The Shoreline Scoop

September 4th-7th

• Labor Day Weekend - No School

September 8th

• Conflict Manager Training

September 9th

• First Delayed Start, school starts @ 10:00 a.m.
• Conflict Manager Training
• XC Practice, 3:53-5:00 p.m.

September 11th

• Mileage Club Kick-Off @ lunch recess

September 14th-18th

• Homecoming Spirit Week

September 14th

• PTO Meeting @ 4:00 p.m., Alamo Media Center
• XC Meet at OHS, 5:00 p.m.
• Board of Education Meeting @ & 7:00 p.m., Administration Office

September 15th

• Picture Day

September 16th-23rd

• Book Fair

September 18th

• Parade, Downtown Otsego, 5:45 p.m.
• Varsity Football Game, Bulldog Stadium, 7 p.m.

September 22nd

• Fall Festival @ 6:00-7:30 p.m., Alamo Elementary

September 25th

• Popcorn Friday

Positive Attitude

• Owen Waltzer
• Elizabeth Roeske

Responsible Actions

• Brooks Goodman
• Elizabeth Zinn

Integrity Within

• Nathan Waldron
• Blessing Arendt

Determination To Succeed

• Parker Haddix
• Emery Meyer

Expect Excellence

• Asher Leonard
• Sam Mathis

Quick schedule reminder for our OPS families! ️ There will be NO SCHOOL on

Friday, September 4th or Monday, September 7th. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Delayed starts begin Wednesday, September 9th! Throughout the school year, Otsego Public

Schools will start 90 minutes later on Wednesdays. Buses will also arrive 90 minutes later than

their usual arrival time.

This gives our staff meaningful time for professional development, while also giving students

and parents a slower start to one of your mornings.

Please see our school’s delayed start time below:

Alamo Elementary: 10:00am - 3:53pm

Dix Street Elementary: 9:50am - 3:43pm

Washington Street Elementary: 10:00am - 3:53pm

Otsego Middle School: 9:15am - 2:46pm

Otsego High School: 9:15am - 2:46pm

Mark your calendars! Mileage Club kicks off September 11th! Families are invited to join us during their child’s lunch recess. Can’t make the kickoff? Join us any Tuesday or Friday, weather permitting.

Don’t forget to send your child in tennis shoes on Mileage Club days. Let’s get moving, AES! 💙💛🐾

Kindergarten @ 11:35-11:55 a.m.

1st Grade @ 11:45-12:05 p.m.

2nd Grade @ 12:05-12:15 p.m.

4th Grade @ 12:15-12:35 p.m.

3rd Grade @ 12:35-12:55 p.m.

5th Grade @ 12:45-1:05 p.m.

We are so excited to set sail into a fantastic new school year together! Our incredible staff has been hard at work getting ready to make this year an absolute breeze for your students. To get to know the amazing educators and team members making waves at Alamo Elementary, catch the wave and click the special link below to meet our island crew!

The Alamo Elementary PTO needs you! Joining the Parent-Teacher Organization is a fantastic way to get involved in your child's education. We meet once a month at 4:00 p.m. in the Alamo Media Center. Below are the dates for this year’s meetings. We would love to have you join us for our first meeting on Monday, September 14th!

• September 14
• October 5
• November 2
• December 7
• January 4
• February 1
• March 1
• April 12
• May 17

Picture forms will be sent home with students this week. Please bring the pre-printed form in to the photographer whether you are ordering pictures or not. It helps the photographer to associate child to name and teacher. If you ordered online you may mark that on the form to speed up that process. All students will have their photo taken for school purposes.

Order online by clicking on the link below and using the school code: 4853ODEYMJEAZM

Picture re-take day will be in October.

Purple Week is coming up September 21-25, and the time is now to get your purple apparel! We have short and long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and more! All proceeds go directly to cancer and Parkinson’s disease research at Van Andel Institute. Wearing your purple shows your support for the cause - we hope to make this the most successful Purple Week fundraiser yet!!!

