Otsego Junior High

Hello Otsego Families!

Important Dates:

October 22 - End of first quarter

October 23 - NO SCHOOL

October 27 - Choir concert; 6th grade - 6:30pm, 7th and 8th grade - 7pm

October 29 - Trunk or Treat; 5-6pm

October 29 - JH band concert

November 4 - Conferences 4-8pm

November 5 - NO SCHOOL; Conferences 10am - 8pm

December 17 - Choir concert

February 28 - Ice cream social

May 18 - Choir concert

Here is the link to our Homework Calendar:

HomeWork Calendar

Non-emergency/crisis Referral Form

If you have an emergency/crisis school situation and need to speak to someone at the school please call the office at 419-823-4381 ext. 3100

There are some important changes to Ohio’s school attendance laws. These updates shift the focus from not only addressing truancy to also supporting students who may be at risk for becoming chronically absent and habitually truant.

Key Changes to Attendance Reporting

Chronic Absenteeism:

A student will be considered chronically absent if they miss at least 10% of the minimum number of hours required in the school year. This includes all absences—both excused and unexcused.

Missing just 2–3 days per month may place a student at risk of being chronically absent by the end of the school year.

Habitual Truancy:

The definition of “habitually truant” has not changed. A student is considered habitually truant if they are absent from school without a legitimate excuse for:

• 30 or more consecutive hours (about 5 school days),
• 42 or more hours in one month (about 7 school days), or
• 72 or more hours in one school year (about 12 school days).

When a student is habitually truant, the school must notify families in writing of the legal consequences. If progress is not made in improving attendance, the school or district is required to file a complaint with juvenile court.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

We understand that students may occasionally miss school for valid reasons such as medical appointments, family emergencies or funerals. While these absences are considered excused by district policy, it’s important for families to be aware that all absences, including excused ones like vacations, are counted toward chronic absenteeism under state guidelines. We encourage families to take this into consideration when scheduling appointments and vacations.

Why Attendance Matters

Regular school attendance is one of the strongest indicators of student progress and success. When students are not in school, they miss out on important learning opportunities, social development and classroom engagement. These new laws are designed to ensure that students and families receive support early, before absences become a significant barrier to success.

How You Can Help

1. Make going to school a daily priority.
2. Schedule appointments and travel outside of school whenever possible.
3. Communicate with the school about any barriers to attendance your child may be facing.

We are committed to working with families to ensure that every student is empowered to be future ready. If you have any questions about these changes or need support with your child’s attendance, please contact your school principal or counselor.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child’s school attendance and education!

You can use Payschools to pay for fees and lunches online.

Quick Setup Guide:

Payschools Quick Setup Guide

Manage your account:

www.PaySchoolsCentral.com

Payschools Signup Information:

Payschools Introduction and Information Letter

Event code: FE261426

Retakes on September 25th

*Some dates are subject to change*

1. Go to https://ptcfast.com/schools/Otsego_Junior_High

2. Select the box next to your child’s grade level. If you have more than one child, you can select both of their teachers. Click submit.

3. Follow the prompts on ptcfast. You will need to enter your email address and confirm your email to select a time.

4. From the email, click the link to select a conference time. If you entered more than one student, you will see the schedules for all the teachers you selected and can schedule all at one time.

5. When you have selected your times, click “Confirm Selections and Exit” at the bottom of the page.

6. Appointment times will be emailed to you, and you will receive email reminders prior to conferences.

Family Sign-Up Now Open

The holidays are a special time of year, but we know they can also bring added stress for many families. The Otsego Angel Tree Program is here to help. If your family is in need of assistance this holiday season, we invite you to fill out the confidential form below to be included on our Angel Tree. All information will remain completely anonymous, known only to the organizers of the program.

Angel Tree Form Link

Please complete the form by Friday, November 6th, 2026.

If you have any issues accessing the form, please call Otsego Central Office and ask for Mary Gase. Or you can contact Mary Gase, mgase@otsegoknights.org or . She will be happy to assist you in filling it out.

We want every family in our community to know everyone needs a little help sometimes, and we’re here for you. Together, we make Otsego stronger.

#OneHeartbeat Go Knights!

The Otsego Local School District and the Hall of Fame Committee are accepting nominations for the 2026-2027 Otsego Hall of Fame Class.

The Otsego Hall of Fame is designed to recognize individuals who have brought honor to themselves by making significant impacts or contributions to the school, community, or students. The Otsego Hall of Fame also exists for all alumni who have earned distinction beyond graduation. These individuals have made noteworthy achievements as successful adults in their chosen careers and/or have served as benefactors of mankind. The Otsego Hall of Fame also recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Otsego Local Schools as a staff member, coach, or friend of Otsego.

To nominate an individual, please complete this form.

Nominations are due November 1, 2026.

Awards Reception and Recognition will be Friday, January 15, 2027 at 6:00 pm at Otsego High School.

For more information, contact Mary Gase at 419.823.4381 ext 3404 or mgase@otsegoknights.org

Please use the following form to inform OHS Student Council about a family in need within the school district. While the family does not need to have students in the district, we do ask that they are a member of the Otsego Community. Please use this form to share information about their current situation as well as how they can best be assisted.

Please be sure to understand that while Knight in Shining Armor (KISA) would love to help all community members in need, we are still a new program, and may not have the funds to do so. With that being said, we will consider each request on a case by case basis. Filling this form out does not guarantee that we will be able to assist the family, but we will try our hardest to do so!

These funds are not for routine expenses such as utilities, bills, rent, etc. It is designed for assisting community members in an emergency situation. This can include, but is not limited to unforeseen medical expenses, medical related travel expenses, and household emergencies such as a fire, water leaks, etc. Please keep this in mind when submitting a nomination.

Please refer to this link at any point during the year as a need arises, and KISA will do their best to help out!

https://goo.gl/forms/mG7IctP7q8ZAaQOX2

The Otsego Local School District provides this space as a community bulletin board in accordance with Board Policy 9700. Materials posted are not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with the District. Community organizations are welcome to submit events and information for consideration. The District reserves the right to review, approve, or deny any submission in accordance with Board policy and established guidelines.