Otsego Local Schools is now accepting nominations for The Otsego Hall of Fame. This program recognizes individuals who have brought honor to themselves by making significant impacts or contributions to the school, community, and/or students. This program also provides an opportunity to honor alumni who have earned distinction beyond graduation. The categories for nomination include: Alumni, Former School Employees, Former Coaches and Friends of Otsego. Click here for the overview and nomination form. The overview and forms are available The deadline to submit the nomination forms is Friday, November 13, 2015. The 4th induction class will be recognized at Otsego High School on Friday, January 15, 2016.

Current list of Otsego Hall of Fame Inductees include: Bernie Scott, Jean Scott, Madge Brown, John Brown, Dan Cocke, Deb Kendall, Randy Donald, Holly Frantz, Gordon Wenig, Ann Lasky, Fred Moor, and Lawrence Sprague.

The Board of Education recognized the Otsego High School Students of the Month for September: Zachary Jones, Freshmen, Lucy Pullins, Sophomore, Lydia Archambo, Junior, and Alissa Jacobs, Senior

The Board of Education heard Building & Curriculum Updates from Kevin O’Shea, Mike Wiley, Katrina Baughman, and Lori Rea.

Visitor’s Comments:

Joe Long of Grand Rapids spoke briefly during visitor comments to inform the Board of Education he was running for a seat on the Wood County Educational Service Center Board.

Treasurer’s Financial Reports / Recommendations:

A. Approved the Financial Report

B. Approved the Payment-in-Lieu of Transportation for the 2015-2016 school year

C. Approved the 2015-2016 appropriations and amended certificate of estimated resources

D. Approved a Salary Advancement for the 2015/2016 school year for Thomas Ferdig from Masters to Masters +10, Patrick Hackney from Bachelors to Bachelors +150, Nichole Hunsberger from Masters to Masters +20

Superintendent Recommendations:

A. Authorized the Superintendent to approve the bus stops for the 2015-2016 school year as submitted to him by the transportation supervisor with authority for the superintendent and/or his designee to adjust the stops as needed.

B. Final reading and approval of Board Policy for English Language Learners (ELL)

C. Approved the employment of the following personnel:

Non-Certified Employees: One-Year Limited Contract for 2014-2015:

Nick Niceley Homebound Tutor

Non-Certified Employees: One-Year Limited Contract for 2015-2016:

Scott Bylow Homebound Tutor

Lynne Long Music Tutor

Nick Niceley Homebound Tutor

Chase Welker 5th Grade Aide

Certified Employees: One-Year Limited Contract for 2015-2016:

Brien Sewell, Choir Director (Start Date TBD)

2015-2016 Supplemental Contracts:

Brien Sewell H.S. Vocal Solo/Ensemble/Concerts

Brien Sewell High School Swing Choir

Brien Sewell Junior High Choir/Swing Choir

Brien Sewell Musical Advisor

Carrie Lockhart High School Yearbook

Fritz Wolfram Junior High Quiz Bowl

2015-2016 School Year Substitute Teaching Employees:

Renee Ackerman

2015-2016 Volunteer:

Fritz Wolfram – Academic Challenge

Otsego Local Schools in partnership with SchoolInfoApp announced today the launch of the Otsego Local Schools app by SchoolInfoApp which is now available for iPhones®, iPads®, Android™, Blackberry™ and Windows™ devices. The Otsego Local Schools app by SchoolInfoApp enables parents, students, alumni, faculty and staff to quickly access all of the who, what, when and where for Otsego Local Schools. Click on the links below or search OTSEGO LOCAL SCHOOLS within your device’s online store. There are basically 4 apps in 1. In the menu bar there is a button called My Schools. Click there to add all of the schools.

Click here to download on an apple device

Click here to download on an android device

The Otsego Local Schools app by SchoolInfoApp is free and gives parents and students quick access to:

· Keep up with all of the latest news, information and announcements

· Find out about events and activities

· Contact teachers, staff and administration

· Access school menus, the online gradebook system and more

· Get important documents, picture galleries & other media

The Otsego Local Schools app by SchoolInfoApp also provides students with valuable tools, including:

· A TipLine to promote campus safety that allows students to anonymously report tips related to instances of bullying, academic integrity concerns or possible on-campus criminal activity

We will work to keep the app up to date and we will always be looking to make improvements.

