We are hoping to go live a 8 am tomorrow morning (Tuesday, May 18th); however, there could be a time delay so be sure to keep checking if it is not live immediately at 8 am. Additionally, please know that we are having a Characters with Character assembly before the NJHS Induction begins.

Here’s the link to the NJHS Induction ceremony:https://youtu.be/SiALK7l_KQw

I met with approximately one hundred current 7th graders during Advisory today to formally invite them to be a part of our school’s chapter of NJHS. Click on the link below to see the notes I used to deliver all kinds of information to these kiddos. [Again, these are my personal notes I was reading off of — if you are a parent, you might need to get your son or daughter to fill in any grey area for you as needed.]

Finally, if you need clarification or have concerns regarding Tuesday’s Induction Ceremony yet it is after 3:00 PM on Friday, May 14th, please direct your email or phone call to Mr. Burdett. I have a family commitment starting Saturday and cannot promise you that I can get back to you with an answer as speedily as you might need.

CURRENT 8th GRADE NJHS MEMBERS: Due to COVID-related restrictions, I am not permitted to have all of you be a part of Induction that will take place on Tuesday, May 18th. With that said, I still need SIX speakers and TWO ushers. If you are interested in being considered for one of these important roles, I need for you to send me an email stating such. *** Please keep in mind on Induction Day (or at least that morning) you will need to be dressed professionally and appropriately — something like dresses for girls and belted khaki or navy pants with a collared & tucked-in shirt for boys. If I hear back from more than eight of you, I will check discipline records, attendance records, and reach out to your current 8th grade teachers to help me pick the best eight members. We have a quick turnaround on this — I need to hear from you no later than 8:00 AM on Thursday, May 13th if you are interested.

7th grade students who are being considered for National Junior Honor Society met with Mrs. Gingras today during Advisory. The application packet/process was discussed in detail. Students were not given a hard copy of these packets; therefore, students wishing to continue their selection process will need to print out the application and complete it thoroughly. 

Use the link below:

As was stated throughout the meeting several times, no 7th grade student has “made” OMMS’s NJHS; however, the students Mrs. Gingras met with today are being CONSIDERED for this service organization.

All paperwork is due back to your assigned NJHS sponsor (A – M … Burdett and N – Z … Gingras) by Monday, May 10th. Again, applications can be dropped off before school and/or during Advisory. Do not interrupt class time to turn in your paperwork.

Further information will be forthcoming regarding membership into the NJHS for eligible students. We are hopeful that INDUCTION will take place virtually on Wednesday, May 19th. As I get more details and confirmations, I will post more specific information here. Stay tuned by checking back maybe starting around May 12.

I held I brief NJHS meeting today during Advisory to inform students about the “Check Presentation” that will be taking place tomorrow afternoon at approximately 2:00. Students were made aware of the following:

• Female NJHS members who wear sweatpants to school tomorrow WILL NOT be permitted to participate in the check presentation. Additionally, female students should not wear jeans with rips, tears, or holes in them.

•  Male NJHS members must wear either jeans or khakis (NO SHORTS) as well as a belt AND tuck in their Toys for Tots shirt in order to be permitted to participate in the check presentation. Shirts must stay tucked in while we are in the gym for the check presentation.

•  All members are required to wear their Toys for Tots shirt in order to participate in the check presentation. Do not plan on wearing a hoodie or a coat over your TFT shirt. Plan on simply wearing the TFT shirt, appropriate pants or jeans, belts (for boys), shoes, socks, etc.

When you get to school tomorrow, go directly to my classroom — B-20. I will have your Toys for Tots shirt. As stated in the meeting, there is only ONE of me and 118 of you (members). Please, please, please be patient with me as I do everything in my power to get you your shirt as quickly as possible while also serving my own 7th grade students.

