Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - March 10, 2017
Staff Spotlight - Angie Bechstein
Mrs. Bechstein has been a teacher at Otsego for 13 years. She has taught first grade, Title I reading, and is currently a Kindergarten teacher. She received her Bachelor's of Early Childhood Education at BGSU and her Master's in Educational Leadership with a Reading Endorsement from the University of Findlay. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 12 years and they have 3 kids, all who attend Otsego Elementary. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and shopping.
State Testing Dates
Below is the testing schedule for all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students:
Wednesday, March 22nd: ELA (English Language Arts) Part 1 (Grades 3-5)
Thursday, March 23rd: ELA Part 2 (Grades 3-5)
Wednesday, April 26th: Math Part 1 (Grades 3-5)
Thursday, April 27th: Math Part 2 (Grades 3-5)
Tuesday, May 2nd: Social Studies Part 1 (Grade 4) & Science Part 1 (Grade 5)
Wednesday, May 3rd: Social Studies Part 2 (Grade 4) & Science Part 2 (Grade 5)
What can parents do to help?
While state testing is never our primary focus here at OES, we still strive to give our students their best chance possible. Parents can help with this by ensuring students are at school on the dates listed above, have had a good night sleep, and a healthy breakfast. At school we focus on encouraging students to do their best and show us what they know, reiterating that at home might help students feel less stress regarding taking these tests.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns! Thank you for your assistance in giving our students their best education possible!
A New Knight!
A Message From the Superintendent:
Otsego Community -
As a district, we are constantly looking for ways to offer our students the best education possible. In order to do this, we are asking for you help. We need parents and members of the community to fill out a brief, informational, online survey.
Please check out this short video about the survey https://youtu.be/oMVJeiI2iAw
The survey is only 3 questions. CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY
___________________________________________________________________________________________
State of the Schools – March 22, 2017
I invite you to attend a State of the Schools address on March 22, 2017 starting at 6 pm in the High School Commons with a project fair. Several teachers and departments from the entire district will be set up in the commons from 6 pm to 7 pm. They will be showing student work, displaying projects, and highlighting their departments or class. Please plan on coming at 6 for light refreshments and getting a glimpse of what it is like to be an Otsego student.
The formalized presentation will start at 7 pm in the HS Auditorium. The State of the Schools address includes presentations from administrators, students, and staff members. There will also be various student performances throughout the evening. We hope to see you there! We will discuss our survey results, finances, curriculum, athletics, and much more.
Smile Programs: The Mobile Dentists
A mobile dental group will be coming to our school April 6th, and 7th. The group will set up a "dental office for the day" and provide dental care to every student that signs up. This includes x-rays, cleaning, dental exam and fluoride treatment (if needed). Every child seen receives a dental "report card" to take home and a free toothbrush.
All you have to do is fill out the application and send it back to school. Every child is eligible, with or without insurance. This program is so easy. Parents do not have to take time off of work to take their child to the dentist, they come to you. Each year millions of children suffer the effects of poor oral health. 16 million children lack access to basic dental care. This is the solution. Dental care is provided by a caring, friendly staff that will put your child at ease throughout the entire visit. Your child will leave
with a clean smile!
A form went home with every student this week. There are extra forms in each building office. To learn more about the program go to www.mobiledentists.com. Any questions please contact Jane Gray (the district nurse) at 419-823-4381.
Otsego High School Musical: Pirates of Penzance
Show dates and times:
Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 17, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.
Ticket Sales:
Friday, March 10, 2017 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. **(tickets will be sold in the High School Commons during the fish fry)
Monday, March 13, 2017 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. **(tickets will be sold outside of the High School Office)
Thursday, March 16, 2017 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. **(tickets will be sold at the door before the show)
Friday, March 17, 2017 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. **(tickets will be sold at the door before the show)
Saturday, March 18, 2017 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. **(tickets will be sold at the door before the show)
Cafeteria News:
Reminder of the charging rule.
Students will be denied a regular meal if they have charged 2 or more meals.
At the elementary they will receive a cheese sandwich, fruit and milk.
There are several ways to check your students balances. You can set up an account in the K12 Payment Center. This will allow you to set a minimum balance and you will receive a reminder either by email or text. Even if you set up an account you do not have to apply funds through there. You can still send money in with your student.
You can also find out the balances by asking a cashier, or email/call Ms. Jeanne.