All yearbooks from the following years are being marked down to $10!"

2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

Email yearbook@otsegoknights.org for further information.

Mark Wasylyshyn, Wood County Sheriff, is asking all drivers to drive with their headlights on during foggy conditions. Driving in fog is considered to be the most dangerous weather hazard, especially if it is exceptionally dense fog or combined with other adverse weather conditions. Foggy conditions are the number one cause of large multi-car pile ups. However, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of a crash.

Daytime running lights are not enough as they do not illuminate tail lights. Driving with your headlights on in fog is not necessarily for you to see better but for you to be seen! Several people I have come in contact with state they have automatic headlights and did not think they needed the headlights turned on! You must manually turn on the headlights! You become a "ghost car" when you don’t have your headlights on.

You should never use your high beam headlights in foggy conditions. Your high beam headlights reflect off of the water vapor and actually decrease your visibility. You may feel that your low beam headlights are doing the same thing, but again, keep them on. It's the best way for you to be seen.

A safe following distance is crucial in fog. Most drivers tend to "bunch up" during foggy conditions because they feel it's easier to see. Driving in fog is scary, but now is not the time to follow too close. That's one of the big reasons massive pile-ups occur.

When you come to a stop sign, open your window and turn off radios, fans etc. and listen for traffic. If you cannot see don’t go! Sometimes, foggy conditions become too thick to drive safely. If you find that you're exceeding your comfort zone, it might be best to stop until the fog lifts. Just remember - this is an extremely dangerous situation! If you can't see, either can anyone else. Try to get as far off the road as possible. Pull into a driveway, parking lot, rest area, side street, or any other place where you can get away from traffic flow. But if the roadway shoulder is your only option, pull way over. Go into the grass if necessary. Stay buckled up and turn your lights off! If you leave your lights on, people might think you are driving on the roadway and rear-end you. Stay in your car and stay buckled up.

Veteran's Day Breakfast and Assembly, November 11th - We will once again have a Veteran’s Day Assembly and breakfast to honor our local Veterans. There will be a flyer put up around the community, but if you could start spreading the word, we would appreciate it. Breakfast is free to all veterans and Otsego Senior Citizens. Breakfast will start at 8:15 in the High School Commons. The program will start at 9:15 in the High School gym. Please CLICK HERE to RSVP for the breakfast. If you are not able to RSVP online please call Lisa Austin at 419-823-4381 or laustin@otsegoknights.org.

A Knight of Tailgating - The Otsego Alumni and Friends Association would like to invite all Alumni of Otsego, Weston, Haskins, Washington Township, or Grand Rapids to a “Knight of Tailgating”. Click here for more information It will be on October 9th starting at 5:00 pm at the north end zone of the football field near the baseball field. This is our homecoming game and we are facing the Elmwood Royals. Everyone is invited. There will be food provided. Help us cheer on the Knights and reminisce about the good times we have all had at Otsego.

The Board of Education and the Otsego Administration will be taking the Board Meetings on the road starting in September. We will begin the evening at 5:15 pm with an informal community forum with the Otsego Administration. We will have financial information prepared to discuss and then will open it up to questions. The Board of Education Meeting will follow at 6:00 pm. I hope to see you there!

Haskins: October 27th – 5:15 pm at the Haskins Village Hall

Weston: November 24th – 5:15 pm at the Weston Public Library

Tontogany: December 22nd – 5:15 pm at the Otsego High School Library (date subject to change)

The United Way is partnering with students from BGSU to aid student learning through actively engaging the community on several levels. The group is partnering with the United Way to conduct a survey that will ultimately aid kindergarten readiness in Wood County. The survey’s aim is to understand what services residents of Wood County use to prepare students for Kindergarten (daycare, in-home, pre-school etc.). This data will be used to both assess how aware residents are of existing resources as well as what they indicate to be barriers to ensuring their children’s kindergarten readiness. Please take a few moments to fill out this survey and help our county better prepare our students for kindergarten.

