Montgomery Elementary News
December 11, 2020
Contact Us
Dr. Amy Debelak, Principal
Ms. Sally Ganz, Asst. Principal
Office 686-1730
Absence Line 686-1707
FAX 792-6131
School Nurse 686-1733
Cafeteria 686-1735
Transportation 686-1785
Website: http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Domain/13
Location: 9609 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: 513-686-1730
Facebook: www.facebook.com/montgomeryelementaryofficial/?fref=ts
Twitter: @Montgomery_Elem
As we officially start the holiday season I wish you all peace and happiness. I realize the season may look very different this year but this year has revealed we have so much to celebrate. Our children truly celebrate each day as I get to hear each day from the shouts of joy in the cafeteria and the playground.
Best wishes,
Amy
JANUARY
1/18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday - No School
1/29 - Virtual Family Fun Nights
6:00pm-6:45pm for grades K-2
7:00pm-7:45pm for grades 3-4
PTO will be sending links before the event
WINTER SPIRIT WEEK
We are only one week away from WINTER BREAK. Let’s kick off the season right.
Please join us next week as we celebrate the oncoming season.
(December 14 - December 18)
MONDAY
Long Winter’s Nap
Get into the winter spirit by coming to school in your coziest pajamas.
TUESDAY
No Mirror Tuesday
Mismatch your cold weather clothes.
WEDNESDAY
Mythical Creatures or Characters
Ever want to come to school dressed as Bigfoot, an Elf or Unicorn?
(please do not wear anything scary or cover your face
as we still need to wear masks)
THURSDAY
Ugly Sweater Day
Wear the ugliest sweater you own.
FRIDAY
Winter Havoc
Come to school in anything that represents what the season means to you.
Time to wear hats, crazy socks and festive t-shirts.
Be creative - BE YOU!
FACE TO FACE AND VIRTUAL LEARNERS
Winter Break Food Bundle Bags - FREE for all families
The Sycamore Child Nutrition Department is offering all Sycamore families the opportunity to pick up FREE “Winter Break Bundle Bags” for all children between the ages of 1-18. We are offering a Saturday pick-up date in the hopes that most families that need access to food over the break have the opportunity to pick up outside of the normal school day.
When: Saturday, December 19th from 10:00 - 11:30 am
Where: Sycamore High School - Athletic Entrance
What: These “Winter Break Food Bundle Bags” will contain a variety of breakfast and lunch items, a variety of fruit and bulk frozen and fresh veggies, as well as 1 gallon of milk per student (if the family wants it).
Who can order: ANY Sycamore family (face-to-face AND virtual) can order for ANY of their children in their household between the ages of 1-18 years of age. These will be FREE to all families.
ORDER YOUR BUNDLE BAGS HERE: Please understand that if you sign up for bundle bag(s) we expect that either you or someone in place of you will come to pick up the food. Any leftover will be wasted due to the Winter Break so it is imperative that you pick up any bundle bags ordered.
The deadline to order is this Sunday, December 13th.
Please contact the Child Nutrition Department with any questions. (513) 686-1796 or warrenk@sycamoreschools.org.
Kelsey Warren RD, LD
Child Nutrition & Wellness Director
Sycamore Community Schools
(513) 686-1796
twitter: @SycamoreCNS
On Tuesday, Dr. Debelak and Ms. Ganz enjoyed eating lunch with our 3rd graders that are learning in the virtual classroom. What a great conversation. We talked about our family traditions on Thanksgiving. Several families had turkey, potatoes, pie and everyone spent time with family. Dr. Debelak's family began their tradition of watching the Harry Potter movies! This led us to a fun chat about our favorite books. Guess who has written a book? Samrita Prabhu! She is the author of The Enchanted Adventures of Ruby and Julia. If you would like to read it, here is the link https://read.bookcreator.com/LI_2Mba7R3J2vo0AnKl90DewvIybzhomxyHlJFKj3Y2ABtsqHPDnFg/7nD-RxUeQrel1DbNRamj1g
Other favorite books include: Losers Club, Adventure Kingdom, The Diary of the Whimpy Kids, Goosebumps and Icakabog,
Let Dr. Debelak and Ms. Ganz know what some of your favorite books are, they are always looking for good recommendations.
See you next month 3rd Graders!
Dear Montgomery Families,
Whether your child is attending school face to face or virtually the PTO continues to strive to make sure you are kept up to date with information. Thank you for your patience and please see all the new information below in the S'more and also on the PTO website and Facebook!
The Montgomery PTO is an organization that consists of parents, teachers, and school staff that works together to enhance the education of every child. We support the school and teachers with volunteers, provide a forum for two-way communication, happily fund many school items/teaching tools, and host a variety of events. This year, obviously, looks much different than any other school year, but we want to let you know that the PTO is working hard to provide the same support as we always have.
The Directory should be available in the next day or two (if not already). In light of this unusual school year we have decided to make the Directory Spot App available to ALL our Montgomery families and staff. If you have issues logging on or have any questions please email mtptodirectory@sycamoreschools.org but please make sure that you have not opted out in Final Forms first please.
