Olentangy Orange
Middle School
March 2016
From the Principal’s Desk
It is with great excitement that I have the opportunity to share our State Report Card scores
and ratings with all of you. Our students did and incredible job on the state tests from last
year. I want to publically thank the fantastic teachers at OOMS for working incredibly hard
and never giving up on a student. Here are some of the highlights from the State Report
Card.
Indicators Met-A
Performance Index-B- 19th highest rated middle school in the state
Overall Value Added-A- 4th highest rated middle school in the state
***2.0 or better is an A rating
Gifted Value Added-A- 8th highest rated middle school in the state
Students with Disabilities-A-5th highest rated middle school in the state
Lowest 20% in Achievement-A- 10th highest rated middle school in the state
Again, I cannot say enough about the incredible students, staff, and parents we have here
at OOMS! I appreciate everything that everyone does daily to make sure that we are taking
care of our students. For more detailed you can view our entire report card at
http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/Pages/School-Search.aspx
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English Language Arts Department
6th grade ELA classes are beginning an integrated unit comprised of a variety of
complex reading materials and resources! Students will read many leveled texts along
with this unit which analyzes the essential question: How do people formulate and use
“rules” to improve their lives and communicate these “rules” to others?
Students consider these questions as they first read Bud, not Buddy, analyzing
character development and considering how figurative language contributes to tone and
meaning. They then read closely Steve Jobs’ speech, (focusing on how Jobs develops his
ideas at the paragraph, sentence, and word level) and analyze the poem “If” to compare
and contrast how the novel and the poem address a similar theme. In an argument essay,
students establish a claim about how Bud uses his rules. S tudents w i l l a l so conduct a
short research project related to their own “rules to live by” and then write an essay to
inform about one important “rule to live by.”
Other text pairings in this unit:
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“Health Rocks,” Skipping Stone
“Adults cut back fast food, but U.S. kids still eat too much fat: CDC,” Susan Heavey
“The Life of a Cell Phone,” United States Environmental Protection Agency
“Recipe for Health,” Emily Sohn
“Live by Design, Not Default,” Skipping Stones
“Earth Day, Your Way: Celebrate Earth Day, April 22,” Current Health 1
“Back-to-School Speech,” President Barack Obama
“Bullies Behind Bars,” Carmen Morais
“Make Your Move,” Jennifer Marino-Walters
• “Stanford University Commencement Address,” Steve Jobs
• “Is the Cafeteria Ruining Your Life?” Elizabeth Larson and Justin O’Neill
• “A Skateboarder Goes Green,” Blair Rainsford
• “Cyber Bullying Statistics,” www.bullyingstatistics.org
In 7th grade ELA, students are reading and completing a book unit with one or more of the
following:
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They are also beginning a unit on fractured fairy tales. Students read a graphic
novel twisted version of either Rapunzel or Jack and the Beanstalk. Then, they will study
different versions of classic fairy tales in preparation for writing their own fractured fairy
tales. We are continuing our vocabulary study through Vocabulit workbooks and we are
also preparing students for the new, computerized AIR tests coming up this spring. At the
end of the month, students will be watching a documentary called A Place at the Table to
kick off our service learning unit on poverty. Please ask your child about his/her thoughts
after watching the documentary. A viewing guide can be found on the documentary's
website.
In 8th grade, classes have or are in the midst of editing, revising and submitting
completed persuasive writing essays. The students have been through an extensive three
week process to prewrite, organize, draft, revise and submit polished essays through the
my.HRW.com online writing system. Some have been working on submitting pieces for
writing contests!