DURING THE CHECK PRESENTATION ONLY, members CAN wear a Santa hat, elf ears, or something of that festive nature; however, accessories should be worn in GOOD TASTE and at a MINIMUM as well. DO NOT come to school tomorrow all decked out in your Santa hat, Christmas light bulb necklace that flashes, and red and green tutu. A little goes a long way……

Media — You might be interviewed; however, you can always decline the interview too. If you are interviewed, you will be asked things like What kinds of things did you do to raise money? Why did you choose to participate in this drive? What do you hope others get out of your hard work and effort? Sometimes the cameraman will take a wide shot of you all shopping. Please DO NOT wave at the camera. Just act “normal” but BETTER.

Finally, be prepared to practice social distancing while in the gym throughout the check presentation tomorrow.

Our annual NJHS Toys for Tots Campaign kicked off on Monday, November 9th and will run through December 4th. 

This year we are utilizing online donations due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

There are several easy ways to donate:

Text OM to 71777 – to make a general donation (not to a certain grade level)

Here is the link to the main page:  https://igfn.us/vf/OM

• Text OM6 to 71777 to donate to 6th grade
• Text OM7 to 71777 to donate to 7th grade
• Text OM8 to 71777 to donate to 8th grade

Please share this information with family and friends via email, text, or posting on social media.

This afternoon I met in the gym during Advisory and discussed the following (via the linked letter below that will need to be signed and returned to Mrs. Gingras by Tuesday, November 10th.

• ATTENDANCE: Members are required to attend all meetings. If a member misses a meeting, he/she must show verification of the absence being excused. Read the Parent Letter to find out more.
• GRADES: Members must maintain a specific number of points in their four academic classes. Grades will be checked periodically; however, if a member knows his GPA has fallen too low, it is best to bring that to a sponsor’s attention immediately. Read the Parent Letter to find out more.
• SERVICE HOURS: There is a specific number of volunteer hours members must acquire In order to participate in the tapping and induction activities in the Spring. Additionally, there is proper paperwork that must be completed and turned in for volunteer hours “to count.” Sponsors WILL NOT accept emails from parents or the supervisor/group leader of the activity verifying a member’s participation in community service hours. Proper documentation (Individual Community Service Hours) can be found on this NJHS blog above.  Read the Parent Letter to find out more.
• DISCIPLINE: Members should have ZERO offenses to include but not be limited to pink slips (warning), pink slips (detention) writing assignments, etc. Discipline records will be reviewed periodically; however, a member should tell a sponsor ASAP if they have been found guilty of an infraction. Read the Parent Letter to find out more. 
• DEADLINES: There will be a number of deadlines that MUST be met if a member wishes to stay in good standing and/or participate in various NJHS-related activities. With approximately 115 students who make up this prestigious organization, sponsors will not send out individual reminders. Rather, members have been encouraged to attend meetings, check the blog, check with other members, listen to the announcements, etc. to stay in-the-know. Read the Parent Letter to find out more. 
• DUES & VERIFICATION: Verification of a parent/guardian reading the parent letter and electronic payment of dues are due no later than Tuesday, November 10th. Read the Parent Letter to find out more. https://tinyurl.com/yxrwlamo
• VIRTUAL INDUCTION: We will be having a virtual induction on the morning of Wednesday, November 4th. Parents, guardians, and/or loved ones are not permitted inside the building; therefore, a link has been provided below for your viewing purposes.
  • Live Stream Link: https://youtu.be/tFAvM1ma5Z4
  • Students need to meet Mr. Burdett in the lunchroom directly following the 7:40 bell on Wednesday, November 4th. He will be lining students up in alphabetical order. It is important that students LISTEN carefully to the instructions he will be providing.
  • Students have been strongly encouraged to “dress for success.” male students have been encouraged to wear khaki or navy pants and a nice collared short. Female students have been encouraged to wear a dress or skirt with a nice top/sweater that is within dress code — make sure the length is long enough in the front and the back — or wear pants and a nice top/sweater. Students have been strongly encouraged NOT to wear shorts.

FYI: MEMBERS WERE NOT GIVEN A COPY OF THIS PARENT LETTER; THEREFORE, MEMBERS WILL NEED TO AT LEAST PRINT OUT THE 2nd PAGE OF THE LETTER TO GET THE VERIFICATION PORTION OF IT FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

There are so many questions right now, and I wish so desperately I had all the answers. Sadly, I don’t though. The most often asked question I continue to get asked is in regards to those current 7th grade students who will be considered for membership for our school’s chapter of NJHS.

