Wickliffe Family Update

Dear Families,

We continue to have such wonderful weeks at Wickliffe, filled with learning, growth, and joy. Thank you to all the families who joined us for the Art Show last week—it was a beautiful reminder of the many ways we stay connected as a community.

As I mentioned in my update last week, we are looking forward to bringing our community together to begin collaborating with families on new ways we can ensure multi-age and multi-year experiences for our students. We recognize that this shift impacts each of our students and families in unique ways, and we want to create meaningful opportunities for all of us to connect around how we can best support our students and their learning experiences at school. Our staff has been part of this journey along the way and continue to support all students with care, intention, and thoughtful, loving conversations.

Please consider joining us at Wickliffe on Wednesday, April 23 from 6:30-7:30. We want to have a dialogue and provide updates on curriculum resource changes and the progressive program review that is meant to clarify, strengthen and synchronize the work happening at both Wickliffe and Barrington. Following those updates, we will engage parents and guardians in a process of collaborative ideation around mixed-age experiences.

As always, thank you for your trust, care, and partnership. Below are a few reminders for this week:

• 5th Grade Families: Deadline to submit forms for open enrollment to your non-residential middle school is Tuesday, April 15
• April 14-15: 4/5 Math State Testing
• See the PTO Updates section for Wickapalooza information!!

Warmly,
Angela Evans

April 14-15: 4/5 Math State Testing

April 16: Town Meeting - Jentgen and Williams

April 22: Earth Day Celebration and Peace Pole Installation @ 2 PM
April 24-25: 3rd Math State Testing
April 28-29: 5th Science State Test

May 1: Town Meeting - Blair / Hamilton

May 9: Town Meeting @ 8:30 AM – Golden Star Choir School Performance

(We kindly ask that only parents of 4th and 5th grade choir members attend due to limited space.)

May 9th: Wickapalooza @ 6:00 PM – Featuring the Golden Star Choir!

May 16th: Town Meeting - Gifford / England

May 23rd: Town Meeting - Peterson

May 27th: Field Day

May 28th: 5th Grade Graduation (8:30); 5th Grade Party (3:00)

May 29: Town Meeting

As you plan your spring schedules, please mark the dates below for when our school will be administering state tests to our 3rd–5th grade students.

• April 14-15: 4/5 Math State Testing
• April 24-25: 3rd Math State Testing
• April 28-29: 5th Science State Test

With math testing (and science for 5th graders), students can use the text-to-speech feature to hear information read to them. If they wish to use this feature, however, they need to provide their own (non-bluetooth) headphones

As part of our economics study, the 4th and 5th graders in Mr. Williams' class have started businesses and are selling their products at Marketplace on Tuesday 4/15 (for K-3rd graders) and Wednesday 4/16 (for 4th and 5th graders). All items will be $3.00 or less (and there will be a 3 item limit). If you choose to send your child in with money, dollar bills and quarters are preferred. All profits will be donated to charities of the businesses' choice.

This spring, the district is offering a family engagement opportunity through the You Belong UA Family Book Read. In this second year of the event, we are inviting families to journey through Nic Stone’s book Clean Getaway together and then gather with us at the Amelita Mirolo Barn for a family “book talk” from 6:30 - 8 p.m., May 1, 2025.

New this year, UAHS students in our Teaching Professions Pathway will facilitate the book talk for students and families on May 1. This activity is a part of their curricular experience, and we hope to welcome families in support of their learning.

Families can read about Clean Getaway in several locations:

• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/clean-getaway

• https://readingmiddlegrade.com/clean-getaway-nic-stone-review/

• Richland Library Review

• GoodReads

• UASchools Catalog Description

Let us know that you will be reading with us! Click here if you will be reading the book and to RSVP for the May 1 event. RSVPs are requested by April 18, 2025.

If you have questions or would like additional support to obtain Clean Getaway, please email kmanderson@uaschools.org.

Come join us in celebrating our hopes for peace and serenity on Earth.

