Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - April 1, 2021
The PTO flower sale ends on Sunday. Don't forget to order your spring flowers!
Calendar 2020-2021
March 19-April 4 - Spring Flower Sale
April 2nd-9th - NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
April 13 - PTO Meeting, 6pm, Elementary Commons
April 16 - PTO Spirit Day - Hat Day
April 20 - Math State Test Part 1, Grades 3-5
April 21 - Math State Test Part 2, Grades 3-5
April 27 - Science State Test Part 1, Grade 5 only
April 28 - Science State Test Part 2, Grade 5 only
May 4 - PTO Meeting, 6pm, Elementary Commons
May 28 - Last Day for Students
COVID-19 District Dashboard
State Testing Dates
Below are the remaining testing dates for all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students:
Tuesday, April 20th: Math Part 1 (Grades 3-5)
Wednesday, April 21st: Math Part 2 (Grades 3-5)
Tuesday, April 27th: Science Part 1 (Grade 5)
Wednesday, April 28th: 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 (Breakfast is available for all students for free this year at school). 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!
Kindergarten Registration for 2021-2022
Attention parents of children who will be 5 years old on or before August 1st: It is time to register your child for KINDERGARTEN.
Kindergarten registration paperwork will be available on our website or in the elementary office beginning March 1st. Forms can be printed off the Otsego website (otsegoknights.org) under the Parent tab on the elementary page, or picked up in the office M-F between 8 am - 4 pm. Completed forms can be turned in to the office after March 1st or emailed to jhelberg@otsegoknights.org.
PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS THROUGH FINAL FORMS
All incoming kindergarten students must have the forms completed (even students currently in our preschool program). In addition, all kindergarten students MUST attend a screening on June 1st or 2nd.
Parents may sign up for a screening date and time when completed forms are dropped off at the office.
Forms from the packet that we must have completed to register a student include:
1. Registration form **please be sure to include a current email address so your child will be set up with a Final Forms account
2. Home Language survey
3. New Student Transportation
4. Dr. Physical/Immunization **please note this form needs to be completed by August 20th
5. Alternate transportation (if the child will be dropped off or picked up at an address different than home address)
Items that we must have a copy of to register a student include:
1. Birth Certificate
2. Proof of residence (utility bill, rental agreement, real estate tax form)
3. Custody Paper, please refer to the 2nd page in the packet to verify if we need custody papers
If you are unable to bring these items in when you drop off completed forms, please bring them to your child's kindergarten screening.
If you have any questions regarding kindergarten, please contact Mrs. Baughman at kbaughman@otsegoknights.org. If you have questions regarding registration, please contact Mrs. Helberg at jhelberg@otsegoknights.org.
PTO Spring FLower Sale - Ends Sunday!
We are working with Foertmeyer & Sons again for our Spring Flower Fundraiser.
The sale will run March 19th through April 4th, with pickup on May 16th. All sales will be online through your child's unique link, and those orders will all need to be picked up as one order on pickup day.
Flyers and more information were sent home with your child.
You also received an email from fundraiseit.org with more info and your sale link.
Otsego Baseball Fundraiser - Ends Sunday!
Please also be sure to list the student's name and teacher in the Notes section at checkout.
Spanish Club Fundraiser
A Message from the P.E. Teachers
TENNIS SHOES PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Parents/Guardians:
Tennis shoes are a must for physical education class!!! Students have PE every other school day. We suggest if they do not wear them to school, that they please keep them in their backpacks or their cubbies/lockers.
Thank you so much for your cooperation and for keeping your child(ren) prepared for class and safe.
Amy Konoff & Heather Szymanski
PTO Officer Opening
Lunch Menu
Free Breakfast and Lunch – The free meals have been extended for the entire school year!! All students will receive free breakfast AND lunch every single day for the remainder of the school year. Our cafeterias are ready to serve all of our students. Save money on packing lunches and eat in our cafeterias for free! You can still send money in for ala carte items and extra meals.
Free and Reduced Applications - This is a very important item to complete. If you qualify for free lunches this results in fee and pay to participate fee waivers. We need to get this information turned in. If you filled this out last year, please fill this out again. If you think you might qualify please fill this out and we will go from there to determine if you qualify. You can fill the forms out online at https://www.lunchapplication.com/
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our new Food Service Director, Emily Bires at 419-823-4381 ext. 1104 or ebires@otsegoknights.org
Free Thermometers
A Note from the School Nurse
Dear Parents/Guardians,
If you are questioning whether or not to send your child to school because he/she may have a runny nose, cough or other minor symptoms, err on the side of caution and keep him/her home or call me to help you decide. Students struggle to concentrate and participate in class, especially the little ones. Snotty noses and coughing with a mask is miserable. With preschoolers and Kindergarteners having such a difficult time, we have gone through quite a few disposable masks. They just don't have the capabilities to handle things in a sanitary way.
Please call if you have any questions.
