Orchard's Weekly Parent Newsletter

Monday, December 4, 2023 - Friday, December 8, 2023

CMSD's Vision for Learning

In our pursuit of a more fair, just and good system of education, it is CMSD’s vision that each of our learners, both our scholars and each of their educators, is individually and collectively presented with academically/intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their productive struggle and allows them authentic opportunities to demonstrate their work and their learning of academic content and transferable skills in a joyful and adventurous environment.

Orchard's Vision

To transform teaching and learning through technology integration and provide the highest quality education experience that ensures creative and inventive thinking with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) focus in student-centered classrooms.

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Profile of a Graduate

Exhibits Creativity and Innovation
Skilled at Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Possesses an Academic Mindset
Prepared for Global Citizenship
Skilled at Collaborating
Literate in Communication and Information Technology
Exhibits Social and Cross Cultural Empathy

Weekly Message

Dear Families and Friends,

Great things happen every day at Orchard including Dinero's participation in the CMSD Parent University Bus Tour to Eastern Michigan University. Congratulations! Our food distribution will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 3 - 6 pm. Our Parent Town Hall is on Wednesday, December 6, 4 - 5 pm. If you are interested in seeing a great Disney Musical, please join us for our production of the Jungle Book on Thursday, December 14 @ 7 pm, Friday, December 15 @ 7 pm, and/or Saturday, December 16 @ 2 pm. Refreshments will be sold. If you have not turned in money for our chocolate fundraiser, please see Ms. Jackson in the planning center. Please remind your child to visit our loss and found located in the cafeteria, and stand in line and refrain from cutting in front of others during arrival, breakfast, and lunch.

This newsletter and the ones to follow each week is what we hope will be a weekly review of the innovative and creative happenings at our school. Check out our photos! You can also check us out on Facebook (Orchard S.T.E.M. School) and Twitter (@OrchardSTEM) or visit our website at clevelandmetroschools.org/Orchard.

We have revised many of our procedures to keep you and your child safe. During arrival, to ensure the continuous flow of traffic and for safety, please drop off your child at the drop off sign. If you need to park, please use a parking space. At the beginning of the school day, Orchard becomes a phone free zone. Students in grades 5 - 8 must place their phones in their Yondr pouch. At 3:30 pm, Orchard becomes a closed campus. That means, to avoid disrupting learning, we will not release students after that time without prior notice. At arrival and dismissal, please avoid parking in the u-shaped drive as we use this space for our buses, cabs, and vans. At dismissal, Orchard Avenue becomes a one-way street. Please enter Orchard Avenue from West 44th street. At the end of the school day, all middle school students will exit the building from the West 41 street door, except for bus, cab, and van riders and after-school program participants. Walkers and car riders in kindergarten - grade 5 must exit through the gym doors located on Orchard Avenue. Please pick up your child at the gym doors by 4:05 pm. We also ask that you refrain from entering the building, without permission from security, at dismissal. We will dismiss the first floor at 3:55 pm, third floor at 3:57 pm, and 2nd floor at 4:00 pm to end our school day on time at 4:05 pm. During the school day, all students must use an electronic hall pass to enter the halls, unless accompanied by a staff member. As for dress and appearance, we believe that it rests with parents and guardians and strongly encourage our students to dress appropriately. Please remind your child of these expectations. We commit to providing a safe and orderly environment and delivering high-quality educational services free from disruption.

We are pleased to have you as partners and want to assure you that we will do our best to help your child experience academic, social, and emotional growth. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at 216.838.7350 or 216.544.4012. We welcome all inquiries. Thank you for your support and cooperation!

From the Desk of Mr. Hoydic - Chess Team / Tournament

It is tournament time. I will take the best chess players in 6th - 8th grades to the District-wide tournaments. Participants will be notified in advance. Transportation will be provided by the district. Matches will start at 2:00 pm and end at 5:30 pm. We expect to be back at Orchard between 5:40 pm and 6:00 pm. Parents are also welcome to pick up students at East Professional Center, 1349 E 79th st, Cleveland, at 5:30 pm.

Here is the schedule:

Tournaments

1. Thursday, November 16, 2023

2. Thursday, December 14, 2023

3. Thursday, January 18, 2024

4. Thursday, February 22, 2024

I have sent home 3 forms that need to be filled out prior to the tournaments; a participant form, a field trip form, and a media consent form. Thank you for allowing your child to be a part of the Orchard Chess Club. It is a special group, we have a lot of fun.

Mr. David Hoydic, M.Ed.

Chess club sponsor / Art teacher

Parent and Students of the Month

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School Hours and Start Dates

Orchard School Hours:

0 Period (Students in grades 4 - 8 and their siblings in K - grade 3): 8:35 am - 9:25 am
Breakfast: 9:05 am - 9:35 am
Instruction: 9:35 am - 4:05 pm
NOTE: Our secretary will be unavailable from 12 - 1 pm daily for her break. Other staff members will offer you assistance and try their best to meet your needs.
After school program with Open Doors Academy (ODA) takes place Mondays - Thursdays, 4:05 - 6:30 pm, Fridays, 4:05 - 6 pm.

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From the Desk of Ms. Lee, Family Support Specialist

As your Family Support Specialist, I am here to support you and your Scholars. Please let me know how I can help. Also consider enrolling your student in the following programming: Open Doors Academy (after school programming which also has tutoring), the Integrated Health Task Force (Care Alliance, Applewood) and the Ohio State Young Scholars program.

Integrated Health Task Force

The Integrated Health Task Force addresses medical and mental health needs of our students. Medical (which includes Dental) health services are provided in a mobile unit by a Nurse Practitioner. If a student has acute or chronic issues or needs a sports physical, Care Alliance can see them. Please schedule with the Nurse for your child to be seen. A student will need a completed medical consent form to access these services. Please contact the school Nurse for medical consents or access this link:

https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/cms/lib/OH01915844/Centricity/domain/7809/forms/CMSD_HealthConsentForm_6.14.22.pdf

One of the goals with Integrated Health is to address the needs of our students and to make medical and mental health more accessible to support our students and their families. The hope is that additional support will stabilize families and ultimately students can focus on their academics. Please contact our School Nurse, Mrs. Augustine if you have additional questions regarding medical or mental health questions. She can be reached at 216-838-7357.

Say Yes Survey

I ask that you complete the parent survey. You will need their Student ID to complete the survey. Please feel free to contact me regarding your child's Student ID number. The survey allows me to support our scholars with resources within our school and local community. This is the website to the survey https://cleveland.sytepps.org/#/login

Please see the attached flyers about events in the community.

Ohio City Holiday Party

Operation Keep Warm & Stop The Violence Family Fun Nights

Cuyahoga Job and Family Services In the Community

Smart Job Fair at Cleveland Hopkins Airport

If you are new or returning to Orchard, I'd love for you to meet me or just check in. I can be reached at blee@sayyescleveland.org and 216-219-1330. You can also find me at Orchard daily!

Ms. Bethany Lee, Family Support Specialist

Say Yes Cleveland