OTTAWA NEWSLETTER
MAY / JUNE 2021 News for the Ottawa Family
OTTAWA FAMILY
Spring is finally here! A lot of our students are involved in sports or other after-school activities. This is a good time to show your child that responsibility and good use of time can help to achieve excellence in all of one’s experiences. We still have about six weeks of learning left before we send your children back to you for the summer. Yes, June 15th is the last day of school. We want to finish as strongly as we can. Please pay close attention to your teacher’s correspondence through newsletters, agendas, phone messages etc.
Assessments: M-Step is underway. It is so important for students to do their best. Please remind your child to take his/her time and to complete it to the best his/her ability. This is a great time to show the teachers how smart our students are at Ottawa.
We are already looking at next year, please let the office know if your child will not be returning to Ottawa Elementary next school year.
Kindergarten Registration for 2021-22 - It is time to enroll/register your incoming kindergarten student for fall 2021! All children who live in the Ottawa Elementary community and will be five-years old on or before September 1, 2021 are eligible to enroll. If your child will be five years old no later than December 1, 2021, and you believe they are ready for kindergarten, a kindergarten waiver may be filled out. All new students must register through Central Enrollment online at the link: https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/for-parents/enrollment/
Enjoy your summer!
SACC (School Age Child Care)
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.
*Please note that your child must be pre-registered before using the SACC program. Please notice the new registration fee as well.
Student Health Screener:
The following screener has been created by the Macomb County Health Department and will be used by Chippewa Valley Schools. Parents/guardians are expected to screen their child(ren) before leaving for school or sending them to school. These symptoms may indicate a possible illness that may decrease your child’s ability to learn and put them at risk for spreading illness to others.
SPRING SCHEDULE
- Mon. May 3rd - Progress go home on Monday as needed.
- Wed., May 12th - VIRTUAL FUN DAY
- Wed., May 12th - Teacher Planning Day/No School
- Tues., May 18th - Kindergarten Kick-off - ZOOM meeting for 2021-2022 kindergarteners
- Mon., May 31st-Memorial Day/No School
- Thurs., June 10th-5th Grade Completion Ceremony @ 9:00AM
- Mon., June 14th-Half Day
- Tues., June 15th-Half Day
IMPORTANT UPDATES
3rd-5th Grade M-STEP Online Assessment
The state waiver for the online M-Step state assessment was denied by the federal government and students will need to take the 3rd-5th grade M-Step assessment this year. Please see below for more information.
- Testing will begin for our 5th grade students on Tuesday, April 13th.
- 5th grade students will test in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
- 3rd and 4th graders will test in ELA and Math.
- All testing will be done in school and online.
Kindergarten Kickoff for 2021-2022
This year we will have a virtual Kindergarten Kickoff on Tuesday, May 18th at 6pm. More information is coming soon.
Keep Our Community & Our Youth Safe!
National DEA Drug Take Back Event
April 24th – 10 am – 2 pm
-Responsible medication disposal prevents youth access and abuse of
Prescription Drugs and protects our environment. Bring your expired
or unused medicine (no liquids, needles or inhalers) for disposal to:
Macomb County Sheriff’s Department (lobby)
43565 Elizabeth Road, Mt. Clemens
Clinton Township Police Department (lobby)
37985 Groesbeck Highway (North of 16 Mile Rd.)
-Social distancing precautions will be taken. Please wear a mask. Volunteers will wear a mask
*Sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Coalition for Youth & Families, in
partnership with the Clinton Township Police Department and the Macomb
County Sheriff’s Department. For more information, call 586-723-2360
or visit www.cvcoalition.org.
Supporting Reading & Literacy (Infants & Toddlers included!)
Did you know that the more you talk with your child the better prepared they will be for reading? Now, it is important to know that there is different type of "talk". When we give commands it would not be considered conversational talk with our child. Additionally, when our children overhear us talking to someone else, it does not have the same positive impact on their developing literacy skills as it does when we personally talk to them. To help best prepare your infant or toddler for literacy, be sure that they engage in frequent talk with you and not just overhear you speaking with someone else or engaging in basic "command" talk. (Command talk would be giving the child directions or asking basic task related questions)
Multiple studies have been conducted comparing the literacy skills of infants, toddlers, non and school age children who engage in frequent conversations and talk with adults in their homes. The results all point to the same thing. Talking to our kids and engaging in rich conversations gives them a head start for skills they will need in both school and life. These children have been shown to have bigger vocabularies and stronger comprehension skills needed for being successful readers.
Want to help prepare your infant or toddler for their future reading skills, vocabulary use, reading comprehension, and overall literacy? Talk to them as much as you can each day. Use new vocabulary with them. Engage in rich conversations even at a very young age. Although you may not realize it, you are preparing them for reading and literacy.
