Ottawa Area Center Parent Link
September 9, 2024
OAC Administrators
Director
Julia Plaggemeyer
Assistant Director
Chelsea Dykstra
Assistant Director
Ottawa Area Staff
Important Upcoming Dates at OAC
- September 12 - Wear Yellow Day
- September 13 - Early Dismissal - student busing starts at 1:25pm
- September 19 - Open House - 5-7pm
- September 20 - 1/2 Day - Student busing starts at 11:40am
- September 27 - No School Students & Staff
What is Happening at OAC
Early Dismissal - Friday, September 13, 2024
OAC will be dismissing early this Friday for staff professional development. Student pick up and bussing will begin at 1:25pm. Please plan accordingly for someone to be home for your student drop off 1.5hrs earlier than a full day.
OAC Open House
Join OAC teachers, aides, support staff and our community partners for our Annual Open House! Open House is Thursday, September 19 from 5-7pm.
Enrollment Forms - Open House Assistance Available
The Ottawa Area Center has moved to an online format for annual student information updates. If you have not completed your enrollment forms, Open House night is the perfect opportunity to come in and get help completing those forms. The office team will be in the lobby with computers and be available to help parents and guardians complete the paperwork.
Open House Job Fair
OAC has job opportunities and will have open interviews available during our Open House! If you are interested in learning more visit the Job Fair table anytime between 5-7pm on September 19.
PBIS
Positive Behavior Intervention Supports is a school wide initiative to encourage student's positive behavior. Please see the updated chart below with OAC's SPOT on expectations. We will have events and activities all year long to reward and celebrate positive behavior.
September 12 - Wear Yellow Day
September 19 - Ollie the Owl Parade
Free Breakfast and Lunch 24-25 School Year
Governor Whitmer announced the newly passed education budget for the 2024-2025 school year will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all Michigan public school students.
The budget allocates funding to allow free school breakfast and lunch to be provided throughout the school year. It is projected that Michigan schools will have served 76.3 million breakfasts and 135.6 million lunches to students throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
West Ottawa is excited to take part in serving our students free breakfast and free lunch for the 2024-2025 school year!
Education Benefit Forms are still critical to complete so the school district can receive the most funding! Complete the online application or paper application ASAP. If you would like a paper copy, please contact the office at 616-738-8960.
PARENT RESOURCES
Fall SIBSHOPS
Sibshops are a group for siblings of children with special needs. Check out the Fall meeting dates. Click on flyer for more information and dates.
Parent Cafe - Tuesday September 10, 5:30-7:30pm
A parent cafe for caregivers of children with diverse need, including mental and behavioral health conditions, special health care needs and intellectiual & developmental disabilities. Click on flyer for more information and upcoming dates.
CSHCS Empowered Parents Webinars
Wednesday, September 18, Noon-1pm - The Dani Plan Webinar - click on flyer for more information.
Benjamin's Hope Harvest Festival
Saturday, September 28, 3-6pm - Free All Abilities Fun!
AI, Accessibility, and Assistive Technology: Viewpoints from Families and Caregivers in K12 Schools
The US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) would like to invite you to participate in a 60-minute Listening Session (July 2024-August 2024) focused on discussing and exploring digital use and access disparities and their impact on families and caregivers, and particularly those supporting students with disabilities (see questions attached). Through this initiative, we aim to gather insights to inform future work, bridging the gaps in accessibility, assistive technology, and special education, and ultimately fostering inclusive educational environments for all students.
How to Sign up for a 60-minute Listening Session
Please click the link below and fill out the form (~ 2 minutes to complete).
More information about the Listening Session
The primary objective of this project, titled “AI, Accessibility, and Assistive Technology: Viewpoints from Families and Caregivers in K12 Schools,” is to gain an in-depth understanding of families’ and caregivers’ perspectives, utilization of technological supports, and unmet needs pertaining to AI, assistive technology, accessibility, and special education in K12 settings. By facilitating listening sessions across diverse communities, we aim to identify systemic challenges and opportunities for improvement in addressing the Digital Use, Design and Access Divides. The insights gleaned from these sessions will not only inform OET’s strategic priorities but also empower state and local education agencies to better engage with families and caregivers, ensuring equitable access to educational technology and support services for all students, particularly those with disabilities. Through collaborative efforts, we aspire to foster an inclusive educational environment where every student can thrive and succeed.
