Salem Spotlight
January 2019
Our Mission
At Salem, we realize all children are individuals, and this may be their first experience in social living. Our desired goal in working with all children is growth.
We strive to create a stimulating environment for each child that will promote and foster his/her interests and curiosity, thus promoting optimal learning. This learning will incorporate the development of academic, relationship, and citizenship skills, a requirement for functioning in our society as productive citizens.
Principal's Message
Dear Salem Community,
Welcome back, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and has had a good start to the New Year! What an exciting time of year this is at the elementary level. This is when we see many students take giant leaps in their learning. Students are starting to take off with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students are beginning to read fluently and sounding like pros. This is a true testament to all the work done at school and at home since the start of the year.
So, let us keep the growth going with the coordinated efforts between home and school. Remember, you should read with your child each night. Students need to read with you for a fluent model of what reading sounds like, seeing that you value the practice needed to grow as a reader and the continued practice of strategies and skills learned at school.
Thank you for your continued support at home!
Lisa M. Smith, Principal
From the Desk of the Preschool Director
by Mrs. Losey
Winter weather information: https://www.littlemiamischools.com/resources/winter-weather-info-29/delays-%2B-closings-33/
Information about 90-minute delays:
- Families with morning preschool students: students will start the day 90 minutes later and will return home on the bus 45 minutes later than usual.
- Families with afternoon preschool students: students will be delayed 45 minutes later than usual, and at the end of the day, will return home at regular time.
Other cold weather reminders: please dress your students in appropriate clothing/jackets. If it's above freezing, recess we will be outside.
Save the Dates!
by Mrs. Miles
General
1/28/19: Late Arrival for Students
2/15/19-2/18/19: No School
2/21/19: Conferences (4:30-8:00)
2/25/19: Late Arrival for Students
2/27/19: Spring Picture Day
2/28/19: Conferences (4:30-8:00)
3/8/19: End of 3rd Quarter
3/11/19-3/15/19: No School (Spring Break)
PTO Dates
2/12/19: PTO Meeting 7:00pm
2/14/19: PTO Valentine Parties
2/19/19: PTO Mad Potter Night
3/19/19: PTO Meeting 7:00pm
Other
2/7/19: 3rd Grade Music Programs
- 6:30pm: Houillion, McEntire, Taylor, Whiting, Wright
- 7:30pm: Daniels, Brendamour, Farlow, Shiveley
2/13/19: 3rd Grade Music Programs
- 6:30pm: Barr, Chance, Temple, Vanell
- 7:30pm: Foley, Freedman, Reiners, Ryan
3/21/19: 4th Grade Music Programs
- 6:30pm: Fey, Florence, Frederick, Goodstein
- 7:30pm: Douglass, Higginbothan, Freeman, Milnickel, Moher
3/28/19: 4th Grade Music Programs
- 6:30pm: Combs, Rhoads, Robinson, Silberberg
- 7:30pm: Jackson, Woods
Helpful Handbook Reminders
by Mr. Taylor
SALEM ELEMENTARY DRESS CODE
Salem students are expected to maintain a high standard of behavior, and each student is encouraged to dress in a manner that is appropriate. Research has shown a correlation between appearance and behavior, especially in the school setting. Respect for self, school, home, and community can be reflected by the way you dress. Administrators may exclude any student, when, in their judgment, apparel is not consistent with the standards established below:
Dress Code Standards:
1. Hats, head coverings, bandanas, sweatbands, and sunglasses will not be worn inside the building.
2. Appropriate footwear must be worn for safety and sanitation reasons. Examples of unacceptable footwear include flip flops, slippers, and loose fitting footwear that cannot safely and securely remain on the student’s feet. Shoes must cover heels (no clogs, open back shoes).
3. Shirt sleeves, sweater sleeves, and vests must not be so loose or decorative as to create a safety hazard. Examples of inappropriate apparel include but are not limited to: halters, midriff tops, crop tops, spaghetti strap tops, strapless tops, revealing and/or see through tops, open mesh garments, garments with open sides which expose skin or undergarments, tank tops, and muscle shirts.
4. Lower garments are to be worn at the appropriate level and cannot drag on the floor. Lower garments should not allow any portion of the undergarments to be exposed when the student sits, stands, raises his/her hand, or bends over. No form fitting shorts of any kind may be worn unless worn completely under a shirt/dress. Examples include biking, spandex, and Lycra shorts. Shorts must be mid-thigh. If a belt is worn, it must be of proper length.
