Symmes Elementary School
Symmesational News!
Friday, August 31, 2018
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Thursday, Sept. 13 PTO Meeting 9:30 am
Tuesday, Sept. 25 Picture Day
Tuesday, Sept. 25 4th Grade Group Picture 9:45 am
Thursday, Sept 27 Family Fun Night 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 27 Cookie Dough Sale Kick-Off
Friday, Sept. 28 NO SCHOOL for students
MINDPEACE
Sycamore Community Schools is excited to begin providing families access to private mental health services for students in the 2018-2019 school year.
After an extensive interview process with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the district is excited to announce the addition of the first of several on-site licensed therapists. Jamie Wiener will be joining the staff at Symmes Elementary to confidentially serve students with mental health challenges.
“Emotional health is a priority for our students, and we have prioritized finding the right professionals to help us achieve this,” said Lisa Zelvy, Pupil Supports Supervisor.
Wiener comes to Sycamore Schools with 15 years of experience in early childhood therapy. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology- Child Assessment and Intervention Specialization from Northwestern University in 2006. Wiener is licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor and is a National Certified Counselor.
Sycamore Community Schools began collaborating in Spring of 2017 with Children’s Hospital and Mindpeace, a non-profit organization that helps align the partners, infrastructure and processes for children’s mental health solutions between schools and local agencies.
The district plans to add a licensed therapist in each building, starting with the four elementary schools. Selecting the right candidates for the positions has been a rigorous process that will continue into the school year, said Superintendent Frank Forsthoefel.
“We want to make sure we are providing access to the best care for students so that they can reach their full potential,” said Forsthoefel. “We appreciate the patience of our community as we continue to work through this rigorous process to ensure we do what’s best for our students and families.”
Sycamore’s partnership with Cincinnati Children’s will give students an additional option for access to mental health services beyond the services offered by our highly-trained school counselors and school psychologists. The school counseling program is an integral component of all aspects of our schools, as it helps students be emotionally healthy and ready to learn, and as mental health needs increase, so does the need for more acute care.
The partnership with Cincinnati Children’s and their services does not require any financial support from the district. Students and families needing services can cover therapy visits through private insurance, Medicaid, or private pay options. Assistance may be available for families experiencing financial difficulty.
Parents, teachers and school counselors can make student referrals for service. Students can also self refer for services. Ultimately, the decision to move forward with therapeutic services is up to the family.
Children’s Hospital will also work with our staff to ensure proper education and training on mental health services.
Reporting Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Incidences
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 incidences 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:
causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and
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.sycamoreschools.org, under the Board of Education tab, scroll down to “Policies”, search for policy “JFCF”.
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,
Go to the website, www.sycamoreschools.org
Under the tab “Forms”, scroll down until you see the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Incident Reporting Form for the individual schools.
Fill the form on-line and submit it electronically.
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 incidences.
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.
SYMMES SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEERS!!
The Symmes Spotlight (formerly Symmes Star) program is fun way for each student to be highlighted and feel special! This is a fabulous opportunity to volunteer and help our children share information about themselves with the rest of the Symmes community. Plus, the volunteers get to know the wonderful students at Symmes Elementary School! The volunteers interview students, and their certificate is placed on the Symmes Spotlight display case for the week. Each student gets a prize, and a special note is sent home to their family informing them that their child is in the Symmes Spotlight. Parents are encouraged to share lunch time with their child during the week as well. The students are excited when it is their turn to be in the Symmes Spotlight and look forward to their week!
We meet most Mondays during the school year. We start around 9:05 am and finish by 9:45 am - it’s only a 30-40 minute commitment per week.
Please, consider sharing your time to get to know some of our amazing children and help them be in the Spotlight!
The link up link is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0944a8a82aa7fd0-symmes
Thank you for considering this opportunity!
Sunny Pitt and Jaime Magee
(Co-Chairs for Symmes Spotlight)
FALL 2018 Sycamore Positive Parenting Workshops
Sycamore Positive Parenting Workshops bring parents the best practices in youth
development. Each week you will gain more manageable, effective parenting skills, including effective discipline. Classes will be taught by Sycamore staff and parents and will cover several topics including:
● Positive Parenting: Building on Strengths and Practical Tools
● Creating Confident Kids: Building Grit, Curiosity and Resilience
● Communication that Works: Listening and Setting Expectations
● Deflecting Arguments and Setting Boundaries: Avoiding Power Struggles
● The Discipline Difference: Effective Consequences and Consistency
● What Kids Need to Succeed: Helping Our Students Maximize School Opportunities
The Sycamore Positive Parenting Workshops believe that every parent is a leader and can make a profound contribution in the life of their child. We look forward to working with you and hope you can join us for this interactive and fun class!
When Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 - Oct. 23, 2018
Where Blue Ash Elementary School- University of Cincinnati Wing
Who Any Sycamore family, parent or guardian.
Cost Free! Childcare is also available at NO additional cost.
Questions? ❖ Emily Williams, ESOL Supervisor: 513.686.1700
williamsem@sycamoreschools.org
Click HERE to REGISTER
(or type the following into your internet browser:
Thank you for your interest in Sycamore Positive Parenting Workshops!
We are excited to have you join us!
8th Annual Sycamore Junior High Aviator Flight Fest
Mark your calendars for the 8th Annual Sycamore Junior High Aviator Flight Fest 5k/10k Race & Festival on Saturday, October 20, 2018! Please visit our website at www.aviatorflightfest.com to Register for the Race and get more Flight Fest 2018 information. NEW THIS YEAR! All Race Registrants receive the First Official Aviator Flight Fest 2018 Finishers Medal in addition to a Flight Fest T-shirt and Swag Bag. Students registering for the race be sure to vote for your favorite SJH teacher to win a Prize and a “Surprise”. Stay posted for details on what that “Surprise” entails! Hint-teachers may not like it, but students definitely will! Online Silent Auction will be available for viewing Tuesday, September 4th! Don’t miss Instant Buy Opportunity for 2 tickets to Chris Stapleton concert on Oct.4th at Riverbend. Go to www.aviatorflightfest.com to see Flight Fest Silent Auction. Follow us on twitter @avesflightfest to get race updates and information on new items added to Silent Auction. Please contact Michelle Ciotola at avesflightfest@gmail.com to learn about business and family sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, or any questions regarding Aviator Flight Fest.