Avalon Eagles Newsletter
March 2021
Dare to S.O.A.R.
Students first, maintaining an
Optimistic environment, ensuring a focus on
Achievement, and building strong
Relationships with you and your children!
Avalon Eagles' 3 Be's
Be SAFE
Be RESPECTFUL
Be RESPONSIBLE
Vision, Mission & Core Values
Vision - Every student will exit each grade level prepared for the next academic level.
Mission - Avalon students will become confident learners who are responsible citizens equipped to contribute to the community.
Please talk with your student about what the 3 Be's look like on in-person 'brick' days AND asynchronous 'click' days!
COHORT A
LEARNING WILL BE REMOTE WITH TEACHERS - SYNCHRONOUS
* Please make sure your student attends class all day, logs on to Zoom with their teacher, and completes all assignments.
ATTENDANCE
Please make sure your students is:
- Coming to school on-time during their cohort's 'brick' days (school starts at 9:00 am, drop-off begins at 8:30 am)
- Logging on for morning meeting and/or specials on Wednesdays
- Completing assignments on asynchronous 'click' days
Parents, please make sure you are taking attendance for your child on asynchronous 'click' days. This is VERY important.
- Avalon parents need to e-mail a note to Ms. Mackey at attendance.avalon@columbus.k12.oh.us with a copy to Mrs. Moorman amoorman@columbus.k12.oh.us on the day of the absence - preferably in the morning
- Notes from parents may be received up to nine times
- After nine e-mails/notes from a parent to say that their student is going to be absent, a doctor's note will be required
- In the case of a family emergency, an e-mail from a parent needs to be sent directly to the Principal, Mrs. Taylor
Eagle Zoom Room
Calling ALL Somali families. We want to hear from you!
Please come to this month's Eagle Zoom Room to introduce yourselves and get to know other Somali families at Avalon. We would love to get to know YOU!
Wednesday, March 10 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ccsoh-us.zoom.us/j/87059544013
Meeting ID: 870 5954 4013
P.B.I.S. NEWS
Tier I - Caught Being Good*, Classroom Rewards, PBIS Booster Sessions
Tier II - Social Emotional Learning Group, Reading Intervention, English Language Learners
Tier III - Special Education, Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) Meetings, one-on-one meetings with students or parents of students that need individualized support
* Caught Being Good is happening inside the classroom for both cohorts A and B! What this means is that right now, teachers are selecting/nominating an A/B winner from their class each week, and those students get to hear their names on the announcements (and get a prize/certificate) as well.
ESL NEWS
This winter the English as a Second Language (ESL) department is very happy to have Mrs. Rosa Arjona returning to Avalon ES to teach our kindergarten and first grade students in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Mrs. Arjona has also helped the staff with Spanish translations whenever possible.
Ms. Wirthman is currently teaching second and third grade ESL students in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Ms. Wirthman was happy to teach first-third grades in the fall of this year!!
We are excited to have Mrs. Araceli back in The ESL Dept. as an Instructional Assistant teaching Kindervention with our kindergarten level ESL Students. She is a parent liaison for our staff daily and during conferences!! Thank you!!
The ESL department has been Zooming with students since last April reading books, working on vocabulary, sight words, writing sentences, practicing speaking English, and mastering our listening skills.
We spent time in January 2020 preparing for the OLEPA, The Ohio State Test for English Language Learners. Our students take the test annually until they are proficient in each domain: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
We are currently testing the ESL students in person on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Avalon. We are taking every recommended safety precaution each day. Please remind your child(ren) to charge up their Chromebook each evening, bring headphones if they own them (for comfort) and remember to bring their Chromebooks.
Please check out the resources, notices and educational link on the CCS website under Departments, ESL:
https://www.ccsoh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2732
The ESL students can access hundreds of free books, read alouds, audio and videos on the Epic! educational website for kids www.getepic.com for free. The class code is err0253 under Ms. Wirthman's class.
Have a safe, healthy, happy rest of the school year!
GO EAGLES!!!! SOAR ON!!!!!!!!!
Mrs. Rosa Arjona, ESL Teacher
Mrs. Aquado Araceli, ESL Instructional Assistant
Ms. Tracy Wirthman, ESL Teacher
SPECIALS NEWS
Ms. Kling
Art
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Shayla
Third Grade, Ms. Straughter
Throughout the month of February we learned about the importance of Black History. During our discussions we had conversations about Jim Crow laws, social justice, discrimination, segregation, equal rights, Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka, various leaders, athletes, and inventors that made an impact on our society, and much more. We also read a variety of books on the subject. Shayla created a poster about what she learned this month. I am so proud of Shayla and my room 16 students. They were truly engaged and asked thought provoking questions throughout our lessons. Third grade ROCKS!
