November 2022 Edition

Ottawa Elementary School

Dear Little Bucks Families,

One quarter of the year is down, three to go! Thank you to all the families that joined us last week for parent-teacher conferences. We feel the home-school connection is very important for your child's success. If you ever have any questions, always feel free to reach out to your child's teacher via email, Class Tag, or phone. We are happy to help and serve our families.

As we are nearing colder weather and the need for more clothing items for outdoors, it is very helpful to label all of your child's items with their name or initials. It is also helpful to send a change of clothes in a large ziploc bag in case of emergencies at school. Sometimes there are bathroom emergencies, or spilled milk at lunch that a change of clothes are needed. Please send a change of clothes that can remain in your child's backpack or locker in case of such emergencies.

In a few weeks, it will be Thanksgiving break. A time to think about all the things we are blessed and thankful for in our lives. One of the things I am thankful for is being part of this great community and continuing to serve the staff, students, and families.

If you ever need assistance or have questions, do not hesitate to contact me via phone, Class Tag, or email.

Stacey Denison, Principal

sdenison@buchananschools.com

Have a wonderful and safe holiday with family and friends!

I am very thankful for our staff, students and families.

Our school office is open 8:00am-4:30pm

Phone: 269.695.8409

Mrs. Stacey Denison, Principal

sdenison@buchananschools.com

Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, Administrative Assistant

ejohnson@buchananschools.com

REGULAR DAY OF SCHOOL

8:35am-3:43pm

ECSE/Preschool AM 8:35am-11:50pm

ECSE/Preschool PM 12:25pm-3:43pm

WACKY WEDNESDAYS

8:35am-3:10pm

HALF DAYS OF SCHOOL

8:35am-12:05pm

No Preschool or ECSE Classes on these days!

2 Parent Teacher Conferences

3 Parent Teacher Conferences

8 Election Day

9 Wacky Wednesday 3:10 Dismissal

11 Veteran's Day

11 NO SCHOOL Staff Professional Development Day

15 PTO Meeting 6:30pm (See info below)

16 Wacky Wednesday 3:10 Dismissal

18 ECSE Extra Friday- Mrs. Hendrick's Class

21 Board of Education Meeting 6:00pm

22 PICTURE RETAKE DAY

23 No School

24 Thanksgiving Break

25 No School

30 Wacky Wednesday 3:10 Dismissal

If your child was absent or missed Picture Day they will have the opportunity to have their picture taken. If you would like your child to have retakes, they must bring back the picture folder that was sent home.

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Honor Credit Union will be collecting deposits on Thursday, November 17th! Students may bring in their deposits on Thursday in a sealed envelope with the following information: Student Name, Grade, Graduation Year and Account Number found in their personal savings account register booklet. If you have questions regarding deposits, please contact the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation at 695-3521.

We model and teach what we expect to see from students with the Buck 3. Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Next week will be our first week to choose students that have been working hard at following the Buck 3. Pictures will be displayed on our wall for the entire school to see on their way to lunch and names announced during our announcements.

A signed certificate will come home at the end of the week and their names will be shared in Ottawa's Update over the weekend for families!

Preschool: Sofia M., Asher L

Kindergarten: Dominik L., Emily O., Amelia B., Arya B., Ryan N.

First Grade: Jace H., Mae H., Cheyenne S., Harper K., and Allison D.

We filled up our ticket bin to the goal line! You may have heard about "The Buck 3 Store". Students were given a Buck 3 Buck to spend at the store! The store was such a hit, it will definitely encourage us to keep collecting tickets and following the Buck 3!

This recognition notes our staff and student's work of using the Buck 3 and our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program!

There will be no meeting the month of December, but see our upcoming PTO fundraiser!

Flyers coming home!

Checks payable to Buchanan Community Schools

The Buchanan Area Senior Center sponsors a group called Warm Hearts, Warm Hands. This group hand crochets mittens for our preschoolers at Ottawa. This is the second year they have donated these wonderful, colorful mittens to our Little Bucks! The students were so excited to be able to pick their favorite colors! Thank you so much Warm Hearts, Warm Hands for your thoughtfulness and generosity!! You definitely epitomize why Buchanan is "The Nicest Town in America!"

We have the best custodial team! Mr. Larry and Miss Judy keep our building looking its best! Mr. Larry works during the day and Miss Judy is our nighttime custodian. They make sure classrooms, hallways, and bathrooms are their cleanest and do so with a smile! Miss Lillie, a high school student, helps Miss Judy in the evenings for a few hours with taking trash from classrooms and vacuuming. We believe we have the absolute best! They take pride in their work and our school!

We want to make sure every single student gets out the door and home safely. Please remember the following:

• You MUST contact our school office by 2:00 pm if you need to make changes to your child's transportation routine.

• If you need to make changes involving a bus, these changes must be communicated to our office by 1:30 pm, before the buses leave for their middle/high school routes.

• Please do not message or email teachers as they are often in session and do not receive the messages until it is too late.

• If you need a numbered car tag for the pick up line, please come into our office.

• If you are picking your child up as a walker, they will be dismissed at the doors by our front office.

• Only car riders with parents in the pick up line will be dismissed at the north parking lot doors.

269.695.8402

• November 21st
• December 19th

Meetings will be called to order at 6:00pm unless advertised differently.

269.695.8400

Superintendent

Mrs. Patricia Robinson probinson@buchananschools.com

Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent

Mrs. Michelle Munyon mmunyon@buchananschools.com

Assistant Superintendent

Mr. Mark Kurland mkurland@buchananschools.com

Business Office Specialist

Mrs. Carrie Brunsting cbrunsting@buchananschools.com

Director of Special Education

Mrs. Karin Falkenstein kfalkenstein@buchananschools.com

Director of Technology

Mr. Philip Place psplace@buchananschools.com

We work hard every day to make our school the best it can be. Please tell us how we’re doing!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedhHzyguA0_cCpd2Ue17lUTG5bV9LXzCoe6sP2f_BJrovA1Q/viewform