Howdy Trailblazers
February 14 - 25, 2022
Greetings from Principal Bueno
This month we celebrate Black History at Ott. As part of our daily instruction we implement an inclusive curriculum that reflects diversity throughout the academic year. We are hopeful by incorporating a rich and diverse curriculum that will inspire future leaders in our student body and larger community. This month teachers are bringing light to many historical Black and African Americans who have positively impacted this nation's history.
As a reminder, NISD has included additional Teacher Planning Time/Student Early Dismissal Days to this year’s school calendar. On these days, teachers at every level will have an additional three hours of planning time. This Wednesday elementary schools will dismiss at 11:50 a.m., middle schools at 12:40 p.m., and high schools at 1:00 p.m. For families who need it, adult supervision will be available at all elementary, so students can remain on campus until the end of the normal school day. Details can be found below.
Beginning Feb. 28, Ott Elementary will be hosting weekly COVID-19 testing on campus every Monday morning from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Community Labs is a local nonprofit organization that is creating a safe pathway for schools to safely allow for in-person learning, for people to return to work, and communities to thrive. This innovative, nonprofit laboratory is changing how traditional COVID-19 testing is currently conducted with 24-hour turnaround, 95% accuracy, and is less invasive by swabbing in the front of the nostril.
The Community Labs screening process uses a PCR test—the FDA gold standard in COVID-19 testing. The actual test is painless and uses a less-invasive method that is 95% effective in detecting asymptomatic silent spreaders of the virus. The screening is free to all students and staff thanks to a generous grant from local philanthropists and parents will need to register online and complete the digital consent giving permission for weekly screening by Community Labs. Within 24-hours or less, you will be contacted by the school if your child has a positive test result.
Those who test positive and are asymptomatic will be required to quarantine at home. Those who are not, can return to the classroom with other students and staff who have tested negative and are COVID-19-free. Please know all test results are private. Below you will find student registration information and videos to assist you with this process.
Lastly, please join us in celebrating this year's "Ott Random Acts of Kindness Challenge Week 2022" #OttRAK2022. We are challenging our Trailblazers to demonstrate kind gestures each day this week to become #KINDNESSROCKSTARS! See details below.
I wish you all an Ott-some week-
Principal Bueno
Fun Family Time with Ott Pre-K: Feb. 25
Read Across America - Feb. 28 - March 4
Ott Spirit Rally - March 4
COVID-19 Testing at Ott Elementary - Begins Feb. 28
NISD COVID-19 Information for Parents/Guardians
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Fever or chills
Diarrhea
Cough
Headache
Shortness of breath/difficulty
New loss of taste or smell breathing
Sore throat
Fatigue
Congestion or runny nose
Muscle or body aches
Nausea or vomiting
Additional COVID-19 Information:
- The use of facemasks is still strongly encouraged for all students, staff, and visitors while indoors at all District facilities.
- If you or your child is symptomatic or ill, stay home and/or consult with your medical provider. Individuals who have confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be asked to isolate for a minimum of 5 days or until symptom-free. We will continue to ask that individuals living in the same home as a COVID-positive individual also remain isolated for 5 days depending on vaccination status. Review the Cityof San Antonio Metro Health District’s Health Advisory issued Dec. 28 for more information.
- As a reminder, free COVID-19 testing is available from Metro Health at Farris Stadium (8400 North Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, TX 78249) and Inselmann Field (kiosk near ticket booth) at the Hardin Athletic Complex (7001 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238). Appointments must be scheduled.
- Strongly consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine for you and all eligible individuals in your home. Everyone ages 5 and up are now eligible for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. You may also call 311 for vaccine information and resources related to COVID-19.
In addition, District staff will continue to follow our cleaning and sanitizing protocols at all facilities and on all school buses.
Please contact Nurse Irma Rosas-Tijerina at (210) 397-5550 or irma.rosas-tijerina@nisd.net for additional questions or concerns.
Sleeves up! NISD hosts COVID vaccine clinics
Looking for a Vaccine Clinic or Testing Site?
NISD has launched a website that lists all vaccine clinics and testing sites within the District.
Request for Student COVID -19 Vaccination Documentation
Thank you in advance for your support. Please contact Nurse Irma Rosas-Tijerina at (210) 397-5550 or irma.rosas-tijerina@nisd.net for additional questions or concerns.
Student Devices to be Sent Home Daily
District officials are watching the COVID metrics daily. Given the high number of student absences, it is important to be proactive and prepared in the event that your child is unable to attend school. Therefore, Ott teachers will be sending home student devices daily for the time being. Please ensure that it travels back to campus each day and that you have knowledge of how to log into either your child's Seesaw (PK-1) or Schoology (2-5) account.
Please contact your child's teacher if you need your child's login credentials. If you do not have access to the internet at home you can contact the NISD Student Hotline at (210) 397-0020 to request a wireless hotspot.
NISD Mask Update
Please read this updated information about masks in Northside ISD- https://www.nisd.net/.../temporary-mask-mandate-lifted...
No Make-Up Days Required at this Time
The inclement weather days that occurred in January and February do NOT need to be made up as we have enough accrued minutes to cover them. If additional days have to be taken for whatever reasons, those days may have to be made up.
The Feb. 21 student holiday and staff development day will remain in place as scheduled.
Early Voting for March 1 Primary Election
Early voting for the March 1 Primary Election begins on Monday, February 14 and goes through Friday, February 25. To access early voting times and locations and to view sample ballots, go to:
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.
