Many people would say a Kindergarten class can be a zoo, but it literally was transformed into a zoo this month at Dix Street Elementary.

Students brought in stuffed animals and built exhibit areas for them at their tables. Each student also donned a handmade safari hat or shirt made out of a paper grocery bag.

It’s nice to have the “W” in the score column, but good sportsmanship is something Otsego holds high in its athletic program, “We put a significant emphasis on sportsmanship with our fans, coaches and players,” says OHS Athletic Director John Kubiak. He says it is also stressed from the Wolverine Conference.

It was a packed gym Tuesday afternoon as participants gathered to Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Along with the 112 students, 25 staff members helped out for the hour-long event to keep the kids moving.

They raised a total of $5,857.62.

At the start of Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Denny Patzer presented Florence Thole with the 2013 Outstanding Citizen Award. This award is presented to an Otsego Public Schools volunteer each year that goes above and beyond in helping students’ educational experience and success.