Letter from

the Editor

This super-charged year is nearing its end, and what an end! Our OMS students are champions, virtuosos, philanthropists, and distinguished academic exemplars. We will soon have to build a special room to house all of the OMS trophies: from track to technology, basketball to spelling bees, debate to kindness deliveries, music to math, our OMS students have shined, excelled, mastered, and reigned victorious. The students have worked diligently in their subject areas and have faced the academic challenges of state testing. They have demonstrated their personal best in their classes! We are OMS Proud of our wonderful students In addition, our teachers have been recognized for their excellence and devotion. As the hurricane blew into our year, the Bulldog

family joined together to give care, courage, and

cooperation to create a year filled with strength,

support, and success! May you all have a safe,

fantastic, and fun-filled summer!

Follow Us Online!

2018 Volume , Issue

Inside this issue:

And even more!

Oakridge Bulldog Bulletin

Twitter: @OMS_Bulldogs (http://twitter.com/oms_bulldogs)

School Website: http://www.collierschools.com/oms

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CollierSchools

District Website: http://www.collierschools.net

CCPS Mobile App: Search for it on

Page 2 For more information, check out www.collierschools.com/oms and http://www.collierschools.net/

Volume , Issue

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednes-

day Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 FSA Writing Exam

3

FSA Writing Exam

4

5

Noetic Math Challenge Band MPAs

6

Report Card Distribution

7

8 9 10 11 12

SSYRA Vot-ing/ Ice Cream Party

13

14

Track and Field Qualifiers

15 16 17 18 19 20

Limo Ride

21

22 23

7th Grade ELA Testing

24

7th Grade ELA Testing

25

8th Grade ELA Testing

26

8th Grade ELA Testing

27

Interim Ends

28

Track and Field Championship

29 30

6th Grade ELA Testing Interims sent home

APRIL 2018

Bharath Ram, student extraordinaire, represent-

ed Oakridge Middle School in the Collier County

District Spelling Bee Tuesday with the word

“fortification.” Not only did he represent us, but

he WON! And that was after 2½ hours and 40

rounds!

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Volume , Issue OAKRIDGE BULLDOG BULLETIN

Bharath is a seventh-grade student and will join

about 300 other students from across the country

to compete at the 91st annual Scripps National

Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C. The final

round will take place May 31.

Bharath also competed in a different academic

competition last weekend, so he took Monday off

to prepare.

“Spelling is one of the things I recognize the value

of,” he said. “It’s really useful. A lot of the time I

don’t think about it, but anytime I write something it

seems like a glaring error if it’s wrong.”

Bharath beat 48 other middle school students to

win the title. Last year he came in second in the

district competition.

Bharath’s trip to D.C. will be paid for by the Collier

school district.

The winner of the national competition will receive

$40,000 from Scripps, $2,500 from Merriam-

Webster and a trip to New York City to appear on

“Live with Kelly & Ryan.” Finalists will receive cash

prizes.

SPELLING B STAR!

Page 4 For more information, check out www.collierschools.com/oms and http://www.collierschools.net/

Volume , Issue

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednes-

day Thursday Friday Saturday

1

6th Grade ELA Testing

2

8th Grade Math FSA

3

8th Grade Math FSA

4

Make-Up Test-

ing 1-127

5

8th Grade

Formal LWIT

6 7

7th Grade

Math FSA

8

7th Grade

Math FSA

9

6th Grade

Math FSA

8th Grade

Science

10

6th Grade

Math FSA

11

Make-Up Test-

ing 1-127

12

13 14

Spring Chorus

Concert

15

Civics EOC

16

Algebra EOC

17

Algebra EOC

18

Make-Up Test-

ing

Universal Trip

19

STEAM Com-

petition

20 21 22

23 24

Middle School

Math Chal-

lenge Region-

al Champion-

25

8th Grade

STEAM

ERD—Final

26

27 28

Memorial Day

29

Finals

30

ERD Final Ex-

ams

31

ERD Final Ex-

ams

Last Student

1

MAY 2018

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Volume , Issue OAKRIDGE BULLDOG BULLETIN

The following students qualified for the District Noetic Championship and competed May 24, 2018. Allan Zhou placed in the top 5 for Collier County. Allan Zhou Lucas Obrecht Shreya Rajaram Aarnav Sheth Andrew Herrmann

The Math Counts State

Tournament was held in

Daytona Beach March 22-23.

