Montgomery Elementary News
September 20, 2019
Contact Us
Dr. Amy Debelak, Principal
Ms. Sally Ganz, Asst. Principal
Office 686-1730
Absence Line 686-1736
FAX 792-6131
School Nurse 686-1733
Cafeteria 686-1735
Transportation 686-1785
Website: http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Domain/13
Location: 9609 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: 513-686-1730
Facebook: www.facebook.com/montgomeryelementaryofficial/?fref=ts
Twitter: @Montgomery_Elem
Positive Character Trait Word for the Week of 9/23/19
CITIZENSHIP – A good citizen follows rules, obeys laws, protects the environment, and respects authority.
CITIZENSHIP means being loyal to our country and trying to make our neighborhood, community, and country better places in which to live.
Specials Schedule for the week of September 23, 2019
Monday 9/23 - D Day
Tuesday 9/24 - A Day
Wednesday 9/25 - B Day
Thursday 9/26 - C Day
Friday 9/27 - NO SCHOOL
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
9/27 - No School - Professional Development Day
SCHOOL NEWS
CHANGES COMING TO SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight photos will be updated this school year. Our wonderful PTO is making the Spotlight Student sheet into a Google Slide which will be displayed in place of the birthday slides. There are several reasons for the change! First and foremost, it allows the students' picture and information to be shared with their peers more effectively and for a longer period of time! The Spotlight Photos were in the hallway and often times the students did not get a chance to see them because they are only in the front hallway during transition times. Now, they will get to see them every day for a week at lunch and learn about their friends! Also, if a child was absent on the day of their birthday or we had technical difficulties that day, they would miss their birthday slide and that was a bummer. Hopefully, the change will rectify any possible disappointments with the increased length of the display.
Secondly, the Google Slide aligns with our initiative to Go Green! We hope by being able to do all of this digitally, it will make it much easier for families and teachers. The classroom teacher will send an email asking you to send Tina Kapor (our Spotlight Pictures Chair) a photo and the information requested through email and you will be done! No more papers to keep track of or photos to print out and then backpack back to school. As a mom who has found more stuff crumpled at the bottom of her children’s backpacks over the years, I really think digital is better.
All of the details will be coming in a follow-up email. If you have any additional questions, please let me know. Have a great weekend!
Dr. Amy Debelak
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FREE & REDUCED LUNCH
The date for the roll-over cut off for free and reduced-price meals benefits is quickly approaching. On September 25th, if you have not filled out a new free and reduced-price meal application your student(s) will lose their benefits. Apply online today: https://sycamore.payschools.com or fill out a paper application and turn it into the office. Contact the Child Nutrition Office with questions - (513) 686-1796.
Thank you!
Kelsey Warren (Gash) RD, LD
Child Nutrition & Wellness Director
Sycamore Community Schools
(513) 686-1796
PTO NEWS & NOTES
PTO PRESIDENT’S REPORT
It has been wonderful seeing everyone and meeting so many new families the past few weeks! We are off to a great school year at Montgomery Elementary and we are excited about all the exciting things to come.
Thank you ALL for your support of this year's Boosterthon Fundraiser!!! Together we raised OVER $25,000 for Montgomery Elementary!! In addition to the money raised for our school we are able to directly impact the lives of other families in the Sycamore School District by donating 10% of the money raised to Sycamore Bridges!
For more information about this amazing outreach, you can visit: https://www.neighborhoodbridges.org/community/sycamore
I look forward to seeing you at our next General Meeting on Wednesday, October 23rd at 9:30am so please mark your calendars!
Have questions before then please contact me, Kristy Felss, at mtpto@sycamoreschools.org.
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CLICK HERE FOR PTO MEMBERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING INFO
WE ARE OFFICIALLY GOING GREEN THIS YEAR. CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS THE PTO WEB PAGE. THIS PAGE IS FULL OF INFORMATION INCLUDING Board & Committees, Directory Information, Events & Programs, Fundraising, Treasurer Info & Special Requests.
Thank you to all 3rd and 4th graders who auditioned for Annie Kids!!
Rehearsals officially began this week and the performances will take
place on November 8th!!
