Otsego High School
Weekly Parent Newsletter (Week Six)
From the Desk of Mr. O'Shea
Immunizations - MUST READ
All 12th grade students need to have TWO doses if they have not received one as of now. Only one dose is required.
PLEASE bring proof of Immunization to school or have Doctor's Office fax to (419) 823-1397.
Grades
I just want to remind all students and parents that all of our courses are now semester courses, meaning at the end of this semester they will receive a (.5) half a credit for passing the class. If they do NOT pass the class then they will not receive that credit and will need to recover it at a later time. This is different in years past where they could fail the first semester and pass the second semester at a high enough percentage that they could ultimately pass the class. The problem with that is we would have to wait an entire to find out whether or not a student passed or failed leaving us further behind to help a student recover. Please contact the office i you have questions about this. It is critical that your child passes at the semester in order to receive credit. Otherwise, they will need to make it up.
Checking Grades
Want to check your students grades on your phone?
Use the PowerSchool app!
Using a web browser on your mobile device won’t give you the best experience on our PowerSchool website. PowerSchool makes an app for iPhones and Android phones that makes it easy to check your students grades on your phone.
iPhone / iPad users click here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/powerteacher-mobile/id390563073?mt=8
Android users click here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.powerschool.portal&hl=en
Again, if you have questions please let us know.
September Students of the Month
Senior - Mason Gonzales
Junior - Henry Adler
Sophomore - Derek Michaelis
The Otsego Leadership Team...Off and Running
As a School Counselor, one of my primary objectives is to advocate for the needs of my students. Over the past few years, I have decided that one of the best ways to augment my advocacy efforts is to call upon student leaders to lead the charge. This year, we have our largest team yet: 18 Junior High students and a handful of returning High School members. These students all volunteered to join this group, despite the large workload it places on their already busy lives. We have 6th-9th grade students, working collaboratively to solve real-world problems in their school and beyond. Through the rigor of Project-Based Learning, these leaders will plan and implement meaningful Advocacy Events over the course of the year. These events may take the form of week long initiatives, poster campaigns, or implementation of school wide activities or clubs. Near the end of the year, OLT members will share their work with the community during an Advocacy Night event (details TBD). You will find a few pictures below of your Junior High team already hard at work. Stay tuned for more updates from this creative group of students.
Homework Cafe
Homework Cafe takes place every Wednesday after school from 2:20pm-3:30pm in the HS Library/Media Center. This is a great time to finish up any projects students are working on, study for upcoming tests or quizzes, or even receive tutoring from fellow classmates.
All sports activities don’t start until 3pm on Wednesdays so this program allows student athletes to be in Homework Cafe for 30 minutes before practice/games.
Homework Cafe is monitored by adults who keep students on task to ensure they strictly work on assignments. Special thanks to the Otsego Endowment Foundation for a monetary grant which allows us to purchase snacks and refreshments free of charge to students. Donations are always accepted though.
This after school program has grown to be very successful and students really enjoy that time to grab a snack, unwind after the day, and get a head start on classwork.
**Transportation home is not provided for students who stay after for the program. Please call Betsy Roberts at 419-823-4381.Communication with the High School
2016-2017 Otsego High School Staff Directory
Below are a few of the other ways to connect with us and to have access to updates and communications from us. Please remember that we desire two-way communication and encourage everyone to reach out to us and ask questions, voice concerns, and give feedback. Thank You.
1. High School Website The Otsego Local Schools site highlights what is important to us and the community. The website layout uses responsive design, meaning that it will adjust for tablets and mobile devices. We will keep the high school site updated with pictures, news articles, and other important information regarding the district and the building.
2. Remind 101 (Text to: 81010 Message: @otseg there is no "o" at the end just @otseg. Thats it. You will receive a message that says you've been added to our group. You will receive text messages straight to your mobile device). If you don't want to text, you can go to https://www.remind.com/join and just type in (otseg) as the class code.
3. Twitter (follow @otsegohsoffice or @KosheaOHS)
4. District App:
Highlights of the Week
Upcoming Dates/Events
October
Mon. 10/3 - Athletic Boosters Mtg. (7pm)
Sun. 10/9 - AppleButter Fest
Mon. 10/10 - NO SCHOOL, District Professional Development Day
Tues. 10/18 - HS Choir Concert, 7pm
Wed. 10/19 - PSAT Testing
Thurs. 10/20 - Financial Aid Night, 6:30pm Lourdes University
TBD - 9th Grade Hearing Screenings
TBD - 9th Grade Jostens Class Ring Presentations
TBD - 9th Grade PENTA Presentations
Fri. 10/21 - Senior Night
Fri. 10/21 - End of the 1st Quarter (1st Nine Weeks)
10/23 - End of the first 9 weeks
Mon. 10/24 - 11/4 - HS OGT Make-Up Testing
Tues. 10/25 - Board of Education Meeting, 6pm
Tues. 10/25 - HS Band Concert, 7pm
10/26 - 10/30 - Fall OGT Testing
10/27 - HS Band Concert, 7pm
Financial Aid Night
2016 Financial Aid Night Flier
High School Seniors and their parents are encouraged to attend this informative session to get a better understanding of the students financial aid process. Student Aid experts will be available to assist you with filing your FAFSA and to answer any questions. Come to Otsego High School's free financial aid night on October 26th at 6:30pm in the high school computer lab. Click the link below to sign up.
