Miller Elementary Weekly Update

Hello Miller Families!

The week after a time change is usually unique since we all are adapting to "falling back" one hour. I'm sure you've navigated some changes in routines, wake-up time and bed-time that have added an extra layer to your daily schedule. Did you know the American Academy of Sleep suggests that children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old should sleep 10-13 hours per day? There are many other factors that may contribute to your child's specific sleep requirements, but this is a great time to audit your evening and morning routines. Is your child well rested to reach their fullest potential each day, or could some adjustments be made? What a perfect time of year to establish some changes to your daily schedule.

We had an amazing turnout this past week for our Scholastic Book Fair! Once again, thank you to all our PTO Chair Leaders along with Mrs. Kudley for organizing a successful book shopping experience, and to all the adult volunteers that came to our school to help our young children shop for books. It was so fun to see their excitement and I'm sure you are enjoying these new books at your home too. We also want to send a great big thank you to all the Miller Families who supported our book fair since some of the proceeds directly provides us Scholastic Dollars to purchase new books for our classrooms and Library. Thank you for supporting a love of reading for your child and for all children at Miller!

This upcoming week we have two important events happening at Miller Elementary! If your child needs to take school pictures for the first time or you would like to have your child's picture retaken, please make sure you follow the link below to order a package or send back your old package for retakes. If we see that your child has an order form, returned pictures or is on our list to take a photo, we will make sure this happens on TUESDAY, November 14th! We also will be kicking off our Season of Giving this upcoming WEDNESDAY, November 15th! A permission slip was sent home if you would like to participate in our Giving Tree Project. This is an opportunity to purchase small holiday gifts such as hats, gloves, gift cards or games which will be donated to The Center of Hope in Portage County. For more information, please see the permission form found below.

Finally, we would like to extend a large THANK YOU to all our Veterans, whether you are a parent, guardian, relative or family member! Thank you for your service to serve our country.

Have a great weekend!

GO GREENMEN!

Maria Goodman

Miller Elementary Principal

330-954-2189

Email mgoodman@aurora-schools.org

We would like to wish all our families that celebrate Diwali happiness, prosperity and joy to you and all your family and friends during this holiday season. We hope this time with your family is filled with many special moments and memories. Happy Diwali!

School pictures have arrived and all picture packages have been passed out to anyone that placed an order. Our picture retake day will be on Tuesday, November 14. This will be an opportunity for first time pictures as well as any retakes. More information about how to send them back or re-order will be shared closer to the date. The class composite will be sent home once Ripcho has all retakes wrapped up and every child can be included.

We are required to report and track all student absences. This includes absences due to illness, being tardy, early dismissal or a planned absence such as a vacation. Whenever your child will be absent due to a vacation or being out of town, a planned absence form must be completed and on file in the office. We have attached the planned absence form as a reminder of this requirement.

November

• Tuesday, 11/14 - Picture Retake Day
• Wednesday, 11/15 - The Giving Tree Tag Pulling Day
• Wednesday, 11/22- Sunday 11/26 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
• Monday, 11/27 - School Resumes

December

• Friday, 12/1 - All Giving Tree Donations are Due
• Thursday 12/7 & Friday 12/8 - The Holiday Shop (More Information Forthcoming)
• Wednesday, 12/20 - Winter Festival Parties
• Thursday 12/21 - Winter Break Begins
• Wednesday 1/3 - School Resumes

We want to thank the families that came out for our K-3 Early Elementary Curriculum Night. This was a wonderful time spent together learning about our curriculum alignment, philosophies and programs that all children experience in the Aurora Schools! We have attached the presentation for you to see in case you were unable to attend that evening. Please reach out if you have any questions or submit questions to our Q&A form.

We have officially opened our new learning space called the Reading & Rhythm Retreat! As you have seen, we have outgrown our indoor spaces and we needed to find a location for our music and library classes. It took more time than expected for installation and inspections, but we have officially opened our new space! Kindergarteners will be going outside to the Retreat for both Music and Library. Preschool will visit these spaces for special activities but will have the majority of their Music and Library time in the preschool classroom.

Can you believe the temperatures are getting cooler and snowflakes are coming! Many families had questions about our outdoor recess policy when it gets cold and the snow starts to fly. Our full-day students will continue to go outside if the feels like temperature is between 15 and 20 degrees or higher. We watch the weather closely as it is important for our children to get outside, run around, and enjoy some fresh air. The playground is a great place to practice social skills such as turn taking, problem solving as well as how to communicate with their friends. Plus, when the snow comes, it provides some fun experiences to build snowmen or use our sleds down our playground hills!

