OPS Connection August 2023

From the Superintendent

Looking Ahead to a New School Year

Jeffery S. Haase

Dear students, parents, and staff of Otsego Public Schools,

As we approach the start of a new school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you. I hope you had a rejuvenating summer break and are ready for an amazing school year. I would also like to extend a special welcome to the families who are new to our district and community. We are thrilled to have you as part of the Otsego Public Schools family.

Over the summer, our dedicated staff has been actively engaged in various summer school programs and professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge. Our custodial, maintenance, and ground teams have been working diligently to ensure that our facilities are well-prepared to welcome everyone back on August 21st. Moreover, we are eagerly looking forward to the

opening of our new Otsego Aquatic Center in early November. We will be organizing open houses in September, giving our community the chance to explore this fantastic addition to our district. Details will be shared through our school newsletters, district website, and social media platforms as those dates are finalized.

This summer has also seen the arrival of over 30 new employees as we continuously strive to build a strong team of passionate and talented educational professionals. We believe that providing our students with the best educators is key to their success. Please join me in welcoming these new staff members to the Otsego Public Schools family.

As we gear up for another successful year, I’m looking forward to continuing our Superintendent Coffees on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, starting in September. These gatherings will take place at Mezzo Coffee in downtown Otsego at 10 am. Additionally, I will be holding parent and community forums at each building throughout the school year, offering an opportunity to share updates about the

district and discuss future plans for Otsego Public Schools. Keep an eye out for specific dates in early September.

We have so much to look forward to in the coming months, including open houses and various fall activities. Our team is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we can’t wait to see all of you at these events.

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Let’s work together to make this school year a memorable and successful one for all!

New Face for Community Education

Otsego dad and retired Allegan County Sheriff’s Department Deputy, Phil Arnsman, is the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for Otsego Public Schools.

After serving 26.5 years in law enforcement, he retired in July and took on this new role. The SRO position is possible through state funding and a partnership between OPS and the Otsego Police Department. It’s a part-time position, active during the school year. Arnsman is already a regular volunteer at school and is excited about expanding his involvement throughout the district. “I enjoy being around the kids and am looking forward to being in the district and hopefully being a positive role model for kids,” he says. Arnsman believes the SRO can help students see law enforcement in a more positive light. “We love being a part of the Otsego school system, OPS genuinely has the kids’ best interests in mind and I’m glad to be a part of the team,” he adds.

Otsego Public Schools has a new face overseeing our Community Education programming. Scott McDougall will take on that role starting this school year. McDougall also teaches a PE class at the high school and is the Varsity Football Head Coach.

Community Education offers a variety of programs for youth and adults with a mission that everyone has the chance to participate, learn and have fun! Be on the lookout soon for fall programming details and registration. We’ll offer Spikers volleyball, Sharp Shooters basketball, adult rec opportunities and Segment 2 Drivers Education. You can find full details at otsegops.org/departments/communityed.

Otsego Superintendent

NWEA-MAP Test - What is it & What we learn from it

As the school year begins, we will administer important assessments that will help our teachers best know where to focus their instruction. One of those assessments is called the Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress - or NWEA-MAP - test. It is given to our 6th -11th graders in the areas of Language, Reading and Math. This year, our Kindergarten - 5th grade students will take the NWEA test for Math. We began using NWEA for middle school and high school last year and are transitioning to elementary (math only) this year. We’ll add K-5 Language and Reading tests in 2024-25.

What does the test look like?

The NWEA test is adaptive, which means, the more questions the student answers correctly the harder the test gets; this allows the test to “find” a child’s achievement level and growth. The test contains mostly multiple choice and drag-and-drop items. You can find a sample here: https://warmup.nwea.org/

What do these tests measure?

These tests measure growth and proficiency.

• Growth - How they do compared to other kids that score like them in an approximate 10 week timeframe. *Note there will be no growth information for K-5th graders in the fall as they will only have one data point. Growth information can only come after the child takes the test twice or more. So that will come for K-5th graders in the winter.

