Liberty Family Newsletter

We've had an amazing first month of school, and it's been wonderful to see students settling into their routines, making new friends, and diving into their learning! A huge thank you to our families for all you've done to support a smooth and successful start to the year—we couldn't do it without you!

As we head into fall, we’re excited about the many upcoming events and activities that will bring our school community together. To kick things off, Liberty students can attend the varsity football game on 10/4/24 for FREE if you register in advance using the link below. We can’t wait to see you there!

Registration Link

"For purposes of this policy, "personal communication device" (PCD) includes computers, tablets (e.g., iPad-like devices), electronic readers ("e-readers"; e.g., Kindle-like devices), cell phones, smartphones (e.g., iPhones, Android devices, Windows Mobile devices, etc.), and/or other web-enabled devices of any type." (Ex: Smart Watches)

"Students may use PCDs before and after school, during their lunch break, in between classes at the high school as long as they do not create a distraction, disruption or otherwise interfere with the educational environment, during after school activities (e.g., extra-curricular activities), or at school-related functions. Use of PCDs, except those approved by a teacher or administrator, at any other time is prohibited and they must be powered completely off (i.e., not just placed into vibrate or silent mode) and stored out of sight."

For the entire policy, please review pages 24-25 of the Student Handbook.

Adults picking up students in the afternoon need a car rider tag or a valid ID.

1st Gr. Car Rider Pick Up - Adults must wait in line and listen for their student's name to be called. Please do not take your student without their name being called. When their name is called, please show the car rider tag to the teacher on duty. If you do not have your car rider tag, you will be asked to get it from your car or walk to the main office to have your ID checked before you are able to take your student home.

2nd Gr. Car Loop Pick Up - Adults must have their car rider tag hanging on their car mirror. If the tag is not hanging on the car mirror, you will be asked to pull around to the front lot by exiting onto Jaycox Road, parking in the front lot, and walking into the main office to have your ID checked before you are able to take your student home.

Thank you for your help with ensuring all students get home safely!

The Sandy Hook Promises' Start With Hello program will be coming to North RIdgeville City Schools the week of September 30th. This is a national week that focuses on encouraging students to reach out to others who may be isolated and can become victims of bullying, violence, and/or depression. Students will be encouraged to "start with hello!"

We are excited to introduce a new way for you to recognize our Liberty staff members! At any point in this school year, you can complete the Google Form below to give a shoutout to a staff member who has made a positive impact on your child. Your feedback will be celebrated and appreciated throughout our school community!

Happy September! Our membership drive is nearly finished.
If you have not joined PTO yet and would like to, you can fill out our membership form.

There is a membership fee of $5 through CheddarUp, or by check or cash sent in with your child in an envelope marked Liberty PTO and your name. All checks must be made out to "Liberty Elementary PTO."

Thank you to everyone participating in our fall fundraiser. Orders are due on Thursday, September 26th. Please send your order form and any payments in the envelope provided in with your student by that day. Orders will be available for pick up during Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 22nd from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.

Our lottery for head room parents is now open. These volunteers plan three class parties for their child's class throughout the year. We will keep this lottery open until September 18th. Head room parents will be announced on September 20th.

Click here for the first-grade classrooms

Click here for the second-grade classrooms

The North Ridgeville City Schools are always looking for great candidates to fill our many full and part-time positions. Please check out our Employment information on our district website. Looking for something part-time? Looking to help out for limited hours during the school year? Please consider becoming an important part of our team.

Ohio Substitute Teacher Services serves as our district’s substitute management provider, responsible for the recruitment, training, and employment of substitute teachers. To begin the employment process as a valued substitute teacher for North Ridgeville City Schools, click here.

Requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Bachelor’s degree with official transcripts or a valid teaching and/or substitute license from the Ohio Department of Education.

• Valid BCI & FBI fingerprinting background check results in less than 12 months old and are on file with the Ohio Department of Education.

Please consider becoming a substitute teacher today!

Substitute support staff play a vital role in keeping our buildings and facilities open and running efficiently. Many diverse opportunities exist for your consideration. Please consider applying to become a substitute cleaner, custodian, food service worker, paraprofessional, media specialist, secretary, bus driver and aides, or health care associate. Please start an application here if interested in one of these positions.

Names and Numbers

Lana Sas - Administrative Assistant - 440-327-6767

Jodie Perez - Attendance - 440-353-1123

Mandie Fleming - Nurse - 440-353-1128

Attendance Line: Call or Text 440-353-1129

Liberty Hours

• Doors open at 8:40 am

• School starts at 8:50 am

• Dismissal starts at 3:45 pm

Late Arrivals

• Car rider students that arrive at 8:50 or later must be walked into the school and signed in by an adult in the main office.