For reading, classes are either finishing Zane and the Hurricane novel unit or
reading a series of biographies and shorts in honor of Black History Month. With Zane and
the Hurricane, students are really analyzing word choice in the novel---why the author uses
figurative language and words with a great deal of imagery to describe situations in New
Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. We’ve also spent time talking about the way Katrina
showed the discrimination of the poor in New Orleans as well. Students have paired
sociology and psychology texts to understand character motivations too. Soon some
classes will be starting short stories of: Landlady, Monkey's Paw, or Tell Tale Heart:
From our Gifted Coordinators
We may be in the thick of winter, but believe it or not now is the time to start thinking
about summer plans! Students have a variety of opportunities for enrichment camps, with
a wide range of interests and talents represented. Our gifted support team has been trying
to share opportunities as they come available (via posters, Schoology, and email!), and we
have put together a comprehensive list of camps at this link. If finances are a concern,
several scholarships are available for students identified as gifted who are looking for
summer enrichment - that list is here.
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Summer is also a great time to contribute to the betterment of the community! We know
many students have causes near and dear to their hearts. What if they could help?! Check
out a list of volunteer opportunities for middle school students here. Even if a site is not on
this list, students can always ask if volunteers are needed. Encourage students to get
involved!
Science and Technology Career Day
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Counselor’s Corner
At this point Orange Middle School has participated in 2 district wide trial runs for Ohio’s
State Test that will officially be taken in April and May in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. In
addition to the trial runs, students have taken practice tests in their core classes at least 4
times. It is evident to us counselors that the students were well prepared and understood
the testing format. We want to thank the teachers for making this a routine in the
classrooms and testing a priority. Here are the testing updates:
TERRA NOVA (6th Grade ONLY)
Testing Dates
Tuesday, March 15th = Inview
Wednesday, March 16th = Terra Nova Reading
Thursday, March 17th = Terra Nova Math
Friday, March 18th = Terra Nova Science and Social Studies
OHIO'S STATE TESTS (6th, 7th, & 8th Grade)
Testing Dates
6th Grade
Monday, April 11th
Tuesday, April 12th
Wednesday, April 20th
Thursday, April 21st
Friday, April 29th
May, April 2nd
th
7 Grade
Wednesday, April 13th
Thursday, April 14th
Friday, April 22nd
Monday, April 25th
th
8 Grade
Friday, April 15th
Monday, April 18th
Tuesday, April 26th
Wednesday, April 27th
Tuesday, May 3rd
Wednesday, May 4th
During the week of testing please ensure your child is well rested, has a good breakfast and
arrives to school on time each day. Please encourage your child to put forth their best
effort on every test. Please arrange any appointments, vacations, and/or other planned
absences around the assessment Schedule.
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Orange Blazers Market Shirt Sale
Each year the students in the Specialized Learning Center (SLC) offer a NEW designed t-shirt
& sweatshirt. The profits help the OBMarket team to purchase supplies for new products.
OBMarket was started in August 2011 by students in our SLC. The students design, make &
market crafts. OBMarket is open every Friday, in room 213, during Academic Assist.
Attached is the 2016 Shirt Sale Flyer...Orders are DUE BY March 9 and will be delivered to
students around March 24. Thank YOU for your support!
Questions: contact [email protected]
Intervention Corner
This year, students are OOMS will be taking the AIR Assessment. This assessment replaces
the PARCC assessment. Testing is quickly approaching and we would like everyone to be
aware of the universal tools available to all students. Please see each universal tool listed
below with a brief description:
Blank paper: Test administrators will be providing blank scratch paper to students to take
notes and is required for the English language arts test. It will be available upon request for
any mathematics, science and social studies test.
Eliminate answer choices (strikethrough): Students will have the ability to cross out
incorrect answers on the Chromebook for any multiple choice questions.
Mark for Review: Students can electronically mark items that they would like to review
prior to submitting the test.
General masking: Students can cover parts of the test with blank boxes. They can uncover
any item when ready
Highlight: Students can electronically highlight any portion of the assessment
Line reader: The students can access this tool which will highlight a line of text at a time. It
should help students follow along as they read.
Magnification or enlargement (zoom): Students can enlarge text and graphics on the
screen. The zoom will magnify up to 4 times which increases the text 250% larger than the
original size.
