Aviator Air News
Maple Dale Family Newsletter
December 2, 2022
A Note from Mrs. Zellner and Mr. West
Now that the colder weather is finally upon us, this is just a friendly reminder that students need to come to school properly dressed for the weather. As the weather gets colder and wet, students should have the following items: winter hat, mittens/gloves, and a warm winter jacket. Please continue practicing zipping up jackets at home. We will still go outside for recess as long as the temperature (including wind chill and "real feel") is 20 degrees or higher. Additionally, if you can please remember to LABEL your child's winter gear, it helps us find the owner easily!
There have been some recent and significant safety concerns regarding our car rider process. As a result, we are going to tighten up our expectations. Please read the below expectations to help us keep the students safe!
Students:
All children will exit (at arrival) and enter (at dismissal) vehicles on the passenger side nearest the curb.
For afternoon dismissal, the children will be prompted to walk to the car line. We will release students in batches of ten cars at a time.
Drivers:
Display placard in rearview mirror, so number is visible.
Drive car into the main circle drive around the flagpole at the front of the school, using our typical traffic pattern.
Drive your vehicle up as far as possible, so other families can load at the same time. We load in batches of ten cars at a time.
Remain in the car while you wait for your student to be brought to you. Please do not exit your car to come in to pick up your child.
If you are coming into the building during arrival or dismissal time for any reason, please park in the parking lot and come into the building. Please do not park in the circle during this busy time.
A few things to remember:
Please be PATIENT! Safety is paramount.
Proceed with caution when picking up your child in the car rider line.
Refrain from using a cell phone or any other electronic device for safety reasons...be alert!
We are a smoke free district and we ask you to refrain from smoking in car line.
Thank you for helping us to keep the students safe!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mindy and Keena
Mark your calendar!
Fine Arts Schedule for the upcoming week: Stating the week of 11/28
Monday - E Day
Tuesday - A Day
Wednesday - B Day
Thursday - C Day
Friday - D Day
December 5-22: 14 days of Holiday Fun! ***see below
December 12-16: CogAT Testing for 2nd and 4th grade
December 15: Special PTO Meeting 9:30 am
December 23-January 3: Winter Break
January 12:End of 2nd Quarter
January 13: Student Personal Learning Day- No School
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr Day- No School
Volunteer Corner!
14 Days of Holiday Fun!
Join the Maple Dale Staff in some holiday fun as we count down the days to Winter Break!
Monday, December 5: Something green
Tuesday, December 6: Something yellow
Wednesday, December 7: College shirt
Thursday, December 8: Something striped
Friday, December 9: Something Bengals (WHO DEY this weekend!)
Monday, December 12: Something tie-dye
Tuesday, December 13: Favorite sports team shirt
Wednesday, December 14: Funny t-shirt
Thursday, December 15: Comfy plaid or flannel
Friday, December 16: Maple Dale or Sycamore spirit wear
Monday, December 19: Something blue (Hanukkah just started!)
Tuesday, December 20: Favorite holiday shirt
Wednesday, December 21: Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
Thursday, December 22: Something that makes you feel joyful!
CogAT Testing Information
2022 Fall Maple Dale PTO Funding Request
The Amazing RaceFundraiser was a huge success because so many participated. Together We Are Better! THANK YOU!! The Maple Dale community is still strong!
As a PTO Exec Board, we work hard to ensure we are thorough and thoughtful in the way we invest back into our school. In addition to the numerous programs we fund and the support we provide the teachers, every year the PTO makes intentional choices on where to invest incremental money via school grants. Thanks to your generous support of the Amazing Race, the PTO has even more to invest this year. Since your kids raised the money, we want you to be part of the choices that we make on investing.
Please plan to attend a special meeting of the PTO at 9:30 am on Thursday, December 15th. The entire agenda will be set to address the ideas submitted for how to wisely invest proceeds from the Amazing Race.
Do you have an idea of how to spend the proceeds? All members of the Maple Dale Community (Parents, Teachers, Students, Staff, Administrators - everyone) are invited to submit a funding request for items and projects they think would be a good use of these funds. Submit your request here. Be sure to read the tips below for how to write a good funding request. Requests are due by December 9th.
