Montgomery Elementary News
November 20, 2020
Contact Us
Dr. Amy Debelak, Principal
Ms. Sally Ganz, Asst. Principal
Office 686-1730
Absence Line 686-1707
FAX 792-6131
School Nurse 686-1733
Cafeteria 686-1735
Transportation 686-1785
Website: http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Domain/13
Location: 9609 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: 513-686-1730
Facebook: www.facebook.com/montgomeryelementaryofficial/?fref=ts
Twitter: @Montgomery_Elem
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. First of all, it is the only meal I cook that my entire family eats without complaints, so I am always thankful for that! This year I look forward to resting and being thankful that my family is safe. I hope all of you get to spend time with one another and get to see family and friends either virtually or other safe ways. I am so thankful for all of you and our wonderful staff here at Montgomery. Please keep in touch through our remote learning time and reach out to me if you need anything at all. I will miss the students so very much. My email is debelaka@sycamoreschools.org.
Best wishes!
Amy
NOVEMBER
23 - Evening Conferences (4pm - 8pm)
25 - Thanksgiving Break
26 - Thanksgiving Break
27 - Thanksgiving Break
STUDENT'S LEARNING MODE
Sycamore Schools is now accepting requests to change your student's learning model for the second semester. You DO NOT need to fill out this form if your student plans to stay in their current learning model. Please fill a separate form for each student in your household who wants to switch models by November 30 at 10:00 p.m. If you do not complete a form by the deadline, your student will be automatically re-enrolled in their current learning model. Please review our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the second semester and the process to change models. To access the request form, please click here. You will receive an email confirmation after you submit the form.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW - SEE BELOW
This week Dr. Debelak took some of our second graders on a virtual tour during our lunch together! It was great to see familiar faces.
Ms. Ganz asked the students what they were grateful for and here are their answers:
Allana -"My Mom because she enjoys playing with me and she is sophisticated."
Jaxon- " My family, they support me, they care for me."
Khubaib-" My Mom and Dad make me food and take care of me."
Sinclair-"My sister, my family, they love me and help each other."
Ammar-" My parents don't make me feel invisible. they don't make me sad."
Ms. Ganz- "My family and getting to work at Montgomery Elementary School!"
We look forward to our lunches with our students learning virtually. See you soon!!
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
ALL conferences will be held virtually, for both Virtual Classroom and Face-to Face students. Parents will receive details regarding the conferences as they get closer. Dates are as follows:
Nov. 19 (Thursday) Evening Conferences (K-6)
Nov. 20 (Friday) Daytime conferences (No School-K-8 only)
Nov. 23 (Monday) Evening Conferences (K-4 and 7-8)
MESSER MEDIA NOTES
Join the Montgomery staff as we read The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate.
Each week, we will be sending out (or adding) 5 videos. Tune in at your leisure. Let's all connect and share a story!
Be sure to watch for the final five read aloud videos after we return from Thanksgiving break!
Click below for the youtube video link ~
Reading Twelve ~ Mrs. Cummings
Happy Holiday Season Montgomery Elementary families!
Will be collecting donations for the Operation Give Back Holiday store (which serves families in need in the Sycamore District). The bin is located under the stairs near the pig statue. If you’re interested in donating we will be collecting the following items (new items only please)-LEGO sets, art supplies, sports equipment, kid/teen pajamas, etc.
The deadline to donate is Friday, December 4.
Thanks in advance for your generosity.
Dear Montgomery Families,
We are off to another great school year at Montgomery Elementary and whether your child is attending school face to face or virtually the PTO continues to strive to make sure you are kept up to date with information. Thank you for your patience and please see all the new information below in the S'more and also on the PTO website and Facebook!
The Montgomery PTO is an organization that consists of parents, teachers, and school staff that works together to enhance the education of every child. We support the school and teachers with volunteers, provide a forum for two-way communication, happily fund many school items/teaching tools, and host a variety of events. This year, obviously, looks much different than any other school year, but we want to let you know that the PTO is working hard to provide the same support as we always have.
The Directory should be available in the next day or two (if not already). In light of this unusual school year we have decided to make the Directory Spot App available to ALL our Montgomery families and staff. If you have issues logging on or have any questions please email mtptodirectory@sycamoreschools.org but please make sure that you have not opted out in Final Forms first please.
Thank you also to those virtual learners and fifth grade (last year's graduates) that came out to pick up your yearbook. If you were unable to pick up yearbook(s) during the distribution we will be contacting you very soon in order to arrange a new pickup day/time. Questions about your child's yearbook please contact Kristy Felss (mtpto@sycamoreschools.org). More information about the 2020-2021 Yearbook coming very soon as please be on the lookout!
