The Chapman Chatter
CES Newsletter | Week of November 1, 2021
A Message from the Principal
Happy November! I can't believe another month has gone by and that the end of the first trimester is near! We had so many fun and exciting events take place at Chapman during the month of October. We hope that you enjoy the pictures below. Please take a minute to read through what is happening at CES. Below are a few important dates/deadlines to pay attention to.
- Veterans Day recognition - submissions due by 11/5
- No School 11/2
- 11/12 - End of first trimester
- Please be sure to check out Mr. Biehl's November Counseling Corner!
Thank you for your partnership this first trimester! It has been a fantastic start to the school year and I have enjoyed getting to know so many of our families! As a reminder, I will be on maternity leave beginning November 4 through mid January. Please read more about Mrs. Myers below. She will serve as interim principal in my absence. Thank you for your support and understanding during my time of leave.
I hope that your family has a wonderful weekend! Here's to a another great week at CES!
Yours in partnership,
Mrs. Harrell, Principal
Happy Halloween from the Chapman Staff!
Bullying Prevention Classroom Lessons
Mum Fundraiser Winners!
As a school we raised $4,268.25!
Our top sellers were:
- Marqus Platt (TOP SELLER!) - 30 items
- Alida Jackson - 24 items
- Willow Johns - 23 items
- Connor Kobelak - 20 items
- Abby Lewis - 17 items
- Liam Corrao - 17 items
Our additional students whose name were drawn to pie a staff member were:
- Eliza Hess
- Salis Metiever
- Brooke Douglas
- Phoenix Donihoo
- Luke Flach
A big THANK YOU to our staff members who volunteered to take a pie to the face for some fun!
- Miss Flynn
- Mrs. Frey
- Miss Logan
- Mrs. Skinner
- Miss Tabar
- Mrs. Barbour
- Mr. Biehl
- Miss Kvaka
- Miss Lance
- Mrs. Marlowe
- Mrs. Zazueta
Student Council Classroom Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Election Day | No School for Students (11/2)
Just a reminder that Tuesday, November 2nd, there is NO SCHOOL for students.
SCS Upcoming Renewal Levy
School Day Start Time Reminder (9:05am)
Chapman Veterans Day Recognition
5th Grade Recognition Photo Request
It is time to start working on the 5th grade recognition program and we need your help. We need one kindergarten picture of your child digitally sent to us through email. In the subject we ask that you write your child’s first and last name. If you only have a hard copy of the picture, use the google photo scan app to scan the picture and send it digitally to us.
Also, if you have any candid pictures from class parties, field trips, special events you may include these as well. We may not use all but will try to include as many as possible. We ask that these pictures be emailed by December 16, 2021.
Electronic pictures should be sent to:
Mrs. Adkins class
Jessica Smalheer at jsmalheer@sbcglobal.net
Mr. Zahar’s class
Melissa LePage at lepage527@hotmail.com
Thank you very much for making this program great!
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Meet Mrs. Myers - CES Interim Principal
Judy Myers will serve as interim principal for Chapman Elementary School beginning November 4 while Mrs. Harrell is out on maternity leave.
A Green native, she has worked in Summit County for the past thirty-three years in various educational capacities. Mrs. Myers began her career as a kindergarten teacher in the Springfield Local School District before moving to the Green Local School District where she served as an assistant middle school and elementary principal for 13 years.
Myers than served as middle school principal in Barberton City Schools for three years and then moved to Revere Local Schools to serve as middle school principal and central office administrator. Mrs. Myers retired from Revere in June, 2021.
Mrs. Myers has 2 adult children Erick, 27 and Lauren, 30. She resides in Copley with her 3 fur babies, Jaeger, Axel and Lincoln.
In early October, Mrs. Myers spent a day at Chapman getting to know our students, staff and daily routine. She is enthusiastically looking forward to working with our students, staff and families!
Contact: jmyers@scsmustangs.org
Counselor's Corner with Mr. Biehl
Important Dates for Your Calendars!
- 11/2 - No School for Students
- 11/5 - Veterans Day submissions due
- 11/11 - Veterans Day (Wear red/white/blue)
- 11/12 - End of the 1st Trimester
- 11/19 - Trimester 1 Report Cards available to parents in PASS
- 11/23 - OSU/Michigan spirit day
- 11/24-26 - No School; Thanksgiving Break
BRIXOLOGY™ is back at the Strongsville Recreation Center for students ages 5 – 12 years & class starts next month!
