OTSEGO LOCAL SCHOOLS
Superintendent's Weekly Update - October 30th
Updated numbers are below that are current at the end of the day today.
CLICK HERE FOR THE OTSEGO COVID-19 DASHBOARD
Otsego Football Playoff Game: Kickoff is at 7 pm tomorrow and will be LIVE STREAMED HERE on our website. You could also search Otsego TV channel directly on youtube and it would come up. That link is HERE
Latest News from the Wood County Health Department: 10/26/20
COVID-19 numbers are increasing across Ohio and remain high in Wood County, and we know how to fight this. We can work together to bring our local case numbers down.
We’ve already seen successes in Wood County that when we work together to consistently apply public health guidelines, the virus won’t be spread as much and cases will go down substantially.
- Wearing a mask when you’re around other people and maintaining a safe distance from others are the most effective ways to reduce the chances this virus has to spread among us.
- We’re entering a season when people will be indoors more and potentially gathering for the holidays. We need everyone to continue to stay vigilant through these next few months.
Your mental health is an important part of your physical health, both during normal times and during this ongoing pandemic.
- Make sure you’re caring for yourself, and stay resilient to the challenges COVID-19 has created for all of us.
- Try to stick to a regular routine, including getting enough sleep, taking breaks from work, connecting with coworkers, family, and friends, and making time to do things you enjoy.
- Check-in often with the people you love.
- Ask if they’re doing OK, and listen. Everyone wants to feel like others care about their wellbeing, and we can help each other through this difficult time.
- We’re preparing now for when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.
While we know it will be a while before the vaccine is available to everyone who wants it, the CDC and FDA believe there will be at least one approved vaccine announced in November.
- The announcement of the approval could be delayed while the reviewers ensure the trials have proven the vaccine is effective with no major side effects.
- The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available. The plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers available so no one will have to travel far to be vaccinated, whether it’s at your doctor’s office, retail pharmacy, hospital, or federally qualified health center.
- The initial doses of the vaccine will likely be prioritized to critical workforces, such as health care and public safety, and the most vulnerable people, such as residents of long-term care facilities and other congregate living settings.
- The vaccine will likely be distributed to the public through a combination of public vaccination events, employer-hosted vaccination events, by health care providers, and at pharmacies.
- Vaccines go through extensive testing and review before they are approved. This includes several stages to make sure they’re safe and effective, including lab testing and clinical trials.
- As of mid-October, four COVID-19 vaccines had begun large-scale (phase 3) clinical trials in the United States.
- All but one uses two shots, with a period of time between doses. The other COVID-19 vaccine uses one shot.
- At any stage, if there are concerns about either safety or effectiveness, FDA may request additional information or studies or may halt ongoing clinical studies. A vaccine is licensed only if it’s determined to be safe and effective.
- In the past, vaccines completed one stage before moving to the next. This was mainly done to avoid committing money and time on a vaccine that might not be approved or needed.
- COVID-19 vaccine developers are overlapping stages to speed up the development, approval, and distribution. This does not mean the safety and efficacy requirements are less than other vaccines.
- After a vaccine is approved, many vaccine safety monitoring systems continue to watch for possible side effects that may not have been seen in clinical trials. If something unexpected is seen, experts quickly study it further to assess whether it is a safety concern and changes are needed. This monitoring is critical to help ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.
You can learn more about the development of a COVID-19 vaccine at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
Quarantined: If a student or staff member has been in close contact with another individual that tests positive for COVID-19 the student will be required to quarantine for 14 days from the date of close contact. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of the positive individual. The quarantine may end only after 14 days if the student/staff member was symptom-free the entire time.
Isolated: If a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 they are to isolate at home for 10 days since the symptoms first appeared. The student or staff member may return when there have been 10 days since symptoms began, no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and COVID-19 symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours.
Contact Tracing: We will contact trace through multiple means. We will start with all of our seating charts in classrooms and on the bus. We will also check to see what extracurriculars the students are involved in. We will also be directly communicating with the students to get a detail of their day. The contact tracing will start two days prior to a student having symptoms. For example, if a student tests positive for COVID-19 and symptoms appear on a Wednesday, we will contact trace and determine if any individual had close contact (within 6 ft. for more than 15 minutes) on Monday or Tuesday of that week.
Trick or Treat in the Otsego Community:
Please be safe and practice all of the guidelines from the State of Ohio.
https://www.halloween2020.org/
Grand Rapids: October 31st from 5 to 7 pm
Haskins: October 31st from 5 to 7 pm
Tontogany: October 31st from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Weston: October 31st from 6 to 7:30 pm
Food Pick up for ONLINE STUDENTS: Monday, November 2nd
Food pick up is Monday, November 2nd from 4-5 pm. Please make sure you are there if you signed up for food.
Food Service Reminder - Breakfast and Lunches are FREE all year for ALL students. Even if your child packs every day have them try our lunches. We are ok with that. It would be a great opportunity for them to try out our food service program.
INTERNET ACCESS:
We were able to secure a grant to purchase Chromebooks with internet built-in until December 31st. We have a limited supply and available for our students.
