Symmes Elementary School
Symmesational News
Friday, February 28, 2020
SYMMES SEAS THE DAY CARNIVAL and SILENT AUCTION IS HERE!
We hope to "sea" you tonight at Symmes from 5:30 pm until 9:00 pm.
Important Dates to Remember
- March 9- Yearbook Orders Due
- March 11 and March 13- Donuts with Dads - 8:30 am
- March 16 to March 20- NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
Drop off reminders
- SLOW DOWN and DRIVE SAFELY and pay attention to our staff and other vehicles.
- Remind your students that they should be ready and able to exit the vehicle quickly.
- Remember that adults should stay in their vehicle.
- Pull your vehicle forward as much as space allows.
3rd Grade Music Concert
WHEN:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 7:00 pm
WHERE:
SYMMES ELEMENTARY GYMNASIUM
MORE INFORMATION:
Come see 3rd Grade students perform “Our Great Big Backyard!” This music concert follows a young girl and boy who go on a road trip with their family to visit 5 National Parks! Students will sing, play instruments, and dance to familiar camp songs and popular tunes!Donuts with Dad
What: Donuts with Dad
When: Wednesday March 11 and Friday March 13 8:30-9:15
(please return RSVP form by March 2)
Where: Cafeteria
Who: Symmes students with their Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Neighbor, or family friend
Reserve your yearbook online
You can order this year's yearbook online. It's easy and convenient. Reserve your copy today at ybpay.lifetouch.com using the Yearbook ID Code: 2211620. The deadline for placing yearbook orders is March 9, 2020. Only a small number of yearbooks will be available for purchase once they are delivered in May.
Not sure if you've pre-ordered? Click here to view your order history for the 2019-2020 school year.
Thank you!
Are you interested in having an impact on the future of our school district?
The Sycamore Community Schools Advisory Commission is seeking at-large members. Any resident of the school district is welcome to apply.
Individuals interested in joining the Sycamore Advisory Commission should complete and return a Sycamore Advisory Commission application. The deadline for submitting an application is one week prior to the March SAC meeting (March 9, 2020). New members are appointed and approved by the Board of Education on an annual basis. SAC officers are elected and approved annually each spring.
An application to become a member-at-large can also be obtained by visiting the Sycamore Board of Education Office at 5959 Hagewa Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, or by calling the school district at 513-686-1700.
Application link: https://www.sycamoreschools.org/cms/lib/OH01914515/Centricity/Domain/508/Application_SAC_Membership_FINAL_01-19.pdf
Gifted Program Information
February 11, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
In Sycamore Community Schools, approximately 45% of our students are identified as gifted in one of the areas recognized by the Ohio Department of Education. Ohio law requires school districts to identify gifted students, but it does not require that services be provided. Nonetheless, Sycamore is committed to continuing to provide a service model with a continuum of gifted support to gifted identified students in Kindergarten through grade 12.
Recent changes to the state’s gifted guidelines and the criteria used to determine how gifted services are “counted” on Ohio’s local report cards has required some policy and procedure revisions to our gifted model. As a result, the following changes have been approved by the Sycamore Board of Education for the 2020-2021 school year:
IDENTIFICATION SCREENING
Whole grade screening for superior cognitive facilitated in grades 2,4, and 6
Revision includes addition of grade 4
ACCESS TO SERVICES
Specific academic services in accelerated math, grades 3-6: Students must have an ability score of 2 standard deviations above the mean minus the standard error of measure and one 95% total Math score on a state approved math achievement test (e.g., 128 on the CogAT and 95th percentile on the math MAP).
Revision includes ability score and ONE achievement score of 95% instead of two and omittance of one year time frame
Specific academic services in advanced reading/language arts, grades 3-6: Students must have an ability score of 2 standard deviations above the mean minus the standard error of measure, and one 95%ile total reading score on a state approved reading achievement test (e.g., 128 on the CogAT and 95th percentile on the reading MAP).
Revision includes ability score and ONE achievement score of 95% instead of two and omittance of one year time frame
Radically (double) accelerated math academic services, grades 4 – 6: Students must have an ability score of 3 standard deviations above the mean minus the standard error of measure and one 98% total Math score on a state approved math achievement test (e.g., 144 on the CogAT and a 98th percentile on the math MAP).
Revision includes ability score and ONE achievement score of 98% instead of two and omittance of one year time frame)
In grades 5-8, students identified as gifted or on the “bubble” may qualify for accelerated math services using the district matrix.
Revision includes addition of grades 5-6
INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY
● Gifted programming may be provided by teachers licensed in gifted education or teachers who meet the Ohio Administrative Code requirements; specifically specialized professional development in the qualities and characteristics unique to gifted learners and ongoing assistance from a gifted-trained mentor or coordinator
Revision expands “providers” to include teachers who meet the Ohio Administrative Code requirements
Sycamore Community Schools is committed to maintaining the fidelity of our gifted services model while providing an equal opportunity to receive such services. As such, the district will retroactively apply the new criteria to all students. If your child qualifies for gifted services under the new criteria, you will be notified by the district. Written criteria that designate formal gifted services and additional information regarding the district’s Gifted Education service model may be on the district’s website.
If you have questions regarding your student’s current gifted status, feel free to contact Mindy Zellner, Gifted Supervisor zellnerm@sycamoreschools.org For more information regarding Ohio’s Gifted Operating Standards, go to Ohio’s Gifted Operating Standards which can be found on the Ohio Department of Education website.
Karen Naber
Assistant Superintendent