**Weekly Flash**

September 15, 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 terrific week at Osborn Hill!  We had beautiful weather for Picture Day, and I heard a great deal of positive feedback about Open House from both parents and teachers. It was wonderful to see everyone again!

The children really got into the swing of things at OHS during our first full week of school! Classrooms are ramping up the academics and students are getting all of the routines down. The students also did a really nice job focusing on their NWEA assessments. We have one more week to complete NWEA.

There are a few fun events coming up this week: We have an assembly for all grades on Tuesday called “So Fun City.” It is a fun, game show-type production that highlights kindness and inclusivity - two great themes as we kick off our year and our new school climate programs! Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring this assembly. Grade 5 is also looking forward to their field trip to Perry Mill Pond this Wednesday, and we have Run Club starting on Friday morning. 

I am looking forward to another great week! Take care.

Sean F. Smyth, Principal

Tickets are officially for sale, so click here to get yours now on the OHS website. You’ll find lots of helpful information on the site, like what’s included in your $12 ticket, what fun add-ons will be available, and what food options you’ll find at the event. (Rain date: Saturday, October 18). 

Along with your ticket, make sure you purchase some JamBucks (officially payment method of the Harvest Jam). You can use your JamBucks to: 

• Buy food, drinks, snacks (pizza by the slice, candy, popcorn)...and glowsticks! 

• Access a ton of fun extras like inflatable games, face painting, Yard Pong and Clown Toss. 

• Participate in the famous Cake Walk (think musical chairs, but with cake!) 

• Enter to win VIP seating for the movie! This includes 2 OHS Movie Boxes, 2 OHS flashlights, an OHS blanket, and major bragging rights. 

• Check out the OHS website for a full JamBucks price list, so you know how much to buy! Don’t fret though, you can always buy more at the event. 

Make sure you BUY EARLY AND SAVE

There are a number of ways you can save money by buying early: 

• Tickets are $12/person online until Friday, October 10th. You will be able to purchase tickets at the door, but prices will go up to $15/person. 

• Pre-order a cheese pizza for $20 on the website. At the event, you can only purchase by the slice (while supplies last) for 2 JamBucks ($4 value) 

• OHS Movie Boxes are only available online! For just $5, the box includes 1 small water, 1 bag of popcorn, 3 pieces of candy, and 5 glow sticks ($8 value). 

Calling all Volunteers!

We’d love your help to make sure this event is a huge success. Sign up for a time slot - even one hour of your time will be a giant help! 

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, UrbanTaqo, and Shoshana Snyder. 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. 

A presentation on GenAI in schools was shared at the 9/9/2025 BoE meeting. This highlighted ways artificial intelligence can be helpful for educators and students as well as challenges it can present. The board will be working on official policy in the coming months. In the meantime, families are encouraged to educate themselves on responsible use of GenAI. 

Resources are available at http://www.skills21.org/ai and the presentation shared with the board can be found HERE 

A special BoE meeting will be held on Sept 17 at 7 PM at 501 Kings Hwy East.

The current capital waterfall proposal is to move forward with two of the facilities planning options shared during the 9/3/2025 BoE meeting. 

• Dwight option 1F, which includes a new building on the Dwight site to address all program/capacity deficiencies and add two CLC classrooms and 5 ECC classrooms. 
• Jennings option 2A, which includes some renovations to the existing building and addition of ECC classrooms plus additional budget to address all Jennings program/capacity deficiencies not just those proposed in option 2A
• Other options for location of ECC classrooms, including the proposal for one unified ECC building at the former Giant Steps location, are not in the proposed waterfall. Notably, this sets the future of the ECC on a course for 2 to 3 locations for the foreseeable future.

Public comment is open via either email to boemembers@fairfieldschools.org or in person at the special BoE meeting on Wednesday, 9/17/2025. The board will vote at the end of the meeting.

What happens at Run Club?

We do a quick warm up and then the kids will run (or walk) on the back field. We will finish with a cool down and stretch and be ready for the first bell at 8:45. No running experience necessary. Our Run Club is all about getting our kids outside, moving their bodies and having fun. Each week our runners will collect motivational tokens for their participation, and our mileage club card will track their progress throughout the season.

How do I sign up?

Toparticipate in Run Club you MUST have a current family PTA membership. You must also fill out the Run Club registration form linked here. If you would like to ensure that your child has their mileage club card by the first session, please sign up ASAP!

Important Notes

There is no access to the school during Run Club. All runners are expected to stay on the back field with the group during Run Club. If your child is comfortable and fully engaged in the program, you may drop off. If you stay during Run Club, please do not park in the back or side parking lots. Parents are encouraged to participate if they would like to join. A change of shoes and socks is recommended on Run Club days.  

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.

Osborn Hill Elementary School

760 Stillson Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

www.ohspta.com