Miller Elementary Weekly Update

Hello Miller Families,

Every year, I share that these days and weeks are such a fun and exciting time of year to be with your amazing children! We have been enjoying some extra projects, crafts, and activities that soon will come home and it has warmed our hearts to help your child be ready for the season of giving. We have enjoyed hearing about how you honor various holidays or traditions with your family over the past week. Our children have explored holidays around the world, heard from their friends, and even some special visitors last week and this upcoming week. Thank you for taking the time to help your child capture what is special for your family. We are looking forward to our final days of 2024 at Miller Elementary with some fun Winter Spirit days! Please see the reminder below about our upcoming special days.

This also is the time of year when we have fun events and activities with our family and friends that will make the holidays extra bright. I like to provide some helpful tips to support you during this busy time. It's important to remember that our young children thrive on routines and knowing what's ahead. Here are a few tips to help during the holiday hustle and bustle.

1: Prioritize the same eating and sleeping routines. Trying to keep some consistency will support their physical and emotional needs.

2: If possible, review the fun activities with your child before they happen. Knowing what's ahead can ease their minds and help them understand what will be happening next. You can use a picture schedule to help them understand what is first, second, or even last.

3: Keep a comfort item close by. A special blanket or stuffed animal can become very helpful when your child feels upset or overwhelmed. This special item can be especially helpful at times of de-escalation.

4: Be open and honest with your family about your routines and expectations. Being forthcoming about your household rules will keep an open line of communication with extended family.

5: ENJOY THE MOMENT! Focus on creating memories with your child and enjoy this special time of year!

We are looking forward to our Winter Parties this upcoming week! Thank you to all our party volunteers who will be helping us celebrate and have a fun time with our classmates. We will offer a Rice Crispy Treat to children and you can find the label and nutrition information below. The party times for volunteers are as follows:

Preschool - Thursday 12/19

AM - 10:15-11:00 (Helpers can arrive at 10:00)

PM - 2:00-2:45 (Helpers can arrive at 1:45)

Kindergarten - Friday 12/20

AM 1/2 Day Kindergarten - 10:15-11:00 (Helpers can arrive at 10:00)

Full Day Kindergarten - 2:00-2:45 (Helpers can arrive at 1:45)

I hope you have a Happy Holiday Weekend!

Maria Goodman

Miller Elementary Principal

330-954-2189

Email mgoodman@aurora-schools.org

We have recently discovered our QR code for our transportation link is NOT WORKING. We are working to fix this as quickly as possible. Our Transportation/Attendance Google Form IS WORKING so you can continue to use the link and button below. We just wanted to inform families that if you are using the QR code, we are working to fix it at this time. Thank you!

It's that time of year where we begin to have students who meet the benchmarks set forth in HB 410 for absences. Please be aware that if your child meets one of those, a letter must be sent from the school alerting you. Please also be reminded that it doesn't matter whether the absences are excused or unexcused. We have to track the hours missed regardless and communicate to you when benchmarks have been met.

This is also the time of year that planned absences often get scheduled. We have attached our planned absence form and policy. Please make sure you read through this important message and understand that planned absences and absences due to illness all count for missed hours. If you have any further questions, please let me know!

As a reminder, 2nd-semester tuition payments for preschool and kindergarten will be due on January 15th, 2025. We will send letters in the mail with your remaining balance and payment options before winter break. If you do not want to change your payment method, we will automatically charge the credit card we have on file with the remaining balance after January 15th. Or, you can send in a check to cover the remaining balance prior to January 15th. If you have any questions after you get the letter, please contact Erin Toler at 330-562-6199.

DECEMBER

• Thursday, 12/19 - Winter Celebrations for Preschool - 10:15-11:00 & 2:00-2:45
• Friday, 12/20 - Winter Celebrations for Kindergarten - 10:15-11:00 (1/2 Day K) - 2:00-2:45 Full Day
• Monday, 12/23 - Friday, 1/03/25 - Winter Break

JANUARY

• Monday, 1/06/25 - All Students Return to School from Break
• Monday, 1/20/25 - NO SCHOOL (MLK Jr. Day)
• Thursday, 1/30/25 - Miller Elementary Family BINGO Night - We will hold this in the Leighton Elementary Cafeteria to have more space (6:30PM-7:30PM)

SAVE THE DATE

Kick Off to Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 School Year

Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 - 6:30-7:30 PM at the High School Auditorium - This is a parent only meeting for families that has a child who will enroll in kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year. More detailed information will be shared after the new year and posted on our district web page.

(There will be a Welcome to Craddock and First Grade Parent Meeting in the spring. More information to come!)

Greetings MIller!

Recently, your Kindergarten student(s) had the opportunity to participate in lessons about kindness and growth mindset with me. The students can provide examples of kindness, practice kindness and understand that kindness is easy to use! They know that, in Kindergarten terms, growth mindset means never giving up and believing in themselves. Please enjoy this Google slide to listen to some of the read-alouds and songs we used to celebrate kindness! Ask your student to show you the growth mindset songs linked below from Sesame Street that were a hit during our lesson!

Bruno Mars: Don't Give Up | Sesame Street | PBS LearningMedia

Sesame Street: Episode #4520: J. Monae Power of Yet (HBO Kids)

Mrs. Lindsey Ambrosia

(330) 562-6199, ext. 5414

lambrosia@aurora-schools.org

Here are some important illness updates during the cold and flu season!

• It is important to check your child each day for symptoms of illness as you know them best. If they become I'll during the day, or are injured, we will reach out to you and let you know if their symptoms are worsening. We call home for injuries, fevers, and continued sickness. We do not call home for every trip to the nurse for a band-aid, ice pack or upset tummy. We certainly will call if symptoms worsen. We sometimes use our School Nurse Cell Phone
  
• Students sent home with a fever, vomiting or diarrhea may not return to school until they are free of these symptoms or without medication for at least 24 hours. This means if your child was sent home on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. with a fever, he/she may not return to school until 24 hours later. If your child does return the next day, our school will be calling for you to come pick him/her up. Please help to support our efforts in this area.
  
• We are required to report to families if there is a confirmed communicable disease in your child's class. This could include strep, pink eye, COVID, RSV, hand-foot and mouth or other illnesses.

Finally, please make sure your child has extra clothes in his/her backpack. Accidents and spills happen all the time and it's safe to always have their own clothes in their book bag instead of wearing our spare clothes.

If you have any question about the PTO or need anything, please reach out to Tasha Romo!

Millervp@auroraelementarypto.org

• The PTO is hosting its 2nd annual Princess Prom with the help from the fabulous NHS students. We are planning a night of dancing, crafts, fun activities and treats! Tickets will go on sale in January and more information will come out in the upcoming weeks. Please email Samantha at fundraisingvp@auroraelementarypto.org with any questions!

• The Winter Festival Party links will go live on Friday November 15th for those who want to volunteer at the Winter festivals.

• Winter class party link for pre-k

https://www.runpto.com/pto/login?schoolid=auroraepto&app=Event&uid=36&hash=53e3a7161e428b65688f14b84d61c610

• Winter class party for Kindergarten

https://www.runpto.com/pto/login?schoolid=auroraepto&app=Event&uid=37&hash=53e3a7161e428b65688f14b84d61c610

Miller Elementary Principal

Erin Toler : etoler@aurora-schools.org

Miller Elementary Secretary

Email: mgoodman@aurora-schools.org
Website: aurora-schools.org
Location: 646 S Chillicothe Rd, Aurora, OH 44202, USA
Phone: 330-562-6199