If you cannot attend Otsego's financial aid night below is information about Lourdes University's financial aid night:
The 9th Annual High School Financial Aid night is coming up at Lourdes University. High school seniors, interested underclassmen, and their families, are encouraged to attend. Students who do not plan on attending Lourdes are still invited to participate. Light refreshments will be provided before the presentation begins and there is no cost to attend.
We had a well-attended event last year and hope to see more Otsego High School students! Please place this event on your calendars or list of events that will be passed out to your students. If you need additional information or materials to send out or post please let me know and I will be sure to get the resources to you. We plan to cover the following topics, though if there are additional subjects you would like us to discuss please let us know.
- Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Explanation of the new Prior-Prior Year FAFSA
- Explanation of the various types of federal and state aid available
- Tips for scholarship searches
- How to compare costs after aid is offered from different schools
The event will be held Thursday, October 20th, 2016 from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. at the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University. We are holding the event earlier than usual this year due to the FAFSA changes. After the presentation, the financial aid staff will be available for questions.
Transportation Department
Communication/Updates
Sign up to receive text messages from our Transportation Department!
High School & JH Buses (Bus Routes for grades 6-12 & Penta)
Text: @otsbus6-12
to: 81010
UPDATE: We have updated our phone system so that our main voice prompts will allow callers to press option 5 for the transportation department. Option 5 will ring extension 3156. If you have questions please email our Transportation Director, Eva Vasher
Safety/Regulations
Parents please talk to your child(ren) about eating/drinking on the bus to and from school. Simply put, it is prohibited and against the law. Our transportation department will be enforcing this rule and I do not want kids getting tripped up by this. Despite past practices current Ohio Law prohibits eating and drinking on the bus.
Athletics Department
Pass it on Challange
Grades/Eligibility
Every Wednesday, ALL sports will wait until 3:00pm to start their practices. This will allow for students to seek out teachers after school for help with their school work and not feel as rushed to get out to practice as well as allow our athletes to possibly get involved in other clubs and organizations which will be allowed to meet after school during this time. Athletic teams may hold study tables after school on Wednesdays until 3:00pm.
The Athletics Department will also begin running a weekly eligibility list identifying all athletes that have either a "D" or "F" in a class and notify coaches and players. Coaches will be expected to work with their athletes to get these kids off the eligibility list.
Communication/Updates
‘Otsego Athletics’ is on Twitter and Facebook. Follow for high school scores and other athletic department information.
Music Department
Information
10/2 - 4PM- Rhythm on the River - Grand Rapids,with Knightmusik and Swing Choir & HS band
10/18 - 7:00PM- Fall Choir Concert with All HS groups
News from the Cafeteria
Menus
2016-2017 Lunch and Breakfast Schedules
If you have questions please email our Food Service Director, Jeanie Jeffers
Free & Reduced Lunches
New free and reduced forms are available at the schools office or online.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 419-823-4381 ext.1104
The Otsego FFA Chapter competed in the county Soils Career Development Event this week. Both the rural and urban teams placed 2nd in the county contest. Otsego hosted the contest, thank you to Dan Potter for allowing us to have the contest on his land.
In the Rural Division: Morgan Mazey placed 3rd, Amber Underwood placed 6th, and Jacob Thomas placed 9th.
Please RSVP for the upcoming tailgate and chapter degree ceremony. Also, see how the chapter did in county soil judging.
-- Debbie Ayers
Community Events
Employment Opportunities
Wood County Prevention Newsletter
Ken Seeley Benefit
SPAGHETTI DINNER AND BENEFIT AUCTION for Kenneth Seeley:
On June 2, 2016, a 1993 Dodge Dakota, operated by Kenneth Seeley, 49, of Weston, was traveling northbound on Route 235 when he failed to yield at the stop sign at Route 6. Seeley’s vehicle went off the right side of the road and caught fire. Seeley was transported to Wood County Hospital by Weston EMS, then to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, by Life Flight air ambulance. Kenny grew up in Tontogany on Wall Street. He graduated from Otsego, is married and has 2 children. Ken has undergone several surgeries and has amassed a substantial financial burden. He is hoping to return back home around the 23rd of September - but he will still need lots of intensive therapy. SPAGHETTI DINNER AND BENEFIT AUCTION is being held on Saturday September 24th at the Lybarger Grimm American Legion Post, Tontogany, OH from 4pm to 7 pm. Free will donation for dinner. Music and Entertainment at 4 p.m. Silent Auction Items, Live Auction at 7 p.m. with Steve Powell, auctioneer. An account (Kenneth Roy Seeley) has been set up at Key Bank for monetary donations. If you are interested in donating "something" for the silent auction or for the live auction please call 419-409-0993 or 419-823-4233.
Horizon Youth Theater Show
Mark your calendars for 2 upcoming shows presented by Horizon Youth Theatre: The Great Cross Country Race (Or the Tortoise and the Hare) and The Fabulous Fables of Aesop. Both shows include a few students from Otsego elementary or junior high schools as well as other area community schools and home schooled students. Tickets are $5 and available online or at the door. horizonyouththeatre.org
Classic Joke of the Week:
A: Because they Lactose, Duh!
Have a Great Week.
Contact Me
Otsego High School Principal
2016-2017 Otsego High School Staff Directory
Email: Koshea@otsegoknights.org
Website: http://www.otsegoknights.org/high-school
Location: 18505 Tontogany Creek Road, Tontogany, OH, United States
Phone: (419) 823-4381
Twitter: @KosheaOHS