Montgomery Elementary News
November 13, 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
To veterans of all branches: Thank you for your bravery, your sacrifice, and the example you set for us all.
Best,
Amy
NOVEMBER
19 - Evening Conferences (4pm-8pm)
20 - Day Conferences (8:15am - 4:00pm) - No School for Students
23 - Evening Conferences (4pm - 8pm)
25, 26 & 27 - Thanksgiving Break
REPORT CARDS
Report cards will be electronic this year and posted
TODAY, November 13 for our 1st quarter on Parent Portal.
"Good Afternoon Sycamore families!!!
Report cards have been posted today for the 1st quarter. We want to make you aware that there may be an increase in absent hours if your student was under quarantine at any point throughout this first quarter. This is due to a coding error and will reflect correctly in the future. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation while we address this issue. Go Aviators!"
Thank you!!!
Stacie Vollman Parker
Sycamore Community Schools
EMIS Supervisor/ SIS Specialist
(513)686-1700 ext. 5024
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
ALL conferences will be held virtually, for both Virtual Classroom and Face-to Face students. Parents will receive details regarding the conferences as they get closer. Dates are as follows:
Nov. 19 (Thursday) Evening Conferences (K-6)
Nov. 20 (Friday) Daytime conferences (No School-K-8 only)
Nov. 23 (Monday) Evening Conferences (K-4 and 7-8)
MESSER MEDIA NOTES
THIS IS AN UPDATE
Join the Montgomery staff as we read The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate.
Each week, we will be sending out (or adding) 5 videos. Tune in at your leisure. Let's all connect and share a story!
Click below for the youtube video link ~
Virtual Schedules K-4
For our virtual families, attached please find the new schedules for virtual students in grades K-4 that begin on Monday, November 23. Please note these schedules reflect a corrected start date of 11/23 as well as a fixed typo in the second grade schedule. For third and fourth grade students who are in gifted class(es), their gifted classes will remain the same time as they are currently held. There is no change to gifted classes. For students in intervention, special education, related therapies, or ESOL - their teacher(s) will reach out directly to families about any change in the schedule of their services, if applicable.
Virtual Pilot Kits
We are getting ready for our next Virtual Pilot Kit pick up for grades K-4!
We will be hosting pick up at the Virtual Learning Commons (11120 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242) at the following days and times:
Tuesday, Nov 17: 7:30am - 1:30pm
Wednesday, Nov 18: 7:30am-1:30pm
How do I sign up for pick up? Please use the link HERE to reserve your pick up time. While we anticipate the pick up process to be very quick, we want to limit the number of people coming at once for safety and social distancing.
Can someone else pick up my student’s box? Yes, Virtual Pilot kits may be picked up by a friend, family member, or neighbor if the parent or guardian wishes.
What is the procedure for pick up? The entrance to our building is at the front of the building by the road. Please come to that door. As you enter, you will have your temperature quickly taken. We have a large room - right next to the main door - where student Virtual Pilot kits will be spread out by grade and by teacher, and alphabetized by student. Student names are clearly labeled on each box. Please grab your student(s) Virtual Pilot Kit(s) and then you will exit. We will have staff available to help. All persons picking up boxes will need to be masked and practice social distancing the entire time.
What if none of the pick up times work for me or I am unable to pick up the Virtual Pilot Kits? Please call 513.686.1708 so that we can make arrangements with you.
Our next Virtual Pilot Kit pick up for virtual students in grades K-4 will be after we return from winter break in January. Thank you for your ongoing support of this program!
SCHOOL PHOTOS FOR OUR VIRTUAL STUDENTS
Jostens will be taking photos of our Montgomery Virtual
Students on Friday, November 20. The schedule is as follows:
K = 9:00am - 9:30am
1 = 9:30am - 10:00pm
2 = 10:00am - 10:30am
3 = 10:30am - 11:00am
4 = 11:00am - 11:30am
Anyone Who Missed Their Scheduled Time = 11:30am - 12:00pm
- If you have students in multiple grades, please attend the time scheduled for your youngest child.
- If your student is taking the CogAT test, they will be able to have their photo taken as soon as they have finished testing.
Your student(s) will be entering the Gymnasium doors, while you wait outside. The playground gates will be unlocked by 9:00am. We will have Educational Assistants help guide you through the process. The process will only take a few minutes.
Dear Montgomery Families,
We are off to another great school year at Montgomery Elementary and 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 GEAR
Do you have questions about navigating the Sycamore gifted program with your child? Do you have a story or expertise to share? Are you desiring to be more connected to the GEAR community? If so, go to www.SycamoreGEAR.org, find a date that works for you, and join for casual conversation and connection about these topics and more.
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.
OGB REGISTRATION CLOSES TODAY, NOVEMBER 13.
SEE BELOW.