Howdy Trailblazers
April 16 - 29, 2024
Greetings from Principal Bueno
Our campus will be in full STAAR Reading testing mode beginning April 16th for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for our first round of STAAR testing. As in years past, our campus will be closed on STAAR testing days to all visitors. STAAR data provides our teachers and administration with important data to better assist us with developing accelerated intervention plans for our struggling learners, but is not the only data point used to determine student placement into the next grade level. Ultimately we use multiple sources of formative data for end of the year placement decisions. Please reference below on how you can support and prepare your child for STAAR testing days.
STAAR DATES
Tuesday, April 16: STAAR Reading Grades 3-5 (campus closed)
- STAAR Reading Make Up Days - April 17 & 18
Tuesday, April 23: STAAR Science Grades 5 (campus closed)
- STAAR Science Make Up Days - April 24
Tuesday, April 30: STAAR Math Grade 3-5 (campus closed)
- STAAR Math Make Up Days - May 1 & 2
Student Data Verification continues for all students in grades EE/PK through 11th grade for the 2024-2025 school year. All guardians will receive an email from HAC announcing the process has begun and will request for you to complete the process through HAC. This data will be utilized to ensure registration for the 2024-2025 academic year for currently enrolled NISD students. Ott students will not be assigned a teacher for 24-25 until this process is complete.
Please feel free to join us for our annual Fiesta parade scheduled for Thursday, April 25th at 8:15 a.m. It's always a lot of fun for everyone! Classroom Fiesta parties are also scheduled for this day. In order to continue to maintain safety for our students, we will continue to support our closed campus policy for this year’s Fiesta parties. Please contact your child's classroom teachers regarding party donations to ensure the Fiesta parties are fun for our Trailblazers. Thank you in advance for supporting campus safety and campus events.
Lastly, this month our Ott Learner Profile characteristic focus is Critical Thinker. The profile is a system of characteristics that have been identified by our Campus Leaders as the most vital for our students to cultivate to achieve success. They are applied to all of our Trailblazers in every grade level and they represent the promise to our Ott community of learners. Please ask your child how they're learning how to be a Critical Thinker at school.
Make it an Ott-some couple of weeks, Trailblazers! #OttLevelUp #Trailblazers
Principal Bueno
Ott Elementary Student Profile
STAAR Prep - 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Levels
Free Drink Night at Swig! - April 30th
Math Rocks T-Shirt Order Form Due - May 10, 2024
Purple Up Day 2024
Total Solar Eclipse 2024
Golden Spatula Winners! Congrats Trailblazers!
Ott Family Game Night
Zachary M. S. Magnet School Induction Ceremony - Congrats Trailblazers!
Buddy Classes
Ott-some Students and Staff
Employee of the Month for Perfect Attendance for March - Ms. Cabrera (BMC)
End of the Year Spirit Rally - May 17th
Ott Senior Walk - May 31st
Books & Bundts
Club LT Registration Open for Enrollment
NISD Summer Enrichment
NISD is offering tuition-based enrichment camps for students. Please see the attached flier for more information.
NISD está ofreciendo para estudiantes campamentos de enriquecimiento con pago de matrícula. Por favor, consulte el folleto adjunto para obtener más información.
Ott Birthday/Celebration Policy
● Treats will be handed out to the classroom at the end of the school day.
● Non-food individual goodie bags are preferred.
● If parents prefer to send a consumable treat, it must be individually wrapped. Ex: “Little Debbie
Cakes”
● Birthday treats will be delivered to the office and picked up prior to the end of the day by the classroom teacher.
● Water is the only beverage that will be accepted.
● No balloons or flowers may be delivered to students.
● Student and staff birthdays are announced each morning. Students also receive a ribbon in recognition of their birthday from the school office.
● Please note, as stated in the NISD Parent-Student Elementary Handbook “invitations to private
celebrations may be passed out at school only if every child in the classroom receives one or if every girl in a classroom receives an invitation to a girl’s party or every boy in the classroom receives an invitation to a boy’s party.”
Practice Math Facts!
Ott Student Council Store Open for Business!
April Immunization Drives
University Health System's Mobile Clinic is coming to NISD for a convenient way to stay up-to-date with immunizations. The Mobile Clinic will visit a variety of locations throughout the month. Appointments must be made in advance and it is required to bring a shot record to the appointment.
Details- https://www.nisd.net/news/update-your-childs-immunizations-1
NISD Middle School Magnet Options 2023 - 2024 Parent Resource
Luna Middle School - Rising 6th Transition SMORE
Please click here to view Luna Middle School's Rising 6th Transition SMORE.
NISD STEM Volunteer Opportunities
The Elementary and Middle School C&I Science teams are hosting five STEM events from February 16th to April 6th. Each event requires approximately 40 to 100 volunteers. Half day and full day shifts are available for most events to provide maximum flexibility for those able to assist. In addition to adult volunteers, roles are also available for students,14 years and older, who are looking to earn volunteer service hours.
FITNESS IN THE PARK
Join us at your local park, community center, or library and let us help you achieve your fitness goals. It’s easy to find a fitness program for you! Take a look at our current schedule and find a class that intrigues you. There is no registration required for most classes.