Approximately 55 schools and

240 students were competing.

Allan Zhou (6th), Justin Wang

(7th), Nathan Kim (8th) and

Bharath Ram (7th) made up the

Oakridge team. Bharath scored

in the top 25% of all

competitors. The Oakridge

Team was in the top 40%..

The OMS Debate Team reigns

supreme with an undefeated

season! The team won both

matches on April 7, 2018 and

will now go on to the District

Finals!

Congratulations to the team

and to Mrs. Selden, the

Debate Team Coach.

MATH COUNTS

NOETICS DEBATE

The Intermediate and Advanced Bands performed at their annual Music Performance Assessments (MPA) on Thursday and Friday last week. Both groups earned STRAIGHT SUPERIOR ratings from all judges!!! The students played beautifully and the judges were very complimentary in their comments. Furthermore, the OMS Music Department has sent 6 groups to MPA this year: Intermediate and Advanced Band, Jazz Band, Intermediate and Advanced Orchestra, and combined Int/Adv Chorus. Every single group earned STRAIGHT SUPERIOR ratings!!! This means 23 judges evaluated our groups and every one assigned a rating of SUPERIOR. This is truly remarkable!!! Also, this means that OMS students are creating many amazing musical performances. Thank you and congratulations to Mrs. Pflieger, Mr. Rosbottom, and our talented students.

Talon Alexander, Grace Ardezzone, Kelsey Auriana,

Nicole Ayala, Camila Azize, Dakota Baker, Sabrina Bendel,

Chloe Berkowitz-Pereyra, Alexia Bojanowski, Juliette Calderin,

Gabriella Calvanese, Emily Campos, Grace Caudill, Hailee Cutie-Soto,

Kaityln Dye, Mackenzie Elgin, Alexa Estrada, Brianny Fernandez,

Paula Franco, Kelli Fretz, Tyra Garcia, Kaiden Grisso,

Hannah Hamilton, Katelynn Hamilton, Brooke Harris, Cassandra Henry,

Kimberly Horta, Aniya Houston, Owen Houston, Brielyn Humphries,

Layna Jahner, Katherine James, Melissa Joseph, Ezzah Kaul,

Kylie Mills, Emmy Miranda, Marianne Murphy, Katie Nesbit,

Catarina Parker, Katherine Pascual, Krisha Patel, Julianna Perez Pineiro,

Sabrina Pierce, Aja Pierre, Maggie Platten, Grace Pleskin, Joanna Quintana,

Aditi Rangdale, Mikaela Rizzi, Ella Rucinski,

Ariana Ruiz, Jennifer Rush, Alexia Ryan, Steven Santos, Olivia Schindler,

Darby Shelton, Sophia Smith, Victoria Sutherland, Anushka Thakur,

Gabriela Toledo, Trinity Tregea, Kaysie Turner, Riley Unsinn,

Anika Vutech, Juliana Wentworth, Grace Woolman, Bella Yager

OAKRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

MUSIC MASTERS

2018 OMS Jazz Band

MPA stands for Music Performance Assessment. Each year, the Florida Orchestra

Association hosts Orchestra MPA Festivals in 18 districts throughout the state.

These orchestras perform for a panel of distinguished adjudicators who are respected

orchestra directors in their own right.

In these assessments, the state standards of performance fundamentals, musical effect,

and other factors associated with the highest level of orchestra music performance are

considered by each adjudicator.