Notepad: Students can use this function to keep any notes they may want to take during
the assessment.
Redirection: Test administrators can give prompts to have the student go back to working
on the test.
Spell check: This is not available for all items, but will be for some of the short
answer/extended responses.
Text-to-Speech: The computer will read aloud any question and answer choices for the
mathematics, science, and social studies tests. Students must use headphones when using
this tool.
Text-to-Speech tracking: This feature will highlight words in test questions as the
embedded text-to-speech feature reads the test aloud. This is available for the
mathematics, science, and social studies tests.
Writing tools: Select constructed-response items will allow certain tools, including cut and
paste, copy, underline, bold, and insert bullets).
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Social Studies
The 6th grade students are just beginning a three chapter unit on Egypt. This is probably
one of our students’ favorite units. They recreate Egypt’s geography with their bodies,
float down the Nile on a felucca, and learn about the daily life in Egypt through dramatic
expression. It will be educational and fun!
We are excited to take on a new challenge where the students will be examining six
documents based on the pilgrimage taken by Mansa Musa, a ruler of the West African
kingdom of Mali. This is to prepare them for the document-based research that they will be
called upon to do regularly in high school. Students will be analyzing primary and secondary
resources such as maps and written accounts. They will be writing a journal imagining they
are accompanying Mansa Musa as either a scholar, soldier, pilgrim, or slave. After our DBQ
(Document-Based Questioning) on Mansa Musa, we will begin our studies of Medieval
Europe.
In 8th grade this month students will be looking at the actions of our early Presidents. We
will be learning about the precedents established by Washington that are still followed
today. We will also be looking at land acquisitions and the expansion of our country.
Students will also learn about our early political parties, which were led by Hamilton and
Jefferson. We have drawn connections to the Broadway musical, Hamilton in class. We
continue to incorporate modern connections to the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution.
Math Update
In sixth grade math, we just recently finished chapter six on percent of a quantity. We have
started chapter ten, which covers area of polygons. Students have been using
investigations and hands on activities to explore and discover area formulas. We will build
on this material in chapter 12, when we look at surface area and volume.
7th Grade Math is thrilled to enter the new year with a unit on Linear Equations in 2
Variables. Accelerated math will be graphing, plotting and working with these equations
before moving on to solving them. Common Core will be plotting points and then moving
on to proportional relationships and direct variations before transitioning them to
understand how this connects to linear equations.
In eighth grade math, we just finished a unit on scientific notation. This was the application
of our unit on exponent rules. We will begin our study of the Pythagorean Theorem and
simplifying radicals this week. In Algebra, the students are focusing on solving quadratic
functions. In Geometry, the students are working on similar figures. Please remind your
students that if they are struggling to see the math teachers during Academic Assist. All of
the math teachers are talking to students about the transition into high school, which will
be here before you know it! We want the students focusing on being critical thinkers, being
responsible, and being good learners.
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From the Diversity Liaison-Brian Barkhurst
February is National Black History Month, so the Diversity Club has focused its efforts on
ways our school can pay tribute to the contributions of famous African Americans. The
students started the month by creating a Black History Month book display in the library,
which includes photos, books, and short bios of famous African Americans. We also
created a bulletin board in the hallway near the cafeteria and continued the annual Black
History Month student essay contest on the topic “What does Black History Month mean to
me?” All essay submissions are due to Mr. Barkhurst (room 518) by Thursday, March 4th for
a chance of winning Target gift cards. Students from Video News have also partnered with
a few Diversity Club students to film them doing book recommendations about famous
African Americans.
More recently, Mr. Barkhurst and Mr. D’Errico guided students the students through a
plastic straw, team-building activity related to conflict management and resolution. We’ve
noticed this time of the year can be challenging for some students, so we wanted to
highlight what students can do to continue to be successful during times of stress. Based
on the activity, students mentioned how important communication is, the importance of
asking for help, and the importance of breaking down larger tasks into small attainable
goals.
