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,

Great things happen every day at Orchard such as Fathers Walk, Disney Musical, and after school programs including America Scores and Open Doors Academy. It was great to see fathers and father figures at our Fathers Walk. Thank you for coming! Congratulations to Ms. Kette, Ms. Davis, and Ms. Williams, our educators of the month. Congratulations to Ms. Edger, our parent of the month, and our students of the month.

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

We have revised many of our procedures to keep you and your child safe. During arrival, to ensure the continuous flow of traffic and for safety, please drop off your child at the drop off sign. If you need to park, please use a parking space. At the beginning of the school day, Orchard becomes a phone free zone. Students in grades 5 - 8 must place their phones in their Yondr pouch. At 3:30 pm, Orchard becomes a closed campus. That means, to avoid disrupting learning, 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 this space for our buses, cabs, and vans. At dismissal, Orchard Avenue becomes a one-way street. Please enter Orchard Avenue from West 44th street. At the end of the school day, all middle school students will exit the building from the West 41 street door, except for bus, cab, and van riders and after-school program participants. Walkers and car riders in kindergarten - 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 also ask that you refrain from entering the building, without permission from security, 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. As for dress and appearance, we believe that it rests with parents and guardians and strongly encourage our students to dress appropriately. Please remind your child of these expectations. We commit to providing a safe and orderly environment and delivering high-quality educational services free from disruption.

We are pleased to have you as partners and want to assure you that we will do our best to help your child experience academic, social, and emotional growth. 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!

Orchard School Hours:

• 0 Period (Students in grades 4 - 8 and their siblings in K - grade 3): 8:35 am - 9:25 am
• Breakfast: 9:05 am - 9:35 am
• Instruction: 9:35 am - 4:05 pm
• NOTE: Our secretary will be unavailable from 12 - 1 pm daily for her break. Other staff members will offer you assistance and try their best to meet your needs.
• After school program with Open Doors Academy (ODA) takes place Mondays - Thursdays, 4:05 - 6:30 pm, Fridays, 4:05 - 6 pm.

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), the Integrated Health Task Force (Care Alliance, Applewood) and the Ohio State Young Scholars program.

Integrated Health Task Force

If you are new to Orchard, the Integrated Health Task Force addresses medical and mental health needs of our students. Medical (which includes Dental) health services are provided in a mobile unit that is here Tuesdays and Thursdays with a Physician Assistant. If a student has acute or chronic issues or needs a sports physical, Care Alliance can see them. Care Alliance has also spoken with classrooms about health and hygiene needs. The Dentist Dr. Enwonwu is scheduled to be at Orchard September 15. I will update you on the return of the mobile unit for other medical needs. 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/

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. 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.

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. Students have been 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. Currently first grade is in the lead with 11 family surveys completed. Help your students class win the pizza party! Students Pre K-2 can also earn a $10 gift card, grades3-5thcan earn a gift card for $25 and grades 6-8th can earn a $50 gift card. Additional incentives for parents include $100 cash and a $50 gift card for gas. These incentives during the month of September and incentives given in October. 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. 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)

Please click Standard Dress and Appearance Policy to review the full policy.

Monday, September 25, 2023

• Mindset Monday
• Fundraising (Note: Fundraiser ends Wednesday, September 27)
• ODA After-school Program 4 - 6:30 pm
• America Scores Practice 4 - 5:15 pm

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

• Together Tuesday
• Jungle Book Practice 4:15 - 6:30 pm
• Fundraising (Note: Fundraiser ends tomorrow)
• ODA After-school Program 4 - 6:30 pm
• America Scores Practice 4 - 5:15 pm

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

• Work-Together Wednesday
  
• Jungle Book Practice 4:15 - 6:30 pm
• Fundraising (Note: Fundraiser ends today)
• ODA After-school Program 4 - 6:30 pm
• America Scores Practice 4 - 5:15 pm

Thursday, September 28, 2023

• Thinking Thursday
• Jungle Book Practice 4:15 - 6:30 pm
• ODA After-school Program 4 - 6:30 pm
• America Scores Game 5 pm

Friday, September 29, 2023

• Fun Friday
• ODA After-school Program 4 - 6 pm

Wednesday, October 4 - Market Day Food Distribution 3 - 6 pm

Wednesday, October 4 - Parent Town Hall 4 - 5 pm

Friday, October 6 - No PreK and No Kindergarten

Thursday, October 12 - Grade 8 Leadership Day @ Chagrin Reservation 10:3 0 am

Friday, October 13 - No School

Friday, October 20 - End of First Marking Period

Tuesday, October 24 - No School Due to Parent-Teacher Conferences 12:30 - 7 pm

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