1. If you are an online student taking all classes online and have trouble connecting to the internet either because of a weak signal at home or do not have the internet at home please email me and I will get you set up with this Chromebook.
2. If you are a student in grades 6-12 and do not have reliable internet we can swap your Chromebook out until December 31st and you should have reliable internet.
This is an extremely limited timeline grant. I am sorry that the free internet Chromebooks are only able to be used until December 31st.
Please contact me at akoch@otsegoknights.org and I will connect with you ASAP to get you this Chromebook.
Adam Koch
GO KNIGHTS!
Veteran's Day and Wall
Photographs Needed: We need more pictures to fill our wall of fame (picture below) in the commons area that honors our veterans. If you are a military veteran who attended Otsego, Grand Rapids, Haskins, Washington Township, or Weston or lives in the Otsego Community we are requesting that you provide us with an 8 x 10 photograph (hopefully in uniform) to be placed on the wall. You can email a scanned copy of your photograph to akoch@otsegoknights.org or physically bring a copy of your picture to the High School Main Office. Thank you for helping us honor our local veterans.
THANK YOU Gerken Paving, Ebony Construction, and Ohio Operating Engineers Apprentice Program
A huge THANK YOU goes out to the following people and companies for donating their time and materials to pave the south gate entrance to the stadium. Richie Keifer and Gerken Paving set it up and the following community members contributed to the project.
Chad Hartman - Ebony Construction
Ben Brooks - Ohio Operating Engineers Local 18 Apprenticeship Program
#OtsegoProud
Junior High - Lend a hand, Give a can Campaign
Hello, Otsego Community. 7th period Kao’s class is doing a fundraiser for canned food starting Red Ribbon week and the week after. If you would like to participate, please, drop off canned food/dog food to the Junior High Office. Please label how many cans you have either on a sticky note or on your bag. Our goal that we are trying to reach is 400 cans for human food and 100 cans for animal food. You could bring dog food, cat food, or any canned food. Thank you! Let’s End Hunger together!
Eagle Scout Project Donation
Dear Otsego Community,
As a member of Boy Scout Troop of 347, Tontogany, Ohio, and a sophomore at Otsego High School, I am currently pursuing my Eagle Rank. I will be building a batting cage for the Tontogany Legion Ball Fields. This project will benefit the community by providing a recreational outlet for the youth of the Otsego Local School District communities. Baseball and softball are popular and the need for another batting cage at the field is great. Especially in these difficult times, outside recreation is extremely important. The batting cage will be 60X18. My project is to fundraise and build the batting cage with the help of my troop. The estimated cost for the project is $2,500. Any funds that are donated to this worthy project would be greatly appreciated.
Donations can be made in the form of a check to Troop 347, with the Neil Amborski, Eagle Project noted in the memo line. The donation can be mailed to 14016 Cross Creek Rd. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. If you have any questions about the project, please contact me at the e-mail address 23namborski@otsegoknights.org . Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Neil Amborski
Otsego Food Pantry
The Otsego Food Pantry is always willing to help those in need. This service is by appointment only. Please call, text, or email to schedule.
Otsego Food Pantry
c/o Lisa Hatfield
PO Box 261
17700 Beaver Street
Grand Rapids, OH 43522
Phone: 419-830-1051
Email: otsegofoodpantryoh@gmail.com
Housed in the Grand Rapids First Presbyterian Church – Supported by our Community!
Athletics
Saturday, October 31st
12:00 - Boys XC @ Tiffin *Regional Race - We have one runner competing in this event. Ashton Serrato is a senior member of the Cross Country Team and finished 11th at the District Race to advance to the Regional Race. Good luck Ashton!
7:00 - V FB (H) Ottawa Glandorf *Playoff Game
COMMUNITY EVENTS SECTION
Questions, Concerns, Comments, or Rumors
SPONSORS
Otsego Board of Education
President: Brad Anderson banderson.otsego@gmail.com
Vice President: James Harter jameslharter@gmail.com
Board Member: Mark Tolles mdt814@cs.com
Board Member: Jessica Mehl jmehl.jd@gmail.com
Board Member: Gordon Digby gdigby44@gmail.com
Adam Koch, Superintendent
Email: akoch@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Location: 18505 Tontogany Creek Road, Bowling Green, OH, United States
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @AdamKoch_Otsego
Lisa Austin, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent/EMIS Coordinator
Email: laustin@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Lauri Dunham, Special Education Director
Email: ldunham@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Stephen Bihary, School Psychologist
Email: sbihary@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Luke Swartz, Technology Director
Email: lswartz@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Katrina Baughman, Elementary Principal
Email: kbaughman@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @KBaughman723
Becky Buchman, Assistant Elementary Principal
Email: bbuchman@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @buchman_becky
Kevin O'Shea, High School Principal
Email: koshea@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @KosheaOHS
Jon Rife, Junior High Principal
Email: jrife@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @OJHS_Principal
Tom Ferdig, High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Grades 6-12
Email: tferdig@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Eva Vasher, Director of Transportation, Custodial, and Maintenance
Email: evasher@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Emily Bires - Director of Food Service
Email: ebires@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @Otsego_Cafe