Orchard's Weekly Parent Newsletter

In our pursuit of a more fair, just and good system of education, it is CMSD’s vision that each of our learners, both our scholars and each of their educators, is individually and collectively presented with academically/intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their productive struggle and allows them authentic opportunities to demonstrate their work and their learning of academic content and transferable skills in a joyful and adventurous environment.

To transform teaching and learning through technology integration and provide the highest quality education experience that ensures creative and inventive thinking with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) focus in student-centered classrooms.

• Exhibits Creativity and Innovation
  
• Skilled at Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  
• Possesses an Academic Mindset
  
• Prepared for Global Citizenship
  
• Skilled at Collaborating
  
• Literate in Communication and Information Technology
  
• Exhibits Social and Cross Cultural Empathy

Dear Families and Friends,

Thank you for encouraging your scholars to try their best on all assessments last week. This week and next week scholars in grades 2-8 will complete the Conditions for Learning survey where they will share their thoughts and feelings about the school culture and community.

This newsletter and the ones to follow each week is what our staff at Orchard hopes will be a weekly review of the innovative and creative happenings at our school. You can also check us out on social media on Facebook (Orchard S.T.E.M. School) and Twitter (@OrchardSTEM) or visit our website at clevelandmetroschools.org/Orchard.

We are pleased to have you as partners and want to assure you that we will do our best to help our student experience the academic success and social and emotional growth they deserve. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at 216.838.7350 or 216.544.4012. We welcome all inquiries. Thank you for your support and cooperation! If you’d like to schedule an appointment with an administrator, please scan the QR code below.

Parent Ambassador - Shalena Harris

Contact Information/Informaction De Contacto

Number/Numero: 216-280-9784

Email/Correo Eletronico: shalenapraisegod@gmail.com

WELCOME TO ORCHARD S.T.E.M. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are delighted to welcome you and your family to Orchard S.T.E.M. community. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school are vital to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment for all students. Dean McShan and I will work closely with parents and students to provide support. Also monthly meetings will be held so you can share your ideas, concerns, and feedback.

As a parent ambassador, I am committed to fostering a sense of belonging and connection among families. I encourage you to get involved in school activities! We have a variety of opportunities for parents to participate, including volunteering around school, attending school events, and providing feedback on school programs. Your involvement is essential to the success of our school!

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I am here to support you and your family in any way I can.

Welcome again to Orchard S.T.E.M. Elementary School!

Sincerely,

Shalena N. Harris

Parent Ambassador for Orchard S.T.E.M. Elementary School

We have revised many of our procedures to keep you and your child safe. Orchard becomes a closed campus at 3:30 pm. That means we will not release students after that time without prior notice. At arrival and dismissal, please avoid parking in the u-shaped drive as we use that space for our buses, cabs, and vans. To ensure the continuous flow of traffic and for safety during arrival, please drop off your child at the drop off sign. If you need to park, please use a parking space. At dismissal, Orchard Avenue becomes a one-way street. Therefore, please enter Orchard Avenue from West 44th street.

Moreover, at the end of the school day, all middle school walkers and car riders will exit the building from the West 41 street door. Feel free to park on West 41st Street. All afterschool program participants, for example, volleyball, track, cheerleading, soccer, and so on, will report to the cafetorium with ODA for a snack and homework support. Walkers and car riders in kinder - grade 5 must exit through the gym doors located on Orchard Avenue. Please pick up your child at the gym doors by 4:05 pm. We respectfully ask that you extend us patience at the end of the school day. We also ask that you refrain from entering the building, without permission, at dismissal. We will dismiss the first floor at 3:55 pm, third floor at 3:57 pm, and 2nd floor at 4:00 pm to end our school day on time at 4:05 pm.

During breakfast and lunch, students are required to grab their food items, sit and eat neatly, and discard all waste items in the trash when done. We have been having whole class circles to address using spaces and materials for their intended purposes. Thank you in advance for your help in ensuring that the aforementioned procedures are followed.

• 0 Period (Students in grades 4 - 8 and their siblings in K - grade 3): 8:35 am - 9:25 am (Start Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024)
  
• Breakfast: 9:05 am - 9:35 am
• Instruction: 9:35 am - 4:05 pm
• NOTE: Our secretary will be unavailable from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm daily for her lunch break. Other staff members will help and try their best to meet your needs.
• Our afterschool program with Open Doors Academy (ODA) takes place Mondays - Thursdays, 4 - 6:30 pm and Fridays, 4 - 6 pm.

