Overlook Grizzly Tracks
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March 15th, 2024
Message from Mr. Ryder
March Midpoint Update
It's hard to believe that the end of the year is fast approaching. Be sure to review the updated "Dates to Remember" listed below, which includes important events and reminders up until the end of the year.
PTO Snowball Event
Below are the images from the Snowball Event hosted by Overlook PTO. This event was designed to be inclusive, providing entertainment for families with students of all ages. A big thank you to all attendees and the dedicated PTO volunteers for their hard work in organizing this event.
Celebrating Talent at Overlook
It was so fun to see the talents of our Overlook students on display at the OJ Work Auditorium on March 14th. A special thanks to all the parent volunteers who mentored the students and helped them prepare for their performances. And of course, a round of applause to the students for their courage in showcasing their talents on stage. Please enjoy the pictures below.
Extended Spring Break
Don't forget, spring break has been extended until April 8th due to the eclipse. Enjoy the extra time off! We will be sending eclipse glasses home with the students before spring break.
February Rock Stars Recognition
Congratulations to our Rock Stars of the Month for February. We celebrated them for their honesty and outstanding qualities. Well done to all the recognized students!
Overlook Elementary 1st Annual Snowball Event
PTO's Overlooks Got Talent Event
Dates to Remember:
March:
- 21st PTO Incredible Kid Day
- 23rd PTO Egg My Yard Group 1
- 25th PTO Spring Flower Sale Concludes
- 27th Students will bring eclipse glasses home
- 29th No School Good Friday
- 30th PTO Egg My Yard Group 2
April:
- 1st-5th Spring Break
- 8th No School Calamity Day (eclipse)
- 18th Ohio State Testing grades 3 and 4. (No school PS-2nd)
- 19th Ohio State Testing grades 3 and 4. (No school PS-2nd)
- 24th-26th Spring Book Fair (Students can purchase during lunch times)
- 25th Spring Open House 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- 3rd PTO Overlook Night at the Rubber Ducks 7:15 p.m.
- 6th PTO Flower Sale Pick Up
- 14th PTO Meeting OV Library 6:30 p.m.
- 23rd Preschool Carnival 5-6 p.m.
- 24th K-4 Yes Day Carnival
- 28th Overlook Field Day
- 30th 4th Grade Class Recognition 1:45 (tentative) in the gym
- 30th 4th grade Luau 6-8 p.m. Overlook Cafeteria
- 31st Last Day of School-End of 3rd Trimester
Intra-District Open Enrollment
Intra-District open enrollment for current Wadsworth Families is open as of March 1st. The open enrollment application can be found on the district website (under Parent Information). All applications must be dropped off at the Administration Office.
** Please note that applications will be accepted beginning on March 15 and will close on April 1 **
PTO NEWS
PTO Egg My Yard Event-Help Wanted!
The PTO would love your help stuffing eggs for the Egg My Yard fundraiser! Please consider donating bags of individually wrapped candy and/or non-food items (i.e. stickers, small toys, tattoos, etc). You can also choose to make a cash donation if you so choose. We appreciate all your support!
Please complete the Signup Genius if you are able to help!
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Laino
K-12 Counseling Advisory
Thank you for your input and collaboration with our district! We would love for you to join us for the K-12 School Counseling Advisory meeting on March 27th.
We'll fill you in on the changes and growth our department has to share - with the hope you'll spread the word.
We'd also love your feedback and input on current youth concerns and considerations moving forward.
We hope you will join us for this informal chance to collaborate!
Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.
We would love your feedback, input, and questions concerning some of the trends we face. Specifically, we'd like to focus on:
*Attendance/School Anxiety/Avoidance
*Social Media/Internet and Phone Safety
*Graduation/Post-Secondary Planning
*Behavior and Positive Behavior Intervention Support
Please use this form to help us gather any questions we can address together.
We are looking forward to seeing those who can join us and those unable to attend; we hope our paths cross soon!
