A note from Mr. Davie regarding "Chronic Absenteeism":

Each quarter, we plan to share information with our families about students who have reached or are nearing the threshold for what the state of Ohio calls Chronic Absenteeism. This notification, which is sent via our attendance office in conjunction with our Manager for Mentoring and Student Development, Jay Volker, is meant to raise awareness for families about their student's status. For quarter one, over 300 families were already approaching or have reached this threshold! Here are a few FAQs about these notices.

1. Why share it? Simply to raise awareness...the label of "chronically absent" is one that we don't wish upon any student but we also understand that sometimes missing school is out of one's control due to illness/emergency.

2. Does Talawanda High School control this process? No. This is a state of Ohio procedure based on every student, K-12, who attends any public school.

3. Is this truancy? No. This label is just that, a label. However, depending on the types of absences, the truancy elimination process could also be enacted.

4. What types of absences count towards the totals for chronic absenteeism? All absences count - parent/guardian excused, doctor's excused, and unexcused all count towards this total. Again, that is set by the state of Ohio, not THS.

5. Do field trips or college visits count? No. Those are educational experiences and do not count.

6. What response should we have if we get a letter from Mr. Davie about our child being at or close to the threshold? Discuss/review your child's absences at home to see if there are adjustments that could be made, shifting appointments to after school or waiting until a non-school day to leave for a trip for example.

7. What is the "threshold"? Any student missing 10% of the school days is considered chronically absent as per the state of Ohio. We will send notices based on each quarter's total, again, simply to raise awareness.

Q1: 4.5 days = CA (notices sent to anyone with 2.5 absences or above)

Q2: 9.0 days = CA (notices sent to anyone with 6.0 absences or above)

Q3: 13.0 days = CA (notices sent to anyone with 10.0 absences or above)

Q4: 17.5 days = CA - at the conclusion of the school year, anyone with 17.5 absences or more will be labeled as chronically absent by the Ohio Department of Education

Quarter 2 Conferences will be held on December 1st from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

If you'd like to meet with your students' teacher or school counselor please contact Ms. Wise at wisem@talawanda.org or 513-273-3218.

As we approach the first high school state testing window of the school year, we want to make sure each student is prepared for their test. You can find practice tests here. If your student needs additional practice or support they can reach out to their content teacher, their counselor, or assistant principal to get connected.

During the week of Dec 5-9, students that need to retake an End of Course Exam, or if they have completed a course in credit recovery, will be tested. An email will be sent to each student scheduled to test with a test name, date, and location. All retakes will be in the morning that week. It is very important that testing students arrive by 7:45 as it is a timed test.

Students that are currently scheduled in Algebra C and Government will test during their scheduled exam block during exam week. The exam week schedule will be shared at a later date.

Test week Tips:

• Get a good night sleep

• Eat a balanced breakfast

• Review and study before the week of the test.

• Carefully listen to and read the directions

• Read each question completely

• Use extra time to go back over answers

Please make sure your student brings their CHARGED CHROMEBOOK to school for each test.

Additional information about EOCs can be found here.

Coffee House will be held Friday, November 4th at 7:30pm in the THS cafeteria.

Tickets are $3.00 in advance from Mr. Aerni in Room 320 starting on Monday, October 31st and $5.00 at the door.

On Monday, November 7, The Perfect Blend will be open from 7:30-9:30am for a freshman class fundraiser. Students can stop by to support the Class of 2026 by purchasing coffee, hot chocolate, or our two featured speciality drinks: shirley temples and sherbert punch! The freshman class officers will be working in the shop, so stop by and get a treat before Tuesday's day off!

KNOW! About Vaping - Follow this LINK to learn more about vaping and how to have conversations about vaping cessation.

Talawanda Tribune (Newspaper) will NOT meet this week.

Mock Trial will meet on Tuesday November 8th from 5:30-7:30 pm AND on Thursday, November 10th from 5:30-7:30pm in Room 417.

FTC Robotics League- Talawanda is participating in the FTC Robotics League! Interested students are encouraged to join us- no experience needed! We meet in room 412 (Ms. Schran's room) every Friday after school. For more information, please email or ask Ms. Schran.

The Oxford Lions Club Sight Saving Committee is collecting used eyeglasses, as well as glasses cases! These glasses and cases are donated all over the world to children who are in need. The lenses and frames from the donated glasses are modified to meet individual children's eye needs. Every year, Oxford Lions Club collects and sends 900-plus pairs of glasses to children in need!

Please send any glasses donations to Betsy Beaton (Marshall Elementary School) or Shaunna Tafelski (Board Office) by November 8th. We are happy to swing by and pick up glasses donations or they can be dropped off at Marshall or the Board Office. Thank you for supporting the Oxford Lions Club! :)

The price of school meals is as following:

Breakfast $1.50

Lunch $3.65

For those on reduced meal plans:

Breakfast .30

Lunch .40

We offer the following options every day- hamburgers, cheeseburgers, grilled or breaded chicken, fish, salads, deli sandwiches, and pizza/calzones.

There is an additional charge for extra snacks, desserts, and drinks.

Julio Fuentes and Jordan Gresham in Mr. Zimmerman's Journalism class created this video showcasing the importance of voting and how the process of Kids Vote works at our level.

Please click on the following link to view the video https://youtu.be/eLLUYy0DcjI

Our very own Drama Club will be performing, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!. There will be four performances next weekend. Tickets are $8.00 at the door. Please see the flyer below for dates and times.

Talawanda School District Community Events Page- please click on the following link: http://talawanda.org/resources/community-events

Sunday, November 6th

Drama Rehearsal, PAC See Mrs. Mortimore for time

Monday, November 7th

3:00-5:30pm Drama, PAC

Tuesday, November 8th

ELECTION DAY-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Staff Professional Development Day

3:00-6:30pm Drama, PAC

5:30-7:30pm Mock Trial, Room 417

Wednesday, November 9th

2:10-3:30pm FFA Meeting, PAC

4:30-7:30pm Drama, PAC

7:00-8:00pm Band Boosters Meeting, Room 618

Thursday, November 10th

3:00-5:30pm Drama, PAC

5:30-7:30pm Mock Trial, Room 417

Friday, November 11th

7:00 Drama Production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

Saturday, November 12th

2:00pm Drama Production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

7:00pm Drama Production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

Sunday, November 13th

2:00pm Drama Production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!