OVA Connector

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

1. It's count month! Please be sure to complete your 2 two-way communications each week in order to be present for attendance. If you complete your 2 communications by 3pm on Friday during count, you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card.
2. Be sure to keep up weekly in your classes. While attendance is important, so is completing your work in Edgenuity!
3. In person support is available each week Tuesday and Thursday 9:15-1:00. Check out the information below.

Study hard & dream big!

November 25-29 No School - Thanksgiving Break

December 20 Last day of 1st Semester/Last day to complete all work in courses

December 23-January 3 No School - Winter Break

January 6 First Day of 2nd Semester

This is just a reminder that OVA students are enrolled in classes by semesters. Our classes will end on Friday, Dec 20. The second semester classes will begin on Monday, Jan 6.

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.

I'm sad to say that Mrs. Leneway will no longer be a mentor teacher for OVA due to helping with the musical at OHS. We will miss her. We are working on finding her replacement as quickly as possible. In the meantime, Ms. Maxwell will be reaching out for the two-way communications until that position is filled.

You're invited! Please join us Wednesday, November 20th at 6:00pm for a ribbon-cutting and open house for the new Student Health Center! This facility will greatly increase access to physical and mental health care for our students, helping out families and offering much-needed services. The open house goes until 8:00pm so stop in any time and see the new facility! Student Health Center web page.

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.

• 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 tmaxwell@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, Ms. Maxwell, at tmaxwell@otsegops.org.