Montgomery Elementary News

NOVEMBER

11/18 - Family Fun Night (Bingo) 6:30pm - 8:00pm

11/23, 11/24, 11/25 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF CogAT TESTING

The week of December 5th

All 2nd graders will take the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) the week of December 5, 2016, during the school day. For those students in the other grades, you may request that your child participate in this round of testing. This is in accordance with HB 282, which requires that school districts provide two opportunities for testing to identify students as gifted. PLEASE NOTE THAT SCORES ON KINDERGARTEN and FIRST GRADE TESTS WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR PULL-OUT GIFTED SERVICES.

Parents of 2nd graders do NOT need to request testing since it is an automatic process. However, if your child is not in 2nd grade and you would like to have your child participate in the December administration of the CogAT, use the below link to request testing. The deadline to submit your request is November 30. In order to decrease disruption to your child's instruction, this testing opportunity will take place on Saturday, December 10, at Maple Dale Elementary from 9:00 until 12:00. Please note that it is the parents' responsibility to provide transportation to and from Maple Dale.

All testing requests must be submitted using the below link. Email requests cannot be accepted. If you have any questions, please email Mindy Zellner, District Gifted Coordinator, at zellnerm@sycamoreschools.org.

Click here to request CogAT Testing for December 2016

In preparation for winter, Sycamore Community Schools tested our phone notification system on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Sycamore called and emailed all primary contacts that we have on file for all of our registered students in order to correct any errors in advance of a real weather emergency. Parents DO NOT need to “opt in” to receive these recorded calls. If for some reason you did not receive a call, please verify that your primary phone number and email address is correct in Final Forms and then contact our office to ensure that information is manually updated in our calling system. Please email corrections or updates to Teka McCown at mccownt@sycamoreschools.org, Shelley Martin at martinm@sycamoreschools.org or call 513-686-1730.

IN THE EVENT OF AN EARLY DISMISSAL

In the event of an early dismissal, the four elementary schools will follow the same procedure. Bus transportation will be available on an adjusted timeline for children who typically ride the bus home. First, parents will be notified through the district that there will be an early dismissal. Next, each classroom teacher will make contact with parents regarding the specific plans for each child’s dismissal. The teachers will communicate with the office any changes to the “routine” procedure for each child. In the case of students for whom a parent cannot be contacted, the building secretaries or other designee will call the names on the child’s emergency contact list on Final Forms. The emergency contact person will make a decision for the child. When all efforts are made to contact parents and no parent or emergency contact can be reached, the administrator will make a decision regarding transportation to the child’s home. The after school Champions program may be cancelled in the event of an early dismissal.

Parents can help to ensure their child’s safety by:

• Making sure there is a clear plan for early dismissal and notifying the school office if there is a change in routine and talking with your child about this plan

• Clearly identifying an emergency contact person, through Final Forms, who will be able to pick up your child if necessary

• During periods of inclement weather, checking email throughout the day

• Ensuring that all contacts and phone numbers are up-to-date in Final Forms

OPERATION GIVE BACK

Sycamore Community Schools believes in giving back to our community. That is why we are a proud supporter of Operation Give Back, a Blue Ash-based charitable organization that helps families and students right here in the Sycamore district.

This year we are stepping up our efforts to collect donations for Operation Give Back’s Holiday Store. The Holiday Store helps more than 100 local families have a special holiday season.

Each of our seven schools along with our District Office is collecting items for the Holiday Store from now until December 9. While you are doing your Thanksgiving grocery trip or holiday shopping, please consider picking up non-perishable food items, toiletries, paper products, warm clothing, and new toys to donate to this great cause. Click here for a detailed list of items needed. You can drop your donations off in the collection bins at your child’s school or at Operation Give Back at 10891 Millington Court, Blue Ash, Ohio 45242 Tuesdays-Thursdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monetary donations and gift cards are also greatly appreciated. Click here for more information on how to donate. Operation Give Back is also seeking volunteers for the Holiday Store on December 9-10. Please contact Operation Give Back at (513) 489-2023 or office@ogiveback.com to sign up to help.

We are so excited to spread some cheer to the children in our schools this holiday season, and we welcome you to be a part of this giving. #SycamoreStrong

For additional information regarding Operation

Give Back's Holiday Store, please visit http://bit.ly/2f4YW9t.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE

A Big " THANK YOU! " to our parents, staff and friends who donated to our annual food drive. The food will be donated to our families and NEEDS. A special " Thank You" to the volunteers who helped sort and box the MANY canned goods: Lori Drasnin, Sara Bruns, Katherine Rapp, Melanie Honerlaw, Terry Merrill and Donny Southerland.

