Glacier Ridge Gazette
Glacier Ridge Elementary School | January 14, 2022
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Principal Message
Unsung Heros
If you had COVID, were a close contact, or had general questions about it, you likely spoke to one of the hard working people in the GRE clinic. The clinic has become a home base for health questions, COVID scenarios, quarantine guidance, and more. This is in addition to the regular duties of supporting ill and injured students throughout the day. When a positive case is reported, the nurse and/or clinic aide communicate with the family to get more information about symptoms and timelines, with Franklin County Public Health about quarantine length, with the teachers and principal to identify any other close contacts, with the other families that were a close contact, and then back to FCPH. Multiply this by five schools, which the school nurse serves. The clinic staff are working upwards of 70+ hours per week.
Therefore, I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to our wonderful clinic aide, Judy Butterfield, and our school nurse, Stephanie McDaniel. Their positivity, perseverance, and resilience have been amazing and the support they provide is exemplary, despite the unfortunate circumstances and information they often have to communicate.
If you would like to share your appreciation, feel free to drop a card in the mail to them or send it to school with your child (7175 Glacier Ridge Blvd. Dublin, OH 43017). Thank you to our clinic staff Mrs. Butterfield & Stephanie McDaniel!
GRE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dismissal Delays
Thank you for your patience with the delayed buses and long car line. This is due to staffing issues with bus drivers. It is unknown how long we will experience delayed buses. Continue to monitor how long your child is waiting outside in the cold for a bus. If you prefer to drive them, that is okay. We have extra staff for the car line to help move the cars through as quickly as possible. Please pull as far forward as possible. We will also have staff to help direct you.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All transportation changes need to be communicated to the office no later than 3 pm by emailing gres_attendance@dublinschools.net. Change requests must be done in writing to ensure the safety of all students.
Be Prepared
You may have seen that Depp and Eversole were delayed 30 minutes this past week, due to bus driver staff shortages. Because bus drivers require specific and extensive training, it is hard to quickly get subs or replacements. The decision to delay start times is made as soon as possible, but can often come late the day prior. Although this can be a significant inconvenience, it is necessary so that we can remain open with in-person learning.
In the event of a late start, you will receive an email and text the evening prior to the start of the week. It will also be communicated via district communication. Unfortunately, it is unknown when the decision will be made due to unforeseen absences.
When a late start occurs, the entire school schedule is pushed back 30 minutes for one week. This includes both arrival and dismissal times for all grade levels including AM and PM kindergarten.
School Hours IF there is a delayed schedule:
Morning Arrival 9:30 am
AM Kindergarten Dismissal 12:10 pm
PM Kindergarten Arrival 1:30 pm
Afternoon Dismissal 4:10 pm
Again, all transportation changes must be communicated to the office by 3 pm in writing by emailing gres_attendance@dublinschools.net. Please note, all meetings, including virtual meetings, would be held 30 minutes later as well.
Valentine Parties
Classroom Valentine parties will be on Monday, February 14th. Students will be allowed to exchange cards for each of their classmates. Teachers will communicate the class list of students. Students are encouraged to make their own valentine box. They often enjoy using their creative and innovative skills to create their box. If students do not want to make a valentines box, we will provide them with something to collect and bring home their cards. Food will not be provided or eaten during the classroom parties. Thank you to the room parents for planning the activities for the party.
Community Champion Award Nominations
The community champion awards are a collaborative effort between the City of Dublin and Dublin City Schools to honor community service of DCS students and staff. If you know someone that deserves to be celebrated for their volunteerism, giving back, and selflessness in the community, you can nominate them HERE.
Yearbook Sale - Due by Jan. 28
Cold Weather Clothing
Due to fluctuating temperatures, we’ve had both indoor and outdoor recess this week. Many students have come to school without a coat. Please encourage your children to bring a coat to school in the event that we have outdoor recess or are outside for an extended period of time. We know that appropriate dress can be a battle with your child each day. However, we are reinforcing that appropriate cold weather attire is required at school. Therefore, you can use the school rules as a rationale for them bringing and wearing a coat and leg coverings.
Fall 3rd Grade Ohio State Tests (OST) Assessments
Families of 3rd grade students should have received an email with the results to the OST for their child. The email contained the overall raw score and the writing subscore. You can find more information about the results and the assessment in this OST FAQ document. This assessment was administered in October of 2021 and is required by the State of Ohio. However, teachers use more current data and assessments to help guide instruction to meet the needs of students. Teachers will go over your child’s progress and current data at family conferences in February.
MAP Testing Information
All students in grades 1-5 will be taking the MAP assessments in reading and math. The winter assessment window opens January 10th through February 25th. Your child’s teacher will communicate the specific testing dates. These assessments provide teachers information to plan instruction for students. Although they can be used as an overall benchmark assessment, the primary use is to provide instructional guidance. Teachers will go over the results during the teacher conference in February. Families will receive an email with the score at the conclusion of the MAP testing window.
Greeter Sign Up for 2022
Glacier Ridge Elementary believes in creating a caring and comfortable environment for it's community of learners. This begins as students enter the front doors of the school in the morning.
Students in grades 2-5 are invited to greet students and staff in the morning as they come into school.
Students will gain self-confidence, become leaders, and learn how to represent themselves in a positive way.
*Click here for sign-ups and more specific information.
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GRE EVENTS
Upcoming Events
Jan 17 - MLK Day - No school
Feb 1 - March 11 - Family Conference Window
Feb 5 - PTO family skate night @ the Dublin Chiller (6:15-8:15pm)
Feb 9 - Family conference night 1
Feb 15 - Kindergarten registration opens for 22-23
Feb 16 - PTO meeting @ 10am
Feb 17 - Family conference night 2
Feb 18 - No school - Professional development day
Feb 21 - No school - Presidents day
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DISTRICT NEWS
District News
COVID-19 Data
The latest COVID-19 data for Dublin City Schools is posted at this link.
COVID-19 update
Dublin City Schools is finalizing contingency plans in the event of excessive teacher and student absences due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. We are doing everything possible to keep our students in class, and have no plans to move the entire District into remote learning mode. However, if staff absences exceed capacity for substitute teachers, individual school(s) may need to be temporarily shifted to remote learning on short notice. If this becomes necessary, principals will communicate directly with their communities via email, phone call and text message.
Attention 8th grade parents: Join PERC for “Planning for Success” on Jan. 11
On Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m., PERC will be hosting “Looking Ahead: Planning for Success in High School and Beyond?” where eighth grade parents will receive tips and tools for high school success. Details are available here.
2022 Community Champion Award Nominations
This spring, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Dublin City Schools are partnering to honor the best in volunteerism, giving back, and selflessness with the 2022 Community Champion Awards. Please take a moment to nominate deserving students and staff at this link.
Anticipated changes to public participation at Board of Education meetings
It is anticipated that changes to public participation procedures at Dublin City Schools Board of Education meetings will be implemented on a trial basis for the first two months of 2022 in an effort to increase dialogue opportunities between board members and the public. Click here for more information.
Need more information? Visit our sites below.
Attendance
If your child will be absent from school, please email our attendance line at gres_attendance@dublinschools.net.
Glacier Ridge Elementary
Email: glacierridge_info@dublinschools.net
Website: https://www.dublinschools.net/Domain/18
Location: 7175 Glacier Ridge Boulevard, Dublin, OH, USA
Phone: 614.733.0012
Twitter: @greDCSD