The Ottomon Times

San Juan Unified would like to invite parents and students to take the San Juan Unified annual district climate survey. Your feedback is vital and informs school and district leaders of the changes needed in their communities. We have attached the online version below and a QR that you can scan as well. If you fill the survey out online, please return the paper copy with your student's name and "completed online" on top so the teachers know the survey is done. We are having a friendly competition and any class with over 90% completion, will win an Otter Pop party! The deadline for the survey is TOMORROW Jan 31.

Thank you so much for your support!

Attention Students and Families!

Please be reminded that Presidents Week will be observed from February 17-21, during which there will be no school. Classes will resume on Monday, February 24. We encourage everyone to start making arrangements now to ensure a smooth transition back to school. Enjoy the break!

We are thrilled to announce that our school has WON the Dairy Queen fundraiser! Throughout the entire month of February, we will receive the proceeds from the round-up at Dairy Queen. This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to support our school while enjoying delicious treats!

We appreciate your support and encourage everyone to spread the word and enjoy some ice cream for a great cause! Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Exciting news! Candy grams can be purchased from the Student Council by returning the money and order form that will be sent home to your teacher or the office. Additionally, students in 2nd to 5th grade can also buy candy grams during lunch on Wednesdays. Don't miss out on the sweet fun!

Candy grams will be delivered to your student's class on February 14! If you would like to purchase a candy gram as a surprise, please visit the office!

Get ready for some fun! We will be selling yo-yos in the office from January 29 to February 5. Yo-yos will be available for purchase during 4th and 5th grade lunch and TK - 3rd grade last recess.

Prices range from $10 to $18, so please send exact change with your student to make the process go as smooth as possible. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to grab a cool yo-yo!

Mark your calendars for March 7! We are SO excited to welcome author Crystel Patterson, who will be visiting us to share her amazing stories. She will be selling her books, which will be autographed for you!

The order form is attached below. Please fill it out and return it to your teacher or the office. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to get a signed book from an incredible author! Please return paper order forms no later than February 28 and online ordering needs to be completed by Wednesday March 5!

Any San Juan Unified parents/guardians or community members who want to complete the fingerprinting process to sign up to volunteer at our schools but cannot make an appointment during the business day are invited to our free walk-in volunteer fingerprint clinic. The clinic will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Board Room, located at 3738 Walnut Avenue in Carmichael.

We recommend filling out the volunteer verification form before attending, but assistance will also be available on-site if needed. All applicants must bring a valid photo ID.

If you have any questions, email volunteer@sanjuan.edu or call (916) 971-7935.

Many of you have received an attendance letter from our district regarding your child's absences. These letters are indicating that your child is on track to EXCEED their 10 allowable absences per year. This letter may have come to you even if you have phoned our office letting us know your child will be out.

Here are some action items you can take:

1) If your student is absent due to doctor or dentist appointments, always bring a note. This excuses the absence entirely and does NOT count towards those 10 absences.

2) Plan vacations when school is out. Some upcoming dates are listed in the calendar section below.

3) Practice good sleep patterns, health and hygiene to stay healthy.

4) Come to school every day unless you have a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea.

If you need any support with attendance, please reach out! We are here to come up with solutions for you!

San Juan Unified’s open enrollment period ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. During this time, you can submit an application to have your student attend a school other than their neighborhood school as long as there is space available and you are willing to provide transportation for your student.

Families can now log in to Parent Portal to view your child’s assigned school for the next school year to help you decide whether to participate in open enrollment. As soon as you log in to Parent Portal, you will see both your child’s school for this school year and their assigned school for the next school year (2025-26) listed just below (see detailed instructions below). No further action is needed if you are satisfied with your child’s assigned school for the next school year. If you would like to apply to make a change, you can complete an open enrollment lottery application.

Because open enrollment is a computer-generated lottery and not approved on a first-come, first-served basis, you can submit your application at any time during the open enrollment period. Applications are available online at www.sanjuan.edu/openenrollment and at the San Juan Central office, located at 3700 Garfield Ave. in Carmichael

TK Lottery opens February 10, 2025 - March 14, 2025, and you will get your email with your results on or after March 28, 2025. You must accept the lottery results by April 7, 2025, to guarantee placement.

Enrollment for K-12 begins February 3, 2025!

Strategies for Supporting Students with Homework Completion

We understand that some students may struggle with completing their homework. Here are some helpful strategies to support them:

1. Establish a Routine: Create a consistent homework schedule. Designate a specific time and quiet space for homework each day to help students focus.

2. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Encourage students to break down large assignments into smaller, manageable tasks. This can make homework feel less overwhelming and easier to tackle.

3. Use a Homework Planner: Help your child use a planner or calendar to track assignments and due dates. This can improve organization and accountability.

4. Set Goals and Rewards: Work with your child to set achievable homework goals. Celebrate their accomplishments with small rewards to motivate them.

5. Encourage Questions: Remind students that it's okay to ask for help. Encourage them to reach out to teachers or classmates if they are unsure about the homework.

6. Limit Distractions: Minimize distractions during homework time by turning off the TV and keeping phones or other devices out of reach unless needed for assignments.