From the Superintendent Dr. Woods
School Bond 2022
The NISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) Tuesday night to place a $992 million bond issue on the May 7 ballot.
The proposed bond, despite being the District’s largest, would have no associated tax rate increase.
Almost 95% of the proposed School Bond 2022 is slated for existing campuses with more than half of the Northside schools being 30 years and older. Check here for the proposed projects list. Campus-specific lists will be coming soon.
Your Input Matters
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plans (ARP) Act was signed into law. In it, the U.S. Department of Education provided an additional $121.9 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III Fund).
Through this legislation, NISD received a final ESSER III allocation of $173,011,162 for the three-year period through September 2024 to address issues caused by COVID-19. At least 20% of these funds must be used to address learning loss. ESSER III can fund academic supports, social-emotional supports, health/safety, and continuity of services. NISD’s ARP ESSER III Grant: Program Plan and Narrative (Use of Funds Plan) can be reviewed here.
In July 2021, NISD developed a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services (RIPICS) Plan, linked here, for all schools in consultation with stakeholder groups. Districts are required to review their RIPICS Plan and Use of Funds Plan every six months to determine if changes are necessary and to seek community input.
We request that you complete a brief survey by clicking here. This survey will be open from Friday, Jan. 7 through Monday, Jan. 24.
New Student Registration for 2022-2023
All new student registrations for K-12 will begin on Tuesday, January 18. As in the past, registration will be done online. Pre-K registration will run from April 4- April 29.
Ott Attendance Touchdowns - Weekly Incentive
(COVID absences do not count against grade level percentage. Only unexcused absences count towards total grade level percentage).
Ott Hosting Future Lego Robotics NISD Qualifier, Volunteers Needed - March 26, 2022
Northside Threads Shelves Need Filling
The holidays are over but the giving spirit is still needed to stock the shelves and racks at the Northside Threads, our District clothes closet.
Many thanks to everyone who donated over the holiday season or adopted a student off the clothesline. Due to the generosity of many, the needs of 50 students were met. Threads has served a record number of students this school year. “Anyone can be part of the solution to support students in need with clothing to ensure they can be present more days in school,” said Yolanda Chapman, Family Engagement Coordinator.
Ways to help:
- Donate: Clean out closets and bring any gently used items to Threads to benefit a NISD student. All clothing is free to NISD enrolled students.
- Donation Drives: Schedule a donation drive to help Threads get some of their most needed items like new underwear and jeans. For more information on organizing a drive call 210-397-8930.
- Volunteer: Feel free to call Threads and schedule some time to volunteer and assist in getting items sorted, washed, tagged, and ready so students can have fresh clean clothes to select. For more information, call 210-397-8930.
Ott Student Council Store Back in Business
SeaWorld SA Free Preschool, Teacher Pass
Registration is now open for the SeaWorld San Antonio free preschool card (season pass).
Kids (five and under) can enjoy free admission to SeaWorld throughout 2022, including the Sesame Street Party Parade in May, Halloween Spooktacular, and SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration. Add Aquatica to the pass for $30.
Theme Park Tickets on Sale
The Northside Education Foundation sells Six Flags Fiesta Texas tickets ($34) and SeaWorld San Antonio tickets ($55). Details are at nisd.net/community/nef or call the Partnerships office at (210) 397-8599.
SeaWorld San Antonio Discount Tickets - Flash Sale!
NISD School Health Advisory Council
The NISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), in partnership with the American Heart Association, has created a February Smore for families. This month's Smore highlights adopting heart healthy behaviors, together!
Spend Spring Break With The Spurs
Spurs Sports & Entertainment wants to thank all school employee, staff and teachers for the incredible work you always do, and especially throughout this ongoing pandemic. As a thank you, we want to provide access to exclusive discounts for our games over Spring Break.
Bring your family and friends out to a game and enjoy tickets at a very special school employee rate for March games.
Thank you and Go Spurs Go!
Helpful Resources
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.#RootedAtOtt
Free Meals!
Ott Counselors Care
Kindness Challenge from the NISD Whole Child Department
As we get ready for the second half of this school year, we are encouraging all NISD campuses to participate in our Kindness Challenge for the month of February. We have provided the calendar to help encourage students, families, and staff to perform one act of kindness every day. We are excited to see and hear about the ripple effect of these acts of kindness being completed. We encourage staff and parents to tag us on Twitter @NISDWholeChild if they would like to share the acts of kindness they are completing!
Library News
Ott OASIS Tutoring Program
Who: Caring adults over 50 years old who want to make a difference with our Ott students.
What : Oasis Tutors are active older adults who love reading and making a meaningful contribution to the Ott Community.
Why: NISD supports the Oasis national non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of mature adults and engaging them in community service. The Oasis Tutoring Program supports Reading Achievement, builds interest and motivation, models language and oral expression, and encourages response to text.
How: Just fill out the bottom of the form that was sent home with your child and return it to your child's teacher.
When: Oasis Training will take place soon for preparation and supplies. As soon as Volunteers have their training with the district, a student will be paired up with an Oasis Mentor. Weekly 1 hour tutoring sessions and the partnership will begin.
Important Dates
- National Public Schools Week
- Student Holiday/Staff Development Day
- Tutus, Ties, or Tennis Shoes Celebration
- OCCB Day (wear your college shirt)