Please consider (if you are able to do so) making a donation to the PTO for this school year. Our typical membership fees usually only cover about the cost of our yearly DirectorySpot membership! In the past few years the PTO has been fortunate enough to donate a new sound system for the gym/cafeteria, a new kindergarten playground, technology like chromebooks/iPads, and countless activities/programs for our students, such as the Author Visits this past school year. A link for PayPal is available after completing the Google Form and can also be found on the PTO Website if you wish to make a donation. This school year will not have the traditional fundraisers (Boosterthon and Carnival) so we ask that you please take this into consideration as we are not able to do what we do without the generosity of our families. We are brainstorming ideas for additional Hassle-Free donations, in addition to Kroger, Box Tops for Education, and Pipkins (see below for more information) and considering adding a spring fundraiser if possible, but nothing has been finalized.
As always please make sure that you are following updates from the PTO via these three ways:
1) Montgomery Elementary Facebook Group
2) Sycamore District Montgomery Elementary PTO Page (https://www.sycamoreschools.org/domain/648)
3) Montgomery Elementary Weekly Newsletter (S’more)
Building a strong Montgomery Elementary Community for ALL is a goal for the PTO. We are working hard on ways to increase student/teacher support this school year and thinking of ways to still have fun (and some FUN-Draising) activities throughout the year.
I, and the rest of the executive board, look forward to working with you this year as we do our best to make a positive difference for our children, the staff, and our school. Please contact me anytime with questions.
Sincerely,
Kristy Felss
Montgomery Elementary PTO President
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This years Directory is up and running and available through the Directory Spot App! In light of this unusual school year we have decided to make the Directory Spot App available to ALL our Montgomery families and staff. New families should receive an email how to set up your account. If you have issues logging on or have any questions please email mtptodirectory@sycamoreschools.org but please make sure that you have not opted out in Final Forms first please. A special thank you to Wendy Andersen for all of her help with the Directory!
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If you are part of the Montgomery Elementary family, we encourage you to join us in making our school a great place for all of our kids! PTO membership offers you many opportunities to learn about what is going on at the school, to be involved and make some friends along the way. PTO members can vote on the PTO budget and receive access to our directory via the DirectorySpot app. Joining the PTO does not obligate you to volunteer; it's just a great way to show your support of Montgomery Elementary!
Joining the PTO is a simple process! Please just fill out the Membership Form!
General PTO Virtual Meetings:
Wednesday, January 13 @ 7-8:30pm - Link to follow
Wednesday, March 10 @ 9:30-11am - Link to follow
Wednesday, May 12 @ 9:30-11am - Link to follow
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Virtual Family Fun Nights:
January 29 (6-6:45 K-2nd and 7-7:45 3-4) Links to follow
April 23 (6-6:45 K-2nd and 7-7:45 3-4) Links to follow
MARK YOU CALENDAR!
Montgomery Elementary PTO is having a fundraiser at City
Barbeque Blue Ash on 12/3/2020! Order online or head on over to show your support and
enjoy some BBQ—we’ll get 20% of sales from everyone who shares this post or uses
our fundraiser code "FundA" when they order at (https://order.citybbq.com/menu/blue-
ash) or in the City BBQ app!
HASSLE FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
You can earn money for Montgomery Elementary PTO just by using your Kroger Plus card at Kroger. But first, you must log onto your Kroger account and designate Montgomery Elementary as the organization you want to receive Community Rewards. Here is how…
1. Log onto your Kroger.com account
2. Click “My Account”
3. Click “Community Rewards”
4. Choose Montgomery Elementary PTO (Organization # VP832)
5. You can verify if you are already set-up by looking at the bottom of your most recent Kroger receipt. It will indicate that you have designated Montgomery Elementary PTO as the organization you chose to receive your rewards.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
GOT CLIPS? Drop off all your unexpired Box Tops at school in the Healthy Drop Box (outside the front doors) between 10am-2pm Monday-Friday! Please make sure they are in plastic ziplock bags and at the school before October 19th!
GOT LABELS? Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will automatically find the products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online. No clipping required! NO MORE CLIPPING! SCAN YOUR RECEIPT! SEE HOW AT BTFE.
Click here for a video demonstrating how to scan your receipts and receive credit via the App. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-bNcykyK5Y
PIPKIN'S MARKET
Anytime you shop at Pipkins Market they will donate a percentage of your spending to Montgomery Elementary PTO. All you have to do is bring your receipt(s) to school just like the box tops!
Bring Box Tops and Pipkins Receipts to school between 10am-2pm in a plastic bag and drop them outside the front doors in the Healthy Drop Box! Please do not send them to school with your child at this time or drop them off during Morning Drop Off or Afternoon Pick Up!
Questions about any of the Hassle Free programs or alternative ways to turn in your Box Tops and/or Pipkin’s Receipts before October 19th please contact Molly Duffey at mduffeyrn@yahoo.com
SYCAMORE GEAR
Do you have questions about navigating the Sycamore gifted program with your child? Do you have a story or expertise to share? Are you desiring to be more connected to the GEAR community? If so, go to www.SycamoreGEAR.org, find a date that works for you, and join for casual conversation and connection about these topics and more.
Sycamore Band and Orchestra Boosters will not be hosting the 20th annual Arts and Crafts Show in 2020. However, we have created an online showcase to connect our vendors/shoppers. Please visit www.sbob.org/craftshow to view the list.