This class offers a unique application of the engineering design process with custom builds designed with master LEGO® building and our very own Research and Development team! From carnival rides to drawing machines, mechanical animals to soaring towers, you’ll explore exciting engineering careers and develop creative problem-solving skills galore.
Register by calling the Strongsville Rec. front desk at 440-580-3260. Please register at least one week in advance.
Electrify Your Symphony - Friday, November 19
It Pays to Recycle Program!
Dance to Evolve Fall Hip-Hop Classes
DARE Calendar of Events
Join the Chapman PTA Today!
If you would like to join/rejoin the Chapman PTA for the 2021-2022 school year, please follow the link below to sign up and purchase. Prices are $5 for single membership/staff and $10 for family memberships. PTA has a fun year planned for students, families, and staff!
Join Chapman PTA HERE!
PTA Facebook Page
Meeting Dates
- November 11th @ 7:00
- December TBD
- January 13th @ 7:00
- February 10th @ 7:00
- March 10th @ 7:00
- April 14th @ 7:00
All Treats/Birthday Treats MUST Meet our Approved Food Guidelines (Repeat Item)
All foods being brought in must adhere to the District's Shared Foods Policy and must be checked in the office before going to the classrooms. Please follow the guidelines. We have had to return candy/treats/snacks to many families because the items were made on a nut line and "may" contain nuts. Please read the labels carefully. The ingredients must be listed on the packaging for us to share in the classrooms. All food must be free from ALL NUTS and PEANUTS and state on the label that it is a nut free product.
This is a great list to save as these items are approved:
- Lays Potato Chips
- Pringles (original)
- Rold Gold Pretzels
- Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Pretzels
- Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Crackers
- Cheese Nips
- Nabisco Teddy Bear Grahams
- Oreos (original)
- Lofthouse Cookies (from Marc's)
- Charms Blow Pops
- Tootsie Pops
- Skittles
- Starburst
- Airhead Candy
- Pencils
- Stickers
For the safe snack guide: www.SnackSafely.com
Click on the Safe Snack Guide on the toolbar of the site. Then there is a red box that says "Click to download your copy". This site is updated regularly.
Please be sure to read the District Shared Food Guidelines. The District adheres to guidelines for shared food and snacks so that we can promote safety, consistency, and equal access for the growing number of children who have life-threatening food allergies.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Reporting Student Absences (Repeat Item)
Nancy Lowrie & Associates LLC, Counseling Program Information (Repeat Item)
Dear Parents/Guardians of Strongsville City School Students:
We are writing to tell you about an exciting opportunity for you and your child. Strongsville City Schools have a well -established partnership with a Behavioral Health Private Practice, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC, (NLA), that specializes in child therapy, adolescent therapy, and family counseling. All NLA therapists are Masters-level and licensed by the State of Ohio. They are able to diagnose and treat all emotional and behavioral health concerns. We are pleased to be able to offer you the chance to work with an Ohio Licensed Clinical Therapist in an effort to improve your child’s well being. The following are just some examples of the topics we address in individual, group, or family sessions:
• Strategies for managing relationships with peers, parents and teachers
• Development of social skills and communication
• Ability to deal with teasing and bullying
• Understanding and treating addictions
• Coping skills for anger management, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders
• Fostering good choices by decreasing impulsivity and distractibility
• Managing family problems
• Gender Identity Concerns
• Controlling Eating Disorders and Self-harm
Best of all, NLA is able to offer you this service at your school. NLA will send our trained therapists to your school to meet with your child individually during the school day or via teletherapy. Also, to make this easier for you, NLA counseling services are covered under most health insurance plans, including State Medicaid, Medicaid HMO’s (CareSource, Paramount, and Buckeye) and most private health insurance plans (Medical Mutual, Anthem, Aetna, Cleveland Clinic, etc). NLA does all the clinical work plus does the actual insurance billing for you. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to receive confidential sessions with a caring clinician. If you are interested in participating in this program, please return the bottom of this letter to your child’s school counselor. An NLA therapist will call to schedule an initial meeting with you to get your child started in the program and verify your insurance information.