5. Torn or tattered pants with small holes below fingertips are permitted so long as these holes do not become safety hazards.
6. Patches, insignias, buttons, jewelry, clothing, or other items that include obscene, violent, gang, tobacco, drug or alcohol related writing or images are not acceptable. Items of clothing that belittle others may not be worn (i.e., race, religion, gender, etc.)
7. Coats and jackets meant for outdoor wear, book bags and oversized bags must be kept in school lockers or other designated areas during the day.
8. Jewelry or articles judged to be potentially harmful to students are not acceptable.
9. Makeup should not be worn to school.
10. Color sprayed hair, or extreme color dyed hair is not acceptable.
11. Students must maintain socially acceptable standards of personal hygiene.
Exceptions to the above dress code will be considered for special events, cultural beliefs and to promote school spirit. Students and/or sponsors must have permission from the administration prior to the activity.
The Principal, with the assistance of the faculty, shall have the responsibility of uniformly administering the dress policy.
Not all clothing can be addressed in this handbook. The administration will inform the parent if there is a clothing concern not addressed in the handbook.
Curriculum Connection
by Mrs. Horvath & Mrs. Meyer
How Early Readers Make the Leap to Chapter Books
Whenever you as a parent are helping kids make that transition into chapter books, here are several key factors to consider when trying to find the best fit chapter book.
• An Engrossing Series. Moving into chapter books requires longer reading spans and takes persistence. If kids are invested in the characters and storyline, they're more motivated to push through the longer books. Finding the right book series is essential.
• Great Pictures. Transitioning into chapter books requires lots of picture support to aid in reading comprehension and ease readers into books with more text.
• High-Interest Storylines. Helping kids find books that they will love, with topics or characters who interest them, is important in turning them into lifelong readers.
• Reasonable Text Placement and Size. Books shouldn't be too long or cumbersome or we risk turning off new chapter book readers.
• Engaging and Easy to Follow. The books must be engaging to young readers but simple enough for growing readers to follow as they navigate longer text structure.
When you introduce kids to a new early chapter book series, you will want to read the first book as a read-aloud. Having adult support through the first book in a series helps kids become comfortable with character names, the setting, and plot of the story. I also model for them by using a bookmark to mark the stopping point since chapter books aren't meant to be read in one session.
Then, have the child read the next book in the series to you. As he's reading aloud, you can check on reading fluency. You can also ask questions to gauge comprehension and determine whether or not the book is still of interest. If all goes well, you can turn the series over to the child, remembering to frequently check in to see how things are going.
Special's Spot - PBL
by Mrs. Horton
Our third graders have begun our local history project which will culminate on Night at the Museum on April 25. We are focusing on the local area within the boundaries of Little Miami Local School District. The first settlement in our area, Mounts Station, is remembered and honored by an engraved rock (pictured here) that can be found on the turn-off on the Stubbs Mill Road. Those first settlers arrived in 1795, and in the last 224 years a lot has changed. That change has been driven by the different forms of transportation each generation used. Each class is diving into a specific part of our history, and groups will be creating museum displays that will be on display at Night at the Museum.
The fourth graders are learning about one of the things that makes Ohio so great, the various inventions created by Ohio inventors. They vary from chewing gum to the light bulb to the airplane, and the students are having fun discovering those and many more. Pairs will have to choose the one innovation that they believe is the greatest from Ohio and create a PowerPoint to convince their class of it's greatness. Presenting their projects will also be a great opportunity for students to practice their public speaking skills. Have your fourth graders present their PowerPoint to you at home when they are done.
Counselor's Corner
January's Core Essentials trait was self- control. Self control means choosing to do what you should do, even when you don't want to. Student council reps led their classes in the Self-Control Challenge.
Some of the challenges included: eating lunch without making a mess on the table or floor, keeping hands and feet to themselves, and thinking about if what they want to say will help or hurt someone before speaking. Students did great and practicing all of these ways to have self-control.
Notes from the Nurses
by Mrs. Knochel & Mrs. Sedlatschek
Winter is here! There are a lot of fun things to do outside in the winter. Outdoor activities are a great way to get the exercise needed to stay healthy, however it is important to consider safety. The American Association of Pediatrics has provided us with some helpful winter health and safety tips:
Outdoor Winter Activities
Ice skating, skiing, and sledding are great ways to get exercise on a cold winter day. Remember, children should be supervised with these activities.
