2012 NY State Testing and Final Exam Dates

NY State has issued revised dates for testing for Math and English.  Please note the changes below.

As you prepare your calendar of events for the year, please keep in mind that middle schools across New York State are held to a strict testing schedule.  The New York State Exam Schedule is listed below for your  information.

Military Mailbag Project Continues
Donation of used cards needed

It's the 17th Annual  8th Grade Community Service Day  -  November 22, 2011

The 8th grade class at O'Rourke will participate in a community service day on Nov. 22nd.  This is the 17th year that Mrs. Marge Rizzo and Mrs. Joyce Brown have coordinated this day of service, when all 8th grade students either work on a project in-house, or go off-site.  In-house projects include making scarves for Bethesda House, book bags for Ronald McDonald House and fleece blankets for the Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center.  Students who go off-site to work go to a variety of locations including Glendale Home, Maplewood Manor, Schenectady City Mission, Schenectady Salvation Army, Parson's Pre-School, Glenville Senior Center, and Bethesda House.  

2011 Fall Edition of the O'Rourke Observer

CALENDAR ....

	Tues. Jan 24 - Crossing Route 50 activities for Grade 8 during periods 7, 8 & 9. more info
	Fri. Jan 27 - 7th and 8th grade dance - 7-9 PM
	Mon. Jan. 30 - 2nd Semester Begins
	Fri. Feb. 3 - Grade 6 REC Night
	Mon. Feb. 6 - 2nd Quarter Report Cards Issued to students for take home.

2011-2012 Drama Club Website -

 For Drama Club news, rehearsal schedule, tickets and more Click on Annie!

The Annual QSP/O'Rourke Magazine Drive
Your magazine subscriptions help support the many extra-curricular activities at O'Rourke Middle School.  Our one annual fund raiser supports the cost of student agendas, subsidizes the cost of the year book, provides for free field trips and subsidized field trips, supports 6th grade Spirit Day and all Middle School Clubs to name just a few.

  You can order magazine subscriptions from
 your favorite student or on line.
Thanks for your support!

Order Magazines On-Line at QSP.com
O'Rourke Middle School code number is:
425011522

2011 PTA
REFLECTIONS CONTEST
Winners Announced 
The National PTA developed the Reflections program in 1969 to interest children, parents, teachers and communities in the arts.  This year's contest theme was "Diversity is..."  Students created a piece of art work, took a photograph, or wrote a story about the theme.  Following is a list of students whose work will be judged at the Regional Level:
Photography:  Nick Sinnenberg   Visual Arts: Shelby Kislowski

It's time to re-enroll for O'Rourke!

Price Chopper is asking all AdvantEdge card holders to re-enroll for Tools for School.  Please re-enroll your AdvantEdge card (or enroll or the first time) to benefit O'Rourke Middle School!   Through this program we are able to acquire extra sports equipment and student supplies each year.  Go to Tools for Schools and follow the links to enroll. O'Rourke's school code is 15715.

PowerSchool Parent Portal Pilot  

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District has adopted new computer software called PowerSchool for managing, reporting, and storing student data. PowerSchool will allow enhanced communication between the school and home via a “Parent Portal,” where parents/guardians can log on to the system and check their students’ progress at any time. This fall we are conducting a pilot program with teachers who have volunteered to participated in using the portal in order to ensure a smooth transition for school-wide use of the Parent Portal at the start of second semester in January 2012.

Parents who have received a letter with their log-in information can click the Parent Portal to set up their account. Please note that only those students who have teachers participating in the pilot have received letters with log-in information.

For more information, download the Parent Portal User Guide

Playing a Sport??
A Health Clearance (Yellow Sheet )is required.

A Health Clearance Form (yellow sheet) is required for students to tryout for any sport.  The Health Clearance form needs to be obtained from the school nurse within 30 days prior to the start of the sports season once all needed paperwork is on file in the nurse's office.  Complete information can be found on the Middle School Nurse's page.

Physical Form     
Health Recertification Form

Link to the 8th Grade English Vocabulary List.
 

School regulations regarding the attendance of Middle School Students at Sporting Events

Along with the privilege of participating in an athletic contest, either as a spectator or player, comes the responsibility to exhibit exemplary conduct, spirit and sportsmanship.  Please review the specific rules for Middle School students attending sporting events.

Homework Request Policy

A reminder to parents of the policy for requesting homework that is found on page 7 of the O'Rourke Middle School Student Agenda and Handbook:

Homework can be requested when a student is absent 3 consecutive days by calling the main office where work will be collected and can be picked up.  If you need texts or supplies from your child's locker, please come to the school at the end of the day as lockers are inside classrooms  (please be sure to have your child's locker number and combination with you). 

In the meantime... please check teacher websites, or call a study buddy to find out what assignments have been given. 

Parents are kindly reminded to follow the MORNING DROP-OFF PROCEDURES

	All student drop-offs must occur at the music door entrance ONLY (the second entrance toward the back of the building) no earlier than 7:15 AM and up until 7:45 AM.*  Students should not be dropped off at the main entrance (the first entrance toward the front of the building) between 7:15 and 7:45 AM.
	Student drop-off must be from the right lane only and in front of the music door entrance.  Please do not drop students off in any other place in the parking lot and not from the left lane or at the main entrance.
	The left lane is for through traffic and parking access only. No drop-offs should occur from the left lane.

*  After 7:45 AM students are considered tardy and need to enter through the main entrance and report to the attendance office to sign in. 
 

Procedures for getting out of school early 

If it becomes necessary for a student to leave school early, the student should:

        Bring a signed note from your parent/guardian to the attendance office before morning homeroom period.  If you are walking to a local doctor's office, the note must state that you are walking.

         Leave class at the excused time and wait in the Main Office.  A parent/guardian must come into the Main Office to meet and sign out the student.  If the student is not being picked up by a parent/guardian, the signed note from the parent/guardian must state who is picking up the student or the person must be designated as an emergency contact on the emergency information sheet handed in at the beginning of the school year.