OVA Connector
November 18, 2022
Important Dates to Remember
- November 17: End of Trimester I- Pearson work must be completed
- November 18: No School
- November 21: Beginning of Trimester II
- November 23, 24-25: No School, Thanksgiving Break
- December 13: 6-12 grade NWEA Map Testing (OVA classroom in person, 9:30-12:00)
- December 15: 6-12 grade NWEA Map Testing (OVA classroom in person, 9:30-10:30)
- February 13-17: No School, Intersession
- March 9: End of Trimester I- Pearson work must be completed
- March 10 No School
- March 13: Beginning of Trimester III
CKH: TEAMWORK
Here is another engaging activity! Create a culture of appreciation and gratitude at home by celebrating the best in each family member. Take some time to sit together and have every family member share three words you admire about another family member. You can write these down or share them orally. Discuss how each family member brings something great to your family team.
Conversation Starters:
- What is the best affirmation or compliment someone has ever given you?
- What are some things we are lucky to have but sometimes complain about them?
- What is your favorite family memory?
Second Trimester Begins
The new trimester is a fresh start. I highly recommend you start with a schedule and use the Pearson course to-do lists. If you would like support setting up a schedule or learning how to better navigate and organize everything in Pearson, let us know. We're here to help you!
Final Grades
For high school students in grades 9-12, Pearson teachers have 5 business days to finalize grades after the end of our trimester. Please look for final grades in Infinite Campus the week of December 5. High School OVA report cards will be mailed on December 5.
Please note that your Pearson grade reflects your percentage of completed progress in your course. It does not take in consideration any incomplete or late work. Any work not completed when the course ends at 11:59pm on 11/17 will be entered as a ZERO and will affect your overall course grade.
If you are planning to return to in person learning for second trimester, please let your mentor or myself know right away so we can work with your school on the transfer.
Save the Date: NWEA Map Testing
OVA Middle School & High School students will be required to come into our Otsego Middle School OVA Classroom on both of the following dates for testing:
December 13th- Math and Reading- 9:30-12
December 15th- Language- 9:30-10:30.
Please plan to attend!
New OPS App!
Peachjar
Otsego Public Schools is using an electronic service to distribute fliers to our families. Parents not only receive an email with the flier, there will be a button on each website where parents can go later and look at all of the fliers that have been posted for that school. No more weeding through emails, this can be a quick way to see that information. There will also be a Peachjar icon on our app.
It is important that all parents have an email address in Infinite Campus as this is how we will create the email lists for schools. Please be sure to update your email in Infinite Campus.
Very Important Attendance & Truancy Reminders
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES & POLICY p. 10 -
Attendance is an integral component in a student's education. Learning takes place in collaboration with OVA teachers and engagement with the OVA curriculum. Regular attendance/engagement is always essential for doing your best work in school. Employers will be interested in your attendance record some day. Students who are under the age of eighteen are required to attend school under the State Compulsory Attendance Law.
For a student to obtain credit and to keep parents informed of student absenteeism, school personnel have set up a minimum standard of attendance. Every effort should be made by students and parents to see that absences are limited to reasons of personal illness or a grave, family emergency.
Please remember that our weekly (Wednesday-Tuesday) attendance requirements are as follows:
- Students in grades K-12 are required to participate in at minimum two, two-way contacts per week with their mentor or classroom teacher. Parents and students in grades K-5 can work collaboratively with the OVA mentor teacher to accomplish the two, two-way via zoom, email, or phone call. This means, the teacher initiates contact via Pearson, Remind, Google Classroom, Zoom, email, text message or phone call and the student responds, then the teacher responds (teacher-student-teacher). These two-ways will be logged, and two per week must be completed for a student to have positive attendance marked. Students & parents need to be on the watch for contacts by their mentor and respond to all contacts.
- Students will submit an assignment every Wednesday.
- Students will log in regularly to the appropriate Pearson platform and be working toward completion of their coursework.
Unexcused Absence:
An absence is considered unexcused when a child misses both 2 way communications in a week. When that happens, we check to see if they submitted a Wednesday assignment and if the child has logged in regularly over the course of the week, Wednesday to Tuesday.
OVA Truancy Procedure, p. 11:
Student has 1 unexcused absence Otsego Virtual Academy Director or designee checks in with the child’s teacher/mentor regarding Wednesday assignments and checks login history in Pearson. Communication is sent to the child’s parent/guardian about the requirements for virtual learners at OVA and communicates with local district support personnel about the unexcused absence.
Student has 2 unexcused absences Otsego Virtual Academy Director or designee sends an email/letter to the family. The truancy support at the local district is notified, if applicable.
Student has 3 unexcused absences Otsego Virtual Academy Director or designee sends a second email/letter to the family. Otsego Virtual Academy Director or designee schedules a meeting with the family. The truancy support at the local district is notified if applicable. The Allegan Area Educational Service Agency (AAESA) Truancy Officer is notified.
Student has 4 unexcused absences Otsego Virtual Academy: Student Handbook The student is dropped from OVA and sent back to the local district or school. A parent meeting is scheduled with the local district or school regarding truancy and paperwork is completed for documentation.
Our handbook is linked on our OVA website if you would like to read more about attendance and truancy.
Community Events and Activities
TIMBER RIDGE SKI CLUB
If you are interested in a student or adult "Pay-as-you-go" punch card for Timber Ridge, please fill out the attached form and return it to the Alamo office (with the $35 fee/punch card).
Forms are due on November 30.
Timber Ridge Ski Area punch cards can be used any day of the week (including holidays).
STEM Event for Girls
All About Pearson
Important OPS & OVA Links
OVA Contact Information
Interim OVA Coordinator/Mentor: Ashley Leneway aleneway@otsegops.org (Oct-December)
OVA Coordinator/Mentor: Amanda Nast anast@otsegops.org
K-8 Virtual Teacher: Kassie LaDuke kladuke@otsegops.org
High School Mentor: Jennifer Herbert jherbet@otsegops.org
About Us
Email: anast@otsegops.org
Website: https://www.otsegops.org/schools/ova
Location: 540 Washington St, Otsego, MI 49078
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otsegops
Twitter: @OtsegoSchools