OAS Family News 10/3/25

My Fellow Lions,

A short week, but tons of learning in our classrooms. This week, I’d like to highlight one of the instructional programs we use in our younger grades to build phonological awareness—Heggerty. Phonological awareness is an essential early literacy skill that helps children recognize and work with the sounds of spoken language. Through daily routines, students practice hearing and manipulating sounds within words, often paired with hand motions to keep them actively engaged. For example, in the photo you can see students “chopping “ apart the sounds in a word. 

Families can also support phonological awareness at home with simple, playful activities such as:

  • Reciting nursery rhymes together

  • Reading books with rhyming words

  • Playing with alliteration (words that begin with the same sound), for example: Seven silly sisters said surprise!

These small moments of sound play build a strong foundation for reading and writing.

Heggerty
Heggerty
Heggerty

Meet The Staff

meet the staff

Important News

  • Fall Conferences - We are pleased to announce our Fall 2024 Elementary Conference Schedule: 

    • Wednesday, October 15th  1:45 - 3:45 p.m.    

    • Thursday, October 16th  5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

    • Friday, October 17th 1:45 - 3:45 p.m. 

    • Please note that we will have a modified early dismissal time on the conference days to accommodate the conference schedule.  Therefore, students will be dismissed on October 15th, October 16th, and October 17th at 1:15pm. 

    • Caregivers will once again have the opportunity to select a conference time through My Conference Time.   All conferences will be in person unless a  parent/guardian requests a Google Meet link directly from the teacher.  Fall conference sign up  information will be  live on our school website from  Friday, October 3rd, at 9:00 a.m. through Monday, October 13th, at 12:00 p.m.  If you prefer a virtual session, please contact the teacher to request a Google Meet link to conduct your conference virtually after you have confirmed your conference time through My Conference Time Online Scheduler.   We are looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s learning! 

    • Quick tip: Look for emails from “noreply@myconferencetime.com” when searching email for conference confirmation communications. 

    • SIGN UP HERE

  • OAS International Night - What country would you  like represented at OAS’s International Night, Friday November 7? Consider hosting a country table. If you have questions, you can email Mrs. Lennon mlennon@milforded.org. Use this form  to sign up to host a table.

  • MPS 2030 - Join us for an MPS Vision 2030 session to share your input on 5-year goals — Oct. 9 at OAS, Oct. 22 at West Shore, and Oct. 28 at Foran (7 p.m.). More info and registration can be found here.

  • SBA results - Each spring, students in Grades 3-8 are tested using the Smarter Balanced assessments (SBA) in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. SBA results and this  accompanying letter (2025 SBA Letter ) will be mailed home this week.

PTA News

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Donate here through 99 Pledges
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or here through Venmo - Venmo @oaspta25

"Laps With Leo" is back on October 9, 2025! 

Laps with Leo is our one big school wide fundraiser for the whole year! Students will run/walk laps with our mascot, Leo the Lion, all while raising money to fund ALL of our student, family and staff events for the year! Money raised pays for student and staff t-shirts, trunk or treat, school dance, field trips, and so much more!  

Families can donate and share with friends and family members! Donate today and help us reach our goal! 

You can start by visiting our fundraising page here

https://app.99pledges.com/fund/lapsforleo2?home_v2=true

Or you can donate through Venmo, with note Laps with Leo Venmo @oaspta25 or send in cash or check (made out to OAS PTA) with your student, in an envelope marked PTA.

NEW - Please also RSVP to come and cheer on your child on October 9!  - https://forms.gle/wanjQZN32yXrp5rN7

  • Interested in volunteering in the Media Center? Miss Candido is looking for some volunteers to help check out books, assist younger children etc. Email us at ptaorangeavenue@gmail.com or CLICK HERE to sign up!

  • Want to become a PTA Member? Support your school with no strings attached!

  • Click the link and sign up!

  • Want to keep up to date on OAS PTA?

  • Follow us on Facebook and Check us out on Instagram @OAS PTA

  • Save the Date! Trunk or Treat, Saturday, October 25 4:00-6:00 (More info coming out soon!)

links

  • OAS Lunch  Menu

  • Linq Connect - to add money or check balance of food service account. 

  • Report Absences via Powerschool. Directions are here

  • Community Connections Center

  • Bus Zone App 

Important Dates:

  • Printable  25-26 MPS full year calendar can be found here. 

  • Subscribe to the Orange Avenue Public Calendar with all our events and activities by clicking here.

  • Thursday, October 9th - Laps with Leo Fundraiser. To get more info and to donate click here. 

  • Wednesday, October 15th - Fall Conferences 1:45-3:45 NOTE: dismissal is at 1:15 (10 min earlier than other early days) Info on sign ups to be release soon. 

  • Thursday, October 16th -  Fall Conferences 5:30-8:00 NOTE: dismissal is at 1:15 (10 min earlier than other early days) 

  • Friday, October 17th - Fall Conferences 1:45-3:45 NOTE: dismissal is at 1:15 (10 min earlier than other early days) 

  • Thursday, October 23rd - OAS Picture Day. More info to come. 

  • Sunday, October 26th at 11:00 am: MPS and Mermaid Books Presents Fancy Nancy’s 20th Anniversary Event at Foran High School. More info is here. 

  • Friday, October 31st - Costume Parade at 9:15. More info is here.