Additional information on times and ticket sales to come!
For more information before then please go to performingartsinc.net/Montgomery/ OR Contact Molly Johnson with any questions at margaretdjohnson@yahoo.com.
ENROLL NOW!
Please enroll your Kroger Plus Card in the Kroger Community Rewards Program benefiting Montgomery Elementary PTO to earn dollars for our organization!
SCHOOL NPO #80687
1. Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com
2. Sign in (if you already have an account) OR create an account
3. Click on “Enroll Now” for the Kroger Community Rewards Program
4. Complete form as follows:
• Find your organization – type in 80687
• Select your organization – Montgomery Elementary PTO, 9609 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 80687. Make sure to click on the circle in front of the name!
• Click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the screen
5. Go to Account Settings and verify your information. Make sure your Kroger Plus card number is recorded with Montgomery Elementary PTO as your Community Rewards organization. You can also check the bottom of your receipts each time you shop.
THANK YOU for supporting the Montgomery Elementary PTO!
BELOW IS ANOTHER WAY TO EARN HASSLE FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL
#speakupAVES Mental Health Awareness Month
Sycamore Community Schools has made mental health, fighting its stigma, and advocating for its awareness, a priority among all buildings and within all grade levels. For the entire month of September, we will be engaging students, staff, and families in important conversations through our #speakupAVES campaign.
Unfortunately, mental health issues are a drastically rising problem among adolescents. According to research performed by the Child Mind Institute, one in five teens and adults suffer from mental illness and 20% of children ages 13-18 live with a mental disorder. It impacts people of all ages, demographics, and income levels. That is why Sycamore is committed to caring for the whole child and providing support for students, families, and staff.
#speakupAVES and Warrior Run
Sycamore Community Schools continues to collaborate with 1N5, a local nonprofit organization committed to stopping the stigma and starting the conversation by increasing awareness and education about mental health.
#speakupAVES Month is focused on raising awareness and will culminate with Sycamore High School’s participation in the 1N5 Warrior Run on October 5. As a part of the high school challenge, every dollar raised by the team will be reinvested back into Sycamore High School for mental health, mindfulness, and suicide prevention programming. Click here to sponsor the “Sycamore sAVES” team and select “donate.” You can also join the team by registering to be a part of the race by clicking here and select “join the team.”
School-Based Therapy Services
Meanwhile, Sycamore Schools continue to provide better access to mental health services for students. All seven Sycamore schools are now staffed with school-based therapists for the 2019-2020 school year. Children’s Hospital provides on-site independently licensed therapists at all seven schools at no cost to the district to confidentially serve students with significant mental health challenges.
Medication Management Services
Beginning in September, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will also begin offering medication management services to families engaged in school-based therapy. These services include the evaluation, prescription, and management of medication for clients. Medication management services are delivered by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). The APRN will be at our District Office at 5959 Hagewa Drive two half-days per month. If parents are interested in engaging with medication management services, parents can schedule appointments directly through their building therapist. To receive these services, students must be active clients of the school-based therapist.
Help Us Start the Conversation, Stop the Stigma
But it doesn’t end with therapy and medication. It’s about providing a safe environment for students so that they can come to school feeling comfortable and ready to learn. District administrators have initiated the process of developing a comprehensive, three-year strategic plan based on feedback from a voluntary survey on mental health. Simply put, mental health awareness is not limited to the month of September in Sycamore Community Schools.
As a superintendent, I am proud of the work our school counselors, teachers, and staff are doing to increase their own awareness while supporting the whole child. As a parent, I am continually reassured by the commitment our educators have to student social and emotional wellness.
So for the month of September, let’s engage in tough and important conversations with one another around mental health. But let’s not let it end there. This is a year-long, lifetime battle, and Sycamore Community Schools is committed every day.
To discuss any of our mental health services available or with questions regarding services, Lisa Zelvy, Pupil Services Supervisor, is available to assist you. She can be reached at (513) 686-1700 or zelvyl@sycamoreschools.org.
stolen, or the situation simply becomes too much for her to handle directly,
you will need to step in. Click here to find out how to protect your child.