Safety Tips
It is safer to sled feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head first.
Sled on slopes that are not too steep and are free of obstructions like trees or fences.
Skate only on approved surfaces.
Skate in one direction, with the crowd.
Never skate alone.
Wear a helmet when skiing.
Stay away from crowded areas.
Other Winter Concerns:
Nosebleeds
If your student suffers from winter nosebleeds, it may be from the dry air. Try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline drops or petroleum jelly may help too. If severe, consult your pediatrician.
Hypothermia
When it is cold outside, remember to set a reasonable time limit on outdoor play. Have children come inside periodically to warm up. Dressing in layers is best.
Salem Speed Limit
Main Entrance Information
In an effort to increase student security, Door A2 is no longer a public entrance. Please refer to the information below for directions on which entrance to use.
Proceed to Door A1 for the following:
· 3rd/4th Grade Student Sign In/Out (Photo ID is required to sign out a student)
· 3rd/4th Grade Nurse / Clinic
· 3rd/4th Grade Visitor / Volunteer Sign In
· 3rd/4th Grade Meetings
· Deliver items to a 3rd / 4th Grade Student (lunch, book bag, homework, etc.)
· Deliveries (UPS, Fedex, etc.)
· Substitute Teacher, Aide, etc. Sign In
Proceed to Door D3 for the following:
· PK / KG Student Sign In/Out (Photo ID is required to sign out a student)
· PK / KG Nurse / Clinic
· PK / KG Visitor / Volunteer Sign In
· PK / KG Meetings
· Deliver items to a PK / KG Student (book bag, homework, etc.)
· Fee Payments (PK, KG, 3rd & 4th Grades)
· Student Withdraw (PK, KG, 3rd & 4th Grades)
Transportation Changes
MAKING A TEMPORARY CHANGE
Temporary transportation changes are approved through the main office. Temporary transportation changes may not be made through your child's teacher or the transportation department.
Please submit Preschool and Kindergarten changes to kroseberry@lmsdoh.org
Please submit 3rd Grade and 4th Grade changes to boditt@lmsdoh.org
MAKING A PERMANENT CHANGE
Please click here for information on the procedure for making a permanent transportation change.
Schoology Q&A
Q: How often will my child's teacher add information to Schoology?
A: All teachers at Salem are asked to include at least one Schoology Update per week. Additional updates/materials may be added more frequently depending on the teacher.
Q: Last year I received email notifications when my child's teacher updated information to Schoology. Will I receive notifications this year?
A: No. This year we are communicating through Schoology Courses (last year we communicated through Schoology Groups). Schoology Courses do not send notifications. We recommend parents log in to Schoology periodically throughout the week to check for updates.
Q: Will I receive any emails from Salem this year, or is all communication strictly through Schoology?
A: Teachers will communicate classroom-specific information through Schoology. Some teachers may choose to communicate via other means (such as Class Dojo), but it is not required. The main office will still send emails for important events (such as party volunteer sign ups, conference invitations, and field day information) throughout the year.
Q: I'm having difficulty logging in on the Schoology App. I was able to use it last year. Why can't I this year?
A: You may need to delete and re-install the Schoology App each year.
Q: Where can I go if I have additional questions about Schoology?
A: Visit the Schoology page on the Little Miami website. You may also contact Mr. Taylor directly.
2018 - 2019 School Hours
8:55 - Doors Open for Students & Breakfast Begins
9:10 - Classes Start
11:50 - AM Preschool & Kindergarten Ends
1:05 - PM Preschool & Kindergarten Begins
3:50 - Student Dismissal
Follow Us On Twitter!
Don't miss out on our daily tweets!
Mrs. Smith - @LSmithSalem
Mrs. Losey - @LM_PrekPanthers
Mrs. Miles - @LM_MrsMiles
Mr. Taylor - @MrTaylorLM
Contact Information
605 Welch Road
Morrow, Ohio 45152
Principal: Mrs. Lisa Smith
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Jamie Miles
Assistant Principal: Mr. Cory Taylor
Preschool Director: Mrs. Erin Losey
Office & Attendance Number: 513.899.5275
Fax Numbers: 513.899.3196 (Grades 3 & 4) / 513.899.2891 (Grades P & K)
School Website