Graham Elementary Schools

News From the Nest - December 15, 2024

At Graham Elementary, "A better ME means a better WE"...Falcon Pride!

Hello Falcon families!

We have arrived at the last school week of 2024! How did we get here so quickly?!?

This issue of News From the Nest will be short and sweet. Our December 29 newsletter will be chalked full of the many things that will be happening at GES as we start 2025👍

Just a few reminders regarding things happening this week.

We are excited to see our students and staff participating in the Spirit Week...keep any eye out on Facebook and DOJO for pictures of the fun at GES this week!
Our kindergarten and first grade students will put on quite the show on Tuesday with their holiday music performance!
Club Day and Inflatable Day will be fun times at GES!

As our teachers continue to work hard to facilitate powerful learning opportunities for your children at GES, we are thankful for the support and partnerships we are developing with each family we are lucky enough to serve at Graham Elementary! Thank you for trusting us with your children's education and development both as learners and as people!

This school year continues to be filled with learning, achievement, success and LOTS of smiles!

Our Graham Elementary Staff is the best in the land!

Stay informed about all things happening at Graham Elementary by following us on:

Facebook: Graham Elementary School

ClassDOJO

Graham Local Schools website: grahamlocalschools.org. (Graham Elementary School)

Emily Shreve, Graham Elementary School Principal

Aaron Myers, Graham Elementary School Assistant Principal

Let the Fun Begin...GES Holiday Spirit Week

Graham High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Toy Drive

Graham High School FCCLA students are embarking on a leadership project to collect toys for a Christmas Toy Drive. Please see the flyer below for more information.

**This activity is not associated with Graham Elementary School.**

Family Falcon Focus

Back by popular demand, please see the 2024-2025 Family Falcon Focus for important dates at GES. This document will be updated as the year progresses. Dates are subject to change if/when necessary.

Thank you!

December

16: PTO Holiday Shop...extended one day due to last week's 2-hour delay(s) and snow day

16-20: GES Winter Spirit Week

17: K and 1 Christmas evening performance K @ 5:30p.m. and 1st @ 6:30p.m. - please see details shared on DOJO and flyer sent home

18: PTO Meeting in first grade pod @ 3:45p.m.

19: CLUB DAY

20: Inflatable Day

23-January 3: WINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL (students return on Monday, January 6)

January

6: Students return from Winter Break

9: Last day of Quarter 2

9: grades 3-5 Boonshoft day-long assembly activities

9: St. Paris Library visiting Kindergarten for Story Time @ 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m.

10: IN SERVICE/RECORDS DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

13: First day of Quarter 3

13: PTO Meeting in first grade pod @ 5:30p.m.

17: PTO Movie Night

20: MLK DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE

27 - February 7 - Student Council Candygram sale

31: 2-hour early release PD day

Another Opportunity to Give

Wintertime has Arrived!

The temperatures are dropping quickly, and winter weather is here to stay for several months! Please see the handbook information on outdoor recess below and be sure children come to school dressed appropriately to be outside (weather-permitting).

RECESS

Children should dress appropriately as they will be going outside, weather permitting. A note must be sent every day that the child must stay inside. A doctor’s statement is needed if your child is to stay in on a regular basis or for an extended period of time. Children will have indoor recess when the temperature is below 25 degrees or when the wind chill is 25 degrees.

Children will be brought in immediately when responsible staff are aware of changing weather conditions. The official temperature and wind chill will be determined by The Weather Channel, http://www.weatherchannel.com. Graham Elementary trusts the judgment of parents in selecting weather appropriate attire.

Community Health and Wellness Partners are Coming to Graham Local Schools!

When GLS students and staff return from the Winter Break, we will be welcoming an exciting new addition to our school district!

In January 2025, Community Health and Wellness Partners will begin serving Graham Local Schools!

Graham Elementary will house both medical and behavioral health clinics. Students, staff and their families will benefit from this "urgent care-like" service.

Keep your eyes out for more information coming in the next issue of News From the Nest and other district communications👍

Graham Local Schools Volunteer Policy

**Previously posted on ClassDOJO (September 3, 2024)**

Hello Falcon Families! If you are interested in volunteering at Graham Elementary, please use this link - https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/page/volunteer-portal-and-information - to view updated information regarding the volunteer process at Graham Local Schools.

If you are considering volunteering and/or helping with classroom parties at Graham Elementary, you must complete an application and be approved through the Secure Volunteer site before you volunteer.

Please email Mrs. Shreve (shrevee@grahamlocalschools.org) with any questions.

Thank you for your partnership in your child's education!

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications

This is a reminder that free and reduced lunch applications expire at the end of every school year. If your child qualified for free and/or reduced lunch last year and you have not completed a new application for this year, please do.

Paper applications can be found here:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/.../Graham

Free and Reduced Lunch forms can also be sent home with your child. If you would like a copy, please contact the GES office and we will send one home.

