Salem Spotlight
February 2018
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
Hello Salem Community,
I hope everyone has enjoyed some of the warmer weather lately. We are so excited for spring to arrive here at Salem. As spring approaches so do our state assessments. If you have a 3rd or 4th grader you should be receiving communication from your child's teacher on specific testing dates in March and April where we will be administering the math and language arts AIR assessments. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 513-899-5275 ext. 45100.
Currently our staff is working diligently to prepare students to be successful on the AIR assessments. We work with children on strategies to be multiple choice champions. We teach students to re-read the question to make sure they understand what is being asked. We want the children to come up with a list of answers in their head before looking at the list of choices. We want students to read all of the answers and cross off the choices that do not make sense. Lastly, we encourage students to go back into the text and underline words or sentences to support their reasoning.
Thank you to everyone who attended winter conferences on February 15th and 22nd. If you were not able to schedule an appointment to meet with your child's teacher and would like to do so, please let me know and we can work to set up an appointment.
From the Desk of the Preschool Director
by Mrs. Losey
Preschool Registration
- Priority Registration (current students, siblings of current students, children of teachers who reside in Little Miami) will occur March 19th - March 23rd. The portal will open Friday, March 16th for the preregistration portion.
- Complete the online registration https://registration.littlemiamischools.com
(NOTE: you MUST create a NEW username and/or password different from last year)
Kindergarten Registration
ALL CURRENT Little Miami preschool students transitioning to kindergarten MUST register.
- Registration will begin February 12, 2018
- Complete pre-registration at https://registration.littlemiamischools.com, schedule
online appointment (if you completed the online pre-registration last year, you will need to create a new username and/or password)
- Present supporting documentation at appointment:
o Original birth certificate
o Driver’s license
o Proof of residency
o Custody papers (if applicable)
o Immunization records
o Physical Exam and Oral Assessment needed by screening date in July
Save the Dates!
by Mrs. Miles
General Dates
3/9/18: End of Third Quarter
3/12/18-3/16/18: No School (Spring Break)
3/23/18: Report Cards Sent Home
3/30/18-4/2/18: No School
4/19/18: Interims Sent Home
Other
3/1/18: 4th Grade Music Programs (at the Intermediate School)
- 6:30pm: Combs, Rhoads, Goodstein, Wright
- 7:30pm: Douglass, Higginbothan, Jackson, Woods
3/8/18: 4th Grade Music Programs (at the Intermediate School)
- 6:30pm: Frederick, Huecker, Robinson, Silberberg
- 7:30pm: Collins, Fey, Freeman, Milnickel, Moher
4/26/18: 3rd Grade Museum Night (6:00-8:00pm)
4/28/18: District Wide Fine Arts Festival (11:00am-6:00pm)
PTO Dates
3/20/18: PTO Meeting (7:00pm)
4/10/18: PTO Meeting (7:00pm)
Helpful Handbook Reminders
Safety Guidelines for Visitors and Parents Signing Out Their Children
In light of the recent violence in schools, and as a result of State and Federal mandates, the Little Miami School District has implemented additional safety procedures.
The safety of children is a primary concern of the school staff. Visitors to the building are carefully monitored.
Once school begins all exterior doors are locked. Please do not ask a student to open a door for you. They have been instructed not to open doors for anyone. There is a buzzer system on the exterior door by the office. If you need to gain access into the school during school hours, you will need to be buzzed in by the office.
Anyone entering the school or grounds other than students and employees must obtain a Visitor's/Volunteer's Badge from the office. Visitor badges provided at sign-in should be worn until checking out at the office.
Occasionally, requests to visit are received from children from other schools. These requests will not be granted because of the disruption it causes in the classrooms.
Children will be released only to the custodial parent or guardian, or to an adult designated by the custodial parent or guardian on the child’s Emergency Medical contact list. Any other arrangement requires your written permission of the custodial parent/guardian.
Students are dismissed through the office. They may not be dismissed directly from the classroom or playground. EVERYONE MUST present his/her driver’s license/photo ID for identification verification when signing out children.
Changes in dismissal may not be taken over the phone. You must send a signed note or email to the office before 2:00 p.m.
Schools are considered Safe Zones. Any perceived threats, verbal or physical to anyone on school property, will be taken seriously. In cooperation with the local law enforcement agency, we conduct safety drills throughout the school year.
