OGMS FFO News: August 2025 Issue

Posted Date: 8/18/25 (3:00 PM)

President's Message

Welcome back, Panther families! Every month, you'll receive this e-newsletter from the FFO. It's the best way to stay up-to-date on all FFO activities. We'll include a “To Do List” here at the beginning, then be sure to scroll down for news from the FFO chairs about this month's FFO activities and opportunities.

Don’t forget to check out our updated website! https://www.orangegroveffo.org/

We’re looking forward to a great year at Orange Grove! Thank you for being a part of our Orange Grove community!

To Do List:

Donate to Panther Pride! The suggested $50 per student donation goes directly to supporting the school! Details below. https://www.orangegroveffo.org/donate/

Volunteer:

Attend events on Thursday, August 21st in the library:

7:45am 6th grade & New Family parent breakfast,
8:30am first FFO meeting of the year.

Important upcoming dates:

8/21 FFO meeting and 6th Grade/New Family parent breakfast
10/27-31 Book Fair

Amy Corrales

OGMS FFO President

We’re Over Halfway There!!

100% of your Panther Pride donation goes directly to Orange Grove to provide funds for supplies for classrooms, staff appreciation events, grants, legacy projects, promotion and many more activities that make our school so special!

Last year, parent donations helped fund so many great items and experiences, including:

School supplies for students in need, including backpacks, clothing, shoes, etc. and funds for choir students to attend offsite performances
Staff appreciation lunches and other treats to celebrate our wonderful OGMS teachers and staff
New tennis nets
Plants and gardening supplies for the library (which the students help take care of!)
The Special Education "Panther Perks" coffee cart project - students get to "sell" coffee to teachers and staff while gaining valuable life skills
Updated equipment and supplies for the sensory room, accessible to ALL students who need a place to go when overwhelmed or just a calm sanctuary
Frisbee golf equipment for the PE Department
National registration conference memberships for Orchestra students

The suggested donation is $50 per student, but rather than a fixed amount, we’d love to see 100% Family Participation on the way to our $20,000 goal!

Please visit https://www.orangegroveffo.org/donate/ to learn more about Panther Pride and donate!

Congratulations to the Manger Family of the Month for August 2025!

Congratulations to the Manger Family of the Month for August 2025!

The Manger Family donated to the FFO Panther Pride Fundraising Campaign in July and was automatically entered to become our August Panther Family of the Month!

Please make your donation today – you might be the September Family of the Month!

https://ogms-banking.square.site/#hKngIj

The winner of the Family of the Month is displayed on the marquis, has their very own designated parking spot for the month, and is recognized in every FFO communication! Your donations continue to provide funds for classroom supplies, staff appreciation events, grants, legacy projects, promotion, and many more activities that make Orange Grove so special!

Family of the Month

Short on Time But Still Want to Help Orange Grove?

Fulfilling wish lists can be a great way to help OGMS if you aren’t able to volunteer on campus! Throughout the year, we have teachers and staff who are in need of specific items for their classrooms and work areas.

Examples include:

Kleenex, saltine crackers, and water bottles for the nurse’s office
Extra school supplies for classrooms
Items to stock our family support closet for students in need of assistance

Click here to visit the Sign-Up Genius for teacher and staff donation wish lists. There is a link to Amazon wish list on the introduction page if you want your donations to be shipped directly to the school!

Handy Helpers

We also encourage you to check out our newest handy helper wish list for occasional projects teachers or staff need some extra help with, like decorating bulletin boards, cutting paper forms or stuffing envelopes, moving boxes, etc. Some of these projects may be able to be completed at home, so keep an eye on this sign up (also posted on the FFO website under “volunteer”).

As always, thank you for supporting Orange Grove!

A huge shout-out to all our amazing volunteers who helped make Pick Up and Unpack (PUUP) a fantastic success and great start to the school year! We couldn’t do it without you!

Sincerely,

Laura Logue (PUUP chair, VP Fundraising)

Aidalee Montijo

Amy Corrales

Anita Strickler

Anjala Matalone

Ann Lee

Anna Mack

Brooke Streicher

Camila Bhagwan

Crystal Marrs

Julie Bowden

Michelle Ijams

Rachel Ruder

Samantha Orchard

OGMS Staff and Teachers!

Our Custodial Staff!

All our Panther Pals!

The OGMS staff was treated to bubbly beverages to celebrate the first day of school!

🍕🥗 Dine Out information will be coming out over the next few weeks, stay tuned! 🍔 🍟

Game room lunch volunteers

See your Panther in the wild!

Our Panthers love having the GAME ROOM available and OPEN during lunch. Please come check out the fun and consider volunteering to help during one of the lunchtime shifts.

You can Sign-Up to be a lunch volunteer during any of the three lunch periods. More details can be found on the sign-up genius. Thank you!

Support OGMS with our Community Partners

Do you or your kids shop at AJ’s, Bashas or Food City?

Purchase a reloadable Community Support Card and earn money for OGMS when shopping at AJ’s, Bashas’ and Food City.

Cards can be reloaded at any register and OGMS gets 6% of the amount.

Buy one in the OGMS FFO Shop.

Remember to re-enroll this month!

Earn money when you shop at Fry’s Foods and use your Fry’s VIP card.

Register your Fry’s VIP card.
Designate Orange Grove Middle School Family Faculty Org. as your organization.
You have to re-enroll every year in September.