The Orchard Park Central School District is committed to promoting the social well-being of our school community through student support and parent involvement. To further this effort, we are pleased to offer a Parent Information Series on Mental and Social Emotional Health. Parents and interested community members are invited to attend the first presentation in this series called "More than Sad: Suicide Prevention for Parents" on either January 15th in the Orchard Park High School Auditorium or on January 31st in the Orchard Park Middle School Auditorium. Both sessions will run from 6:30-8 p.m.
In December, Orchard Park High School students from Mrs. Feely’s AP Government class arrived at Ellicott Elementary in their pajamas to read holiday stories to students during their school-wide Reading Invasion. There were enough volunteers that every classroom had at least one high school reader present throughout the day. The idea came about at a recent District Leadership Committee meeting when high school teachers were discussing the importance of community service for their students. Ellicott Elementary Literacy Coach, Mrs. Jenifer Senn, came up with the idea to invite some high school students to visit her school in order to show their “love for reading” with young students who admire them. The experience proved rewarding for both the high school students and the elementary students. The younger children expressed how much fun it was to have a teenager read to them, and likewise many of the high school students were eager to visit more classrooms to spend time with the young listeners. Mrs. Senn feels this was an amazing experience for both sets of students.
In December Freshman Boost classes at the Orchard Park High School were visited by presenters, Lindsey and Beau Riggs through the “Heads Up” program. The program is in its third year at the high school and is a collaboration between the Orchard Park Foundation for Academic Excellence, Bryant & Stratton College, Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce and the Great Erie Federal Credit Union. The title “Heads Up” comes from the desire to get people, specifically students, out of their devices and into the present. The programs’ training focuses on soft skills; the ability to know how to use a proper handshake, making eye contact while speaking and overall good listening skills. Lindsay and Beau Riggs were trained to present to students through Bryant and Stratton College. Lindsay works for the United Way and Beau works for Northwest Bank. They demonstrated the different types of handshakes that are used in society then honed in on the proper handshake to use in an introduction or at a job interview. The students were able to work on asking and answering open ended questions and the presenters also spoke a little about themselves and their careers while checking in with the students to ensure they were using their close listening skills. The freshmen were actively engaged and interested in the presentation. Staff at the Orchard Park High School are grateful to the Riggs’ for donating their time to our students to help the students grow in the use of their social skills.
At this time of year it is very important to be aware of our inclement weather procedures. The decision to close schools is not an easy one to make and often the decision needs to be made quickly and decisively and always in the best interest for the continued safety of our students and staff. We begin the decision process at 4 a.m. or sooner, depending on the weather and the forecast. With more than fifty other locations that we transport students to (BOCES, private schools, special programs), a delayed start is usually not an option for a district our size. Once the decision is made to close, radio and television stations are contacted, the district’s webpage is updated and the iConnect notification is sent out. I would ask that parents take a few moments to sign into the Parent Portal and review their contact information to make sure that it’s current. Please visit https://powerschool.opschools.org for more information.
For information on registering your child for Kindergarten for 2019-2020, please contact Amanda Alba the Central Registrar at 209-6325. She is located in the Orchard Park Central School District Administrative Offices, 2240 Southwestern Blvd., West Seneca, NY. Registration is done by appointment only Monday through Thursday in the summer. Please call between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to make an appointment. It is important to make an appointment as soon as possible in order to ensure that parents can attend Kindergarten Orientation at their child’s future school building and have their child signed up for Kindergarten Screening. Orientation is traditionally late in April and screening is held in May. Additional information and paperwork can be found at www.opschools.org/kindergarten. Please contact Amanda Alba at 209-6325 with any questions.
Applications for Universal Pre-Kindergarten are currently being accepted for the 2019-2020 school year. In order to participate in the UPK program children must reside in the Orchard Park Central School District attendance area, and be four years old by December 1st of the year they start the program.
Congratulations to the OP Girls Varsity Volleyball team on their Section VI Class AA Win on November 3, 2018! The Quakers defeated defending champion Clarence and clinched their first sectional title since 2012 and the fourth in its history.
On Saturday, October 13th, Orchard Park Central School District friends and family participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Canalside. The walk raises awareness and funds to save lives from breast cancer. To-date, the OPCSD team has raised over $2,400 in support of this event.
Ellicott Elementary students participate in the Stuff the Sneaker campaign in an act of kindness. All four OP elementary schools completed 10,800 acts of kindness this year.
Download the NEW FREE district mobile app today! Get the latest district and school news. Select the schools you want to follow. Get push notifications about breaking news, closures, events, and more. See the latest photos from school events. Tap to see morning announcements, lunch menus and the Virtual Backpacks fast. To download on your mobile device, iPad, or Tablet: Visit iTunes App Store® or Google Play®, Search OP Schools Then select the “OP Schools” app for FREE download.
A recent update in New York Education Law, effective July 1, 2018, requires that a complete physical exam be conducted for all students entering grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. We ask that you schedule an appointment with your child's physician if they will be in one of those grades in September 2018. Please forward the completed form to your school nurse as soon as the exam has been completed.
Parents and interested community members are invited to attend the second presentation in the Parent Information Series on Mental and Social Emotional Health called "More than Sad: Suicide Prevention for Parents" onon January 31st in the Orchard Park Middle School Auditorium from 6:30-8 p.m.
Please click to read more information about our upcoming Parent Information Series on Mental & Social Emotional Health, collegiate signings, and the OPHS teacher who was named Advisor of the Year.
The OP Schools mobile app contains essential information on district news, events, and important reference information. Download the app for free by searching for “OP Schools” in the App Store or Google Play.
Please click the headline to read instructions on how to subscribe to the Orchard Park Central School District iCal calendar.
