Whitney's Jungle Journal
Mr. Stacho's Newsletter - October 23, 2020
Wild About Whitney!
Halloween - Friday, October 30, 2020
Unfortunately, with Covid regulations, we can NOT have a Halloween Party as in year's past. We want to provide an opportunity for students to dress up on Friday, October 30th if they would like to.
Here are the expectations we will follow:
- Halloween masks or makeup will not be permitted (they must wear their regular masks).
- Costumes must be school appropriate.
- Students will not be permitted to bring accessories for their costumes.
- Costumes will be worn all day (including Encore classes, lunch and recess); they will not be able to change into or out of the costumes during the day.
- Students must be able to move throughout the day (including lunch and recess) and complete daily school activities while in their costume.
- If your child does not want to wear his/her costume, they can wear a Halloween/Fall shirt, fall colors, etc.
Again, there will be no parties, food or parents permitted in the building this day.
Kindergarten Bus Orientation
Scholastic Book Fair - On-Line Sale
Red Ribbon Week at Whitney Elementary School!
Red Ribbon Week: COVID Coping
Monday, October 26: (Mindful Monday)--- Wear Red Day to Kick Off Red Ribbon Week.
Tuesday, October 27: (Talk It Out Tuesday)-- Wear clothing that has Words on It.
Wednesday, October 28: (Work Out Wednesday)--- Wear Athletic Shoes & Comfortable Clothing.
Thursday, October 29: (Try It Out Thursday)--- Wear the Colors of the Rainbow to Remind Us to Fruits and Vegetables.
Friday, October 30: (Family Friday)---Wear Halloween Costumes or Whitney T-Shirts
VETERANS DAY IS COMING
Dear Whitney families,
It is a Whitney tradition to celebrate with and thank all of our Whitney family Veterans on Veterans Day, November 11. In the past we have had many wonderful performances for our Veterans. This year’s restrictions are going to keep us from having our normal performance at Whitney Elementary, but we are still hoping to honor our Veterans by learning about our Whitney Veterans.
I have linked a Google Form that you can fill out for me. I will share this information with the students. We are also learning some songs and are hoping to create a video to share with our Whitney Veterans and families.
I will miss seeing all of my Whitney Veteran friends as I look forward to visiting with them each year. We will continue the tradition of talking about Veterans and being thankful for their service.
Please complete the following Google Form below if you have any relatives that have served or are currently serving in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps., or Coast Guard.
Thank you for your patience and understanding,
We hope we will be able to resume our activities at school next year.
Mrs. Gonczy
268-5870
Or message me on the Class Dojo app
Fifth Grade Families: DARE
Dear Parents/Guardians of 5th Grade Students,
The Strongsville City Schools along with the Strongsville Police Department will be working in collaboration to bring fifth and eighth-grade students the Drug Awareness through Research and Education (D.A.R.E.) program. It is an exciting and proactive program that teaches children essential life skills. Topics that will be covered include responsible decision making, health risks involving drugs, information on drugs, peer pressure, assertiveness, how to ask for help, problem-solving, as well as stress management. Furthermore, this program will provide your child with tools to promote good citizenship, problem-solving skills, and help them to make wise choices now and in the future. The lessons will take place once a month during your child’s special classes, i.e., physical education, music, and art.
Officer Aaron Pulte will be teaching the D.A.R.E. curriculum this year. He is new to the program, but has already met many of your children this year through school visits, lunchtime visits, and playing with students at recess. He is very excited about teaching and being a part of the Strongsville City Schools.
Sincerely,
The Strongsville City Schools Elementary Guidance Dept.
Denise Candow, Sam Lawrence, Eric Schibley, and Megan Sislowski
Powerschool Unified Classroom Needs to be Updated
The following is information from district offices regarding updating your online account. It is vital that you update ALL information in this site, including up to date phone numbers for emergency contact and the form regarding photos. Please be advised that if you say "no photos," this means your child will not be included in class photos or the yearbook. We'd love for all of our students to be included in school photos, so please compete this form carefully.
Online "Information Update" for the 20-21 school year is now available! This task should have been completed by September 18, 2020, however we have 119 families that have not completed the update. SOLO families must update PowerSchool as well. You will use the NEW PowerSchool UNIFIED CLASSROOM (formerly referred to as (PASS) Parent Portal) to access the 2020-2021 information update form. Even though the forms are "pre-filled" please check all information and you have to submit for each form and you must do it for each child that you have in the system even if all the information remains the same.
How do I get started?
Visit the Strongsville City Schools Website and click on the Powerschool Unified Classroom icon in the upper right corner and log into your UNIFIED CLASSROOM Parent Portal account.
- Select the student you wish to register along the top
- Click on the "Quick Links" icon in the left hand menu and select "Main Portal Page."
- Choose the Link "2020-2021 Information Update" on the Navigation bar on the left hand side.
- Enter the birthdate for the selected student
- Complete the form and submit.
I can’t remember my login for the PowerSchool Unified Classroom Parent Portal.
If you aren’t able to retrieve your login credentials using the “Forgot Username or Password” link on the Powerschool Unified Classroom Sign In page, please contact your school directly for assistance logging in to the Unified Classroom Parent Portal.
