News and Events
There's always something new going on at Mary A. Otondo Elementary. Stop by this page often for more information on special events and awards as well as informational articles!
We are so excited to introduce you to Benchmark ADVANCE, our new English Language Arts curriculum. This will be new for the 2019–2020 school year. Please take a moment to read about this new curriculum, and feel free to let us know if you have any questions.
Parents and guardians, the end of the year is approaching! Please do the following.
- Make sure that you've paid your child’s lunch account balance in full. Please contact Mrs. Enriquez between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the cafeteria via phone at (928) 502.8552.
- Make sure that your child has turned in all Otondo library books to the library. Please contact Mrs. Enquist between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the library via phone at (928) 502.8523.
- If your child goes to Right at School, please make sure you've paid the account balance in full. Please contact Silvia via phone at (928) 294.9596 or via email. Students with unpaid balances or outstanding library books may not be able to participate in field trips or special activities.
- If your child has prescription medication in the health office, you must pick it up prior to the end of the year. We will properly dispose of medication not picked up.
Join us for PTO game night on Wednesday, April 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria! We will have games for all ages. The concession stand will be open! Your participation helps the Otondo PTO raise funds for the school. Don’t miss this fun event!
AzMERIT testing will occur April 9-26. AzMERIT is a legislatively mandated assessment to measure student mastery of state standards in math, reading, and writing for grades three-five. AzMERIT tests are not timed tests. Once started a child must complete a sub-test during the same school day.
Please help your child be ready for testing by helping them with any practice they may have. Encourage your child to do their personal best. Remind your child to read carefully and read all possible answers before making a choice. Take time to think through questions and problems. When possible, do the work for math problems. When your child has finished, they should check over their answers.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and a good breakfast in the morning. Remember that all students can have a free breakfast right here at school from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. in the cafeteria.
Kindergarten Registration is going on now for the 2019-2020 school year! Please tell your friends and neighbors. Please visit our school office or contact us for information at (928) 502.8500.
Our father daughter dance is coming up; mark your calendars! This special evening will be March 16, 2019, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. The cost is $20 for a father and one daughter. Each additional daughter is $5. Entrance is only allowed with a pre-sale ticket. Purchase your ticket by March 14. Tickets are available at the school office.
We will hold parent teacher conferences on March 25 and March 27 - March 29. On Monday, March 25, we will dismiss at 2:10 p.m., as usual. We will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please make sure you have made arrangements for your children on these early dismissal days. Your child’s teacher will contact you with a date and time for your conference. Please make every effort to attend your child’s conference. Thank you!
The PTO is hosting a mother son dance. This event will occur on Saturday, February 23, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the basketball court. Tickets cost $25 per mother and son and must be pre-purchased. Your ticket price includes entry, grilled hamburger, chips, drink, picture and, a keepsake. Tickets go on sale on February 1. Don't forget to get yours, as tickets are not available at the door.
Proceeds from this event go towards a playground shade structure.
Get ready to smile for the camera! Spring pictures will occur on Wednesday, February 27.
We are now accepting kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year. Please tell your friends and neighbors that live in the Ottondo attendance area. To register your child you will need to bring your child's original birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residency, such as your utility bill.
The Penguin Patch is right around the corner! Your student can come and shop for family and friends on Monday, December 10 through Friday, December 14 in the Mesa room. We will help them wrap and tag the gifts. Keep your eyes open for the flyer and envelope for more information. Thank you from your PTO!
Please join us for our grandparent luncheon on Wednesday, December 12 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. in the front entrance breezeway. We look forward to seeing you there!
Winter break begins on Monday, December 17 and continues through Sunday, January 6. School resumes on Monday, January 7. Wishing you and your families a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
Our PTO is hosting a free movie night on Thursday, November 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the front lawn. The movie is Wreck-It Ralph! Please bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on and a sweater or jacket. The PTO will be selling snacks and drinks. There will also be a raffle for Thanksgiving baskets! We hope to see you there!
Don't miss our PTO-sponsored event, Donuts for Dad, on Thursday, November 29 in the front entryway of Otondo. Kids, bring your dad and have a donut with him!
The 36-member Otondo Special Olympics Play Unified team will be playing in the district-wide soccer tournament on Friday, November 16 at Yuma Valley Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The park is at 3162 West 24th Street in Yuma. We invite you to attend!
Castle Dome Middle School invited our school to their Veterans Day celebration on Friday, November 9. We will join them in their gymnasium for this time of remembrance and homage. There will be a guest speaker, and their band and choir will perform.