Please use these tools to insure you have funds available for a well balanced, nutritious lunch.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 419-823-4381 ext.1104 or email jjeffers@otsegoknights.org.
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!
Kindergarten Registration
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
PAX Kernel of the Month - March
Mending Fences
When young people break the rules or otherwise commit dangerous or unwanted behavior, adults are often left to provide consequences in the spur of the moment. During these times of high anxiety, choosing an appropriate consequence that achieves the desired result--decreasing the chance that the behavior happens again--can be extremely difficult. Harsh or inconsistent consequences can lead to hostility, arguing, resentment and bargaining. Further, making such decisions during times of high stress leads to the adults questioning whether the consequence was too harsh or too lenient.
The Solution:
Mending Fences is a strategy for managing consequences for unwanted behaviors or rule infractions. This strategy pairs randomized consequences with restorative practices to decrease unwanted behavior. By providing predetermined consequences narrowly tailored to the individual environment that allow young people to make amends, unwanted behaviors can be decreased while arguing and hostility remain low.
The Procedure:
1. Decide on the number of restorative practices together with the young person during a time of low stress or conflict. These may be additional chores or extra work to help improve or beautify the environment. Examples include washing dishes, pulling weeds, or cleaning floors.
2. Select one of the predetermined consequences at random when a behavior infraction occurs.
3. Suspend special privileges like video games, internet, or TV as appropriate until the Mending Fences consequence has been completed.
The Science:
Mending Fences provides predetermined, non-harsh consequences to unwanted or problematic behavior. These consequences are also narrowly tailored to the environment and individuals involved. All too often, consequences must be administered quickly in times of intense emotion. In these instances, actions taken without appropriate consideration may invite feelings of retribution from young people. This can cause a cycle of resentment and retaliation to grow between adults and young people. With Mending Fences, young people learn that when we mess up, we must make amends. However, because the consequence was selected and predetermined, after its completion, we get to start anew. Mending Fences allows adults and young people to create a happy, safe environment without arguing or bargaining.
For more information about PAX and it's creators, visit wright.edu/prevention-science
Weather with Ronnie
Counselor's Corner
Pennies for Patients
5th Grade Career Survey
Important Dates
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 April 4th at 6:00 in the Elementary Library.
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
3rd Annual All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast PTO Fundraiser
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
Be ready to catch your pancakes - Chris Cakes will be FLIPPING your breakfast!
Silent Auction & Raffle 8:00 am - 10:30 am
Raffle Tickets: $1 each, 6 for $5, Otsego Cup with 35 for $25
Funds raised will go towards elementary field trips and teacher mini-grants. Do not need to be present to win.
Call for Volunteers
We need:
1) Pancake Breakfast Volunteers
Event is April 29th. We are looking for a few more volunteers to help sell raffle tickets and collect donations for the event. Choose your volunteer slot here: http://otsegopto.com/current-volunteer-opportunities/
2) Communications Co-Coordinator
PTO needs help updating our Facebook and Twitter accounts with all of the exciting things happening! Can you help? Email PTO.
3) Mud Hens Game Event Coordinator
In April/May we will be having an Otsego community event at a MudHens game. We need someone to help coordinate this event. Interested? Email PTO.
Wood County Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
The Wood County Health Partners wants to hear from you! We’re asking you about physical activity and nutrition concerns in Wood County. Take 10 minutes to tell us about your eating habits and exercise. And tell us about how your neighborhood or town helps or makes it harder to be healthy. We’ll use this information to help create a plan for making Wood County the healthiest county in Ohio. Survey: http://svy.mk/2mcqNte
Literacy in the Park at BGSU
FREE FAMILY EVENT
Enjoy a snack and literacy-based activities for the entire family!
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017
10 A.M. TO 1 P.M.
Perry Field House, Bowling Green State University
FEATURING THE WORK OF POPULAR CHILDREN'S AUTHOR PATRICIA POLACCO
Over the past 12 years, the event has featured many well-known children’s authors, and we are excited to have Patricia Polacco with us this year.
We have expanded the focus of Literacy in the Park to address all of the different ways literacy is important in our lives. Families will have opportunities to engage in activities about financial literacy, nutritional literacy, physical education literacy and many other forms of literacy that can be found in their lives and communities.
For more information, visit bgsu.edu/literacyinthepark
Tontogany Fest Fundraiser
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)
Deputy Brian Ruckstuhl
Email: bruckstuhl@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Jane Gray
Email: jgray@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (2102)