• Proficiency - Whether they have mastered grade level concepts or not.

When will reports come home?

The assessments are given three times per year and reports are sent home to parents within a few weeks of the assessment windows.

How can I help my student at home?

Heather Kortlandt Director of Instruction

Please read the parent guide and the data report that will come with your child’s scores a few weeks after testing. The guide will help you understand how your child performed on the test and their projected growth. Feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher for additional information and explanation.

How can I get more information on NWEA?

Click on this QR code for videos that you can watch on topics like what it is like to take the test from the student’s perspective, How MAP can help support learning and the Family Guide to MAP Growth.

As always, we encourage our students to do their best; it’s the best way to see what they’ve learned, and how we can continue to individualize instruction.

Summer Break Includes Learning for Dozens of Students

Otsego’s elementary schools now have “secret agents” and dozens of middle and high school students are now better prepared for the upcoming school year thanks to summer learning programs.

About 100 1st-5th graders came to school part-time for the themed “Secret Agent Academy” where students got a new mission and tool for their investigative toolbox (notebooks, special pens, sunglasses, etc.) to encourage them in innovation and learning to master concepts in reading and writing.

Two sessions of programming took place at the middle and high school to help students with credit recovery and learning concepts in all core subjects. A huge thank you to our teachers, support staff, and student tutors for supporting this important summer program!

Above: Students show off some of their secret agent gadgets they’ve received. Left: A student demonstrates shows his invisible pen works.

Back to School

Key Dates / Info Bus Notes

What you need to know before school

Need to Set Up Transportation?

If you are new to the area, or want to use school transportation this year, contact the Transportation Department as soon as possible to be placed on a route. Call 269-694-7940.

Your Child’s Bus Information

The Transportation Department will mail a postcard to every student on our bus routes; it will include their bus driver’s name, the bus number and animal as well as expected pick-up and drop-off times.

Reminder: Kindergarten Parents

There is no bus pick-up for kindergartners on the first day of school, since it is an Open House. Bus service for kindergartners will begin their second day of school on August 17th.

Patience, please

There may be delays in pick-up and dropoff times for the first few weeks of school as everyone gets acclimated to a new school year.

Contact Us

If you have questions about bus service, routes, times, etc., contact the Transportation Office at 269-694-7940.

Orientation / Open House:

Alamo Elementary - August 16th

Dix Street Elementary - August 17th

Washington Street Elementary - August 17th

*Exact times and details will be mailed to your home with welcome back letters.

First Day of School (1st-5th)

Kindergarten Open House

Kindergarten 1st Day of School

August 21st

August 21st

August 22nd

Middle School

6th grade Parent Meeting: August 14th, 6pm, MS Auditorium

6th grade Camp: August 15th, 9am - 2:30pm

Open House (6th-8th grade)

August 17th, 6 - 7:30pm

First day of school: August 21st

Elementary High School

Freshman orientation:

Open House

August 16th, 1-2:30pm

August 17th, 5:30-7pm

First day of school: August 21st

Preschool

Learn ‘n Grow Early Childhood Education Center

Parent Orientation: August 15th & 16th

*Specific times and details were sent via email

First Day of School: August 21st or 22nd (depending on age/program)

For all things Back-To-School: otsegops.org/back-to-school

SCHOOL START / END TIMES

Regular School Day Hours

Notification for school closings, delays

When we close school or issue a delay, we will post this information in several ways to ensure the message gets to our families.

Delayed Start School Day Hours

• Phone call, email and text through Infinite Campus (be sure to set your preferences to be notified)

• Local TV stations

• Facebook

Breakfast & Lunch are FREE for 2023-24

The 2023-24 budget for the State of Michigan includes funding designated for universal free breakfast and lunch for ALL students in Michigan!

We encourage every student and family to take advantage of this; it will help you stretch your food budget and provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch each day FREE of charge. (Please note: If students want a second lunch, they will be charged the regular, or free/reduced meal rate.)