Sincerely, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC
Family Letter can be found HERE
Stay Safe, Speak Up! (Repeat Item)
A Note About Grades for Music, Art and PE (Repeat Item)
When looking at grades for these courses, please know that they are standards based and NOT traditional percentages/letter grades like you may be used to in the past few years.
M= Standard Met
P= Progressing to Standard
N= Standard Not Yet Met
In order for our system to turn the student’s performance into standards- based grading, we have to put it in as a percentage. Each grade level and department has standards that students are working toward and this is what is being evaluated.
Although you may see a percentage, please ignore the percentage and look at the progression toward the STANDARD (M, N, P). Grades are not utilized in the sense that a traditional grading system uses them. You will see somewhere between a 50% and a 100%, but again, focus on the M, N, or P, as that is the official mark; the percentage is just a placeholder.
Health and Safety Information (Repeat Item)
COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers, and staff that may not be vaccinated. As we want to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone, we will continue to implement the following preventive measures for the 2021-22 school year in consideration of the recommendations provided by the Ohio Department of Health.
Vaccination. We will continue to share vaccination opportunities/locations for eligible students and staff.
Wearing Masks. Per the CDC, masks must be worn by all students and staff when riding on the school bus. When at school and indoors, masks are optional for students and staff, yet strongly recommended for those who are unvaccinated. When outdoors, masks are not necessary, but still are optional based on individual/family preference.
Ventilation. We will continue to implement our ventilation protocols to bring in as much outside air as possible and provide air filtration at the highest level possible for our existing HVAC units.
Social Distancing. We will strive to maintain 3 feet social distancing within classrooms, cafeterias, and learning spaces. Cooperative grouping opportunities for students may be phased throughout the fall based on COVID trends in the school district.
Additional Mitigation Strategies. We will continue to provide opportunities for regular hand washing / hand sanitizer use and educate students on proper respiratory etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes.)
Cleaning / Disinfection. We will continue to implement the same cleaning / disinfection procedures as were implemented last school year.
Health Screenings. Families/Staff continue to be required to perform daily health screenings and must stay at home when feeling ill and/or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms (CLICK HERE).
Contact Tracing, Isolations, and Quarantines. We will continue to perform regular contract tracing in combination with isolation or quarantine mandates as set by the Ohio Department of Health or other state/local mandates.
Specific Information pertaining to District/Elementary School Buildings
- Visitors are allowed as long as they have a designated purpose/appointment.
- Visitors are not permitted during lunch/recess.
- Class parties will have a limit of 3 volunteers inclusive of the room parent and no additional children may attend.
- For classroom assistance, only one volunteer will be permitted at a time. Volunteers working with students/in classrooms must be vaccinated and a Board approved volunteer.
- Students will have assigned seats during lunch.
- Students will stay on the right side of the hallway when walking to/from locations.
- Book circulation will be done at pre-determined scheduled times by classroom.
- Limited use of shared materials when possible.
Note. The Superintendent may enact further restrictions, such as mandatory masking and increased social distancing by classroom, grade-level, or building based on COVID-related data and trends.
For additional information on the prevention strategies listed above and COVID-related restrictions in our buildings for the 2021-22 school year, click on the link below.
Health & Safety Update (Repeat Item)
We continue to work extremely hard to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. Procedures and adjustments to our classrooms will take place as we get more information and guidance from the district as a whole.
This week, the following adjustments have been made:
Increased Distancing for Students at Lunch (Effective 8/30/21)
Beginning Monday, August 30, students will begin following an updated plan for lunch. This change in procedure will allow students to be seated 5-6 feet apart (previously 3 feet apart). Our kindergarten students will be eating in their classrooms, Grades 2 and 4 in the Media Center and Art Room and Grades 1, 3 and 5 in the cafeteria (Due to number of students per class and per grade). This maximizes space, while allowing our master schedule (including recess times) to remain the same. As we implement this new protocol, I will continue to communicate if any further changes are made. The goal of increasing distancing during lunch is to decrease the number of student quarantines should there be a positive case.
