Greene Notes
February 24, 2023
Our Flight Pattern
E.H. Greene Intermediate School
Address: 5200 Aldine Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Office Hours: 7:30 am - 3:30 pmSchool Hours: 8:00 am - 2:45 pm
Phone: (513) 686-1750
Attendance Phone: (513) 686-1707 or ehgattendance@sycamoreschools.org
UPCOMING WEEK
Dates
Letter Days for the week of February 27- March 3 :
Monday - D Day
Tuesday - A Day
Wednesday - B Day
Thursday - C Day
Friday - D Day
Important Upcoming Dates
Saturday, March 4: Pancake Day (High School)
Thursday, March 9 and Friday, March 10: Author Visit
KEY INFORMATION FOR THE WEEK!
Cooper Road Bridge Project
We have received new information about the upcoming Cooper Road Bridge project.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will completely close the Cooper Road bridge in both directions over I-71 beginning March 1. The project is expected to take approximately two months to complete, pending weather conditions. We anticipate the project, combined with ongoing construction at the new Sycamore Junior High, will cause a significant impact on traffic.
NEW INFORMATION ON THE IMPACT TO BUS SERVICES:
Our Transportation Department is warning that beginning March 1, the pick up times for bus riders in Grades 5-8 may be approximately five minutes earlier than usual. Please have your student at their bus stop at least five minutes earlier than when they have been typically picked up this school year. Drop off times for bus riders Grades 5-8 may be delayed in the afternoon.
Pick up and drop off times will become more consistent after the first few days of our drivers running the new routes around the closure. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and patience.
NEW INFORMATION FOR CAR RIDERS AND WALKERS:
ODOT plans to detour traffic from Montgomery to the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway and Kenwood Road. Drivers should expect significant delays along Cooper Road as well as increased traffic on Delray Drive and Cooper Lane during arrival and dismissal times at Sycamore Junior High.
Local law enforcement will be providing additional assistance during pick up and drop off at the junior high. Vehicles will still enter the junior high at the maintenance lot entrance, however, you will be routed through the staff parking lot and directed to exit left at the light at Delray Drive.
To help alleviate some of the anticipated traffic, we are strongly encouraging students to ride the bus to and from school. If you need information about your student’s bus stop, please visit our Transportation website. You will need your student’s ID number to look up their bus route information. Please note the pick up times on the Transportation site are current route times, meaning that your child’s bus may arrive 5 minutes earlier than the time listed. Drop off times may also be delayed in the afternoon.
To help ensure the safety of all students, motorists should remain alert, reduce their speed, and watch for stopped traffic and pedestrians. Car riders should plan to leave home earlier in order to arrive on time.
Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation. We look forward to having better traffic patterns in place when the new junior high opens in the fall.
Junior High Scheduling
Dear Rising 7th Grade Parents/Guardians:
Please keep an eye on your mailbox for scheduling information for next school year. It includes an important scheduling planning sheet, an “at a glance” course planner, information on immunizations, and information regarding additional support courses that your child may need. Have a great weekend!
Junior High Course Planner is available online!: The 7th Grade Junior High course planner can be found on the Junior High website via the Counseling Page: Sycamore Junior High School → Counseling → Course Planner & Scheduling. It can also be accessed by clicking here.
Week of February 20th: A mailer including important scheduling information was mailed home for Rising 7th grade students.
February 23rd : Rising 7th grader orientation and academic information presentation was emailed to parents. It can also be accessed on the website: Sycamore Junior High School → Counseling → Course Planner & Scheduling
It is also linked here: Academic Information Video
February 28th, March 1st, 2nd: Junior High Counselors will meet Greene students to complete remaining course selections. We are excited to meet all the students!
March 10th: Students will receive course verification sheets listing selected courses via My eBackpack.
Sincerely,
Junior High Team
Junior High Virtual Academic Fair
Class of 2029!
We are excited for you to join us next year! Typically at this time of year, while you are doing course requests, we provide information about the Junior High, courses, athletics, clubs, and answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.
Due to parking constraints (and the lack of an auditorium), this year we will continue using a Virtual Academic Fair! Click Here to watch the presentation (about 40 minutes).
If you have any questions, please contact the person in the video who is closest to that topic or reach out to Greg Cole at coleg@sycamoreschools.org.
Blocksi Concern/Issue
Please take a few minutes to speak with your child about this issue.