The Diversity Club at OOMS is open to every student in our school. Please encourage your
child to join if they are interested in helping make our school community a place where
diversity is valued and where everyone feels welcomed. We meet every Friday at 7:45 a.m.
in room 518.
From the World Languages Department
In the 7th grade, we just started our fifth six-week Exploring Languages rotation. In each
language, we cover such topics as: greetings, basic expressions, the alphabet, numbers,
food, and various cultural topics. Please encourage your child to share with you what
they’ve been learning.
In French 1, students are currently studying sports and leisure activities. Students have
learned how to say and spell various vocabulary words for sports and leisure. They have also
learned how to ask and answer questions about what sports and leisure activities they do and
during what months and seasons they do these activities. For example, Je fais du ski en hiver.
(I ski in the winter.) Lastly, we recently mailed pen pal letters to students at Berkshire Middle
School with the hopes of starting a letter exchange between our classes.
In Spanish 1, students are currently working on a food unit. Students are learning how to say
and spell various food items in Spanish in addition to learning about traditional food dishes in
the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of the unit, students will be able to describe what
they eat and drink for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lastly, we recently mailed pen pal letters
to students at Berkshire Middle School with the hopes of starting a letter exchange between
our classes.
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Students in German 1 just started a new unit on food. They are learning vocabulary for
foods and beverages. They will be able to order food, talk about how food tastes, ask for
the check and ask for food in quantities. In the next few weeks, students will also explore
popular German dishes and German eating habits. They will learn what a typical breakfast,
lunch and dinner looks like in German-speaking countries, how people in German-speaking
countries shop for groceries and how German table manners differ from American table
manners. . - I am buying the black skirt."
Music Notes
7th/8th Grade Music Update: Contest, Rehearsals, Kings Island - “Oh my!”
Families, please be on the lookout for additional information coming home the week of
February, 22 regarding our upcoming Adjudicated Events, after-school rehearsal, and trip to
Kings Island. This information packet will have important details regarding event dates and
times, payments, and chaperoning. We will certainly need great parent volunteers in order
to make all of our upcoming spring events memorable, musical experiences for our
students. Please keep the following 7th/8th grade dates marked on your calendar:
Participating Ensembles
Event
Date & Location
All 7th & 8th Grade Bands, Choirs, Trip/Contest Form & Payment Wednesday, March 16,
2016
and Orchestras
Due
All 7th & 8th Grade Bands, Choirs,
Mandatory Meeting and
and Orchestras
Rehearsal followed by optional
Music Dept. Party
7th Grade: Band, Choir, and
Orchestras
8th Grade: Band and Orchestra
only
Friday, April 15, 2016 at
OOMS
Friday, May 6, 2016 at OOHS
Olentangy Local Schools
Large Group Adjudicated Event
All 7th & 8th Grade Bands, Choirs, Music Dept. Trip to Kings Island
and Orchestras
(Optional)
8th Grade: Choir only
Saturday, May 7, 2016 at
Kings Island
Friday, May 13 or Saturday,
Ohio Music Education
May 14 at Big Walnut High
Association
School
Large Group Adjudicated Event
Prism Concert The 7th & 8th Bands (with the Blazer Jazz Band) had an incredible performance February
18th. It was amazing to see all the small ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, etc) performing
the songs that they had prepared on their own. The entire night was a huge success. Kudos
to all the performers!
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Jazz Band and the Blue Jackets - Oh What A Night!
Congrats to the Jazz Band for a successful performance at the Feb. 27th Blue Jackets game.
The students performed in front of the Ice Haus prior to the game. Thanks goes out to all
the parents who helped "schlep" all the equipment around the arena. Special kudos to Kat
and Matt, our drum team, who got creative when the electric drumset was missing a vital
component. The jazz band students seemed more like pro-musicans with a quick set-up,
fantastic playing and fast tear down. The game started off a little slow but was so exciting
when we went into overtime. Blue Jackets won the game when Dubinsky got the final goal
in the shootout.
