Otsego Elementary Extra

Principal's Weekly Update - March 31, 2023

2023-2024 Teacher Requests

Teacher Requests are always a touchy topic, and the procedures have changed over the years. This year, the following process will be followed:


1. Requests must be made through this Google Form:

https://forms.gle/4Ko15jVjjjy6GLxA8

Please click on the link and complete the 4 questions to make your teacher request.


2. NO requests will be honored unless they have the 4th question answered regarding "reasoning for the request".


3. Requests will only be accepted during a 2 week period - March 24th - April 6th. It is too difficult to create class lists with requests coming in through June. (The only exception to this will be for students enrolling after this 2 week period).


4. While we do our best to honor requests, there is no guarantee.


Thank you for your understanding!

Calamity Days

As of today, we have used all 5 Calamity Days. If we cancel school again it will be a Blizzard Bag. Blizzard Bags must be completed at home and turned in within 2 weeks of the missed school day.


The link to all Elementary Blizzard bags is on our website and is included below.

https://elementary.otsegoknights.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=391303&type=d&pREC_ID=887578

Upcoming Events

April 4: ELA State Test Part 1, Grades 3-5

April 4: PTO Meeting, 6pm, Elementary Commons

April 4: 2nd Grade Music Performance, 7pm, HS Auditorium

April 5: ELA State Test Part 2, Grades 3-5

April 7-14: NO SCHOOL, Spring Break

April 17: PTO Restaurant Night, Cocina de Carlos in Waterville

April 21: PTO Spirit Day, Wear a Hat for $1

April 25: Math State Test, Part 1, Grades 3-5

April 25: 1st Grade Music Performance, 7pm, HS Auditorium

April 26: Math State Test, Part 2, Grades 3-5

May 1-5: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 2: Science State Test, Part 1, Grade 5

May 2: 3rd Grade Music Performance, 7pm, HS AuditoriumMay 3: PTO Meeting, 6pm, Elementary Commons

May 3: Science State Test, Part 2, Grade 5

May 4: Kindergarten Music Performance, 7pm, HS Auditorium

May 11-12: Field Days

May 13: PTO Spring Flower Pick Up

May 19: PTO Spirit Day, Wear Hawaiian for $1

May 29: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

June 1: Last Day of School for Students

2022-2023 School Calendar

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NEW!!! Little Knight Lead Off for 2023-2024

This information pertains to current Kindergarten and 1st-grade students only. This letter has also been emailed to you by Mr. OShea if your child is in one of these grade levels, and it is being sent home today with your child.


Please reach out to me if you have any questions!

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Kids Heart Challenge Results

Otsego Elementary’s annual Kids Heart Challenge event was a huge success. Students in grades K-5 participated in this special event to support the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease and stroke. We raised $11,657.76. This is a new school record. We were just under our $12,000.00 goal for three of our teachers to get pie in the face, but maybe next year. Mrs. Konoff and Miss. Szymanski would like to thank all the participants, staff, and donors for making this event so successful and fun every year. Our top fundraisers were:


  1. Kylie Keifer (5th Mr. Willford) $480.00

  2. Aiden Black (5th Mrs. Hunsberger) $475.69

  3. Olivia Keith (2nd Ms. Ludwig) $458.92

  4. Liam Spencer (2nd Ms. Ludwig) $413.07

  5. Konner Carpenter (4th Miss. Tolles) $309.28

  6. Collin Krupp (2nd Mrs. Feehan) $304.93

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School Lunch Calendar for the Rest of the Year

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Volunteers Needed

The PTO Spring Flower Sale is currently underway. Thank you to all the families that sell the flowers so that PTO has the funds to put back into our students, staff and building.


We are looking for volunteers to help with the distribution of the flowers when they come in on May 13. There are two time slots available and food will be provided for volunteers. Thank you!

PTO Newsletter

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Otsego Girls Basketball Youth Camp

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Otsego Knights Track and Field Youth Camp

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Preschool Registration for 2023-2024

Preschool Registration Opened on Tuesday, February 21st. Forms are available in person only (forms will not be available online or via mail). Please bring your child's birth certificate as well as custody paperwork if applicable.


To get on the PK list, we will need a few pages completed, as well as the $216 deposit & $50 supply fee. Students must be 3 yrs. old on or before August 1st and fully potty trained to attend.


**Please note that out-of-district students will be put at the bottom of the placement list.

Kindergarten Registration for 2023-2024

Students must be 5 yrs. old on or before August 1st.


Registration is online through Final Forms.

https://otsego-oh.finalforms.com/


Tutorial video and links at https://www.otsegoknights.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=382503&type=d&pREC_ID=868203


Screenings will take place on June 5th and 6th.

PTO Mother/Son Dodgeball

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Youth Soccer Clinic

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Softball Fundraiser

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A Note from the Music Teachers

Parents,


Otsego Music teachers are using an online subscription called MusicplayOnline with music classes. This is not required as homework, but if your child would like to log on and play the games, sing a song we just learned, practice the rhythm reading, solfa reading, or just explore, here is the link below for Otsego students.


https://musicplayonline.com/login/?action=logout_success

Select Student

In the text field, enter the code: f547480


Once again, this is NOT required to do at home, only if you want to.


Have fun everyone!

Ms. Rehbein

Ms. Szymanski

School Fees

Fee notices were sent home. All students in grades K-5 have a $50 yearly school fee. Parents can send cash or check to the school with their student(s) to pay the fees. Checks can be made payable to Otsego BOE. The school can ONLY accept cash or check. Parents may pay online with a credit card by setting up an account at paychoolscentral.com.


