Principal's Welcome
August 2026
Dear Oldfield Middle School Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying a restful and fun-filled summer. As we prepare to welcome our students back for the 2026–2027 school year, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to our returning families and to those joining the OMS family for the first time. A very special welcome goes to our incoming sixth graders, who are about to begin an exciting new chapter in their lives.
Middle school is truly a unique time. It is a time for students to discover new interests, build independence, make lasting friendships, take healthy risks, learn from mistakes, overcome challenges, and begin to discover who they are and who they want to become. At Oldfield Middle School, we are committed to creating an environment where every student is known, valued, challenged, and supported academically, socially, and emotionally.
With that in mind, I am especially excited to introduce our theme for the 2026–2027 school year:
Adventure Awaits… Let’s Explore, Grow, and Thrive Together!
Last year, we encouraged our students to Write Their Stories and embrace the next chapter of their journeys. This year, we are taking that story one step further by encouraging our students to embrace the adventure of learning, growing, and discovering their path.
At OMS, we believe every student is on an adventure. Every classroom is another stop along the journey, every new experience is an opportunity for discovery, and every teacher and staff member is here to serve as a guide, encouraging our students along the way.
Whether your child is entering sixth grade and walking our halls for the first time, beginning seventh grade with greater confidence and independence, or entering eighth grade and preparing for the transition to high school, we want each student to approach this year with curiosity, courage, and an open mind.
Our message to students will be simple: try something new, ask questions, make new friends, be kind, take academic risks, work hard, learn from mistakes, and never underestimate what you can accomplish. The greatest adventures are not about being perfect; they are about growing along the way.
Our commitment to academic excellence remains at the heart of everything we do. Students will experience rigorous, engaging, and student-centered instruction that emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication, research, writing, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving.
As we continue to align our instructional practices with the Science of Reading, New York State Literacy and Numeracy Briefs, and the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, we are focused not only on what students learn but also on developing the skills they will need to succeed in high school, college, careers, and life.
Through interdisciplinary learning experiences, authentic research opportunities, digital literacy, and the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies, we want our students to become increasingly independent learners who can think critically, communicate effectively, ask meaningful questions, solve problems, and take ownership of their learning.
I am also excited to share an important instructional change for our sixth-grade students this year.
Beginning in September, sixth graders will experience an alternating double-period structure for Math and ELA. Students will have a double period of ELA one day and a double period of Math the next, providing teachers with extended instructional time to deepen learning and respond more effectively to individual student needs.
During the first period, teachers will provide explicit whole-group instruction, modeling, direct teaching, and the introduction of new content. The second period is intentionally designed for small-group instruction, targeted support, differentiated practice, enrichment, application, and meaningful feedback. New core content will not be introduced during this second period.
This additional time allows our teachers to respond to student needs in real time. A student who needs additional practice can receive that support without leaving the classroom, while a student who is ready for greater challenge can engage in enrichment and deeper application of skills.
This structure also strengthens our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) by bringing intervention and enrichment directly into the classroom while giving students opportunities to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, and become increasingly independent learners. Ultimately, our goal is simple: to provide every student with what they need to grow.
We know that some of the most meaningful middle school experiences happen beyond the traditional classroom.
Students at OMS have access to a wide variety of clubs, activities, enrichment opportunities, music, athletics, and leadership experiences. Opportunities such as Robotics, Gardening Club, World Language Club, community service organizations, Intramurals, Drama, Music, Choir, Visual Arts, Creative Computing, and OMS Kickers allow students to explore interests, discover talents, build confidence, and develop friendships.
Leadership is also an important part of our school culture. Students have opportunities to make a difference through Student Government, National Junior Honor Society, Sources of Strength, the Principal’s Student Advisory Council, and service-learning initiatives throughout the year.
I strongly encourage every student to find at least one way to get involved. Sometimes, the activity a student is hesitant to try becomes the place where they find their closest friends, discover a new passion, or realize a strength they never knew they had. That is what this year’s theme is all about — exploring new paths.
Equally important is ensuring that every child feels a sense of belonging. Our teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, administrators, and support staff work collaboratively to ensure our students feel connected and supported. Through programs such as Start With Hello, No Place for Hate, P.S. I Love You, Sources of Strength, social-emotional learning, and our anti-bias initiatives, we will continue to foster resilience, empathy, kindness, inclusion, healthy relationships, and respect for others.
Families Are Part of the Adventure:
We recognize that we cannot do this work without you. A strong partnership between home and school is essential to student success, and we genuinely value your trust, communication, collaboration, and support.
Throughout the year, we will continue to keep families informed in several ways:
- ParentSquare remains our primary platform for school and district communication. Families will receive messages by email and text, and we encourage you to download the free ParentSquare app.
- Daily morning announcements will continue to be posted on the OMS website (Harborfields CSD) so families can see what is happening in our school each day.