Again, at this point I have no concrete answers. My thoughts are that any and all NJHS activities will be postponed until school resumes for the 2020-2021 academic year. This would include the “You Are Being Considered for Membership” meeting, the application process, tapping, as well as induction.

Stay tuned for further details — I will keep you as in-the-know as I can.

FYI…..

To be considered for NJHS here at Oak Mountain Middle School:

• First, a student would have needed to have maintained an A average in his core classes his 6th grade year and an A average for the first three grading periods of his 7th grade year.
• Students who are considered academically eligible for NJHS are then invited to a meeting informing them of such.
• Next, there is an application packet to complete. Students document their community involvement and extracurricular activities. Additionally, students have two teacher recommendation forms that need to be issued. (The teacher is then responsible for getting the rec back to an NJHS sponsor.)
• Once a student turns in his paperwork by the due date, a teacher/administrative panel will review it along with his behavior report for his 6th and 7th grade years.
• Thereafter, those who have been selected for NJHS will be tapped out of class and the induction ceremony will be held a week or so later.
• The whole process takes about a month from beginning to end and generally takes place starting in April and could extend into May.

Super proud…kinda teary….extremely BLESSED! Thanks for a great job today, y’all! Again, you all bought 1858 toys today!! Do you even understand how far that will go…just how many families that will help???

Again, I am just overwhelmingly proud of all 118 members who were with me today, my colleagues here at OMMS, the OM community as a whole — just so THANKFUL!!

I have been BLOWN UP with emails and text messages regarding a Facebook post that was made regarding those of you who shopped with us today. Check it out and then get some REST — you have earned it!

• Female NJHS members who wear leggings or jeggings to school on Monday, December 9th WILL NOT be permitted to go shopping. Additionally, female students should not wear jeans with rips, tears, or holes in them.

•  Male NJHS members must wear either jeans or khakis (NO SHORTS) as well as a a belt AND tuck in their Toys for Tots shirt in order to be permitted to go shopping on Monday, December 9th. Shirts must stay tucked in from from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

•  All members are required to wear their Toys for Tots shirt on Monday, December 9th in order to go shopping as well. Do not plan on wearing a hoodie or a coat over your TFT shirt. Plan on simply wearing the TFT, appropriate pants or jeans, belts (for boys), shoes, socks, etc.

Members CAN wear a Santa hat, elf ears, or something of that festive nature; however, accessories should be worn in GOOD TASTE and at a MINIMUM as well. DO NOT come to school Monday all decked out in your Santa hat, Christmas light bulb necklace that flashes, and red and green tutu. A little goes a long way……

Monday morning — after the 7:40 bell rings, go to your locker, put your stuff up, meet Mrs. Gingras in the lunchroom ASAP with a calculator in hand. (Yes, you can use your phone as your calculator.)

Cell Phones — again, you can use your phone in order to access your calculator; however, (and I made this VERY clear at the meeting) I do not want to see you on your phone taking pictures, playing games, using social media, etc. while we are in WalMart…AT ALL!!! Trust me—you will be A-O-K for a little while without your phone. I promise!

Remember This Throughout the Entire Day: You are representing OMMS, your sponsors, NJHS, yourself and your family, as well as TFT and the Marines. Do not disappoint.

Media — You might be interviewed; however, you can always decline the interview too. If you are interviewed, you will be asked things like What kinds of things did you do to raise money? Why did you choose to participate in this drive? What do you hope others get out of your hard work and effort? Sometimes the camera man will take a wide shot of you all shopping. Please DO NOT wave at the camera. Just act “normal” but BETTER.

Chic-fil-A MONEY — Pay Mrs. Colley if you have not already done so!!! First thing Monday morning!! THIS SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE!!!

BUS LIST — Lists are posted outside of Mrs. Colley’s classroom. You need to know which bus you are riding, so make sure you check the list!

EXTRA MONEY — Feel free to being a little bit of money in case you want to buy a drink or a small snack while we are at WalMart.