Back to School Dates:

• August 14: First day for students in Preschool, Grades 1-9, Grade 12, those new to the district in Grades 10-11, and Kindergarten assessments
• August 15: First day for students in Grades 10-11 and Kindergarten assessments
• August 16: First day for Kindergarten students

Sycamore Schools wants to make sure our incoming fifth graders and incoming seventh graders feel confident in attending a new building by providing opportunities for students to learn the ropes before the first day of school. There are still spots for both Greene 101 and JH Launch. Log into Parent Portal to register today!

We are excited to welcome nearly 50 new certified and classified staff members to the Sycamore Family in the 2019-2020 school year. Our leadership team has experienced several changes as we welcome:

• Amy Debelak, Montgomery Elementary Principal

• Sally Ganz, Montgomery Elementary Assistant Principal

• Tricia Constable, E.H. Greene Assistant Principal

• Andy King, Junior High Assistant Principal
  

• Mark Harden. Sycamore High School Athletic Director

School Supply Lists for the 2019-2020 school year are now available. Click below to see your school's list:

• Sycamore Junior High
• E.H. Greene School
  
• Blue Ash Elementary
  
• Maple Dale Elementary
  
• Montgomery Elementary
  
• Symmes Elementary
  

Just a reminder: Ohio's Sales Tax Holiday is Friday, August 2 - Sunday, August 4. School supplies priced at $20 per item or less will be exempt from sales and use tax.

• Make sure your information is up-to-date in Final Forms. New to the district? Check out our Final Forms tutorial.
• Pay all fees and add money to your school lunch accounts in Parent Portal. New to the district? Register for your Parent Portal Account.
• Check your student's bus route information by visiting the Transportation page beginning August 7.
• Need financial help? Be sure to fill out a Free and Reduced Meal application online. Visit the Child Nutrition section of the website for the paper form if you would prefer to not apply online.
• Don't forget your Grades 5-12 Chromebook pick-up and schedule pick-up dates:
• • August 5: E.H. Greene Get Connected Day (8:00 am-4:00 pm)
  • August 7: HS Schedule Pick-Up (8:00 am-Noon), JH Schedule Pick-Up (1:00 pm-5:00 pm)
  • August 8: JH Schedule Pick-Up (8:00 am-Noon), HS Schedule Pick-Up (Noon-4:00 pm)
• Get the kids to school, relax, and enjoy your freedom :)

We wanted to inform you of an important change to our program for the 2019-2020 school year. The growing number of students enrolled at Maple Dale in Kindergarten has made it necessary for us to relocate two of our preschool classrooms to Blue Ash Elementary School.

Mrs. Angela Garrett and Mrs. Amanda Hughes will relocate to Blue Ash Elementary. Mrs. Anna Battershell and Mrs. Joy Nichols will remain at Maple Dale Elementary. Mrs. Regina Stauder, Preschool Supervisor, will remain in her role, and travel between the two preschool locations.

Our preschool team worked closely with district administrators to ensure the new classroom spaces at Blue Ash meet the needs of our youngest learners and provide all the features required in our program. We are confident that you will find them welcoming and inviting!

Phase II of the Sycamore High School Science Wing renovation remains on schedule to be completed by the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The first-floor classrooms are being redone to include more space for collaboration and flexible learning. The classrooms will be larger, have new technology, and mobile furniture.

Beginning Wednesday, August 7, you will be able to find your student's bus route information for the 2019-2020 school year inside the Sycamore Community Schools Mobile App. Simply enter your Parent Portal email and password into "Student Info Log-in” icon to access this information on your smartphone. The app is free and available for download in iTunes and Google Play.

You can also check your routes by entering your student ID on the bus stop information tab on the Transportation page of our website.

Back To School Bus Day is August 13. Our school bus drivers will be conducting dry runs of their routes during their normally scheduled times in the morning and afternoon. This will be a great opportunity for students and families to familiarize themselves with their drivers and bus stops. Come out and say hello!

Event dates for the 2019-2020 school year are now available online. You can sync our online calendars with your iOs devices, Android devices, Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and more. Click here for instructions to sync the district calendar. If you want to sync your school's calendar rather than the entire district calendar, follow the iCal instructions by clicking on the chain-link icon at the top right corner of the calendar. You can also find and sync our online calendar in the Sycamore Community Schools mobile app.

