeting

I. Call to Order Janet Murphy

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Welcome and Introductions

IV. Principal’s Report Erin Kominsky

V. Secretary Report Maria Osorio

1. Minutes of Association meeting, 8/24/2021

2. Report of the Executive Board meeting, 9/14/2021

VI. Treasurer Report Stacey Levine

1. Treasurer Report

2. Ratification of checks

3. Release of funds

4. Innovation Grants Update

VII. President and EVP Report Janet Murphy/Tracy Sturm

1. Open positions for volunteers

VIII. Auditor Report Amy Payne

1. Update on status of prior year audit – Stacey Levine/Jackie Dominick

IX. Financial Secretary Report Yvette Suniga

X. Historian Report Lisa Massoumi

XI. Parliamentarian Report Christi Gomoljak

XII. Standing Committee: Membership Report Faye Vasconcellos

1. Parking space

XIII. Standing Committee: Ways & Means Report Janet Murphy

XIV. Standing Committee: Legislation Report Roger Goss

XV. Standing Committee: Parent Education Report Trista Guetig

1. The Talk – fall dates for 6th/7th grade

XVI. Committee Reports

1. Reflections Paraskevi June

2. Special Education

3. Open Committee Chair positions

XVII. New Business

XVIII. Old Business

XIX. Announcements

1. Next Association Meeting - October 19, 2021, 9:00 am

XX. Adjournment

President- Janet Murphy. click here

Executive Vice President- Tracy Sturm

Treasurer- Stacey Levine

VP Ways & Means-

VP Parent Ed- Trista Guetig

VP Legislation- Roger Goss

VP Membership- Faye Vasconcellos

Financial Secretary- Yvette Suniga

Recording Secretary- Maria Osorio

Historian- Lisa Massoumi

Parliamentarian- Chris Lamb

Auditor-Amy Payne

Purchase Oak Spirit click here On-line

Gear up to show your school spirit on Fridays!

Oak spirit wear is availbable for purchase or go to casswimshop.com search Oak.