The Navigator Newsletter

* Provide rigorous learning opportunities

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* Personalize learning

September 11: PTO General Meeting 10:30am

Mark your calendars:

September 16: Picture Day (details to come)

Oct 19: Flight Fest

Today students in grades 7 and 8 attended training with Sycamore High School Resource Officer, Paul Payne, from The Montgomery Police Department. Officer Payne provided ALICE training. The purpose of ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training is to teach strategies to survive a life-threatening event. If you would like additional information about ALICE training, visit their website www.alicetraining.com

Fall Picture Day Details

• Fall Picture day will be on Monday, September 16th, for the following students:

• Any new students or students who were not photographed during schedule pick up.

• Students who would like retakes. Students must return pictures already purchased on picture day.

• Parents can order student pictures through the Lifetouch website mylifetouch portal. Please use the will need to use the unique picture day id for the junior high: Picture ID # EVTBRQD4J

• It is important to note that parents, who order online, will not need to print out any information. The students will NOT need to bring in any documentation that they ordered electronically.

• Paper order forms are available in the front lobby. If using the order form, payment options are by check or cash (exact amount), and given to the photographer on picture day.

Dear Parents,

On Thursday, September 26, 8th grade students will travel to Scarlet Oaks as a part of our career exploration and development for students. Only 8th grade students will be out of the building from approximately 8:30AM until 11:30AM. Please understand that students will not be accessible for pickup during these times. If you have a conflict, please reach out to Mrs. Marlatt at marlattc@sycamoreschools.org to make arrangements. Thank you.

Our first meeting is September 11 at 10:30 am. Representatives from Sycamore's Board of Education will join us to discuss the MASTER FACILITIES PLAN. You don't want to miss this opportunity to hear about it and ask questions!

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Reminder:

All information about the PTO can be found by clicking on this link:

http://tinyurl.com/sycamorejhpto

Questions? Please email jhpto@sycamoreschools.org

Follow us on Facebook!

Mark your calendars for the 9th Annual Sycamore Junior High Aviator Flight Fest 2k/5k/10k Race on Saturday, October 19, 2019! Please visit our website at www.aviatorflightfest.com to Register for the Race, Sign Up to Volunteer or learn more about Family Sponsorships.

The first 100 people to register for the race will be entered in a raffle to win one of two fun gift cards!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!

We are looking for volunteers to help us distribute Flight Fest Yard Signs! You can Sign Up online at www.aviatorflightfest.com. All yard signs will be available for pick up at SJH on Wednesday, September 11 from 5-6 pm! If you are unable to pick up your signs, we can even deliver them to you that week!

Please contact Michelle Ciotola at avesflightfest@gmail.com to learn about business and family sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, or any questions regarding Aviator Flight Fest.

Don't forget to shop at Altar'd State at the Kenwood Towne Centre on Mondays where 10% of sales goes to SJH.

The Sycamore Junior High Boy choir will hold open membership rehearsals Thursday, Sept. 5 and Thursday, Sept. 12 for the 2019-2020 school year. After September 12, membership for the year will be closed.

• All rehearsals begin PROMPTLY at 7:15 a.m. and end at 7:50 a.m. The group meets in Room 105 at the JH.

• Boys attending Boy Choir are to be dropped off at the rear entrance to the building – NOT the front entrance!

• Information regarding Boy Choir attire, concert season, member database etc. will be distributed after membership is established.

• DONUTS are the unofficial mascot for our group!

If you like to perform, if you like to sing, if you like to be a part of something that is a “winning team” think about joining us on Thursday, September 5 and/or 12 at 7:15 a.m. in Room 105. Any SJH young man is eligible to join – no audition necessary! Gentlemen must come to one of these open membership rehearsals to solidify membership in the group.

Any questions, see Mr. Callahan or Mrs. Stein in Room 105 or feel free to email:

callahanj@sycamoreschools.org or steind@sycamoreschools.org

We look forward to seeing you!

The date for the roll-over cut off for free and reduced-price meals benefits is quickly approaching. On September 25th, if you have not filled out a new free and reduced-price meal application your student(s) will lose their benefits. Apply online today: https://sycamore.payschools.com or fill out a paper application and turn it into the district office. Contact the Child Nutrition Office with questions - (513) 686-1796 or visit the Child Nutrition webpage.

Thanks to our wonderful PTO, the Lost and Found is organized! If your child has lost an item of clothing, a backpack or lunch box or the like, have him or her check the lost and found in the cafeteria. It will be cleaned out and the items distributed about every two weeks or so. For items currently in L&F, click here.

Items of significant value (eyeglasses, phones, etc) are kept in the office.

What is AIR?

State achievement tests are taken at various grade levels and content areas. The State of Ohio requires all students in grades 7 and 8 to take standardized tests in language arts and mathematics. Students in grade 8 also take state tests in science. Students and teachers refer to these as the AIR assessments. AIR stands for the American Institutes of Research, the agency that develops and delivers the assessments.

These assessments give our students the opportunity to demonstrate their progress. Each of these assessments provides a snapshot of their understanding and application of curriculum standards. From a district perspective, these results allow us to benchmark ourselves against similar districts and to identify trends in data that will guide our work with teachers and students.

When will students take the AIR assessments?

Sycamore Junior High will administer the AIR assessments on April 15, 16, 22, 23 and 29.

How can you help?

Please mark these dates on your calendars and make every effort not to schedule your child for appointments or vacation days. Thank you for your cooperation!!

Thank you to all 7th grade families who have turned in immunization records. As we work to process those records received, please continue to be patient before you follow up. If there is a problem, you will be contacted via email by Amy Bonham. If you have not turned in your child's proof of immunizations from a doctor's office, please do so ASAP.

Requirements:

The Ohio Department of Health requires all students prior to entering the 7th grade to have (1) dose of MCV4 (meningococcal) and a Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) booster.

Proof of immunization from the doctor’s office must be given to the school before the start of 7th grade. Immunization documents can be brought to school or mailed to the JH, emailed to the JH Nurse Amy Bonham at bonhama@sycamoreschools.org or faxed to (513) 792-6192.

Sycamore Junior High has many opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities. The Clubs & Activities Guide may be found on the JH website under the "activities" tab or accessed HERE.

Clubs and activities do not begin until several weeks after school resumes. Dates and times of initial meetings will be announced several days ahead of time in daily announcements so students have the opportunity to attend the first meeting. Daily Announcements can be accessed from the SJH webpage.

In the event of an emergency where an evacuation of the school building is necessary, students will be transported to safety at Sycamore Community Schools’ reunification site:

Blue Ash Recreation Center 4433 Cooper Rd. Blue Ash, OH 45242

Detailed information can be found on the district website under Reunification Plans.

For more information on safety & security at Sycamore Schools, visit the district Safety & Security web page.

Email: jhadmin@sycamoreschools.org
Website: www.sycamoreschools.org/sycamorejh
Location: 5757 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: 5136861760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SycamoreJuniorHighPTO/
Twitter: @sycamorejrhigh