December 2024 Edition

Ottawa Elementary School

Dear Little Bucks Families,

As 2024 is nearing an end and a new year approaching, we often look back at the year in reflection and retrospect. My heart is filled with appreciation and gratitude as our families, staff and students continue to support one another and come together as we take on each school day.

The upcoming weeks are going to fly with tons of excitement for the holidays, but we will continue to keep learning. Not only academically, but working on kindness and understanding toward one another. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This is a big word for our little ones, but we can definitely teach and model this within our school family. This is an especially important time of year to think of others and practice empathy.

On behalf of the staff at Ottawa, I would like to wish our Little Buck families a happy holiday season. Enjoy the break connecting with family and friends and we will see everyone back in school on Monday, January 6, 2025.

If you ever have a concern, question, or comment please feel free to call or email and I will be happy to speak with you.

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. Elizabeth Johnson, Administrative Assistant

ejohnson@buchananschools.com

REGULAR DAY OF SCHOOL

8:35am-3:43pm

ECSE AM 8:35am-11:50pm

ECSE PM 12:25pm-3:43pm

WACKY WEDNESDAYS

8:35am-3:10pm

HALF DAYS OF SCHOOL

8:35am-12:05pm

No ECSE Classes on these days!

DECEMBER

4 Wacky Wednesday Early Release at 3:10 pm

10 K-4 Christmas Concert at High School 6:30pm

11 Wacky Wednesday Early Release at 3:10 pm

12 Kickstart to Career Deposit Day

13 Grinch Day Wear green or Grinch-inspired outfits

16 Board of Education Meeting 6:00pm

18 Wacky Wednesday Early Release at 3:10 pm

19 Half Day for Students- Dismissal 12:05- No ECSE classes

19 Jingle Bell Bash Preschool-1 Holiday Celebration

20 Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:05 - No ECSE classes

25 Christmas

23-31 Winter Break

JANUARY

1 New Year's Day

1-3 Winter Break

6 School Resumes

Dear Parents,

We are so excited to present a K-4 Christmas Concert this year! Students have been working hard and we’re looking forward to sharing our music with you. It is a busy time of year and dates were limited as to when we could hold the concert. I understand the high school auditorium is small and will surely be filled to capacity. In future years, I will look at holding Ottawa and Moccasin on separate nights if the calendar allows.

The concert is Tuesday, December 10 at 6:30 pm at the high school auditorium and will last approximately one hour. Students should arrive at 6:00 and are asked to wear something festive for the concert if possible. This could be a red or green shirt, a Santa hat, a Christmas dress or suit, or an’ ugly’ Christmas sweater. Ottawa and Moccasin staff will be available to direct you to the room assigned for each grade level. You will pick up your child in that same space after the concert.

Please contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.

Melissa Prestine

K-4 Music Teacher

mprestine@buchananschools.com

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Honor Credit Union will be collecting deposits on Thursday, December 19th! 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 Ottawa's Update over the weekend for families!

Preschool: Addison P. and Cash E. Malcolm T and Piper B.

Kindergarten: Anya B., Amelia G., Gracelynn C., Malachi H., Joshua F. Carter O., Carter M., Ryleigh W., Ronan P., and Nova R.

First Grade: Jordyn G., Oren G., Bridger H., Rhett S., and Westen K., Aurora P., Annabella H., Callie P., Clayton R., and Brianna B.

Click on the button below to view the newsletters. These will be updated quarterly.

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.

269.695.8402

• December 16th

Meetings will be called to order at 6:00pm unless advertised differently.

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

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