Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - January 19, 2018
Staff Spotlight: Melissa Seeger
Mrs. Seeger has been working in the Otsego Local School district since 2000. She served as a long term substitute teacher before being hired full time in 2002. Prior to joining the third grade team she taught first grade and Title One Reading. Mrs. Seeger earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Ashland University in 2000, became Reading Recovery certified in 2006 from The Ohio State University, and earned her Masters of Education from Bowling Green State University in 2008. She and her husband Lee live in the Otsego district and have 3 sons Nick, Jack, and Jameson. She enjoys running, watching her boys' sporting events, Ohio State Football, and water-skiing at the lake during summer vacation.
A Note from our P.E. Teachers:
Dear Parents,
PLEASE remember to have your child(ren) wear or bring their tennis shoes to wear for P.E. class. Your child(ren) have P.E. every other school day. They are more than welcome to keep their tennis shoes in their lockers/cubbies during the week, if that is more convenient.
Thank you so much for your cooperation!
Amy Konoff & Freda Rehbein
Otsego Family Night with the Toledo Walleye
Exciting News for Extended Care Families
Otsego Extended Care Families –
I hope everyone had a great week and we would all like to thank you for your continued support of the Otsego Elementary Extended Care Program. We have some exciting news to share about the signing in/out and billing process that we have been working on with our High School Computer Science class. Mr. Carroll and I challenged our students to help us become more efficient through the use of technology. The students have done a phenomenal job and have built a computer program from scratch through the use of writing computer code. I cannot begin to thank our students and our teacher Mr. Gerwin enough for their hard work and dedication to this project. We are really excited about it!
Students who are involved:
Phase 1 - Sam Smith, Cole Steele, Jason Jones, Blake Sterling, Connor Evans, and James Chase
Phase 2 (These are the students who will be completing the project and making sure it continues to get updated) – Cole Steele, James Chase, and Connor Evans
What will happen is that you will sign in and out using a tablet and the time will automatically be recorded based on your signature. An updated account balance will also be displayed on the screen for you. Eventually, this will streamline our entire process. We really want our billing to be seamless for you and our team. We are still working out all of the details, but we really wanted to get this out to you to let you know what we have been working on. Or let me say, our students have been working on! I say this a lot but we have extremely talented students at Otsego! #OtsegoProud
Next Steps:
We need to get information into our data base before we can roll this out to all of you. If you are an extended care customer please fill this form out. Please fill this form out if you attend Extended Care 1 time a year or every day. We need everyone that uses OES Extended Care to fill this form out.
Things to note about the form:
- Please do NOT use commas anywhere on this form.
- Student ID – This is your students lunch number and log in for power school. If you do not know it please check with the office.
- The guardian questions are who can pick up the students. The only thing that is required to fill out the form is the primary guardian, but if you want to add others please do so.
Final thoughts –
We need a few volunteers to test everything. If you are interested in helping out our students test this new software out, please email me at akoch@otsegoknights.org
Thank you again for utilizing our OES Extended Care Program.
Thank you,
Adam Koch, Superintendent
Steve Carroll, Treasurer
Kindergarten Round-Up and 2018-2019 Registration
On Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 6:30pm, Otsego Elementary School will be holding a Kindergarten Round Up Meeting. This meeting is for all parents of incoming kindergarten students for the 2018-2019 school year. Students must by 5 years of age on or before August 1, 2018 to enter kindergarten.
Kindergarten Round Up will include basic information about kindergarten, explanation and distribution of registration forms, and an opportunity to sign-up for your child's Kindergarten Screening time slot in June of 2018.
Feel free to bring proof of residency, certified original birth certificate, photo ID of parent/guardian, immunization record, and complete court file-stamped custody papers (if applicable) to the meeting and we can make copies and add them to your student's file following the meeting. If you are unable to bring them at this time, please plan to have them at your screening appointment in June.
If you are unable to attend this meeting, but have a student entering kindergarten for the 2018-2019 school year, please stop by the Otsego Elementary Office anytime starting March 8, 2018 to pick up a registration packet, or you can download and print the forms from our school website (otsegoknights.org) under the Parent tab on the Elementary Page. (These forms will not be accessible until March 8, 2018).