I don't have a Unified Classroom PowerSchool Parent Portal (PASS) account.
Contact your school directly for instructions on setting up your account, and your credentials.
Do I have to answer all the questions?
Questions marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
What if I make a mistake?
If you would like to make a change prior to submitting the form, you can either navigate back to the page using the “< Prev” and “Next >” buttons or if you are on the Review page click on the underlined field. If you have already submitted the form you will need to contact your student’s school so they can make the changes for you.
I’ve completed the form, now what?
Once you have finished entering your information click “Submit.” This will send all of the information you’ve entered to the school. If you cannot click on this button you will need to make sure that you have answered all required questions. Make sure you click "save and signout" before exiting to insure information is kept.
What if I have more than one student in the district? Do I need to do this for each child?
Yes you will need to provide information that is specific to each child. We recommend that you complete and submit one form and then start another. This will allow you to “snap” (or share) selected family information, which saves you time.
Help! I’m on the Information Update form and I’m having technical difficulties.
For technical support, visit our PowerSchool Community help center or click “Help” from any form page.
School Picture Day Is Today, October 23
SOLO Students have their times for their photos to be taken today as well.
Responsible Restart Webpage
Please Understand...
Please understand that cough drops will no longer be administered in elementary school clinics.
One more reminder - your child should have two masks at school in a plastic baggie as part of their school supplies in case one is soiled or lost.
If you should have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate in reaching out to our Whitney nurse, Mrs. Tracey Winkelmann by calling 440-268-5909.
“Here Comes The Bus” Website/App Now Available for SCS Families to Track Daily Transportation Information
‘Here Comes the Bus’ App
Now Available for Strongsville City Schools Families
to Track Daily Transportation Information
Strongsville, OH (October 5, 2020) - Last year, Strongsville City Schools purchased and installed GPS on its entire fleet of buses and have now completed the testing of a new app for the District which will allow families to monitor daily transportation information. The Here Comes the Bus app is now available to families with students who utilize Strongsville City Schools transportation. The app and complementary website, available on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or personal computer, enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus on its daily route. Additional highlights of Here Comes the Bus include:
- Notifications sent to a phone or computer (text messages and/or email) which alerts families when their bus is approaching the bus stop
- Notifications sent updating families on any daily bus number changes
- Customizable features for different devices, depending on how parents are viewing the app/website
“Being able to add GPS to our fleet of buses and offering the Here Comes the Bus app to the families in our District is a positive upgrade for transportation in our District. This app and website provides another layer of security for our students and families, while also leading to greater efficiencies for our bus drivers,” said Mr. Stephen Breckner, Operations Manager for Strongsville City Schools.
Click HERE for additional information on Here Comes the Bus.
Families please see below for the specific code for Whitney.
Early Release Days Eliminated for 2020-21
Excluding the last day of school, the previously scheduled early release days on October 23rd and March 26th will not occur. These days will now be traditional full school days with normal dismissal times. Again, the last day of school - May 28th - will remain an early release day. The dismissal times for the last day of school can be found by clicking here.
SOLO / SOLO 2.0 Communications
For our families in our SOLO program, which would include K-5 students in the Lincoln Learning program and all students in Grades 6-12, if you are having login issues or course assignment questions, please contact Erin Green (eringreen@scsmustangs.org). For our K-5 families in the SOLO 2.0 program, if you have questions related to assignments or other general teacher-related questions, please contact your SOLO 2.0 teacher. For other programmatic questions, please contact Katie Hawk (khawk@scsmustangs.org).
Mr. Schibley's October Newsletter
New! Request for Parent Input -- Ohio’s State Tests Performance Standards Confirmation
The State Board of Education adopts performance standards for the Ohio’s State Tests that are used to determine whether a student meets the proficiency level. Because of the importance of the performance standards, the Board’s Assessment and Accountability Committee has directed the Ohio Department of Education to conduct a confirmation process to review where the performance levels are set for the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests.
Achieving a proficient level on a state test has significant impact for students and families. As part of the review process, the Ohio Department of Education is seeking input from parents around the meaning of performance standards for their children as they progress in school and as they prepare for life beyond high school.
We are looking for parents to participate in six virtual discussion committees. Participants should have online access for viewing the meeting information virtually, but video capability is not required. There will be six separate interactive discussions with parent committees, and they will take place on the following dates and times.
- Elementary School (grades 3-5) ELA will be on Tuesday, October 27, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Middle School (grades 6-8) ELA will be on Wednesday, October 28, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- High School ELA will be on Thursday, October 29, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Elementary School (grades 3-5) Mathematics will be on Tuesday, October 27, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- Middle School (grades 6-8) Mathematics will be on Wednesday, October 28, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- High School Mathematics will be on Thursday, October 29, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
If you are interested in participating on one of these parent discussion committees, please complete the online application.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Assessment at statetests@education.ohio.gov or call Dr. Marie-Elena Hall at 614-306-3467.
Please join our PTA! (Repeat Item)
Here is the live link that you can click on that is mentioned in the flyer below: