Steele High School Newsletter
September 2020
Principal's Message
Hello Comet Nation,
On behalf of the faculty and staff at Marion L. Steele High School, I would like to thank our students and parents for making our return to school such a success.
We are very proud of how our students have risen to the occasion during these unprecedented times. Each and every day both onCampus and eCampus Steele students are ready to learn with a positive outlook.
Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns as we continue throughout this year.
Go Comets,
Mr. Tellier
Parent- Teacher Conferences Sign Up
Marion L. Steele High School will be holding Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 8th from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, January 14th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Thursday, April 8th from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
We encourage all parents to schedule a time to meet with any or all of their child's teachers. To schedule a parent conference, please call Mrs. Doehr at 440-988-4433 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. After you sign up with Mrs. Doehr, you will receive a Google Meet calendar invitation for your conference.
PSAT on October 14th
On Wednesday, October 14th, Steele High School will be administering the PSAT/NMSQT to Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors only.
Testing will begin promptly at 7:45 am. Students may get a Grab and Go breakfast from the cafetorium before reporting to their testing room. Students are released from school once they finish testing. There will be Grab and Go lunches available in the cafetorium for students to pick up on their way out of the building.
The busses will still run at the normal time of 2:45 pm. Students who do not have a way of getting home after testing may stay in the cafetorium with a staff member until 2:45 pm.
Seniors will not report to school on Wednesday, October 14th but will instead work remotely on assignments at home.
2020 - 2021 Yearbook
For easy ordering, click on the link below to access Jostens online ordering process! Jostens online ordering link:
http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A06260600
If you have any questions, contact Yearbook Advisor Brian Rubinski at brian_rubinski@amherstk12.org
School Fees
Fees for the first trimester have been placed on accounts. Fees for trimester 2 and 3 will be put on student accounts during those trimesters.
Students taking an AP exam, must have their test fee(s) paid by February 1, 2021. The cost of each AP exam is $85.
Parking Permits Still Available
There are still parking permits available for parking in the South Lot. All student drivers parking on Amherst Exempted Village School District property must obtain a parking permit and follow the student parking rules outlined on page 26 of the Marion L. Steele Student/Parent Handbook.
Please print and complete the Parking Permit Application and Informed Consent Agreement before purchasing a permit from the main office.
USDA No-Cost Meal Benefits Information
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allowing Amherst Schools to offer onCampus students breakfast and lunch at no cost to families from September 23, 2020, through December 31, 2020, or until the USDA funds run out; whichever happens first. If we find out that the USDA funds have run out, we will let all of you know when students will have to go back to full-pay, reduced-price or free status.
Students will still have to pay full price for any a la carte items they want to buy. Families who have a Free and Reduced-price Meal Application expiring October 6, 2020 must still complete a new one for the 2020-21 school year. You can complete that HERE. We must have this on file in order to waive instructional fees for those that qualify for free meals.
Any money your student borrowed before September 23, 2020 still needs to be paid back. You will receive an email or a paper copy of how much your student owes.
If you have any questions regarding the Nutrition Services Department, please contact Deanne Pastva, Nutrition Services Supervisor at 440-988-1991 or deanne_pastva@amherstk12.org.
Reporting Procedures for Absence
The notification must contain the name of the parent/guardian making the call, date of the call, date of the absence, and reason for the absence (must be one of the eight excused absence reasons).
If no parent/guardian notification is received, it is our policy to call the home of the absentee. It is also our policy to spot check student absences, even if a phone call has been received. If the parent does not contact the school or the school is unable to contact the parent/guardian, the student will be listed as unexcused for the day and considered truant.
Upon returning to school, a student needs to bring a written note from the parent/guardian if a phone call has not been received in the attendance office. If a written note is received with the date of the absence and one of the eight excused absence reasons, the unexcused absence will be changed to an excused absence. Students returning to school without a phone call or note will be considered unexcused and truant.
Excused Absence
An excused absence is an absence where a parent and/or guardian properly provides a phone call or note within 48 hours of the absence.
The following reasons will be classified as an excused absence per Ohio Revised Code and district policy:
1) personal illness (a written physician's statement verifying the illness may be required)
2) illness in the family necessitating the presence of the child
3) quarantine of the home
4) death in the family
5) medical or dental appointment (with proper documentation)
6) observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday
7) college visitation (up to 3 visits with proper documentation)
8) emergency or another set of circumstances in which the judgment of the Superintendent of Schools or designee constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence from school
If the student has more than 65 hours of absences, every absence thereafter will be considered truant, unless it is a school-authorized field trip, suspension, or medically certified absence.
Unexcused Absence
An unexcused absence is an absence where a parent/guardian does not make contact with the school to verify absence for one of the eight excused absence reasons per Ohio Revised Code.
Excessive unexcused absences may result in a court referral per House Bill 410.
If the student has more than 65 hours of absences, every absence thereafter will be considered truant, unless it is a school-authorized field trip, suspension, or medically certified absence.
House Bill 410: Truancy and Excessive Absences
Habitually Truant: absent without legitimate excuse (please see previous Attendance Procedures for explanation of excused absences) for:
- 30 or more consecutive hours
- 42 or more hours in a school month
- 72 or more hours in a school year
- 38 or more hours in one school month
- 65 or more hours in one school year
School Social Worker
Please visit Ms. Maiorca's website to learn more about her and the services she provides are families.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Important First Trimester Dates
Thursday, October 8th: Parent/Teacher Conferences (Virtual)
Friday, October 9th: NEOEA Day, No School
Wednesday, October 14th: PSAT/NMSQT test for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders only
Tuesday, November 17th: End of First Trimester
Past Issues of the Steele Report
Just in case you missed a past issue of the Steele Report, click on the links below.
Marion L. Steele High School
Email: ashley_harigan@amherstk12.org
Website: https://www.amherstk12.org/schools/steele
Location: 450 Washington Street, Amherst, OH, USA
Phone: 440-988-4433
Twitter: @SteelePrincipal