Otsego Public Schools has always had a Student Service Support team to address social-emotional, behavioral or mental health needs of students, but we’ve been able to expand that to a level unlike any other school in the county, thanks to additional state funding.

It’s no secret that since the pandemic, the number of students needing social/ emotional/behavioral support, and the level of the need, has increased. That’s why OPS is thrilled to be able to add an entire team to its already robust effortsa Behavioral Health Services Team.

Our Team

Long-time OPS Social Worker, Anna Starr, is leading this team as the Behavioral Health Services Coordinator. There is a Behavioral Health Services Aide at each elementary school and the middle school. This team also includes a SchoolBased Therapist at the elementary and one at the secondary level. The SchoolBased Therapist at the elementary level joined the team mid-year last year and our SBT at the secondary level has been in place for three years now.

“All students, K-12th grade will benefit,” says Alice Hoekstra, Director of Special Education. “Every student will get what they need with this new addition, and we expect to be able to provide training to parents and the community on behavioral health topics because of the growth of this department.”

Otsego Public Schools has one of the largest, most comprehensive Student Support Services staff in the county with:

• a social worker at each school,

• counselors,

• student support services specialists,

• a diagnostic consultant,

• and inclusion coach.

BehavioralHealth ServicesforOPSstudents

OPS Adds Behavioral Health Services Team to Current MultiTiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

“To be able to add another five staff members to help impact kids in our district with social-emotional and behavioral needs is incredible,” says Superintendent Jeff Haase.

Funding and Impact

These new behavioral health positions are being funded by the State of Michigan through 31aa funding that is specifically for behavioral health services in schools to support and improve the social-emotional health of our students, K-12. It is guaranteed for two years and may continue after that. This removes a huge barrier to serving all students.

“Special Education staff members have always been available to provide Tier 3 (more intense) support, but students needed to qualify with a disability in order to access those intensive services. We now are able to provide Tier 3 support to all students in the district who need them with the addition of this team,” Hoekstra explains. “School districts have never had the amount of funding to be able support such intensive needs, needs that have prohibited some kids from learning for a while now, so it feels amazing that we have now built the system to be able to provide intensive support to students right where they are for most of the day during the school year.”

The scope of this new team will not only impact students, but staff and families, as well. The Behavioral Health Services Coordinator will oversee the systems district-wide, setting up and providing Trauma Informed Practices and Restorative Justice professional development

to staff and parents. She will collaborate with each building to create systems around individual students with the goal of improving district-wide systems.

The School-Based Therapists provide Tier 3 support to students whose emotional health prohibits them from participating in the learning environment.

The Behavioral Health Aides provide support to students in the classroom and keep them in the learning environment.

Again, these new roles complement the existing behavioral health staff we already have - and an entirely separate academic support team - and allow us to expand our services. “It has always been my dream to offer the full continuum of social emotional support, now being called Behavioral Health Services, in schools. This will help students get into the right mindset to reach their learning potential and we’re excited to get the year started and begin providing this support to our kids,” Hoekstra adds.

“ Every student will get what they need with this new addition, and we expect to be able to provide training to parents and the community on behavioral health topics because of the growth of this department. ”

Anna Starr

Community C ON N ECTION

Otsego Food Service, City Offer Summer Fun Series & Free Meals

Otsego Public Schools, the City of Otsego and a number of community members, businesses and organizations came together this summer to put on the 2nd annual Summer Fun Series with events on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Each week drew big crowds and lots of laughs and smiles!

Food Service Continues Free Meals for Families

We were proud to continue a summer tradition at Otsego Public Schools in serving FREE meals to families! Through an application process with the USDA, Otsego was able to provide breakfast and lunch for free to all kids ages 0-18 at several locations. This served hundreds of kids who both visited our mobile sites as well as those students who were at school for summer camps, child care, and summer school. On average, our food service team served 300 meals each day.