Each orchestra is also required to sight read a piece of music as part of the

assessment. The orchestras are given five minutes of time to study and then perform

the piece of music. This is the ultimate FSA

demonstration. It requires that each orchestra member uses every bit of musical

knowledge and applies it on the spot to create a piece of music out of thin air.

Orchestras are then given a rating that best represents their level of

achievement. Ratings range from Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OMS LEADS at the MUSIC USA FESTIVAL 2018

Orlando, FL

WHAT IS MPA?

Orchestra 1st Place Alison Stavely & Osei Allen

Band 1st Place Julie Kramer & Ashley

Singer

Chorus 2nd Place Ella & Julie

Orchestra Grand Champion Alison Stavely

& Osei Allen

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Volume , Issue

The following students traveled to the Administration Center for the district tournament on April 13th. David Garfield (6) Charles Jaikaran (8) Caden Traylor (6) Bharath Ram (7) Ashvik Vijai (7) Alex Smuda (7) Justin Wang (7) TJ Zelek (6)

On April 12, 2018, the Media Specialist Mrs. Ferreira (with help from volunteers and OMS staff members) hosted an ice cream/voting party for students who read three or more Sunshine State Young Reader Award Books. Twenty students read all fifteen books. If you read three books, you got just plain chocolate or vanilla ice cream, but for every additional book that you read, you got a topping. As if ice cream was not enough, while you were at the party, you could use the REAL voting machines to vote for your favorite Sunshine State Young Reader Award Book (SSYRA). The winning book with the most votes was The War That Saved My Life and Randoms was a close second.

SUNSHINE STATE VOTING AND ICE CREAM PARTY

SCHOLAR BOWL

Page 9

OAKRIDGE BULLDOG BULLETIN

OMS raised money to support Parkland as they are in need of school supplies. Recently, Stoneman Douglas High School had been under code red because of a shooting. Now students can barely manage to walk into the building. This is why those students are learning in a different building and now need the money to buy supplies. In addition, we did day of service where we participated in packaging Meals of Hope. And we also created cards to send to Parkland. OMS students just have to pay the price of $5 to be able to dress down for the day. Students dressed in Collier County dress code and got a wristband declaring our support.

Dress Down Day

Bull Dogs Supporting Eagles

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Volume , Issue

RECORD BREAKING!

Lukas Furgason, an Oakridge Middle School track star continued his record-setting performances at the Collier County Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships at Naples High School on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Lukas broke not one, but two of the records he just recently set in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs. His 800 time of 2:06:70 blew past his time of 2:08:50 he had just recently set at the North-South meet one week earlier. His time for the 1,600 [1 mile] was 4:52:91 which bested his time of 4:55:34 set at an Oakridge-hosted meet on April 7. That previous record had been secure for 9 years until Lukas claimed it. FLYRA State Middle School Championship Update:

Lukas medaled and finished seventh in the boys 1,500 meters with a time of

4:25.90. That is comparable to a 1,600 meter race in 4:44, which would have

shattered his previous CCAC record-setting run of 4:52.91. Lukas also ran the

800 meter race and placed 14th with a time of 2:10.73. Lukas will be moving to

Kentucky and attending the Lexington Christian Academy next year; we are sad

to see him go, but wish him well and maybe we’ll get a chance to see him run

again 5 or six years in an NCAA meet on TV!

Other highlights from the State meet are Charles Jaikaran competing in the 3000 meter run with a time of 10:52 and our Boys 4x800 meter relay team (Wes Podos, Riley Hart, Charles Jaikaran and Luke Furgason) placed 11th with a PR of 9:31.49.

TRACK & FIELD

“I thought the meet was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget as long as I live. I’m so proud of the way that our relay and Gulf Coast Runners team performed. Thanks to our outstanding track coach, we were able to get very far this season and compete with the best in the whole state. Overall, we had an incredible season, with a ton of support from many friends and family. I’d also like to thank Quinn Brooks for being there as our alternate and supporting us through everything.” Lukas Furgason 8th Grade

“I was nervous at first but I realized we were well trained by our coaches and focused to win. I was proud to represent

my school and my community.”