Please see below for reminders from Dr. Ryba regarding protocols (Repeat Item):
Wearing Masks on the Bus
Per the CDC, all students and staff must wear a mask on a school bus, whether coming to/from school or for an athletic/music trip. CLICK HERE for the mask exemption form, if needed. A new form will need to be completed along with medical or religious documentation if a student is requesting an exemption for the 2021-2022 school year.
Wearing Masks in School
It is recommended that all staff and students wear masks in school, especially those that are unvaccinated, yet it is not required. Please read below and become familiar with the quarantine protocols. The best way to significantly reduce the risk of being quarantined and to stay in school is to wear a mask.
Student Isolation Protocols
If your child tests positive for COVID, s/he is required to isolate at home for then (10) days from the date of the positive test or the onset of symptoms.
Student Quarantine Protocols for Unvaccinated Students Wearing a Mask
If your child is unvaccinated, wearing a mask and identified as a direct contact to someone at school that is COVID positive, s/he will not have to quarantine as long as your child has no symptoms and was at least 3 feet apart. If your child was less than 3 feet, s/he will have to quarantine. You can CLICK HERE for a flow chart detailing the quarantine procedures we will follow.
Student Quarantine Protocols for Unvaccinated Students NOT Wearing a Mask
If your child is unvaccinated, not wearing a mask and identified as a direct contact to someone at school that is COVID positive, s/he will have to quarantine. You can CLICK HERE for a flow chart detailing the quarantine procedures we will follow.
Supporting Students in Isolation/Quarantine
When a student is in isolation/quarantine, teachers will provide the student with their assignments and support through Google Classroom. Additionally, teachers will live stream classroom instruction and/or provide instructional videos. Teachers are only required to live stream instruction for students in isolation/quarantine.
Parent Requests/Masking
If parents at the elementary level request teacher support/feedback in terms of having their child wear a mask at school, we will do the best we can to help out. This means that we will remind the child and share feedback to the parent on how they are doing during the initial weeks of the school year, if requested.
Student Insensitivity/Bullying for Masking
If we have students acting inappropriately towards someone that is wearing a mask or not wearing a mask, we will address it in accordance with our code of conduct in the same manner we handle any other situation of inappropriate behavior for name calling, bullying, etc.
Thank you for your support as we work to keep a safe learning environment for all. This will remain a repeat item in our newsletter for reference.
Positive COVID-19 Case Notification (Repeat Item)
If we receive a POSITIVE COVID-19 Case within the school, the following steps are taken:
- Contact tracing is completed, identifying areas including the bus, classroom, cafeteria, playground, and hallways where direct contact (as identified by district communication) could have occurred.
- If your child is identified as a direct contact, you will receive a phone call from our office to notify you of when this occurred and asked to pick your student up from school (Should this happen during school hours). If this occurs after the school day, an email notification will be sent to ensure timely notification to families.
- A letter via email will be sent to ALL families, informing them that there was a positive case in the school. Again, if your child is a direct contact, you will be directly contacted and informed.
- If the positive case is a student within your child's classroom, ALL families who in that specific class will receive a letter via email informing them that there was a positive case in their child's classroom. Again, if your child is a direct contact based on contact tracing in the classroom, you will receive a phone call/email notification.
- If the positive case is a student who rides a bus, ALL families who ride that specific bus will receive a letter informing them that there was a positive case on their bus. Again, if your child is a direct contact based on contact tracing on the bus, you will receive a phone call/email notification.
When Should You Keep Your Child Home?
PLEASE DO YOUR PART. IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT FEELING WELL, KEEP THEM HOME and CONTACT THE SCHOOL.
In order to do your part in preventing the spread of germs, it is imperative that we are frequently doing symptom checks of our children at home. If your child is displaying any of the following symptoms, please keep them home and inform our front office. We will work to ensure that your child stays up to date with assignments and the teaching taking place in the classroom:
- A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher. This is one of the strongest Covid Symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Persistent cough or runny nose
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
We need you to assist in helping us, by monitoring for these symptoms on a daily basis, and keeping your child home if they aren't feeling well.
Howard Chapman Elementary School
Email: kharrell@scsmustangs.org
Website: https://chapman.strongnet.org/
Location: Howard Chapman Elementary School, Drake Road, Strongsville, OH, USA
Phone: (440) 572-7140