Marlee, Braden, Youssouf and Marie
After studying and reading stories in Module 7 of our reading books about making a difference in our community we read the story Michael Recycle. The students in Mrs. Barna's class are writing a persuasive paragraph about why it is important to recycle.
Gianna
After reading the story "Be You," we discussed the importance of being ourselves. We then talked about how each of us are special and unique. Gianna created a heart about all the things she loved about herself and what makes her special. Great job!
Abdiyo
Third Grade, Mr. Whyte's class
We have been working really hard on learning the ICE strategy to solve math story problems. ICE helps them understand how to break the problem apart into 3 areas:
- I - Illustration
- C - Computation
- E - Explain step by step what you did to solve it
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Liesel Parsons
Mrs. Parsons is in her 13th year with Columbus City Schools and seventh year at Avalon. She also serves students at Northgate Intermediate and in the Columbus Hearing Impaired Program (CHIP). She is originally from Cleveland and went to Ohio State for her Master’s degree. Mrs. Parsons lives in Westerville with her husband, son (13), and daughter (10) and has two dogs and a cat. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and watching her kids play sports, and yoga.
Jillian Baker
Ms. Baker is Avalon's school social worker. She loves working with students, families, and school staff to help overcome barriers that get in the way of school success. She grew up in Woodbridge, VA and majored in Sociology at the College of William & Mary (the second oldest college in the U.S. after Harvard!). Over the next few years, she went on some great adventures - she lived and worked in Scotland, worked on a ranch in Arkansas, worked in a soup kitchen a few blocks away from the Capitol in Washington DC, then went to live in El Salvador for over two years. She met the man she would later marry, had a quarter-life crisis while trying to figure out what she wanted to do for a "real job," and landed on social work. When she moved back to the U.S., she got her MSW from Washington University in St. Louis. She worked in an intensive family therapy program in Massachusetts and Washington DC before moving to Columbus in 2016. She and her husband speak Spanish at home and have a 2-year-old son. They enjoy exploring parks and bike trails and Ms. Baker likes to fantasize about going on more adventures.
Email: jbaker@columbus.k12.oh.us
Ashley Callicott
Ashley Callicott "Ms. Ashley" is the school physical therapist and loves working at Avalon! She is from Westerville and is a proud Ohio University Bobcat but came back to Columbus for graduate school to become an official Ohio State Buckeye. She has been a physical therapist for 13 years and has worked at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The James Cancer Center and even spent a few years in that "state up North" before joining the Columbus City Schools team. This is her fourth school year with CCS and she has loved seeing kids back in school again this year! Ashley lives with her husband, one and a half year old daughter and two small but old dogs, Gus and Buddy. She enjoys playing the piano, spending time with family and friends (bonus if it's outside!), dancing, and live music...she can't wait until all these things are safe again! Fun Fact: Ms. Ashley has a giant sweet tooth (as pictured!), and her favorite ice cream is Whit's Penguin Tracks 😊
Kate Butler
Katherine Butler is a speech-language pathologist. She has been with Columbus City Schools for 26 years and at Avalon for six years. She is a Cincinnati Bearcat and went to the University of Cincinnati for her bachelors and master degrees. She live with my husband, Martin and her two dogs (Everest and Meadow). Her children are grown now. Adam (31) is a structural engineer who lives in Mississippi. David (28) is a jazz pianist who plays at many Columbus venues and also gives piano lessons. Mrs. Butler's favorite hobbies are her backyard gardens and her chickens. That’s right! She has chickens in their backyard! They are all different breeds and lay beautiful eggs of many different colors.
Lesley George
Occupational Therapist
This is my Mrs. George's 18th year at Columbus City Schools as an occupational therapist. She has also worked for Marion City Schools, Delaware County Board of DD and Grady Memorial Hospital. She graduated from Ohio State and is married with two kids (a 12-year old daughter and 16-year old son) and three step children (all boys - ages, 13, 15, and 19). Mrs. George enjoys almost any outdoor activity such as walks and hiking with her family and dog and kayaking. She also enjoys hanging out with her friends, Bible studies and vacations at the beach and lakes.
Email: lgeorge@columbus.k12.oh.us
DISTRICT RESOURCES
LEC at Northland High School
To learn more about the CUL Northland LEC, email our partners at youth@cul.org.