Riley Hart 8th Grade

4x800 Relay Team: L-R—Riley Hart, Charles

Jaikaran, Lukas Furguson, Wesley Podos and not

pictured Quinn Brooks

Page 11

Oakridge Bulldog Bulletin

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OAKRIDGE BULLDOG BULLETIN

On March 19th, posters went up around

Oakridge about the talent show. Talent show auditions took

place on Wednesday, March 28th with signups held in Ms. Morse’s

room during homeroom, March 21st through March 26th. Over 30 acts

tried out and only the following 13 made it. These performers are:

Aramis Rivera

Alex Smuda

Collin Meyer/Will Foden

Bella Yager/Nick Gaudio

Darby Shelton

Kailtlyn Schmidt

Lizzy Mehler

McKenzie Yon

Monique Terrero

Naika Brice

Nina Scarboro

Rebecca Klein

Sadie Scardino.

TALENT SHOW

There were two practices for our performers on April 4th and April 11th (dress rehearsal)

from 4:00 to 5:30. The performance took place on April 12th at 6:30. The performances included singing, dancing, baton twirling,

comedy, ukulele, piano, and trumpet playing.

We are so amazed by our Bulldogs and their astonishing talent, and we hope to see many of them perform again next year.

L to R Ms. Morse, Sadie Scardino, Will Foden, and Colin Meyer

Sadie Scardino singing “The Wizard and I”

Page 12

Newsletter Title

Dr. Seuss Poem/Essay Contest

Here I stand, awards in hand, Soon enough, my horizons will expand, Off to the high school down the street, I’ll be sure to never skip a beat.

First day of high school, here we come, √77 + 61, will I have to find the sum? Walking into campus, my stomach jitters, On I go to join the club of committers.

It’s been 4 years and what a time, Summa Cum Laude, I feel so sublime! All the energy drinks, all the stress, Closer and closer to success.

Into orientation, palms sweaty, With a huge boom, a launch of confetti, A friendly voice guides me through the dorm halls, Left to communicate with my family through short phone calls.

Pre-Med over, I’m closer now, I’m doing all this work and not sure how! Applied to two med schools, accepted to both, On we go, let’s take the Hippocratic Oath!

Residency pays very little, Soon, it’ll all be worth my committal, Just a little longer, After all these years, I’ve become much stronger.

Finally, finally, a true doctor, Told my mom and it pleasantly shocked her, Making lots of money now,

30 years of age, time to settle down somehow. I found this wonderful person, With her my days will never worsen, I’ve fallen in love, Soon, we’ll have our own little dove.

Opened my own company, Through this difficult time, my wife will accompany, But no one wants to come, I know that soon, all will be fine and I’ll be making even more income!

Our little dove has arrived, From my short slump, I’ve been revived, A beautiful girl with blonde hair, Holding her, I take lots of care.

That’s when I got the phone call, That’s when I let the phone fall, With the terrible news I never wanted to hear, Hearing my mother had died left me with a tear.

30 more years have flown by, I just retired and I let out a sigh, With my large house and my beautiful daughter, Anxious to see my granddaughter totter.

All these years, how far I’ve come, Sucking her tiny little thumb, Here’s my daughter’s little one now, I’ll never let her go, I make a silent vow.

Mrs. Bremseth’s Business classes competed in the Dr. Seuss “Oh the Places You’ll GO” contest in February. Nick Beskow (7th grade) and Elle Dindak (6th grade) placed 1st and 3rd respectively! Below and on the next page are their winning Poems.

By Nick Beskow

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Oh The Places You’ll GO! Continued . . . .

By Elle Dindak

Right now everything seems like such a waste except for playing games and getting chased. Having to get up and go to school every day,

wishing you could just run and play. At this age there is nothing for you to worry about because you are just beginning to grow and sprout.

