Salem Spotlight
November 2017
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 Families,
Our school year is well underway, the leaves have fallen, and the chilly winter air will soon be here. As I walk the hallways of Salem and visit the classrooms, it is very evident that our school staff is analyzing students' strengths and meeting expectations set during the year. We are preparing our students for the rigorous society we live in. Our class time is devoted to learning and practicing new curriculum. Students know what is expected of them, and teachers are moving forward "full throttle."
I would like to wish the Salem Community a wonderful start to the Holiday Season.
Lisa M. Smith, Principal
From the Desk of the Preschool Director
OCALICON is dedicated to providing high-quality learning and networking opportunities focused on helping to meet the lifelong needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory disabilities, and low-incidence disabilities.
You can read more about the conference here: http://conference.ocali.org/
Save the Dates!
General Dates
12/13/17: School Spelling Bee (2:00pm)
12/14/17: End of 3rd Quarter
12/15/17: No School (Teacher Workday)
12/15/17-1/1/18: No School (Winter Break)
1/5/18: Report Cards Go Home
1/15/18: No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
1/22/18: 90 Minute Delay for Students
PTO Dates
12/4/17-12/13/17: PTO Holiday Shop
1/9/18: PTO Meeting (7:00pm)
1/31/18: Zak Morgan Assembly (PK/K)
Helpful Handbook Reminders
PERSONAL ITEMS (Toys & Novelties)
Students are not permitted to bring toys, games, balls, recording devices, cards, collectibles, cell phones, handheld games, laser projection devices, or any other electronic device to school unless authorized by school personnel. Any item that resembles a weapon may not be brought to school. The school cannot be responsible for items lost, misplaced, or stolen.
LOST AND FOUND
Many articles are lost at school each year and never claimed by their owners. To decrease the likelihood of lost items, use permanent ink to label all student items. Articles found in the building and on the school grounds are placed in the “Lost and Found”. Articles that cannot be identified or are not claimed, will be given to charitable organizations at the end of each semester.
Salem Elementary Schoology Group
TXH2W-FNR25
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
Boosterthon & Fun Runs
As promised, the administrators held up their end of the bargain and treated all of the students and staff to a little fun before Thanksgiving break...
Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Miles, Mr. Taylor, and Mrs. Losey "Yelling Timber!"
Student Council
November Project
Student Council has been busy this month with the November Food Drive. Preschool, Kindergarten, Third, and Fourth grade students brought in items from November 10th – 17th to donate to the Morrow Food Pantry. The items were picked up by Scott Williams and transported to the Food Pantry. The Food Pantry was overwhelmed by the generous donations from our Salem families.
The important message or motto the student council continues to relay each year is to “Give for the Sake of Giving.” Each student was encouraged to bring at least one item, so everyone could feel as though they took part in the giving. Any student who brought in one item was able to write their name on “The Wall of Giving” in the third and fourth grade cafeteria. There was also a huge turkey graph in the cafeteria where each class earned a turkey for every 10 items their class brought in daily.
Thanks to every family at Salem, the November Food Drive was a huge success.
November Character Trait
The November character trait was caring. At the end of each week in November, one student who showed this character trait was awarded a certificate of caring by their teacher or classmates, to place on their locker.
Curriculum Connection
by Mrs. Horvath & Mrs. Meyer
Battling Reading Homework…Ways to Make it Easier at Home
Since homework isn’t going away and is usually a daily thing for our kids, here are six strategies to try and make homework time a little easier at home.
1. Stick to a routine every night- A clear routine is a great starting point. If your child always reads at 5:00, then he or she knows what to expect. Consider all of your child's other obligations, after-school sports, and extracurricular activities before trying to create a routine and know that those are important too, but we have to carve out time and begin to teach them those time management skills that honestly will last a lifetime.
2. Fuel up those tummies- Kids who are hungry after school will be focused on their grumbling tummies instead of the words on the page. Have snacks easily accessible or ready on the table to eat after school so that homework time isn't interrupted by a grouchy kid and a rumbling belly.