Come see the Blazer Jazz Band at the OOHS Arts Festival at 3:00 pm on April 17th. It's sure
to be notable!
Spring has sprung (well, almost) and that means it's time for our Annual 5th & 6th Band
Concert! This tradition is the highlight for many of our band students in 5th and 6th grade.
(In fact, we still have 7th & 8th graders who speak about that concert.)
On March 21st, the 5th Bands from Oak Creek, Olentangy Meadows and Freedom Trail will
be bused to Orange MS. The 6th band students will stay after school and together we'll
practice, eat dinner and then perform. Students are working hard to prepare their songs for
the concert. It's going to be awesome. Hang on Sloopy Band!!
Health Update
Mrs. Toler and her students are midway through this 5th six weeks! This six –weeks our
class has focused on making the BEST choices, so that we can BE the BEST YOU that you can
be! We have learned vital information on the four parts of health, nutrition, substance
abuse, maturation, developing a positive self- esteem/self –concept, responsibility, goalsetting, and good decision-making skills. Happy Spring! 
Family Consumer Science (FCS)
Global Gourmet 2 has started their Iron Chef Competition. Our secret ingredient is Corn
and the FCS room has turned into “Kitchen Stadium”. They will be researching and cooking
all week leading up to our judging day. Judging day is Thursday February 11, everyone is so
excited. This will round out our 6 week rotation.
Global Gourmet 1 has started their group country project. Each group has chosen a country
that we have not discussed in class and will be researching about that country. They will
present a slide show to the class about their country. We will also be cooking this week and
have a buffet day where we get to try all the countries foods on Thursday. This will round
out our 6 week rotation.
FCS 7, Lifeskills, has started cooking. This is our week of food labs. This week we will be
making Snickerdoodles, a simple but homemade Mac-N-Cheese, learning how to brown
meat for Soft Tacos, and Pizza Pockets. This will round out our 6 week rotation.
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Academic Lab is wrapping up study strategies and beginning to look into their learning
strengths. In this chapter we look at the 8 Multiple Intelligences that people have. The
students will learn which intelligences are their best and how to use that information to
help them study/learn better. This will round out our 6 week rotation.
Physical Education Update
Mr. Smith, Mrs. Toler, and Miss Ward are midway through this 5th six weeks! It’s hard to
believe we are almost done with the 2015-2016 school year! As you and your child are
wrapping up the school year, please keep these things in mind if your child has PE, as
they pertain to the physical education program:
 Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes and brings a change of clothes for
PE for comfort, ability to move, and safety purposes.
 Physical activity must be done regularly to achieve health benefits. It is very
important that your child participates on a daily basis.
 If your child has an injury that prevents them from participating, please call, email,
or send a note with your child.
 We are looking forward to students participating in Angleball, Tchoukball,
Basketball, Volleyball, Floor Hockey, and Handball…
Experts recommend 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We ask that you encourage
them to be outside or doing some sort of activity while they are home. With your help, we
can all tackle the detrimental effects of inactivity.
Art News
We have been very busy in the OOMS Art Department. The students are starting their G5
(fifth six weeks) Class Schedule.
The fifth six weeks will offer a variety of art opportunities for our 6th , 7th, and 8th grade
students. Eighth Grade students will have the opportunity to take Drawing and Painting
classes during the G5 grading period. Seventh Grade students can take Art 7 (3-D) and Sixth
Grade will have the opportunity to explore 6 weeks of Art.
We are also getting ready for the Spring Arts Festival which will be at Olentangy Orange
High School on April 17, 2016 from 12-4 PM. The Arts Festival will showcase students work
from grades K-12 and is an amazing display of our student's creativity.
