Montgomery Elementary News
OCTOBER 16, 2020
Contact Us
Dr. Amy Debelak, Principal
Ms. Sally Ganz, Asst. Principal
Office 686-1730
Absence Line 686-1707
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
OCTOBER
23 - Virtual Family Fun Night - See Flyer Below for Details
NOVEMBER
6 - PBIS Spirit Day - Wear Blue Shirt to School
9 - Teacher Records Day - No School for Students
19 - Evening Conferences (4pm-8pm)
20 - Day Conferences (8:15am - 4:00pm) - No School for Students
23 - Evening Conferences (4pm - 8pm)
Hi Everyone,
What a beautiful fall week! I can see the students playing on the playground from my office window. They love collecting leaves now that we have a beautiful array to choose from. With fall comes two big activities at Montgomery for all families.
Family Fun Night will be held Friday, October 23rd at 6 pm - 6:45 pm for families whose last name begins A-K. Families whose last name begins L-Z will participate from 7-7:45. A google meets invite will be forthcoming from the PTO. Wear your costumes!!
On October 30, 2020, we will celebrate Fall at Montgomery. Students are encouraged to wear their best autumnal ensemble! Crazy hair, painted eye area (please no makeup under the masks) and fall masks will all be in style! Sadly, costumes are not permitted. We are afraid they would be damaged and we aren’t able to invite volunteers in to help as we typically do.
Best wishes,
Amy
GENTLY USED ELASTIC WASTED PANTS NEEDED
If you have any gently worn elastic waisted
pants/sweat pants in sizes
5-12 in both boys and girls,
we could use them in the nurse's office.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Dear Families,
Hamilton County Public Health requires all close contacts to quarantine for 14 days. As a reminder, close contacts are defined as anyone who has been within 6 feet of a confirmed case for 15 minutes, with or without a mask, in a 48 hour period cumulatively.
While we have not experienced any confirmed cases yet in our building, at any time students or staff may need to quarantine based on exposure elsewhere. We know that being identified as a close contact and the effects of quarantining can elicit a range of emotions for students and their families.
In an effort to address the impact to mental health, our school counselors will begin educating students about what it means to be in quarantine using our PBIS expectations. Additionally, students will receive instruction on how to be a good friend and how to support close contact classmates during any required time away from school. It is our belief that by starting this conversation with students we can destigmatize this critical safety requirement for our students and their families.
If you have any questions or concerns about mental health services and supports in the district, please reach out to Lisa Zelvy, Pupil Services Supervisor, at 686-1700 or zelvyl@sycamoreschools.org.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
ALL conferences will be held virtually, for both Virtual Classroom and Face-to Face students. Parents will receive details regarding the conferences as they get closer. Dates are as follows:
Nov. 19 (Thursday) Evening Conferences (K-6)
Nov. 20 (Friday) Daytime conferences (No School-K-8 only)
Nov. 23 (Monday) Evening Conferences (K-4 and 7-8)
MESSER MEDIA NOTES
epic!
Epic is the #1 children’s digital library for kids 12 and under, offering access to over 40,000 high-quality books for kids, learning videos, reading quizzes and more. It's an unlimited reading library your child can take anywhere!
Open the student login page for Epic by clicking here.
Enter your class code.
For media center, you can use ~
sew5267
click GO
Click on guest
Click here for additional step by step instructions.
Important Note: This resource is only available for free from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM M-F. To get unlimited access, you do have to purchase a subscription.
Mrs. Teresa Messer
Media Specialist
Montgomery Elementary
Sycamore Schools
Would you like to be your child’s
Room Parent?
Volunteers needed!
The PTO is looking for one volunteer for each K-4 virtual classroom to serve as the room parent throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
Room parents will work directly with their teacher to determine how to best support their classroom and teacher. Some possible examples (that may or may not be applicable to your classroom) include:
- planning and facilitating virtual celebrations for Halloween, winter, etc. - sending emails to other parents in the classroom as requested by your teacher
-compiling classmates names/contact info to create a classroom directory, if classmates are interested in participating
-assist with virtual material pick up days, if possible
If you are interested in being a room parent for your K-4 virtual student, please complete the online form below by next Thursday, October 15th.
Questions? Contact Elizabeth Miller at elizabethkay2@yahoo.com. Thank you!
VIRTUAL PRINCIPAL'S PICNIC
We are thrilled to debut a special series for our virtual students grade K-4 to connect with their home school! Starting the first week of October, the building principals will meet with one grade level team each week for a Virtual Principals’ Picnic. It will allow for virtual students in grades K-4 to join a google meet with their home school principals and other familiar faces! This is optional for students. All students will get to join (during their virtual lunch time) a google meet to have a picnic lunch, chat, hang out, and spend time during lunch with their home building principals each month! There will be a separate link and a separate Virtual Principals Picnic for each of the 4 home elementary buildings. The home building principals are SO excited to see and spend time with their virtual students and can’t wait for their first picnic with them! Below are scheduled dates and links for Montgomery Elementary.