Please join us for our fall festival on Saturday, October 20 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Bring the entire family, and help our PTO raise funds to support our school! There will be a trick-or-treat hall, mini-haunted classroom, games, cakewalk, dunk tank, petting zoo, face painting, jumpers, pumpkin carving contest, Halloween costume contest for kids and adults, and more! Don’t forget about the food, there will be plenty. The Military, Border Patrol, and Law Enforcement may have displays.
Attractions and food items are one to four tickets each. Pre-sale tickets are October 2 through 15, with pick-up on October 17. The cost is 25 tickets for $10, or 50 for $20! Tickets are 50 cents each at the festival.
If possible, we would like each family to donate a bag of individually wrapped small candies for the festival. Please bring them to the school office prior to October 20. Thank you, and we can't wait to see you there!
Parent-teacher conferences will be October 9 through the 12. We will have early release at 1:00 p.m. all four days! We know you are busy, but it is so important for you to come to your child’s conference. Working together helps to ensure your child’s success. Please work with your child’s teacher to schedule a time for your child’s conference, and then be there!
Be prepared. Write notes to yourself that you want to share with your child’s teacher. Ask questions about school or classroom policies and procedures. Give your child’s teacher any tips to use to help your child be successful.
Ask important questions. How is my child progressing at this time? How does my child do socially? What are my child’s strengths and areas for growth? How can we support at home what you are doing in the classroom? Thank you in advance!
Your child’s attendance is extremely important. Students cannot learn when they are not at school. State law states that it is the responsibility of the parent to have his/her child at school and on time. Just a reminder, if you take your child out of school before 1:56 p.m. (before 12:49 p.m. on Monday), it will be considered a half day. After 1:56 p.m., it will be a tardy. As a special note, we have many parents signing their children out early. Please allow your children to complete the school day! When students are checked out early, it is very disrupting to the child, the remaining students, the teacher, and the teaching learning process when. Thank you!
Student illness has been on the rise recently here at Otondo. Please remember that students may not attend school with the following conditions:
- Fever (temperature over 100 degrees F.)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive sneezing/coughing
Students must be free of fever for 24 hours without medication. Students must remain at home until the other conditions have subsided or a physician provides evidence that your child may return to school. Thank you for your help!
Have you heard about our HOWL program for Otondo students? HOWL stands for Have Respect, Otondo Pride, Work Together, Lead by Example.
Students who get caught HOWLing by a staff member will receive a HOWLing card. The card entitles the student to a special pencil and lunch with the principal. We have had a number of students receive a HOWLing card. We appreciate students who lead by example and exhibit the other traits of HOWL! HOWLing students help make Mary A. Otondo a better environment for learning and teaching. Thank you to all of our HOWLing students!
We want to keep all our students, staff, and visitors safe! Below are some tips to remain safe throughout the school year.
- Parents/visitors are not permitted on the school playgrounds unless there is a special class/grade level/school activity.
- Students should not arrive at school before 8:15 a.m. unless they will be attending Right At School.
- Parents dropping off students should only do so in the drop-off lane. Please pull forward as far as possible to help facilitate drop offs. (Use north crosswalk.)
- Please do not drop students off in other areas of the parking lot.
- Parents escorting students may use either crosswalk. Unescorted students please use the north crosswalk.
- At morning drop-off, students grades one through five are to enter the playground area through the front gate, closest to the south crosswalk by the end of wing C. Parents/visitors are not permitted on the school playgrounds.
- Dismissal time is very busy in the front hallway. Parents, please wait for children outside under the trees, weather permitting.
- We do not permit parents/visitors in any part of the building without permission, signing in, and wearing a visitor’s pass obtained from school office personnel. When you are ready to leave, please sign out at the office and remove your pass.
- We do not allow pets on campus unless you have made prior arrangements with school administration.
Don’t be a U.F.O. (Unidentified Friend of Otondo) Please check in at the office and obtain a visitor’s pass.
September's lifeskill is responsibility! Responsibility means “I am the one that gets things done!” It means doing what's required, needed, or expected of us.
Otondo Coyotes are responsible when:
- They follow class, school and District rules and procedures.
- They complete and turn in on time all required/requested work/homework.
- They set an appropriate behavior example for other students.
- They are a friend and helper to everyone.
Our PTO fall fundraiser begins September 11! We encourage students to participate in this fundraiser by taking orders for Arizona Fundraisers products from their friends and family under parent/guardian supervision. There is no door-to door selling. Students will bring home information about the fundraiser.
Students must turn in completed fundraising forms, cash, and checks to their teachers on Tuesday, September 25. The PTO will use the funds to support students and staff during the school year. Please help your child participate in this fund raising effort if possible. Thank You!
Our school supply lists are now available. Get a jump start on your back-to-school prep and buy your supplies early. Please see our supply lists for the supplies needed for each grade. We hope you are having a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing everyone soon!