Recently, a number of students have been sharing a "workaround" of Blocksi (our dashboard monitoring system that allows for teachers to view student screens and adds a layer of monitoring and prevention of students being off-task/topic when working on their Chromebook). This "workaround" allowed students to, in essence, "block Blocksi" so teachers were unable to see what students were doing on their Chromebook from the Blocksi dashboard. Students were, most often, enabling this "workaround" , downloading games, and then keeping the "workaround" enabled to play games when they were to be doing academic work.
This "workaround" has been disabled. To our students' credit, many came forward and admitted the use of this "workaround" and deleted it from their bookmarks. Our technology department continues to work to ensure these type of issues don't continue.
In speaking with your student, first ask and check to make sure they have removed this bookmark. Second, please remind them about the responsibilities of their technology usage and our acceptable usage agreement.
I appreciate your help and support on this!
Author Visit- Dan Gemeinhart
Dan Gemeinhart, nationally-renowned author, will be visiting E. H. Greene School on March 9th and 10th. Dan’s books have been listed on the New York Times Best Seller List, nominated twice for the Ohio Buckeye Book Award and listed on Amazon’s Top 20 Children’s Books of the Year. While he is here, Dan will be talking about the writing process in each of the pods, leading two writers’ workshops, eating lunch with some lucky students, and signing his books.
To make this a meaningful and memorable author visit, students can participate in a number of activities:
- Read one of Dan’s books. Students can pick up copies in the Media Center and from their ELA teachers.
- Participate in The Principals’ Pick Luncheon: Read either The Honest Truth or The Midnight Children and submit an online form for an invitation to a pizza luncheon and booktalk with the principals on Feb. 23rd and 24th. Deadline to apply is Feb. 17th.
- Writers’ Workshop: Twenty-five students from each grade will have the opportunity to participate in a Writers’ Workshop led by Dan Gemeinhart. Students should see their ELA teacher for an application form.
- Author Visit Bookmark Contest: Design a bookmark about Dan and his books. Two winners from each grade level will be chosen from the applicants to have their bookmarks produced. Students can pick up an application form from the Media Center. Deadline: Jan. 31st.
- Lunch with the author. Twenty-five students will be chosen by lottery to eat lunch with Dan.
- Design a welcome sign. Students are submitting ideas for a welcome sign that will be painted on the front door of the school. See your art teacher or Mrs. Amster in the Media Center for more information.
- Design a poster promoting the author visit. Students are designing posters using Canva in the Multimedia Explorations class to promote the author visit. Selected posters will appear on electronic screens throughout the school and on morning announcements.
- Buy a Gemeinhart Book and have it autographed. PTO is selling Dan’s books. A purchase form is going home with students Friday, January 20th. Students can purchase these books to get autographed. A copy of the form is attached HERE. Forms must be returned by Tuesday, Feb. 7th. Orders will be placed on the 8th.
- Students can also bring Dan’s books from home to have them autographed. Look HERE for information and the form to use!
For additional information about Dan Gemeinhart and his books, you may visit Dan’s website:
Many thanks to the PTO for helping to make this author visit possible.
If you have any questions, please contact the E.H. Greene Library Media Specialist, Karen Amster, at amsterk@sycamoreschools.org.
Greene School Cultural Celebration
Come one, come all to E. H. Greene Schools’s Cultural Celebration! Food, performances, crafts, music and more. On April 14, 2023, from 6 pm to 8 pm, the diversity of the Greene School will come alive. If you have a student who attends Greene, you may sign up to host a table or a performance. If you would like to make a poster for your country, please do. If you would like to share a game from your culture, please let us know. Below you will see a link that will take you to a Google Form. The Greene Cultural Celebration committee asks that you return the forms by March 3. If you have any questions, please contact us at greeneculturalcelebration@gmail.com.
The Greene School has not had the opportunity to host a Cultural Celebration due to COVID and construction. We are so excited to bring back this wonderful event back to our school.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Reporting Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Incidence
In an ongoing effort to provide a safe learning environment, Sycamore is requesting parents, students, and staff to inform administration (or whoever) of any perceived incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. Per the Sycamore Board of Education policy JFCF, harassment, intimidation, and bullying are defined as any provoked and intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both: 1. causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and 2. is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student. To view the complete policy, visit www.sycamore schools.org under the Board of Education tab, scroll down to “Policies”, search for policy “JFCF” and “JFCG-P”. Sycamore will do everything possible to address any complaints of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. We encourage students, staff, parents, and community members to report this type of behavior to the district if help is needed to solve a problem. To report an incident of harassment, intimidation, and bullying, 1. Go to the district’s website,www.sycamoreschools.org or on the individual school’s website under “Bullying Prevention” to find the form.