7. Stay Involved: Check in on your child's homework progress regularly. Show interest in what they are learning and be available to provide support when needed.

8. Communicate with Teachers: If homework completion continues to be a challenge, consider reaching out to your child's teacher for additional support or resources.

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By working together, we can help our students develop good homework habits and succeed in their learning. Thank you for your support!

Attention Parents!

We are excited to inform you that we have free bus passes available for students in TK-12th grade in the office! These passes can help your child travel to and from school easily.

Please note that the bus passes will expire on June 30, 2025, so be sure to pick one up soon!

Being late to school can be a big problem for some students. When kids arrive late, it can disrupt their learning and affect others too. Here are three important reasons why it’s good to be on time:

1. Helps You Learn More: When you arrive on time, you don’t miss any important lessons. Being late can make it hard to catch up with what everyone else is learning.

2. Teaches Responsibility: Being on time shows that you can manage your time well. Learning to be responsible now will help you in school and later in your job.

3. Makes Friends Easier: Arriving on time allows you to join your friends and participate in activities together. Being on time helps you feel like part of the group.

Let’s work together to encourage everyone to be on time so we can all learn and have fun!

NEW WAY TO REPORT YOUR STUDENT'S ABSENCE: If your child is sick or not going to school, you can now report it online! Log into the parent portal, select the three lines on the top right, click 'Report Absence,' choose your student(s), enter reason, then click 'Submit.' This helps the attendance clerk keep records updated and also helps you, if you have students at different schools. Thanks for your support!

See further down for directions on logging into your parent portal!

It's that time of year again! Yearbooks are now available for pre-order! Yearbooks are $18.00 if purchased now through 4/11/25 or get a personalized book for $21.00 through 3/27/25.

Click the link below to see the flyer that has more information!

Visit shop.memorybook.com school code 232788M to order now!

Wearing the right shoes on PE days is super important for all students! Tennis shoes, or athletic shoes, provide the support and comfort needed for running, jumping, and playing games. Here are a few reasons why having proper shoes for PE is essential:

1. Prevent Injuries: Tennis shoes have cushioning and support that help protect your feet and ankles. Wearing the right shoes can reduce the risk of injuries, such as sprains or blisters, while participating in activities.

2. Improve Performance: With the right shoes, you can move more easily and perform better during games and exercises. Good shoes can help you run faster, jump higher, and enjoy PE even more!

3. Stay Comfortable: Tennis shoes are designed for physical activity, so they keep your feet comfortable even during the most active games. This means you can focus on having fun and learning new skills without worrying about your feet.

Remember to wear your tennis shoes on PE days so you can be safe, active, and ready to have a great time!

Have you lost something at school? Don’t forget to check the Lost and Found rack! It’s a great place to look for items you may have misplaced, like jackets, lunchboxes, or water bottles.

Please remember that any items not claimed will be donated during our February break. Help us keep our school tidy and make sure your lost items find their way back to you!

Would you like to be a volunteer in your child's class? Drive on a field trip? Help out on campus? Please follow the directions on the link below to start the process!

Note: If you started the process but did not receive any communication on when to schedule your fingerprinting, please go ahead and move onto step 4 and set up your fingerprinting appointment. Thank you so much for your patience!

Every Thursday - Early out at 12:55

February 17-21 - President's Break - NO SCHOOL

March 11-14 - Conference Week - Dismissal at 10:55 (March 10 is a regular day with 2:15 dismissal)

March 17 - Sami's Circuit - Sneakers only - NO CROCS!

March 21 & 24 - NO SCHOOL

March 31 - Awards Assembly - Please wait for a notification from your child's teacher regarding awards

April 7-11 - Spring Book Fair

April 10 - Open House from 6:00 - 7:00pm

April 11- Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:55

April 11 - NO BRIDGES

April 14-18 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL

April 28 - Awards Assembly - Please wait for a notification from your child's teacher regarding awards

Come join us in coordinating and planning events here at Ottomon! Our PTA has created a way to sign up electronically! It takes less than 90 seconds!

Three things to do in Parent Portal:

1. Please verify all phone numbers and addresses are correct. This is really important so you receive our communication and we can contact you if your child is ill or has an emergency.
2. View your child's teacher. You can also find this out at the Meet the Teacher BBQ on Monday, August 7 or find out the first day of school!
3. Fill out the school funding form. Even if you do not eat school breakfast or lunch, this funding really helps our school! Thank you!

English Directions:

https://www.sanjuan.edu/cms/lib/CA01902727/Centricity/Domain/721/ParentPortalTutorial.pdf

Direcciones en Espanol:

https://www.sanjuan.edu/cms/lib/CA01902727/Centricity/Domain/721/parentportaltutorial%20spanish.pdf

Valuing our diverse, rural community, Ottomon Elementary's mission is to empower all students to develop their unique strengths and academic abilities through a focused commitment on literacy, analytics, and the arts.

Email: ottomones@sanjuan.edu
Website: www.sanjuan.edu/ottomon
Phone: 916-979-8228