Oakland Mills School Happenings

August 7, 2024 | Issue 150

Welcome back to our community school news! School will be back in session on August 26, and quite a few things are happening in the days leading up to get students ready. Read more below to stay current!


And mark you calendars for the annual OM Fall Festival on Saturday, October 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We are currently seeking vendors. Visit the festival website for more info!


Brigitta Warren, Village Manager

Amy Carpenter, Administrative Assistant

Oakland Mills High School

OMHS Community Meet & Greet

Two Meetings:

August 12, 6:45 p.m.

Howard County Elkridge Branch Library 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD

In-person and live-streamed. Click HERE for info on link.


August 14, 6:45 p.m.

The Other Barn 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia

In-person only.


Meet the administration and staff, ask questions, and more. More info.

OMHS Band Camp

August 12 through 23

Fall Sports Tryouts

Beginning August 14

More info

OMHS New Student Orientation

August 22, 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

OMHS Food Pantry

August 28, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

at OMHS (front parking lot)

More info. If you'd like to donate, scroll down to the donations box to find out how.

Back-to-School Night

August 29, 6:00 p.m.

School Hours

7:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Bell schedules

OMHS PTSA
OMHS Fine Arts Boosters
OMHS Boosters
Oakland Mills Middle School

OMMS New Student Orientation

August 22, 1:00 p.m.

Back to School Night

September 5, 6:00 p.m.

OMMS New School Hours

  • 8:25 a.m. Doors open for students
  • 8:30 a.m. Students report to Falcon Nest/1st Period
  • 8:35 a.m. Tardy Bell
  • 3:15 p.m. Dismissal

New bell schedules

OMMS School Supply List

Supply List

7th Grade Immunizations

Effective the first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year, all students entering 7th grade are required by the state of Maryland to have one dose of the Tdap vaccine AND one dose of the Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4). Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record. Please contact your student’s healthcare provider and email an updated copy of your student’s immunizations to Judith Bruce at judith_bruce@hcpss.org.

 

You can also schedule an appointment for these immunizations at the Health Department. They provide opportunities for kids who are not up to date on school-required vaccinations. Call the Health Department at 410-313-7500 for more information and to schedule a vaccination appointment for your child.

OMMS PTSA Facebook Page
Stevens Forest Elementary School

PTA Popsicles on the Playground

August 13, 6:00 p.m.

SFES Playground

Pre-K & Kindergarten Back-to-School Night

August 22, 6:00 p.m.

SFES Student Open House

August 23

New students: 1:45 p.m.

All other student: 2:00 p.m.

Students can meet their teachers, see their classrooms, and drop off supplies between 2:00 and 2:50 p.m.

Grades 1-2 Back-to-School Night

September 10, 6:00 p.m.

Grades 3-5/GT/Band & Strings Back-to School Night

September 12

Band & Strings: 5:30 p.m.

Grades 3-5/GT: 6:00 p.m.

SFES New School Hours*

  • 8:20 Staff on duty to support arrival
  • 8:30 Students invited inside for breakfast
  • 8:45 Instruction begins (students arriving after this time are late and must be signed in)
  • 3:15 Dismissal begins

*Parents should have their students to school by 8:30 a.m. each morning.

SFES School Supply List

Supply List

4th grade Community Action Team Bag Collection Project

The SFES 4th grade Community Action Team is working on a project to help the environment by collecting plastic bags. If they collect 1,000 pounds by November 15, the collected plastic will be turned into a bench.


Bring your plastic bags to the large white collection box located in the vestibule outside of the school office, or contact lindsay.m.cox@gmail.com or Valerie Patel at valpatelval@gmail.com to donate. Please check the list of acceptable plastics below before donating, or visit the website. https://nextrex.com/view/educate


Acceptable Plastics: Grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, ice bags, wood pellet bags, salt bags, cereal box liners, ziploc bags, produce bags, product wrap, air pillows, bubble wrap, plastic films labeled with #2 or #4 recycling symbol (polyethylene films).

SFES PTA
Talbott Springs Elementary School

Popsicles & PTA Chalk the Walk

August 14, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

TSES

TSES Open House

August 23

Grades K-2 Back-to-School Night

September 10, 6:00 p.m.

Grades 3-5/GT Back-to-School Night

September 12

GT: 5:30 p.m.

Grades 3-5: 6:00 p.m.

