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Ottawa Area Center Parent Link
June 3, 2024
OAC Administrators
Director
Julia Plaggemeyer
Assistant Director
Chelsea Dykstra
Assistant Director
Ottawa Area Staff
Important Upcoming Dates at OAC
- June 6 - Graduation
- June 7 - 1/2 Day
- June 10-21 - No School for students and staff
- June 28 - OAC Festival of Arts - Last Day of 23/24 School Year
- June 30-July 12 - No School Students or Staff
- July 15 - 1st Day of 24/25 School Year
- July 19 - No School Students or Staff
- July 26 - No School Students or Staff
- August 2-9 - No School Students or Staff
- August 16 - No School Students or Staff
- August 22-September 2 - No School Students
What is Happening at OAC
The Wizard of OAC
The Ottawa Area Center's (OAC) Middle and High School students performed their very first school musical: The Wizard of OAC on May 2nd & 3rd in the OAC gymnasium. Students from Beilby, Connolly, Ebbott, Hedberg, Johnson, Moloney, and Schulte's classrooms dazzled as they brought the story to life in a cohesive performance of on-stage dialogue, song, dance, and pre-recorded video.
The show brought together 38 students from all continuums – Moderate Cognitive Impairment (MOCI), Severe Cognitive Impairment (SCI), Severe Cognitive Impairment/ Autism Spectrum Disorder (SCI/ASD), and Severe Multiple Impairment (SXI). This required many helping hands and dedication, which co-directors Eva Ebbott (teacher) and CC Zaya-Dombrowski (music therapist) described as a "labor of love". Teachers, classroom teams, specials teachers, maintenance staff, and beyond worked hard to make the opportunity possible for our students! One teacher shared: "It was amazing to give our students an opportunity similar to that of what typical high school students also receive.” Creating an authentic theater experience complete with costumes, set, and props was made possible by Allendale Public School's Auditorium Manager Kathy Anderson who generously allowed OAC to borrow the items that were used in Allendale HS's spring musical.
Overall, the show was a success! Teachers shared how incredible it was “to see the students' confidence and excitement to be on stage and to be able to show the school their true selves." When asked to reflect on their experience on stage, some of our student performers described it as "Awesome," and "Totally Radical". When asked how the experience made them feel, students shared: "It was cool" and "I felt happy!" Having a supportive audience made all the difference for some students, who stated "Everyone was clapping" and "I really liked having my family there." What a special event and new OAC tradition!
Elementary and Post-Secondary classrooms, parents, grandparents, and OAC staff filled the audience on show days.
Graduation
We will be commemorating the graduation of six of our 26 year old students on June 6, 2024 at 2pm. Graduation will be in the conference rooms in the office and is open to the graduate’s family and friends.
Festival of the Arts
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the OAC Festival of the Arts on Friday, June 28, 10:30am-1:30pm. This years theme is Food For Thought. There will be a food, raffle, games, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, musical entertainment, and much more. Families of our students are encouraged to attend!
24-25 OAC Final Draft Calendar
We are pleased to share with you our final draft 2024-2025 OAC Calendar. The calendar will be final after it is approved by the OAISD Board of Education. Thank you for your patience during this process.
PARENT RESOURCES
Lori's Voice Walk for the Challenged - June 15, 2024
June 15, at the Berlin Raceway(2060 Berlin Fair dr, Marne) from 9am-11am.
Gates open at 8:15am for registration.
There will be several other non profit organizations attend with information on resources for kids and their families. There will be a van give away through clock mobility, raffle for a Kool Koat, face painting, race cars, fire trucks, balloons, ice cream, drinks, music, games, activities, entertainment, etc...
Lori's voice will waive the registration fees for your students and their immediate family members. When you arrive go in the main entrance (there are traffic control volunteers that can help with where to park if need be) and tell the volunteers at the registration table that they are with the OAISD so you won't be charged
Coopersville Victory Day
Saturday September 7, 2024 9am to 12pm
James P Meerman Stadium (Coopersville High School Football Stadium)
198 East St, Coopersville MI 49404
Victory Day is a FREE event that gives individuals with special needs (ages 6-60+) the opportunity to participate in various fall sports at stations set up by the fall sports programs. The participants will be partnered with fall sports athletes and go to the modified sporting stations, which may include football, tennis, cheerleading, track, golf, soccer, volleyball and band. After visiting the different sports stations, the participants will have a Friday night football experience by “running” through a tunnel when their name is called and “running” a 40 yard touchdown against a mock defense-that doesn’t touch the participant during the run. Victory Day gives the participants a chance to be in the spotlight! Please share with family and friends who would like to participate. Contact Christie Hill at chillhill393@gmail.com for any questions.
Sibshops - Summer 2024
Sibshops are a nationwide program specially designed to support siblings of those with special needs. Siblings often have the longest relationship with those who have a disability and tend to take on the role of caregiver to their brother or sister with special needs as adults. They also take on a lot of the stress and worry as children too. Sibshops are a fun, safe, and supportive opportunity for sibs to spend time having fun with other sibs who “get it”. We are blessed to have a gifted Sibshop facilitator here in Ottawa County, Andrèa Vugteveen. Families can contact her with questions, to register a sib, or to discuss scholarships at: amvugteveen@gmail.com or 616 460-3781 .
Housing Search Packet - Good Samaritan
Searching for housing, facing eviction, living in a car, in a shelter, or on the streets makes life even more complicated. The Good Samaritan housing team created this Housing Search Packet to give you some tangible leads toward finding solutions to your housing crisis.
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.
2023-2024 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/