I am very proud of my art students hard work. I you ever have questions please contact me
at [email protected]
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Library Update
Credible and authoritative . . .two words that should always be in the front of one’s mind
when looking at evidence. With information coming at us from all sides, 24/7 it’s important
to learn how to navigate through it and figure out what’s true and what’s false. In the
library this month, students in 6th and 7th grade were given opportunities to practice looking
for quality resources. 6th graders were given a topic and asked to locate two reliable
resources and locate the author and author’s credentials. 7th graders spent time in library
researching modern issues and used print resources and OOMS databases.
7th graders also had a library lesson on plagiarism. We discussed what it is, how it impacts
our own personal integrity and the integrity of our school and universities, and learned
ways to prevent it.
Finally, the library is now on Remind. To get text reminders and information from the
OOMS Library, please text @oomsli to the number 81010.
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Staff Profiles
Education: Ohio State University
Favorite Food: Beef Stroganoff
Favorite Restaurant: Cuco’s
Favorite Movie: Dances with Wolves
Favorite Song: The Forest by The Cure
Hidden Talent: Spotting birds in the wild
Bucket List Items: Ski in Europe, Write a book, make a
bucket list
Brooke Wilming
Education: Miami University
Previous Experience: Mason City Schools
Favorite Food: Crab Legs
Favorite Restaurant: Shepherds in Clearwater Florida
Favorite Movie: What about Bob?
Favorite Song: Anything Country!
Bucket List Items: Sky Diving, Travel to Germany
Kristin Marconi
Education: DePaul University, Ohio State
Previous Experience: Taught English in Japan and
Romania
Favorite Food: Anything mint or Chocolate
Favorite Restaurant: Engine House #5 (gone now)
Favorite Movie: Serenity
Favorite Song: something by Simon and Garfunkel
Bucket List Items: travel, educate beyond the classroom,
and more travel
Karen Mason
Education: University of Toledo, University of Findlay
Previous Experience: Toledo Public Schools
Favorite Food: Salad from Chipotle
Favorite Restaurant: J. Alexanders
Favorite Movie: Gladiator
Favorite Song: Any Matchbox 20 song
Bucket List Items: Sit front row at a Steelers game, go to a
movie premiere
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Charra Turner
Education: Otterbein
Previous Experience: ECOT for a year
Favorite Food: Pizza or a really good Cheeseburger
Favorite Restaurant: M
Favorite Movie: Dirty Dancing
Favorite Song: The Band Perry- Live Forever
Bucket List Items: Travel to Fiji, Run a full marathon, Eat a
burger with a donut bun
Christine Snivley
Education: University of Findlay, Ashland University
Previous Experience: Allen East High School
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Restaurant: Bonefish Grill
Favorite Movie: Beaches
Favorite Song: Roll me Away-Bob Seger
Bucket List Items: Watch my sons graduate from college,
Travel to Italy and Alaska with my Husband
Dee Lowe
Education: The Ohio State University
Previous Experience: Coaching Football
Favorite Food: Hot Wings
Favorite Restaurant: Rusty Bucket
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite Song: Don’t really have a favorite
Bucket List Items: Travel to all 50 states, Go back to
Europe, Watch the Browns win a Super Bowl
Brent Ramey
Education: University of New Hampshire, The Ohio State
University
Previous Experience: Elementary Music Teacher
Favorite Food: Lobster
Favorite Restaurant: California Pizza Kitchen
Favorite Movie: Anything with Superheroes
Favorite Song: Shut up and Dance
Bucket List Items: Play at Carnegie Hall, Fly an Airplane
Jennifer Cabral Hever
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Our school’s mission is to facilitate
maximum learning for every person;
students, staff, parents, and community.
Our school’s vision is to become a model of
excellence for every school in the country.
We will accomplish this by; having high
expectations of learning for every person,
collaboration, using data to drive our
instruction.
Olentangy Orange Middle School
2680 East Orange Road
Phone: 740-657-5300
Fax: 740-657-5399
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