9/18/26 Week Ahead

Posted Date: 09/18/26 (12:14 PM)

Week Ahead

Oak Ridge School

September 18, 2026

Collage of images of students learning this week

This Week on the Ridge

We had another epic week on the Ridge! Students enjoyed dance parties, PJ Days, Chromebook care lessons, signing classroom charters, hands-on learning activities, even more fun outside during recess....and more! It was wonderful to see so much learning, laughter, and community-building happening throughout the school!

Reminders & Updates

P.E. Class Reminder

To ensure every child can participate fully and safely in physical education, please remember that proper athletic footwear is required on PE days. Crocs, flip-flops, sandals, slides, and boots pose significant safety risks during movement activities, game play, and running. These types of footwear can easily slip off, lack sufficient ankle support, and often result in trips, rolled ankles, or stubbed toes.

Physical Education Footwear Requirements:

Approved: Closed-toe sneakers or athletic shoes with rubber soles that tie or securely strap across the foot.

Not Allowed: Crocs (even in "sport mode"), flip-flops, slides, sandals, dress shoes, or platform shoes.

If a student attends PE without proper footwear, they may be asked to engage in modified, low-impact tasks to ensure their safety, which limits their opportunity to play and practice skills with their peers.

Grade 6 Nature's Classroom

Nature’s Classroom Opportunity for Sixth Graders

We are excited to offer our sixth-grade students the opportunity to participate in an upcoming Nature’s Classroom field trip from November 11–13, 2026! This three-day, two-night experience will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn and grow outside of the traditional classroom setting. Students will participate in engaging activities and have opportunities to choose experiences that interest them while building independence, confidence, teamwork, and connections with their classmates.

Families interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity are required to attend a virtual information meeting hosted by Nature’s Classroom. The meeting will include an overview of what students can expect during the trip, as well as time for families to ask questions.

During the information meeting, families will also be asked to complete a brief form that will appear in the chat to indicate their interest level in having their child participate. This will help us get an idea of how many students may be interested in attending.

Oak Ridge Nature’s Classroom Information Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting:

Join the Nature’s Classroom Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 963 2682 2579

Passcode: 649851

We look forward to sharing more information about this exciting opportunity for our sixth-grade students!

Clubs

An exciting selection of Fall Clubs is available HERE!

Club registration will open on Monday, September 21 at 8:00 AM and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Each club will have a separate registration post in ParentSquare, so please register for clubs in order of your student’s interest.

More clubs will be added for the winter and spring, but some are already in the works and available to preview now.

Please note that Drama Club will be offered in the winter, but registration will open on Monday, September 21, because auditions will be held in December.

Enrollment is not guaranteed, and each club has a different enrollment limit. You will receive notification from the club advisor that your student is enrolled after registrations are reviewed.

We encourage families to review the club offerings and information ahead of time so students are ready to register when registration opens. Please read all information carefully before registering.

Students who wish to join a school-sponsored club(s) must purchase a one-time yearly Oak Ridge Club Pass.
Cost: $75.00 per student (cash or check made out to Oak Ridge School).
Fee is non-refundable and due once enrollment is confirmed.
The pass covers all clubs for the school year—once purchased, your child may join multiple clubs without paying extra.
Waivers are available for students eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Each club requires at least 10 members to run.
Some clubs have limited space—spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Families with more than one student must complete a separate form for each child.
There are no school nurses after 3:00 p.m. If your child has a serious health condition and attends a before/after school club, please complete the Extra-Curricular Emergency Medical Information Form (available on the Oak Ridge website under Clubs) and send in/email it to Carolyn Perry (cperry@sandwich.k12.ma.us)

Nursing News

school health screenings; BMI, Hearing, Vision, Postural

Mandated Health Screenings

Massachusetts General Law, chapter 71, section 57 with related regulations 105 CMR 200.000 mandates that school nurses do periodic screenings of vision, hearing, growth (height and weight) and posture. Pursuant to these regulations, the Sandwich Public School nurses screen students according to the following schedule:

Vision: 3rd grade (near/far vision); 4th grade (far vision); 5th grade (far vision)
Hearing: 3rd grade
Growth (Height and Weight/BMI): 4th grade
Postural (Scoliosis): 5th and 6th grade
This is not a diagnostic service, but a screening program to identify children who should have further medical evaluation. Students are screened separately and privately. Students are asked to remove their shirts. Girls should wear a bra or halter top to permit more accurate observation of the back. If students do not have the type of clothing that permits observation of the back they will be offered a “johnny” gown to use, if they choose not to make use of the “johnny” they will not be screened and a notice will be sent to parents / guardians that screening was not completed. Follow up should be done with the student’s health care provider with documentation submitted to the school nurse.

Parents/guardians will be notified if a vision, hearing, or postural screening requires further evaluation. Included in this notification will be a request for a report from your health care provider of their findings so that the nurses are aware of any problems which may interfere with learning and can accommodate any needs that are identified.

If you choose not to have your child participate in the the state required screenings, please email Angela Labelle BSN, RN alabelle@sandwich.k12.ma.us or Amy Sweet MSN, RN asweet@sandwich.k12.ma.us prior to 10/01/2026. If you choose to opt out your child please be sure the health office has an updated physical within the last calendar year, and/or a note from the specialist of the screening you are choosing to opt out of.

Important Reminders

Documentation:

Provide the school nurse with a note from your physician for the following scenarios:

You are requesting that an absence be excused due to a medical reason
Your child has had surgery
Your child has had an injury or intervention that requires them to use crutches, wheelchair or a walking boot
Your child needs to use the elevator
Your child has received a mental health diagnosis requiring accommodations
Your child received stitches/staples /surgical glue
Your child is unable to participate in Physical Education classes/Recess

When to stay home from school:

Temperature of 100.0 F or higher (may return to school once they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications)
Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
New onset rash with itching or fever

**Absences will be medically excused upon presentation of documentation from a licensed healthcare provider

Prescription Medications:

Physician’s orders are required for the administration of medication during school hours. Students may not carry medication on their person (except in select scenarios regarding life-saving medications, after consultation with the school nurse, parent/guardian, and prescribing physician)