How did we get here? Budgeting for this school year was a challenge not knowing which PTO events/programs we’d be able to do and not knowing what impact there may be on fundraising. The PTO adopted a conservative budget that projected a large decrease in fundraising versus last year. To balance the budget, expenses for grants were reduced.
We are thrilled by the response and success of the Amazing Race. As a result, we have more money than we had budgeted to be used to enhance existing programs, start new ones, or provide extras around the school.
Do we have to spend it all? No. We don’t have to spend it all and the PTO Exec Board feels strongly that we shouldn’t if we don’t have good things to spend it on. We also believe that the money has been raised by this year's students and should be used to benefit them, if possible.
Tips for a good funding request:
We are better together - talk to others about your ideas and gather co-sponsors
Talk to the school or a board member if you have a major request or a really new idea. We might be able to give some input so that your idea is the best it can be.
Be specific. As much as possible, know exactly what you are proposing. Get quotes or firm costs. Have a budget.
Ask any of the board members if you need help.
I would like to conclude by thanking the Amazing Race committee (Sarah Donaworth and Shari Hiudt) for the awesome job they did on the fundraiser. Thank you to the staff and teachers who helped pitch in to make sure this was a success.
Thank You From the PTO
Harshana Patel
Maple Dale PTO President
News from Nurse Adee
Big Shout Again!
Thanks again to all the wonderful volunteers that helped make screenings go so smoothly this year.
Clothing Needs
As the weather has changed I have noticed that I have a very low inventory of winter clothing especially boys pants and long sleeve shirts for sizes small and medium.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your family and friends.
Please continue to send your children to school with their coats, gloves, and hats so they can enjoy recess and their time outside for recess.
The Gift of Giving!
The last day to donate is Monday, December 5th!
The holidays can be an added financial struggle for many of our neighborhood families. We believe all families should be able to celebrate this special time together. During the holiday season, Operation Give Back and Sycamore Bridges are more focused than ever on providing assistance to more than 900 children and their families who live in the Montgomery, Blue Ash, Symmes, Sycamore Township and Sharonville communities. Over the next few weeks, OGB is collecting donations for the annual OGB Community Holiday Store.
Toy Drive/ Clothing Collection
If you would like to donate toys, click here to see a list of most requested new toys as a guide to help with your shopping. Toys are targeted for children newborn through age 18.
We are also collecting new pajamas, socks, hats and gloves for kids of all ages. New (or almost like new) coats are welcome as well!
Blessing Bag
Each family visiting the Holiday Store receives a Blessing Bag filled with much needed food and toiletry items- all in time for the holiday break.
GOTR- Spring 2023
We’re now accepting GOTR Site Applications in the Greater Cincinnati area for the Spring 2023 Season!
Girls on the Run strives to give girls in 3rd-5th or 6th-8th grade the tools they need to grow through adolescence and beyond feeling powerful, healthy and confident. By using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running, we inspire girls to boldly pursue their dreams.
Did you know our social-emotional learning program is nationally acclaimed as well? Give your girls this super boost of star power and watch them become better versions of their already awesome selves!
Some things you can expect from hosting a GOTR team:
10 weeks of interactive activities such as running, playing games, and discussing important self-empowering issues. The 10-week season begins the week of February 20th with our in-person 5K tentatively set for Saturday, May 13, 2023.
The program concludes with all participants walking, running, or skipping in a community 5K event. This involves family, friends, teachers, and the community at large.
GOTR utilizes a whole-person approach to elevate emotional, social, mental, and physical health.
If interested, please contact Maggie Jones-Schradel @ mschradel@gmail.com
Attendance notes
Attendance emails should be directed to Heather Voellmecke at voellmeckeh@sycamoreschools.org.
For more information on our district attendance policies, click here
Transportation Notes
A friendly reminder from transportation!
Students may not ride the bus home with another friend or get off at a different stop on their assigned bus unless it is an emergency situation. If an emergency situation arises please contact transportation at 513-686-1785 or email them at schoolbus@sycamoreschools.org.
Once transportation approves your request you may let your students' teacher know via email and our office know by emailing voellmeckeh@sycamoreschools.org.
Many thanks!
About us
Email: zellnerm@sycamoreschools.org
Website: http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Domain/12
Location: 6100 Hagewa Drive, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: (513)686-1720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mapledaleaviators/
Twitter: @MapleDaleElem