Smoke Signals
Hopewell-Loudon Elementary
March 2020
Office Reminders
- Illness Reminder - If your child has a fever, he/she can return to school when he/she has been fever- free for 24 hours without the use of medicine. If he/she has vomited and/or had diarrhea, he/she can return to school when he/she has been symptom-free for 24 hours.
- Sickness develops at school - Students will be sent home for fevers 100 degrees and over. Students will be sent home for vomiting and diarrhea. Other illness will be monitored on a case by case basis.
- If your child is going to be absent please call 419-937-2802 anytime and leave a message. Please be sure to include the child's name, teacher, and reason for the absence. The student will need a note when he/she returns.
- Students can enter the building at 7:40 for breakfast. Students not eating breakfast can enter at 7:50. Any adult walking a child into the building must sign-in.
- Students being dropped off in the AM - The South Lot is the only drop-off lot. Please pull to the end of the sidewalk closest to the west end of the parking lot to drop off students. This will help reduce the traffic jam on TR. 112. Students cannot be dropped off in the bus lot without prior permission.
- Students being picked up in the PM - Please note the following change. Please only park in the parking spaces in the South (playground) parking lot. As we reviewed our safety plan, the line of sight for staff members into the parking lot was blocked by cars parked along the sidewalk. We appreciate your understanding and help as we continue to look for ways to improve safety.
- Temporary Transportation Changes - If you need to make a change in how your child is getting home, please call the office prior to 2:15 PM.
- Lost and Found - If your child has lost something, please have him/her stop by the office to see if someone has found it.
- Truancy - The truancy laws have changed. The State now requires schools to track the hours a child misses versus the days a child misses. This is for all absences, excused or unexcused. Click here for further details
- School Fees - School fees are $50 for elementary students. $45 are for classroom fees and $5 is for Final Forms. (Free lunch qualifiers are not exempt from the Final Form Fee). Participation in incentive programs or celebrations may be limited if fees are not acknowledged and arrangements made with the office (p.20 Student Handbook)
- Lunch Money - If you are sending in lunch money, please make sure the envelope/baggie is clearly marked with the student's first name, last name, and classroom teacher's name. We serve breakfast and lunch. The prices are as follows:
Elementary breakfast
- student $1.25
- adult $1.75
- Student K-6 $1.50
- 7-12 $1.75
- Adult $2.50
Breaking News!
Principal's Message
February was a snowy but busy month here at school! Please check out our pictures below to see all the amazing things the students are doing. Spring is right around the corner and March is gearing up to be a busy month as well. March 2nd-5th, we had Dr. Seuss week with spirit days, trivia contests, and hallway decorating contests. We have our 3rd and 4th-grade music programs on March, 17th (please see below for details). National Honor Society will be hosting its annual Talent Show on March 27th. The 6th-Grade will be hosting the annual Father Daughter Dance on March 28th from 2:30-4:30 PM. Information will be coming soon.
We welcomed Deputy Decker Kneeskern as our Student Resource Officer on March 2nd. Students and staff have enjoyed getting to meet Deputy Kneeskern. Deputy Kneeskern is excited to be a Chieftain.
Don't forget! PTO Bakery Bingo will be Saturday, March 21st from 6:00-8:00. If you want to donate baked goods for this amazing event, baked goods can be dropped off on March 20th from 8:00-3:00 in the main office or on Saturday Morning, March 21st, from 10:00 AM-Noon. Basket donation information is below in the PTO news.
Our spring testing window will open on April 1st. Our State English Language Arts testing for grades 3-6 will be April 1st and 2nd. The State Math testing will be April 22nd and 23rd. 5th graders take a State test on April 28th and April 29th. K-2 students will take the end of the year testing during April as well. Please have your students get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast during April.
We will have a Leadership Day on May 15th. Students will be sharing their Leadership Binders and sharing a sweet treat. Stay tuned for more information.
