Principal's Report 05/24/2022
News for the Ottawa Family
Ottawa Elementary
We have officially finished all M-Step state assessments for the year. We are glad that all student testing is finally complete. We look forward to the end of the year festivities with all of our students.
Running the Race – 4 laps Around the Track: We, at Ottawa, educate your child for three trimesters (laps) of the year. The baton for the summer will be given to you on the last day – June 15th. We cannot afford to drop the baton. When you give us back the baton in September, will your child have completed the last lap? Make learning fun. It doesn’t have to take the shape of a school setting, but goals and achievements need to be acknowledged and praised. Remember – when the student, parent, and school are on the same page and the investment is made, dividends can be incredible.
We appreciate you and thank you for being a part of the Ottawa Family!
Mr. Lockhart
KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
2022-2023 Kindergarten Kickoff (For all incoming kindergartners and their parents)
- When: May 24th at 6:00PM
- Where: Ottawa Elementary
Kindergarten Registration is Open!
Ottawa Family, our kindergarten registration for 2022-2023 is now open. Please register soon if you have an incoming kindergartner. Please let anyone you know that has an incoming kindergartner know that registering sooner than later is best.
A Look Ahead
May 24th - Kindergarten Kick-off @ 6:00
May 25th - 2nd/3rd Grade Spring Concert
May 26th - Art Show @ 6:00
May 31st - HS Graduates Clap Out @ 2:00
June 2nd - 1st and 1/2 blend to the zoo
June 3rd- Ottawa Fun Day
June 7th - 5th Grade to Sky Zone
June 9th - Awards Day for 3rd, 4th & 5th grade @ 2:00
June 10th - 3rd Grade Michigan Day
June 10th - 2nd Grade and 1/2 blend to George George Park
June 13th - 4th grade to Detroit Zoo
June 14th - dismissal @ 11:25
June 14th- 5th grade completion at Ottawa at 6:00
June 15th - Last day of school - dismissal @ 11:25
Kindergarten Registration for 2022-2023
Transportation
Please click the link below to read important information regarding an app you can download for transportation and bus route arrival.
My Stop App InformationPTO Board for 2022-2023
President – Julie Belanger
Vice President – Chervante Nolden
Vice President – Erica Piotrowski
Treasurer – Elvira Trnjanin
Secretary – Tina Jacobsen
Criminal Record Checks for Volunteers
https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/downloads/human_resources/crc-volunteer_form_revised_2022.pdf
Be a Ottawa Lunch Buddy!
What: Lunch Buddy
Who: All Special Adults in our Ottawa Community (Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, and any other special people!)
When: Lunch Time – 10:45-1:30 on a day of your choice
How: Sign up using the SignUp Genius link
We would like to invite all special adults to sign up for a day to come in and be a guest in the lunchroom! All you have to do is complete and turn in the attached Criminal Background Check along with a copy of your driver’s license. Once turned in and cleared, we will reach out to you with a SignUp Genius link where you can pick a day of your choice to be a Lunch Buddy. We ask that only one adult come per sign up. If two people would like to volunteer, please sign up both volunteers.
We miss seeing our community members around the school! On your designated day you will be invited in the lunchroom where you can help and visit with students. You can have lunch with your student(s) during their assigned lunch time. You will be asked to stay for all the lunches.
If interested in being a mystery reader in your student’s classroom on the day you signed up to be a lunch buddy, we would more than welcome this! Please reach out to Mrs. Holcombe if interested. We cannot wait to see some new and familiar faces! The students miss you!
Any questions please contact Mrs. Holcombe at mholcombe@cvs.k2.mi.us or 586-723-6630
Attendance reminder
Attendance: (586) 723-6699
School Hours
Arrival
- Doors open at 8:24am
- Class begins at 8:30am
Dismissal
- The day ends at 3:15pm
Half Day Dismissal
- 11:25am
SACC
- SACC opens at 7:00am and closes at 6:00pm
- Parents must re-register each year in order for children to use the SACC program: CLICK HERE
School Breakfast and Lunch
Families who qualify for free/reduced lunch benefits are still being asked to submit a meal application. Please visit www.lunchapp.com to complete the application before October 15, 2021. All information on the application is confidential. If you do not have access to fill out the application online, paper copies will be available in school offices. Should you need further assistance, please contact the Food & Nutrition Department at (586) 723-2110.
Bussing
From our Transportation Department
Routing information will be available on 9/2/21 on the E-Link portal. Instructions to the portal are on the district website on the transportation page, as well as attached to this email.
Transportation routes and times will be available in the eLink system. Please visit https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/departments/transportation/
Please be aware that if your student is utilizing transportation this school year, per the CDC Guidelines and as outlined in the district email, masks must be worn while riding the bus. This means to and from school, as well as athletics and field trips, etc. If you do not have a mask, we will have some on the bus each day.
