Orchard's Weekly Parent Newsletter

In our pursuit of a more fair, just and good system of education, it is CMSD’s vision that each of our learners, both our scholars and each of their educators, is individually and collectively presented with academically/intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their productive struggle and allows them authentic opportunities to demonstrate their work and their learning of academic content and transferable skills in a joyful and adventurous environment.

To transform teaching and learning through technology integration and provide the highest quality education experience that ensures creative and inventive thinking with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) focus in student-centered classrooms.

• Exhibits Creativity and Innovation
  
• Skilled at Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  
• Possesses an Academic Mindset
  
• Prepared for Global Citizenship
  
• Skilled at Collaborating
  
• Literate in Communication and Information Technology
  
• Exhibits Social and Cross Cultural Empathy

Dear Families and Friends,

Thank you for your support at arrival and dismissal! We appreciate you! All parents/caregivers are welcome to our first townhall meeting on Wednesday, September 4, at 4 pm, the same day of our monthly produce distribution from 3 to 6 pm. Our chocolate fundraiser begins September 6. Stay tuned for permission slips! This week we will continue to administer the NWEA and continue to assess our students to determine their educational needs. Please remind your child to do their best on these assessments. Thank you for your assistance!

This newsletter and the ones to follow each week is what our staff at Orchard hopes will be a weekly review of the innovative and creative happenings at our school. You can also check us out on social media on Facebook (Orchard S.T.E.M. School) and Twitter (@OrchardSTEM) or visit our website at clevelandmetroschools.org/Orchard.

We are pleased to have you as partners and want to assure you that we will do our best to help our student experience the academic success and social and emotional growth they deserve. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at 216.838.7350 or 216.544.4012. We welcome all inquiries. Thank you for your support and cooperation!

We have revised many of our procedures to keep you and your child safe. Orchard becomes a closed campus at 3:30 pm. That means we will not release students after that time without prior notice. At arrival and dismissal, please avoid parking in the u-shaped drive as we use that space for our buses, cabs, and vans. To ensure the continuous flow of traffic and for safety during arrival, please drop off your child at the drop off sign. If you need to park, please use a parking space. At dismissal, Orchard Avenue becomes a one-way street. Therefore, please enter Orchard Avenue from West 44th street.

Moreover, at the end of the school day, all middle school walkers and car riders will exit the building from the West 41 street door. Feel free to park on West 41st Street. All afterschool program participants, for example, volleyball, track, cheerleading, soccer, and so on, will report to the cafetorium with ODA for a snack and homework support. Walkers and car riders in kinder - grade 5 must exit through the gym doors located on Orchard Avenue. Please pick up your child at the gym doors by 4:05 pm. We respectfully ask that you extend us patience at the end of the school day. We also ask that you refrain from entering the building, without permission, at dismissal. We will dismiss the first floor at 3:55 pm, third floor at 3:57 pm, and 2nd floor at 4:00 pm to end our school day on time at 4:05 pm.

During the school day, all students must use an electronic hall pass to enter the halls, unless accompanied by a staff member. Please remind your child of this routine. Although we believe in the great utility of cell phones, we also believe that learning and social behavior improves drastically when students fully engage with their teachers and classmates. Therefore, we promote a cell phone free school using the Yondr pouch system. Thank you for your help in ensuring that the aforementioned procedures are followed.

• First Day of School for Preschoolers (Start Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024): Families will be contacted regarding orientation.
  
• 0 Period (Students in grades 4 - 8 and their siblings in K - grade 3): 8:35 am - 9:25 am (Start Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024)
• Breakfast: 9:05 am - 9:35 am
• Instruction: 9:35 am - 4:05 pm
• NOTE: Our secretary will be unavailable from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm daily for her lunch break. Other staff members will help and try their best to meet your needs.
• Our afterschool program with Open Doors Academy (ODA) will start on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

As your Family Support Specialist, I am here to support you and your Scholars. Please let me know how I can help. Also consider enrolling your student in the following programming: Open Doors Academy (after school programming www.opendoorsacademy.org/enroll), the Integrated Health Task Force (Metro Health, Applewood). Other programming includes The Ohio State Young Scholars program (eligible 8th graders), Golden Ciphers and Recovery Resources. Please see the attachment about our monthly parent meetings hosted by our Parent Ambassador, Ms. Harris. We’d love to see you there!