NISD/Ott Volunteer Background Check - Required
Thank you for volunteering at Northside schools. Whether you are mentoring a child, chaperoning a field trip, a board member of a PTA or helping out in the classroom, you are choosing to make difference in a child’s life and we appreciate you. Here’s some helpful tips on background checks for volunteers.
- All volunteers must complete a background check form each school year. All information is deleted each year in May.
- Background checks are completed online only. No paper forms are accepted.
- Please contact the main office of your campus to find out if you are cleared to volunteer. All campus administrators (principals, vice-principals, assistant principals…etc.) have access to the cleared list.
- It takes one to two weeks for the results of checks to be returned from the date of submission.
Background Check Link.
Free Meals for Ott Students
We are pleased to inform you that Ott Elementary will implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for School Year 2023-24.
What does this mean for you and your children? Great news for you and your children! All enrolled students at Ott Elementary are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day at no charge to your household for the 2023-24 School Year. Your children enrolled at Ott Elementary will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay for meals or submit a Free & Reduced Meal Application.
Please note, if your children attend schools that are not participating in CEP, your
household will still need to fill out a Free & Reduced Meal Application or pay for meals.
For additional information, please visit nisd.net/schools/menus or contact us at
(210) 397-4517.
Sincerely,
Northside ISD
Child Nutrition Department
Free & Reduced Office
(210) 397-4517
From the Superintendent Dr. Craft
Ott Student 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.
Ott Bi-Weekly Attendance Contest
We look forward to increasing our daily attendance this year! Thank you families for assisting our Attendance Contest in support of student achievement.
Ott Community
Ott Counselors Care
Since children may experience a variety of concerns at different developmental stages, Ott's Guidance & Counseling Program offers many services that assist students in acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for healthy emotional and social development. Please take a moment to visit the Ott Counselors' Corner Newsletter for more information.
2023-2024 Parent/Guardian Counseling Department Needs Assessment
Please help us ensure we provide the appropriate focus for your child on our campus this year.
Professional School Counselors provide skill goal-based classroom guidance lessons and theory-based small group counseling sessions to help students gain the skills necessary to improve aspects of their social and emotional well-being, and to improve the skills necessary to take maximum advantage of education and career preparation opportunities. Your input regarding our specific focus is invaluable!
2023-2024 Parent/Guardian Counseling Department Needs Assessment
Enjoy our free, educational activities that show your child just how fun cooking can be!
The Home Access Center for Parents
The Home Access Center (HAC) allows parents to register students, complete data verification, access report cards, and track attendance.
(Your username is your email address and your password is the temporary password you received by email. You will be required to change it the first time you log in.)
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
- X@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. #OttLevelUp #Trailblazers
NISD Online Tutoring
2023-2024 Ott Elementary PTA
PTA has achieved the Head Start Award for August
PTA has earned the MARS (Men Are Really Super) Involvement Award
PTA has earned the Community Involvement Award
PTA Membership Perks!
Did you know that PTA Membership comes with no obligations? Membership doesn't mean you have to volunteer or attend meetings (though we would love for you to do both!). PTA membership dues allow the PTA to provide many benefits to the students and teachers at OTT including $10/student for field trips, supplemental teaching supplies, and free member events.
Did you also know that membership with the Texas/National PTA entitles you to discounts at several businesses? You can view the list of member offers at the following websites:
https://www.txpta.org/member-perks
https://www.pta.org/.../mar.../Save-Money-with-Member-Offers
If you haven't joined the Ott PTA yet you can join at https://www.joinpta.org/
We would love for you to partner with us in impacting the lives of the students at Ott!
Important Dates
4/16
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- Chick fil A Battle of the Schools- all day- Potranco/1604 and 151/Military
- STAAR Testing (Reading)- 3rd-5th- Closed Campus
4/17
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- STAAR Testing- Make Up Day
- Choir Practice- 3:15- 4:15 pm
4/18
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- STAAR Testing- Make Up Day
- Strings Meeting- 3:10- 4:00 pm
4/19
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- NISD Fine Arts Fest- Farris Athletic Complex- 4:30- 8:30 pm
- StuCo Store Open- 7:15- 7:40 am
4/20
- NISD Fine Arts Fest- Farris Athletic Complex- 8:30- 2:00 pm
4/22
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Public School Volunteer Week
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- Fiesta Spirit Week- wear a FIESTA hat or flower crown
- Strings Practice- 3:10- 4:00 pm
- My Art Starz- 3:15- 4:05 pm
4/23
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Public School Volunteer Week
- National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- Fiesta Spirit Week- wear your brightest FIESTA shirt
- STAAR Testing (Science) - 5th Grade- Closed Campus
4/24
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Public School Volunteer Week
- Administrative Professionals Day
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- Fiesta Spirit Week- wear fun FIESTA decorated flip flops or shoes
- STAAR Testing (Science) - 5th Grade- Make Up Day
- Project ACORN- 3:00- 4:15 pm
- Choir Practice- 3:15- 4:15 pm
4/25
- School Library Month, Military Child Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Public School Volunteer Week
- Fiesta Medals Sales- 2nd Grade
- Fiesta Spirit Week- wear a festive shirt, medal or anything FIESTA
- Fiesta Parade- 08:15- 08:45 am
- Fiesta Classroom Parties
4/26
- School Holiday