Thanks,
The K-12 School Counseling Team
Classroom Guidance Lessons
March
As part of our district-wide counseling curriculum and Ohio Department of Education, Under ORC 3313.60, Health education requirements, classroom guidance lessons were delivered to all students grades kindergarten-4th grade to address rules that help your child stay safe. We discussed safe (fist bumps, high fives) and unsafe touches (harmful touches) this year. One key component of these lessons is The Touching Rule: A person should never touch someone in the private parts (areas of the body that are covered by a bathing suit), except to keep him/her healthy (such as a doctor). This is one example of an unsafe touch.
Learning The Touching Rule will help your child recognize sexually abusive touch so he/she can say no, get away, and tell a trusted adult. Children can find it hard to tell adults about sexual abuse because they may not know the words to use. You can help your child by teaching him/her the correct (anatomical) words for private body parts. This gives children the words to use and helps them know it is okay to talk about those body parts.
In the lesson, students learned the following skills:
❏ Students learned the definitions of and the difference between safe and unsafe touches.
❏ Students learned how to Recognize unsafe touches, Refuse them, and Report them (The 3 R’s).
❏ Students will understand how to recognize unwanted touches and how to maintain personal space.
❏ Students learned The Touching Rule: A person should never touch someone’s private part except to keep them healthy (ex. doctor).
❏ Students learned to recognize Red Flag Words (ex: “This is our secret.” “Don’t tell anyone.” “No one will believe you.”).
❏ Students learned to recognize Red Flag Requests: When someone asks a child to look at or touch their private parts, or take/send pictures/videos of someone’s private area.
❏ Students learned how to be assertive when they feel something is unsafe or unwanted, and how to tell an adult.
❏ Students learned that it is NEVER too late to tell an adult if someone has broken The Touching Rule.
The curriculum used for Touch Safety comes from the Second Step Program, a board-approved
social-emotional learning program. This instruction in child sexual abuse prevention and sexual violence prevention is a required part of the district's curriculum. Upon request, parents and legal guardians may examine such instructional materials. More information about Second Step can be found at www.secondstep.org . If you have any questions about Second Step or the Touch Safety lesson, please contact me. Please encourage your child to come to you if he/she has any questions regarding this important safety lesson.
4 Cities Compact Career Fair
Upcoming for 4th-grade students district-wide is a 4 Cities Compact Career Fair held later this month at WHS. 4th graders will get to hear from and interact with high school juniors and seniors from Barberton, Copley, Norton, and Wadsworth. The K-4 Counselors are excited to partner with Jodie McInnes and the compact teachers and students to bring this opportunity to Wadsworth City Schools' 4th graders. Students will rotate through three stations based on a career interest survey they filled out and turned in to me. As of right now, we have about 13 of our programs represented. I encourage you to ask your child what they are interested in and if they have an idea of what job they would like to have when they are older as it’s never too early to start having these conversations.
If you have a 4th grader at home and haven’t signed the permission slip for your child to attend on Tuesday, March 26th please do so.
Visitors and Volunteers
- Visitors will be invited to the building for special events.
- Visitors are not permitted to join students for lunch.
- If you are coming to the building to volunteer you must sign this form: Volunteer Release Form. There will be hard copies at the building if needed.
- Tier 1 Volunteer: No unsupervised interaction with students. No board approval or background check required.
- Tier 2 Volunteer: Unsupervised interaction with students. Board Approval and Background Check (BCI & and FBI) required. Please contact Mrs. Jira for more information.
Community Resources
Free Triple P Parenting Classes
These classes are online and can be completed at your own pace! Click the picture to be taken directly to the registration page.
Social Media
Overlook PTO:
Instagram-overlookpto
Facebook- Overlook PTO: Wadsworth, OH
Mr. Ryder:
Instagram: ovprincipal
Mrs. Laino:
Instagram: ovcounselorscorner