Doe Run Parent Newsletter

Welcome to December!

Of all months in the year, December takes the crown of being the busiest. It seems like everyone is busy, whether it is shopping, decorating, cooking, gathering, or reading your child's school newsletter (thank you for all of those who read it). As the "to do" list is growing and growing, remember our trait of the month at school is Responsibility. If you are like me, when my list grows, my kids' list shortens because it can be easier to do it myself. How can we create responsibility in our kids, when it feels like just one more thing added to the list? This year, join me in promoting responsibility in our kids by providing them some opportunities to take on small jobs or tasks to showcase their abilities and independence. They may even be able to take something off your growing list.

Have a great month,

Art Paynter

12/7 - Early Dismissal for students - all scheduled early dismissals will be a 3 hour early dismissal. No lunch served. All busers will arrive home 3 hours earlier than their scheduled time. Car Riders will be dismissed at 11:15.

12/22 - Early Dismissal - 11:15

12/25 - 1/1 - No School for Winter Break. We will return on January 2nd (Cycle Day 4 IF there are no snow days in December).

The 1st trimester reports will be emailed to Guardian 1 on December 15th. Please be sure we have your correct email if it has changed this year. Also - if you don't see the email from Doe Run Elementary in your "In Box", check in your Junk or Other boxes.

Each month Doe Run emphasizes a different character trait. In November we explored Gratitude. In December, our character trait will be Responsibility. Each day on the announcements we have a character quote and our counselors do activities with learners that relate to the trait.

At the end of each month, teachers will nominate a Character Champion and they will be recognized with a certificate and an Inchy Coin to use.

The tri-fold Compact you may have recently received at Parent-Teacher conferences or that was brought home by your learner did not have the correct language regarding learner progress updates. This year the Manheim Central School District moved to a trimester format from our quarterly format. The Compact indicates that learner progress would be sent home quarterly. Please note that learner progress will be sent home 3 times per year, not 4 times per year as in previous years. We apologize for the confusion.

Kim Norcross and Maddie Hallman, Reading Specialists

Please remember to send in an excuse within 3 days of when your child was absent. If no excuse is received, the absence becomes unexcused/illegal.

All Educational Trips must be approved beforehand in order to be excused.

If you are taking a vacation, please remember to fill out, and turn in, an Educational Trip Form BEFORE you leave. Learners are allowed 5 educational days per year, but if a form is not received prior to the trip, it is considered an illegal absence.

Forms are available in the office, or on our website - www.manheimcentral.org - Schools - Doe Run - Forms and Documents (on top).

• When the temperature is 24 degrees or warmer learners will be going outside for recess. Please make sure your child wears clothes appropriate to being outside.
• We will take into account the wind chill as our hill gets very windy.

Our learner of the month for November was Sophia Delp - a 2nd grader from Miss Boas' class. Congratulations Sophia!

Physicals are due for Kindergarten learners.

Dentals are due for Kindergarten and 3rd grade.

If you would like your student to be seen by the school doctor or dentist, please contact the school nurse (stewarth@manheimcentral.org)

Happy Holiday Season from the Doe Run PTO!

We are very excited for our Holiday Craft event occurring on Friday, December 8th. We are so thankful to all who have signed up to help make this event successful in a way that works for them! Be on the lookout for your learner to bring home their handmade gift on or shortly after the 8th!

As we begin to look at the new year here are some dates to mark on your calendar.

February 8th will be Elementary Science Night at the High School

February 20th-23rd will be our Spring Book Fair

February 22nd will be Bingo Night at Doe Run Elementary and the Book Fair will be open.

Opportunities to help with these events will be shared in the future.

Our Next Public PTO meeting will be held on Monday January 8th at 6:30pm!

Hello Parents,

Listed below is the contact information for our 2 counselors and the grades they are connected with. Please feel free to reach out to them if you have any concerns.

Melissa Terch

School Counselor for:

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade (Clark, Eichelman)

Multiage 1st/2nd

Mrs. Szulborski

Mrs. Rios

terchm@manheimcentral.org

Darren Keller

School Counselor for:

2nd Grade (Brady, Sunderland)

3rd Grade

Multiage 3rd/4th

4th Grade

Mrs. Wheeler-Esteves

kellerd@manheimcentral.org

For any food that is requested for classroom parties, the food must be ...

