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Oak Orchard Primary School

Exemplify Excellence in Education

Family Newsletter 8/10/26

Posted Date: 08/10/26 (03:28 PM)


School

Oak Orchard Primary

Family Newsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Oak Orchard Families,

As we prepare for a wonderful new school year, we want to share some important updates and dates to help you and your child get ready for the first day of school.

First Day of School Schedule

  • Grades K–2: Wednesday, September 9th, Doors open at 7:35AM.
  • Pre-K (PK) Soft Start: Wednesday, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th. PK families should arrive at the specific time slot selected during screening. If you have not attended screening yet, you will select a time on that day. If you do not have a time, or have forgotten your time, you may reach out to our secretary, Heidi Albone, in the Main Office. First full day for PK is on Friday., Sept. 11th.
  • New School Start Time - This year, homeroom will officially start at 7:45AM. Students will be considered tardy if they arrive after this time. This is only 5 minutes earlier than last year and will allow us to include a WIN(What I Need) time in our schedule.

Back-to-School Open House Our Open House will take place the evening before school starts on Tuesday, September 8th, 4:30-6:00PM. Having Open House the night before worked wonderfully last year to help alleviate any student and family concerns, and we look forward to seeing everyone there! More information will be coming soon.

Digital Teacher Assignments & Parent Portal This year, we are moving to a fully digital process for teacher assignments:

  • Teacher assignments for students will be available for families on Thursday, August 20th via Parent Portal.
  • We encourage families to use the attached directions below if they have never used Parent Portal through eSchool before.
  • If you have any problems with Parent Portal, we will also be sending notification via ParentSquare on Friday, Aug. 21st.
  • If families continue to not be able to access their child's information, please call the main office after August 24th, and we will be able to provide that information.

Welcoming Our New Assistant Principal Lastly, we are thrilled to welcome our new Assistant Principal this year, Penny Connors! Mrs. Connors brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with family outreach and engagement. She will be working closely with our students day-to-day and will also serve as the McKinney-Vento liaison for the district. Join me in giving Mrs. Connors a warm welcome! Please see below for an introductory letter from Mrs. Connors.

Thank you for your partnership as we kick off another fantastic school year!

Your Proud Principal,
Julie Schiavone
jschiavone@medinacsd.org
585-798-2700

Parent Portal - First Time Users ONLY

Click on the link below. New users must click the registration button at the bottom, circled in the image below.
Eschool
Eschool - Parent Portal Link
 

Letter from our New Assistant Principal

Penny Connors
Dear Oak Orchard Families,

There is something special about growing up in Western New York. We learn early the importance of looking out for one another, lending a helping hand, and taking pride in the communities we call home. Those values have shaped who I am, and they are a big part of what drew me to Oak Orchard Primary School.

My husband and I are proud Buffalo Bills fans, and like many families in this region, we appreciate the sense of community that brings people together. Whether it's cheering on our favorite team or supporting a neighbor, Western New Yorkers understand the value of showing up for one another. That spirit is something I have always admired about Medina, and I am honored to now be part of this school community.

For many years, I had the privilege of serving students and families as a school social worker at Clarence Central Schools. That experience reinforced my belief that relationships are at the heart of education. When children feel safe, known, and cared for, they are more confident, more engaged, and better prepared to learn. As Assistant Principal, I am excited to build meaningful connections with our students, staff, and families while helping create a school where every child feels welcomed, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

I know that schools are strongest when families and educators work together. I look forward to partnering with you throughout the year, celebrating your children's successes, navigating challenges together, and creating positive experiences that will help every student grow both inside and outside the classroom.
Thank you for welcoming me to the Oak Orchard family. I cannot wait to meet each of you and begin what I know will be an incredible school year.

Go Bills, and here's to a wonderful year ahead!
Warmly,
Penny Connors
Assistant Principal
Oak Orchard Primary Schoo