The Close of the Year

Summer is Almost Here! Summer Mindset

by Ms. Ertelt and Mrs. Dockerty

This is our last blog of the year. We are looking forward to summer and all of the things we can do. As we do every year, we will be having the OMS Summer Challenge in coordination with the JCPL Summer Reading Program. This means you can earn prizes from both programs and help out the community at the same time. For the OMS Challenge, you choose which blocks you want to complete. For every block you complete, you will be entered to win a small prize or gift card. If you want to go for blackout- which is completing every block, you are entered to win a grand prize. In the past, the grand prize has been a season pass to Elitches for the following summer, dinner and movie passes for two.  To participate in the OMS Summer Challenge, you must use the OMS Summer Challenge Form. This year, we are making the submission form electronic. So, you will complete all of the tasks you want, then you and your parent/guardian will complete the online form. All forms are due by August 28th. While you are working through the OMS Summer Challenge, you can also use the time you've read to complete the Jeffco Public Library Summer Reading Program. You can win prizes for both programs and help the community as well. JCPL donates to worthy causes in the name of the school that wins as well as donating money to the school that has the most participants. Watch the video below to learn more about the JCPL program.

JCPL Link to Registration for Summer Reading Program: https://jeffcolibrary.org/summer-reading/

To learn more about the School Contest where we can earn money, read this link: https://jeffcolibrary.org/school-contest/

Wondering what books you might choose to read for your summer reading? Here is a virtual booktalk from JCPL to give you ideas on what to read.

Act With Purpose-Always

By Ms. Whipple

"How often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else."

~R. Buckminster Fuller

When we left Oberon in the middle of March, we didn't know for sure we'd be doing remote learning for the rest of the school year. We probably would have done things  a little differently to prepare to not see our friends and school staff as regularly and in person. As you act on purpose, reflect on the school year and identify actions you can take to align with your dreams. What are something you did over the school year that were really helpful to get you moving toward your dreams and other tings you may want to avoid next school year? 

Watch these videos to help you reflect on this year as well as plan for next year.

Sometimes we're so busy we don't stop to see the beauty all around us. As you're going for walks this summer with your family, try and take mental pictures or "frame" scenes (even if it's with your fingers instead of an actual frame like the video) you find beautiful. Also, you and your family can practice "broadcasts" each week of what is the best thing that happened during the week or even during that specific day. You can share these while talking over dinner, put notes in a jar and read them at the end of the summer, or get creative and make it fun by acting them out via charades or having them guess during a game of Pictionary.

Jeffco's Make Bake Shake Site

Jeffco has a site that has ideas of things to make, bake, and exercise. Click this Link to access the page.

Spring in Our Step

Seeking Adventure and Travel? Look No Further

By Ms. Ertelt

Could You Escape Alcatraz? By Eric Braun

In this book, you will choose how to navigate Alcatraz in order to escape. Each choice has a consequence- positive or negative- and will take you further on your adventure. Remember, choose wisely or you may be imprisoned on Alcatraz forever!

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson

Based on rare arcival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and manhunters, you will read a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth. The twelve-day chase through Washington streets, through the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia will show you what being the most-wanted person in America looked like.

Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle 
Margarita lives in two worlds- Cuba and America. Her mother's homeland of Cuba boasts island beauty. Margarita's heart calls for the tropical heat of the air, the sounds of the island play in her head as a long-forgotten song. She currently lives in Los Angeles where the noise, crowded streets, and pollution clog a person's mind and creativity with gross depression. Margarita longs to return to visit Cuba and rejuvenate. Then, tensions between Cuba and America explode with the Invasion of the Bay of Pigs and war seems likely. How does Margarita choose between the land of her heritage and the land of her home?

Soaring Earth by Margarita Engle

The Communist Revolution has made Margarita's dream of returning to the Cuba she knew a mystery and an impossibility. Still, Margarita dreams of travelling and seeing sights, experiencing life. She is making plans, but then war breaks out and all of her plans become entangled in the war-driven world she is living in. This sequel memoir to Enchanted Air continues Margarita's journey.

OMS Summer Challenge is just around the corner! OMS Summer Challenge Tic-Tac-Toe Menu, directions, and completion form are ready. The OMS Summer Challenge starts June 1st!

Brain Games

By Mrs. Dockerty

How many times have you said, "I'm bored!"? Sure, you have school work, and chores, and conversations with family, but still... you need something to keep your brain entertained! Something that will challenge you to think in a different way. Thinking "outside-the-box" helps us to find unique or unusual solutions and can even help us see the usual solutions more quickly! Have some fun with the following brain games:

Riddles:

• River Crossing Riddle
• The Unstoppable Blob Riddle

Puzzles:

• Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles
• Sudoku
• Printable Games and Puzzles

Letting Go is Part of Life, But Often Not the Easy Part

By Ms. Whipple

"Our greatest glory comes not from never falling, but rising every time we fall."