Reporting an Absence

• Please call or text (new this year!) the attendance line at 440-353-1129 to report any student attendance/tardy information before 9:30 am. Both are accessible 24 hours a day.

Changing Pick up Procedures

• All students must have an identified regular way to get home: car rider, bus rider, or walker. Please ensure that your student is aware of their plan.

• Any change in their normal way home must be in writing to the teacher in the morning. This can be handwritten and put in their take-home folder.

• It is helpful if any changes in pick up procedures are made prior to 3:00 pm the day of the change. The office begins preparing for dismissal at this time and has limited access to the phone and email.

Change in Contact Information (Address, Phone, Email)

• Remember to update the Parent Portal on PowerSchool if you change your phone number, address, or email.

Please review the student handbook regarding student attendance linked HERE. Pages 29-32 specifically highlight absence information and provide a comprehensive list of absence reasons that are acceptable for reporting. Students who are called off for a vacation during the school year WILL NOT be excused. Vacations are not excused absences. If the school is notified in advance of such a trip, reasonable efforts are made to prepare a general list of assignments for the student to do while he/she is absent but parents should not expect the teacher to re teach material that is missed due to the vacation.

New this year is the ability to text our attendance line if your child is going to be absent. If you text our absence line to report an absence, you must include the child's name and grade level, the parent/contact name and the reason for the absence. If the parent/contact name doesn't match the student's contact information in PowerSchool or the absence reason doesn't match our handbook, the absence will not be excused. If you have questions about this feature, please reach out to our office secretaries.

PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, promotes a positive school culture by teaching behavioral expectations and recognizing students for following them. Visit the Liberty Family PBIS Hub to learn more about how PBIS is implemented at Liberty and how it benefits our students.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of all students on school buses is of our top priorities. Please take note of the following guidelines that your child must adhere to while using school transportation. Students who repeatedly do not follow expectations will be subject to a bus referral. Multiple referrals can lead to loss of bus privileges.

From the Student Handbook:

The following regulations pertain to school bus conduct and are intended to ensure the safety and welfare of the students, the bus driver and other drivers on the road and to ensure the safety and proper maintenance of school buses.

Students will:

• Follow classroom conduct rules at all times.

• Be at designated place of safety on residence side of street (not in house, car, etc.) for pick up five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

• Be courteous. Use no profane language or gestures. No disruptive behavior, fighting, bullying, indecent behavior, possession of weapons, tobacco products, drugs, alcohol, etc.

• Stay in seat while the bus is moving. Keep head, hands and feet to self and inside the bus.

• Maintain an aisle way. Only objects that can be held on lap are permitted. No animals of any kind are allowed on the bus. We discourage the use of book bags with wheels and the bringing of skateboards, fishing rods and/or large projects on the bus.

• Not eat or drink on the bus. Keep the bus clean. Do not be destructive.

• Cooperate with the driver and follow directions regarding pick-up, drop off, crossing, silence at railroad tracks, etc.

• Sit in seats assigned by bus driver.

• Remain at the designated place of safety for drop off on residence side of street until the bus has left before proceeding home.

Thank you for helping us reinforce these rules with your child. By working together, we can ensure a safe and positive transportation experience for all students!

Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, to keep up with daily happenings at Liberty. Both Mrs. Puleo and Mrs. Pinzone will share classroom lessons, reminders of upcoming events, and general information about the building and district on their accounts.

Mrs. Puleo - @MrsPuleoNRCS

Mrs. Pinzone - @JenniferPinzone

September:

• 9/20 - No School for Students
• 9/27 - September PBIS Home to School Connections Due
• 9/27 - 1st Gr. Hearing & Vision Screenings
• 9/30-10/4 - Start with Hello Week

October:

• 10/4 - Liberty Night at the NRHS Varsity Football Game
• 10/8 - Parent-Teacher Conferences @ 4:30-6:30 PM
• 10/8 - PTO Meeting @ 6:30-7:30 PM
• 10/11 - Schools are Closed
• 10/22 - Parent-Teacher Conferences @ 4:30-6:30 PM
• 10/22 - PTO Tri-C Fundraiser Pick Up @ 4:30-6:30 PM
• 10/24 - October PBIS Home to School Connections Due
• 10/25 - No School for Students
• 10/29 - Parent-Teacher Conferences @ 4:30-6:30 PM
• 10/31 - PTO Fall Parties @ 2:30 PM