Healthfully,
Nurse Jane
OES Parent Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures
Morning Drop-Off
*Due to COVID, please do not allow your students to congregate in front of the building before school starts. Ideally, they should wait with you in the car until the bell rings. If this is not possible, they need to wait on one of the social distancing markers that are located on the sidewalk area. This will ensure all students waiting to enter the building are 6 feet apart. Additionally, no students will be permitted to wait in the vestibule, in between the front doors and the doors to enter the building, to ensure social distancing is maintained before students are allowed in the building when the bell rings.
Please use the entire length of the drop off zone (even past the crosswalk) to keep the line moving. If all cars pull up as far as they possibly can we can fit more vehicles along the sidewalk and more students can exit at a time. This will make drop-off go quicker while maintaining safety.
Students should only be let out on the side of the car that is next to the curb. This is to avoid students being hit by a moving car in the lane farther away from the curb. If your student needs to get out on that side of the car, please park in a parking spot and have your student walk into the building using the crosswalk.
Please do not stop in the crosswalk. If you are dropping a student off, please do not stop your car in the crosswalk. This is a safe place for students to cross, and when there are cars in the crosswalk it creates a safety concern.
The second lane is for driving only. No students should be let out of the car in the lane farther from the curb. Students should only be exiting cars onto the sidewalk so that we can ensure their safety.
Please remember to NOT park your car in front of the school! The line needs to keep moving to efficiently get students into the school in a timely manner, and when there is a parked car in the drop-off line, the whole process gets backed up. If for some reason you need to leave your car, please use the available parking spaces.
Afternoon Pick-Up
*Due to COVID, please do not wait for students by the front doors. Parents should remain in their cars. If you see your student come out of the building, you can walk towards them, or stand by your car. We want to keep everyone safe, therefore no parents will be permitted to wait by the front doors for their student.
Please use the entire length of the pick-up zone (even past the crosswalk) to keep the line moving. If all cars pull up as far as they possibly can we can fit more vehicles along the sidewalk and more students can get into their vehicles. This will make pick-up go quicker while maintaining safety.
Please do not stop in the crosswalk. If you are picking a student up, please do not stop your car in the crosswalk. This is a safe place for students to cross, and when there are cars in the crosswalk it creates a safety concern.
The second lane is for driving only. No students should get into their car in the lane farther from the curb. Students should only be entering cars from the sidewalk or by using the crosswalk so that we can ensure their safety.
Please remember to NOT park and leave your car in front of the school! The line needs to keep moving to efficiently get vehicles out of the pick-up zone in a timely manner, and when there is a parked car in the line, the whole process gets backed up. If for some reason you need to leave your car, please use the available parking spaces. If you are parked while you are waiting for your student (and you are IN the car), that is fine.
Students must be picked up by 3:35pm. At 3:35pm, students will be taken to Otsego Extended Care at the cost of the parent/guardian (unless previous arrangements have been made).
THANK YOU so much for your understanding and compliance with these procedures to ensure our students’ safety. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Katrina Baughman, Elementary Principal.
Knight in Shining Armor Nominations
Please use the following form to inform OHS Student Council about a family in need within the school district. While the family does not need to have students in the district, we do ask that they are a member of the Otsego Community. Please use this form to share information about their current situation as well as how they can best be assisted.
Please be sure to understand that while Knight in Shining Armor (KISA) would love to help all community members in need, we are still a new program, and may not have the funds to do so. With that being said, we will consider each request on a case by case basis. Filling this form out does not guarantee that we will be able to assist the family, but we will try our hardest to do so!
These funds are not for routine expenses such as utilities, bills, rent, etc. It is designed for assisting community members in an emergency situation. This can include, but is not limited to unforeseen medical expenses, medical related travel expenses, and household emergencies such as a fire, water leaks, etc. Please keep this in mind when submitting a nomination.
Please refer to this link at any point during the year as a need arises, and KISA will do their best to help out!
Communication & COVID-19
We want to stress the importance of keeping an open line of communication between families and school. This is especially true in regards to the health and welfare of our students, parents, and families as well as our teachers and staff.
- Please contact our school nurse, Jane Gray, directly at (419) 823.4381 ext.4002 to report any COVID related symptoms, questions, and/or concerns related to quarantine, and/or isolation.
- If your student or a family member experiences any COVID -19 related symptoms or has been in contact with anyone who has symptoms, please call Jane Gray.
- This is the time where it is imperative we remain honest in reporting any symptoms a student or family member may be experiencing.
- If you aren’t sure it is necessary to report, please call, we can help you through decision-making on how and where to proceed.
- If a student comes to school and tells a staff member that someone at home has COVID-19, or is sick at home. We must take a student’s word seriously regardless of age. In such a situation, calls will be made to those parents/guardians to clarify this information. It is our job to look out for the best interest of our staff and students.
Missing School
- Students will not be punished for missing school because of illness.
- Make-up work can be provided.
- We realize that in the past we have discouraged students from missing school due to minor symptoms of a cough or sore throat, but unfortunately, we cannot take the chance of infecting others.
