Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - February 16, 2017
Reminder
Staff Spotlight - Gina Swartz
Mrs. Swartz has been a teacher with Otsego Local Schools since 2004. She taught preschool for 2 years, Kindergarten for 4 years, First Grade for 4 years, and is currently back on our great Kindergarten team! Mrs. Swartz earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bowling Green State University in 2004, and a Masters degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College in 2008. She and her husband, Jerry, have two children, Brady and Jillian. She loves spending time with her family and friends.
From the Desk of Mr. Wiley:
This past week I took part in a national challenge to #shadowastudent for a day. This challenge was started by www.shadowastudent.org to get administrators out of the office and into the classroom to see what students see. I chose to shadow Jayden, a second grader in Mrs. Funk’s class. Jayden, and all his classmates, were super helpful all day long. They made sure I knew everything that was going on, had a place to sit, and understood the instructions (it was probably like explaining the internet to their grandfather). I was amazed how active a 2nd grader is during the day. Mrs. Funk changes the lesson every 10-15 minutes, which is about the attention span of an 8 year old. We were constantly on the move. We might sit at our desks for a little while, then work at stations, and finally move to sit on the floor. Thankfully, Mrs. Funk did not require that I sit criss-cross applesauce on the floor. The legs just don’t bend like that anymore.
It amazes me just how much fun 2nd grade is. Jayden and I learned how to count change, how to compare and contrast different stories, and how to write an essay with a beginning, middle and ending. We discussed our pets at the lunch table with Jayden’s friends, and we hit the swings at recess for a solid 20 minutes despite the cold weather. And throughout the day, we read some really interesting books. Second grade has changed a lot since I was in Mrs. Cotter’s class in 1972. The one thing I can say with confidence, your children are learning a lot here at Otsego Elementary School. This really is an awesome place to be!
Arrival and Dismissal
1. Please do not park in the circle drive. If you are getting out of your car and going into the building, you need to be in a parking spot. This way we can keep the flow moving.
2. Please make sure students are exiting the vehicle on the side of the school. This way we can ensure students are not hit by cars using the outer lane.
3. Avoid blocking or stopping in the cross walk. This way students can safely walk into and out of the building. This includes the crosswalk on both sides of the circle.
4. Please pull all the way up (past the cross walk) so that more cars can fit to allow students to exit their vehicles. This will make arrival and dismissal go much quicker.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students safe! As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns!
Teacher Requests
1. Requests must be made in writing (an e-mail or a written note).
2. Requests will only be accepted during a 2 week period - February 27th - March 10th. It is too difficult to create class lists with requests coming in through June. (The only exception to this will be for students enrolling after the 2 week period).
3. While we do our best to honor requests, there is no guarantee.
Thank you for your understanding!
Bus Changes
Preschool and Kindergarten Registration
Preschool Pre-Registration for 2017-2018 will begin February 21st at the Elementary School. Paperwork packets may be picked up in the office or printed off the web site by choosing the District tab and then clicking FORMS. Please drop completed paperwork off to the office between 8:00am and 4:00pm. Classes are on a first come, first serve basis so be sure to register early as classes fill up fast.
We will be accepting Kindergarten Registration for the 2017-2018 school year from March 6th thru March 31st.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR CHILD MUST TURN 5 ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1.
Please bring the following items to the Elementary office with you when you are registering: Birth Certificate, Proof of Residency (rental agreement, utility bill, real estate tax receipt) with full physical address and parent's name, and Custody Papers (if applicable). Also, when registering we will need the Registration Form and Transportation Form completed. Prior to the FIRST day of school we will need the Doctor Physical Form and Updated Immunization Form completed.
If you have any questions, please call the Elementary Office at 419-823-4381 option 4 or e-mail jhelberg@otsegoknights.org and/or barmitage@otsegoknights.org
Jump Rope for Heart
PAX Kernel of the Month
Beat the Timer
Have you ever noticed how statements to young people like "Get your room picked up" or "Get these dishes put away" are often met with moans and groans? These are also the types of activities that lead to procrastinating, distractions, or even off-task or disruptive behavior that can result in conflict with peers or adults. These activities can be completed more quickly, with more proficiency, and with less bargaining, arguing, or dawdling by using a simple strategy--Beat the Timer.
The Solution:
Beat the Timer is a way to increase on-task behaviors and focus on a particular task. This strategy has been proven to decrease the dawdling, distractibility, and disruptions that come from performing chores or any other activities that do not go as smoothly as they should.
