OVA Connector
October 13, 2023
Dates to Remember
- October 4 - November 7: OVA Count Month
- October 18: In-Person Academic Support at OHS
- October 18: In-Person Social Emotional Support at OHS
- October 16-19: Secondary OVA Conferences
October 20 & 23: Fall Break - No School
- October 25: NO Delayed Start
- October 27: OVA Elementary Gull Meadow Farm Trip
Secondary Conferences
Parents of OVA students in grades 6-12, please be on the lookout for an email from your student's OVA mentor (Mrs. Scott, or Mrs. Nast). They will be reaching out to set up a time to discuss your child's progress in their Edgenuity courses. If Mrs. Leneway is your child's mentor, she has a sign up link below!
As of next week, we are halfway through the semester, meaning your child should have at least 50% of the coursework complete in each of their online classes.
In-Person Support: SEL
Where: Otsego High School, Room 205
When: October 18 (Every Wednesday)
Grades 3-6: 10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Grades 7-12: 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
What: Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) is an important life skill! Tasks that fall under this category include: self awareness, self management, social awareness, and relationship building. Research shows that people who have mastered these four skills do better in school, careers, and relationships. OVA is now offering a weekly resource for students who want practice in these areas. We know life for students can be challenging, we’d love to help. Some examples of topics would include:
Empathy: possibly doing a community service project
Mindfulness: Learning our body cues for anxiety and ways to cope
Being Kind To Yourself: Learning about our unique qualities and celebrating them!
Stress Management: How can we deal with the stressors of everyday life?
Goal Setting: What is important to us in and out of school? How can we get there?
In-Person Support: Academic
Where: Otsego High School, Room 205
When: October 18 (Every Wednesday)
Grades K-12: 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*If attending the social emotional learning, you may stay before or after your timeslot to also work on academics.
What: Mrs. Raseman is opening up her classroom at the high school to support students K-12 with their Edgenuity coursework. She has a secondary math and science degree in addition to her elementary education degree. Mrs. Nast will also be there on Wednesdays to provide support and guidance as well.
Elementary Corner
Reminders from Mrs. Raseman:
Our field trip is in 2 weeks. If you haven't signed up yet, please do. We'd love to see you all there!
- We will be halfway through the semester next week. You should be about 50% complete with all of your classes by then.
- Remember to work every day in every class to stay on track.
Please be sure you're checking your email on a regular basis. Mrs Raseman will often use that method to communicate.
- There will be no school on Friday, October 20 and Monday, October 23 so we won't have any online meetings on those days. If you are behind in your schoolwork, you'll want to use the extra time to get caught up.
Elementary Field Trip
- Wagon Ride to the apple orchard to pick apples
- Apple picking (1/2 bushel for every 15 paid guests)
- 10 minute educational talk from one of our farm hands
- Glass of cider and a donut
- Small (pre-picked) pumpkin to take home
- Petting Farm • Apple Chute Slide • Fun on the Farm Barn • Ball Zone • Combine Slide • Labyrinth • Rope Maze • No Turn Left Maze • Duck Races • Pumpkin Lane • Photo ops • Tractor Pull • Sound Garden
Edgenuity Helpful Links
Capturing Kids’ Hearts
October's monthly character trait is Self-Direct. We utilize these character traits to help students both socially and emotionally. We understand that a student's mental well-being takes priority over their academic achievement, and that the more we pour into their heart, the more they will pour into us and their academics.
What does it mean to Self-Direct?
Self-Direction is the ability and learned skill to cast a vision of future goals and then take intentional steps toward who, where, and what we want to be. Instead of focusing on things to control or avoid, we emphasize our responsibility to make positive choices related to our emotions, attitudes, and actions.
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.
Contact Information
Amanda Nast | Coordinator/Mentor
Karen Raseman | K-5 OVA Teacher
Ashley Leneway | OVA Mentor
Merry Beth Scott | OVA Mentor