TSES School Hours

8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

TSES School Supply List

English / Spanish

TSES PTA
Thunder Hill Elementary School

THES Back-to-School Bingo & Picnic

August 20, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Volunteer sign-up

Kindergarten Open House

August 23, 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

New Student Orientation

August 23, 1:15 to 2:00 p.m.

Grades 1-5 Open House

August 23, 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.

Back-to-School Nights

Grades K-2: September 11, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

GT: September 12, 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Grades 3-5: September 12, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

THES School Hours

9:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

THES School Supply List

Supply List

Lunch & Recess Monitors Needed

THES is seeking full-time and part-time monitors to engage with students during lunch and recess. Lunch and Recess Monitors support and assist students and paraeducators during multiple lunch and recess shifts.

  • Lunch and Recess Monitors are considered HCPSS temporary employees
  • Lunch and Recess hours are between 10:40 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. each day
  • Compensation is $15.00 per hour
  • Communication, initiative, and flexibility are important attributes for those interested in the Lunch and Recess Monitor positions. Interested applicants can use this link to begin the application process. Please contact Brian McMahon at brian_holcombmcmahon@hcpss.org or call us at 410-313-6922 when you have completed all parts of the application.
THES PTA
Howard County Public School System

School Closure Dates

August 26: First day of school

September 2: Schools closed

September 18: 3-hr early dismissal

October 3: Schools closed

October 18: Schools closed for students

October 31: Schools closed for students

Student Medication Forms

HCPSS requires a new medication order form each school year, dated on or after July 1st, for all medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter medications must be received by the health room in new, unopened containers and be clearly labeled with the student’s name. The links to the order forms are below:

Update Your Student's Family File

Each year, parents/guardians are required to complete emergency information for their students through Family File. This information must be updated to receive the name of your student's teacher for the upcoming school year.  Complete Family File by logging into HCPSS Connect, selecting the More Options tab on the left, and then selecting Family File.

Student Free and Reduced Meal Applications

Apply Here

Families must submit a new application every school year. If you have additional questions regarding the FARMs program, please review the FAQ Section or email foodsvc@hcpss.org

Kindergarten Registration: OPEN NOW

Parents/guardians of children who will be five on or before September 1, 2024, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. Current HCPSS prekindergarten students do not need to register for kindergarten. More info and registration

Board of Education Meetings

  • August 22, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting
  • September 12, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting

Board meetings may be viewed live or on-demand online, and during and after each meeting on Howard County Comcast channel 95 or Verizon channel 42. Upcoming Public Hearings can be found online.

Oakland Mills Board of Directors
Education Committee

OMCA Education Committee meeting

No meetings for the summer!


The Oakland Mills Community Association's Education Committee supports and advocates for all Oakland Mills schools and county-wide on a variety of issues. We always welcome new members! 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 & Announcements

Apply to be a Volunteer

Volunteers Needed to be Mentors


OhanaHC matches students from OMHS and three other Howard County high schools with adult mentors there to help them reach their chosen goals. More mentors are needed for OMHS students! Interested in helping? Click the button below to find out more.

More Info
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 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

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.
Need Help?

Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry

August 28, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Free, no contact. More info.

Columbia Community Care

Free Supplies & Food Distribution

Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Locations and info

Free Student Meals
Click HERE to apply.

Oakland Mills United

Free tutoring and help understanding the college process HERE.

The Howard County MultiService Center Free Grab-and-Go Meals

Mons. & Weds.: Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Third Sat.: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

MORE INFO ~ Spanish Flyer 

If you are in need of food and cannot get to the center please call 410-313-0220 to schedule an appointment.

Donate or Volunteer

Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry

Donations Accepted at The Other Barn, Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

See details, including a list of needed items HERE. Donations always welcome! Donate in-person at OMHS on the second Wednesday of the month, make a monetary donation, or order donations through the pantry's Amazon Wishlist. More info.

AOK Mentoring & Tutoring: Tutors Needed!

Would you like to be a volunteer mentor-tutor who supports Howard County elementary and middle school students? Are you a trustworthy adult who can commit to one school year of service for a student? A-Ok would love to meet you! Find the next A-Ok info session on the A-Ok website.


AOK News: A-Ok Mentoring-Tutoring, Inc. has rebranded and has a name and logo! The new name is AOK Mentoring & Tutoring, with a new tagline for the AOK acronym: All Our Kids.

Oakland Mills United
Tutors needed! More info HERE.