As your Family Support Specialist, I am here to support you and your Scholars. Please let me know how I can help. Also consider enrolling your student in the following programming: Open Doors Academy (after school programming www.opendoorsacademy.org/enroll), the Integrated Health Task Force (Metro Health, Applewood). Other programming includes The Ohio State Young Scholars program (eligible 8th graders), Golden Ciphers and Recovery Resources. Please consider attending our monthly parent meetings (the first Wednesday of each month at 4 pm) hosted by our Parent Ambassador, Ms. Harris. Also consider attending Open House September 12 from 6-8 pm. Lastly, Orchard’s Annual Father’s Walk will be September 19. We’d love to see you there!

Integrated Health Task Force

One of the goals with Integrated Health is to address the needs of our students and to make medical and mental health more accessible to support our students and their families. The hope is that additional support will stabilize families and ultimately students can focus on their academics. Metro Health provides medical care on a mobile unit and Applewood is our provider for counseling at Orchard. Please contact our School Nurse, Mrs. Augustine if you have additional questions regarding medical or mental health questions. She can be reached at 216-838-7357. A student will need a completed medical consent form to access these services. This is the link for the consent https://sayyescleveland.org/integrated-health/

Say Yes Survey

I ask that you complete the parent survey. You will need their Student ID to complete the survey. Please feel free to contact me regarding your child's Student ID number. The survey allows me to support our scholars with resources within our school and local community. This is the website to the survey https://cleveland.sytepps.org/#/login

Dr. Moss is supporting the surveys with incentives. Next week students will be given a flyer to take home with a QR code for their parents to complete the Say Yes survey. The grade with the highest number of parent surveys completed during the month of September will have a pizza party in October. Best wishes to all! The QR code or website can be used to access the survey. https://cleveland.sytepps.org/#/login

If you are new or returning to Orchard, I'd love for you to meet me or just check in. I can be reached at blee@sayyescleveland.org and 216-219-1330. You can also find me at Orchard daily!

Ms. Bethany Lee, Family Support Specialist

Say Yes Cleveland

Our district's standard dress and appearance policy is intended to be gender neutral and apply to all students equitably, while on school premises and at school-sponsored functions. Orchard believes that the dress and appearance of a student rests with our parents and guardians. Unlike the previous CMSD dress code that specifically dictated what students wore, the CMSD's dress expectations provide students and parents with a choice of clothing with the following exceptions.

Students may not wear:

• Transparent clothing
• Clothing that exposes the buttocks or torso
• Clothing or accessories that displays profanity, violence, obscene words or images, sexually suggestive statements, or statements that incites violence
• Clothing depicting gang-related activities
• Clothing that exposes the entire thigh, such as minis or shorts
• “Ripped” swimsuits or pants
• Clothing promoting the use of tobacco items or controlled substances (drugs) and/or alcohol
• Clothing where underwear is exposed
• Clothing that has texts or visual images that are defamatory, intimidating, constitute harassment or discrimination
• Open-toed footwear (Closed footwear is required)

Let us encourage our students to dress appropriately at all times. Thank you for your support!

Email: andrea.moss@clevelandmetroschools.org
Website: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/orchard
Location: 4200 Bailey Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA
Phone: 216.838.7350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1423101557956541
Twitter: @OrchardSTEM

• Mindset Monday
• Chocolate Fundraiser (ends 9/30) All monies are due
• ODA 4 - 6:30 pm
• Volleyball Game practice 4:15pm
• Soccer Practice until 5:15 pm

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

• Together Tuesday
• Fire Department Visit for PreK - 2nd grade students
• Frozen Disney Musical Practice @ 4:15 pm
• ODA - 4 - 6:30 pm
• Volleyball practice 4:15 pm
• Soccer practice until 5:15 pm

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

• Working Together Wednesday
• Mobile Food Pantry 3pm-6pm
• Parent Town Hall 4pm-6pm in Inquiry Garden
• Frozen Disney Musical Practice @ 4:15 pm
• Volleyball Game @ 5pm vs. Riverside
• Soccer practice until 5:15 pm
• ODA - 4 - 6:30

Thursday, October 3, 2024

• Thinking Thursday
• Frozen Disney Musical Practice @ 4:15 pm
• Volleyball practice 4:15pm
• Soccer Game @ 5 pm Halloran Rec Center (Core Team Only) 3550 W. 117th Street
• Orchard (YELLOW) vs. Denison
• Orchard (BLUE) vs. Artemus Ward

Friday, October 4, 2024

• Fun Friday
• Volleyball practice 4:15 pm
• No Soccer practice
• ODA - 4 - 6 pm