Windermere Family Update
Windermere Weekly Parent Update 9.6.24
Although a short week, it was a busy, productive week! It’s amazing to see what our students are already doing getting into their routines, 3 weeks into the school year. Thank you for sending your child(ren) ready to learn.
I wish each of you the best weekend. We will see you on Monday!
Julie
Upcoming Dates:
9.12.24 - Hawk Huddle 10:00-10:30 (TIME CHANGE)
9.18.24 - Early Release 1:00 pm
9.25.24 - Literacy Info. Night 6:30
9.27.24 - Hawk Walk (during lunch)
10.4.24 - Fall Family Night 5-7 pm
10.8.24 - Early Dismissal - 11:05
10.10.24 - Picture Retake Day
10.11.24 - NO SCHOOL Students
10.14.24 - NO SCHOOL Students
10.31.24 - Harvest Parade and Parties - UA Beggar’s NightNews from our School Counselor:
Please take some time to read our Counselor Connection Newsletter for parents where you will find updates about monthly counseling lessons and parent resources.
Engaged Learner Competency and Well-Being Survey:
Dear families,
Upper Arlington Schools values feedback from all stakeholders as we strive to challenge and support every student, every step of the way. This fall, we want to hear from your students as we continually seek to improve their overall experience in our schools.
Between Monday, September 16 and Friday, September 27, all students in grades K-12 will have an opportunity to complete an online survey during the school day to provide us with information to better understand our students. Our Engaged Learner Competency and Well-Being Survey aligns with the priorities identified for our upcoming 2025-2030 strategic plan and our Profile of an Engaged Learner. Developed by UA Schools’ educators with feedback from students and teachers, the Profile of an Engaged Learner identifies the skills and characteristics that we believe will prepare students to serve, lead and succeed both now and in their futures.
Grades K-2: Students will be supported individually by teachers and school staff members as they take a brief online survey, using emoji images for their responses. The 9-question survey will cover the following focus areas: supportive relationships, social awareness, emotion regulation, self-management, sense of belonging and perseverance. You can preview the questions using the following link: Grades K-2 Survey.
Grades 3-5 and 6-12: Students will independently take a longer online survey, with age-appropriate questions based on grade band about these focus areas: supportive relationships, social awareness, emotion regulation, self-management, sense of belonging, perseverance and hope. You can preview the questions using the following links: Grades 3-5 Survey and Grades 6-12 Survey.
We are working with Panorama to administer our Engaged Learner Competency and Well-Being Survey. This survey will provide insight at the district, building and student levels to help the school counselors, teachers and administrators understand how to best support their students in their school experience. Please review the alignment of these survey questions to the competencies of the Profile of an Engaged Learner here.
It is our hope that all students will participate so that we have a clear picture of our students’ needs. If, however, you would like to opt your student out of the fall survey administration, please complete and submit this form by September 10, 2024.
As we look ahead, there will be two additional survey administrations this school year in the winter and spring. Families will receive more information, including the opportunity to opt their student out, in advance of those survey windows.
If you have any questions, please contact wellbeing@uaschools.org. Thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools.
Sincerely,
M. Denise Lutz, Ed.D.
Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer
Cathy Ely, Ph.D., LSW, OCPSA
Director of Well-Being, Prevention and Intervention
Multilingual Parent Information Night:
Thursday, October 3rd
6:30-7:30pm
Tremont Elementary Cafeteria
Please join us for our Multilingual Parent Information Night!
Come and learn more about the ML program! We will discuss a variety of topics, and provide resources related to school and the Upper Arlington community. In addition, we hope this event provides an opportunity for families to connect.
If you will be bringing your child, we will have quiet activities for them to do during the event.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your ML Teacher (see below.)
Please RVSP using the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/H9GrxTfuBWD7bAnj8
Cynthia Redman, Tremont
Anjali Das, Wickliffe, Windermere, and Barrington
Mary Ann Dunn, Greensview
Safety update:
In light of the tragic school shooting in Georgia this week, we wanted to reshare some information about our safety plans.
Safety preparedness: Safety is our top priority for all students and staff in our schools. We make every effort to be prepared for every possible type of emergency by regularly conducting safety drills and collaborating with our school resource officers and the Upper Arlington Police Division. Collaboration with families and local safety officials are critically important, and we are grateful for the strong partnerships in place in our community. You can learn more about our safety preparedness and prevention efforts at www.uaschools.org/safety.
Reporting concerns: We also reinforce with all students and staff members the importance of reporting any suspicious or concerning activity. We encourage all students, staff members and family members to share their concerns either by phone or email. Students and family members can also file a report through our STAY SAFE, SPEAK UP! reporting system. In addition to the link in this email, you can also find the SPEAK UP! system linked to our website and available in ClassLink on all student iPads. Reports filed through this system can be made anonymously. If your safety concern requires immediate attention from law enforcement, please call 911.
Lost and Found:
Please label your students sweatshirts, water bottles, lunches, etc. so we can return them if they get lost. Our lost and found is beside the office and starting to fill up, please remind your students to check for lost items. We donate all items during winter break, spring break and the end of the school year.
Friends Riding the Bus
At this time, transportation is not allowing friends to ride the bus home with current bus riders. Please make arrangements for students to be picked up after school for playdates/etc. Thank you.
Literacy Night:
iPad Parent Control Information
The UACS Technology department provides 2 ways for caregivers to manage screen time, review web history, manage apps and internet access after school hours. The typical built-in Apple ScreenTime and Parental controls do not work because the district manages iPads for school use at a district level - the typical consumer level settings are not available. Caregivers can review web activity and disable internet access through the Lightspeed Relay Parent Portal. Additionally, caregivers can control app access and set rules through the JAMF Parent app. Questions may be directed to FamilyTechHelp@uaschools.org.
JAMF Parental Setup and Guide Videos
City of UA information on electric scooters
With our students increasingly on the go during the school year, we encourage families to have conversations about electric scooter safety at home. Please remind your children to wear the appropriate safety gear and follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe. Let's work together to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
From the Nurse’s Clinic:
Any prescription medication administered at school requires written authorization from the student’s physician as well as written parental permission. Per Ohio Revised Code, the Prescribed Medication must be received by the health office in the container in which it was dispensed by the provider or pharmacist (we cannot accept medication in baggies). Medication authorization forms and other health forms can be found on the district website at: UA Health Forms. Should you have any questions, please contact the Windermere Health Office at 614-487-5060.
Stop, Drop and Go:
Please refer to this arrival and dismissal doc for guidelines on keeping everyone safe during our drop off and pick up times.
Wireless Usage/iPhones/Gizmos:
As smartwatches become more common among students, parents have asked about settings that might reduce the risk of the device causing a distraction during school. Here are links to information about school-time settings for two devices we see here at school, the Apple watch and the Gizmo watch. We kindly ask that students use these settings. Please know we will always call you or allow your child to call you during the day, if needed. If a Smartwatch becomes a distraction, we may ask a child to keep it in their backpack.
Student Absences:
Please email windermereattendance@uaschools.org along with your child’s teacher, any student absences. For extended absences (vacations, travel, etc.) please submit a pre-planned absence form. For more information on the district attendance policy, please visit the district's attendance web page. For all medical appointments, please provide a doctor’s note.
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