OVA Connector

Here are the 3 important news items you need for this week!

1. The new semester started January 6. Please make sure you start strong and stay on top of all assignments. It's easier to stay on top of things when you work on all classes each day or stay on top of assignments each week.
2. Be sure to keep up with your communications with your mentor each week! Remember that this is how we take attendance.
3. In person support is available each week Tuesday and Thursday 9:15-1:00. Check out the information below.

Study hard & dream big!

Apr 4-11 Spring Break

Apr 16 PSAT for 9th and 10the graders, SAT for 11th graders

Apr 16 Swingout Rehearsal for 12th graders who plan to participate in OHS graduation

Apr 18 MSTEP

Apr 23 PSAT 8 for 8th Graders

Apr 24 Work Keys Make Ups for any 11th Grader who missed the test on Mar 27

We are starting mandatory state testing of our 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students. Juniors will be testing on Thursday and again after Spring Break, and other grades will be after Spring Break. Please review the schedules below and let us know if you have any questions!

It's that time of year when we start planning for the next school year. We are asking that each student fills out the form in the link to indicate your plans for next school year as of right now. Please reach out to Mrs. Cathcart if you have any questions.

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 twice-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?

Who: This opportunity is for students in 5th - 12th grade.

When: Tuesday/Thursday 9:15 am-1pm

Where: OVA Room is located in the back of Otsego Middle School. Coming from downtown Otsego, go West on M89. Turn left on Grant street. This street empties into a parking lot. The middle school is across from the tennis courts. Our room has an exterior door right near the green dumpsters. We will be outside to greet you!

Details:

Mr. Matt Eldred, retired middle school teacher, will be the teacher on-site. He will interact with students, help them set goals and help with work completion.

Mrs. Anna Starr is the District Behavioral Health Coordinator & School Social Worker. She will be onsite to help social/emotional learning groups.

Both Mrs. Starr & Mr. Eldred are so excited to have fun with OVA secondary education students!

Lunch will be provided (for free) from our food service department. If you child does not want a school lunch, feel free to have them bring their own lunch!

Questions? Feel free to contact Anna Starr at astarr@otsegops.org.

Every OVA student is assigned a mentor teacher. Every Wednesday, the mentor teacher will reach out to the students they are working with with a short assignment. Students are expected to communicate back with their teacher or mentor. Each week, each student must respond to at least two communications with their teacher or mentor. The week starts on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday. This is a requirement and how attendance is taken at OVA. Attendance plays an important role in the success of the student in the OVA program. Please be sure to communicate with your teacher and/or mentor teacher.

Otsego Public Schools is inviting parents and community members to apply for membership on the Reproductive Health Education Advisory Board. We are seeking individuals who are interested in contributing to this important initiative and can offer a broad perspective that reflects the diversity of our district.

To ensure a well-rounded board, membership must include parents of students attending the district’s schools, educators, local clergy, and community health professionals. While we already have a Reproductive Health Education Advisory Board in place, we are looking to fill additional openings in accordance with the criteria outlined above.

Please note that not everyone who applies will be selected, but we are committed to forming a board that accurately represents our community. If you're interested, please complete the application by using the link below. Applications will be accepted until April 18, 2025. The district will notify applicants about the status of their submission.

For any questions, please contact Jeff Haase, Superintendent of Schools. Application Link

The May 2025 Bond Extension proposal focuses on four main areas - Innovation, Renovation, Safety & Security, and Facilities/Infrastructure. Within this zero-mill increase proposal, $46.5 million would be available to impact every building in our district, as well as impact the community, within these focus areas. Innovation for the classroom and instruction, the renovation of the former pool site, upgrades to safety and security and millions to keep our facilities and infrastructure up to the standard of excellence we expect and be able to efficiently maintain for years to come.

See the entire scope of the proposal online here: https://www.ourfuture-ourstudents-ourcommunity.com/

• For anything in an online course you have questions about, please contact the online teacher of the course.
• For questions about two-way communication or how to log-into courses, please contact your OVA mentor teacher. For K-8 students, please contact cmcevoy@otsegops.org. For HS students, please contact either cmoore@otsegops.org or mscott@otsegops.org.
• For problems with your OPS email address or your Chromebook, please contact our director of technology, Michelle Triemstra, at mtriemstra@otsegops.org.
• If you are a high school student and have questions about your credits for graduation, dual enrollment or tech center, AP exams, or post-high school information please contact your school counselor. See picture for information on who your counselor is.
• For any other questions, you may contact the OVA coordinator, Mrs. Cathcart, at tcathcart@otsegops.org.