Blue Ash Elementary February
February 2, 2018
Security
Sycamore School District will soon be implementing a system to enhance our security and allow us to manage our visitors more effectively within every building.
We will be using "Lobby Guard" which will require all visitors to have and produce identification before entering our buildings. The "Lobby Guard" system will scan the identification and then produce a sticker that contains the visitor's photo.
Please be aware that If visitors do not have an ID, they will not be given access to the school. We will provide more information as we get closer to the implementation date.
Notes from our Media Center
Dear Blue Ash Families,
Hello, my name is Kristie Oh and I will be filling in for Mrs. Kolde while she is out on maternity leave. I am excited to spend the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year with your child. I have had the privilege of raising my children and working in the Sycamore Community School District since moving to Ohio in 2007. Blue Ash and Montgomery elementaries are the two schools where I have spent most of my work time. During the first half of the 2017-2018 school year, I completed a long term assignment in 2nd grade at Montgomery Elementary, but am grateful to now return to Blue Ash to work with Mrs. Kolde’s students.
Mrs. Kolde and I have worked closely together to ensure a smooth transition as she takes her leave. However, because the Library is a busy and exciting place, I want to ensure there is an open line of communication. If you or your child have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at ohk@sycamoreschools.org. I am more than happy to address any questions that arise. I look forward to spending a great 3rd and 4th quarter with you and your child.
Thank you,
Kristie Oh
B.S. Elementary Education/Social Studies Emphasis
Southeast Missouri State University
FUN FACTS:
Favorite children’s book: Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
Hobbies: nature trail hikes and weekend trips to see my college age children
Favorite quote: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!¨
Shed the Threads!
Attention Fourth Grade Parents - Hold the Date:
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 your student have a fever? Cough? Diarrhea? Vomiting? Did your 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.
News from Health and Wellness Committee
February is American Heart Month! To celebrate, here are some tips from the American Heart Association for how we can keep our children’s hearts healthy and strong!
Eat a Healthful Diet: Eat foods the are low in saturated fats, cholesterol and salt and choose foods high in vitamins and dietary nutrition: The American Heart Association has a number of simple suggestions to improve your families’ diet. Click here for more information.
Need ideas for meals? The next time you consider what to eat for dinner, The American Heart Association has suggestions for simple meals you can make with your children. Not only will you make a healthy meal for your family, but involving kids in preparing meals is a great way to help your kids get comfortable with new foods, pass down family recipes and even teach a little math using measuring cups, weighing ingredients and even discussing temperature. Check out the AHA's cooking and demonstration guide here and be sure to download the Demo Kit on the page.
Be Physically Active: Try to get 30 minutes of physical activity on most or all days of the week. With weather still cold outside, try these ideas for staying active:
1. Summit Park Ice Rink: Have you checked out the latest addition to Summit Park? Now through February 19th, the ice rink will be open Thursdays through Sundays, with special hours on President’s Day, Monday, February 19th. For more details, click here.
2. Blue Ash Recreation Center Climbing Wall: Did you know you don’t have to be a member of the Blue Ash Recreation center for you and your family to enjoy the climbing wall? For those who are members, it’s free on Mondays! Be sure to check out the website for hours and fees.
3. Indoor Scavenger Hunt: Need a new idea of what to do at home? Check out the American Heart Association’s scavenger hunt for kids. It a fun way to keep your kids busy and healthy :)
For these and many more ideas, see the American Heart Association for Kids website. And as always, for a list of all the wellness-related activities going on at Blue Ash Elementary and listed here, be sure to check out the Blue Ash Elementary Wellness Calendar.
~~PTO INFORMATION~~
It is Yearbook Time!
Relive your memories of Blue Ash Elementary with a 2017-2018 yearbook. Order forms are being distributed and will be due on Friday, Feb. 16. You can also order online at ybpay.lifetouch.com. Enter code 1835018.
A separate form was distributed for yearbook dedication ads, also due Feb. 16. You can make a personal tribute to your child, their friends, their teachers, or whatever your heart desires.
If you have any questions, contact Christine Katzman, yearbook chair, ckatzman@nualumni.com.
Volunteer for Cultural Night
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.
~~District Information~~
Message to all 4th Graders at Sycamore Elementary Schools…
- E.H. Greene PTO Carnival Committee
Aves Hangar
Cell Phone Recycling Campaign
One effortless way you can help Sycamore Community Schools gain $4,000. My name is Bennett Heyn and I am a Senior at The Sycamore High School. I really enjoy the field of marketing and also I am a big advocate for helping the environment. According to a Live Science article, “Western lowland gorillas and Cross River gorillas are critically endangered, with a population reduction of more than 80 percent over three generations. Only 100,000 lowland gorillas still in existence.” Gorillas are dying and are going extinct and so I would like to call upon the strong Sycamore community to help save this endangered species. Cell phones help save Gorilla habitats because most cell phones contain a mineral called coltan and recycling our cell phones would decrease the demand for this precious mineral. When there is less demand, cell phone companies do not mine as many habitats because of the recycled supply of coltan.
Now there is a very easy opportunity for parents and students inside the Sycamore community to help the world and help us attain a lot of needed funds. From the start of the 2017 school year through the end of March 2018, Sycamore High School and other participating schools will be collecting cell phones to raise money.
I have created a Sycamore wide Cell Phone Recycling Campaign to compete in the Cincinnati Zoo’s Saving Species Project. This competition gives a total of $4,000 to the school or organization that collects the most cell phones. It is very easy to get involved with this project. All you have to do is find any cell phones that you would be willing to donate and drop them off at the bin inside the main entrance of Sycamore High School. Sycamore also has other convenient locations such as the Junior High, Maple Dale Elementary, Blue Ash Elementary and Greene School.
It is not certain that Sycamore will win the grand prize but if everyone helps by donating cell phones, there is a high probability of winning. Everyone who donates a cell phone is a winner because recycling cell phones saves gorilla habitats and helps the earth. Most cell phones contain precious minerals that companies extract from gorilla habitats. By recycling cell phones, demand for these minerals decreases significantly. So, please round up any unused cell phones you have and donate them at the Sycamore High School or other participating locations. Thanks for your help!
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.