Family Update: October 10, 2025
We’re so grateful for our generous families! Thanks to you, we had enough cookies, donuts, brownies, and treats this week for not one but two lunchtime parties—it felt like Halloween came early! The fun continued as more than 50 students and family members gathered to carve pumpkins at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House, and we’re looking forward to keeping the celebration going this Thursday during our Fall Festival in our Outdoor Classroom. And, as the temperatures drop, please be sure students come to school dressed for the season.
Our new Habits of a Learner Tool has launched, and families even did homework, reading and reviewing the new document with their OSS students! We truly appreciate the reflections, comments, and even creative questions—from parents, grandparents, and yes, even family pets! The main goal of this assignment was to share this important tool, and continue strengthening our home–school partnership.
This Habits of a Learner document will now be used consistently across all classes each quarter. It gives students regular opportunities to reflect on their learning, advocate for themselves, and hone their learning habits. As in past years, this work will contribute to their class Habits grade—but now, every teacher is using the same tool to increase clarity, consistency, and impact.
We’re so grateful for your support as we work together to help students “learn how to learn” and grow their independence and confidence. Questions? Please reach out to Mrs. Eugenio.
Above, you can see the invitation (which is also in your Friday Folder) - to join hands-on workshops to strengthen our partnership, gain practical tools to support your child’s learning and independence, and help every student thrive both academically and personally.
Boosting Your Child’s Awesomeness: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6-7:30PM
Explore simple, effective tips for helping your student grow in both academics and personal independence. This workshop will provide families with practical ways to encourage confidence, responsibility, and success. Families that attend earn 2 service credits.
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Collaborative Strategies for Student Success: Mandatory Family Meeting
Students thrive when families and schools work together, and this workshop will include introductions to platform basics (Gradelink and Google Classroom), and include practical strategies and hands-on ways we can partner to support every student’s growth. Families who attend earn 1 service credit.
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Helping Your Student Soar Academically: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6-7:30PM
Gain tools and strategies to support your child’s learning journey. This workshop will give families helpful tips to boost academic success and help students thrive in school. Families that attend earn 2 service credits.
Follow our regularly updated CALENDAR to see all events.
Every day at OSS we get to enjoy a good book! Reading daily helps us strive for excellence. When we read, we practice stamina and persevere through challenging text. We can also experience how an author communicates clearly. We can have empathy for characters in our stories, learn to value our own identities or even all ideas. As we know, reading allows us to explore so many different worlds, and as we do, we can exercise so many of our Community Core Tools.
Calendar Highlights:
No school Monday in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day
No school Wednesday ~ Staff Professional Development Day
Fall Festival is Thursday October 16th, 4:15-5:30pm and we look forward to fun with everyone. We’ve already received more than 100 RSVPs!
Admissions Presentation Saturday October 18th at 10am
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Did you say summer?!!! Oh YES WE DID! Monday November 3rd, 5:15-6:15pm we are offering a Summer Program ‘26 Event. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for details.
We hope you will consider the OSS Core Values and Community Core Tools illustrated above. We work hard to embrace them while at school, and know that when they are also reinforced at home, it helps us all grow more powerfully together.
Have a peaceful three day weekend. See you Tuesday.
Ms. Herman and the OSS Team