Get ready to catch the wave of school spirit as we celebrate Homecoming from September 18th–22nd! Join our island crew by dressing up for our tropical Spirit Days! Don't miss the fun ashore—our Homecoming parade sets sail at 5:45 PM in downtown Otsego followed by the home varsity football game. Let's make some waves and show off our Bulldog pride!

The Book Fair is back! Please be sure to stop by and do some shopping Sept. 16th-Sept. 23rd to buy your favorite little one or your favorite teacher a new book.

You’re Invited!

Who: Alamo Students & Families

When: Tuesday, Sept. 22nd

Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Where: Alamo Elementary School

We are really excited for a fun night of activities on Tuesday, September 22nd. Please plan to join us for a hot dog dinner between 6-7 p.m. Weather permitting, we will be outside. So, be sure to bring your lawn chairs or blanket for a family picnic.

Our library will be open for our annual Book Fair. The Book Fair will be open from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Fall festival games will be held outside between 6:30-7:30 p.m. The games this year will have a "Tropical Beach" theme. Prizes will be available for current Alamo students and siblings. Other activities include slushies, cotton candy, popcorn and bounce houses.

We hope you are able to make this fun event!

Students at Alamo can purchase popcorn on the last Friday of the month beginning on September 25th. Popcorn can again this year be purchased for the entire year by sending $4 per student (discounted, as well as the "easy button" for parents!) on or before the first popcorn date of September 25th, or it can be purchased each individual time for $0.50.

Below are the dates for popcorn Friday this year.

• September 25
• October 23
• November 20
• December 18
• January 29
• February 26
• March 26
• April 30
• May 28

Why is a Home/School Connection Important?

Parental involvement is crucial in schools for several reasons, primarily because it directly influences student success. Research consistently shows that when parents are engaged in their children's education, students tend to achieve higher academic performance, exhibit better behavior, and have improved social skills. Here’s a breakdown of why this involvement is so impactful:

1. Enhanced Academic Achievement: Students with involved parents are more likely to perform well academically. Parental engagement helps reinforce learning at home, leading to a better understanding of concepts taught in school.

2. Improved Behavior and Attendance: Active parental involvement often correlates with better attendance records and positive behavior in students. When parents show interest in their child's education, students feel more motivated to succeed.

3. Stronger Relationships: Communication between parents and teachers fosters a sense of community and support. This partnership helps address any issues that may arise, ensuring students receive the help they need.

4. Increased Self-Esteem: When parents praise their children's efforts and progress, it boosts their confidence and encourages a growth mindset. This positive reinforcement can motivate students to tackle challenges more readily.

5. Problem-Solving Support: Parents can help their children navigate school-related challenges, promoting resilience and effective problem-solving skills.

Tips for Promoting Parental Involvement:

1. Review Classwork: Regularly check assignments and classwork to ensure understanding and completeness.

2. Discuss Projects: Engage in conversations about upcoming projects to gauge your child’s feelings and offer support.

3. Praise Efforts: Recognize and celebrate your child’s hard work and progress, not just the outcomes.

4. Communicate with Teachers: Reach out to educators with any questions or concerns to stay informed and involved.

5. Maintain a Positive Attitude: Talk positively about the school experience to help your child develop a constructive outlook and approach challenges with confidence.

By adopting these practices, parents can significantly enhance their child’s educational experience, leading to better outcomes both academically and socially.

Please reach out for any communication by email at: rambs@otsegops.org or phone: 269-694-7619.

Hello Alamo Elementary Families!

I am excited to be joining Alamo as a school social worker! As a social worker, I will be supporting students with their social/emotional development, particularly students who have a more individualized plan for their development in these areas. My role will be split between all three elementaries in the district. Although I did not attend Otsego Public Schools, I grew up in the area and participated in many Alamo and Otsego activities. My family recently moved back into the Alamo area so now I have a 3rd grader at Alamo Elementary, a Y5er at Washington Street, and an almost 2 year old!

Please feel free to reach out with any questions by email at: aericks@otsegops.org or phone: 269-694-7631. Email is the quickest way to reach me at this time.

Good news! Once again, breakfast and lunch will be FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS for the 2026-27 school year! However, it is still vital that you fill out the Educational Benefits Form on our website (formerly the Free & Reduced Meal Application) because it is tied to more than school lunches.