Students, Community Step Up to Stock Libraries

1. Kids put together Home Depot race cars.

2. Kids could get up close to birds and reptiles during the Outdoor Discovery Center presentation at the Pavilion.

3. Families were wowed at the park with Magic by Thomas.

4. Ready, Set, Go! Kids had a blast during Bulldog Olympics at Northside Park.

5. All about books at Reading Night at the Pavilion. City, school, and library reps read to families, handed out a free book, then kids visited the Bulldogs Bookin’ Bus to check out one more!

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Otsego Public Schools Foundation

• Fetzer Institute

• Parker Hannifin

• Meijer

• Costco

• Friendship Wesleyan Church

• Toby Esterline Mitten Insurance

• Mayor Stacey Withee

• Otsego Rotary

• Kona Ice

• Hau’oli Shave Ice

The five Little Libraries in our district provide yet another opportunity for students to find a good book. Thanks to our student and community volunteers who check on them each week, they remained stocked all summer long! You can find them any time of year at each of our elementary schools, Otsego’s Pavilion and Northside Park. (In the photos: McKenna Wesseldyk (far left) and Ms. Eshbaugh and her niece Emma add books to the little libraries.)

Summer Fun at OPS Sports Camps!

Bulldogs Bookin’ Bus

Otsego’s Bulldogs Bookin’ Bus mobile library hit the road for the 6th summer and provided hundreds of kids with great books to read on their break. The bus had four stops on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Kids were excited to find their favorites and pick out a new prize with each visit.

Otsego Marching Band “Ice Blue” for 2023 Season

Get ready for another unforgettable musical experience with this year’s Otsego Marching Band performance, “Ice Blue.” This year’s theme blends classical, modern, rock, and jazz music and features five songs: George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”, the jazz number “Blue Moon”, Strauss’ famous waltz “The Blue Danube”, “Ice, Ice, Baby” by Vanilla Ice, and “Troika” by Sergei Prokofiev.

The show will also have surprises like a vocal soloist, small brass ensemble, a rapper, kazoos, and even a touch of Christmas music. Expect fun choreography, including ballroom dancing. “We are very excited about this show and think the audience will really like it,” says band director Mitch Piersma. Don’t miss this unique fusion of music and visuals!

KEY FALL DATES:

Aug. 24 - 1st home football game

Second-year drum majors, Madi Dendel and Landen Yokum, spent a part of their summer at “Music for All” Drum Major Camp held at Ball State University. They learned great leadership skills in their roles as drum majors and got to meet students from all over the country. It’s a fantastic camp and they’re back energized for the new marching season. This year, they will lead an 81-member marching band!

Summertime Adventures!

Otsego students and parents had an actionpacked, enriching trip, exploring the beauty and culture of Costa Rica! Their adventures included white water rafting, swimming at a waterfall, kayaking around a volcano, and zip-lining. The group also visited a pineapple farm, a coffee plantation, and a cocoa farm learning about the process of growing and harvesting these crops and seeing how chocolate is made. In addition, the group had the chance to visit a local school and see their end-of-the-year performances.

Karen Raseman and her two sons loved it! “The experience was amazing and we all want to go back,” she says.

“The trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a new culture, learn about their lifestyle, and explore nature up close,” adds Aundria Meyer who attended with her son. “The food was amazing and the Costa Rican citizens were so welcoming. We made great memories that will last forever.”

Sept. 22 - Homecoming Parade

Sept. 30 - Otsego Band Invitational

Oct. 7 - Hastings Invitational

Oct. 14 - Grandville & Vicksburg Invitationals

Oct. 21 - Jenison & East Kentwood Invitationals

Nov. 10 - Band-a-Thon

OMS students had a new opportunity to kick off their summer - a trip to Washington, DC! Fifty kids and chaperones packed in all of the sights of our nation’s capital visiting the War Memorials, Presidential Monuments, Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Holocaust Museum, Museum of American History, Supreme Court, White House, Library of Congress and the US Capitol, and a Baltimore Orioles baseball game! They had an amazing time!

