Dear Families -
Super Reader Powers, Activate! Tomorrow is the official kickoff to the 2023 Read A Thon! Deploy your Reading Powers...now! If your family would like to participate in his e sure to register on the below fundraising site:
Maryland - http://pledgestar.com/maryland
Montrose - http://pledgestar.com/montrose
Cassingham - https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/select_teacher
Each of our schools this month are intentionally celebrating the rich contributions made to American History by Black Americans. We were thrilled that our fifth grade students started off these celebrations last week with an incredible study of NPR’s resident poet Kwame Alexandar’s work along with a chance to interview him!
Looking forward to a good week,
Jeannine Hetzler, Cassingham
Rachel Niswander, Maryland
Nyesha Clayton, Montrose
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 6th - 21st - READ-A-THON
February 8th - CS Night at the Library
February 9th - Evening Parent Teacher Conferences for Grades 1 - 5
February 14th - 2:00 - 3:00 Valentine’s Day Classroom Parties
February 15th- MT Night at the Library
NO SCHOOL: Friday, February 17 (teacher compensation day - for conferences) and Monday, February 20 (President’s Day)
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Valentine’s Classroom Parties:
PTO Room Parents are working to organize Valentine’s Classroom Parties. If you would also like to attend, please reach out to your Room Parent(s) to sign up. (Room parents will seeking volunteers to assist with aspects of the party and will communicate through classroom email list.)
We ask that each parent who plans to volunteer during the party have completed Volunteer Application (Level 2) on file in the school office so that we can support our safety protocols and ensure your smooth entry into schools. We will also require all volunteers to sign in and obtain a visitor sticker prior to going to the classroom. We will have additional staff on hand to help with the sign in process.
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Free OSU Men's Basketball Tickets
Each elementary has 50 free tickets from the 2 & 7 Foundation - A Reading organization who have read to our 2nd graders throughout the district. They are offering these tickets to any families/staff who would like to attend next week's basketball game against the Northwestern Wildcats, Feb. 9th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available on a first come first serve basis. Please reach out to your school’s office to request tickets.
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PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES
Thursday, February 9th is a conference evening for 1st - 5th grades. This round of conferences is on an "as needed" basis. You may reach out to your student's teacher if you would like to discuss your child’s progress in person or through an online conference. Teachers have also been arranging conference appointments.
Kindergarten teachers will host conferences on the evening of March 2nd. The teachers will share sign-ups and further information through their newsletters or email.
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WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME
Winter months can mean we are inside more than outside and that illnesses can spread quickly through a classroom. We want to remind families of some signs to consider if you are wondering if your child is well enough to go to school. We know that a sick child is uncomfortable and unable to concentrate during the school day, additionally, sending an ill student to school puts other students and staff at risk.
Keep your child home if they..
Have a temperature of 100.0 or above. They may return to school when free of fever for 24 hours, without medicine.
Are vomiting or suffering from diarrhea needs to remain at home until symptom-free for 24 hours.
Are taking antibiotics for less than 24 hours.
Are complaining of headache, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue, stomach ache, earache or an injury that is severe enough to decrease their ability to engage in class.
Have yellow or green drainage from their eye/s.
Have a rash of unknown cause.
If you have concerns that your child may have a communicable illness or may have been in contact with someone who is ill, please contact our clinic.
For an exhaustive list of these kinds of concerns, please check out this information on our Health Services page.
And please remember to contact the school office when your child is absent for any reason.
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At the Bexley Library
TUESDAYS JANUARY 24 - FEBRUARY 28 4:30 - 5:15 PM: Page Pals program is being offered again this winter where students in grades K-3 can pair up with a teen volunteer and practice their reading skills with them.
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ELEMENTARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT
A few days ago all parents and guardians of students in grades 1-3 should have received a message from Dr. Shirley Hamilton, the district’s director of curriculum & gifted, and Amy Genter, our talent development specialist. The message asked parents/guardians to complete a brief online survey.If you haven’t done so already, please complete the survey by the end of tomorrow, Feb. 6.
In August, Amy began working every week with each elementary student in grades 1, 2, and 3. Her lessons help children build, hone and enhance persistence and thinking skills. This service was an outcome of a review of Bexley’s Gifted Services conducted in 2021-2022. Our flexible Math groups for students in 4th & 5th grade was also an outcome of that review.
The survey link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCA7-pBbOP4F2ViBgfOHz0n01ROISsSKmhO82912tmsSZifg/viewform?usp=sf_link.
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BEXLEY SKI CLUB SPIRITWEAR
Middle School PTO is offering FUN ski club merchandise again this year!
The online store will only be open from Thursday, Jan.12th-Wed. Jan. 18th.
Goods will be delivered to school in approximately 2-3 weeks after the store closes directly to your student at school. However, this is open to anyone in the community, past, present, or future skiers/snowboarders. *If you are not affiliated with the schools, we will deliver goods to your home.
https://bexski23.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
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ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Regular school attendance is an important ingredient in students’ academic success. Excessive absences interfere with students’ progress in mastering knowledge and skills necessary to graduate from high school prepared for higher education and the workforce. House Bill 410 requires all Ohio schools to calculate each child’s school attendance to the minute. To support academic success for all students, our schools partner with students and their families to identify and reduce barriers to regular school attendance. Please check out this list of frequently asked questions and contact your child’s teacher or principal with any questions regarding your child's attendance.
House Bill 410 - FAQ
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Montrose Valentine's Day Service Project
Valentine's Day 2023 is almost here! Montrose is incorporating a service project into the class parties. This year's project is snack bags with handmade art/cards for families of hospitalized children at Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio. K-2 will pack the snack bags and 3-5 will put together the artwork.
What do we need from the Montrose Community? Items off our Signup Genius - SIGNUP HERE! Options for getting the items to the Montrose PTO Community Service Committee - (1) you or your child can drop the items in a collection box in the Montrose front lobby, (2) you can porch drop-off the items to Stacey Philliber at 762 Vernon Rd, or (3) you can order online and have the items delivered to Stacey Philliber at 762 Vernon Rd. Items are needed by 10am Tuesday, February 14.
Questions? Reach out to MontrosePTOCommunityService@gmail.com
Thanks in advance for the contributions, Montrose Community!