2. “Report Bullying”
3. Fill the form on-line and submit it electronically.
4. Hard copies of this form are available in each of the schools.
Complete the hard copy of the report form and turn it into the building principal. The building principal or designee will promptly investigate all reported incidents.
It is difficult to investigate reported incidences that are anonymously submitted. However, every effort will be made to maintain the confidentiality of the reporter. Deliberate false reporting of harassment, intimidation, and bullying is prohibited.
Staff of the Month Nominations
Parent Lunch
For now, (due to a number of factors with construction, parking, cafeteria size in relation to our class sizes, etc.), we are not having open parent lunch week for parents to join their student at lunch. We may revisit this past practice in the spring. We appreciate your understanding.
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
After-School Clubs and Activities: Parent Pick-Up
- Parents should pull along the curb to wait for their student. The first car will pull to the front of the sidewalk just past the front entrance. The remaining cars will line up in a single-file line behind the first car. We have quite a long driveway and a number of parents should be able to fit on the lot.
- Parents DO NOT need to leave their cars to come get their kiddos!
- Students have been instructed to come out the front door and wait until they see their car pull-up to the sidewalk space in front of the building and gym. Please reinforce this with your student.
- After retrieving your student, you may pull ahead or, if careful, pull to the left and follow the circle through the parking lot to exit the school grounds. This process is different than pick-up or dismissal where we expect parents to "stay in line". The reason for this difference is because of the different times that clubs/activities may exit.
- If you would like, you are welcome to utilize any spaces in the main parking lot if you arrive significantly early and want to wait. More spaces will open up as construction slows down.
Thanks for your help with this process!
Delray Drive
It is HIGHLY SUGGESTED that you would utilize Kenwood Road to Aldine Drive to arrive at school for car drop-off and pick-up. When leaving the school, turn RIGHT to avoid the congestion.
We appreciate your understanding and believe this will truly help accentuate our new building's traffic flow design to keep our bus traffic and car traffic separate.
Key Information
Bus Riders
You can check for your child's bus stop information by visiting the TRANSPORTATION PAGE. The transportation department will update this information. Bus Riders will be assigned to a specific bus in the morning and in the afternoon. Please keep in mind that we cannot make any changes to bus assignments at the school level. Students will not be able to ride another bus to a friend's home. If your child is a bus rider and you need to pick him or her up on a particular day, please let the office know by emailing a note to: "ehgattendance@sycamoreschools.org".
Car Rider Drop Off
Car riders will be dropped off by the main entrance no earlier than 7:15 via the traffic signs. In order to drop off students, parents should follow the main driveway to the drop-off zone. When directed, students from those cars that area in the designated area will dismiss and enter the building at one time. No cars will leave during this time. Then, when directed by staff, all cars in the designated area will leave. The next group of cars that are waiting in line will then be directed by staff to move to the drop-off zone. This process will be repeated throughout the drop-off timeframe.
Car Rider Pick Up
Dismissal begins at 2:45 pm. If your child is a car rider, please note that cars are not permitted on the lot for pick up until after 2:30 pm. In order to pick up students, parents should follow the driveway to the pick-up zone. When directed, students will be dismised to the cars in the designated area at one time. No cars will leave during this time. Then, when directed by staff, all cars in the designated area will leave. The next group of cars that are waiting in line will then be directed by staff to move to the pick-up zone. This process will be repeated throughout the pick-up timeframe.The process we use for car rider dismissal should allow all children to be picked up by 3:10 pm.
We will again be using the "Parent Pick up Tags" for Car Riders. All families will receive a numbered tag in the mail prior to the start of school.
Early Dismissal
If you have an appointment during the regular school day and need to pick your child up early, please notify the office in advance ("ehgattendance@sycamoreschools. org") , park in the visitor's lot and come into the main office. Be sure to bring an ID with you. Thank you.
Champions After School Care
Champions After School Care will not be held at Greene. Instead, Champions will take place at the 4 elementary schools. Parents can sign up for the Champions program that will be held at your student's previous (home) elementary school. The district will provide transportation from Greene to the elementary.
Parents will need to complete a Sycamore transportation form indicating that they will be going to an elementary school for After School Champions. Shari Paguette, director of the Champions programs, also requested that parents call her at at 513-680-2564 to confirm that their students will be attending a Champions program. She will then connect with our Bus compound to ensure transportation arrangements and will confirm registration with the families. Thank you.
TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
Canvas
Parent Access to Canvas LMS
At the start of next school year (2023-24), Sycamore Schools will be transitioning to a new Learning Management System called Canvas. Canvas is a widely used Learning Management System in K-12 schools and beyond. This year, staff members will begin transitioning to this new LMS. Parents will have access to a parent account in Canvas that can be linked to their student(s). To create an account, please follow the steps below:
Generate a pairing code from your student’s Sycamore Canvas course (instructions).
Visit the parent login page and create an account in the top right corner (this will require the pairing code from step 1.
Once submitted, the parent account will be connected to the student account for current and future courses.
Please note that this school year will be a transition year, meaning the use and adoption of Canvas will be varied from teacher to teacher with full implementation expected at the start of the 23-24 school year.
Technology
Chromebook Warranty Program Updates
We have recently experienced some changes to how our student devices are covered under warranty. To streamline the warranty process for all students, starting with the 2022-23 school year, all students will be allotted $100 of repair, per year, following the fee replacement table below. If repair costs exceed the allotted $100, the remaining costs will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian/student.
Fee Replacement Table:
Device - $250 | Screen - $100 | Shell - $100 | AC adapter - $25 | Keyboard - $25 | Device Case - $20
Important Reminders:
Students must keep the school issued protective case on the device at all times.
Accidents happen. To better protect Sycamore Chromebooks and reduce the number of devices in need of repair, Sycamore Schools has invested in an “always-on” case. This case should not be removed for any reason. Any damage that occurs when the case is not on the device will be the responsibility of the parent/student/guardian.
Lost/Stolen devices are not covered under the annual $100 allotment.
Lost - full replacement cost is the responsibility of the parent/guardian/student.
Stolen - Devices reported as stolen outside of school require that parents notify police and provide a copy of an official police report to the school administration. Theft Inside school requires a letter signed by the parent/guardian and stating the date, time, location and description of the situation.
Manufacturer’s defects and issues will continue to be covered under the manufacturer warranty and will not have an impact on the $100 allotment.
My device is broken or not functioning correctly - what do I do?
If you have broken your device or it is not functioning correctly, please visit your school’s media center for additional assistance. Our team will troubleshoot the reported issue and if a fix is not immediately available, a loaner device will be provided.
See below for additional information regarding our steps and process for determining any fees associated with Chromebook damage:
CHILD NUTRITION INFORMATION
Food!
1. Make sure to check Parent Portal and see the balance of money for your students who are buying breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks. A few kiddos are in the "red" and need some money deposited in their accounts.
2. We love that our kiddos are utilizing our cafeteria for meals and/or snacks. This is a good time of year to work through your expected budget and purchases with your kids so they know what they can and can't buy on a daily or weekly basis.
3. If you need help with signing up for free and reduced lunch, please reach out to Ms. Georgia at stjohng@sycamoreschools.org. It can be a bit tricky and she would be glad to help you!
Did you know that the Sycamore District has Student and Staff Wellness Program Guidelines that have to be reviewed and updated every 3 years? Check out the latest updates here!
If anyone is interested in learning more about the District Wellness Committee please contact warrenk@sycamoreschools.org.
Summer- Pandemic EBT
There is a new window that the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services is opening on November 1st, 2022 to submit any families that did NOT get their PBET benefits for the summer. This would be for any family that qualified for free or reduced price lunch last school year and had an active Sycamore student (this does not include pre-school).
IF you believe you should have qualified and did not receive these benefits please email Kelsey Warren - warrenk@sycamoreschools.org. Provide student names and ID#s in the email.
More information on what pandemic EBT is can be found here.
COMMUNICATION INFORMATION
Parent Communication
Greene School is using the following email for parent communication This replaces the paper form that you may have used at the elementary schools. This email is for absences, early dismissal, and/or late arrivals. Please inform us using the email by 1:00 and you will receive an confirmation email.
If you have an appointment during the regular school day and need to pick your child up early, please notify the office in advance ("ehgattendance@sycamoreschools. org") , park in the visitor's lot and come into the main office. Be sure to bring an ID with you. Thank you.
Email Notifications
Information that is emailed to parents will automatically go to the Primary Parent as designated in Final Forms. If an additional parent/guardian is wanting to receive the school emails (such as the weekly newsletter) or anybody is having issues receiving the newsletter, please refer to the following typical problems and solutions:
- The current, accurate email address isn't in ProgressBook. You need to update your email address in Final Forms as well as any additional email addresses that you would like to have receive communication.
