The Navigator Newsletter
Sycamore Junior High's Parent Communication
November 19, 2021
Speak Up/Save Lives
By calling or testing the statewide hotline
- 844-SAFEROH -
- 844-723-3764 -
you can report anything that is suspicious or endangering you, your friends or school.
Coming Up
THIS WEEK:
- November 20: Craft Show @ SHS
- November 24-26: Thanksgiving break - no school
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- December 3rd: 2nd quarter interim period
- December 9th: Choir concert
- December 15: Orchestra concert
- December 22 - January 3: Winter Break, no school
- January 13: End of Semester 1
- January 14: Teacher Records Day, no school for students
- January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. holiday: no school
- January 18 - 19: NEW!!! Teacher/Staff Collaboration Days: home learning days for students
Happy Thanksgiving
There will be no newsletter next week.
Ski/Snowboard Pass Pickup
Please remind your child:
Pass pick-up will be next Monday and Tuesday before school in the BACK GYM between 7:40am -8:00am.
Monday, Nov. 22 - last names starting with letters A-L
Tuesday, Nov. 23, for those last names beginning M-Z.
Even if you do not have a pass to pick up, you still need to come to sign off and your bus assignment. If you have any questions, please let us know. Let it Snow!
- Ms. Meyer & Ms. Swensen
Morning Dropoff Expectations
We are seeing an increase in car rider drop-offs in the morning. This has led to significant backups on Cooper Road and delays for students getting into the building.
REMINDER:
- The drop off lot opens at 7:40am. Do NOT bring your child to school prior to 7:40am and wait in your car in line on the property.
- Every student is expected to be in the building and in class by 8:02 a.m. or be marked tardy. If you arrive late, please drop off your child at the main entrance in the front of the building.
- We recommend riding the bus for those students able to do so. If you need to drop off your child, you may need to alter your schedule to arrive such that your child has time to get into the building. The building opens at 7:40 am and students may go to the cafeteria to wait for the school day to start.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Republishing Car Pickup and Drop off
Please refer to the below diagram for pick up and Drop Off traffic flow.
Students will exit their vehicles from the passenger side and go straight into the building. (please ignore the cars present on the google map - there is no parking in that drop off area.)
Do not drop off or pick up your child early. The lot will open at 7:40am and 3:00pm.
Please note: Walkers/Cyclists should enter the front of the building at Door 34 near the bike racks.
Lost and Found
Has your child lost a sweatshirt, jacket, water bottle or other item?
Have them check the Lost and Found in the main cafeteria. Items from the first quarter will be removed and donated on Tuesday, November 23 at 1:30pm!
PTO News: Student Directory
The Student Directory for the 2021-22 school year has now been uploaded to Directory Spot! If you have used Directory Spot in the past, your username and password will continue to work. If you are a new user, please go to www.directoryspot.net, enter your email address as your username and select "Reset Password" to create a password. You may also download the Directory Spot app to your smartphone and use your login information to access the Directory on your phone.
All Sycamore Junior High Families will have access to Directory Spot for the next two weeks, through November 24th. During this time, you will have the ability to add, modify, or delete your information in Directory Spot, so please review your record and make any necessary changes to the entry for your family. You will need to login to the Directory Spot website (not the mobile app) to make changes to your listing.
As of November 25, only families that have joined the Sycamore Junior High PTO will be able access to the Directory. If you have not joined the PTO, please be sure to do so for continued access! Your PTO membership supports many important programs for our students and can be completed online at https://bit.ly/SJHPTOFamilies21-22.
Please email jhptodirectory@sycamoreschools.org if you have any questions about the Student Directory!
Adapt For Life: Information from the District Offices
Adapt for Life Program in our Schools
In partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Sycamore Community Schools was awarded state funding to develop mental health programming for students. The grant that we received in the spring of 2021 expands the Adapt for Life Program for grades K-12. We launched the program in our schools this week.
Aligned with our PBIS framework, the Adapt for Life Program features ten lessons throughout the school year. The ADAPT framework—Ask, Describe, Assess, Plan, and Talk—is a model to help students develop healthy behaviors and essential life skills to tackle stress, whether it’s during everyday moments or in times of crisis.
Beginning the week of November 8, classroom teachers will teach lessons in grades K-4 and grades 11-12. In grades 5-10, students will experience lessons with the classroom teachers and trained facilitators from the Adapt for Life team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Lessons teach students how to better manage everyday stress through developing healthier habits and skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.
This grant is part of Governor Mike DeWine’s K-12 Prevention Education Initiative, which awarded $18 million to school districts in Ohio through their mental health partners. Sycamore Schools was one of 11 districts in Hamilton County to receive a one-time grant to create sustainable evidence-based mental health programming.
We are excited to be engaging in this exciting partnership with Adapt for Life. For more information about the program, tools for students, and tools for families, please visit the Adapt for Life website at https://www.adaptforlife.org. Should you have questions regarding Adapt for Life, please reach out to Lisa Zelvy, Pupil Services Supervisor, at zelvyl@sycamoreschools.org.
SJH: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Optional Testing For Identification of Gifted Students
You may request that your child be tested on the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT). If you wish to have your child participate in this round of testing, all requests must be made below by Friday, December 3rd. In order to decrease disruption to your child's instruction, this testing opportunity will take place on Friday, December 10th at 7:00 AM at Sycamore Junior High School. Participating students will miss a portion of first bell, due to testing.
Please note it is the parents' responsibility to provide transportation to school on the day of testing. Additionally, please ensure the correct parent email is entered as this is the email the district will use for communication. Thank you!
If you would like to have your child tested, please fill out this FORM
Yearbook - Ordering and Photo Submittal
The SJHS Yearbook Club is committed to documenting this school year for YOU! Order your yearbook today! The cost is $35/copy.
Click HERE to order your 2022 Yearbook.
Do you have photos you would like to submit to the Yearbook Club? Click HERE and find the “Submit Photos Here” button ! We want to represent ALL students in this year's historic yearbook.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Melissa Speelman
From our Nurse
Parents/Guardians please check with your children each morning to make sure they feel well.
You will find the Covid-19 Daily Parent/Guardian Checklist linked here and on our website. Translations of this document may be found HERE.
Please visit the District's Healthy Aves page for more detailed information.
AROUND OUR COMMUNITY
PARENT TIPS
Holiday Stress
IMPORTANT LINKS
Sycamore Junior High School
Email: jhadmin@sycamoreschools.org
Website: www.sycamoreschools.org/sycamorejh
Location: 5757 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: 5136861760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SycamoreJuniorHighPTO/
Twitter: @sycamorejrhigh