On Tuesday, April 22nd at 2 pm we will gather just inside the stone wall at the corner of Cimmaron and Wickliffe to sing songs and share poems in our celebration.

You may sign up using this link to show your interest in attending and/or sharing.

Due to limited storage space, any unclaimed items are periodicaly donated.

Please encourage your child to check for any lost items, or feel free to stop in to search the Lost & Found closet yourself during the week. To help us return items promptly, we highly recommend labeling your child’s belongings with their name.

Please note: any items lost during the week of April 21 - 24 will not be included in the donation.

Student advisory is partnering to help raise funds for Brother Wolf. Beginning April 28, we will have collection jars in each neighborhood and in Town Square to collect coins...so save up and bring in your spare change to help Brother Wolf rebuild and care for their furry friends!

Thanks!

Student Advisory

Before the Town Meeting on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, there will be another Dog Treat Sale! These treats were lovingly handmade by Wickliffe families and will be available for $3 per bag (5 treats per bag).

• All proceeds will go to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in North Carolina, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene.

• Donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated!

Learn more about the organization here: www.bwar.org. Thank you so much for your continued support!

May 1, May 8, May 22: 5th Grade only outdoor lunches

Our 5th Graders will be eating lunch outside on the dates below.

• May 1: 5th Grade Lunch Outside

• May 8: 5th Grade Lunch Outside

• May 15: Hastings Meeting/Lunch

• May 22: 5th Grade Lunch Outside

WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Please click the link below:

Sign-up for parent volunteers for the 5th grade outdoor lunches

See information below on Upcoming Safety Lessons in April. Have a great Spring Break!

Dear Wickliffe families,

As noted in the recent district update, Upper Arlington elementary school counselors will be delivering classroom lessons in April on how to stay safe and speak up, in compliance with the annual requirement of Senate Bill 288. In addition to the district-approved Second Step curriculum, we will also be using the books Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Spelman and No Means No by Jayneen Sanders.

Below is a brief overview of the general topics that will be covered during these lessons:

• Safe and Unsafe/Unwanted touches:

• Safe touches are positive and caring, while unsafe/unwanted touches hurt your body or make you feel uncomfortable

• How to say no assertively to unwanted touches

• The Touching Rule: No one should touch your private body parts

• Intuition:

• Use your intuition to recognize unsafe and unwanted touches

• Reporting to an adult:

• How to tell a trusted adult if unwanted touches happen

• Identify caring adults to talk to about unwanted behaviors

• Demonstrate how to report to an adult
  
  

After the lesson, please look for a detailed letter sent home with your child. This letter will provide talking points, suggested questions to ask your child, and additional resources to continue this important conversation at home.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to partnering with you to teach your child about staying SAFE, STRONG, AND FREE.

Best regards,

Kaitlyn Karam

School Counselor

It's hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the school year! We have a lot to celebrate and many events coming up for our Wickliffe families. Get these dates on your calendars - we hope to see you soon!

Family Bingo Night! Friday, April 25th - 6-8 pm at Wickliffe

Bring your family and join us for a fun-filled evening of Bingo, pizza and delicious desserts! $20 per family includes a Marco's large cheese or pepperoni pizza and Bingo Cards. Space is limited! Click here to reserve your spot!

Wickliffe Art Show Pick-Up

Thank you to all of our families for participating in the 2025 Wickliffe Art Show! It was a tremendous success and we enjoyed celebrating all of our student's artistic talents. A huge shout out to our dedicated Art Show Committee Chairs, Chi Nguyen and Tobin Juday, for leading and organizing the team to make this event a success. We are also so grateful for each and everyone that volunteered for set up, spirit wear, clean up, framing, pick-up and beyond! It takes a village! Framed art work can be picked up during these days and times:

April 21st - 4 - 6 pm

April 25th - 6 - 8 pm

Earth Day Tree Planting! Saturday, April 26th @ 12:00 pm

Please join us in making our playground greener! In honor of Earth Day, we’re planting trees together — and we’d love your help! Family members of all ages are welcome, sign up here if you are able to make it!

