This Week @ OPS
Good News & Highlights from across the District!
November 8, 2019
School Safety Week at OPS
It was a busy week focused on safety at OPS! Each building conducted a number of safety drills, driving home our commitment to safety for students and staff and to prepare for a real emergency. These drills allow us to practice our procedures and find ways to make them run more smoothly in the future. We want to thank the Otsego Police and Fire Departments, Allegan County Sheriff's Department, Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department and both the Allegan and Kalamazoo county Emergency Management Offices for joining us for our evacuation drills.
First graders talk tornadoes after the drill.
Quadrant leaders begin the evacuation drill at DSE.
MS Students during a fire drill.
Interquest canines a part of school safety
Interquest Detection Canines, the company we work with to bring dogs into the middle and high school, were at OMS on Friday. The dog went through the school, but Interquest also put on an assembly for students to reintroduce them to this new safety practice, especially for 6th graders who are new to this type of activity. These dogs are not law enforcement and search for four things - drugs, weapons, medications and alcohol. It's an opportunity to reemphasize the schools rules and policies around these items.
Be Nice Group Talks Safety, Value
More than 70 students gathered Friday morning for their Be Nice meeting. They talked about how a part of school safety is relationships - noticing what others are going through and what's happening around them. They watched a video to support this, then spent time writing out post-it notes with positive phrases on them. During WIN, a few of them put them up on every locker in the school! Their meeting launch was a "value squeeze" circle. They all held hands and sent a squeeze around the room as a sign that each one has value, and they should feel that as they receive it and pass it on. Great job to Anna Starr and Libby Danielson for inspiring this amazing group of leaders!
NHS Welcomes 30 New Members
Congratulations to five seniors and 25 juniors on being inducted into the OHS National Honor Society this year. The ceremony was held Monday night in the auditorium. You can read more online: https://www.otsegops.org/apps/news/article/1119288
Cards for Veterans
Both 5th graders and 1st graders at Dix Street made cards to send to veterans this week. Veterans Day is coming up, November 11th. A parent reached out and is doing a project through her work for her two nieces that currently serve in the military, so the kids are all joining in.
Instrument Petting Zoo at Elementary Schools
Fifth grade students at all elementary schools attended an instrument petting zoo at their schools Friday. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, with the help of OHS band members, set up various stations for students to learn about different instruments and even got to try them out! They also learned about conducting. Thank you KSO and OHS students for putting on a great introduction to band for these kids!
Senior Lifelong Learning Gathering
On the first Tuesday of every month, OPS hosts the Senior Lifelong Learning class. This week, Dr. Darl Albrecht, from the Albrecht Chiropractic Office, talked to attendees on how proper shoes can help save your back, hips and joints. He also talked about how to prevent arthritis, how to cope with arthritis, and the detriments of a misaligned spine. This group meets in the Board Room for presentations but also takes a lot of fun field trips! You can find more on their webpage: https://www.otsegops.org/apps/pages/communityed/seniors
BBB Turns Students into Scambusters
The Better Business Bureau has a fun program geared toward high school students called Scambusters. They walk through different scenarios with students in a game to help them pinpoint whether something - like an email, phone call or mail offer - is real or a scam. Channel 3 was also here today to do a story on the program so look for our kids on the news tonight!
Fire Department Wraps Up Visits at LNG
Otsego firefighters made their final stop at Otsego schools this week at Learn 'n Grow Early Childhood Center. The kids loved meeting them and were great listeners to hear about fire safety & prevention. OFD visited Learn 'n Grow several times to be sure all 3 and 4 year olds could hear a lesson. Picture shows them learning how to stop, drop and roll:)
MS Robotics Teams Ready for Competition
Once again, OMS has three Robotics teams and they put the final touches on their robots this week to gear up for their first competition Saturday. Best of luck to all three teams - the Robodawgs, Destrobots and Advanced Skilltronics!
Special Persons Day in 1st Grade
Mrs. Griffith's room was packed this morning as her students welcomed a special person to join them for the morning. They had snacks, worked together on activities and more! This has been a long-time tradition for this classroom and the kids love it! Students actually write out an invitation to hand to the special person they want to join them. Today, all the special guests were grandparents:)
Jeans for Troops
It's an annual tradition at Dix Street that staff take part in Jeans for Troops. It's a national fundraiser for GI Go Fund. For a $5 donation, you get to wear jeans and help out at the same time! Great job, DSE! Here's more on the organization if you're interested: https://gigo.org/jeans-for-troops/index.html
Community Conversation Held on May 2020 Bond
We held our first Community Conversation with about 30 community leaders and parents on Thursday night to talk to them about the bond and get their feedback on the current proposal as well share what else they'd like to see, what questions they had and what they think is needed in the WSE pool space. It was a great meeting with great discussions. Please encourage those you know to attend one of the next three:
- Tuesday, November 12th, 6:30pm, WSE Media Center
- Tuesday, November 19th, 6:30pm, DSE Media Center
- Thursday, December 5th, 6:30pm, Alamo Media Center
Navy Surprise
A 2nd grader received an awesome surprise at school Monday! Austin Schmidt's aunt, Bianca Morrow, just returned from training and came to school to say hello! They haven't seen each other in 6 months. Morrow is in the US Navy and is an Electrician's Mate. She's now on her way to US Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. Thank you for your service!
Gratitude Chain Growing!
Be Nice student leaders started a gratitude chain at their October meeting and have asked their classmates to join in during lunch on Fridays. The goal is to have the chain extend around the entire lunch room and they are almost there! There's so much to be thankful for!
Have something to share for our new "Weekly Good News"letter?
Let me know! Email or text me!
Have a great weekend and #GoDawgs!
#OtsegoPride
Holly McCaw, Director of Communications
Email: hmccaw@otsegops.org
Website: otsegops.org
Location: 400 Sherwood Street, Otsego, MI, United States
Phone: 269-694-7910
Facebook: facebook.com/otsegops
Twitter: @OtsegoSchools