Hello Green Bear Families,
It was great seeing you at Open House last night. This week and next week will be centered on getting our Green Bears adjusted to the new year including making friends, classroom routines, safety procedures, and having fun. Here are a few reminders as we get started…
✅ Please use our CIRCLE when dropping off and picking up students by car. You may also park in a designated parking spot. No students are permitted to meet families in the parking lot. They must be PICKED UP ON THE SIDEWALK or up by the FRONT PILLARS. The Ottawa Hills Police will be carefully monitoring arrival and dismissal. To avoid a citation, please DO NOT pick-up or release your child from your vehicle on Indian Road unless you are parked in a designated spot. Again, USE THE CIRCLE--it is the safest method for arrival and dismissal. Also, it is very important that your child use our designated crosswalks--please practice and model this behavior.
✅ When coming through The Circle, please have your NAME SIGN clearly displayed on your dashboard or passenger window when picking up your child. Even if you do not use the CIRCLE, please consider HOLDING UP YOUR NAME SIGN so that the teacher and supervisors can direct your child accordingly. If you have a kindergartener, please click here for specific arrival and dismissal instructions.
✅ If your child has an electric scooter or electric bike, the Ottawa Hills Police Department has asked both buildings to share and include 2025 Bike and Traffic Safety information. If you have any questions about your child’s bicycle, electric bike or electric scooter, please contact the OHPD at 419-531-4211 or police@ottawahills.org. For OHES, all students are required to walk their bike/scooter on school property between 7:45-3:00 p.m.
✅ Please note changes to the district's electronic device policy. Cell phones, smartwatches, and similar devices are not permitted during the school day and must be kept in backpacks/lockers during the entirety of the school day. Electronic devices of this nature are not permitted during instructional periods unless specifically stated in a student’s 504 or Individualized Education Plan. Please refer to the Board-approved handbooks for further information.
✅ During the Kindergarten Staggered Start, we are flexible and allow Kindergarten families to walk their children to the classroom. Starting on Monday, August 25, kindergarten students will be walked down to the classroom by our Safety Patrol students. If your child is feeling anxious about starting the day or walking down to the classroom, we have several adults outside and in the building who can assist. For specific concerns, please reach out to our counseling team: Elizabeth Proctor (Syrowski) (esyrowski@ohschools.org) or Mary Beth Ellison (mellison@ohschools.org).
✅ During school hours, ONLY SCHOOL PERSONNEL are permitted on school grounds which includes the playground and athletic fields.
✅ If you need to come into the building, ALL VISITORS are REQUIRED TO SIGN-IN USING OUR RAPTOR SYSTEM. You will need a state ID to sign into the system. You only need to sign-in if you are requesting access beyond the second set of doors into the school. If you are just dropping off lunch or a school item, please label it with your child's name and homeroom teacher, and place it on the Drop-off Table located in the vestibule.
✅ The Ottawa Hills School Parent Association (OHSPA) Hot Lunch Program will begin after Labor Day, September 2. To sign-up, please click here and order before the 24th of each month. Until then, please ensure that your child has a packed lunch daily.
Thank you for your continued support as we welcome our kids back to a new year!
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