CCS Customer Relations & FACTLine
CYBER SECURITY FOR FAMILIES
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
ALL CCS FAMILIES TO RECEIVE NEW ROUND OF P-EBT BENEFITS WITH MONEY TO BUY FOOD
December’s benefit will be issued in late February, January ‘s benefits will be issued in late March, February’s benefits in late April, and so on. Families will be mailed monthly notices to explain the P-EBT benefit amounts. When possible, ODJFS will add students’ P-EBT benefits to families’ regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits which are accessed through the Ohio Direction Card.
The state has a new P-EBT Customer Service line to help families. Call 1-866-244-0071 (press option 1). More information can be found online at www.ohiopebt.org.
Free Meals for Children
There are many locations throughout Columbus and the surrounding suburbs where children can receive free meals.
To find a nearby location, text “FOOD” to 877-877.
Before visiting, we suggest calling the meal site to confirm participation and operating hours.
Upcoming Free Mobile Produce Markets
The scheduled community centers will begin distribution at 3 p.m. except for Barnett Community Center which will begin distribution at 10 a.m.
3/04/21: Glenwood
3/05/21: Feddersen, Scioto-South
3/11/21: Adams, Dodge
3/12/21: Beatty, Barnett
3/18/21: Tuttle, Holton
3/19/21: Far East
3/25/21: Marion-Franklin
Homework Help
CCS students can also get in-person Homework Help after school at the Karl Road and Reynoldsburg branches. Online Homework Help is available 7 days a week on the library’s website at www.columbuslibrary.org/school-help.
Face coverings are required to enter, covering both the mouth and nose and fitting snugly. Children 5 and older are required to wear a face covering. Disposable face masks are available. Our partners also remind us that children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by someone 16 or older. At times, there may be limits on the number of people in the library to ensure effective social distancing. Staff will let patrons know if they need to wait to enter.
Enriching Kidz Home Alone Life Skills Class
Does leaving your tween (ages 9-13) home alone worry you? How do you know if your child is
mature enough to stay home alone?
Enriching Kidz is recognized across Ohio for its “Kidz Home Alone” class that’s designed to
teach children about being home alone safely and help parents gauge and build their children’s maturity level so they can be ready to stay home alone.
Here are the top six questions to ask yourself and your child:
▪ Is your child mature enough to be home alone?
▪ Is your child physically and mentally able to care for themselves?
▪ Is your child a good decision maker and problem solver?
▪ Are they able to follow the rules?
▪ How does your child handle an “out of the ordinary” situation?
▪ How do they feel about being home alone?
Before the first time children are left home alone, it’s good for families to review when (and
when not) to answer the door and the phone, the reasons to call 9-1-1, and what to do if
someone get hurt - such as basic first aid and safety. Take time to review fire escape and severe weather plans. And make sure to set rules for staying home alone.
The Enriching Kidz Home Alone Life Skills Class is available online, and our new partner is
offering Columbus City Schools families a 20% discount. Use code CCS20 when you sign up at www.enrichingkidz.com.
FAMILY FUN
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FLAG OF THE MONTH - IRELAND
"The Irish flag can be recognised by its three vertical stripes of green, white and orange, all equal measure. However, what does each colour mean? Well, in simplistic terms green (always at the hoist) represents Irish Nationalists/Catholics, orange represents people from a Protestant/Unionist background and white in the middle signifies peace between the two.
The green, a shade resembling Ireland’s landscape, symbolises the Republicans while the orange stands for the Protestant supporters of William of Orange.
The two are held together in a lasting truce represented by the colour white. The flag is used by nationalists on both sides of the border."
Credit: TOP 10 Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know About The Irish Flag
February 12, 2019 by Erika Sanger
Avalon Elementary
Office hours are 9:00 am - 2:30 pm for walk-ins.
All early dismissals should occur before 3:00 pm.
Office reopens after dismissal from 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm.
Phones are answered 8:30 am -3:00 pm and 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm.
*Phones not answered at dismissal as all resources are used to execute a safe dismissal. Therefore, we appreciate parents calling within the designated hours.
We respectfully require parents make all dismissal changes with the teacher by written note or e-mail. We do not accept dismissal changes over the phone as safety is our #1 concern and unplanned changes to dismissal are too challenging to manage.
Due to the pandemic, visitors are not allowed to enter the building except to conduct business in the vestibule at the office transaction window.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Email: amoorman@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/AvalonES
Location: 5220 Avalon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43229
Phone: 614-365-5361
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/134270649947642/?ref=bookmarks