Oakland Mills School Happenings | January 22, 2025 | Issue 158 | |
Brr...it's cold! We hope you've been staying safe and warm! Good luck to all our high schoolers as they take their exams this week!
Have a wonderful day!
Brigitta Warren, Village Manager
Amy Carpenter, Events & Administrative Coordinator
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Oakland Mills High School
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Congratulations to the OMHS Boys & Girls Indoor Track Teams! Both teams won the County championships! |
OMHS Food Pantry
January 22, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
at OMHS (front parking lot)
If you'd like to donate, scroll down to the donations box to find out how.
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FAB Spirit Night at Main Event
January 23, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Located at the Mall at Columbia
School is out 3 hours early! Fine Arts Boosters will receive 20% of all food, beverage, game and gift card purchases. More info
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HCPSS Dance Festival
February 1, 7:00 p.m.
OMHS Auditorium
Snow date: February 8
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Savage Mill Tri-M Performance
February 22, 12:30 p.m.
8600 Foundry St., Savage
Free!
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OMHS FAB Mattress Fundraiser - SAVE THE DATE!
March 30, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
At OMHS
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Volunteer to help with sports concessions
Help the Boosters keep the Hut and concessions booth staffed during games! Sign up HERE.
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Sports Schedules
It's that time of year! Fall sports are about to start. Visit County Sports Zone for schedules and results. Find ticket info and guidelines HERE. Go Scorps!
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Career Fair Community Brainstorming Meeting
February 21, 7:00 p.m. On Zoom
Want to help out with the career fair? Attend the first career fair community brainstorming meeting! Share your ideas, connections, donations, and/or help on the actual day of the job fair. The goal is to help students learn more about careers, summer jobs, internships, and workplace shadow options.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84751132682
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Oakland Mills Middle School
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PTSA Meeting
January 27, 6:30 p.m.
OMMS Media Center
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Donate to the PTSA
Support the OMMS PTSA by visiting the OMMS PTSA Givebacks Store to make a direct cash donation.
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OMMS School Store
At the OMMS school store, students use the Falcon Dollars they earned for good behavior to purchase items. OMMS is still looking for donations. Very popular items: cosmetics (they love the ELF brand ) and body care products; sporting equipment; small stuffed animals; small hand sanitizers (like from BBW); and snacks. If you'd like to donate, visit the store's Amazon wishlist.
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Stevens Forest Elementary School
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Lunch and Recess Monitor Needed
The candidate hired for this SFES position will work every weekday for approximately four hours and will be paid $16 per hour. If you're interested or have any questions, please contact Casey Schurman at Casey_Schurman@hcpss.org or 410-313-6900. Info & application
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SFES Winter Concert
January 22, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
OMHS Auditorium
Snow date: January 27
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SFES PTA Meeting
January 27, 7:00 p.m.
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PTA Inspire with the Heart Art Night
January 30, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Open only to SFES students and their families. Stay warm inside with an evening of fun and art. We will paint ceramic tiles and coasters with winter themes. Winter goodies will be served. Free. No registration required.
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PTA Valentine's Day Dance
February 13, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Open only to SFES students and their families. Enjoy a DJ, dancing and snacks. Free. No registration required. An adult (over 18), must accompany their children during the entire event.
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Mystery Readers Still Needed!
Find out more HERE.
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Talbott Springs Elementary School
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TSES Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser for Black History Month
Payment due by January 28
See flyer for info on how to order.
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PTA Meeting
January 22, 6:15 p.m.
Hybrid meeting
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Black History Month Celebration
February 12, 6:16 p.m.
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Help the TSES PTA stock the staff restrooms
Order from the Amazon wish list. Or reach out to Natalie to arrange delivery hospitality@tsespta.org. Please do not drop items off at the school.
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Thunder Hill Elementary School
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THES Winter Band & Orchestra Concert
January 24, 6:30 p.m.
THES
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THES Winter Wonderland
January 31, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
THES
For THES students and families. Food, games, activities, & photo booth.
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PTA Meeting
March 6, 6:00 p.m.
THES
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Howard County Public School System
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School Closure Dates
January 23: all schools 3-hr early dismissal
January 29: schools closed
February 5 & 6: elementary schools 3-hr early dismissal
February 7: schools closed
February 17: schools closed
Emergency/weather closings info
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Attention Parents of Rising Kindergarteners: Don't Wait for Summer to Address Developmental Concerns!
If you have concerns about your child's development—whether it's their speech, motor skills, social skills, or learning—it's important to act now. Waiting until the summer for a referral can delay crucial support that your child may need before starting kindergarten.
Contact HCPSS's Child Find to schedule a screening. Call 410-313-7046 or email ChildFind@hcpss.org.
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Road to Kindergarten Information Sessions
Do you have a child who will turn 5 by September 1, 2025? Come to a parent info session! All sessions run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and cover the same content.
- January 23, Centennial High School**
- January 28, Wilde Lake High School*
- SNOW DATE: February. 4, Hammond High School**
* Spanish interpreter will be present at these sites.
** Chinese, Korean, and Spanish interpreters will be present at these sites
More info
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Bright Minds Foundation Breakfast with the Superintendent
January 28, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
The Meeting House (OM Interfaith Center)
5885 Robert Oliver Place
Superintendent Bill Barnes will share his vision for the school system and how he is leading the system to become great for every student. HCPSS, Bright Minds, and several HCPSS partners also will host resource tables to highlight some of the important groups working to support Howard County students and our community.
Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased online or by check; details are available online. Proceeds from this event will support Bright Minds programs focused on improving education outcomes for Howard County students.
Questions may be emailed to Bright Minds Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Van Kirk at jennifer@brightmindsfoundation.org.
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Class of 2025 Graduation Window:
May 19-30, 2025
No graduations will be held on weekends or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. Specific information regarding the dates and times of each graduation ceremony will be finalized in collaboration with Merriweather Post Pavilion and provided by mid-April. More Info.
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Board of Education Meetings
- January 30, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting
- February 13, 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.
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Oakland Mills Board of Directors
Education Committee
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OMCA Education Committee meeting
Next meeting: January 28, 6:00 p.m. at The Other Barn
The Oakland Mills Community Association's Education Committee advocates for and assists our schools to ensure students attending schools in the Oakland Mills Cluster have top-quality educational opportunities in diverse, enriching settings. New members always welcome!
For more information contact Oakland Mills Board of Directors Chair and OMCA Education Committee Chair Jonathan Edelson at jledelson.omca@gmail.com.
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Community Resources & Announcements | | |
HC DrugFree Upcoming Classes & Volunteer Opportunties
Guiding Good Choices Classes
Tuesdays & Fridays, March 18 - April 1, 1:30 p.m.
Held virtually on Zoom
For parents, grandparents, and guardians
More info & registration
Life Skills Classes for Middle & High Schoolers
Mondays, February 24 - May 5, 5:30 p.m.
Held virtually on Zoom
Registration
High School students: want to volunteer as a Life Skills instructor's assistant? Find our more HERE.
College students: want to work or volunteer as a Life Skills instructor? Find out more HERE.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry
January 22, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Free, no contact.
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Columbia Community Care
Free Supplies & Food Distribution
Saturdays 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Locations and info
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Free Student Meals
Click HERE to learn more and apply.
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Oakland Mills United
Free tutoring and help understanding the college process HERE.
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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
If you are in need of food and cannot get to the center please call 410-313-0220 to schedule an appointment.
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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! No expired food please! 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.
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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.
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Oakland Mills United
Tutors needed! More info HERE.
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