Online applications can be found on PaySchools Central here https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

If you are in need of before or after care for your children, please see this flyer to learn more about this opportunity.

Graham Elementary Daily Schedule

**Reminder...A.M. preschool students enter the building at 8:30a.m. to begin their A.M. session**

2024-2025 School Fees

As stated in the Graham Elementary Student Handbook,

"All school fees must be paid in order for students to attend field trips (Glen Helen included) or participate in preschool promotion and/or 5th grade promotion."

Fees can be paid by cash or check (Graham Elementary School) or online at https://www.payschoolscentral.com/. Please contact Mrs. Shreve with any questions.

At Graham Local Schools, we take a proactive approach to attendance. If/When GES students accumulate 50 hours of excessive absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #1. When students accumulate 65 excessive hours of absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #2.

An absence intervention meeting will be scheduled when students accumulates 72 excessive hours of absence

Please see the GES Handbook language below for the steps to report an absence...

A. When a student is ill or for some other reason is unable to attend, the parent/guardian is expected to contact the school office by phone before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. For your convenience, you may call the night before and leave a message on the answering machine (937-663-4449).

B. A written reason for all absences properly signed and dated by a parent/guardian is required. Written notes not filed in the office within one day after the student returns to school following an absence will result in an unexcused absence. Administration reserves the right to excuse student absences with reasonable cause.

C. For each unexcused absence, the student is responsible for obtaining work and following make-up work policies.

Student Pick Up Dismissal Procedures

The end of day pick-up procedure will make our out front pick-up safer for our students at Graham Elementary . Thank you for your cooperation!

Permanent Pick-Up

Students will be dismissed at 3:25pm each day.
Each student/family who is a permanent pick-up will be given 2 numbered tags and their child will have a numbered tag with a corresponding number for their bookbag.

Those students who are picked up by a babysitter with proper transportation forms on file will have a number for their babysitter.

Each grade level will have a designated area marked outside and the family will come to that area to pick up their student(s) from each area - families should have their numbered tag with them.
Families must park and come to the sidewalk to pick up their students. There will be no parking in the fire lanes of the building.

Students who are not permanent pick-ups who will be picked up on a day must call the elementary office or send in a note to pick-up their child. When picking your child up, please follow the procedure below:

Families who are not permanent pick-ups must come to the front doors, provide ID and sign out their student from inside the building.
Students will be dismissed to their family once the family has signed them out at the front office.

We do understand this process takes time and we thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through this process together. Our #1 priority is our students safety.

Handbook Need-to-Knows

*In an effort to remediate behaviors through reflection versus consequence, Graham Elementary will institute Restorative Recesses when deemed appropriate. This opportunity is a consequence targeted at reflection instead of punishment. It provides students the chance to work alongside an adult to reflect on their behavior and make plans for corrective behaviors.

*Cell phones and Smart Watches are to remain off and in student bookbags upon entering the building and should not be used until after the final dismissal bell and students have exited the school building. In effect, cell phones should not be “seen, heard, or used” during this time. Also, cell phones should NOT be used to take any type of photograph, video, or recording at any time unless directed by a staff member.

Students cannot contact parents via a personal cell phone during the day; they are to utilize a classroom or office phone. If violations of this policy should occur, a CELL PHONE WILL BE TAKEN AND CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY.

1st offense – warning 2nd offense – parent called 3rd offense – detention/parent picks up phone.

*Clothing must cover the chest, stomach, back, buttocks, upper thighs, and undergarments when the student sits, stands, raises his/her hand, or bends over. Any article of clothing that reveals an excessive amount of skin will be deemed inappropriate for the school environment.

Therefore, the final decision regarding the professionalism of clothing and accessories will be made by the building administration.

Clothing or accessories bearing patches, drawings, and/or sayings (stated or implies), which refer to drugs, alcohol, sex, profanity and obscenity, shall not be permitted.

Shoes shall be worn for health and safety reasons. Footwear with only toe support (ex - thongs, flip flops, etc.) shall not be worn. High heels or platforms, roller shoes can present safety concerns and are not to be worn. Socks are recommended as a good hygiene practice.

Pupils are not to wear hats, overcoats, jackets, or other outer wear in the building unless the principal has granted permission. This dress code will be in effect for all school days and related activities except for those “special” days and/or activities as approved by the principal.

*ZERO QUARTERLY REFERRALS REWARD AND END-OF-THE-YEAR REWARD

Students with zero bus/office referrals will earn a reward for each quarter that they meet this qualification.

When Graham Elementary reaches 30 cumulative days of zero bus/office referrals, all students will participate in a day-long school-wide celebration.

Students who have three or less bus/office referrals and no suspensions (bus or school) will participate in an additional special activity during the school-wide celebration if/when Graham Elementary reaches 30 cumulative days of zero bus/office referrals.

Details of the reward will be shared during the school year.

Administrator holds the right to remove a student from the day-long celebration due to excessive referrals or extreme behaviors.