Owego Apalachin Central School District

Dear Owego Apalachin Middle School Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope your family has enjoyed a restful and memorable summer. We are excited to welcome our returning students and extend a special welcome to the students and families joining the OAMS community for the first time.

Our staff has been working hard to prepare engaging learning experiences and a supportive start to the year. We remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment where every student feels known, challenged, and connected.

Our first day of school for students will be on Wednesday, September 9th. Review the one-page district calendar for the 2026-2027 school year here: https://aptg.co/D5Kk8-. A printed calendar will come home at the start of the school year. Stay up-to-date with building and district events by using our mobile app and website.

All 7th and 8th graders will report to their homeroom for their printed schedules. Students will be able to access their schedules on Friday, August 28th, via SchoolTool. 6th grade students will receive a hard copy of their schedule at 6th Grade Orientation on Tuesday, September 1st, at 5:30 pm. When 6th grade students arrive on the first day of school, they will head directly to the OAMS Auditorium, where they will find their homeroom teacher.  New students/families can find information on the SchoolTool parent portal by accessing this page of our website: https://www.oacsd.org/o/oacsd/page/parent-resources.

Our daily bell schedule for the 2026-2027 school year can be found on our website:

• 6th Grade Bell Schedule - https://aptg.co/ZVBgZb

• 7th & 8th Grade Bell Schedule - https://aptg.co/SZyMHN 

Transportation:

All families must complete the OA Transportation Survey for the 2026-2027 school year. You can find the survey and more information here: https://www.oacsd.org/article/3052331.

Families using district bus transportation should download the My Ride K-12 Transportation App, which will display your child’s bus number, route time, and more. My Ride K-12 is available for download in the Apple and Android app stores, or access a web version of My Ride K-12 at myridek12.tylerapp.com.

To learn more about My Ride K-12 and the other technology we use to help us safely and efficiently transport our students, please read the following information. My Ride K-12 User Guide Parent Flyer  - https://5il.co/2he.

Please remember that bus times are normally delayed the first few days of the school year as everyone gets back into a routine. In the afternoon, our bus drivers wait to make sure that students get inside safely before moving on to the next stop.

Supplies:

We are happy to announce that the school district will once again provide all of the necessary student school supplies for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year to all grade levels, K-12. However, if there are particular items

you would like to send with your child, you are more than welcome to do that. Just know that all essential items will be provided.

After School Program:

Tioga County Boys and Girls Club - OACSD After School Program

The Owego Apalachin Central School District will be partnering again with the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club to offer a variety of extracurricular and enrichment activities hosted at the Boys and Girls Club of Tioga County for OA students in Grades 3 through 8.  

Registration includes a FREE TCBGC membership and access to the Club and all of its programs year-round.

** The program begins on the first day of school, Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The program will run Monday through Friday, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on days when school is in session.  For half-day sessions and when school is closed or released early, programming will be coordinated directly with the Club. If the school district is transporting your child home, the bus will leave the Club around 5:15 pm.  

More information and the registration link for Arbiter Sports (formerly FamilyID) can be found on our website here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/tioga-county-boys-and-girls-club-program

District Communication:

SchoolTool Parent Portal - The SchoolTool Parent Portal is used by parents/guardians to view their students’ education information, including: Schedule, Attendance, Demographic Information, Report Cards, Progress Reports, Contact Information, etc. Once logged in to the portal, parents should review contact information and update it as necessary.  Detailed Parent Portal Information, including how to log in, can be found here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/parent-resources. *The Parent Portal will open for the new school year on Friday, August 28th. 

Mobile App - Ensure you don’t miss critical information by downloading the Owego Apalachin Central School District Mobile App (available in the iTunes and Google Play Stores). 

Android: https://bit.ly/3mtkLGf or iPhone: https://apple.co/3bwIXRz

Rooms Parent-Teacher Messaging - Parents/guardians can access class streams and teacher messaging with their Rooms account via the web and in the app. Need to set up your account? Get more information here: https://5il.co/24lsq. All set up, ensure you are getting notifications: https://5il.co/24lss.

Onflo (formerly Let’s Talk!) -  Contact us with questions or comments. Download the Onflo app or connect through the website: https://www.oacsd.org/page/onflo-lets-talk. Select your specific topic/need to ensure it reaches the correct district personnel.

Bookmark our website and follow us on social media!

FREE - Breakfast and Lunch

We are excited to announce that OACSD will once again offer free meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), for the 2026-27 school year. This means that all OA students enrolled will receive a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost to their household each school day. No further action is required from you to participate in these meal programs. All children are eligible to enjoy these benefits. However, we kindly ask parents to complete the income application. Your participation in this process helps our district qualify for additional funding that supports various educational initiatives and resources. Fill out the forms online in minutes here: https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ApplicationScreen.aspx.

Students will still need to pay for snack items, ice cream, or extra food, as only the main meals are covered through the CEP program.  Funds can be added to the EZSchoolPay Account: https://aptg.co/YJczBJ. Cash or check can also be used with the school cafeteria staff to add funds without the online convenience fee.

Additional Food Services information can be found here: https://www.oacsd.org/documents/departments/food-services/16870937.

Menus can be found on our website and app under dining and on the RockOn Cafe Food & Nutrition page here: https://www.rockoncafe.org/owego-apalachin_home.aspx.

Yondr Pouch Program:

We will continue using the Yondr pouch program for the 2026–2027 school year to support a focused, distraction-free learning environment. Each student is responsible for bringing their assigned lockable Yondr pouch to and from school daily and keeping it in good condition. Upon entering the building, students must power off or switch personal devices (including cell phones, AirPods, and smartwatches) to airplane mode, place them into their pouch, and lock it. Locked pouches must remain in backpacks or lockers throughout the school day until students reach designated unlocking stations at dismissal. Student safety remains our top priority, and standard emergency protocols remain fully in place. If you need to reach your child during the school day, please contact our Main Office at (607) 687-7302 ext. 2001, the Welcome Center at ext. 1070, or the Nurse's Office at ext. 2020.

Fall Athletics Information:

Arbiter Sports | Family ID Registration for All Fall Sports is OPEN: 

https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/owego-apalachin-central-school-district

Fall Sports 2026 Start Dates:

Modified Football: 8/31/2026

All other Modified sports:  9/9/2026

• The Late Bus from OAMS/OFA to AES leaves at 6:00 pm starting on 9/9/2026

Additional River Hawks Athletics Information can be found on our website here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/riverhawksathletics

Please contact the Athletic Department directly with any questions. 

Phone: (607) 687-7301 ext. 7061

Raptor Visitor Management System: 

To further strengthen campus safety and security across the Owego Apalachin Central School District, we are implementing the Raptor Visitor Management System for the 2026–2027 school year. Raptor enhances building security by allowing us to efficiently screen all guests against safety databases and issue instant visitor badges upon entry. Detailed check-in procedures and guidelines for parents and guardians will be sent home as the school year begins. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership as we continue prioritizing a safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors.

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Open House on September 24th, where you will have the opportunity to meet our teachers, explore the classrooms, and learn more about the exciting programs and initiatives we have planned. Additionally, we host various events and activities throughout the year to foster a strong sense of community and school spirit.

If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact our office. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Let’s make this year the best one yet!

Sincerely,

Sean Swider

Principal - Owego Apalachin Middle School 

Link to single-page calendar: https://aptg.co/D5Kk8-

OAMS Events on website: https://www.oacsd.org/o/oams/events

Click here for a PDF version of the letter: https://aptg.co/99897f