Blue Ash Elementary JANUARY
January 26, 2018
Dodgeball 2018!!!
It was clearly the year for the students, as they dominated nearly every game at every grade level.
Congratulations, students, for demonstrating great effort and positive sportsmanship.
Staff, we will give you a week to ice and rest, then we will start our conditioning and practice for next year!!!
Notes from our Nurse
It’s that time of year with illness in the air….
How can I prevent spread of illness in my family?
Review and practice good handwashing and respiratory etiquette with your children especially after using the restroom and before meals https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm
Avoid touching the “T Zone”- eyes, nose and mouth
Keep hard surfaces clean- especially door knobs, cell phones, keyboards and laptops
It’s not too late to get your flu shot….protect yourself and those you care for https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm
When should my child stay home from school?
If your child has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhea they must stay home until they no longer have the symptom for 24 hours without the use of medication to control the symptoms.
Check our school illness guidelines in the school district health handbook for more information found on page 9 on the district website at http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Page/2268 and https://www.sycamoreschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=3454&dataid=117&FileName=Guidelines%20for%20Keeping%20Children%20Home%20from%20School%20Due%20to%20Illness.pdf
How do I call the absence line for illness?
Call the school absence line at 513 686-1714
When you call the absence line for student illness please leave the following information on the message-Does you student have a fever?Cough? Diarrhea? Vomiting? Did you child go to the pediatrician? Did the pediatrician do a lab test to confirm the flu or strep?
How is the school helping to prevent the spread of illness?
- Our custodial crew is providing extra cleaning to all areas of our school
- Staff is providing additional opportunities and reminders for students to wash their hands before lunch and throughout the day
The school nurse can be reached at 513 686-1713 or wyrickd@sycamoreschools.org for further questions or assistance with your child’s health care needs.
Attention Fourth Grade Parents - Hold the Date:
~~PTO INFORMATION~~
Come here to volunteer!
Looking for a way to visit your child AND help out at school? Only have a short time during the day or during your work lunch hour? The lunchroom is a great opportunity to volunteer! The kids love to see familiar faces in the lunchroom and the lunch staff love having extra hands to help open and pass out lunch items. You can choose how long you stay and when you volunteer! Check out the link below to sign up.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e4aacae2ba57-20172018
Are you looking to volunteer while your kids are at school? Do you like art? We are looking for volunteers once a week, every other week, or once a month helping out with the first grade art classes. First graders have art from 1:45-2:35.
Can't volunteer regularly but would like to help with occasional art projects in all grades? We need you, too! Email Bev Ross at bevross922@gmail.com to be added to either list.
From the Presidents corner
All school districts need a Kimberly Reese. Kimberly has worked diligently for her children and their schools all throughout the Sycamore district. Whether Kimberly serves on PTO boards, chairs positions, or works on committees, she is right there in the thick of things being involved. Kimberly is always willing to lend a helping hand. This is Kimberly’s last year at BAE, and I know for myself, and many others, she will missed. Let’s get to know her a bit before she leaves:
Hello All! My name is Kimberly Reese and I am the mother of five wonderful children. All my children have come through the Sycamore school system at some point. Currently, I have a 4th grader at Blue Ash Elementary and a post High School graduate attending the TIP program through Sycamore Schools. I am a Publicist/Agent by trade. I have been self- employed for 17 years after working for two Fortune 500 companies. I decided to come home after my now-22-year-old was diagnosed with a heart defect and had to have several surgeries. We also had three other children with Autism, so my place was home with my children.
My story is like most families that come to this district. My then-husband and I wanted a better educational process for our children due to their special needs and purchased our home in Blue Ash 16 years ago, coming from the Cincinnati Public School district and owning property in Silverton. We made the decision because we needed more.
I have always volunteered. Volunteering allowed me to have my finger on the pulse of the school culture and be very present during my children's educational process. While in the CPS district, I was a PTO President for several years, LSDMC Chair, facilitated and implemented the Parent Office and Library/Computer room in the school building, advocated for families that had children with Disabilities by insuring the rooms were air conditioned during the summer months, raised monies for children who couldn't afford to go on field trips, did coat/clothing drives, and was the assistant volunteer music teacher/choreographer for the school choir.
When our family arrived in Sycamore, I was more than ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I help form the CSP (Concerned Sycamore Parents) group that started at the High School and is now Called SPEEDD (Sycamore Parents For Educational Supports, English As A Second Language, Diversity and Disabilities), I chaired several areas in three different PTO's, (my kids were in three buildings at that time), sat on the Diversity Committee and helped facilitate the Huge Diversity Day event that took place at the High School, sat on the Planning Commission for two years, assisted with BSU (Black Student Union) at the High School, volunteered at OBG (Operation Giveback) as a music teacher and Public Relations Coordinator. At the Greene School, the Jr High, and Symmes I have chaired cultural events, Parent Volunteer Chair, Lunchroom chair and helped with the BSU at the Jr High.
My time at Blue Ash Elementary will be ending soon as Kalalah is the last one going through the ranks. This is bittersweet as I have been there through several administration changes, staff retirements, and met some wonderful people along the way while volunteering. I have chaired the Cultural event for several years, co-chair and did choreography for the Variety Show for many years, chaired 4th Grade Celebration, volunteered and chaired a position at Haunted Fest for several years, was the Make A Difference Chair where I worked directly with the nurse, was the room mom at some point in all of the kids’ classrooms, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Co-President last school year, and currently VP of Student Programs. I absolutely love giving back and being involved as much as possible. There is such joy in seeing how all the hard work comes to fruition.
You may feel like you have to an outgoing personality or be a major extrovert to volunteer. Not so. There are soooo many areas where you can be involved where you're behind the scenes. Every little bit helps! You have no idea how much the school benefits from all the work our wonderful volunteers do. If you need help deciding what may work best for you, please feel free to contact me and, maybe with my experience, I can help navigate you to YOUR perfect fit :)
~~District Information~~
Sycamore HS Annual Cabaret February 10th
The Sycamore Vocal Boosters proudly present the 2018 Cabaret @ Sycamore High School in The Hub starting at 7p on Saturday, February 10th. The Cabaret features members of the HS Choral Program as soloists and in small ensembles in a coffeehouse atmosphere, singing jazz standards, musical theatre, folk, classical and foreign language pieces. Tickets $10. Tickets available starting February 1 @ http://www.aveschoir.org/Cabaret-Tickets. Limited seating. Proceeds benefit the Sycamore High School Choral Program and Sycamore Vocal Boosters.