Click here for more ideas: https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/10/small-talk-big-benefits-adding-conversations-to-reading-and-everyday-moments/
Family Guides: Supporting Learning in the 2020-21 School Year
Progress Reports and Report Cards
Progress Reports
- Monday, May 3, 2021 – Progress Reports sent home with students as needed
Report Cards
- Tuesday, June 15, 2021 – Report Cards sent home with all students
Back to School Student Information Forms
Parents, please access either one of these links below to complete important student information for your child. This information includes the basic back to school emergency information and other important details regarding your child.
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS ASAP- Click one of the links below:
https://form.jotform.com/210065075114140
Ottawa Students CVS - Student Information Form Please click the link to complete this form. form.jotform.com
Ottawa Cafeteria
Breakfast/Lunch
- One breakfast/one lunch per student will be free at school. Lunch plus ($1.25) and A La Carte, such as chips and cookies (prices vary) will remain as payment required. We are accepting cash and checks, but no change will be given. We encourage parents to use www.sendmoneytoschool to make deposits to student accounts if students plan on making purchase.
- Students will still need to order hot lunch the day before
- Students will have assigned seats.
FOOD SERVICE MEAL DISTRIBUTION
Virtual/Hybrid Curbside Meal Distribution Information:
Breakfast and lunches can be picked up for students every Friday at two locations. For more information click here.
- Distribution Sites- Cheyenne & Huron Elementary
- Day- Friday
- Times- 11:00am-1:00pm
Types of Meals & Frequency
- 5 breakfast and 5 lunch meals will be provided for CVVA students.
- 1 breakfast and 1 lunch will be provided for face-to-face students.
Cooking/reheating instructions can be found here: meal instructions
For a map of the nearest meal distribution sites please visit www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup
School Transportation Information
School Transportation and Bussing
OTTAWA PTO
OTTAWA ELEMENTARY IS ON FACEBOOK
The next PTO virtual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
May 11, 2021
Ottawa PTO Members
Michelle Pirkola
President
Samara Dykstra
Vice President
Kaleena Migliorati
Treasurer
Dana Lange
Secretary
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.
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES and CONCERNS
Joining a TEAMS Meeting (New directions and way to join)
- How to Join a Microsoft TEAMS Meeting (VIDEO)
- Joining a TEAMS meeting (PDF)
- Troubleshooting guide for TEAMS meeting
TEAMS Sign-In Trouble
*Students must use their username to log in to TEAMS and NOT sign in as Guest. They are no longer to sign in without their Office 365 login.
*Please find the area at the bottom of the login area that says, Sign In For A Better Experience. Then use your 10 digit username followed by @cvs.k12.mi.us
Laptop Camera Issues
- Go to http://studenthelpdesk.cvs.k12.mi.us
- When you log in you can click on the link Web Camera not working.
Internet Essentials from Comcast
Internet from Comcast brings affordable, high-speed Internet to low-income households so you can have greater access to homework, job opportunities, healthcare and benefits, education resources, and more. 855-846-8376
Important Information
Accessing Schoology
· All Chippewa Valley students will be using the online Schoology platform.
· Students will log in to their Schoology account. Once your child accesses their Schoology account, your child’s teacher will have directions posted to guide your family through the process.
· To learn more about Schoology including how to access the site and review/learn Schoology basics, visit: Schoology Overview or click to watch the Schoology Video with directions on how to log in.
· To directly access your child’s Schoology account:
o Visit cvs.schoology.com
Example:
o Login: 12345678@cvs.k12.mi.us
o Password: 78glh
Questions or Concerns
Some parents have not received emails because district emails may be in your junk or spam folders. You might also not have a correct email in our system.
Please do not worry about your child missing any important information or work. We know the first week will be a time for families and children to get use to the live sessions.
We are in this together so please do not worry if you are unsure of things. We will help you with anything you need on Tuesday, September 8th in the morning.
Teams Meetings
TEAMS Live Sessions Chat Box
Parents, we ask you to monitor your child's chat box use. We do not want students using the chat box unless a teacher asks them to. Each time a student sends a message, the chat box notifies everyone and that becomes disruptive. Unfortunately, some students are not using the chat box in a positive manner. Additionally, all chat box history is linked to the student's name. Please remind your children not to use the chat box as it creates a disruption to the learning process.
Schoology Tech Tip
Your child has a ten digit username. Your child also has a password containing five characters.
- First you will go to cvs.schoology.cvs.k12.mi.us
- Next you will be asked for an email: User your child's ten digit username followed by @cvs.k12.mi.us
- Finally, it will ask you for a password.
Watch the quick video to see how to use your child’s ten digit username as the email needed followed by @cvs.k12.mi.us
Next, you enter your child’s password when you are prompted to.
If you have questions regarding Schoology, please email your child's teacher. You may also email CVS tech support at cvstechhelp@cvs.k12.mi.us
PARENT PORTAL- Accessing and Receiving Important Information Regarding Your Child
Parent Portal
Parents, please update your Parent Portal settings so that you can receive emails and text messages from School Messenger. Important info is frequently sent out on School Messenger and we do not have enough parents with an email address provided. Please us the links below for help in Parent Portal.
https://ps.cvs.misd.net/public/
Additional parenting info is also available on this district site.