**Weekly Flash**

September 1, 2025

**Follow us on OHS Families Facebook & OHS_Families Instagram to stay in the know, and check out our OHS PTA website!**

Dear OHS Families,

We had a wonderful first week of school! The teachers did an amazing job creating warm and welcoming learning spaces for our students, and children were smiling and engaged throughout my classroom visits. Teachers focused a great deal on fostering a sense of community in their classrooms this week, by connecting with their students and by teaching classroom and school routines and responsibilities. 

Thank you to the PTA and all of the families for contributing to a positive start to the school year! The welcoming signs looked great, and teachers really appreciated the food and drinks in the teacher’s room! 

The children did their first fire drill on Friday, and they did a wonderful job! They left the building orderly and quickly, and they stayed in their lines quietly outside awaiting further instruction. That is the kind of response that maximizes student safety.

A few important notes:

• Wakeman Aftercare starts on Tuesday.  If your child participates, please make sure that is the selection on School Dismissal Manager (SDM).

• Please make necessary changes on SDM any day your child is not following  their default dismissal procedure.

• Band and orchestra lessons start this week. Please make sure students are prepared.

• Friday morning is a PTA Meeting in the APR at 9:15 AM.

• SAVE THE DATE for Open House - Wednesday evening, September 10th. Details to go home soon.

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend, and I look forward to a great 2nd week of school! Take care.

Sean F. Smyth, Principal 

Joining our Parent Teacher Association provides instant financial support for our students, and it’s also a great way to stay informed about what’s happening at school and connect in meaningful ways with other parents.

The strength of the PTA comes from YOU! Our goal is for ALL families to join.

How to Join

First, register for the PTA

Second, update your family information, adding this year's teachers

Third, complete one PTA waiver per child. 

• Go to www.ohspta.com and click “Register/Login.” Sign in with your information, or, if you haven’t yet signed up for a Membership Toolkit account, create a new account.
• Click "Join PTA" on the OHS PTA homepage and follow the three steps listed:
  • Add a PTA membership to your cart, click "Save and continue." Note: When purchasing a PTA membership, you’ll be asked to select one parent’s name.  Don’t worry – your membership covers the entire family.
  • Update your family's directory information and **change your child(ren)'s teacher for the new school year**
  • Fill out a waiver for each child
• Proceed to checkout!

Note: Membership must be renewed each school year. Only 1 membership is necessary per family!

Questions? Please contact Vicky Siewert

Do you need financial support to pay for your child’s portrait package? Coffeepond offers the school a limited number of the basic package (1-5x7, 1-3x5, and 2 wallets) for up to 20 families.  If this is something that you are eligible for and would like to apply, please email TBudlowski@fairfieldschools.org. Mrs. Budlowski will let you know via email if your child is selected for the scholarship.  There will be no need to return the photo order form that is going out the first day of school. Email Mrs. Budlowski with any questions!

Get any good pictures of the kids heading to school on the first day? Email them to ohsottersyearbook@gmail.com and we may feature your photos in the OHS Yearbook! Let us know the name of the kids featured and their class or grade. Keep us in mind for photos of students you take at OHS sponsored activities throughout the year.

Our OHS Mentor/Mentee program is back again this year! Our goal is to pair Kindergarten or new OHS families with veteran families who can help answer any questions and support your family through the school year. Deadline to take part in this special program is September 19th!

New to OHS and have a million questions? Maybe you're a seasoned pro at OHS and want to volunteer your time to help our new families? Please email Eva Elinskas including the grades of your children and any other info that will help us find you a good match.  

Osborn Hill School will be hosting Andrew Ginsburg, author of Critter Caravan, on September 30th. This author visit is for grades K-2. 

All students are welcome to order Andrew Ginsburg’s book using THIS LINK. Please note, the website says "pickup at store" but books will be delivered to Osborn Hill School. Orders close on Friday, 9/12 at 8pm. 

Please select "store pickup", (you will NOT need to go to the store), and include your child's first name, grade level, and classroom teacher in the "Notes" when ordering.

Get excited...the Harvest Faire is getting a rebrand! 

Join us on the back lawn of OHS on Friday, October 17 (rain date: Saturday, Oct 18) from 4:30pm - 8pm for the 2025 Harvest Jam! The event  will include inflatables, face painting, carnival-style games, an epic dance party, the famous OHS cake walk, pizza by the pie, a taco truck, popcorn, candy and our first ever OHS movie night! Think Fairfield’s Sandjam…but at OHS! We will have a huge inflatable movie screen for viewing on the back lawn. There will also be some incredible prizes to win in the annual raffle during the event. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds going towards author visits, social-emotional learning initiatives, STEAM programming, field trips, essential classroom supplies and more. 

Ticket Information 

Tickets are only $12 per person and will go on sale soon, so keep an eye out for updates! The base ticket will get you access to a bunch of games, (including Cornhole, our brand new Gaga Pit, plus giant versions of Connect 4, Yard Pong and Jenga), as well as a huge dance party and the movie. You will be able to purchase speciality tickets that will get you access to a giant inflatable obstacle course, Pop-a-shot, face painting, the cake walk, and more! You will be able to purchase pizzas, order from a local taco truck, and also buy one of our fun “movie boxes” that will have all the snacks you need for the perfect movie night. 

Come for the dance party...stay for the movie! 

We need your help! Let us know what songs you want to rock out to and what movie you want to see. Once we narrow down the movie to three choices, the kids will get to vote for the winning selection, which will be revealed at the event! 

Thank you to our sponsors! 

A special shout out to our amazing sponsors: O’Dell Group, Children’s Art Classes CAC, Blue+Berries and Smile Ark Pediatric Dentistry. Please show some love to these amazing local businesses! 

Questions? Email the Harvest Jam committee (Carolyn Wagenseller, Kristen Dufour, Christine Rollo and Tina Cerbone) at ohsharvestjam@gmail.com.

The 2026 OHS Variety Show will be on Saturday, January 24th at 2pm at the Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport

Are you new to the Variety Show? 

We'll be holding an informational zoom meeting geared towards families of first-time participants on September 11 at 8pm - you can join the meeting by clicking here on the 11th.

What is the Variety Show? The OHS Variety Show is an annual talent show giving our kids the opportunity to perform on stage in front of their families and friends. Many acts choose to dance to a song, but we’ve also featured singers, musicians, sports demonstrations, comedy acts and more! Kids can perform solo or in a group.  

**Stay Tuned for More Information in Next Week's Flash!**

Have news to share? 

Email Melissa McGowan by 10am Friday to include in the following Monday’s OHS Weekly Flash.

Osborn Hill Elementary School

760 Stillson Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

www.ohspta.com