Staff Appreciation Week - Week of May 5th - 9th

We will be honoring our staff for the tremendous work they do for our kids and greater community everyday during this week. Be on the lookout for more information on how you can support this effort!

Wickapaolooza - Friday, May 9th - 6-8:30 pm

Wickapalooza is held outside on the school grounds with family friendly activities for our whole community including bounce houses, face paint, photo tent, tie dying, the book fair, food trucks, crafts, music and more! Click here for more information!

Outdoor Activities for all families 6-8:30 pm

Golden Star Choir Performance 6-7 pm in the gymnasium for 4/5 families

Attention all 4th and 5th grade parents/caretakers: If your child is interested in joining the Golden Star Choir, please fill out the Google form here: https://forms.gle/Jf7d7iiGDuBi42eu8 There is a $10 choir fee to help with shirts & props, this can be paid by clicking on account -> forms on the PTO website.

Here is the latest issue of the Elementary Explorations newsletter.

In this issue you will find a recap of Lesson 13: Zip Lines, as well as many pictures and videos of students working through the engineering design cycle.

Effective April 9, Ohio law requires public school districts serving students in any grade 9 through 12 to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline telephone number on all of the following, if provided or used by the school:

• Student identification cards issued after April 9

• Planners issued to students after April 9

• Any electronic portal administered by the district or school that may be accessed by students

Upper Arlington Schools students in grades 9-12 and staff will now see information on the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline on their devices, in several portals and our website. iPads have a WebApp that links to the 988 Lifeline website. The weblink is also located in Classlink for grade 9-12 students and staff. PowerSchool now has a 988 icon beside the student name in the student and parent portals. When clicked, it provides more information. The information can also be found on our website. Next year, the information will also be printed on student IDs for students in grades 9-12, in accordance with the law.

Attendance Information - Click link for full details

• If your child will be absent from school, please email wickliffeattendance@uaschools.org. Please state a reason for your child’s absence. If you are emailing your child’s teacher regarding attendance, simply copy the attendance email - no need to send separate emails.

• There is a link to the attendance email in the Upper Arlington Schools app

• District Attendance Policy

• Please obtain a medical excuse for ANY visit to a doctor, dentist, therapist, etc that occurs during a school day.

Planned Absence Form - Forms should be completed 10 school days in advance of the first date of the planned absence whenever possible. Otherwise, the absence may be unexcused.

District Website Link

• 2024-2025 School Year Calendar

• A-E Calendar

Drop off/Pick up information

Instagram Account ~ @wickwolves

Lunch Menu

Lunchroom Helper - click here to Volunteer

Nurse Notes

Any prescription medication administered at school requires written authorization from the student’s physician as well as written parental permission. Per Ohio Revised Code, the Prescribed Medication must be received by the health office in the container in which it was dispensed by the provider or pharmacist (we cannot accept medication in baggies). Medication authorization forms and other health forms can be found on the district website at: UA Health Forms. Should you have any questions, please contact the Wickliffe Health Office at 614-487-5150.

Our health clinics track communicable illnesses and work with local public health agencies to mitigate potential outbreaks. If your student is diagnosed with or treated for a communicable illness/condition (strep, pinkeye, influenza, COVID-19, lice, etc.), please report those to the school nurse at wickliffehealthclinic@uaschools.org, or wickliffeattendance@uaschools.org. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure Wickliffe is a healthy learning environment for all of our students!

PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://ps-uar.metasolutions.net/public/home.html

If you need assistance logging into PowerSchool, you may reach out to: familytechhelp@uaschools.org

Technology Family Support

• Check out this resource for K-5 families.

• WOSU Digital Wellness

• CommonSense Media Activities

Transportation Services

Email: schoolbusquestions@uaschools.org

UA Flyer Connection

Wickliffe PTO

Links to Previous Updates:

All of our updates can be found on the Wickliffe website under “school news”.