~Confucious

The Time is Now is the 7th Mindset and Get in the Zone is the focus this week. When we act our ot anger, jealousy, or resentment, we almost always get it wrong and cause more harm than good. The key is to recognize when we are out of sorts, stop taking action, and figure out a way to get in a better state of mind. When we can do this and get into our zone, the actions we take are much more effective and result in far more positive outcomes. This is not to say that justified anger isn't appropriate, such as when we react to bullying or discrimination. The key is to think before we cat in all cases.

Video

Letting go is not a weakness

It is important to be able to share what you are doing with your life and what matters to you. You will never know who you'll meet, and if you get good enough at your story, you may find that the people you meet will want and beable to help you in some way! For an activity, draw an elevator on a flip chart or use a door in the room. Have everyone in your family develop a 30 to 60 second "Elevator Pitch," a summary of the most important dream they have for their life. Give them a few minutes to prepare. As each family member comes to the fron, act like you are holding the elevator door for them. As they enter the imaginary elevator, ask what floor they are getting off on and click an imaginary button. Then ask the question "What are you looking to do with your life?" Give them 30 to 60 seconds to share. At the right point, act like the door is opening and they need to get off on their floor. Discuss what it was like to share your dreams with each other and how the message from the "letting go"video can be helpful.

Spring is in the Air!

Back to Back Fun!

by Ms. Ertelt

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Simon Kelleher is one of the most feared and hated people at Bayview High School. He runs the online gossip blog. Bronwyn is the straight A, never breaks the rules, overachiever. Addy is the typical popular, homecoming royalty, dating-the-hot jock girl. Cooper is the All-American, star pitcher for the baseball team. Nate is the criminal. These four are the targets for Simon's next gossip blog and it promises to destroy their lives. Mysteriously, they are all forced together in after-school detention. A freak car accident, a mysterious ingestion of an allergen, and Simon's death turn the world of these four students upside down. All of the secrets they've tried to keep are spilling out and becoming their motives for killing Simon. Told from each of these unreliable narrators, you are taken through the twisted mystery of who killed Simon while also learning how each narrator rebuilds their lives after that day.

One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus

In the year since Simon's death, there have been a lot of people trying to take his place as the gossip king of Bayview High. But everything changes when a new online game appears- Truth or Dare. The creator of this game has the same uncanny knowledge Simon had and the rule of the game is you don't play, you choose truth. Now, there are new victims and new trouble. The problem is, as the game progresses, the dares get more dangerous. And a lesson learned from Simon's death- you can't trust the police to help or protect you.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

In a city where nowhere is safe and monsters overrun everything, Kate Harker and August Flynn are dual heirs to ruling. When Kate returns home after being kicked out of her 6th boarding school, August sees the opportunity to learn more about her. Both have secrets and both have ambition and both are targets for assassination. Together, they must escape peril and decide whether they can trust each other as they navigate their dangerous world.

 Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab

Kate must return to Verity. August must let Kate return. The war has begun and the monsters are winning but a new threat reveals itself and that threat can destroy both of them. They must decide if they can face the new monstorous threat....and the internal secrets between them.

Follow this Podcast: Aiden Tyler, Quaran-teened: Author Rex is writing this novel and presenting the chapter-by-chapter read-aloud for middle schoolers offering real-time, about our real-world predicament in a webcast "serial". Tune in every Tuesday at 2pm ET to catch the latest of the story. Missed the first few? Go to the link to catch up. If you stick around after he's read the latest chapter, there is a weekly Q&A with Mr. Rex.  

Motivation.. Keep on Chugging Along

by Mrs. Dockerty

Motivation! Now that it's getting closer to summer (don't you love seeing more sun?) AND we are so tired of being stuck in our houses and not seeing our friends, it is really hard to stay motivated and to get our work done. It happens every year, that loss of motivation the last few weeks of school, but this year is harder. However, staying positive and keeping yourself motivated to do your best can make things a little better. Click on one or both of the short videos below to give yourself a little inspiration to stay motivated. Share them with your family, too!

Disney Motivational Video

7 Things You Can Control

Live in the Now

from Ms. Whipple

"Forever is composed of nows." ~Emily Dickinson

The Time is Now mindset teaches us the importance of harnessing the power of the moment and taking purposeful action. The simple fact is that all of our power to act and make an impact exists in this moment. Embrace Every Moment- One measure of our lives is how we feel in each moment. When we embrace every moment, we squeeze the most out of all experiences and live lives of greater joy and happiness. We must seek circumstances and moments that create great joy and memories. Even in difficult times, such as losing a loved one, we experience love; while sad, such experiences are still rich and add meaningfully to our lives.

Live in the Now

Watch this video on Living in the Now.

Mindful Coloring asks us to focus on how we choose and apply color in a design to bring our awareness to the present moment. With your family, you can color these 7 Mindset Coloring Pages and then do this meditation. This will help you really be present in the moment.  You can also cook as a family or do a virtual call with other family members who don't live in your home. Really look around though, and notice how you're feeling and experience everything with your 5 senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste) and it will help you be more present and embrace the moment.

Jeffco's Make Bake Shake Site

Jeffco has a site that has ideas of things to make, bake, and exercise. Click this Link to access the page.