Slate Hill Newsletter
9/3/2021
A Note from Mrs. Gulley
Safety is one of the most important jobs I have as the principal at Slate Hill. I sent out a letter earlier this week to let you know that on Tuesday, September 7th our students will be sitting in both the cafeteria and classroom for lunch to allow them to eat 6 feet apart. Also we will be sending breakfast home with your child if they order it Monday- Thursday.
We have many parents that pick up their child at the end of the day so our car rider line is very long. It would be extremely helpful for all parents to pull in the car rider line and not park in our parking lot. Also, if you could help us keep our students safe by following the direction of our staff and pulling your car all the way down the sidewalk so that we can load more children into the cars at a time. We appreciate your patience and help.
Please be sure to read the letter below about our upcoming safety drills from our Director of Elementary Education.
I am really thankful to have all of our Slate Hill stars here every day! They are adjusting well to our building and classroom routines, and it is great to see them making new friends at lunch and recess.
Have a wonderful long weekend!
Julie Gulley, Slate Hill Principal
Planning for Safety in our Schools
The safety of our staff, students, and community is always a priority in Worthington Schools
Statistics show that when staff and students within a school are prepared with knowledge and practice, they respond to emergency situations with positive results. For that reason, schools have always engaged in routines, drills and learning that support everyone’s safety.
Historically, our schools have participated in the following safety drills:
A. Fire Drills that provide knowledge about reporting fire hazards, and experience with a safe evacuation of the building using multiple exits
B. Weather Drills that provide knowledge about how to be calm and safe in the event of weather related events (such as a tornado), and experience with locating sheltered space within the building in which safety is maximized.
C. Lock-Down Drills that provide knowledge about circumstances in which free movement in and around the building is curtailed (such as neighborhood disturbances or unruly school visitors), and experience with locking down the school perimeter, classrooms, and common areas to keep students safe in a secure area until the circumstance passes.
D. Rally-Point Drills that provide knowledge about exiting the building safely, (such as a gas leak or unsafe school visitor), and experience with walking to a predetermined safe space.
Public schools are required by Ohio law to engage in a "Full Scale" Safety Drill every three years. A "Full Scale" drill is one that combines traditionally practiced drills and will include a controlled classroom lockdown and simulated evacuation of the school, including processes to move students away from the school building in the case of presence of danger at school.
Worthington school staff have been trained in emergency response using the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training model. Part of this training for staff included how to take additional counter measures during a “lockdown” to facilitate students in an evacuation to a school “Rally Point” from which students could be transported to a “reunification” location to be joined with parents/guardians. Reunification points may vary, but the Worthington Education Center (WEC) would be considered first.
Prior to conducting the full scale safety drill, it is important to prepare students for participation in an age-appropriate manner.
During the month of September, our elementary Library Media Staff will be sharing an age-appropriate informational picture book with students in grades K-2. The book outlines awareness building for students, and includes teaching about a school rally point, which students will locate and visit. Students in grades 3-5 have participated in this read aloud previously. Should you like to preview the book, please reach out to your building principal.
Additionally, in the days leading up to each building’s full scale drill, classroom teachers will lead students in an age appropriate discussion that allows students to understand the steps involved in completing the full scale drill. The purpose of this is to eliminate any feelings of surprise and to allow students to know what to expect.
Our schools are great communities for learning. Being prepared for unplanned interruptions is one way to build confidence for ultimate student safety. The safety of our staff, students, and community is always our priority.
Sincerely,
Rob Messenheimer
Director of Elementary Education
Worthington City Schools
Curriculum Night on September 9th!
School Volunteers 2021-2022
Are you interested in helping at Slate Hill or in your child's classroom?
Here is the information about the Application Process.
All individuals interested in volunteering in Worthington Schools must complete a volunteer application. All individuals volunteering in the school building must wear a mask.
The online volunteer application is accessed through the district website (district or school home page > quick links > Volunteer Background Checks). Once the application is submitted and the volunteer receives the approval email (in approx. 7 to 10 days), the volunteer goes to the WEC with a state-issued ID and copy (hard or electronic) of approval email to have a picture ID badge created in HR. If an individual has been a resident of Ohio for less than five years or desires to be an overnight chaperone, they should follow the directions found on the district website/school volunteer background checks which directs them to visit HR to complete a paper application and have an FBI/BCI fingerprint background check run. The FBI/BCI results could take 30 to 60 days.
Volunteer badges are imprinted with an expiration date of five years.
Important Dates for 2021-22 School Year
September
6th: Labor Day (No School)
7th-27th: PTA Fall Fundraiser Mumkin Sale
9th: Curriculum Night- Grades 1-2 @ 5:00-5:45pm & Grades 3-5 @ 6-6:45 pm
13th: Board of Education meeting 7:30pm
16th: PTA meeting 7pm-Kindergarten & Related Arts teachers will be sharing
20th: Board of Education meeting 7:30pm
27th: Middle of 1st Trimester
October
7th: PTA Mumkin Pick-up Day
Oct 8th-14th: Fall Book Fair
Oct 11-14th: Parent Teacher Conferences Week
13th: Late Night for conferences
15th: No School
19th: School Picture Day!
