Otsego Elementary Extra
Principal's Weekly Update - November 10, 2017
2nd Round State Playoff Game is Tonight! GO KNIGHTS!
Parking is $2 per car.
If you plan on attending, please see the attached documents for information on parking and where to sit.
High School Students Sharing Their Published Writing with OES Students!
Staff Spotlight: Jill Ghesquiere
Mrs. Ghesquiere is a life long resident and proud graduate of Otsego! She began teaching in 1987 as the 6th grade learning disabilities teacher at Grand Rapids Elementary. She went on to teach kindergarten for 19 years at both Weston and Haskins Elementary schools. Jill also taught 5 years at the first grade level. When the District was able to bring back all day every day kindergarten and open the new Otsego Elementary School building, Mrs. Ghesquiere returned to teaching kindergarten. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Bowling Green State University certified to teach kindergarten through eighth grade. Mrs. Ghesquiere is married to Joe and has two children, Jordy and Jaclyn, a dog, three cats and class pet turtle. When she is not at school, she loves to spend time with her family, cheering on her children and all Otsego sports, and going on long bike rides!
A Special Thanks for Mr. Wiley (The Cat in the Hat) for Reading to us all day on Thursday for National Young Readers Week!
Check Out the Drone Footage!
Food Service
We will be having our elementary Thanksgiving meal on Thursday November 16th. This is the only meal option for lunch:
Sliced Turkey, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Green Beans, Stuffing, Dinner Roll, Juice, Milk and Brownie
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Parents:
We have a large amount of negative lunch balances this year. Please check your child's back pack for low/negative balance letters. These are sent home twice a week, Tuesday's and Thursday's.
You can also track your child's purchases and balances by setting up an account on the K12 payment center. You do not need to pay online to track your child's account. You can also set up alerts to warn you of the low balances.
Per the school policy children are allowed to charge only 3 lunches. Once they are over 3 lunches they will receive an alternate meal. They are not allowed to charge breakfast or ala carte items.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Jeanne Jeffers
Director of Food Service
Otsego Local Schools
#050724
419-823-4381 ext.1104
Otsego Family Knight - November 14
Otsego will once again being having a “family night” this fall. It will be on Tuesday, November 14th. The goal of Family Night is to encourage families to take the evening to focus on each other and spend time together as a family in whatever way works for your family. There will be NO homework, assignments or tests the next day. There will also be NO athletic practices or any other extra-curricular activities on family night. We hope you can take advantage of this night and celebrate being a family!
If you use twitter and would like to post pictures or comments about the Otsego Family Night please use #FamKnight
A few ideas to get you started thinking about your evening together.
Games: Play your favorite family board game or card game
Dinner: Plan a meal together and cook together
Memories: Look through old photos and family videos
Get Creative: Create an art project, crafts, or build something as a family
Get Fit: If the weather is nice, go for a long walk in a park as a family
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
Transportation
2017 Ohio Transportation Director of the Year!
We have the privilege to have the 2017 State of Ohio Transportation Director of the Year as part of our Otsego Team! Eva Vasher.
Eva will be awarded this honor in Columbus next month!! Please help me congratulate her on this prestigious award!! She will be honored at the Board of Education Conference in November. Eva has taken her department to another level and the State of Ohio recognized it. Congratulations Eva!! We are all very proud of you.
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
Important Dates
2017-2018
November 14 - Family Fun Knight
November 15 - PTO Restaurant Fundraiser, Buffalo Wild Wings, 5-9pm
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
Best Wishes,
Miss Syrowski
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 December 5th at 6:00 in the Elementary Library.
5th Grade Girls Basketball Open Gyms
Open Gym - please bring your own ball
Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 in the Elementary Gym
(no Open Gym on Wed. Nov. 22)
Contact Lynn Hillesheim with questions.
419-367-1772
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!
4th Grade Boys Basketball Open Gyms
Community Events
Otsego Biddy Wrestling Registration 2017
General Information:
When: First Practice will be Monday, December 4th at 6:00 pm. Ends 2/18 (Otsego Tourney)
Practices: Mondays and Wednesdays 6pm - 7pm (Calendar on Back)
Where: Otsego Wrestling Building
Cost: $50 per wrestler
Why: Experience the joys of wrestling! Gain confidence and discipline. Compete as a team at the annual NBC meet.
Stay informed about practice cancelations etc. by using the Remind App. To join text to the number: 81010 this message: @otsegobi
Or use this link:
To participate in wrestling, please complete the attached form and turn it in at your first practice.
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)