September Parent Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you and your family are enjoying the start of the new school year. We are looking forward to a number of exciting activities and upcoming events in the near future! Many thanks in advance for reading through this entire newsletter for important information and updates. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Malinda McKillip

If you have not done so already, please be sure to update important information for each of your children in Skyward as soon as possible. The portal will be closing soon!

As a reminder, the URL for Skyward has changed. Please update any bookmarks that you have saved or you may access Skyward directly through the link on our website. It also important that you delete and reload the Skyward app on your mobile phones.

If you have forgotten your Skyward login information or are a first-time user and have not accessed the system, simply click on the “Forgot your Username or Password?” link. An automated email with a generic password will then be sent to the email address associated with your login credentials. Next, follow the directions to create a unique password.

To complete the Annual Information Update Process:

• To complete the Annual Information Update Form:

  • Login to Skyward

  • Click the “Online Form Annual Student Update 24-25 SY” tile under your first student

  • Update your information

  • Repeat for each additional student

Please note that only primary guardians are able to complete this process. We kindly request that you please complete any changes ASAP. We appreciate your understanding and willingness to make these updates a priority. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the main office at 610-469-5104.

As of this year, French Creek now qualifies as a Title I school. By definition, “Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards” (US Department of Education, 2018).

French Creek will receive federal funds to support our supplemental educational and intervention programs. The majority of the federal funds that French Creek receives will be allocated to offset the salaries of additional reading and math support teachers. As a continued practice, French Creek will analyze student data throughout the course of the school year in order to identify students who may need additional support.

Link to the District's Annual Title I Notice

Reading Specialist:

Mrs. Jennifer Smith (jsmith@ojrsd.net)

Math Support Teacher:

Mrs. Pam Monastra (pmonastra@ojrsd.net)

Reading and Math Intervention Teachers

Mrs. Jessica Shebelsky (jshebelsky@ojrsd.net)

Mrs. Shannon Rockafellow (srockafellow@ojrsd.net)

Parent involvement is essential to help promote our students’ learning. All parents, guardians, and teachers are welcome to become members of the PTA regardless of the amount of time you can give to support additional programs and activities. I encourage everyone to actively participate in our PTA and join us for meetings throughout the school year.

If you have not done so already, please take a moment to visit and join our PTA webpage. This site offers parents the opportunity to sign up for email notifications, receive information related to upcoming special events, student clubs, and family togetherness activities in one convenient location. The site also offers parents the option to make online payments for PTA membership and PTA sponsored after school clubs.

Please click on the links below for important flyers, invitations, and announcements!

PTA Information and Invite

24-25 PTA Event Calendar

24-25 Homeroom Helper Sign Up

Please click on the button below for the PTA's monthly newsletter.

Please join us for our 1st PTA meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 17th at 7:00 PM. Dr. Stout, along with members of the central office administrative team will be sharing updates on 25-26 redistricting plans. *Please note this meeting was rescheduled from 9/24 to 9/17.

Please plan to join us on Friday, September 13th from 6:30-8:00 PM for one of our most popular Family Togetherness Events of the year. Come out and see your favorite French Creek "celebrity scoopers" in the multi-purpose room and enjoy a special treat.

Please click on the button below for more information about our 2024-2025 Math Challenge. The first math challenge begins Friday, Sept. 13th and is due Sept. 27th!

In FC library news: Last April, our French Creek library applied for a literacy grant through Dollar General's Literacy program to help update our non-fiction section of the library. In August, we were awarded $3000.00 to buy books to do just that. We are so grateful and appreciative of Dollar General and their initiatives to get books into the hands of children. The students are excited about this news, as well, and are eager to share ideas of topics they would like to see added to our library. Many thanks to Mrs. Ponto for pursuing this opportunity on behalf of French Creek!

The French Creek "Birthday Books Program" is an opportunity for families to donate a book to the

French Creek Library in celebration of a child's birthday. Please click on the button below for more information. *OJR does not permit food-related treats to be distributed for birthday celebrations.

As part of our French Creek's Safe and Caring Environment goal, students and staff will be participating in the annual Start With Hello initiative September 16th-20th. During the week of September 16th, students will participate in lessons and activities that promote inclusion, a sense of community, bullying prevention, and random acts of kindness. Please click on the button below for the Start With Hello Spirit Day Calendar.

Fall Picture Day will be on Thursday, September 19th. Please click on the button below for more information.

Hello STEM enthusiasts,

Our 24th annual Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology event is happening on Saturday, October 26th at the Greater Philadelphia Convention Center in Oaks. This is a one-day, free event for girls in grades 4th through 10th to explore careers in STEM from over 50 vendors with hands-on activities. There will be vendors from all areas of STEM, including manufacturers, agribusinesses, robotics, engineering and so much more.

The Chester County Health Department will be hosting a vaccination clinic at OJR Middle School on Thursday, October 24th from 3:30-6:45 PM. Please see additional information below.

If your family is experiencing a need or hardship, please reach out to our School Counselor, Mrs. Gabrielle Baylor at gbaylor@ojrsd.net or 610-469-5176. Mrs. Baylor can assist with identifying resources including CHIP (Free or low cost healthcare for children) and voluntary student accident insurance.

Back to School Parent Newsletter