- The correct email address actually is in ProgressBook. Parent may not be getting emails because you've opted out from receiving messages from the district at some point in the past. This is actually incredibly common. If you believe this is the case, please reach out to our building directly and we will work on this issue.
- The correct email address actually is in ProgressBook. School emails may be going to your spam folder.
Final Forms
As in the past, we need ALL parents or guardians to log into Final Forms and update any necessary changes for our 2022-2023 school year ASAP. That way, any potential issues/problems/questions can be addressed before our return to school at the end of August. Some forms require a student signature. You are required to sign the forms at the beginning of each new school year. A signature is also required after any update or as additional forms are added.
Please be sure to go to the "Transportation Information" section in Final Forms. Here you may give permission to those who may pick up your child from school, and designate emergency contacts. Please be sure to "check" all those who will be able to pick up your child from school. Thank you.
Parenting Plans/Copied on Correspondance
If appropriate, please provide the office with custody information and updated parenting plans for your child. Please indicate if you would like to be "copied on correspondence."
PTO INFORMATION
Greene PTO
Please fill out the google form below to join the Greene School PTO. This is an annual membership so if you are returning to Greene please fill this out again. It’s important for all parents and staff to be a PTO member. There are no membership fees this year but we kindly ask that you consider donating to the PTO if you are able to do so. It helps us cover expenses such as the DirectorySpot App. We use this information to give you access to the Greene directory and only PTO members can vote and ask for gifting requests!
Please join today! There is a lot more information to come.
Kristy and Kristofer
Greene PTO Co-Presidents
Questions please email us at grpto@sycamoreschools.org
Art Room Volunteers
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20f0e49abaa2aa2fa7-artroom/13113691
PARENT INFORMATION
Activity Brochure
We are excited to release the Activity Brochure. These activities are a great opportunity for students to get involved and meet new friends. The sponsor of each club will come on our video announcements to share about the club and how to sign up a couple of weeks before they begin.
Helpful Links
PARENT ORGANIZATIONS
GEAR
Gina Cutshall and Manika Maheshwari are the co-represetatives for Greene with GEAR
Sycamore GEAR (Gifted Education, Advocacy, and Resources) is a parent-led group for families in Sycamore Community Schools who are interested in gifted education. Your child does not need to be identified or even receiving gifted services to become a member as membership is not limited in any way. Members must only be interested in gifted education and enrichment in our school district to join.
If you have any questions or interested, please reach out at ehgrep@sycamoregear.org
Greene Ambassadors
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Click here to be connected with Greene Ambassadors:
https://www.sycamoreschools.org/domain/909
Click here if you want to help other families:
https://forms.gle/azpu6FPUKLC3ntNy8
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Sycamore Bridges
Sycamore Bridges is proud to share that we reached record generosity in 2022. We impacted over 8,700 area neighbors while donating $142,174.71 in goods and services back to our Sycamore community. Our reach and the types of needs we fill continues to grow. In 2022, we:
- Provided clothing, shoes, furniture, appliances, groceries, and gift cards
- Paid utility and internet bills, emergency hotel stays, rents, and mortgages
- Helped with childcare, car repairs, and too many funeral expenses
- Assisted with medical and mental health needs
- Placed 200 "calming boxes" in every elementary classroom to offer teachers additional resource tools for all types of learners
- Provided tutors to struggling students and welcomed immigrant families with translators
- Spread our kindness all the way to Europe to assist Ukrainian refugees
- Granted scholarships to graduating seniors
- Paid for extracurricular fees for countless students at all grade levels
- Helped families affected by house fires and domestic abuse
- Made sure everyone's holidays were filled with joy
But most importantly, we showed up for our neighbors during their darkest times. Thank you for your role in this impactful year. We continue to foster partnerships with local municipalities and community organizations to reach even more neighbors. Don't hesitate to reach out if you know of a local business or family sponsor who would like to connect with us. We encourage you to register on our website to receive an email notification when a new need is posted. (We do not share your contact information with third parties.) Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see the difference we are making in the community. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to making Sycamore the kindest and most generous neighborhood in all of greater Cincinnati. Happy 2023!
With Gratitude,
Lori Drasnin
Volunteer Director
Edwin H. Greene Intermediate School
Website: http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Domain/10
Location: 5200 Aldine Drive, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: (513) 686-1750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EH-Greene-Intermediate-1777365652527973/
Twitter: @EHGreeneSchool