3. Provide new material- This is a big one…If your child's reading material isn't engaging, switch it up!!! If the material is required, ask your child's teacher if you can try something else or trade off your child's choice one night for the required material the next.
4. Allow your child to work in new environments-Is your child's desk the only place he can tackle reading homework? Try the living room, a special reading corner in your child’s room, or even outside! Switching up where your child is doing the work can make a huge difference in how enjoyable it is. You can even make a reading nook or blanket fort for your child to read in.
Specials' Spot - PBL
We have been very busy and productive in our Project Based Learning (PBL) class. The third graders worked hard to answer the question, "How can we honor our local veterans on Veterans' Day?" On November 10, their effort came together in a big way to honor over 120 veterans. Students created decorations, thank you's, and groups created skits to perform on stage to honor our special guests. Third graders are now working on a science experiment called the Blubber Glove which will help them understand how blubber keeps a polar bear warm.
Our fourth graders have also had a big impact in our school. As leaders, they worked to answer the question, "How can we promote anti-bullying in our school?" Groups created posters, skits, PowerPoints, and even games to teach classes of third graders about what bullying is and how they can stop it. Fourth graders then moved into a project where they discovered the relationship between factors, area, and perimeter.
Overall, all of the students are learning about the PBL process, a method for creating projects and solving problems that they will use their whole lives. Ask your child how he or she can use it for a project you are doing at home. Fixing a dryer? Planning a party? Going on a trip? These are all projects that use the same basic steps your child is learning.
Counselor's Corner
November is National Career Development Month. The Ohio Department of Education has provided some great career exploration information for parents on their website: http://education.ohio.gov/Parents. First, select your child’s grade level. From there, be sure to check out the Career Connections link and visit the Career Pathways information tab. This site gives age-appropriate career guidance and can help your child start connecting what he/she is learning in school to what he/she wants to be when he/she grows up.
Research shows that parents and family members have the greatest influence on a child’s career decisions. Here are some tips to strengthen your influence by building Career Connections at home using these examples from ODE’s website for parents of K-5 students:
“Begin to have short talks at home about work and jobs that include why doing well at school is important. Encourage your child to think about what he or she might want to do in the future. Share books together that show different jobs. Talk about examples in your family and community that connect to the story. Consider taking your child to work and share with them the jobs at your workplace and the types of tasks you do on a regular basis. If this isn’t an idea that works for you, consider a relative or family friend who may be able to take your child to work. Participate in a career fair or present to your child’s class by sharing what you do for work, what things you were interested in as a child and helpful tips for anyone interested in your career field.”
We are having career education exploration opportunities all throughout the school year, including the monthly bulletin board (photo included) and some career speakers at lunch time, scheduled to start in January. We are also including college awareness on our monthly bulletin board.
Notes from the Nurses
by Mrs. Knochel & Mrs. Sedlatschek
With cold and flu season upon us, please keep the following guidelines in mind when deciding whether or not to send your child to school. This will help to control the spread
of infectious diseases at school and allow your child to be available for learning.
Students should remain home for the following reasons:
• For a temperature greater than 100 degrees. Children should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school and not taking fever reducing medication to control symptoms.
• Children that have been vomiting or have had diarrhea must remain home until the vomiting or diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours.
• If diagnosed with a strep infection. Students need to be on an antibiotic for a minimum of 24 hours, fever free, and feeling well before returning to school. Children awaiting results from a throat culture must remain at home until a negative result is known.
• If your child has a heavy, moist productive cough, chest congestion, or discolored nasal drainage.
• Has red, inflamed eyes, persistent irritation, and/or thick/discolored eye drainage. If your child has pinkeye (conjunctivitis), he/she needs to have completed 24 hours of medication, and have no visible redness or discharge before returning to school.
Please also do not send your child to school if your child:
Complains of a severe headache, stomachache or other severe pain or has any skin rash unless it has been diagnosed by a physician as non-infectious.
By staying home when they are sick, children are helping themselves recuperate and are helping their peers stay healthy. By working together, I believe we can reduce the spread of illness.
Quick Links
2017 - 2018 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
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