Protecting your Confidentiality and Privacy
The Office of Education Tech plans to ensure measures are taken to protect the confidentiality and privacy of participants. All responses collected will be sent to participants concluding the interviews within 48 hours. Participants will be asked in advance if we can use their information for possible publications, and they retain their ability to decline. If a participant declines for their information to be shared publicly, the Office of Education Technology will oblige, omitting and deleting/destroying all materials from the participant who voluntarily chooses not to be published.
Thank you for your participation. We will be in touch with further details about the session.
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¡Hola!
La Oficina de Tecnología Educativa (OET) del Departamento de Educación de EE. UU. desea invitarlo a participar en una sesión de escucha de 60 minutos (julio de 2024 a agosto de 2024) centrada en discutir y explorar las disparidades en el acceso y el uso digital y su impacto en las familias y los cuidadores. , y particularmente aquellos que apoyan a estudiantes con discapacidades (ver preguntas adjuntas). A través de esta iniciativa, nuestro objetivo es recopilar conocimientos para informar el trabajo futuro, cerrar las brechas en accesibilidad, tecnología de asistencia y educación especial y, en última instancia, fomentar entornos educativos inclusivos para todos los estudiantes.
Cómo registrarse para una sesión de escucha de 60 minutos
Haga clic en el enlace a continuación y complete el formulario (~ 2 minutos para completarlo).
Más información sobre la Sesión de Escucha
El objetivo principal de este proyecto, titulado "AI, accesibilidad y tecnología de asistencia: puntos de vista de familias y cuidadores en escuelas K12", es obtener una comprensión profunda de las perspectivas de las familias y los cuidadores, la utilización de apoyos tecnológicos y las necesidades no satisfechas. necesidades relacionadas con I, tecnología de asistencia, accesibilidad y educación especial en entornos K12. Al facilitar sesiones de escucha en diversas comunidades, nuestro objetivo es identificar desafíos sistémicos y oportunidades de mejora para abordar las brechas de acceso, diseño y uso digital. Los conocimientos adquiridos en estas sesiones no solo informarán las prioridades estratégicas de la OET, sino que también empoderarán a las agencias educativas estatales y locales para interactuar mejor con las familias y los cuidadores, garantizando un acceso equitativo a la tecnología educativa y los servicios de apoyo para todos los estudiantes, particularmente aquellos con discapacidades. A través de esfuerzos colaborativos, aspiramos a fomentar un entorno educativo inclusivo donde cada estudiante pueda prosperar y tener éxito.
Protegiendo su confidencialidad y privacidad
La Oficina de Tecnología Educativa planea garantizar que se tomen medidas para proteger la confidencialidad y privacidad de los participantes. Todas las respuestas recopiladas se enviarán a los participantes al finalizar las entrevistas dentro de las 48 horas. A los participantes se les preguntará con antelación si podemos utilizar su información para posibles publicaciones, y ellos conservan su capacidad de rechazarla. Si un participante se niega a que su información se comparta públicamente, la Oficina de Tecnología Educativa lo obligará, omitiendo y eliminando/destruyendo todos los materiales del participante que voluntariamente elija no ser publicado.
Gracias por su participación. Estaremos en contacto con más detalles sobre la sesión.
OAC Social Work/OCSN Parent Resources
This is your one stop location for parents/guardians to go for community supports and resources. Please check out this resource at Social Work/OCSN Resource Warehouse. Bookmark this resource on your computer and refer back often. It will be continually updated with fresh and new information.
2024-2025 School Hours
Full Day – 8:37am-3:03pm
½ Day – 8:37am-11:50am
Early Dismissal – 8:37am-1:35pm
Student AM Bussing begins at 8:27am
Student PM Bussing begins at 2:53pm
About Us
Email: bseymour@oaisd.org
Website: www.oaisd.org/schools/ottawa-area-center
Location: 10160 96th Avenue, Allendale, MI, USA
Phone: (616)738-8960
Facebook: facebook.com/OttawaAreaCenter/