If you have any questions regarding Kindergarten Round Up, registration and/or screening please call the Otsego Elementary Office at 419-823-4381 Option 4.
Preschool Registration for 2018-2019
We will begin accepting registration paperwork for NEW preschoolers on Tuesday, February 20th at 8:00am. Paperwork will be online to print out or available for pick up in the Elementary office beginning Feb. 20th. We will NOT be accepting or distributing paperwork prior to Feb. 20th. Classes are on a first come, first serve basis, so be sure to register early as classes fill up quickly.
*Please note: you will need your $200 deposit as well as the $35 supply fee with you when you register. Checks will be held until after May 1st. If you qualify for free tuition with the required paperwork or are placed on the waiting list, your deposit/check will be returned.
*Students must turn 3 on or before August 1st, 2018, and be completely potty trained (unless on an IEP), to attend preschool. Also, 3 year olds may ONLY attend 2 or 3 days per week and are not eligible to attend more days.
IF YOU HAVE A RETURNING PRESCHOOLER, PAPERWORK TO CONTINUE IN THE PROGRAM WILL BE SENT HOME BY FEB. 4TH WITH YOUR STUDENT.
Baseball Youth Clinics
Phone Number Changes
Parents/Guardians,
If your phone number has changed and needs to be updated in our system PLEASE call the office with that information. There have been many recent issues where we do not have the right number or it has been disconnected when trying to contact a students parent or guardian. It is crucial that we have a working number in the event of an emergency.
Thank you
A Note from the School Nurse:
ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
This year we have the following over the counter medications listed on the enclosed document stocked in each office. Please fill out the form and return to school with your child. We are hoping to cut back on parents needing to bring medication in and/or prevent sending students home. Hopefully this makes it easier on parents, teachers and staff.
Several students have been bringing cough drops with them to school without a note. Students may not take these without written permission from a parent/guardian. We have this listed on the form as well.
As always if you have any questions please feel free to call me at 419-823-4381 ext. 4002.
Thank you,
Jane Gray RN, BSN
Transportation
Sign up to receive text messages from our Transportation Department!
The transportation department will send out a Remind alert when a bus is running at least 10 minutes late.
Using the directions below, sign up for one or more of the notification groups.
You may opt-out any time by texting ‘unsubscribe’ to the appropriate group.
High School & JH Buses (Bus Routes for grades 6-12 & Penta)
Text: @otsbus6-12 to 81010
Elementary Buses (Bus Routes for grades PK -5)
Text: @otsbuspk-5 to 81010
If you have any questions about bus routing information, please contact Eva Vasher at evasher@otsegoknights.org or 419-823-4381 ext. 3156
Sincerely,
Miss Syrowski
Meet Mrs. Jacoby
Hello Otsego Elementary! My name is Rachel Jacoby, and I am thrilled to be working with the students, parents and staff here. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Counselor Education at the University of Toledo. As part of my training, I am overjoyed to work with Ms. Syrowski as one of the School Counselors here. To provide you with a little bit of background information on me, I have been working as a mental health counselor with children between the ages of 18 months to 23 years, since 2013. I hold specializations in family life education, trauma focused care, play therapy, and foster care and adoption. In addition to working with you at Otsego, I am a graduate assistant at the University of Toledo, teaching two undergraduate level classes this semester and I work as a counselor at a private practice in Perrysburg. In addition to my crazy work schedules, I love spending time with my husband, Mike, my dog, Ziggy and my cat, Callie. Together, we love to travel and binge watch “The Office”. I will be working with Ms. Syrowski on Mondays. If you have any questions regarding my role at Otsego or my professional experiences, please let me know!
Meet Mrs. Miller
Mrs. Miller is a graduate student at the University of Toledo who is studying to become a Licensed School Counselor. She also obtained her Bachelor's Degree from UT...GO ROCKETS! Mrs. Miller is passionate about creating a positive and unconditional support system for all students to grow and flourish in. In her free time, you will find Mrs. Miller frolicking around downtown Toledo enjoying a Mud Hens or Walleye game, taking a hike with her husband and dogs, or hanging out with her niece, Harper.