Pesticide Advisory

State of Michigan law requires schools that may apply pesticides on school property to provide an annual advisory to parents or guardians of students attending the facility.

Please be advised that Otsego Public Schools utilizes an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to control pests. IPM is a pest management system that utilizes all suitable techniques in a total pest management system with the intent of preventing pests from reaching unacceptable levels or to reduce an existing population to an acceptable level. Pest management techniques emphasizes sanitation, pest exclusion and biological controls. One of the objectives of using an IPM approach is to reduce or eliminate the need for chemical applications of pesticides. However, certain situations may require the need for pesticides to be utilized. OPS contracts with Rose Pest Solutions which inspects the District’s buildings on a regular basis.

As required by State of Michigan law, you will receive advance notice regarding the non-emergency application of a pesticide such as an insecticide, fungicide or herbicide, other than a bait or gel formulation that is made to the school grounds or buildings during this school year. In certain emergencies, such as an infestation of stinging insects pesticides may be applied without prior notice to prevent injury to students but you will be notified following any such application.

Advance notification of pesticide applications, other than a bait or gel formulation, will be given by two methods. We will post it at the main entrance to each school building. It will also be posted on the Otsego Public Schools website: www.otsegops.org, under News & Announcements.

Please be advised that parents or guardians of children attending the school are entitled to received the advance notice by first class United States mail postmarked at least three days before the pesticide application, if they so request. If you would like to be notified by mail, please contact Nate Jepkema, Director of Operations, at 269-694-7922. Please give your name, mailing address and what school(s) your child(ren) attend and they will put your name on the advance notification by US Mail list.

Website accessibility policy

Otsego Public Schools’ Board of Education approved a Web Accessibility Policy on June 14, 2018. This policy is located within the Accessibility tab at the bottom of the OPS main website: www.otsegops.org. For accessibiity issues or questions, contact the District’s Web Accessibility Coordinator, Holly McCaw, at hmccaw@otsegops.org or 269-694-7910.

No Smoking in, Around Schools

All public school districts, including Otsego Public Schools, are tobacco free as of September 1, 1993, as mandated by Public Act 140 of 1993. This law was enacted to protect children, school employees and visitors from the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke. The Tobacco-Free Schools Act bans the use of tobacco products at all times in all buildings and grounds owned by the Otsego Public School District. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen. Tobacco smoke is now considered as lethal as asbestos, benzene and radon gas. Eliminating the use of tobacco products by persons on school property is expected to provide a healthier environment in which children can learn and promote healthier behavior.

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

DeLisle Associates completes a regularly scheduled inspection of all remaining asbestos-containing materials in Otsego Public Schools. These inspections and routine six-month inspections performed by District personnel are part of our Management Plan. All asbestos materials in floor and ceiling tiles were removed during the renovation work that was completed during the summer of 2006. Parents who wish to review the District’s Management Plan may do so by contacting Jeff Haase, Superintendent, at (269) 694-7902.

Safe & Drug Free Schools Act

Otsego Public Schools and the Allegan Area Educational Services Agency recognize and abide by the standards of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and the Drug Free Workplace Act.

These standards prohibit the unlawful manufacture, possession, use, sale, distribution, or concealment of illegal drugs and alcohol in school programs, school vehicles, school premises, and at school-sponsored activities on and off school property. Drugs include all controlled substances as defined by law, as well as “look-alike” drugs, steroids and alcohol.

These standards apply to all Otsego Public Schools and Allegan Area Educational Service Agency students and staff. The use or abuse of drugs and alcohol poses serious health and safety risks to students. We urge students, parents, guardians, and care providers to work hand-in-hand with our district to ensure that these important standards are upheld.