If you have any questions, please send us an email at Transportation1@cvs.k12.mi.us, and be patient as we handle the questions. As the first day of school is around the corner, it is a very busy time for the transportation office. Please be mindful that our response time will be delayed.
Registration
Spread the Word to Register at Ottawa for School of Choice
Do you know a family who would like to be a part of our Ottawa Family? Let them know about our school and School of Choice options for K-5 families that are outside of our district.
Help us out with a share.
Parent Portal Update
Parents of children grades K-12 may access grades, attendance, lunch balance and school messenger settings. Students in grades 6-12 may also access grade and attendance information through their own portal account.
School Age Child Care (SACC)
SACC (School Age Child Care)
- Parents must re-register each year in order for children to use the SACC program: CLICK HERE
SACC at Ottawa isn't just a child care program before and after school, it is a really FUN program for kids. Whether it is before or after school, kids are able to play and socialize with friends in both a safe and clean environment. All Covid-19 restrictions and protocol are followed to keep kids healthy.
At SACC, kids can get homework help, socialize with other students, engage in fun crafts, play learning games, and get involved in many other fun activities.
For more information please contact our SACC room and speak with Mrs. Baszczuk: 586-723-6687
- SACC runs Monday-Friday
Half Day Schedule
11:25am Dismissal
September 7 – AM
- October 20 – PM
- October 21 – AM
- October 22 – PM
- October 29 – AM
- February 18- PM
- March 23 – AM
- March 25 – PM
- April 1- AM
- June 14 – PM
- June 15 – PM
Progress Reports and Report Cards
1st Semester: Ends January 28
First Trimester: Ends December 3
Second Trimester: Ends March 11
Third Trimester: Ends June 15
Progress Report Dates
- Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday, October 21- Progress Reports distributed at conferences
- Friday, January 21- Progress Reports sent home with students
- Monday, May 2- Sent home with students as needed
Report Card Dates
- Wednesday, December 8- Sent home with all students
- Friday, March 18- Sent home with all students
- Wednesday, June 15- Sent home with all students
School Transportation Information
School Transportation and Bussing
Parents/relatives/friends intending on volunteering in the classroom or on field trips for the current school year, are required to complete a CRC form.
Click here to access the form.
*Please note that your child must be pre-registered before using the SACC program. Please notice the new registration fee as well.
Update on Covid Procedures
Dear School Community,
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Chippewa Valley Schools has worked closely with the Macomb County Health Department (MCHD) and its expert guidance in the development of health and safety protocols. This week, the MCHD has revised its guidance for how schools should approach the isolation and quarantine of students and staff for in school exposure. The most important pieces have stayed the same - sick students must stay home and the district will still notify families of positive cases in the school buildings.
- Keep those who are sick home
- Staff/Families must report positive COVID-19 cases and isolation remains at five days
- Cases will continue to be reported on the district’s COVID-19 Dashboard
PROTOCOL CHANGE
The Macomb County Health Department has adjusted their contact tracing and school-based case notification from individual to entire classroom. No longer will individuals be identified as close contacts. Instead, the entire class where a positive case was reported will be notified of the potential exposure. This DOES NOT mean the entire class quarantines.
Instead of identifying close contacts and having those students quarantine, we will have:
- All students and staff in the impacted classroom monitor themselves for symptoms.
- Those who have or develop symptoms should isolate and test for COVID-19.
- Students in the impacted classroom may quarantine but are not required to unless symptoms develop.
- Live streaming is available to students who are required to isolate due to a positive COVID test or quarantine because of an in-home exposure.
These changes follow CDC guidance and will support our commitment to ensure healthy students who do not have symptoms remain in school. They will also help with staffing issues and the massive amount of time being spent in schools on individual contact tracing. The continued daily contact tracing has moved the focus of our staff from other critical work, including supporting students’ social/emotional needs, school safety measures, staff development, and building leadership. We need our education professionals focused on the education and well-being of our students and staff.
The countywide protocol changes will become effective on Friday, January 21. If your student/staff is currently quarantined due to in-school exposure or is on Day 6 or later of a COVID-19 illness and has significantly improved symptoms, they can return to school on Monday, January 24. Students/staff who are in Days 0-5 of a COVID-19 illness and unvaccinated siblings of those in Day 0-5 of COVID should remain home until Day 6 and symptoms improve. The MCHD website reflects the new protocols.
Your partnership remains critical. All families should continue to self-screen every morning and children that do not feel well must remain at home. In addition, I encourage you to take advantage of a federal program (https://www.covidtests.gov/) that provides up to four free COVID-19 testing kits to families.
Thank you for your continued support.
Covid -19 Reporting- please click here for Covid-19 exposures and positive cases
Please complete the following questionnaire to help us determine quarantine time for your child. If you are reporting for multiple children please complete a separate form for each child. After your responses are received the district nurse will contact you as soon as possible. Staff members please contact the District COVID nurse directly to report exposures.