Thank you also to those virtual learners and fifth grade (last year's graduates) that came out to pick up your yearbook. If you were unable to pick up yearbook(s) during the distribution we will be contacting you very soon in order to arrange a new pickup day/time. Questions about your child's yearbook please contact Kristy Felss (mtpto@sycamoreschools.org). More information about the 2020-2021 Yearbook coming very soon as please be on the lookout!
Please consider (if you are able to do so) making a donation to the PTO for this school year. Our typical membership fees usually only cover about the cost of our yearly DirectorySpot membership! In the past few years the PTO has been fortunate enough to donate a new sound system for the gym/cafeteria, a new kindergarten playground, technology like chromebooks/iPads, and countless activities/programs for our students, such as the Author Visits this past school year. A link for PayPal is available after completing the Google Form and can also be found on the PTO Website if you wish to make a donation. This school year will not have the traditional fundraisers (Boosterthon and Carnival) so we ask that you please take this into consideration as we are not able to do what we do without the generosity of our families. We are brainstorming ideas for additional Hassle-Free donations, in addition to Kroger, Box Tops for Education, and Pipkins (see below for more information) and considering adding a spring fundraiser if possible, but nothing has been finalized.
As always please make sure that you are following updates from the PTO via these three ways:
1) Montgomery Elementary Facebook Group
2) Sycamore District Montgomery Elementary PTO Page (https://www.sycamoreschools.org/domain/648)
3) Montgomery Elementary Weekly Newsletter (S’more)
Building a strong Montgomery Elementary Community for ALL is a goal for the PTO. We are working hard on ways to increase student/teacher support this school year and thinking of ways to still have fun (and some FUN-Draising) activities throughout the year.
I, and the rest of the executive board, look forward to working with you this year as we do our best to make a positive difference for our children, the staff, and our school. Please contact me anytime with questions.
Sincerely,
Kristy Felss
Montgomery Elementary PTO President
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This years Directory is up and running and available through the Directory Spot App! In light of this unusual school year we have decided to make the Directory Spot App available to ALL our Montgomery families and staff. New families should receive an email how to set up your account. If you have issues logging on or have any questions please email mtptodirectory@sycamoreschools.org but please make sure that you have not opted out in Final Forms first please. A special thank you to Wendy Andersen for all of her help with the Directory!
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If you are part of the Montgomery Elementary family, we encourage you to join us in making our school a great place for all of our kids! PTO membership offers you many opportunities to learn about what is going on at the school, to be involved and make some friends along the way. PTO members can vote on the PTO budget and receive access to our directory via the DirectorySpot app. Joining the PTO does not obligate you to volunteer; it's just a great way to show your support of Montgomery Elementary!
Joining the PTO is a simple process! Please just fill out the Membership Form!
General PTO Virtual Meetings:
Wednesday, January 13 @ 7-8:30pm - Link to follow
Wednesday, March 10 @ 9:30-11am - Link to follow
Wednesday, May 12 @ 9:30-11am - Link to follow
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Virtual Family Fun Nights:
January 29 (6-6:45 K-2nd and 7-7:45 3-4) Links to follow
April 23 (6-6:45 K-2nd and 7-7:45 3-4) Links to follow
HASSLE FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
You can earn money for Montgomery Elementary PTO just by using your Kroger Plus card at Kroger. But first, you must log onto your Kroger account and designate Montgomery Elementary as the organization you want to receive Community Rewards. Here is how…
1. Log onto your Kroger.com account
2. Click “My Account”
3. Click “Community Rewards”
4. Choose Montgomery Elementary PTO (Organization # VP832)
5. You can verify if you are already set-up by looking at the bottom of your most recent Kroger receipt. It will indicate that you have designated Montgomery Elementary PTO as the organization you chose to receive your rewards.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
GOT CLIPS? Drop off all your unexpired Box Tops at school in the Healthy Drop Box (outside the front doors) between 10am-2pm Monday-Friday! Please make sure they are in plastic ziplock bags and at the school before October 19th!
GOT LABELS? Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will automatically find the products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online. No clipping required! NO MORE CLIPPING! SCAN YOUR RECEIPT! SEE HOW AT BTFE.
Click here for a video demonstrating how to scan your receipts and receive credit via the App. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-bNcykyK5Y
PIPKIN'S MARKET
Anytime you shop at Pipkins Market they will donate a percentage of your spending to Montgomery Elementary PTO. All you have to do is bring your receipt(s) to school just like the box tops!
Bring Box Tops and Pipkins Receipts to school between 10am-2pm in a plastic bag and drop them outside the front doors in the Healthy Drop Box! Please do not send them to school with your child at this time or drop them off during Morning Drop Off or Afternoon Pick Up!
Questions about any of the Hassle Free programs or alternative ways to turn in your Box Tops and/or Pipkin’s Receipts before October 19th please contact Molly Duffey at mduffeyrn@yahoo.com
Sycamore Band and Orchestra Boosters will not be hosting the 20th annual Arts and Crafts Show in 2020. However, we have created an online showcase to connect our vendors/shoppers. Please visit www.sbob.org/craftshow to view the list.