Title IX & Section 504

The federal government has made legal provisions to ensure that no person is discriminated against on the basis of sex or handicap. In order to protect these rights and assure compliance, Jeffery Haase, Superintendent, and Alice Hoekstra, Special Education Director, serve as the Title IX and Section 504 Coordinators respectively for Otsego Public Schools. Any parent or guardian of a student or an employee who feels that the rights of a male or female handicapped person may have been misused in relationship to the provision of equal opportunity in educational programs and activities or in employment may contact the school. Inquiries concerning the application of, or grievances for either of these regulations should be addressed to: Jeffery Haase, Superintendent, or Alice Hoekstra, Special Education Director, Otsego Public Schools, 400 Sherwood St., Otsego, Michigan, 49078 or (269) 694-7906.

Weapons are prohibited

Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

In compliance with Federal regulations, Otsego Public Schools has established the following guidelines concerning student records. Heather Kortlandt, Director of Instruction, is the Records Control Officer for the District and is responsible for the processing and maintenance of all student records. Her office is located at 400 Sherwood St., Otsego, MI or can be reached by calling (269) 6926066.

Each student’s records will be kept in a confidential file located in each building principal’s office. The information in a student’s record file will be available for review only by the parents or legal guardian of a student, an adult student (18 years of age or older), and those designated by Federal law or District regulations.

If not satisfied with the accuracy of the records or with the District’s compliance with the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act, a parent, guardian, or adult student has the right to request a change or addition to a student’s record, and to:

A. Obtain a hearing with District officials, or

B. File a complaint with the U.S. Office of Education. The District has established the following information about each student as directory information and will make it available upon a legitimate request unless a parent, guardian, or adult student notifies the Records Control Office in writing within 10 days from the date of this notification that they will not permit distribution of any or all information:

A. Name, address, and telephone number

B. Date and place of birth

C. Photograph

D. Major field of study

E. Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

F. Height and weight, if a member of an athletic team

G. Dates of attendance, date of graduation, and awards received

H. Any other information the District considers would not be harmful or an invasion of privacy, if disclosed. A copy of the Board of Education’s policy and the accompanying District regulations are available at the Superintendent’s office, 400 Sherwood St., Otsego. There will also be a person available to answer any questions concerning the policy or regulations.

The Board of Education prohibits visitors from possessing, storing, making, or using a weapon in any setting that is under the control and supervision of the District for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the District including, but not limited to, property leased, owned, or contracted for by the District, a school-sponsored event, or in a District vehicle without the permission of the Superintendent.

State law establishes a “Weapon-Free School Zone” that extends 1,000 feet from the boundary of any school property.

The term “weapon” means any object which, in the manner in which it is used, is intended to be used, or is represented, is capable of inflicting serious bodily harm or property damage, as well as endangering the health and safety of persons. Weapons include, but are not limited to, firearms, guns of any type, including air and gas-powered guns (whether loaded or unloaded), knives, razors, clubs, electric weapons, metallic knuckles, martial arts weapons, ammunition, and explosives.

The Superintendent shall refer a visitor who violates this policy to law enforcement officials and may take any necessary steps to exclude the visitor from District property and District sponsored events.

Exceptions to this policy include:

A. Weapons under the control of law enforcement personnel;

B. Items approved by a principal as part of a class or individual presentation under adult supervision, if used for the purpose of and in the manner approved; (Working firearms and ammunition shall never be approved.)

C. Theatrical props used in appropriate settings;

D. Starter pistols used in appropriate sporting events.

These restrictions shall not apply in the following circumstances:

A. A parent or legal guardian of a student of the school, who is properly licensed to carry a concealed weapon may carry a concealed pistol while in a vehicle on school property, if s/he is dropping the student off at the school or picking up the child from the school.

B. A county corrections officer, a motor carrier officer, a State Police Capitol security officer, a member of a Sheriff’s posse, a police or sheriffs reserve or auxiliary officer, or a State Department of Corrections parole or corrections officer, provided s/he is properly licensed to carry a concealed weapon and is on duty or in the course of his/her employment carry a concealed firearm on school property;

C. A retired police or law enforcement officer, if properly licensed to carry a concealed weapon may do so on school property.