But suddenly you’ve entered middle school,

and you can no longer goof around or be a fool. School and soccer have taken up all of your time

and you begin your journey, and you start to climb. Then suddenly you just can’t take it anymore,

you start crying hysterically and drop to the floor. You lost it because you are so nervous and stressed,

but it’s times like these that allow you to rise above the rest. You grow from experiences like those

because bumps in the road don’t make your doors close.

And you thought those times were tough but now you’re in high school and life is rough.

You try to forget about all your worries and fears, but it’s hard to ignore them, so you shed a couple tears.

The confusion eats you up inside, and you wish someone could just hand you a life guide

that would have all the answers you’ve been dying to find. But until then, you continue on with the grind.

You graduated as top in your class, and you were invited by many colleges,

but to most you had to pass. Ivy League has always been your dream,

So when Cornell accepted, you cried and screamed. The hard work and perseverance has now paid off,

and your career is just about to takeoff. You are about to be the best lawyer the world has ever seen,

because of your hard work and your perseverance, you’ve

become keen.

The 7th grade ELA students have

been busy researching important

social issues such as the python

plague, homelessness in Collier

County, the electoral college, anxiety,

funding for NASA, drownings in

Florida, red tide, and poverty in India

to name a few.

After doing their research, students

worked together to produce a “Call

to Action.” Some examples are a

Public Service Announcement,

films, fundraisers, letters to public

officials, and petitions!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

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Volume 1, Issue 1

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Volume 1, Issue 1

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Mrs. Andrea Polanco

2018 Teacher of Distinction Stand Up for Justice Award Winner

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Laozi

If you see an enormous heart walking around campus with a beautiful smile, it is Mrs. Polanco. Mrs. Polanco truly does it all! And whatever she does is award-winning. She is our 7th grade civics, teacher, Social Studies Department Chair, Assistant Girls Basketball coach, and Assistant Boys Basketball coach! This year she helped lead the girls’ team to the district championship. But, that is not all! Mrs. Polanco was selected as the 2018 Teacher of Distinction for her excellence and exemplary achievements in her Civics classes. In addition, she was recognized as the Stand Up for Justice Award winner for her profoundly

moving impact on Collier County and beyond through her “Kindness Rocks” project. Together with her students, she has produced more than rocks painted by her students with expressions of kindness on each one. All of these have found their way throughout the county and into the hands and hearts of our community where they continue to spread the kindness and care to hundreds of people.

Mr. Thomas Speigal

2018 Collier County Middle School Teacher of the Year

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Plato

Coach Speigal spreads caring and kindness like a beautiful perfume that reaches each and every student and staff member, especially those having a tough time. In addition to his teaching expertise as the PE teacher, he masterfully intuits students who need that extra care and concern. Just as one of his PE teachers changed his life forever and placed him on the right path, he hopes to do the same for his students. This year, Coach Speigal was recognized as the Collier County Middle School Teacher of the Year and this is well-deserved. He credits his strong faith and loving wife for helping him to achieve this award.

Coach Speigal runs the FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] at OMS with Coach Mauk. His “bucket list” includes, being a Best Man in a wedding, having a positive influence on his students, welcoming people into his faith, and helping his wrestlers to excel.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Page 17

Oakridge Bulldog Bulletin

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Oakridge Bulldog Bulletin

Darby Shelton- Special Events, Student Government

Victoria Sutherland– Special Events, Student Government

Josephine Schumacher– Special Events, Music

Anna Ward - Special Events

Katherine Herrera - Special Events

Ms. Duplaa: Editor/Advisor

Mrs. Bremseth: Artistic Designer

Follow Us Online! Twitter: @OMS_Bulldogs (http://twitter.com/oms_bulldogs)

School Website: http://www.collierschools.com/oms

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CollierSchools

District Website: http://www.collierschools.net

CCPS Mobile App: Search for it on

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