Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - March 24, 2017
Staff Spotlight - Rhonda Doren
Rhonda Doren is a Title I (Reading Intervention Specialist) at Otsego Elementary. She came to Otsego in 1998 after teaching fourth grade at Elmwood for five years. Prior to her Title I position she also taught fourth grade at Otsego, then became the HOSTS Teacher/Coordinator until the program was phased out in 2014. In 1992, Mrs. Doren earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University where she later completed her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 1999. Ms. Doren has four children and lives in Perrysburg. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, walking and working outdoors.
Camp Invention
Otsego Local Schools will be partnering with the National Inventors Hall of Fame to host Camp Invention, the country’s leading program inspiring creativity, innovation, and STEM interest in children in incoming grades K-6. (open to all current PK students who will be KDG next year and current 5th Graders) The program’s all-inclusive cost is $225 per child. The camp be held June 12-16 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at Otsego Elementary.
The program director will be our Elementary Technology Teacher, Jessica Martinez and will be instructed by other Otsego Elementary Teachers. Please click the following link for more information. OTSEGO STEM CAMP FLYER
We are working with local businesses to provide scholarships to students. Please register your child now to take advantage of discounts, and if scholarship money becomes available, we will reimburse as needed.
YouTube Videos – Below you will find videos that you can share with your students in class or post on social media:
· Launch™ Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OiFeEzgJwA
· Duct Tape Billionaire ™: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1La-KUenj1g
· Have a Blast™: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEoebK5xqhw
· Mission Space Maker™: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHiavm6TwIg
· Operation Keep Out™: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StVtc5AQYtc
Imaginations get their rocket fuel at Camp Invention! An exciting, weeklong summer adventure awaits with activities that explore connections between science, technology, engineering, and innovation while sharpening their 21st century STEM skills. A program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Camp Invention allows children in kindergarten through 6th grade to experience real-world problem solving, creative thinking, invention, and teamwork. Children work together to transform the terrain and ecosystem of a distant exoplanet. They take risks as budding business owners, blast rockets, air cannons, and rubber chickens, and wire a circuit to create their own Spy Gadget Alarm Box! Local, certified educators lead a week of hands-on activities that fuel children’s confidence in their natural ability to dream and create. Early registration discounts are available so don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity. Visit campinvention.org or call 800.968.4332 for information.
If you have any questions please contact Jessica Martinez at jmartinez@otsegoknights.org
District Survey
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 Testing Dates
Below is the testing schedule for all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students:
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!
Upcoming PTO Events
PTO has a lot of great events coming up! All the dates are listed below. Click on the link for more information about each event!
March 25 7-9pm - TOMORROW!
A Knight for a Princess Dance
Tickets available at the door.
April 5th
Restaurant Fundraiser: Max and Erma’s Mention flyer for 20% to be donated to PTO.
April 29th 8am - 11 am
All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast
Tickets at the door.
WIN A CAR! Raffle tickets and details at otsegopto.com
May 15th
Restaurant Fundraiser: Chipotle. Mention OTESGO PTO for 50% to be donated to PTO.
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.
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 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 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.
April Fools Day Open
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)