Otsego Middle School Newsletter

February 25: Spelling Bee 4:30 PM, OMS Media Center

February 25: Student Council Meeting 7:15 AM

February 25: 8th Grade Dance Parent Planning Meeting 6 PM, OMS Cafeteria

February 26: Delayed Start

February 27: Be Nice Leadership Meeting 7 AM or 2:50 PM

March 3: Student of the Month Assembly 10:45 AM

March 4: Student Council Meeting 7:15 AM

March 4: 1/2 Day (1st & 2nd Hour Only), 11:10 AM Dismissal

March 5: 1/2 Day (3rd & 4th Hour Only), 11:10 AM Dismissal (No Delayed Start)

March 6: 1/2 Day (5th & 6th Hour Only), 11:10 AM Dismissal

March 7: No School

February 22: Middle School Wrestling @ Wayland

February 24: Middle School Girl's Basketball @ Home 4 PM

February 26: Middle School Girl's Basketball @ Edwardsburg 4 PM

March 3: Middle School Girl's Basketball @ Plainwell 4 PM

March 5: Middle School Girl's Basketball @ Three Rivers 4 PM

Who would you call an Outstanding person for education at OPS? Nominate them today!!

Nominations are now being taken for the Outstanding People for Education award. This award is sponsored by the Allegan County School Boards Association and each district within AAESA can select up to 3 winners!

Award recipients can be ANYONE involved in making an impact on our students, buildings or district. It can be a teacher, custodian, bus driver, administrator, volunteer, support staff, etc.! (Nominations should give specific examples of their impact.)

The deadline to submit a nomination is March 1st!

On May 6, 2025, Otsego will ask district voters to consider a ZERO mill increase Bond Extension proposal that will allow the district $46.5 million to address facility, program and infrastructure needs. This future-focused, student-centered, community-driven plan has projects that will impact every student and every building in our district while creating new, exciting opportunities for our students and community.

The proposal highlights include an Innovation Center, renovating our old pool site, upgrading and improving our facilities, expanding our preschool, addressing parking/traffic flow, athletic improvements, enhancing safety and security measures & much more!

Please take some time to check out the details on the Bond Extension website: https://www.ourfuture-ourstudents-ourcommunity.com/

And please mark your calendars to attend one of our Community Conversations to get involved and be informed!

March 13th, 6pm, Otsego District Library

March 18th, 6pm, Alamo Elementary Media Center

March 19th, 6pm, High School Media Center

The Middle School Unified Basketball team held their first home basketball game ever this week against Plainwell. A good size crowd turned out to cheer on these student athletes. Otsego picked up the win in the game and amazing sportsmanship was shown from both teams. A special thanks to our coaches and Links for helping make the Unified Basketball program such a huge success.

A Message from Coach Eldred:

Attention Baseball Players: I wanted to touch base with everyone concerning middle school baseball and let you know that we will NOT be running an OMS Baseball Club this year. The only thing going in the area was in the SAC and I was told they were only scheduling teams within their conference. I looked into the Michigan MS Baseball League, but that was pretty expensive and every game appeared to be played in Rockford. I then tried to get something going with area schools, but really couldn't get enough commitment at this point to run something this year. My hope is that next year we will host a MS Baseball League at Memorial Park. There are still plenty of opportunities to play baseball this year. I know Alamo Little League signups are currently happening and many of you are already connected with a summer travel team. I hope everyone has an awesome time playing this year and hopefully we will have something available next year in terms of an OMS Baseball Club.

We will be hosting the first parent meeting for planning the 8th grade dance on Tuesday, February 25th at 6pm in the OMS Cafeteria. In an effort to keep the dance a surprise we ask that no students attend the planning meetings.

"Oh the thinks you can think!" We think you should get your tickets to see OHS' presentation of Seussical the Musical this March 27-30!! Buy your tickets online: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/otsegops/4027

Enjoy a special evening at this year's Father/Daughter Dance "Love You to the Moon and Back", Saturday, March 1st at OHS! Dancing, cookies, pictures and more! Just $15 if you sign up by February 24th! Don't miss out! Register today at https://tinyurl.com/FatherDaughterDance25

This winter has been exceptionally snowy and cold. Please remind your students of appropriate winter footwear. At times hallways near exterior doorways can become slippery and if the weather is warm enough we do go outside for the last ten minutes of lunch. Crocs and slip-ons are not recommended winter footwear for students.

On Tuesday, June 10th 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students will be participating in their end of the year field trips to the Air Zoo (6th grade), the Saugatuck Dune Rides and the Outdoor Discovery Center (7th grade), and Chicago (8th grade).

Although details about these trips have not yet been released to students and their parents/guardians, one thing that can be completed before details are provided is any parent/guardian wishing to attend these trips must complete a criminal background check to attend.

You can access the form using this link or you can stop by the OMS office to pick-up a form. Once the form is complete, the form can be turned in to the OMS office.

We are excited to offer some fresh, new apparel for all of our Bulldogs here at OMS. This online store has the option to purchase premade designs or build your own custom apparel. Orders can be shipped to your home or picked up in Hamilton. The store will be open until March and makes a great gift for any Bulldog Fan.

Brynn is doing some amazing work with our new Unified Basketball team. The connections that she is able to make with her peers is simply amazing! Brynn routinely goes above and beyond to help any students who need a friend.

Keep up the great work Brynn!

Have you heard? We are once again offering Math Lab after school in the Media Center!

Who: Middle school students who have received an invitation (via guardian email)

What: Extra support for math ELTs

When: Monday/Tuesday from 2:45-3:45 OR Wednesday/Thursday from 2:45-3:45

Where: OMS Media Center

Why: If a child scores below 60% on an essential learning target (ELT) assessment, they will be invited to attend two days of math lab to receive reteaching and another attempt at the assessment. The invitation will be sent via email to parents/guardians from Ronda Conner (rconner@otsegops.org). Guardians must sign their student up via Google Form (linked in invitation email) in order for a student to attend Math Lab.

***Please stress to your child to come to Math Lab with all of their math resources: workbook, chromebook, notebook, note sheets, calculator, and pencil.

Videos: Math Moments by Ms. McEvoy

How to access IXL - This video includes information on how to log in to IXL, how to access and use the different skill plans for our textbook, M-Step preparation, PSAT preparation, and NWE Personalized Maps for students.

How to access SAVVAS- This video includes how to access SAVVAS (Envisions program) to do assignments, quizzes, tests, past scores, and how to access and find videos to help understand topics better.

Thank you for keeping your contact information up to date in our student and parent portal to ensure that you are getting district and building communications!

It's almost time to get our little bulldogs registered for Kindergarten! The online application opens February 1st. Students who currently attend Learn 'n Grow Early Childhood Education Center will be screened during their preschool day. Those outside of LNG will sign up for a time on April 23, 2025 between 8-9:15am or 4:15-5:30pm at our elementary schools. Register at https://www.otsegops.org/aboutops/enroll

We're excited to begin enrollment for our littlest bulldogs on February 10th! We have tuition and tuition-free spots available for our youngest learners to explore and learn in this nature-based program. Scholarships are also available! Print out the application at lng.otsegops.org.

There are a lot of volunteer opportunities at OMS! Check out all the options and sign up with us today by clicking on and filling out the form below.

Email: mvanderklok@otsegops.org, spatin@otsegops.org
Website: https://oms.otsegops.org/
Location: 540 Washington St. Otsego, MI 49078

Phone: (269) 694-7500