Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - June 2017
Check out what's coming in August 2017!
Ways to Keep Students Active and Engaged During the Summer
Seize the Summer: Keep Kids Active & Engaged in Learning
Did you know? Students can experience learning loss when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer months. On average, students lose the equivalent of two months of math and reading skills during the summer months. More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities.
This summer, let’s work to change that. Together, parents, guardians, and community members can help give our children the best foundation for the upcoming school year.
Stay Engaged:
Encourage reading all summer long. This will help prevent the “summer slide” and provide benefits that can be seen year-round.
- Visit the local library and help your child put together a summer reading list. Celebrate each time he or she finishes a book, this will encourage them to complete the list by the time the summer ends.
Be Creative:
Summer is the perfect time to let your child’s imagination run wild and stimulate creativity. Kids.gov provides resources for arts and crafts projects that will keep children engaged and their minds active while having fun.
- NGA Kids – Choose from a variety of activities or projects from the National Gallery of Art, enjoy an animated musical adventure, take a tour through the sculpture garden, and more.
- Smithsonian – Are your children fans of Night at the Museum? Then this is the perfect activity for them. Here you are magically taken to the museums at night. To get back home, you have to solve mysteries and help your new friends find their artworks.
Stay Active & Healthy:
In addition to academic risks, children can also be at an increased risk of weight gain when they are out of school during the summer months. Take advantage of the warmer weather and keep youth active outdoors.
- KidsHealth.org – How do you feed a picky eater or encourage a child to play outside? Learn how to keep your child healthy with the right foods and exercise.
- Let’s Move! – Opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school and create new opportunities for families to be moving together.
- USDA Summer Food Program– This U.S. Department of Agriculture program provides free meals to all children 18 years old and under in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children.
For additional tips throughout the summer, follow @usedgov on Twitter, and check out the U.S. Department of Education Facebook page.
Kelsey Donohue works in the Office of Communication and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education
This article is taken from: https://blog.ed.gov/2013/06/seize-the-summer-keep-kids-active-engaged-in-learning/
Important information regarding student registration
Final Forms to replace InfoSnap for our online student registration:
We are excited to announce that Otsego Schools will be utilizing Final Forms for our online student registration starting with the 2017-2018 school year. You will be receiving an email from Final Forms in the near future to set up an account, SO PLEASE DO NOT DELETE IT!
Follow the instructions in the email and once your account is set up you will be ready to register your returning student(s) with ease!
If you do not receive an email from Final Forms please check your SPAM/JUNK folder and then contact Lisa Austin at laustin@otsegoknights.org or 419-823-4381 ext. 1100, as we may have an incorrect email address on file for you.
Attention Parents of Incoming 5th Graders:
5th grade camp will be September 13, 14, and 15. Mark your calendars now. If you would like to assist Otsego Elementary School in some fashion with 5th grade camp, email Mr. Wiley at mwiley@otsegoknights.org. We will have more information as we get closer to the beginning of the school year.
Summer Reading Program
The Weston Library and Otsego Schools are excited to announce that we will be teaming up again this summer to offer a summer reading program in each Village the month of June and July. We will have weekly story time for children birth to 4 years old, and programs and prizes for students 5-18, and weekly sensory activities and library time for special needs individuals.
The theme this year will be BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY. There is also a kick off to the Summer Reading Program on June 1st. Please come out to this free event on June 1st from 5:30 to 6:15.
Monday - Weston @ Library
Tuesday - Tontogany @ Elementary and Grand Rapids @ Library
Wednesday - Haskins @ Village Hall and Weston @ Library
Thursday and Friday - Weston @ Library
There will be a combined Reading RewardsDay on July 31st from 10:00 to 12:00 at the Otsego Elementary Commons. There will be games, pizza, and drawings to win prizes such as a Fitbit, IPAD, Gift cards, Bikes, Mini Scooter, Xbox and lots more!
The more you read and attend the weekly events, the better your chance at winning awesome prizes! Please contact the school or the Weston Public Library for more information.
You can also get free books this summer at Barnes and Noble. Click here for more info
Class List Information for August 2017
Otsego Elementary School
Grand Rapids Library
Weston Library
Haskins Post Office
Summer 2017 Extended Care Program
Registration now open.
Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday, June 5, 2017 to Friday, August 11, 2017
Closed July 3, 4 and 5 for the holiday
Registration packets may be obtained from the elementary office, the Extended Care staff or on the district website.
The Registration Packet includes:
1. Registration form
2. Student ID card (also referred to as emergency contact info)
3. Behavior contract
4. Swim permission form
5. Calendar of activities/field trips (subject to change)
All items must be filled out completely and turned in to Extended Care staff along with the $10.00 registration fee prior to your child attending.
Students will need to pack lunch and snacks each day as there is no cafeteria service available. Brown bag lunches (all disposable) preferred on field trip days.
Field trip fees are in addition to the hourly rate and a fee sheet will be available as soon as all trips and fees are confirmed.
Please email Crystal Stough with any program questions at cstough@otsegoknights.org.
Kindergarten Registration
We are still accepting Kindergarten Registration for the 2017-2018 school year.
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
Important Dates
2017-2018
August 9 - Back to School Days, 2-8pm
August 10 - Back to School Days, 12-6pm
August 17 - Open House
August 21 - 1st Day for Students
September 4 - Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)
October 9 - NO SCHOOL for students - District Professional Development
October 20 - End of first nine weeks
October 27 - NO SCHOOL for students - Professional Development/Work Day
November 2-3 - NO SCHOOL - Conferences
November 22-24 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
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 August 1st at 6:00 in the Elementary Library.
Restaurant Fundraiser
June 21, 2017
Support your Otsego PTO by ordering Marco’s pizza for dinner on June 21! (Bowling Green location only)
Must mention OTSEGO PTO for 20% of food sales to be donated back to PTO (no flyer needed)!
Baseball Camp
Fitted for Success
Wood County Department of Job & Family Services is now accepting applications for the Wood County School Supply Program. JFS will be assisting 500 Wood County students who will be in grades K-12 for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year with backpacks, school supplies, shoes, socks and possibly hats and gloves.
Income eligibility is for families at or below 200% Federal Poverty Level. For a family of 4, this is $4,100 or less in gross income per month or $49,200 per year.
Applications must be received by July 31, 2017. Applications can be picked up or mailed on request. See attached flyer for details. Assistance is provided on a first come/first serve basis.
Information can be found on Poverty guidelines at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.cfm. There is a chart calculating 200% of poverty on the following site,
Schedule a Sports Physical Today!
Horizon Youth Theatre Presents: Cinderella
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 (2099)