Survey Link: http://tinyurl.com/ocgl6qx

FOOTBALL:

September 25 V (H) Eastwood – 7:00

September 26 JV @ Eastwood – 10:00

October 02 V @ Lake – 7:00

October 03 JV (H) Lake – 10:00

October 09 V (H) Elmwood – 7:00 *Homecoming and Fireworks

October 10 JV @ Elmwood – 10:00

October 16 V (H) Rossford – 7:00 *Little Knights

October 17 JV @ Rossford – 10:00

October 23 @ Fostoria – 7:00

October 24 JV (H) Fostoria – 10:00

October 30 V (H) Genoa – 7:00 *Senior Night

VOLLEYBALL:

September 29 (H) Woodmore – 6:00

October 01 @ Rossford – 6:00

October 03 @ Archbold – 9:00

October 06 @ Elmwood – 6:00

October 08 (H) Lake – 6:00

October 10 (H) Evergreen – 10:00

October 13 (H) Eastwood – 6:00

October 15 @ Fostoria – 6:00

BOYS SOCCER:

September 26 @ Bowsher – 6:00

September 28 (H) Start – 5:00

October 01 (H) Genoa – 5:00

October 03 @ Rossford – 11:00

October 08 @ Eastwood – 5:00

October 10 (H) Clay – 11:00

October 15 (H) Lake – 5:00

GIRLS SOCCER:

September 26 @ Liberty Center – 8:00 p.m.

October 01 @ Genoa – 5:00

October 03 (H) Rossford – 11:00

October 06 (H) Rogers – 5:00

October 08 (H) Eastwood – 5:00

October 13 (H) Bowsher – 5:00

October 15 @ Lake – 5:00

CROSS COUNTRY:

September 26 Cardinal Stritch @ Maumee Bay – 8:00

October 03 Clay Inv. @ Pearson Park – 9:00

October 10 Fostoria Inv. @ Fostoria HS – 9:00

October 17 NBC Championships @ Eell’s Park – 10:00

GIRLS GOLF:

September 29 Sectionals @ Country Acres – 9:00

BOYS GOLF:

October 01 Sectionals @ Detwiller – 9:00

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

‘Otsego Athletics’ is on Twitter and Facebook. Follow for high school scores and other athletic department information.

Little Knights Cheerleading practices are October 13 and October 15. Performance is October 16. Flyers will be sent home with more information. Click here for more information

Otsego is participating in the Goodwill and 13 ABC Pass It On Challenge. There will be a Goodwill donation trailer parked at Lake and Otsego High Schools September 28-October1. Of Friday, the school who collected the most weight will be announced as the winner. The winning school will receive a $500 scholarship from Goodwill and 13 ABC! Click here for more information

Reminder: Please send me any and all community events that you might know of. I love sharing things in and around our great community. I will start sending out updates every Friday starting the first week of school. If you could email me community events by Thursday evening that would be great. Thank you.

Home Cooking with the Sentinel Tribune

Apple Butter Cooking Dates

11 U Baseball Team Tryouts

Karen Zapiecki Family Fundraiser

Amy's_Courage - Fundraiser this Saturday in the High School Commons. Amy Wilcox is an Otsego Knight parent. Amy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Adenocarcinoma, in April 2015. Since this cancer is so rare, Cleveland Clinic referred her to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Thank you for your support. Saturday, September 26th - Spaghetti_Dinner_Fundraiser_for_Amy_Wilcox

Women's Initiative - A Night of Inspiration - Sponsored by the United Way of Greater Toledo

Stand Up & Walk for Mental Health

Project Connect - It is a one-day, one-stop event designed to provide hospitality and access to services for all people in our community in need of supporrt services. Services include hot meals, dental care, housing assistance, haircuts, and so much more. It will be held on Wednesday, October 14th from 9am to 3pm at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 315 S. College Street in Bowling Green.

BGSU_Planetarium - Secret of the Cardboard Rocket

President: Brad Anderson banderson.otsego@gmail.com

Vice President: Judy Snyder jasnyder715@gmail.com

Board Member: James Harter jameslharter@gmail.com

Board Member: Mark Tolles mdt814@cs.com

Board Member: Elizabeth Gorski jegorski@frontier.com