If you have completed a free lunch waiver and have qualified for FREE lunch, your school fees will be waived. If you are not sure if you are qualified or not, please contact Emilia Bires at ebires@otsegoknights.org.


**Please note that free lunch waivers are for the current year only and the previous year's fee (SOY balance) is still due. Please contact the office with any questions.

School Counseling Newsletter - March 2023

Our School Counselors will be providing a monthly newsletter throughout the 22-23 school year. Click the button below to visit the Counseling Newsletter for this month!

OES Student Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures

Morning Drop-Off


  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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


  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Students must be picked up by 3:35pm. At 3:35pm, students will be taken to Otsego Extended Care at the cost of the parent/guardian (unless previous arrangements have been made).



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 Katrina Baughman, Elementary Principal.

Tennis Shoe Donations

Hello All! My name is Amy Konoff and I am one of two physical education teachers at Otsego elementary. This will be my 12th year at Otsego and my 26th year overall.


If your child has outgrown their tennis shoes, please consider donating them to our PE program. We like to have extras on hand for those that have forgotten them or just don’t have tennis shoes so they have something available to them.


Please bring them to the gym during Open House (During the year, they can be turned into the office or your child can bring them to gym class with them). We gladly accept donations all year long.


Thank you so much!! Go Knights!

Extended Care Information

If you are interested in using Extended Care during the 2022-2023 school year for before and/or after school care, please visit the website listed here:

https://elementary.otsegoknights.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=382480&type=d&pREC_ID=868128


All of the registration materials are available on this website. If you are unable to print the forms, hard copies are available in the Elementary Office.


A few things to remember:

1. Students must be at least 5 years old to attend Extended Care.

2. A $10 deposit is required for all families, and must be turned in before using the program.

3. A packet needs to be filled out for each student every year (paperwork expires each year on June 1st). So, if you did not use the program this summer, you need to fill out a packet for each of your children that will be using the program.

4. All parts of the packet must be filled out completely before a student can start using the program.


If you have any billing or registration questions or concerns, please contact Becky Hatfield at bhatfield@otsegoknights.org

Food Service

For the last two years, all students have enjoyed free breakfast and lunch at school through the federally funded Universal School Meals Program. Unfortunately, the USDA did not renew this waiver, and meal charges are set to return for students beginning with the 2022-23 school year.


CLICK HERE to view all the Information Related to Breakfast and Lunch Services.


We have gotten a lot of questions regarding lunch money. You can add money to your student's account online (directions listed below), or you can write a check to Otsego BOE and put your child's name in the memo line. You can also send cash, although we do not recommend that. If you choose to send cash, please put it in an envelope with your child's name on it and label it lunch money.


Directions for adding money online:


Quick Setup Guide:

Payschools Quick Setup Guide


Manage your account:

www.PaySchoolsCentral.com


Payschools Signup Information:

Payschools Introduction and Information Letter

Transportation

  • Bus Routes are available online. Parents can log in to the Info Finder link below to see their bus routes.

  • CLICK HERE to see your child's bus route.
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    Knight in Shining Armor Nominations

    Please use the following form to inform OHS Student Council about a family in need within the school district. While the family does not need to have students in the district, we do ask that they are a member of the Otsego Community. Please use this form to share information about their current situation as well as how they can best be assisted.

    Please be sure to understand that while Knight in Shining Armor (KISA) would love to help all community members in need, we are still a new program, and may not have the funds to do so. With that being said, we will consider each request on a case by case basis. Filling this form out does not guarantee that we will be able to assist the family, but we will try our hardest to do so!

    These funds are not for routine expenses such as utilities, bills, rent, etc. It is designed for assisting community members in an emergency situation. This can include, but is not limited to unforeseen medical expenses, medical related travel expenses, and household emergencies such as a fire, water leaks, etc. Please keep this in mind when submitting a nomination.

    Please refer to this link at any point during the year as a need arises, and KISA will do their best to help out!

    https://goo.gl/forms/mG7IctP7q8ZAaQOX2

    Community Events

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    Box Tops Are Digital!

    Want to help raise some money for the school but hate cutting out all the box tops? Or forget they are there and throw them away? Well now you don't have to worry about that; box tops have gone digital! You just need to download the app, set up Otsego as your school, scan your receipt and we will receive the credit. Check out the Box Top website for more information- we will be adding more as well when we get it.


    Don't want to download ANOTHER app?

    Just send your receipts into school with your kid and we will scan them for you. Please make sure you put them in a bag or envelope labeled box tops for PTO so the teachers know where they go.

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Preschool: @OtsegoPreK

    Kindergarten: @OtsegoK

    1st Grade: @OtsegoFirst

    2nd Grade: @OtsegoGrade2

    3rd Grade: @OtsegoGrade3

    4th Grade: @OtsegoGrade4

    5th Grade: @OtsegoGrade5

    School Counselor: @OEScounselor

    Principal: @OES_Principal

    Assistant Principal: @buchman_becky

    PE Teacher: @AmyKonoff

    Otsego Food Service: @Otsego_Cafe

    Heard a rumor or have a question?

    Please send me an e-mail or give me a call!

    Jenny Helberg

    Administrative Assistant

    Angie Norman

    Administrative Assistant

    Deputy Brian Ruckstuhl

    School Resource Officer