The Procedure:
1. Select an Activity that is particularly cumbersome, inefficient, or causes arguments between adults and young people when left unfinished. One example could be picking up clothes and putting them away.
2. Explain clearly the expectations for what exactly should be done. For example, "The socks should be folder and put in the drawer and he shirts should be hung in the closet."
3. Decide on an amount of time to complete the task. This causes the young person to focus and work quickly to finish in time.
4. Announce the time that will be given and let them know when to begin. Prominently place the timer so they can check their progress. "OK, I think we'll play Beat the Timer as we do this. I'm going to set the clock for 7 minutes...and you may begin now!"
5. Praise good performance and progress. "Nice job! I like how you separated the dirty clothes by colors. That's a huge help!"
6. Provide occasional reinforcement for a job well done while playing Beat the Timer. Let them know that they get to do something fun or earn a reward for all the time they saved and for getting things done.
The Science:
Beat the Timer uses the principle of reduced allocated time. This is the same principle that causes us to really focus in as the seconds tick away before the last shot at the end of a big basketball game. It is also why children who may have trouble paying attention in school can focus so well on video games. The timer aspect lets them know what they need to focus on to complete the level or finish the race before time runs out.
Beat the Timer takes those same skills of focus and attention in young people and applied them to activities that often cause problems, such as getting dressed to leave, cleaning up, finishing work, or chores. By playing Beat the Timer, young people focus on the task at hand and are more likely to get it done. Perhaps more importantly, they complete the task with less complaining or disrupting. This reduces the opportunities for arguments with peers and adults. Over time, young people learn new procedures for completing those tasks without needing the timer at all.
For more information about PAX and it's creators, visit wright.edu/prevention-science
Weather with Ronnie
3rd Graders working on equivalent fractions!
Counselor's Corner
5th Grade Career Survey
Important Dates
February 21-24 - Jump Rope for the Heart
March 1 - 2 Hour Delay for Teacher Inservice
March 17 - End of the Third Nine Weeks
March 20 - Spring Picture Day
March 22 & 23 - ELA State Test for Grades 3-5
March 25 - PTO Father/Daughter Dance, 7-9pm
March 27-April 7 - Pennies for Patients
March 30 - 2nd Grade Music Program, 7pm
April 8-17 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
April 26 & 27 - Math State Test for Grades 3-5
April 27 - 1st Grade Music Program, 7pm
April 29 - PTO Pancake Breakfast and Auction, 8-11am
May 2 & 3 - Social Studies State Test Grade 4
May 2 & 3 - Science State Test Grade 5
May 15-16 - Field Day
May 18 - Kindergarten Graduation
May 25 - Last Day for Students
Otsego PTO
“There’s a Minion reasons to join PTO”
Check out the PTO on Facebook and follow on Twitter @OtsegoPTO
The next PTO meeting is March 7th at 6:00 in the Elementary Library.
Father/Daughter Dance
PTO Dinner Fundraiser
Location: 205 Farnsworth Rd, Waterville
Time: 11:00am - 9:00pm
Bring the flyer below!
20% of food sales will be donated to Otsego PTO
otsegopto.com
PTO Pancake Breakfast
All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Serving 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Otsego Elementary School Commons
$7 Adults, $5 Seniors/Children, Under 3 Eat FREE!
- Unlimited Pancakes, Sausage and Drink
Keep your plate for refills - Chris Cakes of Ohio will be FLIPPING your breakfast!
"Fastest Flipper"- Guinness World Record Holder - Silent Auction and Raffle
Winners announced at 10:45 am
Raffle Tickets: $1 each, 6 for $5, Otsego Cup with 35 for $25 - Win a Car!
2017 Nissan Altima (1) Year Lease
Only 200 tickets sold!
(1) Ticket $50 - (2) Tickets $75
Get your Nisson Altima Raffle Tickets Now!
We are looking for volunteers! Sign up on our website or email opto@otsegoknights.org.
If you are interested in donating items for the auction, please contact suzanne.smith@athenacareers.edu
Grand Rapids Baseball & Softball Sign-Up
Tontogany Baseball & Softball Sign-Ups
Weston Youth League
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 AND CAMPBELLS SOUP LABELS
You can help the school earn money for supplies by collecting Box Tops and Campbells labels from soup, juices and snacks. Our PTO collects and counts them and puts the money straight back into the school.
*This year our PTO is going to collect Box Tops monthly, and the class that collects the most will get a pizza party in May.
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
Lianna Mikesina
Email: lmikesina@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)