Rotary Family Picnic on September 5th!
The event, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the front lawn of Thomas Worthington High School, 300 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., features giant inflatable SuperGames, activities by area boy and girl scouts, Toy Barn classic cars, music and food. Admission is free.
A number of food and specialty-treat trucks will be on hand. Rotarians will also sell hot dogs, beverages and Dairy Queen ice cream treats. Families may bring their own picnic food and refreshments along with lawn chairs and blankets. WDLR 1550 AM 92.9 FM will broadcast live from the event with DJ Bob Allen playing Ohio’s best classic hits from the 70s and 80s and more.
Covid precautions will be in place. Masks are recommended for children and unvaccinated persons. Social distancing markers will be placed at SuperGame activity entrances, and hand sanitizer stations will also be set up.
In its 16th year, the event is hosted by the Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club. FCBank is the presenting sponsor. Proceeds are used for service projects, helping youth and their families in the Worthington and Dublin communities.
The Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club is composed of community and business and professional leaders representing different careers, experiences and views but with a common purpose to make a positive difference in the community and globally through service to others. For additional information about the Family Picnic and or club membership, contact rotaryfamilypicnic@dublinworthingtonrotary.org.
30 Years of Kilbourne Community Event!
Homework Help Centers are open at Worthington Libraries
Homework Help Centers are now available at the Worthington Libraries every Monday - Thursday from 3:30-6:30. Slate Hill's amazing librarian Ms. Kochensparger will be volunteering at the Worthington Park Library Homework Help Center every Monday! Check out the attached flyer for additional details.
School Counselor's Corner
Dear Families,
Transitioning back to school can be very hard for students, especially after the last year and a half that we've all experienced!
Here are a couple resources for helping your child(ren) with coming back to school this year. The first is a list of 10 specific actions parents/guardians can take to support their kids. The second is an article about reentry anxiety from Boston Children's Hospital.
You can find these resources and more on the Slate Hill Counseling Website under the "Resources for Adults" tab!
Please don't hesitate to reach out if your child is struggling to adjust.
Best,
Mrs. Loges
Stefanee Loges, MA
Licensed Professional School Counselor
Slate Hill Elementary School
614.450.5020
Arrival and Dismissal Reminders!
Any change of transportation needs to be communicated to the office and the classroom teacher by 2:15pm.
- Students may enter the building beginning at 8am.
- The tardy bell rings at 8:15am so all students are to be in their classroom at 8:15am.
Dismissal:
- Students are dismissed from their classrooms at 2:45pm.
- Car Riders and Bus Riders will be dismissed first.
- We need all cars to pull all the way down to the end of the sidewalk to load as many cars as possible.
- Please follow the directions of our staff to keep our students safe and the line moving quickly.
- Car Rider families- please put your child's first name in the passenger side window to help our dismissal move quickly.
Slate Hill PTA Corner
- Our first PTA meeting is on September 16th at 7pm at Slate Hill. Our Kindergarten teachers and Related Arts team will be speaking to our families that evening so we hope you will join us for our meeting in the library!
- We will also have our annual PAC (Parent Advisory Council) meeting as part of our PTA meeting on September 16th! The purpose of the Parent Advisory Council is to plan, review and improve parent and family engagement programs and communication.
- We are excited for our annual PTA Fall Fundraiser Mumkin Sale which will be from September 7th- 27th!
- If you are interested in ordering any Slate Hill Spirit Wear, please click on this link and browse all of the options!! We have some brand new items available. Be sure to check them out!
- A quick and easy way to help support our PTA is to enroll in Kroger Community Rewards. Simply choose Slate Hill PTA (NPO number IW349) as the organization you wish to support. Click here to learn more!
- The Slate Hill PTA would love for you to join the PTA! The membership form is here. Feel free to complete the form and have your student turn it in to the school office. Packets will also be sent home with students soon.
- For any PTA related questions, please email slatehillpta@yahoo.com Thank you!!
2020-2021 Yearbooks are available in the Slate Hill Office!
Time to Update Your Emergency Contact Information
Payment of School Fees
Kindergarten Fees- $24.00
Grades 1, 2 and 3 Fees - $42.00
Grades 4 & 5 Fees - $36.00
If you feel you qualify for the free and & reduces program, please see the information below.
For any questions, please contact the Slate Hill office at 614-450-5000 or email hkmoffitt@wscloud.org
Free and Reduced School Lunch Applications
For lunch menus at Slate Hill go to www.worthingtonschoolmenus.com
2021-22 School Year Calendar
Slate Hill Elementary School
Follow us on Instagram! @slatehillstars
Email: jgulley@wscloud.org
Website: https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/Domain/21
Location: 7625 Alta View Boulevard, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 614-450-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool
Twitter: @gulley_julie