Oak Valley Middle School

Come on down to Milford tonight for the Free Jazz Band Concert! Oak Valley and Muir Middle School Jazz Bands will be featured at the SHAC, 125 S. Main Street, from 6:30 to 8 pm. See you then!

Eighth graders in Mrs. Rowley's Engineering classes designed and built catapults. After launching, they measured the distance to evaluate the effectiveness of their designs. What's next for Engineering students? Battle Bots!

Seventh grade science students explored their backyard ecosystems, identifying biotic and abiotic components. They used new digital microscopes, obtained through a grant from the HVEF (Huron Valley Education Foundation). The Foundation does a lot to support HV kids! We are so thankful the students can benefit and use new tools for hands-on learning.

The OV Bands played for a packed house this week! The 6th Grade, 7th/8th Grade, and Jazz Bands performed a wide variety of music with crowd-pleasing favorites. It's amazing to see how far they have come! Their performance reflected Oak Valley pride, and their hard work was rewarded with a visit from the ice cream truck!

The OV 6th Grade Choir used Boomwhackers, or tuned percussion tubes, during class this week. They followed the music and took turns playing their own particular notes in order to create the melody. Way to work together, Hornets!

OV Art students recently completed watercolor projects. Their beautiful paintings of birds, flowers, and landscapes are so unique! Our art teacher, Mrs. Drahozal, is very proud of her students and their creative work!!

Eighth grade science students enjoyed a field trip to the Detroit Zoo this week! The animals were out basking in the sun on this beautiful day! Students participated in a Learning Lab for hands-on discovery about habitats and climate on Isle Royale. Thank you to our chaperones!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of "Emma!" as they presented a fabulous musical last weekend! They shared their amazing talents through singing, dancing, and collaborative work behind the scenes, as their wonderful production received a standing ovation! Many thanks to Mrs. Samuels and our parent volunteers (and family photographers)!

We hope you can place your vote tomorrow, May 7! The zero-increase bond for Huron Valley Schools is on the ballot!

The OV Track Team is having a great season! At a recent meet, they were recognized for showing great sportsmanship. Boys and girls team members also set new school records! We are so proud of our Hornets! Photos courtesy of Elvis the Cat Photography.

The OV DC Trip was truly amazing. Our 8th graders asked good questions and showed respect at Gettysburg, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and many other important sites. We are so proud of our students! And we are thankful for great guides, great parents, and a great experience!

The Oak Valley Robotics teams hosted an open house for students who might be interested in joining next year. Oak Valley students going into grades 6, 7, and 8 are all welcome to become part of this educational, fun experience. There will be hands-on opportunities to learn programming, robot design, and marketing; and to be part of an amazing team that works and learns together. This fall, the team will be given a specific, detailed challenge, and they will compete with middle schools from around the state. If your student is interested, or if you have any questions, please contact Coach Jeff Senk at jeffrey.senk@hvs.org.

Students who are currently in 5th, 6th, or 7th grades are invited to an Open House for the OVMS Robotics Team this Monday, April 29, at 5 pm. If you are interested in joining the team this fall, come and see what Robotics is all about!

April is testing time! The 8th graders completed the PSAT, and now all grades are taking the M-Step. Mrs. Marshall's Spanish class pitched in to stack all the tables and chairs in the gym after PSAT day. We are so grateful for your support!

OV Choirs and Communication Arts students went to Lakeland High School today to watch scenes from "The Descendants" musical! They enjoyed a backstage tour and a question-answer session. The cast and crew at LHS (including alumni from OVMS) created a wonderful production, under the direction of Becky Hogaboom. We hope you can see the show this weekend (April 19-21)!

8th grade students enjoyed a visit to the OSTC SW campus today. They heard from students in each of the programs offered, as well as the many opportunities they have to offer for our kiddos in their junior and senior year.

Oak Valley students enjoyed viewing the Solar Eclipse at a Watch Party after school today! With special glasses supplied by HVS, we could see this rare phenomenon!

OV 6th and 7th Grade Bands joined the HV United High School Wind Ensemble to present a fabulous concert last night. In a round-robin style, they each took turns playing songs, then combined for the grand finale. The audience filled the room and enjoyed the wonderful music!

The Bass Voice Choir Tour provided a great opportunity for students in our OV Choir to unite with other HV middle school and high school singers in the district. Together, they prepared and presented a concert for elementary students during an afternoon tour.

The OV Wrestling Team had a fantastic season! They earned Third Place in the Lakes Valley Conference Meet, and earned individual medals at the Oakland County Meet. Congratulations to Coach Lauri Rowley, Assistant Coach Mario Flores, and our mighty team!