October

• 16-19: Safe Schools Week
• 20 & 23: Fall Break - No School
• 24-27: Red Ribbon Week
• 25: NO DELAYED START - NORMAL SCHOOL DAY
• 30: Pumpkin Decorating Contest
• 31: Halloween Parade & WSE Trail for Treaters

November

• 14: 1/2 Day
• 15: 1/2 Day; Evening Conferences
• 16: 1/2 Day; Afternoon & Evening Conferences
• 17: No School
• 20-24: Thanksgiving Break, No School

OPS families, we have an important schedule change for the week of October 23rd. Wednesday, October 25th will be a regular school day and begin at the normal time - there will NOT be a delayed start. This change is necessary in order to accommodate our transportation schedule/needs for the day. Thank you for your understanding.

Congratulations to the following students for being selected as their classroom PRIDE winner for the week!

P - Positive Attitude

R - Responsible Actions

I - Integrity Within

D - Determination to Succeed

E - Expect Excellence

Kindergarten: Cora Zeock-Vilas, Gavin Gibson, Emma Smith

1st grade: Harlee Caswell, Taylynn Conner, Joey Sposato

2nd grade: Sawyer Sipkema, Leo Martinez-Morales, Leland Adamczk, Parker Kuiper

3rd grade: Thomas Dryer, Bradley Comer, Selah Andrina

4th grade: Mayzie Jackson, Jacob Rood, Vera Rowe

5th grade: Brooklynn Haffner, Aven Smith, Rose Mooney

Help Your Child Understand What Bullying Is . . . and Isn’t

Bullying has become such a buzzword in our society that the mere mention of it can instantly trigger panic in the heart of the most experienced parent. Before you have a conversation with your child about bullying, know this: Not all hurtful behavior is bullying. Bullying consists of three key elements: an intent to harm, a power imbalance, and repeated acts or threats of aggressive behavior. Kids who bully consciously choose to be cruel, with no sense of regret or remorse, even when the targets of bullying show or express their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop. The following chart is helpful to teach kids the difference between conflicts, mean behaviors, and bullying and help them know how to handle it.

Halloween is around the corner and we are excited to bring back our Costume Parade & Trail for Treaters on Tuesday, October 31! The costume parade will take place inside the building and spectators will be able to view the parade in the gymnasium.

Students should bring their costumes to school and will change for their classroom parties prior to the parade. It is important that your child can put on their costumes independently.

Just a reminder - your child's costume must be non-violent. Weapon accessories/scary masks will not be allowed. Also, due to allergies, students may not come to school with spray-painted hair.

Out getting pumpkins this weekend? Grab a couple extra for the kids to enter in the family pumpkin decorating contest!! They can be painted, carved, or decorated! Must be turned in on Monday, October 30. The pumpkin with the most votes will win a prize! Good luck!

WSE is hosting a costume swap! This is an opportunity to trade in old Halloween costumes for new-to-you costumes. We are now accepting donations and will keep you posted on future "shopping" times if we get enough interest.

Why focus on Self-Direction?

• Self-direction strengthens relationships. Self-direction helps to grow social skills and develop meaningful, positive relationships with others.
• Self-direction teaches personal responsibility. Learning to self-direct teaches students to take responsibility for their own actions.
• Self-direction helps us to regulate emotions: Self-direction empowers students to regulate their impulses and emotional responses to situations and circumstances in their life.

Self-Direction in Action:

• Practice goal setting and action planning. When we establish goals and develop action plans, we learn to take intentional steps to successfully achieve goals.
• Monitor and adjust. Provide students with regular feedback and opportunities to self-assess progress toward goals to make adjustments and improvements in their behaviors.
• Reflect and evaluate. Facilitate discussions and reflection to prompt students to examine what they do, think, and say against their goals and vision for their life and learning.

Our first Popcorn Friday is one week from today! Popcorn is $1 per bag with the option to prepay $5 for the year. Money will be due the Thursday before each Popcorn Friday to ensure we have enough popcorn.

Get reminders, the newsletter, and other important information from the school through Mrs. Knight's Remind - sign up today!

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

Office Phone: (269)694-7800

Attendance Line: (269)694-7880

WSE BASE: (269)694-7835

Email: jknight@otsegops.org
Website: http://wse.otsegops.org/
Location: 538 Washington Street, Otsego, MI, United States
Phone: (269) 694-7800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wseparents/?rf=371830666323356
Twitter: @otsegoschools