Kindergarten lunch - (1st Thursday of the month) Kindergarten - 12-12:30
Grade 1 lunch - 12-12:30 (1st Tuesday of the month)
Grade 2 lunch - 11:45 - 12:15 (2nd Tuesday of the month)
Grade 3 lunch - 12 - 12:30 (3rd Tuesday of the month)
Grade 4 lunch - 11:35 - 12:05 (4th Tuesday of the month)
---------------
Parent/Teacher Conferences
ALL conferences will be held virtually, for both Virtual Classroom and Face-to Face students. Parents will receive details regarding the conferences as they get closer. Dates are as follows:
Oct. 15 (Thursday) Evening Conferences (Gr. 9-12)
Nov. 19 (Thursday) Evening Conferences (K-6)
Nov. 20 (Friday) Daytime conferences (No School-K-8 only)
Nov. 23 (Monday) Evening Conferences (K-4 and 7-8)
Dec. 1 (Tuesday) Evening Conferences (Gr. 5-6 only)
March 4 (Thursday) Evening Conferences (Gr. 9-12)
Dear Montgomery Families,
We are off to another great school year at Montgomery Elementary and whether your child is attending school face to face or virtually the PTO continues to strive to make sure you are kept up to date with information. Thank you for your patience and please see all the new information below in the S'more and also on the PTO website and Facebook!
The Montgomery PTO is an organization that consists of parents, teachers, and school staff that works together to enhance the education of every child. We support the school and teachers with volunteers, provide a forum for two-way communication, happily fund many school items/teaching tools, and host a variety of events. This year, obviously, looks much different than any other school year, but we want to let you know that the PTO is working hard to provide the same support as we always have.
Please make sure that you fill out the Membership Google Form (link below) as soon as possible! There will be no membership fees this year in the hopes that all families and staff will join and stay connected (whether your family is face-to-face or virtual). We do ask however that the Membership Goggle Form is completed by each family! The DirectorySpot App will be available again this year to all members but once again we ask for patience updating this as it requires data from the district (that may be delayed).
We also ask that you consider (if you are able to do so) making a donation to the PTO for this school year. Our typical membership fees usually only cover about the cost of our yearly DirectorySpot membership! In the past few years the PTO has been fortunate enough to donate a new sound system for the gym/cafeteria, a new kindergarten playground, technology like chromebooks/iPads, and countless activities/programs for our students, such as the Author Visits this past school year. A link for PayPal is available after completing the Google Form and can also be found on the PTO Website if you wish to make a donation. This school year will not have the traditional fundraisers (Boosterthon and Carnival) so we ask that you please take this into consideration as we are not able to do what we do without the generosity of our families. We are brainstorming ideas for additional Hassle-Free donations, in addition to Kroger, Box Tops for Education, and Pipkins (see below for more information) and considering adding a spring fundraiser if possible, but nothing has been finalized.
As always please make sure that you are following updates from the PTO via these three ways:
1) Montgomery Elementary Facebook Group
2) Sycamore District Montgomery Elementary PTO Page (https://www.sycamoreschools.org/domain/648)
3) Montgomery Elementary Weekly Newsletter (S’more)
One quick clarification to next week's Virtual Family Fun Night (October 23rd) and we apologize for any confusion. This event is open to ALL Families! We welcome our Face to Face students, virtual students, and their families to join us for an evening of fun activities and stories read by some of our beloved staff!
Building a strong Montgomery Elementary Community for ALL is a goal for the PTO. We are working hard on ways to increase student/teacher support this school year and thinking of ways to still have fun (and some FUN-Draising) activities throughout the year.
I, and the rest of the executive board, look forward to working with you this year as we do our best to make a positive difference for our children, the staff, and our school. Please contact me anytime with questions.
Sincerely,
Kristy Felss
Montgomery Elementary PTO President
VIRTUAL FAMILY FUN NIGHT is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
Please use the following link to access all the fun activities and snack recipes before the night of to allow plenty of time to print and prep before hand.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zPnusZvuR258gq1p7Cid0VFUzZBqF0ga?usp=sharing
Then join us the night of with the following links:
6-6:45 (Last name A-K) https://meet.google.com/kmh-divq-iik
7-7:45 (Last name L-Z) https://meet.google.com/hvc-syjw-kux
Please try and join during your time slot but if you are unable to do so join us during the other time! We plan to record and post to the PTO website but of course we hope to see everyone in person!
THIS EVENT IS FOR Face to Face AND Virtual Learners.
Please try and join during your time slot but if you are unable to do so join us during the other time! We plan to record and post to the PTO website but of course we hope to see everyone in person!