Integrated Health Task Force

One of the goals with Integrated Health is to address the needs of our students and to make medical and mental health more accessible to support our students and their families. The hope is that additional support will stabilize families and ultimately students can focus on their academics. Metro Health provides medical care on a mobile unit and Applewood is our provider for counseling at Orchard. Please contact our School Nurse, Mrs. Augustine if you have additional questions regarding medical or mental health questions. She can be reached at 216-838-7357. A student will need a completed medical consent form to access these services. This is the link for the consent https://sayyescleveland.org/integrated-health/

Say Yes Survey

I ask that you complete the parent survey. You will need their Student ID to complete the survey. Please feel free to contact me regarding your child's Student ID number. The survey allows me to support our scholars with resources within our school and local community. This is the website to the survey https://cleveland.sytepps.org/#/login

Dr. Moss is supporting the surveys with incentives. Next week students will be given a flyer to take home with a QR code for their parents to complete the Say Yes survey. The grade with the highest number of parent surveys completed during the month of September will have a pizza party in October. During the month of August, parents who complete the parent survey will be entered into a drawing for two $25 dollar gift cards and could win a book bag for their child. Best wishes to all! The QR code or website can be used to access the survey. https://cleveland.sytepps.org/#/login

If you are new or returning to Orchard, I'd love for you to meet me or just check in. I can be reached at blee@sayyescleveland.org and 216-219-1330. You can also find me at Orchard daily!

Ms. Bethany Lee, Family Support Specialist

Say Yes Cleveland

Our district's standard dress and appearance policy is intended to be gender neutral and apply to all students equitably, while on school premises and at school-sponsored functions. Orchard believes that the dress and appearance of a student rests with our parents and guardians. Unlike the previous CMSD dress code that specifically dictated what students wore, the CMSD's dress expectations provide students and parents with a choice of clothing with the following exceptions.

Students may not wear:

• Transparent clothing
• Clothing that exposes the buttocks or torso
• Clothing or accessories that displays profanity, violence, obscene words or images, sexually suggestive statements, or statements that incites violence
• Clothing depicting gang-related activities
• Clothing that exposes the entire thigh, such as minis or shorts
• “Ripped” swimsuits or pants
• Clothing promoting the use of tobacco items or controlled substances (drugs) and/or alcohol
• Clothing where underwear is exposed
• Clothing that has texts or visual images that are defamatory, intimidating, constitute harassment or discrimination
• Open-toed footwear (Closed footwear is required)

Let us encourage our students to dress appropriately at all times. Thank you for your support!

Two annual events will take place in September, our Open House and Fathers Walk.

During our Open House, for preschool - grade 8 families, from 6 - 8 pm, you will have an opportunity to experience the life of an Orchard STEAM school student. You may also schedule a date and time for a parent-teacher conference.

Our Fathers Walk will take place during arrival at 9 am. Please join us for coffee and muffins. Each year, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, brothers and mentors mark the day by taking their children to school. The countywide initiative stresses the important role of fathers and other men in the lives of students.

The event encourages fathers to take the following pledge:

• I am responsible for the education of my child.
• I will encourage all children to do their best every day at school.
• I will speak to my child about the value of learning and the importance of reaching your potential.
• I will help with schoolwork and review assignments for completion.
• I will praise my child when he/she does well in school.
• I will speak with my child’s teachers and support them in educating my child.
• I will teach my child the value of education and the value of family.
• I will work with my child’s mother or guardian to achieve the best academic and social outcomes for my child, even if I do not live with my child.

We are looking forward to seeing you at these events!

• Mindset Monday
• NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

• Together Tuesday
• First Day for Preschool
• NWEA Map Testing (ends 9/13)
• AWP Fall Benchmark for K - 3 students (ends 9/13)
• Volleyball practice 4:05
• ODA - 4:05 - 6:30

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

• Working Together Wednesday
• NWEA Map Testing (ends 9/13)
• AWP Fall Benchmark for K - 3 students (ends 9/13)
• Food Distribution 3 - 6
• Volleyball practice 4:05
• Parent Meeting 4 - 5
• ODA - 4:05 - 6:30

Thursday, September 5, 2024

• Thinking Thursday
• Fundraiser Assembly - 10:30 in cafetorium
• NWEA Map Testing (ends 9/13)
• AWP Fall Benchmark for K - 3 students (ends 9/13)
• Volleyball practice 4:05 pm
• ODA - 4:05 - 6:30

Friday, September 6, 2024

• Fun Friday
• Fundraiser begins
• NWEA Map Testing (ends 9/13)
• AWP Fall Benchmark for K - 3 students (ends 9/13)
• Volleyball practice 4:05 pm
• ODA - 4:05 - 6:00

Email: andrea.moss@clevelandmetroschools.org
Website: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/orchard
Location: 4200 Bailey Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA
Phone: 216.838.7350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1423101557956541
Twitter: @OrchardSTEM