Otsego Junior High
March 16th, 2020
FROM THE DESK OF MR. RIFE
Otsego Families,
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.
The following newsletter has some pertinent information regarding the upcoming weeks as it relates to content delivery by our staff. Many teachers have already begun posting lessons for the week. All classes, including elective courses, will have lesson prepared for our students. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. We are here for you and we are working through this together. Please be patient and considerate while we work through this unprecedented time.
Jon Rife, Principal
COVID 19 UPDATE
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding regarding the health and safety of our students and community at large.
The Governor has implemented an extended spring break starting on Monday, March 16th. Otsego will be closed starting from March 16th through April 3rd. This is mandated by the State of Ohio.
Otsego’s spring break will continue as scheduled from April 6 through April 13th. As it stands now, April 14th school will resume. This will give us extra time to monitor the situation and I am sure we will get more guidance from the Governor by then.
All extra-curricular activities will be canceled during this extended spring break starting Monday. We will communicate more about this later, but all on-campus practices are canceled after this weekend.
All campus events with students will be canceled from March 16th through April 3rd. Unfortunately, Otsego Extended Care will also be closed during this extended break required by the Governor.
Please continue to look for additional communications regarding this situation.
We appreciate your understanding and assistance during this unique situation. We will continue to work with our health officials to do our part in attempting to limit the spread of this virus. As more information and planning becomes available, we will share it with our families and staff.
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.
Assignments
Teachers are expected to give online lessons/classwork during this extended break.
This will likely look different for every teacher.
Students will be provided lessons via Google Classroom, Paper Copies (to be delivered for those who have indicated they have no internet)
Students are expected to communicate with their teachers if they are experiencing difficulty accessing lessons/classwork.
Teachers should be entering assignments into the gradebook like always. Be sure that you check with your teachers if any questions regarding due dates or difficulties.
Each Class should provide three 15-20 minute mini lessons/activities per week.
Assignments should take about 15-20 minutes for each class. This does include all electives classes also.
These mini lessons will be recorded in the grade book.
Assignments are expected to be completed by the given due date.
All teachers should respond to emails/voicemails in a timely manner.
During the regular school week, teachers will respond to emails within approximately 24 hours. Please give some time for teachers to respond, as they have many students that may need clarification or assistance.
Please do not wait until the due date to email your teachers, give them some time to respond prior to the due date.
Students who do NOT have Internet
Hard copies will be made and delivered to those who have indicated that they have no internet access.
Either bus routes or school administrators will deliver the hard copies once or twice per week. We will be in contact with those of you who indicated internet issues.
Services 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 your Building Principal.
Students can help out in the community!
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 for those in need
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.
Spring Fundraiser
We are keeping the online link to order open through next couple weeks. Keep selling!
All paper forms should be turned into the Junior High office as soon as possible.
YEARBOOK ORDER FORM
2020/2021 8th Grade Washington DC Trip
Click HERE for the Student Adventures Website
Wise words from Mrs. Laudick
ATHLETICS
Track Schedule
UPCOMING DATES
4/4: 1st Day of Spring Break
4/14: School Resumes
5/25: No School - Memorial Day
5/29 - Last Day of School
AMAZON SMILES
REMIND 101
Remind101 has been a valuable tool for the office to communicate with parents and students by text and/or email. We use Remind101 for quick reminders and JH deadlines and important events. Please see the directions below to sign-up to receive alerts from the appropriate grade.
Class of 2026 (6th Grade Parents)
Text @jhparent26 to 81010
Class of 2025 (7th Grade Parents)
Text @jhparent25 to 81010
Class of 2024 (8th Grade Parents)
Text @jhparent24 to 81010
At this time the office will not set up separate groups for students as we make daily announcements each morning and at the end of the day. The above groups are for parents only.
2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
2019-2020 JUNIOR HIGH BELL SCHEDULE
OFFICE STAFF
Jon Rife, Principal
Kristen Laudick, School Counselor
Joyce Wright, Administrative Assistant
Deputy Brian Ruckstuhl
Mya
Follow us on Twitter
JH Office - @OtsegoJHS
JH Athletics - @OtsegoJH
Miss Zender- @OtsegoJrHigh
Deputy Brian - @DeputyBrianSRO
Mr. Lehman - @MrLehmanELA
6th Grade - @otsego_Grade6
Mrs. Hamrick - @amhamrick1
Mrs. Duhamel - @mgduhamel
Mr. Bressler - @ScotBressler
Mr. Rohn- @MisterRohn
Ms. Hildreth @katehildreth15
Mrs. Duhamel @mgduhamel
Remind 101
7th Grade Parents text @jhparent25 to 81010
8th Grade Parents text @jhparent24 to 81010