Best Wishes to All for a Happy Holiday!

Susan Linton, MSN, RN

Community Night at Wendy's

Tuesday, November 29th

Join the Montgomery Elementary community for a meal (or snack!) at Wendy's at 10765 Montgomery Rd. -- near the Weller Rd./Montgomery Rd. intersection at I-275. Wendy's will donate 20% of your purchase directly to our PTO. When placing your order, simply hand over the flyer that came home in your student's Thursday folder -OR- show this announcement on your phone -OR- mention that you are with Montgomery Elementary! Thank you for supporting our school community!

COSI on Wheels is Returning to Montgomery Elementary!

COSI (The Center of Science & Industry) from Columbus, Ohio is bringing its traveling science program, IT’S SIMPLY CHEMISTRY, to Montgomery Elementary on Thursday, December 1st and Friday, December 2nd . Students will explore chemistry without ever leaving the gymnasium. Help make this experience fun for the students! Adult volunteers are needed for set-up on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30th and to assist with hands-on activity sessions on Thursday, December 1st and Friday, December 2nd. (A short but very helpful orientation will take place on Wednesday, November 30th at 7:00 pm for activity volunteers.) Tell a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, neighbor, or any other responsible adult! If you would like to volunteer, please email Molly Johnson (margaretdjohnson@yahoo.com) or Melissa Moeddel (arnzenML@hotmail.com) with your name, email address, phone number, and preferred date/shift. Class schedules are listed below so you can coordinate your volunteer time with your child’s visit to the exhibit.

Thursday, 12/1, 10:00am - 12:00pm - Fall, Hayes AM, Brown, Chalk, Oduyoye
Thursday, 12/1, 1:15pm - 3:30pm - Shaver, Csendes, Rooks, Kmetz, Hayes PM, Osborn
Friday, 12/2, 10:15am - 12:00pm - Furlong, Maxwell, Mullins, Houston
Friday, 12/2, 1:00pm - 3:3pm - Barrometi, Bass, Tissot, Schwamberger, Simpson, McLaughlin

THIRD GRADE ARTWORK ON DISPLAY

If you are in the building, make sure to enjoy the colorful self-portraits by the Third Graders displayed throughout the first floor common areas until December 14. Also check Blackboard for Mrs. Carroll's webpage newsletter, The ARTicle. Just go to 2016 Montgomery Elementary - Carroll.

If you would like to help display student artwork throughout the first floor (usually one morning/month), contact Amy Schmidlin at akschmidlin@gmail.com.

BINGO NIGHT TONIGHT!

Our annual Bingo Night will take place TONIGHT from 6:30-8:00pm in the Montgomery Elementary cafeteria. The event is free to everyone! Bring your luck and you can win no-homework passes, extra recesses, lunch with Mrs. Overbeck, and much more. Volunteers are still needed -- please contact Alison Moss at alisonwarmmoss@gmail.comif you can help.

GENEROUS HEARTS NEEDED

Please consider donating new or like-new children's clothing, winter wear, craft sets, Lego sets, or other toys as gifts for local children in need this holiday season. (The greatest current need is for new or like-new children's clothing: useful, but new or new-looking enough that it can be given as a gift to a child. New socks and underwear for children are also needed.) DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30. Please leave items under the stairwell at Montgomery Elementary.

All donations with be distributed through Operation Give Back (a nonprofit serving Sycamore children in need) or Winton Hills Academy (our sister elementary in the Cincinnati Public School System).

If you would like to drop off a large number of items to Operation Give Back yourself, please contact Donna at donnal@ogiveback.com to let her know you are coming, and then take your items to Operation Give Back at 5621 Creek Road in Blue Ash by November 30.

Our Super Carnival Team is working overtime to plan this year's Super Carnival! There are many ways you can help out: join a committee, volunteer to work a Carnival shift, sponsor a game, bake an item for our bake sale or cake walk, or donate items for basket raffle and silent auction! Click here to find out all the details. Have a Super Carnival question? Contact Betsy Rinehart (betsyrinehart@gmail.com) or Paaras Parker (theparkers10429@gmail.com).

Are you looking for a happy home for your excess Halloween candy? Did you take advantage of the post-Halloween sales? Please remember the Carnival when purging your house of candy. The Carnival Committee is requesting donations of all kinds of nut-free candy. Candy can be turned in to the box located in the main office by the PTO mailboxes.