- Google Classroom provides families and students with information regarding assignments, class materials, homework, assessments, and course updates.
- Infinite Campus Parent Portal provides access to grades, attendance, schedules, and academic progress.
Important Back-to-School Information:
First Day of School: We are excited to welcome our students back on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026. The district’s approved calendar identifies September 1st and 2nd as Superintendent’s Conference Days and September 3rd as the first day for students.
Student Schedules: Schedules, locker information, and bus information will be available through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal on August 25th at 3:00 p.m.
As always, we take great care in thoughtfully placing students in learning environments where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Although we understand the desire to request specific teachers, friends, teams, or lunch groupings, we are unable to honor individual placement requests. Part of the middle school experience is learning to navigate new situations, develop new relationships, and build confidence and adaptability. We appreciate your partnership in helping students approach their schedules with an open and positive mindset.
Summer Visitation: Summer visitation days will be August 27th and August 31st, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. These visits provide students with an opportunity to walk their schedules, locate classrooms, and become comfortable with the building before the first day of school.
Classroom Supply Lists: Supply lists will be posted on the OMS website.
School Hours: Our school day is 8:10 a.m.–2:50 p.m., with homeroom beginning promptly at 8:10 a.m.
Before-school programs, including music, intramurals, extra help, and breakfast, begin at 7:30 a.m. Students entering the building before 8:03 a.m. must be participating in a supervised program and have the appropriate pass.
Arrival begins at 8:03 a.m. Please do not drop students off earlier unless they are participating in a supervised before-school activity.
Transportation and Dismissal:
Students must ride their assigned bus and may not ride another student's bus.
Only students participating in a school-sponsored club, activity, extra-help session, or sport may remain after school. Late-bus information, including the start date and schedule for the 2026–2027 school year, will be communicated before school begins.
For transportation questions, please contact Michelle Bitton, Transportation Coordinator, at (631) 754-5300, extension 6330.
For everyone's safety, please do not drop students off in the north lot. Please follow the OMS arrival and dismissal traffic pattern when dropping off or picking up your child.
A Few Important Reminders:
Health Office: Students who feel ill during the school day must report to our nurse, Ms. DePaolis. If your child contacts you directly to say that they are not feeling well, please remind them to report to the Health Office so the nurse can assess them and contact you when appropriate.
Attendance and Participation: Consistent attendance matters. Students who are present, on time, and engaged build stronger academic habits, maintain important connections with their teachers and peers, and make greater progress in their learning. Every day counts. Per district policy, students arriving after 11:00 a.m. may not participate in after-school activities or events that day.
Forgotten Items: Forgotten items may be left at the main entrance. To minimize interruptions to instruction, students are responsible for retrieving items during lunch or recess rather than having items delivered to classrooms.
Backpacks: Backpacks must be stored in student lockers during the school day. Wheeled backpacks are not permitted.
Cell Phones, Smartwatches, and Internet-Enabled Devices: New York's statewide bell-to-bell restriction on unsanctioned use of smartphones and other personal internet-enabled devices remains in effect for the 2026–2027 school year. At OMS, students must keep these devices powered off and stored in their lockers throughout the school day, consistent with district policy. Please do not text or call your child on their personal device during the school day. Should you need to reach your child, please contact our Main Office.
Water: Students may bring water bottles to school. Other beverages are not permitted.
Safety: Items considered weapons are strictly prohibited at school and will result in immediate disciplinary action consistent with district policy.
Vacations: When planning family vacations, please review the school calendar carefully so students do not miss valuable instructional time, state assessments, Regents examinations, or final exams.
Respect and Conduct: Harassment, bullying, intimidation, and verbal threats have no place at OMS. We expect our students to treat one another with kindness, dignity, respect, and integrity. We ask families to review our school policies and expectations with their children before the first day of school.
As we begin this school year, I hope our students understand that an adventure does not mean everything will always be easy. There will be challenges, unexpected turns, difficult assignments, new friendships, mistakes, successes, and moments when students need to dig a little deeper than they thought they could.
Our job as educators—and as parents—is not to remove every obstacle from the path, but to give our children the tools, confidence, encouragement, and support to navigate those obstacles successfully.
I feel incredibly fortunate to lead a school community filled with talented educators, wonderful students, supportive families, and people who genuinely care for one another. I cannot wait to see what our students discover about their interests, their abilities, their friendships, and themselves this year.
On Thursday, September 3rd, our doors will open, our hallways will come alive again, and another OMS adventure will officially begin.
To our sixth graders: be brave and take that first step.
To our seventh graders: keep exploring and growing.
To our eighth graders: make this final OMS adventure one you will always remember.
Adventure Awaits… Let’s Explore, Grow, and Thrive Together!
I cannot wait to welcome everyone back!
Best,
Maribeth Corr
Principal
Oldfield Middle School