• Store Bought
• Individually packaged (by the manufacturer)

We cannot accept home baked/packaged products. If you want, you can buy a bag of pretzels, etc (leave the bag sealed) and the teachers can pour them on a plate for the children.

Birthdays - Unfortunately we cannot accept food birthday treats to be brought in for student / teacher birthdays. You may send in any non-food item if you wish.

The office receives many bus notes each day. In order for us to inform the correct buses of the changes, please include the following:

• All notes should include child's first AND last name, legible parent name, bus number, and teacher. This helps us get the correct child on the correct bus.
• If another child is going home with another person - either as a bus rider or a car rider - we need permission from BOTH parents so we know they are both aware of the change.

During the week before the holiday break, Doe Run will be very festive. We will be having special days that everyone is invited to participate in as they wish...

Monday, 12/18 - Festive Hat/Antlers (also a Family House Day)

Tuesday, 12/19 - Festive sweater

Wednesday, 12/20 - White Out Wednesday

Thursday, 12/21 - Lights

Friday, 12/22 - Red/Green

To help us keep our Lost and Found at a minimum, please label coats and lunchboxes with last names. This enables us to return items to students when they are left behind, or left on the bus. Periodically we post pictures of the Lost and Found on our Doe Run Facebook page.

As per School Board Policy, flyers that are sponsored by Manheim Central are sent home. Others are available in the office on the Information Table. Each month we will list the available flyers so if you are interested your child can come to the office to pick one up.

• Girl Scouts
• Boy Scouts
• Bible2School
• Weekend Backpack Program
• STEM Starts Now (Birth to Kdg STEM subscription)

Please note that starting January 2, 2024- all volunteers or visitors to the school buildings will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement, acknowledging the confidentiality requirements required to serve as a volunteer or visitor in the Manheim Central School District. The Confidentiality Statement is listed below, and will be posted in the sign in area of every building.

Confidentiality Statement:

No visitor/volunteer shall be permitted to access, review, disclose, or use confidential student information, or participate in conversations in which confidential student information is discussed. Examples of such information include, but are not limited to, the following: grades or other measures of academic performance, class standing, standardized or other test scores, attendance records, disciplinary history, intelligence test scores, personality and interest test scores, individualized education plans, health data, family background information, teacher or counselor ratings and observations, and any other verified or unverified information contained in a student’s file maintained by the teachers, administrators or schools within the school district. Each volunteer shall keep strictly confidential all information s/he may learn, during the course of performing services, about the students enrolled in the school district.

This means that, as a visitor/volunteer, by merely entering this facility you signify the acceptance of the Manheim Central School District’s confidentiality policy for volunteers, as provided above. Any information regarding any type of health-related or education-related issues, or anything regarding student grades or records, is strictly confidential and is protected by FERPA laws. Anything you learn, hear, or see in any of our District facilities or at any school-related function in your service as a volunteer, must remain confidential. Any transmission of confidential student information via verbal or written means, or via social media, is strictly prohibited and will result in the immediate release from volunteer service. If, at this time, you do not agree to this requirement, you will be instructed on how to proceed by administration.

Your continued use of the school gate guardian check in system implies your ongoing agreement to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to this confidentiality, you will be unable to volunteer. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy please contact the Manheim Central School District administrative team.

A final reminder that you have an obligation and responsibility to keep student information learned in the course of your volunteer service completely confidential.

What is MCFEE? It’s the Manheim Central Foundation for Educational Enrichment.

*MCFEE grants create awesome enrichment opportunities in the classroom for Manheim Central students. All learners at Manheim Central are directly and positively impacted by MCFEE grants.

It takes involvement from families and businesses in our community to be able to continue to offer funding for grants. As they say, “it takes a village” and “every little bit counts”. In January we will be looking for monetary donations to help fund our auction items.

Our date for the auction, which will be virtual again this year, will be April 12-14. We will continue to communicate information in the upcoming months.

For more information about MCFEE, including a full list of grants, visit www.mcfee4kids.org.

Website: www.manheimcentral.org
Location: 281 Doe Run Road, Manheim, PA, USA
Phone: (717)665-8800
Twitter: @DoeRunSchool