If you are part of the Montgomery Elementary family, we encourage you to join us in making our school a great place for all of our kids! PTO membership offers you many opportunities to learn about what is going on at the school, to be involved and make some friends along the way. PTO members can vote on the PTO budget and receive access to our directory via the DirectorySpot app (More info coming soon!) Joining the PTO does not obligate you to volunteer; it's just a great way to show your support of Montgomery Elementary!
Joining the PTO is a simple process! Please just fill out the Membership Form!
Also, to be included in our private Montgomery Elementary PTO Facebook Group, please contact Kristy Felss at mtpto@sycamoreschools.org to be added.
1. FIll out the PTO Membership Form!!!
2. Consider making a "Hassle-Free" donation...
The PTO is not charging Membership Fees this year and we will be unable to hold our traditional fundraisers such as Boosterthon and Carnival (though we are considering other FUN-draising options potentially this school year nothing is set in stone due to Covid). If you are able, please consider making a donation to the PTO so we can continue to support our Students, Teachers and Staff at Montgomery Elementary!
3. Looking for a way to Volunteer this school year? There is no obligation to volunteer for the PTO, but we would love to have your help! It's a great way to meet other parents and to stay more directly involved with your child's experience at Montgomery Elementary. Due to the unique school year please contact Kristy Felss, PTO President, directly for more information about volunteering at mtpto@sycamoreschools.org.
General PTO Virtual Meetings:
Wednesday, October 21 9:30-11am
Join with Google Meet
meet.google.com/nmx-nfbp-bfk
OR BY PHONE @
(US) +1 347-507-7240 (PIN: 186596779)
Wednesday, January 13 @ 7-8:30pm - Link to follow
Wednesday, March 10 @ 9:30-11am - Link to follow
Wednesday, May 12 @ 9:30-11am - Link to follow
-------------------------
Virtual Family Fun Nights:
October 23 (6-6:45 grades K-2nd and 7-7:45 grades 3-4)
*** 6-6:45 meeting link https://meet.google.com/kmh-divq-iik
*** 7-7:45 meeting link https://meet.google.com/hvc-syjw-kux
January 29 (6-6:45 K-2nd and 7-7:45 3-4) Links to follow
April 23 (6-6:45 K-2nd and 7-7:45 3-4) Links to follow
We apologize again about not being able to distribute yearbooks, for Face to Face, Virtual, or Fifth graders, on October 2nd. Please read the following message from Dr Debelak:
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we needed to postpone the yearbook pick-up which had been scheduled for October 2nd. The rescheduled date is October 23rd at 10:30-11:30 and 1-2. Artwork pick-up for our graduates who are currently at EH Greene School (last year’s 4th graders) will be on October 23 at 10:30-11:30 and 1-2 also.
Thank you for your understanding!
Please contact Kristy Felss at mtpto@sycamoreschools.org if you have any questions.
Thank you to everyone who has dropped off bottle caps and lids to help make buddy benches for Montgomery Elementary! Due to the date change for yearbook distribution we will also be collecting them on October 23rd.
Many have also asked about whether families should continue to collect and since we do not know if we have met our goal weight yet we would please ask that you continue to collect bottle caps! After we have a final weight we will let everyone know and if we need to have another collection we will do so in a few months. So for right now please keep collecting Montgomery! We were almost there for our first bench last time around but we need roughly 400lbs to make 3 benches for the school.
HASSLE FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
You can earn money for Montgomery Elementary PTO just by using your Kroger Plus card at Kroger. But first, you must log onto your Kroger account and designate Montgomery Elementary as the organization you want to receive Community Rewards. Here is how…
1. Log onto your Kroger.com account
2. Click “My Account”
3. Click “Community Rewards”
4. Choose Montgomery Elementary PTO (Organization # VP832)
5. You can verify if you are already set-up by looking at the bottom of your most recent Kroger receipt. It will indicate that you have designated Montgomery Elementary PTO as the organization you chose to receive your rewards.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
GOT CLIPS? Drop off all your unexpired Box Tops at school in the Healthy Drop Box (outside the front doors) between 10am-2pm Monday-Friday! Please make sure they are in plastic ziplock bags and at the school before October 19th!
GOT LABELS? Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will automatically find the products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online. No clipping required! NO MORE CLIPPING! SCAN YOUR RECEIPT! SEE HOW AT BTFE.
Click here for a video demonstrating how to scan your receipts and receive credit via the App. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-bNcykyK5Y
PIPKIN'S MARKET
Anytime you shop at Pipkins Market they will donate a percentage of your spending to Montgomery Elementary PTO. All you have to do is bring your receipt(s) to school just like the box tops!
Bring Box Tops and Pipkins Receipts to school between 10am-2pm in a plastic bag and drop them outside the front doors in the Healthy Drop Box! Please do not send them to school with your child at this time or drop them off during Morning Drop Off or Afternoon Pick Up!
Questions about any of the Hassle Free programs or alternative ways to turn in your Box Tops and/or Pipkin’s Receipts before October 19th please contact Molly Duffey at mduffeyrn@yahoo.com