It's cold outside. Please remember, we go out to recess unless the wind chill is below 21 degrees. Please send your child with a warm coat. Also as it is getting colder, please note that girls wearing leggins need to have their bottoms covered with a longer shirt/skirt. Ripped jeans are permitted if the rips do not come above the knee. Dress Code p.17 of the handbook states, "It is the policy of the Hopewell-Loudon Board of Education to recognize the rights and privileges of each student in the matters of dress and appearance to the extent that the exercise of that right does not interfere with the orderly process of education". We believe ripped jeans above the knee and leggings with short shirts disrupt the education process. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Stay tuned to see our transformation into a Leader-ized school!
This issue is packed with information and happenings around the area and pictures from activities around the building. Enjoy!
~Mrs. Nelson
Counselor's Corner
Featured Teachers 5th Grade: Mrs. Frank, Mrs. Margraf-Cox, Mrs. Sendelbach, Mrs. Schumm, Mr. Snyder
In Science, students have been exploring outer space since Christmas break ended. They are learning about the vastness of outer space and the importance of our sun. Currently, students are learning about the planets and all the different qualities and characteristics of each plant. This will be our final unit in Science for the year. At the conclusion of the unit, we will begin our AIR state test review.
During Social Studies students have gained a better understanding as to how our country got to where we are today. This includes the earliest forms of settlement to building our colonies. In our next unit of study, we will take a look at the American Revolution and the events that led to the war with Great Britain. We will finish off the year by learning all 50 states and capitals.
We are reading a novel called George's Secret Key to the Universe, in 5th grade Language Arts. This is a novel by Stephen Hawking, and the students are making great connections between reading and science, where they are also learning about space. Also, we just finished another one of our 4 paragraph essays. The essay we did is a sample test question from the Ohio State Test and was an opinion essay. I am very happy with how well the students did on this!
In Fifth grade math, the students are working on the Volume of Rectangular Prisms. They started by making prisms with unit cubes and counting the cubes to find the volume. Now they are finding the volumes of composite prisms from a picture.
Upcoming Music Events
Below are a few of the upcoming music events. The spring concerts for 5th and 6th grade are still under construction.
March 17 3rd-grade program at 7 pm
March 17 4th-grade program at 7:45 pm
May 18 Elementary Band 7:00 pm
May 18 Elementary Choir 8:00 pm
H-L PTO
Mark your calendars as PTO's Bakery BINGO is March 21st this year! Baked goods can be dropped off on March 20th from 8:00-3:00 in the main office or on Saturday Morning, March 21st, from 10:00 AM-Noon. Basket donations are as follows. See the pictures below for a sneak peek at the baskets!
K-2: gift cards
3-4: scratch-off lottery tickets
5-6: focus on the family (anything families like to do together). 5th graders donating an item will have their name put into a drawing to have their Outdoor Camp tuition covered!
or parents can send in cash and PTO will do the shopping!
We need your help to make this night memorable. If you'd like to volunteer, please click here. 5th graders and parents helping will be put into a drawing to have your Outdoor Camp tuition covered!
The next PTO Meeting is Monday, March 9th at 6:15 PM at H-L. Hope to see you there!
H-L Student Council Partners with K-9s for Warriors
Hopewell-Loudon Student Council thanks everyone for their tremendous support of the K-9 for Warriors project. Captain Louie Belluomini came to school to thank students and give a presentation about K-9 for Warriors.
Talent Show 3/27/2020
Mark your calendars for the annual National Honor Society Talent Show. Student talents will be showcased Friday, March 27, 2020, at 7:30 PM in the Auditeria.
Kindergarten Round-Up
Are you the parent of a preschool student in the Hopewell-Loudon District who will be eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2020? Hopewell-Loudon Kindergarten Teachers will be hosting a Kindergarten Round-Up meeting for parents on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, from 6:30-7:00 PM in the Auditeria. Please park in the south parking lot enter through the Main Street doors. We will be touring the building, handing out the information needed to register for kindergarten, and signing up for kindergarten screening. Hopewell-Loudon District Families, RSVP by March 31, 2020 on the H-L website by clicking here, on the home page or the Elementary page. Open Enrollment Families will be able to RSVP after they receive the Open Enrollment Acceptance Letter, early in April. Hope to see you there!