The Superintendent shall take the necessary steps to prosecute for a violation of the Weapon-Free School Zone.

Otsego Aquatic Center Update

Otsego’s new aquatic center is progressing steadily, with an anticipated opening in early November. The ongoing construction efforts are becoming increasingly apparent as each day passes. The installation of plumbing fixtures is well underway, and meticulous tile work is being carried out in both the locker rooms and the pool area. Furthermore, the exterior walkways surrounding the facility are being poured. We look forward to planning a tour and open house later this fall for our community. Your continued interest and support are greatly appreciated!

Summer Fun at the Pool!

The pool has been a popular place this summer for kids and adults! We welcomed more than 150 kids for swim lessons, 40 kids in our summer Swim Club and dozens of adults for aqua aerobics, lap swim, open swim and new programming geared toward seniors ages 60+.

The pool was also a busy place for the final alumni meet in the old facility. We had an incredible turnout for fun races and sharing fond memories.

Be sure to bookmark our pool page to keep up on the new program offerings for the fall and beyond! otsegops.org/community/pool.

Fall Programs at the Pool

• Aqua Aerobics

Monday-Wednesday, 6-7pm

• Lap Swim

Tuesday & Thursday, 7-8pm

• Open Swim

Fridays, 5:30-7:30pm

Saturdays, 12-2pm

• Private Swim Lessons (by appt.)

- Times are subject to change or cancellation due to home swim meets.

- Group swim lessons will return in December

Aqua Aerobics class

Group photo at the alumni swim meet Swim lessons

Contact Us

Administration/Business Office

Superintendent Jeffery Haase

Alamo Elementary

269-694-7900

269-694-7902

269-694-7600

Dix Street Elementary 269-694-7700

Washington Street Elementary

Otsego Middle School

Otsego High School

Special Education

Community Education / B.A.S.E.

269-694-7800

269-694-7500

269-694-7400

269-694-7907

269-694-7930

Learn ‘n Grow Early Childhood Education Center

Athletics High School

269-694-7960

269-694-7405 Middle School

Transportation Department

Carrie Barnhart-Root, Supervisor

269-694-7500

269-694-7940

OPS Foundation www.opsfoundation.org

2023-24 School Year Calendar

August

21 - 1st day of school (No school on Fridays in August)

September

1 & 4 - No school - Labor Day weekend

6 - Delayed Starts begin

October

17 & 18 - MS P/T conferences

18 & 19 - HS P/T conferences

20-23 - No School, Fall Break

25 - No Delayed Start

November

14-16 - Half days of school (HS exams, elementary P/T conferences)

17 - No School, end of trimester

20-24 - No School, Thanksgiving break

December

25 - Winter break begins

January

8 - School resumes

February

7 - HS P/T conferences

8 - MS P/T conferences

12-16 - Mid-Winter Break

March

5-7 - Half days of school (HS exams, elementary conferences)

8 - No school, end of trimester

29 - No School, Spring Break

April

1-5 - No School, Spring Break

25 - MS P/T conferences

May 29 - No school, Memorial Day

June

12-13 - Half days of school

13 - Last day of school

OPS ConneCtion is published 4 times per year with printing by RiverRun Press, 600 Shoppers Lane, Parchment, MI 49004. It is distributed to all residents of the Otsego Public Schools district. Residents in the district who live north of “G” Avenue receive their newsletter via the Community Shopper’s Guide. Residents who live south of “G” Avenue, and School of Choice families, receive their newsletter via the U.S. Post Office. Changes of address, suggestions, and questions should be signed and sent to Holly McCaw, Director of Communications, Otsego Public Schools, 400 Sherwood Street, Otsego, MI 49078-1281. For more information contact Holly at (269) 694-7910 or hmccaw@otsegops.org.

The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, including sexual orientation or transgender identity, disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, (collectively, “Protected Classes”), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities.