Little Bucks Bulletin
Nurturing Hearts, Developing Minds, Inspiring Dreams
March 2024 Edition
Ottawa Elementary School
THIS TUESDAY- LABRAID FUNDRAISER PICK UP
MARCH 26TH 4:00-5:30 PM
DRIVE-THRU PICK UP IN NORTH PARKING LOT
SPRING BREAK BEGINS MARCH 29TH-APRIL 7TH SCHOOL RESUMES APRIL 8TH
MESSAGE FROM MRS. DENISON
Dear Little Bucks Families,
March is my absolute favorite time of the school year! Just as we move into spring with the grass growing and flowers beginning to bloom, our students are also growing and blooming as well! When I was a first grade teacher, this was the time of year when I would see incredible growth, not only academically, but emotionally and socially.
Another reason I love March is that during this month reading and literacy are celebrated! Any day of the year is a great day to read, but this month especially, we focus on the importance of reading and that it matters at any age. Foundational reading skills build the framework for young children to become strong, fluent readers. That is one of the important jobs we have at Ottawa, to lay the foundation and build the framework for your children.
Conferences are around the corner! If your classroom teacher is not recommending a conference, please feel free to continue to reach out via email, Class Tag, or by phone if you have any questions regarding your child's progress. We are here to support you and your child's learning.
Please join us to be a guest reader this month! We would love for you to come share the love of reading with our Little Bucks!
Here's hoping for warmer recess days!
Stacey Denison, Principal
Order Your 2024 Ottawa School Yearbook!
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Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter our school ID code 15207724, click Next and follow the prompts.
OFFICE HOURS
Our school office is open 8:00am-4:30pm
Phone: 269.695.8409
Mrs. Stacey Denison, Principal
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, Administrative Assistant
SCHOOL HOURS
REGULAR DAY OF SCHOOL
8:35am-3:43pm
ECSE/Preschool AM 8:35am-11:50pm
ECSE/Preschool PM 12:25pm-3:43pm
WACKY WEDNESDAYS
8:35am-3:10pm
HALF DAYS OF SCHOOL
8:35am-12:05pm
No Preschool or ECSE Classes on these days!
EVERY WEDNESDAY IS AN EARLY RELEASE AT 3:10PM FOR OTTAWA
IMPORTANT DATES
MARCH
1 March Is Reading Month Kick Off!
1 LaBraid Fundraiser forms went home
5 Lions KidSight Screening Pre-1st
12 PTO Meeting 6:30pm
14/15 Turn in LaBraid Order forms and monies (No orders will be accepted after the 15th)
17 St. Patrick's Day
18 Board of Education Meeting 6:00pm BHS
21 Kickstart to Career Deposit Day
25 Girl Scouts General Meeting 6:00-7:00 PM
26 LaBraid Pick Up: 4-5:30 pm North Parking lot in the car line, we will bring your order to you.
27 No Preschool Classes (Monsma, Chase, and Shaner)
28 No Preschool or ECSE Classes (Monsma, Chase, Shaner, and Hendrick)
28 Conferences: Half Day of School for Kindergarten and First Grade- Dismissal 12:05pm
29 Spring Break Begins
ST. PATRICK'S DAY FUN!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS COMING!! March 25th-28th
Visit our Book Fair even if your child does not have a conference scheduled!
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Ottawa! Keep your students engaged in reading by providing them with exciting books!
The book fair will be open Monday, March 25th – Thursday, March 28th during school hours! We will be open on Thursday, March 28th from 12PM – 8PM to allow parents to shop with their children.
Your purchases raise funds to buy new library books and support readers at Ottawa Elementary for years to come!
If you are uneasy about sending money to school with your students, take advantage of e-wallet by prepaying up to an amount you designate. You can also make purchases online when you visit the book fair homepage.
Please visit our book fair homepage https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/ottawaelementaryschool2 to find out more about e-wallet and preview some of the books coming on the fair.
If you have questions contact Amanda Lemler at alemler@buchananschools.com
Click "Ottawa Handbook Link" to be taken to our handbook on the district website. There have been some changes and additions. Please read through this handbook for information regarding our school.
SPRING PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
A conference form will be sent home notifying you if your child requires a conference time.
Preschool has has different requirements for conferences, teachers will be in touch regarding scheduling.
TAPE TO THE WALL WAS THE WINNER!!
Taping Mrs. Denison to the wall was by far the clear winner! When the jugs were weighed, Tape to the Wall was 126 lbs!! Pie In the Face weighed 34 pounds and Popsicle Party was 12 pounds.
The students did an outstanding job of bringing in their change to support this PTO sponsored event! Monies raised will be used for continued PBIS rewards and field trip transportation costs.
All students were able to add a 1 yard piece of tape. Mrs. Denison stayed on the wall through lunches for two hours! Later that day, students were saying, "How did you get off the wall!" when they saw her walking through the hallways.
🏀 MARCH READING MADNESS 🏀
THANK YOU FAMILIES FOR JOINING US AS A GUEST READER THIS MONTH!!
Thank you Boys JV and Varsity Basketball Guest Readers!!
Thank you Girls JV and Varsity Basketball Guest Readers!
Thank you School Resource Officer Amy Bruce for being a Guest Reader!
Miss Buchanan Court and Miss Michigan Guest Read!!
KICKSTART TO CAREER DEPOSIT DAY!
THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH!
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Honor Credit Union will be collecting deposits on Thursday, March 21ST! Students may bring in their deposits on Thursday in a sealed envelope with the following information: Student Name, Grade, Graduation Year and Account Number found in their personal savings account register booklet. If you have questions regarding deposits, please contact the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation at 695-3521.
WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR LITTLE BUCKS OF THE WEEK!
We model and teach what we expect to see from students with the Buck 3. Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Next week will be our first week to choose students that have been working hard at following the Buck 3. Pictures will be displayed on our wall for the entire school to see on their way to lunch and names announced during our announcements.
A signed certificate will come home at the end of the week and their names will be shared in Ottawa's Update over the weekend for families!
Join Us! PTO MEETING MARCH 12TH AT 6:30 PM
Ottawa PTO Meeting
Child care provided during the meeting. Laura Henckel, Counselor, will be guest speaker.
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024, 06:30 PM
Ottawa Elementary School, Ottawa Street, Buchanan, MI, USA
LaBraide Fundraiser Pick Up Scheduled for March 26th
Call our office to reserve your spot!
Payment must be received by March 23rd
WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS!!
We appreciate the help and support of volunteers, but we also want to maintain focus on our instructional day and the engagement of students, therefore volunteer opportunities are set during specific times during the school day. Please see the guidelines below if you are interested in volunteering.
DISMISSAL/TRANSPORTATION CHANGES
You MUST contact our school office by 2:00 pm if you need to make changes to your child's transportation routine.
If you need to make changes involving a bus, these changes must be communicated to our office by 1:30 pm, before the buses leave for their middle/high school routes.
Please do not message or email teachers as they are often in session and do not receive the messages until it is too late.
If you need a numbered car tag for the pick up line, please come into our office.
If you are picking your child up as a walker, they will be dismissed at the doors by our front office.
Only car riders with parents in the pick up line will be dismissed at the north parking lot doors.
Transportation
Click on the icon below for Ottawa's Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Board of Education Meetings
- March 18th
- April 15th
- May 20th
Central Office
269.695.8400
Superintendent
Mrs. Patricia Robinson probinson@buchananschools.comAdministrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Mrs. Michelle Munyon mmunyon@buchananschools.com
Director of Operations/Instructional Systems Coordinator
Mr. Mark Kurland mkurland@buchananschools.com
Business Office Specialist
Mrs. Carrie Brunsting cbrunsting@buchananschools.com
Director of Special Education
Mrs. Karin Falkenstein kfalkenstein@buchananschools.com
Director of Technology
Mr. Philip Place psplace@buchananschools.com
YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT!
We work hard every day to make our school the best it can be. Please tell us how we’re doing!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedhHzyguA0_cCpd2Ue17lUTG5bV9LXzCoe6sP2f_BJrovA1Q/viewform