Fewer Test Sessions
• Like the 2018 tests, the 2019 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests are two sessions each.
• With fewer test sessions, each test will have substantially fewer questions than in recent years, lessening test fatigue for students and better enabling them to demonstrate what they know and are able to do.

Untimed Tests
• Like the 2016-2018 tests, the 2019 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests will be untimed.
• In general, this means that as long as students are working productively, they will have as much time as they need to complete each test session, within the confines of the regular school day.
• Schools and districts have discretion to allow students to read silently or quietly exit the room when they have completed their test while others continue to work.

Test Questions Reviewed and Written by New York State Teachers
• Teachers from across the State serve on committees to write, evaluate and select questions for the tests.
• Hundreds of New York State educators were involved in creating and reviewing questions for 2019 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests and selecting the questions for the test forms.
• This year, most of the test questions were written by New York State teachers specifically for the annual New York State tests.

Providing Results for Teachers and Improved Resources for Parents
• Like the previous three years, the New York State Education Department plans to have instructional reports returned to teachers by the end of the school year and to release at least 75 percent of the test questions again.
• The 2019 Score Reports for parents will feature more information about what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

Computer-Based Testing
• Some schools chose to administer the 2019 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests on computers rather than by paper and pencil. The computer-based tests (CBT) will have the same questions as the paper versions. Students in those schools utilizing the CBT option have access to CBT practice tests and most have had prior experience participating in other computer-based tests in ELA and Math.
• The long-term plan is for all schools to use CBT for annual State tests. CBT has the potential to further reduce the need for stand-alone field tests and make assessments better instructional tools for students with disabilities.

We are in the process of updating our phone system and phone extensions have changed. When calling the school, please use the District Directory.

To promote Digital Citizenship and be better stewards to our environment, Odessa Montour School District is partnering with FundingFactory to collect ink cartridges and toners from our schools, homes, and businesses in our community. Cartridges will be recycled (which means less waste in our landfill) and the money earned will go towards our Digital Citizenship incentive for our OMSC students. The program runs year-round, accumulating constant income for our efforts.

Here’s how you can help:

Drop off empty name-brand toner and inkjet printer cartridges to the District Office, High School Office, Hanlon Office, or B.C. Cate Office and Hanlon Student Council will take it from there. You can look at the list of qualifying cartridges on the link on Odessa’s main website. Lists are available in each of the offices as well. PLEASE ONLY SEND CARTRIDGES AND TONERS THAT ARE ON THE LIST.

Also, ask your employer about donating its used name-brand toner and inkjet printer cartridges through Funding Factory’s Business Support Program. They can register with our school and OMSD will receive the profit. Businesses can ship recyclables directly to FundingFactory with free UPS shipping labels and boxes, or use our drop off locations. If you work for a company that may be interested in supporting us, please have them call us or FundingFactory toll-free at (888) 883-8237. Give the customer service representative our school identification number (405833) and they’ll set you up to support our account. It’s that easy!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your support!

http://www.fundingfactory.com/qualifying-list-detail.aspx

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This is our current Smart Schools Investment Plan which shows the balance of spending to be used for security updates. Click the link below to view the plan in it's entirety. If you would like to comment about the plan, please contact James Nolan, Director of Instructional Technology at jnolan@gstboces.org.

The O-M Fitness Center will re-open on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.  It will be opened Monday-Thursday from 5:30pm - 8:00pm.  The public is invited to use the Fitness Center and there is no charge to use it.

The Odessa-Montour Central School District has designated a Foster Care Point of Contact (Debra L. Switzer) to work collaboratively with the Foster Care Point of Contact from the Schuyler County Department of Social Services (Michele Wasicki). Both agencies agree to evaluate, discuss and work in partnership on transportation issues to ensure that children in foster care are able to remain in their district of origin, if it is in the best interest of the child.

Per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Schuyler County Department of Social Services has designated Deputy Commissioner, Michele Wasicki, as the Foster Care Point of Contact. The Department’s point of contact will work collaboratively with area School Districts’ Foster Care Points of Contact to discuss transportation plans for children entering foster care to ensure that children are able to remain in their district of origin, when it is determined to be in the best interest of the child. Transportation plans will be developed on a case by case basis.

Safe and healthy school environments can foster healthy and successful children. To protect public health, the Public Health Law and New York State Health Department (NYSDOH) regulations require that all public schools and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) test lead levels in water from every cold water outlet that is being used, or could potentially be used, for drinking or cooking. If lead is found at any water outlet at levels above 15 parts per billion (ppb), which is equal to 15 micrograms per liter (µg/L), the NYSDOH requires that the school take action to reduce the level of lead.

During recent testing, five outlets at the Junior/Senior High School were found to have lead levels above 15 parts per billion (ppb). Three are sinks in the darkroom area, one is a sink in the girls' locker room next to the Jack Davis Gym and one is a sink in the prep room of room 207. These sinks have been posted as non-potable water sources and have been taken out of service until the fixtures can be replaced.

 A copy of the test summary is available here

Updated Information – 8/1/17

On June 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of Education renewed the New York State Education Department’s request waive certain requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This waiver provides school districts with flexibility in meeting academic standards. As a result, the New York State Education Department has changed the accountability system it uses to identify schools that are not meeting defined academic performance standards. Under the new accountability system, the Odessa-Montour Central School District has been identified as a Focus District. The district received this designation for failing to meet established performance and participation rate requirements, based on the 2015-2016 New York State Assessment results. The Hanlon Elementary and Odessa-Montour Junior High School did not meet proficiency targets on both the count and the percentage of students with disabilities subgroup for the 2015-2016 New York State assessments in English Language Arts and Math.

We will continue to conduct reviews of our instructional practices throughout the school year and identify areas that need improvement. We are determined to do everything possible to join with our community and our families to help bring each of our students to the required level of proficiency and regain our status as a School in Good Standing.

School Review with District Oversight Report

Diagnostic Tool for School and District Effectiveness (Self-Assessment Document)

The 7^th and 8^th grade teachers would like to introduce the creation of their new homework webpage. Below is the link that will allow you to access this website.

http://omcshomework.weebly.com/

Join the OMCS community on Twitter and follow us @omcsindians to get the latest Odessa-Montour announcements, updates, and news!