If you qualify, you could receive discounts on internet service, school Chromebook insurance fees, testing fees, summer EBT and more! It also determines a portion of federal funding for our district. It's a quick form to fill out - you only complete one per family.

*Please note: Students who take a second meal will be charged the regular meal prices for that meal. Milk can also be purchased for $0.75 a la carte.

To complete the Educational Benefits Form or add money to your child’s account, go to:www.otsegops.org/departments/food-service.

To help save on paper, we will not be printing lunch menus unless requested. You can visit our website or the OPS App to view the menu each month.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! We are looking forward to another great year for the Bulldogs. With the start of the Fall 2026 sports season,

We will again offer 2026-2027 OPS home event passes/punch cards, which are good for regular-season home athletic events. We will also have student-only Wolverine Conference passes available.

Please see the attached flyers for additional details. You can use the direct links below to purchase your passes:

• Wolverine Conference Student Pass: (you must use your Student ID # as your passcode) - https://tinyurl.com/26-27WolverineConferencepass
• OPS Home Event Pass/Punch Card: - https://www.otsegops.org/athletics/tickets

Tickets may also be purchased at the gate using POS with a debit or credit card or online for each athletic event. Please note that cash will NOT be accepted at the gate.

Thank you for your continued support.

We are excited for another great year of Bulldog Athletics.

Go Dawgs!

Get your Wolverine Conference Student ONLY Pass today, good for all Otsego HOME games and all Wolverine Conference AWAY games (regular season). The first purchase window is now open and closes on September 16th. You will need your student ID number as a passcode to buy tickets.

https://www.otsegops.org/athletics/tickets - select Wolverine Conference Student pass.

As part of our commitment to supporting every student’s reading journey, our school is introducing a brief literacy assessment tool called mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition. You may hear your child talk about taking a quick reading check-in, so we wanted to share what this is, why we use it, and what it means for your child.

What is DIBELS? DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a set of short, standardized reading measures designed for elementary students. It acts like a "routine eye exam," but for reading—giving us a quick, accurate picture of foundational skills like sound recognition, word reading, and fluency.

Why are we using it?

• Early Detection: It helps us spot individual strengths and identify areas where a student might need extra support before they fall behind.

• Targeted Instruction: Teachers use the results to tailor classroom reading instruction to your child’s exact needs.

• Tracking Growth: We test briefly three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) so we can celebrate your child's progress over time.

What to expect:

• It’s quick and stress-free: Most assessments take only 1 to 3 minutes per measure and are completed one-on-one with a teacher.

• It is NOT a graded test: DIBELS is an instructional tool, not a traditional pass/fail exam. Students do not need to study or prepare.

How you can support at home: The best preparation is simply maintaining your regular routine! A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and continuing to read together at home for a few minutes each day are all your child needs.

We look forward to partnering with you to ensure your child has a successful and confident year of reading growth. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher or the main office.

If your child is absent and the absence is unexcused, you will receive an automated phone call reminding you to report the absence. Please remember to report your child’s absence, before 9am, by calling our attendance line at (269) 694-7680.

In accordance with Michigan’s statewide law taking effect for the 2026–2027 school year, all public school districts are required to maintain policies restricting student cell phone and personal electronic device use during instructional time to minimize distractions and promote engaged learning. At the elementary level, all personal electronic communication devices (including cell phones and smartwatches) must remain powered off and stored inside student backpacks/lockers throughout the school day. Exceptions are made for approved medical needs, IEP/504 accommodations, or district-owned instructional technology. We appreciate your support in helping our students stay focused, present, and ready to learn!

Please take a moment to review the attached Elementary Student Handbook 2026-27. It contains essential information regarding our school policies, expectations, daily procedures, and safety guidelines for the upcoming school year. Partnering with you to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students is a top priority, and reviewing this guide together helps start the year off on the right foot. If you have any questions after reviewing the handbook, please feel free to reach out to the main office!

Email: nknight-lucas@otsegops.org
Website: https://alamo.otsegops.org/
Location: 8184 North 6th Street, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Phone: (269) 694-7600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/415538888654020
Twitter: @otsegoschools