NEW THIS YEAR: We have included the dates of culturally significant events and observations that could impact a student’s ability to attend a school or participate in certain activities like doing homework or evening functions. Great care has been given to assure the accuracy of these dates. Please let us know if there are any other dates that we should consider including in future calendars.

Sycamore Community Schools takes the safety and security of our staff and students very seriously. 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

Please watch the following video for more information on our reunification plan. Learn what you need to know now before an emergency or crisis happens.

Sycamore Community Schools is proud to announce that all seven schools will be staffed with school-based therapists for the 2019-2020 school year. We are pleased to welcome two more full-time therapists this Fall at Sycamore Junior High and Sycamore High School. Our full team includes:

• Maple Dale & Symmes Elementary: Jamie Wiener weinerj@sycamoreschools.org
• Blue Ash Elementary: Mary Hill hillma@sycamoreschools.org
• Montgomery Elementary: Karen Celesti celestik@sycamoreschools.org
• E.H. Greene Intermediate: Nicole Snyder snydern@sycamoreschools.org
• Sycamore Junior High: Kelsie McKinney mckinneyk@sycamoreschools.org
• Sycamore High School: Laura Capannari capannaril@sycamoreschools.org

Mary Hill will join Blue Ash Elementary following Lauren Greene’s resignation. The district is in the process of hiring a seventh therapist to serve at Symmes Elementary on a full-time basis.

The district continues to seek opportunities to meet the needs of our students while decreasing the strain on families. Beginning in September, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will begin offering medication management services to families engaged in school-based therapy. These services include the evaluation, prescription, and management of medication for clients. Medication management services are delivered by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Julia Leary, APRN, will serve students and their families two half-days per month at the district office located at 5959 Hagewa Drive. Students must be active clients of the school-based therapist in order to be eligible to see Julia. Families interested in engaging with medication management services can schedule appointments directly through their building therapist. Because medications are prescribed and discussed at these appointments, a parent or guardian must participate in the appointment. Families can work directly with the APRN to determine how they will participate (i.e. via phone or in-person).

For more information on our partnership with Children’s Hospital or questions about accessing services, please contact Lisa Zelvy, Pupil Support Supervisor, at zelvyl@sycamoreschools.org.

The Child Nutrition Department is now taking free and reduced applications for the 2019-20 school year. You have to fill out a new application EACH year. Click here to apply online. Visit the Child Nutrition tab on the website for the paper form if you would prefer to not apply online. All paper applications can be dropped off or mailed to the Child Nutrition office this summer at 5959 Hagewa Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45242. Contact our office with questions - (513) 686-1796.

School menus will be located online this school year through the "my school menus" website or on the Sycamore app. Click here to see the web version - menus will be posted sometime during the beginning of August.

Sycamore Community Schools has launched a new effort to connects people who need help with those who can pitch in.

The district has connected with Neighborhood Bridges to start Sycamore Bridges, which will bridge the gap between students and families in need and local advocates and donors.

Counselors, teachers, administrators, and clergy who learn about needs can post them on the Sycamore Bridges website. Requests can be for anything from financial assistance to clothing, food, and furniture needs. Those who want to help can sign up to fill the needs. It's all anonymous and helping is as simple as clicking a button.

Donors can drop off items at the Blue Ash Fire Station 13 on Kenwood Road or the Montgomery Fire Station on Montgomery Road.

Sign up now to be a donor and be ready the next time there is an opportunity for kindness. Click here to learn more information. Be sure to follow Sycamore Bridges on Facebook and Twitter.

Be sure to follow Sycamore Schools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

You can also follow our schools and services on Twitter:

Sycamore High School @TheRealMrMader

Sycamore Junior High @SycamoreJrHigh

E.H. Greene Intermediate @EHGreeneSchool

Blue Ash Elementary @BlueAshElem

Maple Dale Elementary @MapleDaleElem

Montgomery Elementary @Montgomery_Elem

Symmes Elementary @SymmesElem

Sycamore Culturally Responsive Practices @WeRSycamore

Child Nutrition Services @SycamoreCNS

Human Resources @SycamoreHR

Operations & Student Services @AviatorOps

Special Education @AVESAbilities

Superintendent @TopAviator

Assistant Superintendent @AviatorCoPilot

Curriculum and Instruction @AviatorLearning

Aviation Station @SycamoreSTEAM

Aviator Athletics @AvesAthletics