- The symptoms of COVID – 19 are so vast that we need to act cautiously. Health is our number one priority.
We are all in this together. The staff at Otsego Schools will remain open and honest with all of you and expect the same in return. This is the only way we can get through this is to work together for the good of everyone in the community.
Jane Gray
jgray@otsegoknights.org or 419-823-4381 ext. 4002
Being Quarantined
What it means to be Quarantined...
*A person being quarantined does NOT mean they have COVID. This is being done as a precautionary step in accordance with health guidelines. They may never become sick.
**We will only quarantine students and or staff when we know they have been in contact inside of 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes with a confirmed COVID case.
***A student and or staff member that come into contact with a person that was in contact with a confirmed COVID case does NOT need to be quarantined. This is considered a secondary contact. A quarantine will only happen if you were in contact inside of 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes with a confirmed COVID case.
Quarantining/Isolation Rules
Quarantine Rules for Students: Quarantine occurs when a student has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If a student has been in close contact with another individual that tests positives 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 individual that tests positive can be anyone. It can be a co-worker, family member, or a fellow student. This is where the communication mentioned on the first page is extremely important. We need to know if your child has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
For example, a fellow student tests positive for COVID-19. Otsego Administration will start the contact tracing steps. It was determined that your child was within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of the student that tested positive. We will directly contact the parents of the student(s)who will have to quarantine. The quarantine will start the day after last contact with the student who tested positive. Let’s say the last contact was on September 1st. The 1st day of quarantine would be September 2nd and the student can come back to school on September 16th. The student will be treated as being absent from school for illness and be able to make up the work missed.
Isolation Rules for Students: Isolation occurs when a student tests positive for COVID-19.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19 they are to isolate at home for 10 days since symptoms first appeared. The student may return when the following occurs:
- 10 days since symptoms began
- No fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- COVID-19 symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours.
For example, a student tests positive for COVID-19 and they get their results back on September 6th. Their symptoms started on September 4th. The first day of isolation would be September 5th. The student may return to school on September 15th if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and the symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours.
Contact Tracing Information:
When we conduct contact tracing through multiple means. We will start with all of our seating charts in classrooms and the bus and ask if they are involved in any extracurricular activities. We will also be directly communicating with the student to get 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 appeared on Wednesday, September 2nd, we will contact trace and determine if any individual had close contact (within 6ft for more than 15 minutes) on August 31st or September 1st.
We need to remember that the beginning of the school year brings sickness every year. Not every student’s illness is COVID-19. We always recommend communicating with our school nurse, Jane Gray, and contacting your medical provider to discuss your child’s symptoms.
We will be following a mandate from the Governor’s office and be posting our student and staff data on our website and in the Superintendent’s Weekly Update.
Thank you for your continued flexibility and understanding.
Transportation Information
Online Bus Route Information - https://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=OLSD3GH6PNQOH
This site will identify the schools assigned to your residential address, as well as a bus number, designated stop, pick-up and drop-off time.
Pick-up and Drop-off
· Please ensure your child is at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes before the scheduled time to ensure they are there when the bus arrives.
· Pick-up and drop-off times may need to be adjusted during the beginning weeks of school and will become more consistent for the remainder of the year.
· Times posted on this site reflect the expected time the bus should depart during good weather.
· Inclement weather or traffic congestion may cause the route to run later than the posted time.
· The school bus is on a tight schedule so that we can deliver students to all school levels on time.
Instructions for Navigating this Site:
1. No student information is available on Infofinder.
2. Enter your street address (including house number). This is the only required field. You might need to add a hyphen in the street name (ex. Long-Judson Rd.).
3. Click on the Search button.
4. Click your street address / zip code from the list of Address Matches.
If you cannot find your student's information please contact the Transportation Department at 419-823-4381, Option 5 or evasher@otsegoknights.org
Extended Care Information
We are able to operate at normal ratios for the start of the school year. So, if you are interested in using Extended Care during the 2020-2021 school year for before and/or after school care, please visit the website listed here:
https://elementary.otsegoknights.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=382480&type=d&pREC_ID=868128
All of the registration materials are available on this website. If you are unable to print the forms, hard copies are available in the Elementary Office.
A few things to remember:
1. Students must be at least 5 years old to attend Extended Care.
2. A $10 deposit is required for all families, and must be turned in before using the program.
3. A packet needs to be filled out for each student every year (paperwork expires each year on June 1st). So, if you did not use the program this summer, you need to fill out a packet for each of your children that will be using the program.
4. All parts of the packet must be filled out completely before a student can start using the program.
If you have any billing or registration questions or concerns, please contact Becky Hatfield at bhatfield@otsegoknights.org
Community Events and Information
Keep Scanning Those Box Tops!
You can now just scan your receipt and our school will earn money! Please see the information below regarding the new Box Top App and Procedures for the 2020-20201School Year!
There are two types of Box Tops this year - electronic (must scan your receipt with the new app to get the money to the school), and the original Box Tops (can cut them out and send them in with your student!)
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
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)