Howdy Trailblazers
October 25 - November 5, 2021
Greetings from Principal Bueno
I still can't believe this is the last academic week of October and we are already heading toward November. Before we know it, Thanksgiving break will be arriving soon!
As a reminder, report cards for the first grading period posted to HAC this past Friday. I encourage parents to review their child's first quarter grades and please do not hesitate to reach out to teachers with any concerns you may have regarding your child's academic progress. Teachers are currently scheduling fall conferences, but are always available to speak to parents regarding any concerns or questions you may also have.
It's been a busy time for our staff since starting school this year. As the weeks have gone by we have realized that our students and staff have had to make several adjustments transitioning back to in-person learning. Our teachers are balancing tight schedules to support various levels of learners and small group instruction has become the prevalent mode of teaching. Our counseling department has had record high percentages of students needing emotional support consultation. Students are adjusting to socializing with peers and adults and daily Social-Emotional-Learning lessons are being taught by classroom teachers to support the "whole child". My biggest hopes for the second quarter is for our students to continue to demonstrate academic gains and students continue to feel safe and emotionally supported by our staff.
Finally, I would like to thank our Trailblazers for making National Principals Month very special for me. All month I have received so many sweet messages, gifts, and lots of love from our students and staff. I am extremely grateful for the many acts of kindness and feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to be Principal of such a wonderful campus. Much love to our Trailblazers for making this month a very memorable one for me. :)
Make it an Ott-some week Trailblazers! #RootedAtOtt
Principal Bueno
NISD Highlights Ott!
Ott students are “booo-ked” with reading fun!
Students at one NISD elementary school had an “ott-some” time reading with a little Halloween spirit thrown in. Classes received a “You’ve been Boooked” bag, filled with a fun book to read. The message on the tag said, “Hopefully this will spread some cheer, at what can be a crazy time of year. If it’s Halloween spirit you are needing, maybe you can get it back with a little reading.”
The ALE class at Ott ES received a book, “The Good, The Bad, and the Spooky.” Students had an extra afternoon read aloud and good discussion before sending the book on to the next classroom to enjoy. Pictured are (from l-r) Koray Pena, Jae’la Fountain, Selena Morales, Vinnie Pacheco, and Maddox Sanchez.
Important Updates
Ott Kite Day - Nov. 5
Picture Retakes - Nov. 10
Veterans Day Ceremony - Nov. 11
Ott Family Spirit Night - Nov. 11
NISD COVID-19 Information for Parents/Guardians
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Fever or chills
Diarrhea
Cough
Headache
Shortness of breath/difficulty
New loss of taste or smell breathing
Sore throat
Fatigue
Congestion or runny nose
Muscle or body aches
Nausea or vomiting
How do I communicate with the school if my child has seasonal allergies, chronic migraines, gastrointestinal issues, asthma, etc.?
If there is a medical history of these symptoms, please provide a Dr.’s note to the school nurse for documentation. Students will be assessed by the school nurse to determine if there is a change in the student’s normal baseline.
What procedure will be followed if my student shows symptoms of COVID-19 while at school?
Students showing symptoms of illness will be assessed by the school nurse and monitored until they can be picked up by their parent/guardian.
School nurses have the ability to perform COVID-19 rapid testing for students whose parents/guardians have given consent to do so.
Students with symptoms who are not wearing a mask at the time of arrival to the clinic will be offered a mask to wear and the parent/guardian will be notified.
What do I do if my student is sent home from school with a fever (100.0 degrees or greater) and/or any other symptoms of COVID-19?
Contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
If the student has symptoms of COVID-19 and is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the student should not return to school until after at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Additionally, at least 24 hours must have passed since the student had a fever (without fever-reducing medications) and the student has had improvement of additional symptoms (cough, etc.). These three criteria should be met for readmittance on campus.
If the student is evaluated and is diagnosed with another condition, the student may return to school prior to 10 days with a healthcare provider’s note. The student must also be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. A COVID-19 test is not required if an alternate diagnosis is received from the provider.
When can my student return to school after being diagnosed with, and/or testing positive for COVID-19?
Three criteria must be met for readmittance on campus: 1) at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared 2) at least 24 hours have passed since the student had a fever (without fever-reducing medications) 3) the student has had improvement of additional symptoms (cough, etc.).
