Making Waves In Education at Our Sisters' School  December 1, 2017

Powerful Imagination When Massachusetts Middle School Art Teacher of the Year, Tobey Eugenio, has an idea, it lights up the whole school community.  OSS is lucky because Ms. Eugenio hatches and incubates ideas at a rapid pace!  In the three years since her arrival, our building, grounds and program have all been transformed.   Thanks to her boundless energy, the walls of our school are decorated with carefully crafted and meaningful art work created by students who thrive in a choice-based classroom.  We now have a growing STEAM program grounded in a commitment to the four C's: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.  Our Outdoor Classroom, designed to meet the highest standards set by Nature Explore, is overflowing with opportunities for students to engage in inspired and playful wonder.  Comfortable and capable with shovel, lego robot or paint brush, Tobey is a leader and a role model.  Her students and fellow teachers are fantastically fortunate. Our mission, as an independent, tuition-free, nonsectarian middle school, is to educate and inspire economically disadvantaged girls from the New Bedford area. Our Sisters' School empowers girls to step into the future with valuable life skills and a mindset of achievement and excellence by providing a safe, supportive, and academically challenging environment. To learn more about Our Sisters' School please click here. December Calendar December 2 Admissions Open House 9:45 AM to 12:45 PM December 5 Financial Aid Application Workshop 8th Grade Parents 4:30 to 7:00 PM December 8 Student-Teacher Conferences No Classes 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM December 11 Summer Camp Information for Parents 5:00 to 6:00 PM December 12 Admissions Open House 5:00 to 6:00 PM December 13 Dismissal at 4:10 PM Board Meeting at 5:30 PM Holiday Party for Staff December 14 Delayed Start Classes begin at 9:30 AM & Caroling at 5:30 PM Rotch-Jones-Duff House 396 County Street New Bedford & Caroling at 7:00 PM The Mariner's Home 15 Johnny Cake Hill New Bedford December 19 Caroling at 5:30 PM Farm and Coast Market 7 Bridge Street South Dartmouth December 20 Coffee House Performances 2:00 to 4:00 PM Dismissal at 4:10 PM December 21 to January 2 OSS Closed: Winter Break Office Hours 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM January 2, 2018 Curriculum Development For Staff No Classes  January 3, 2018 Classes resume 7:45 AM Click here for information about Morning Speakers and other details on our Calendar

Making Waves In Education at Our Sisters' School  October 5, 2017

Collaboration, Communication, Critical & Creative Thinking  “STEAM Lab” at OSS integrates the exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) into one class.  Students use materials including IPads, 3D printers and other cutting edge technologies like Makey Makeys, Littlebits and Tinkercads.  They solve design challenges while learning and practicing the fundamentals of collaboration, communication, critical and creative thinking. This year our STEAM Lab program will partner with community organizations including the UMass Dartmouth Robotics Club, the Boston Museum of Science and the Mobile Maker Faire of Cape Cod.  This winter, students will participate in a robotics convention and celebrate their progress.    Our Sisters’ School welcomes you to drop in on a class to see our STEAM Lab in action.  Please contact us if you have ideas for further partnerships.   Our mission, as an independent, tuition-free, nonsectarian middle school, is to educate and inspire economically disadvantaged girls from the New Bedford area. Our Sisters' School empowers girls to step into the future with valuable life skills and a mindset of achievement and excellence by providing a safe, supportive, and academically challenging environment. To learn more about Our Sisters' School please click here. October Calendar October 6 Tool Belt Awards Community Meeting 11:15 to 11:45 AM October 7 Global Cardboard Challenge 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM October 9 Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day OSS Closed October 10 Professional Work Day No Classes October 15 Outdoor Classroom Build Day 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM   October 25 Board Meeting 5:30 to 7:00 PM   Click here for information about Morning Speakers and other details on our Calendar

Making Waves In Education at Our Sisters' School  July 1, 2017

Accomplishment We build community in many ways, and in that spirit we celebrated the accomplishments of our 8th graders at our graduation ceremony. Families, volunteers, staff members, students and alumnae sat together in the synagogue's social hall sharing joy and tears. This group of 15 girls will attend 9 different schools next year. Members of this class were awarded $292,000 in scholarship assistance and will likely pursue everything from anthropology to zoology in the years ahead. They love learning. They also love sailing, pineapple and a spicy treat called Takis. Confident with their social and emotional literacy, they have learned how to be excellent listeners, how to speak up when it matters, and how to work hard toward a long term goal. They've also learned how to show appreciation. As a class gift, they collectively purchased a sun dial for the future outdoor learning space. The class of 2017 is the 7th group of young women to pass through our doors, and we are very proud to call them Sister Sailors!   Our mission, as an independent, tuition-free, nonsectarian middle school, is to educate and inspire economically disadvantaged girls from the New Bedford area. Our Sisters' School empowers girls to step into the future with valuable life skills and a mindset of achievement and excellence by providing a safe, supportive, and academically challenging environment. To learn more about Our Sisters' School please click here. Summer Calendar July 3 to August 25 Summer Office Hours 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM July 4 Independence Day OSS Closed July 10 to 14 Math Intensive At OSS 9:00 AM to Noon July 11 & 12 through August 15 & 16 Summer Tutoring By Appointment Tuesdays & Wednesdays 4:00 to 5:15 PM August 3 New Family Orientation 5:30 to 7:00 PM  August 4 Returning Family Orientation 5:30 to 7:00 PM  Click here for information about Morning Speakers and other details on our Calendar

Making Waves In Education at Our Sisters' School  June 1, 2017

Partnerships Becoming a "Sister Sailor" is more than a metaphor for us. Our girls gain real sailing experience, learn how to take the helm and build self-reliance. Sailing requires them to trust their own knowledge and be decisive. With support from the American Association of University Women, OSS partners with the Community Boating Center of New Bedford to offer our students the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in science and engineering.   Girls build model boats in winter months, utilizing math skills and becoming aware of marine technology through an inquiry-based approach. Launching these remote controlled boats in the spring, they feel the power of careful construction and weeks of hard work. Interest in math, physics, and engineering is ignited. Fueling a passion for a lifetime sport and building enduring friendships are additional products of this experiential learning partnership. Time on the water opens their minds to their own capabilities in our unique coastal environment. It's fun, too! Our mission, as an independent, tuition-free, nonsectarian middle school, is to educate and inspire economically disadvantaged girls from the New Bedford area. Our Sisters' School empowers girls to step into the future with valuable life skills and a mindset of achievement and excellence by providing a safe, supportive, and academically challenging environment. To learn more about Our Sisters' School please click here. June Calendar June 8 & 9 Festival of Arts and Achievement 5:00 to 7:30 PM June 9 Tool Belt Awards 11:15 to 11:45 AM June 12 - 16 Dismissal at 4:10 PM   June 14 & 15 Portfolio Presentations By Appointment 4:15 to 6:45 PM June 16 Portfolio Presentations By Appointment 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM June 19 to 22 Dismissal at 11:45 AM June 21 Graduation Ceremony At OSS 6:30 to 8:00 PM June 23 Field Day and Family Picnic Last Day of School 7:45 AM to 3:00 PM June 28 Board Meeting 5:00 to 6:00 PM At the Whaling Museum Followed by the Annual Staff Party 6:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesdays & Thursdays Morning Speaker 7:50  to  8:15 AM Click here for information about Morning Speakers and other details on our Calendar