Otsego Elementary Extra
COVID-19 Edition #1 - March 16, 2020
From the Desk of Katrina Baughman
Thank you for your dedication and flexibility during this unusual time. The administrative team continues to meet regularly to assess the situation and provide the most up to date information to the staff, parents and students.
Please be patient and flexible, as we have no idea what may come up next. We all understand that NOTHING replicates the GREAT work teachers do in their classrooms and students will be learning differently than if they were in their classrooms. Our goal is to keep their brains active, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and enrichment. This is a time not to set unachievable goals for our students, but rather provide them the support and resources to continue the learning process, limiting the amount of regression.
We understand that many of our students will not have the support, structure and routine that they have when they attend school daily. We are asking parents to do what they can and be complacent with that. We do not want to cause undue stress to parents and/or students.
Please have students complete at least one activity daily, but there is no specific expectation of time spent each day. We want them to keep their brains active, without causing undue stress.
Packets will be provided to the following students through the bus routes/special deliveries from staff. More details on when and how will be forthcoming.
-Students with limited or no internet access (K-12)
-1st Grade students who did not receive packets on Friday
-Elementary students who were absent on Friday and whose parents were unable to pick up their belongings.
-Specials activities for Elementary students as appropriate
All other instruction will be delivered through Google Classroom and emails from teachers.
Google Classroom Help
Here is a Google Doc with instructions for parents on how to use Google Classroom. This also includes a link to a video tutorial that we found online.
Parent Communication for Students With Disabilities
Otsego Local Schools is making every attempt to educate all students, which includes students with IEPs and 504 Plans. Due to the school closure, services may look different from student to student. All case managers for IEPs will be contacting parents in the coming days to discuss how services are being delivered, any supports or accommodations that may be needed, and how you will receive 3rd quarter IEP progress reports. We appreciate your patience as we seek guidance from the Ohio Department of Education on how to best serve our students.
Any due dates for IEPs/ETRs will be maintained at this time, and prior to any meetings, parents will be contacted by Case Managers. Flexibility for these meetings is appreciated, as we explore video conferencing (Zoom) and phone conferencing capabilities. Any Special Education questions can be directed to Lauri Dunham, Otsego’s Special Education Director. If you have any 504 questions, please contact Becky Buchman (bbuchman@otsegoknights.org).
Learning Resources and Activities
FREE access to ABCmouse, Adventure Academy and ReadingIQ
Students can help out in the Community too!
If students could send letters or coloring pages to the residents at Grand Rapids Care Center they would LOVE it!
The residents are not able to have visitors at this time which makes it really hard on them because they cannot do anything. Also at this time they have to be in their rooms so it is really hard for them to cope with this. Hearing from our students will definitely brighten their day!
The address is
Grand Rapids Care center 24201 W. 3rd St. Grand Rapids, Ohio 43522
Thank you so much!
FREE INTERNET
Parents who don’t have internet at home can get free broadband, including installation, from Spectrum for 60 days to help families impacted by the coronavirus, the company announced.
Spectrum parent company Charter announced that, starting Monday, they will offer free Spectrum broadband and wi-fi for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students.
To sign up, call (844) 488-8395.
Teacher Requests for 2020-2021 School Year
1. Requests must be made through this Google Form:
https://forms.gle/YapTbYDC3NE5gmZs6
Please click on the link and complete the 4 questions to make your teacher request.
2. NO requests will be honored unless they have the 4th question answered regarding "reasoning for the request".
3. Requests will only be accepted during a 2 week period - March 13 - March 29th. 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 this 2 week period).
4. While we do our best to honor requests, there is no guarantee.
Thank you for your understanding!
Medications
Kindergarten Registration for the 2020-2021 School Year
You can also fax your completed packets to the school (419-823-1703) or scan and email them to jhelberg@otsegoknights.org
If you have a student entering kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year, please stop by the Otsego Elementary Office between 8am-4pm during week days to pick up a registration packet, or you can download and print the forms from our school website (otsegoknights.org) under the Parent tab on the Elementary Page.
Feel free to bring proof of residency, certified original birth certificate, photo ID of parent/guardian, immunization record, and complete court file-stamped custody papers (if applicable) and we can make copies and add them to your student's file. If you are unable to bring them at this time, please plan to have them at your screening appointment in June.
If you have any questions regarding registration and/or screening please call the Otsego Elementary Office at 419-823-4381 Option 4.
Preschool Registration for 2020-2021
You can also fax your completed packets to the school (419-823-1703) or scan and email them to jhelberg@otsegoknights.org (we will collect your deposit separately if you choose this option)
*Please note: You will need your $210 deposit as well as the $40 supply fee with you when you register. If you qualify for free tuition with the required paperwork or are placed on the waiting list, your deposit/check will be returned.
*Students must turn 3 on or before August 1st, 2020, and be completely potty trained (unless on an IEP), to attend preschool. Also, 3 year olds may ONLY attend 2 or 3 days per week and are not eligible to attend more days.
*Students who are not Otsego School District Residents, and who are not following a staff member, will not be placed in a class until after June 1, 2020. You are still welcome to register at anytime.
A Final Note
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
Principal: @kbaughman723
Assistant Principal: @buchman_becky
STEM Teacher: @jemartinez714
PE Teacher: @AmyKonoff
School Nurse: @nursejaneots
Otsego Food Service: @Otsego_Cafe
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
You can help the school earn money for supplies by collecting Box Tops. Our PTO collects and counts them and puts the money straight back into the school. (We earn 10 cents per Box Top). If you are able to collect a lot of these, it would be great if you could turn them in in groups of 50, but we will take them even if they are not grouped together.
Heard a rumor or have a question?
Katrina Baughman
Email: kbaughman@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4005)
Twitter: @kbaughman723
Becky Buchman
Email: bbuchman@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4009)
Twitter: @buchman_becky
Elizabeth Syrowski
Email: esyrowski@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)