If the student has tested positive or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 but has not had any symptoms, at least 10 days must have passed since the date of the positive test/diagnosis.
What do I do if my student is a close contact to a person with COVID-19 and has not been vaccinated?
Contact your healthcare provider for testing and symptom guidance.
If the student is asymptomatic, parents may choose to quarantine their child but are not required to do so.
Quarantine is necessary for a student who is a household member of someone who has tested positive. Please contact your school nurse for any questions.
It is important to monitor for symptoms to include checking temperature twice a day.
Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if exposed to a positive case as long as they are not having any symptoms themselves.
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they received their final dose.
Vaccinated individuals with exposure to a positive case and having symptoms will need to complete a 10-day isolation period unless they have a physician's note to clear them to return sooner. Per guidance from the local health department, a negative PCR alone will not suffice for them to return sooner.
Travel Guidelines for unvaccinated individuals: No quarantine is necessary for domestic or international travel as long as there is no history of exposure and the individual is not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms.
Please Slow Down
Attendance Matters
Northside continues to ask you to make your child's attendance a priority. Research shows that school attendance leads to future success and brings numerous benefits to students, including higher academic achievements.
Texas Education Code states that the students must be present in class 90% of the time in order to earn course credit or be promoted to the next grade level.
When students are tardy to school, they are missing valuable morning time with their class. Morning meetings begin promptly at 7:45 and this time allows for students to get ready for a successful day. We will begin recording tardies to school (arriving after 7:45 am).
As a reminder, not only do absences lead to learning loss, they can also lead to social-emotional deficiencies. We encourage all parents and students to make school attendance a top priority except for time when the student is sill. Be sure to send a note upon your student's return to school.
From the Superintendent: Reunited In-Person
NISD Reunited Safely - Mask Update
Please visit the NISD website for updated information on masks in NISD- https://www.nisd.net/news/update-temporary-mask-mandate
Free Internet - Time is running out to apply for home internet access
Helpful Resources
San Antonio Food Bank - Mega Food Bank Distribution
Stay Connected with NISD
While one-on-one communication is the best, in a district as large as Northside ISD it is sometimes difficult. Because we want our parents to stay informed, NISD has several ways that parents and other interested citizens can stay informed about the successes and challenges of San Antonio’s premier school district of choice, as well as find out news about their children’s schools.
Follow Ott on Social Media
Please don’t forget to stay connected by following and "Liking” Ott Elementary and Ott PTA on:
- Facebook @ottelementary and @OttElemPTA
- Twitter @NISDott and @ott_pta
- Instagram @nisd_ott and @ottelementarypta
Thank you to those who have joined us this year, we appreciate your support. We encourage everyone to follow us on these social media arenas.#RootedAtOtt
Free Meals!
NISD Vaccination Opportunities
Free COVID-19 Testing
Ott Counselors Care
Library News
Ott OASIS Tutoring Program
Who: Caring adults over 50 years old who want to make a difference with our Ott students.
What : Oasis Tutors are active older adults who love reading and making a meaningful contribution to the Ott Community.
Why: NISD supports the Oasis national non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of mature adults and engaging them in community service. The Oasis Tutoring Program supports Reading Achievement, builds interest and motivation, models language and oral expression, and encourages response to text.
How: Just fill out the bottom of the form that was sent home with your child and return it to your child's teacher.
When: Oasis Training will take place soon for preparation and supplies. As soon as Volunteers have their training with the district, a student will be paired up with an Oasis Mentor. Weekly 1 hour tutoring sessions and the partnership will begin.
Important Dates
Nov. 1
- PTA Sister School Coat Drive begins till 11/22
- 50th Day of School
- Joint Constitutional Amendment, General, Special and Bond Elections 7am-7pm in the school Library
- Kite Day
- Daylight Savings Time Ends
- National School Psychology Week
- PTA Meeting @ 6 pm followed by Kinder Turkey Tango
- Fall Retakes
- Veterans Day Ceremony @ 8 am
- World Kindness Day
- American Education Week
- Texas Character Education Week
- OCCB Day (wear your favorite college shirt)
- GOTR 5K
- Thanksgiving Break