Student Council
This month was absolutely amazing for our student council reps and Salem students! The reps prepared weeks in advance for the “Start with Hello Week.” They prepared flyers to hang in the cafeteria and they helped facilitate activities over their lunch and recess that focused on encouraging them to reach out to each other and celebrate inclusion. They did a fantastic job and showed off their leadership traits! The week was successful because of their help! Way to go student council reps! Just look at the activities they helped with:
Monday, February 5th:
Getting to know you Bingo game at recess
Tuesday, February 6th:
Get to Know Me Scavenger Hunt - Students will identify 3 things about themselves and “hunt” for students at recess who have things in common with them
Wednesday, February 7th:
Would you rather ice breaker game at lunch
Thursday, February 8th: Photo Booth at lunch to help make memories about Start with Hello week. Student Council helped to make the signs to be used for the photo booth.
Friday, February 9th:
National “No One Sits Alone” Day! All students will be encouraged at lunch to sit with a classmate who could use a friend.
Thanks Student Council!
Counselor's Corner
Start with Hello week was a huge success! Check out our slideshow of highlights from the week:
The photo is of student council reps hanging Start With Hello pledges!
Curriculum Connection
by Mrs. Horvath & Mrs. Meyer
3 Reasons that reading Graphic Novels can be great for our Young Readers:
Graphic Novels are like comic books, they use sequential art to tell a story. Unlike comic books, they usually are standalone stories with complex plots. Here are three reasons why we think they are great for our young readers.
1. Graphic novels are full of text. Yes!! They do have drawings and illustrations and sometimes photos, but really, graphic novels have text that readers must decode, analyze, and comprehend.
2. Graphic novels are engaging. Yes!! Especially for our struggling or emerging readers, graphic novels add that extra support that kids need to help them through a text. The illustrations keep readers' minds working, and the combination of text and pictures gets kids through stories that they may have otherwise not completely understood.
3. Graphic novels are rich. Just like traditional novels, graphic novels have exciting and complex plots, characters, and conflicts. Plots have twists and turns. Characters are developed and are dynamic. Conflicts are presented, unwound, and resolved in the same ways that they are in other texts. The only difference is that graphic novels have graphics to support the development.
Special's Spot - Music
Are you still not linked to the music schoology page? The access codes are listed below. I try to update whenever possible. The music program dates are listed on the side and students are able to send me videos of themselves playing the recorder to pass levels. Parents can also send me emails with questions or comments. I always like to hear from parents. It helps me understand your student better and you get to know me too.
Third Grade Schoology
Access Code
NQ49B-XC2VN
Fourth Grade Schoology
Access Code
DPDQH-QR7XK
Fourth grade music programs are here!
The students are working their little tails off getting ready to perform for you. (Now you know why your children are now missing their tails!) They are eager to demonstrate what we have been doing in class. Every class will be accompanying a song using either a tone chime or a barred instrument (xylophone, metallaphone, or glockenspiel.) Several students have been given special roles of playing a song on their recorder, emceeing the event, or singing a solo. While I know that our lives can get rather hectic, it is a very special night for your child to brag about themselves (musically, at least).
March 1st
6:30--Goodstein, Wright, Combs, Rhoads
7:30--Higginbothan, Douglass, Woods, Jackson
March 8th
6:30--Huecker, Frederick, Silberberg, Robinson
7:30--Milnickel, Moher, Freeman, Fey, Collins
Third Grade
We have just finished up a unit on rhythms and now we are testing! Woohoo! They learned how to perform various rhythms consisting of eighth notes, quarter notes, quarter rests, half notes, half rests, dotted half notes, and sixteenth notes. We learned their rhythmic values and were able to create rhythms within a 4/4 time signature. Incidentally, this coincided with what they were learning in math. The students just finished a unit on fractions in math. We used what they had been learning there and transferred it to the rhythmic values they had been studying (sixteenth note, eighth note, quarter note, half note.) It was pretty exciting. Their minds were blown, I could tell... Well, I was excited.
Supporting Positive Behavior from Home - Keeping Kids Above the Line
The elementary school years are commonly viewed as a critical time to teach foundational reading and math skills, creating a solid basis for later success in the content areas.
Equally important for students is a solid foundation in managing their own behavior choices.
At Salem we teach children the Above the Line behaviors that are appropriate and acceptable versus those unacceptable behaviors that are Below the Line or Bottom-Line.
Below is a simple message from Pete Panther that you may find helpful when reminding your child to make Above the Line choices at home.
Notes from the Nurses
by Mrs. Knochel & Mrs. Sedlatschek
Ever wonder how your body fights off infections? When you get sick, your immune system comes to the rescue. Find out more in this movie for kids from KidsHealth.org!
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
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Don't miss out on our daily tweets!
Mrs. Smith - @LSmithSalem
Mrs. Losey - @LM_PrekPanthers
Mrs. Miles - @LM_MrsMiles
Mr. Taylor - @MrTaylorLM
Salem Elementary Schoology Group
TXH2W-FNR25