Kindergarten Screening will be held on Thursday May 7 and Friday May 8. If you can’t attend the Round-Up, please call the office at 419=937-2804, after April 14th to schedule a screening time.
Elementary Visitors
Hopewell-Loudon welcomes visitors and encourages parents and community members to volunteer at the school. All parents and visitors must register in the office before going to a classroom. Visitors will receive a visitors badge to wear while they are in the building. Visitors need to sign out in the office when they are leaving. If the purpose of the visit is to observe in the classroom, please make arrangements with the teacher prior to the visit.
Parents are also invited to be guests at lunch with their child. If you desire to do this, please call the office and make arrangements. Calls should be made prior to the visit. If arrangements have not been made with the classroom teacher, to stay and observe after lunch, lease schedule another time to observe the class.
It is also wise to call the office for an appointment to see school personnel. This should eliminate long waits. All school personnel are available, but honor scheduled appointments first. In all cases, the visitation of children from other schools is discouraged. Children under school-age are not permitted to visit classrooms unless accompanied by a parent/guardian
Athletic Events
All students are welcomed and encouraged to attend athletic events. For the safety and convenience of those in attendance the rules are as follows for home and away football games:
- Students are encouraged to sit and watch the game with their family
- Students are not permitted to play football, toss water bottles or any other items
- Students are not permitted behind the bleachers on either side of the field
- Students are not permitted to be beyond the pine trees beside the home stands
- Students are not permitted to be near the baseball field, old pole vault track, or gray storage barn.
- There is no fighting
- Students choosing not to comply with the rules can be asked to leave. Those not willing to comply with the rules will not be permitted to future athletic events.
The rules for home and away volleyball and basketball games are as follows:
- Students are encouraged to sit and watch the game with their family
- Students are not permitted to run and play in the hallways
- There is no fighting
- Students choosing not to comply with the rules can be asked to leave. Those not willing to comply with the rules will not be permitted to future athletic events.
Ronald McDonald House Pull Tabs Turn In Date
Have you been collecting your pull tabs?
Please continue collecting and asking family members and friends for their pull tabs.
Last year we collected over 380 pounds of pull tabs. Bring your tabs to school by March 20th.
National Parks and Other Places Free to 4th Graders and Families
The National Park Service has a program where 4th grade students and families can get into National Parks and other historical sites for free. Click here for more details. From their site, you'll be able to print passes needed to get into the sites. Check them out!
Around Hopewell-Loudon
Leader in Me Tribe Time
The Travel Tribe learns about India
Human Resources Generalist and Talent and Engagement Council Member, Tiffin University
She was a TU student and now works there. She is a neighbor to Alivia Stahl’s grandparents.
Travel Tribe
Mrs. Coppus's Yarn Crafts Tribe
Animal Tribe
Mrs. Wise's Lego, Lincoln Log, Kynex Tribe
Student Leaders
6th Graders were honored at the Feb. Board Meeting
6th-Grade Student Council Members present at the Feb. Board Meeting.
Kindergarten Celebrated the 100th Day of School
Fun and games with counting to 100!
Students brought in 100 objects or made shirts with 100 things on the shirt.
Prime Time Reading
Students participated in a scavenger hunt
The scavenger hunt allowed them to practice Habit 6 Synergize
Students had fun letting loose with the YMCA and other fun dances
3rd-Grade Science and Social Studies students held an Entrepreneur Fair as part of their economics study
H-L Cheer hosted Mini Cheer
District Communication (Bussing Changes, Delays/Closings, and Other Happenings)
- Go to the Hopewell-Loudon homepage
- Scroll down on the left-hand side of the homepage and click on InTouch K-12 Alerts
- Follow the steps listed on the webpage.
Grade Card Update
Letter Grading Percentages - Grade Levels 1-6 - “A, B, C, D, F” for an overall academic grade
A= 92-100
B= 83-91
C= 74-82
D= 65-73
F= Below 64
Ratings for Academic Standards
3 Consistently Demonstrates 90% - and above
2 Shows Some Accomplishment, 89%-74%
1 Continue to Work On -73% and below
Grade Level K - “O, S, N,” for Reading, Math, Science/Health and Social Studies
Grade 1 – O, S, N – Science/Health and Social Studies
Art - Grade Levels K-6 - “O, S, N, U”
Music – 3, 2, 1 (See above)
PE - Grade Levels K-6 – Advanced, Proficient, Limited
Who 'Ya Gonna Call?
Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention - a message from the Ohio Department of Education
Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention
The Project AWARE Ohio team has developed an information brief entitled Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention. This brief includes information about 1) how to recognize substance abuse in children and adolescents, 2) signs a child or adolescent may be abusing drugs or alcohol, 3) risk and protective factors associated with substance abuse, 4) best practices and strategies for adults who want to help prevent substance abuse among young people (excerpted below), and 5) a list of evidence-based prevention programs found on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.
Additional information on substance use prevention can be found through Ohio's Start Talking campaign.
Strategies for Parents and Other Adults to Help Prevent Youth Drug/Alcohol Abuse
Establish guidelines: Set expectations and make this clear to your child. Let them know what is acceptable behavior and what is not. It may also be helpful to discuss different types of drugs and the dangers associated with them. This takes away the mystery associated with drug use and will hopefully prevent them from experimenting with drugs they do not know anything about.
- Monitor your teen(s): Be aware of where your teen is, who they are with, and what they are doing. This can be done by checking in with them through phone calls, randomly coming home earlier than expected, having neighbors watch for visitors to the house while you are gone, and monitoring the levels of prescription drugs in your home. Also, watch for changes in your teen’s habits or the people they are spending time with. It may also be helpful to monitor what they are watching on TV related to the use of drugs and alcohol.
- Make consequences of drug use clear: Just as it is important to establish clear expectations, it is also important to make it clear what the consequences are when these guidelines are not followed. For example, you can discuss the various consequences that may result from drug use, including legal penalties, health problems, academic issues, etc. Additionally, rather than focusing on punishments, you may also consider rewarding your teen for engaging in positive behaviors, such as doing well in school and following household rules.
- Have an open dialogue: It is essential for your teen to be able to trust you and communicate with you about these issues. This can be established by being open and honest when talking with them about drug use.6
- Be a good role model for your child: Model positive behaviors, such as only drinking in moderation, never driving after drinking, and avoiding the use of illegal drugs.
- Be involved in your child’s life: Listen to them, and don’t judge. Encourage your child to call you if they are ever in a situation where they feel uncomfortable. Build a sense of trust and non-judgment, and emphasize that they will not get in trouble for calling you for help.
- Encourage your child to participate in extracurricular activities: Being involved in extracurricular activities and community service makes it less likely a teen will become involved with drugs and alcohol. Encourage your child to participate in things like sports, clubs, and community service.
- Encourage your child to work hard in school: Teens who are doing well in school are less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Ask your child about school often, and be supportive. Help them to reach their goals and to get help when needed (i.e., from a tutor or counselor).
Strategies from: 7 Ways to Protect Your Teen from Alcohol and Other Drugs
For More Information
The Project AWARE Ohio team includes partners in 3 county ESCs. If you are from those local areas and want more information about Project AWARE services, please contact:
Cuyahoga County ESC: Mary Wise; (216) 901-4201; mary.wise@esc-cc.org
Warren County ESC: Vycki Haught; (513) 379-2310; vycki.haught@warrencountyesc.com
Wood County ESC: Angela Patchen; (419) 354-9010 x228; apatchen@wcesc.org
For information about Project AWARE in other regions of the state, please contact:
Emily Jordan: emily.jordan@education.ohio.gov
Cricket Meehan: meehandc@miamioh.edu
Kathy Oberlin (Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success): oberlink2@gmail.com
Speak up - Save lives
Text or Call 1-844-723-3764
Hopewell Loudon Elementary
Email: knelson@hlschool.net
Website: http://www.hlschool.org/
Location: 181 N. County Road 7 Bascom, Ohio 44809
Phone: 419-937-2804
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopewellLoudonPto/
Twitter: @HopewellLoudonPTO