THE OTSEGO OWL Week of December 18, 2006 Volume 1 No. 15 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Sharon Stepankewich December is a month that is filled with numerous celebrations. Each family has their own unique ways of enjoying the holiday season. Try to make the most of this year’s festivities by adding some of the following activities to your holiday repertoire: • Start a new tradition for your family that can be carried on for years to come. It can be as simple as a joyful song, favorite meal, special outing, or new and exciting way to decorate your home for the season. Try to come up with an idea together that is meaningful for the entire family. • Many people spend countless hours in crowded malls and stores searching for the perfect gift. Explore the option of making a contribution to a person's favorite charity. This is a thoughtful idea that will honor the recipient and make a difference for those in need. • Volunteer your time to help people who are less fortunate. Local shelters, food banks, hospitals, and nursing homes, as well as hundreds of other charities, often welcome extra hands this time of year. Your family could provide some cheer for individuals who are having a difficult holiday season. Offering your time also helps gain perspective for your own situation. This experience will teach your child the importance of giving back to their community. Try to extend this volunteer work throughout the entire year. • Make a special effort to learn about other cultures and traditions during this month. Find out what friends and neighbors are doing to celebrate the season and share your family’s special events with others. Take part in a cultural experience (play, concert, art show), try new foods, or visit a historical site (near or far). Our local library as well as the Internet can provide resources to help you study other cultures or traditions with your child. Enjoy this special time with your loved ones! THIS WEEK’S AGENDA • PLEASE NOTE: The Morning ELA Program for Grades 3, 4, and 5 has ended. • Friday December 22nd - Grades 4 and 5 - Field Trip to Elwood Movie Theater (Charlotte’s Web) • Saturday, December 23rd - Winter Recess Begins FUTURE OTSEGO HAPPENINGS • Tuesday, January 2nd - School Opens • Wednesday, January 3rd - PTA Executive Board Meeting, 6:30PM PTA General Membership Meeting, 7:30PM • Week of January 8th - New York State English Language Arts Exam, Grades 3-5 • Monday, January 8th - Otsego hosts the Board of Education Meeting PARENT TALK When your child is frustrated with school, help him/her put the problem into perspective. Take the time to assist your child with developing actions that will solve the problem. Listen to his/her thoughts about the situation and ways to make it better. You may be surprised to discover that your child’s insights may be wiser than his or her years. Developing strategies to handle stressful situations now, will enable children to better deal with difficult times as an adult. SCHOOL CLOSINGS / DELAYED OPENINGS Beginning this winter, the district’s automated phone system will be used to notify you in the event of a school closing and delayed opening. Since this system can take up to one hour, you can get instant information using one of the following sources: • District Website (http://www.hhh.k12.ny.us) • District’s E-Mail Notification System (To subscribe, follow this link: http://www.hhh.k12.ny.us/page.cfm?p=602 ) • Cablevision News 12 or News 12’s Website (www.news12.com) • AM Radio (WLIX 540, WGSM 740, WHLI 1100, WGBB 1240, WGLI 1290, WALK 1370) • FM Radio (WMJC 94.3, WALK 97.5, WBAB 102.3) KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION IMPORTANT REMINDER Kindergarten registration will take place in January. If you Please be sure to notify us immediately if any of your contact information have any children who will turn 5 years old by changes. This includes new home phone, cell phone, or work phone December 31, 2007, please contact our main office numbers. In addition, please make sure that the phone numbers you have (592-3600) to ensure that your child is on our list of given us for your emergency contacts (relatives, neighbors, friends, etc…) are incoming students. In addition, if you have neighbors or current. In the event of an emergency, we need to be able to reach you or a friends who have children in this age group, please ask them designee. We also want to ensure that the correct numbers are included as to contact us between the hours of 10AM and 2PM. part of the district’s automated phone system. Thanks for your help as we prepare for the next generation! WEB SITE OF THE WEEK QUOTE OF THE WEEK http://www.kidsclick.org/ This site was created by a group of US librarians so kids “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” could find age-appropriate Web content on everything from -Benjamin Franklin science to health to popular entertainment. All links are non-commercial and non-violent. Visit the Otsego Page at http://www.halfhollowhills.k12.ny.us and subscribe to have this weekly newsletter e-mailed to your office and/or home. .