May/June 2024 Edition

Ottawa Elementary School

Thank you to all the volunteers and staff that helped make this one of the best days for our students! Being able to enjoy all the activities independently in a safe environment helps to continue to grow our children with their ability to make choices, developing their autonomy and independence, and continuing to foster relationships with their peers outside of the classroom. It was a great day and we couldn't have asked for better weather!!

How can we possibly be nearing the end of the school year! I can't believe it went by so quickly. We are wrapping up the year with our end of year assessments. As it stays light longer in the evenings, please make sure your little ones continue to get to bed early so they are rested and ready for each day!

The month of May is jammed pack as we are wrapping up the year! Be sure to look at my weekly updates that come via email and text. Also keep watching our Little Bucks Bulletin for updates and things to come. If for some reason you are not receiving these emails or texts, please call our office and Mrs. Johnson can assist you.

If you are dropping your little one off, please park in a parking space and walk them to the door. There is a no parking zone in the fire lane, which is right by the sidewalk in the visitors parking lot by the office. If it is after 8:40, you must walk your child in and sign them in for the day.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Stacey Denison, Principal

sdenison@buchananschools.com

Our school office is open 8:00am-4:30pm

Phone: 269.695.8409

Mrs. Stacey Denison, Principal

sdenison@buchananschools.com

Mrs. Johnson, Administrative Assistant

ejohnson@buchananschools.com

REGULAR DAY OF SCHOOL

8:35am-3:43pm

ECSE 8:35am-11:50pm

ECSE 12:25pm-3:43pm

WACKY WEDNESDAYS

8:35am-3:10pm

HALF DAYS OF SCHOOL

8:35am-12:05pm

No ECSE Classes on these days!

14 PTO Meeting 6:30

15 Lory's Place Group Meeting

15 Wacky Wednesday- Dismissal at 3:10pm

16 Deposit Day- Final deposit day for the year

20 Board of Education Meeting 6:30 pm

21 GSRP Zoo Trip (Chase, Monsma, Shaner)

21 Kindergarten At The Commons 7:00 pm

22 First Grade Visit to Moccasin

22 Wacky Wednesday- Dismissal at 3:10pm

23 Mrs. Chase/Mrs. Monsma Final Day of Preschool

24 No School for Students/Staff

27 Memorial Day- No School

28 Mrs. Hendrick Power In Motion Trip

29 Wacky Wednesday-Dismissal at 3:10pm

31 Mrs. Shaner's Final Day of Preschool

31 Field Day

June

4 Mrs. Hendrick's Class Last Day of School

5 Half Day of School for Students- Dismissal at 12:05

6 Final Day of School- Half Day- Dismissal at 12:05

If you would like to volunteer your time during our Field Day, please click the link and fill out the online form! Thank you! :) https://forms.gle/1UtM5kbgvb8m7Vyy9

Each year many parents ask if they can request a teacher for their child for the following school year. There are many factors that we consider as a team for student placement into the next grade. We try to keep the classes as balanced as possible based on these various factors and student's needs.

If you have a concern or conflict that you would like to share regarding placement, I will take this into consideration. Otherwise, it is the discretion of the school team where a child will be placed for the following year.

We still have openings in the kindergarten and first grade summer school classes. If you would like to send your child, please request a registration form from your child's teacher, they will make sure you receive one. Mrs. Seddon will be teaching Kindergarten and Mrs. Mabry will be first grade.

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Honor Credit Union will be collecting deposits on Thursday, May 16th! Students may bring in their deposits on Thursday in a sealed envelope with the following information: Student Name, Grade, Graduation Year and Account Number found in their personal savings account register booklet. If you have questions regarding deposits, please contact the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation at 695-3521.

We model and teach what we expect to see from students with the Buck 3. Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Next week will be our first week to choose students that have been working hard at following the Buck 3. Pictures will be displayed on our wall for the entire school to see on their way to lunch and names announced during our announcements.

A signed certificate will come home at the end of the week and their names will be shared in our Little Bucks Bulletin!

Congratulations to this week's Little Bucks of the Week! We are so proud of you and appreciate the example you lead for others at Ottawa! Keep up the phenomenal work!

Preschool: Koal H., Charlotte H., Charlie F., Caroline G.

Kindergarten: Harper C., Bailey F., Celeste G., Landon V., Peytin M., Westen K., Legacy S., William S., Sha'Marion R., and Wake S.

First Grade: Amari A., Weston H., Molly C., Hensley M., Charlotte V., Madeline P., Malcolm B., Willow P., Wrigley P., and Ellison R.

We want to make sure every single student gets out the door and home safely. Please remember the following:

• You MUST contact our school office by 2:00 pm if you need to make changes to your child's transportation routine.

• If you need to make changes involving a bus, these changes must be communicated to our office by 1:30 pm, before the buses leave for their middle/high school routes.

• Please do not message or email teachers as they are often in session and do not receive the messages until it is too late.

• If you need a numbered car tag for the pick up line, please come into our office.

• If you are picking your child up as a walker, they will be dismissed at the doors by our front office.

• Only car riders with parents in the pick up line will be dismissed at the north parking lot doors.

Nate Will, Transportation Director

nwill@buchananschools.com

We work hard every day to make our school the best it can be. Please tell us how we’re doing!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedhHzyguA0_cCpd2Ue17lUTG5bV9LXzCoe6sP2f_BJrovA1Q/viewform

269.695.8400

Superintendent

Mrs. Patricia Robinson probinson@buchananschools.com

Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent

Mrs. Michelle Munyon mmunyon@buchananschools.com

Director of Operations/Instructional Systems Coordinator

Mr. Mark Kurland mkurland@buchananschools.com

Business Office Specialist

Mrs. Carrie Brunsting cbrunsting@buchananschools.com

Director of Special Education

Mrs. Karin Falkenstein kfalkenstein@buchananschools.com

Director of Technology

Mr. Philip Place psplace@buchananschools.com