Howdy Trailblazers
December 2022
Greetings from Principal Bueno
Welcome back Trailblazers! I hope all of our families had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. I especially hope our students are ready to jump back into learning for the next three weeks until our next break. Thank you parents and guardians for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend conferences this past fall. We appreciate you taking an active role in your child’s education. We value the partnership you have begun to develop with your child’s teacher and look forward to the continued partnership.
Classroom winter parties are scheduled for December 16th. In order to continue to maintain safety for our students, we will continue to support our closed campus policy for this year’s winter parties. Teachers will be communicating soon regarding requests for donated items to ensure winter parties are fun for our Trailblazers. I encourage our families to continue to join us for our scheduled campus family events and appreciate your support. Please also join us in celebrating our school wide event the 12 Days of Ott Holiday Cheer beginning Dec. 1. We hope our Trailblazers enjoy the daily fun as we count down the days to winter break. Details of calendar events can be found below.
As a reminder, the last week for the 2nd grading cycle is Dec. 16th. Parents, please assist our teachers by ensuring your child is in good academic standing and all missing work is completed and submitted by the end of the grading cycle. Report cards will be posted into HAC on January 6, 2023.
Lastly, as a reminder, we highly encourage our students to read daily for at least 15-20 minutes for primary grade levels and 30-50 minutes for our intermediate grade levels. Our Ott-some Librarian, Mrs. Molinar, allows our students unlimited books to be checked out. Please encourage your child to bring books home from our library to read! Parents are also welcome to check out books from our library as well. We also recommend visiting the following link after logging into the NISD Student Portal --> Elementary Digital Resources. Here families will find resources available to support reading, math, and various academic subjects for their child from home.
Another newsletter will be published when we return from the winter break. In the meantime, please reference back to this newsletter for up to date information. We wish all of our families a happy holiday season and look forward to seeing everyone back on January 3rd, 2023. Happy holidays and happy New Year Trailblazers!!!!
Make it an Ott-some few weeks Trailblazers! #GLOWatOtt #NISDIgnited
Principal Bueno
GLOWING Spotlight - Mrs. Zepeda Pre-K
GLOWING Spotlight - Mrs. Gill 2nd Grade
Winter Break Reading Challenge
Kinder Round - Up 2023
Please Support Ott Student Council 2022
From the Superintendent Dr. Woods
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 GLOWING Attendance Contest - Breakin' Attendance Goals
We look forward to increasing our daily attendance this year! Thank you families for assisting our GLOWING Attendance Contest in support of student achievement.
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.)
2022-2023 Free & Reduced-Price Meal Information
Your child(ren) may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Households interested in the meal program must apply for the program every school year.
Click below to apply online!
Volunteer Background Check - Required
1) All volunteers must complete a background check form each school year. All information is deleted each year in May.
2) Background checks are completed online only. No paper forms are accepted.
3)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.
4) It takes one to two weeks for the results of checks to be returned from the date of submission.
Background Check Link
Ott Attendance
Need Service Hours or Just Want to Help?
NISD hosts a Mega Food Bank distribution twice a month at Gus Stadium from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers are needed. If you are a high school club sponsor or a parent of a high school student needing service hours, this is a great opportunity for students to volunteer and give back to their community. Dates for upcoming Mega Food Bank distribution is Dec. 2.
Volunteers may register here (at the top under Volunteer Job Location, select Gustafson Stadium.) The Food Bank also has some Saturday opportunities for students to earn NHS volunteer hours.
San Antonio Food Bank Mega Distribution - Dec. 2
Registration is now open for the next San Antonio Food Bank mega distribution at Gus Stadium. This distribution is scheduled for Dec. 2. Slots fill up quickly. Register using the link below
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Northside ISD has COVID-19 vaccine clinics for those that qualify. For qualification requirements, specific clinic details and registration, please visit the link below.
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
- Twitter @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. #GLOWatOtt #NISDIgnited
NISD Hiring Child Nutrition Workers
You must apply online at https://ess.nisd.net/ess/employmentopportunities/
NISD Hiring Custodians
Qualified candidates must be able to successfully complete a required physical exam, pre-employment criminal background check, fingerprinting requirements, and any required drug screening.
District benefits include a 40-hour work week; medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits; paid holidays, uniforms provided, Custodial Learn and Earn Program to continue your education and earn extra pay; and a custodial referral program. For more information or application assistance, call 210-397-4707.
NISD Hiring Speech Language Pathologists
Visit nisd.net/careers for more information.
NISD Hiring Bus Drivers
Our students are going places, but they need your help getting there! Transportation Services is hosting a job fair on Dec. 1 at the South Transportation Station located at 435 Hunt Lane from 9:00 a.m.- noon.
Here's how to apply and join the #NISDFamily- nisd.net/careers
2022 - 2023 NISD Online Tutoring
RESOURCE: MY CHILD JUST RECEIVED A DIAGNOSIS, NOW WHAT?
Ott Counselors Care
2022-2023 Ott Elementary PTA
Thank you Ott PTA for Hosting this Year's Penguin Holiday Shop!
Congratulations Mrs. Daniella Schroeder - Master's in Educational Leadership!
Congratulations Mrs. Oakley Martinez! - NEF Grant Winner
Employee of the Month for Perfect Attendance - Mrs. Avolio (ALE Instructional Asst.)
Congrats GOTR for an Ott-some Season!
Ott-some Students and Staff
Important Dates
December is Learn a Foreign Language Month and National Human Rights Month
- Strings @ 3:15pm
- Junior Scientist Club @ 3:05pm
- Lego Robotics @ 3:15pm
- STEAM TEAM @ 3:30pm
- Girls on the Run @ 3:15pm
- Project Acorn @ 3pm
- Texas Cheer @ 3:05pm
- Choir Rehearsal @ 3:15pm
- STEAM TEAM @ 3:30pm
- Lego Robotics @ 3:15pm
- Strings @ 3:15pm
- StuCo Store @ 7:15am
12/19-01/02 Have a great Winter Break!!