We recommend a warm coat, hats, gloves, snow pants, and boots (when necessary). We work with all children to help them learn how to dress themselves independently and in the correct order. (Snow pants, boots, jacket zipped, hat, and gloves are last). Please make sure all your child's items are labeled with their name. It is important that you check their book bag for an extra set of clothes and socks that match the new season. Children would rather wear their change of clothes if an accident occurs. Please have your child practice putting on their snow gear at home too!

This is a reminder that we are using our Miller Attendance and Parent Pick-up Form as an easy communication tool to report your child will be absent or you need to pick them up from school early. You still need to use the Alternative Bus Stop Form linked in this newsletter if you need your child's bus to change. You do not need to report if they will not be riding the bus in the morning due to an absence or illness on this form.

If you want to change your child from a bus rider to a parent pick-up, please scan the QR code below or click the button to fill out our Google form. This can be done from any device and your reply will be sent immediately to our secretary, Mrs. Wolf.

If you need an alternative bus stop or a change in busing, we also have attached the transportation forms to change your child's busing information. These forms need to be completed and sent to our transportation department at transportationinfo@aurora-schools.org

Hello Families! I hope this finds you well prepared for the upcoming busy week! This past round of classroom guidance visits have focused on the topic of growth mindset. Though it’s a big term, our Kindergarteners have been able to apply this new phrase to not giving up and trying in all they do. They learned that their brain is a muscle that can grow when they try new things, ask questions and don’t give up. Students enjoyed songs about the power of YET and not giving up, courtesy of Sesame Street, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae! The hope is they can remember these catchy phrases the next time they need them!

Mrs. Lindsey Ambrosia

School Counselor

lambrosia@aurora-schools.org

330.562.6199, ext. 5414

Here are some important reminders to ensure the safety of our school community each day:

• Check your child each day for illness symptoms. If they begin to feel ill, please know she will assess your child and make contact with a family member when necessary.
• Students sent home with a fever or vomiting, may not return to school until they are fever or vomit-free without medication for at least 24 hours. This means if your child was sent home on Tuesday with a fever, he/she may not return to school until Thursday. If your child does return the next day, our school will be calling for you to come and pick him/her up. Please help to support our efforts in this area.
• We will use Final Forms to communicate any health concerns or communicable diseases that may arise in your child's class. Such examples include strep throat, pink eye, and COVID. This will allow you to closely monitor your child for any similar symptoms.
• Please make sure your Final Forms medical information is up to date. We will closely read the health sections to address any medical concerns.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our school nurse Jackie Pawlowski at jpawlowski@aurora-schools.org.

Hello Miller Families!

Below are the AEPTO updates for this week:

1. Our next AEPTO meeting is Wednesday, January 4 at 10:00am in the Aurora City School Conference Center (119 W Pioneer Trail). We hope to see you there!

2. A BIG THANK YOU to our Book Fair Chairs: Kelly Shoftstall, Ashleigh Holmes, and Melissa Coleman for their hard work all week organizing and putting on a very successful event! Another thank you to all our amazing volunteers who helped our students create wish lists and shop for books. We hope your children enjoy all the amazing new books and thank you for supporting this great event!

5. Giving Tree - Permission slips were due on the 10th. We'll be helping children with permission slips to pull tags next Wednesday, November 15th. Tags will be sent home with your child and items can be sent into Miller any time until December 1st.

6. Wednesday, December 6 - Crumbl Cookie (Solon) Dine to Donate/Give Back! More information to come.

7. Saturday, January 6 - AEPTO Family Night at the Cleveland Monsters Game! See the flyer for more information!

8. Thursday, February 15 - AEPTO Family Night at Kalahari! The deadline to book is 1/15 but this is very popular and will sell out fast! So get your room now! See the flyer for more information.

9. Saturday, January 27, 2024 - AEPTO's Princess Prom! More information to come.

10. Box Tops! Another easy way to help out our schools. Just download the app and then scan your receipts to earn box tops.

Important Upcoming Dates

11/14 - Picture Retake Day

12/1 - Giving Tree Items Due

12/6 - Give back event at Crumbl Cookie

12/7 & 12/8 - Holiday Shop (more info coming)

12/20 - Winter Festival (classroom parties, more info coming)

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Jen

mgoodman@aurora-schools.org

Principal

Vicki Wolf

vwolf@aurora-schools.org

Secretary

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