Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - October 27, 2017
Staff Spotlight: Mark Nofziger
Mark Nofziger is on his 4th year teaching 5th grade Math at Otsego Elementary. He has also taught 5th grade Social Studies. Prior to teaching at Otsego, Mr. Nofziger taught three years of 6th grade Math and Social Studies in Manassas Park, Virginia. Mr. Nofziger attended college at Bowling Green State University and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Childhood Education, concentrating in Math and Social Studies. He also has a reading endorsement.
Mr. Nofziger's hobbies are spending time with family (wife: Adelle, son: Owen, daughter: Molly) and friends, camping, sports, and outdoor activities. Mr. Nofziger is also the 8th grade head football coach and assistant varsity baseball coach at Otsego. Mr. Nofziger quoted, "I am passionate about what I do and I want to help students become the best that they can be."
Fundraiser Item Pick Up
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Elementary School Office or Mike Wiley, mwiley@otsegoknights.org.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Donations Needed
Adult Technology Courses
Thank you for your feedback about the possibility of an adult technology class. We are still working to plan this. If you are interested, there is still time to fill out the Google Form or e-mail jmartinez@otsegoknights.org.
In the meantime: I will be hosting an open lab in the elementary during conferences. If you have any technology related questions, concerns, or simply need help, stop in before or after your parent-teacher conference!
Angel Tree
If you are interested in purchasing gifts for the angel tree please stop over at the elementary starting on November 1st.
Otsego FIT-Knights
Otsego Local Schools has put together a Wellness Committee to promote the health and well-being of our students. The District believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, we need to create positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year. We will be implementing various activities over the course of the year related to student health. Parents and Guardians can help by encouraging your children to eat healthy at home. The FIT-Knights Committee will be meeting again Thursday, October 19, at 3:30 in the elementary library. Staff, parents, and community members are welcome!
Veteran's Day Breakfast and Assembly
October Students of the Month - Courageous
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Morning Drop-Off
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
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.
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 me at any time!
Phone Number Changes
Parents/Guardians,
If your phone number has changed and needs to be updated in our system PLEASE call the office with that information. There have been many recent issues where we do not have the right number or it has been disconnected when trying to contact a students parent or guardian. It is crucial that we have a working number in the event of an emergency.
Thank you
A Note from the School Nurse:
ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
This year we have the following over the counter medications listed on the enclosed document stocked in each office. Please fill out the form and return to school with your child. We are hoping to cut back on parents needing to bring medication in and/or prevent sending students home. Hopefully this makes it easier on parents, teachers and staff.
Several students have been bringing cough drops with them to school without a note. Students may not take these without written permission from a parent/guardian. We have this listed on the form as well.
As always if you have any questions please feel free to call me at 419-823-4381 ext. 4002.
Thank you,
Jane Gray RN, BSN
Food Service
If your child/children received free or reduced meals last year and you haven't filed a new application, you are now responsible for any charges that are incurred.
Meal benefit expiration letters were mailed on September 15th to the address that is on file.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Jeanne Jeffers
Director of Food Service
Otsego Local Schools
Transportation
Sign up to receive text messages from our Transportation Department!
The transportation department will send out a Remind alert when a bus is running at least 10 minutes late.
Using the directions below, sign up for one or more of the notification groups.
You may opt-out any time by texting ‘unsubscribe’ to the appropriate group.
High School & JH Buses (Bus Routes for grades 6-12 & Penta)
Text: @otsbus6-12 to 81010
Elementary Buses (Bus Routes for grades PK -5)
Text: @otsbuspk-5 to 81010
If you have any questions about bus routing information, please contact me at evasher@otsegoknights.org or 419-823-4381 ext. 3156
Red Ribbon Week
Important Dates
2017-2018
November 2-3 - NO SCHOOL - Conferences
November 7 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
November 14 - Family Fun Knight
November 16 - 4th Grade Music Performance, 7pm
November 22-24 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
December 5 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
December 7 - 3rd Grade Music Performance, 7pm
December 12-13 - PTO Holiday Shop
December 22-January 2 - NO SCHOOL, Holiday Break
January 3 - NO SCHOOL, District Professional Development/Work Day
January 9 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
January 15 - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 6 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
February 16 - NO SCHOOL, District Professional Development/Work Day
February 19 - NO SCHOOL, President's Day
February 20-23 - Jump Rope for Heart
March 6 - PTO Meeting, 6pm
March 27 - 2nd Grade Music Performance, 7pm
March 30-April 8 - NO SCHOOL, Spring 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 November 7th at 6:00 in the Elementary Library.
Otsego 5th & 6th Grade Girls Basketball
Who: Any 5th or 6th grade girl interested in playing organized basketball.
When: Games will begin in January on Saturday mornings, practices will be determined by coaches and will normally be held one or two week nights beginning in November/December.
Where: Games will be held at league schools including Otsego High School. Practices will be held at gymnasiums within the district (OHS, OJHS, Otsego Elementary).
Why: To have fun and learn the fundamental skills of basketball in a team setting.
Other: Cost will be minimal–if needed, the cost of a jersey (approx. $20)
Fill out the form below if you are interested!
Support the Knight in Shining Armor Fund
Community Members,
Student Council has teamed up with Filmraiser to help us raise funds for our Knight in Shining Armor Fund. Knight in Shining Armor is a fund designed to be used to help any family in the district in their time of need. We will earn $1 towards our cause for each ticket bought. If you have any young ones who are interested in seeing My Little Pony, please consider purchasing your tickets by clicking on this link.
Community Events
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
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
Mike Wiley
Email: mwiley@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381 (4009)
Twitter: @PrincipalWiley
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)