Important Dates
2017-2018
February 6 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
February 16 - NO SCHOOL, District Professional Development/Work Day
February 19 - NO SCHOOL, President's Day
February 20-23 - Jump Rope for Heart
March 6 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
March 27 - 2nd Grade Music Performance, 7pm
March 30-April 8 - NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
April 10 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
April 11-12 - 3rd-5th Grade State Testing, English Language Arts
April 17-18 - 3rd-5th Grade State Testing, Math
April 24-25 - 5th Grade State Testing, Science
April 26 - 1st Grade Music Performance, 7pm
May 1 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
May 8 - Volunteer Breakfast, 8am
May 14-15 - Field Day
May 16 - 5th Grade Ag Safety Day
May 17-18 - Field Day Rain Date
May 18 - 5th Grade Dance, 3:35-4:35
May 25 - Last Day of School for Students
Otsego PTO
Check out the PTO on Facebook and follow on Twitter @OtsegoPTO
The next PTO meeting is January 9th at 6:00 in the Elementary Library.
Community Events
BGSU Kids' Tech University
BGSU Kids' Tech University
Kids' Tech University is designed to spark children's interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics by introducing them to scientists who work in those fields, and providing hands-on activities that let kids explore scientific concepts. Feb. 3, 2018: "Global change microbiology: the microscopic organisms that fuel our planet's global carbon cycle" March 24: "Plants are what they eat too! The science of plant nutrient uptake and assimilation" Online registration will be limited to 150 children, and is first come, first served. Register online at http://kidstechuniversity-bgsu.vbi.vt.edu/. Search for "Kids" Tech University @BGSU". Kids' Tech University at BGSU is directed by Dr. Paul Morris, a BGSU professor in Biological Sciences. Scholarships will be available. Please contact Dr. Morris at Pmorris@bgsu.edu for more information.
Registration is Open for Kids' Tech University, a four-session program that begins Saturday, Feb. 11, and ends Saturday, March 24 and is open to students who live within a one-hour driving distance of BGSU. To participate, children must be 9-12 years old as of Sept. 30, 2016. There is an $90 registration fee to participate and scholarships are also available.
Feb. 17: "Earth Through a Drone's Eye"
March 17: "Sci-Fi Comes to Life: When Parasites Control Host Behavior"
Follow Us on Twitter
Preschool: @OtsegoPreK
Kindergarten: @OtsegoK1st Grade: @OtsegoFirst
2nd Grade: @OtsegoGrade2
3rd Grade: @OtsegoGrade3
4th Grade: @OtsegoGrade4
5th Grade: @OtsegoGrade5
School Counselor: @OEScounselor
Reminders
SAVE ALUMINUM CAN TABS
Please help our students by collecting tabs from aluminum cans. Each tab is easy to remove and can be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The tabs help fund various projects for Ronald McDonald Houses and its visitors. Send the tabs in a bag to the school and our students will do the rest!
SAVE BOX TOPS
You can help the school earn money for supplies by collecting Box Tops. Our PTO collects and counts them and puts the money straight back into the school. (We earn 10 cents per Box Top). If you are able to collect a lot of these, it would be great if you could turn them in in groups of 50, but we will take them even if they are not grouped together.
Heard a rumor or have a question?
Katrina Baughman
Email: kbaughman@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4005)
Twitter: @kbaughman723
Mike Wiley
Email: mwiley@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4009)
Twitter: @PrincipalWiley
Elizabeth Syrowski
Email: esyrowski@otsegoknights.org
Website: http://oesknightscounselor.weebly.com/
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4010)
Twitter: @OEScounselor
Bonnie Armitage
Email: barmitage@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4001)
Jenny Helberg
Email: jhelberg@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4003)
Deputy Brian Ruckstuhl
Email: bruckstuhl@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (2099)