Weekly Firebird Family Update
French Run Firebirds Family Update
Grade Level Newsletters
Kindergarten: https://www.smore.com/n/usmpc
1st Grade: https://www.smore.com/n/sq976
2nd Grade: https://www.smore.com/n/f2h4w-welcome-to-second-grade
3rd Grade: https://www.smore.com/n/pk2b4
4th Grade:https://www.canva.com/design/DAFy7cNFN4c/Vw0jZTZe0aDIZ3mMhqT3rQ/edit?utm_content=DAFy7cNFN4c&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
5th Grade: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o_b7_IpZgJpF0yV
Art: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z-fPWLwDWhotjnuSnk_bE6nkMhOiA-pR/view?usp=sharing
Absences
As soon as you know your child will be absent from school, please report the absence by doing one of the two following things:
Email Attendance.FRES@reyn.org
Call 614-367-1972
If your child is going to be absent, you need to call AND send a written note. If you just call, it is still an unexcused absence. You must send a written note or email in order to be an excused absence.
Birthday Party Invitations
If you are inviting the whole class to the party, then invitations may be handed out at school.
If you are not inviting the whole class to the party, then invitations may not be handed out at school. You would need to mail them.
Birthday Treats
It is our school policy, for food allergy and nutrition reasons, is to not allow birthday treats. We welcome you to celebrate your child's birthday with non-food treats such as pencils, stickers, or books!
Bus Behavior
Parents of bus riders, please be sure to review bus expectations with your students. Unexpected bus behaviors will result in school discipline or being removed from the bus. Students must stay in their assigned seat and keep all body parts to themselves. The bus expectations are below.
S: Self control- maintain a level 1 voice and stay seated
O: On Task- Follow all bus rules; listen to driver’s directions
A: Acceptance- Be kind to others; be aware of personal space
R: Respect- Be respectful to others; use appropriate language
We have had some incidents where students are hitting each other on this bus. I understand and respect that some people teach their children to defend themselves and hit back. The expectation at school and on the bus is to tell an adult and keep your hands to yourself. If students hit each other at school or on the bus, there will be consequences. As I understand and respect your rules at home, I hope you can understand and respect the school rules as well.
Change of Information
Change of Information
Please be sure to let the school office know immediately if you have any changes in phone numbers, emergency contacts, or e-mail addresses.
All residency (address) and custody changes must be reported to the Reynoldsburg City Schools Welcome Center, located at 1555 Graham Road, within 10 of the change. You can reach the Welcome Center at 614-501-1033 if you need more information.
Class Dojo
Class Dojo is our main method of communication. There is an app to download Class Dojo. We use it for messaging, morning announcements, and sharing just about everything you will need! Please check the class story and school story for important updates on a regular basis. Your child's teacher will email you an invitation to join Class Dojo.
If you are having difficulty joining, try this link!
https://www.classdojo.com/invite/?s=514fa9564acb616e1b0012db.
Dismissal Communications
Please make sure your child always knows how they are getting home. If your family’s usual procedure changes, please be sure you send a note to the teacher and office to let them know. It is very important that you include everyone who is allowed to pick up your child on the Emergency Contact Form.
If there is a change in how your child will be going home, please call the office as soon as you know about the change! We cannot communicate any changes to teachers and students after 2:00 PM, so you must let the office know about all dismissal changes by 2:00 PM.
Field Day
Field Day is on Tuesday, May 21 and we need lots of volunteers to run all of the stations. Please sign up here if you are able!
https://forms.gle/Ybgkr5KjFiZ5M3PE9
Food Service and Weekend Food Boxes
Breakfast and lunch will not be free for everyone this year. If you qualify for free or reduced priced meals, please be sure to fill out an application by clicking the hyperlink. The costs of all meals are included on our menus, also located on our school website.
If you qualify for free and reduced lunch and would like to sign up for weekend food boxes, please fill out the survey here; https://forms.gle/Th2RmF5ZkB8nFegp7
Footwear in PE Class
Hello Firebird Families!
This is Mr. Klein, the PE teacher at French Run. I’m writing to you all to ask that this year your child comes to school with proper footwear for activity on the days they have PE. This will be the same day every week.
The wrong kind of footwear can cause falls trips and twisted ankles. This is not fun. That said, please DO NOT send the following:
CROCS (sports mode does not work)
SANDALS
BOOTS
SLIDES
HEELS
HEELS DISGUISED AS TENNIS SHOES
CLEATS
It would help me and your kiddos if they had proper fitting shoes for activity.
Thank you!
Mr. Klein
Health Clinic
Covid protocol
If a child tests positive, we follow the Franklin county health department covid protocol. Day 0 is the onset of symptoms. The isolation period is 5 days. On day 6, the child may return to school if they are no longer symptomatic (Fever, chills, cough/congestion, headache, and or chest pain). Masking is recommended for 5 days following this time period. If they still have a fever, they should stay home until the fever resolves. If a parent decides to test the child after they've tested positive during the quarantine period, they should not test in the quarantine period. Testing should be completed after the isolation period if they wish to test.
General wellbeing
It is that time of the year. Viruses will be spreading left and right. Please, please, please keep kids home if they have a fever, are vomiting or have diarrhea. They should be free of any of these symptoms for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Ideally, they should be free of any symptoms that prevent them from participating in school activities, such as: excessive tiredness or lack of appetite; productive coughing or sneezing; headache, body aches, earache or sore throat.
We want them to be feeling their best so they are able to learn while here at school.
Remind and teach them to cover coughs and sneezes.
Wash hands well with soap and water and keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouths to prevent spreading germs.
If your child will be absent please contact attendance to let them know.
Hearing and Vision Screenings
Hearing and vision screening will be conducted throughout the school year. Screenings are not a diagnostic evaluation and do not detect all problems. A referral will be sent home if your child does not pass their screening. It is important after a referral is sent home that parents follow up with their primary care provider to do a thorough evaluation so that a plan can be put in place to help them be successful at school.
Immunizations
If your child is missing immunizations, I will be reaching out to you for their immunizations. Sometimes kids move to Ohio and we do not have access to outside records. If you would like to sign a record release for the previous school to send it to French Run, please let us know.
With bandaids and an ice pack,
The French Run Clinic
Late Arrival
If you are bringing your student to school after 8:45 am, you must sign your student into school. Please do not drop your student off without signing them in at the office. Please review the HB410 Attendance FAQ’s here for information regarding Ohio’s attendance laws; https://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Student-Supports/Chronic-Absenteeism/House-Bill-410-FAQ-2-1.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US
Little Free Pantry and Little Free Library
Did you know we have a Little Free Pantry and Little Free Library at French Run?
As soon as you enter our parking lot/driveway from either Epworth Avenue or Donald Avenue, you will see two newspaper boxes on your left.
The first one is a Little Free Pantry. We keep non-perishable food items and personal care items in it. Any French Run family or community member can and should help themselves to what they need at any time! I periodically ask for donations of non-perishable food items and personal care items to restock the Little Free Pantry. Currently we have enough donations.
The second one is Little Free Library. We keep children's books in it. Any French Run family or community can and should help themselves to what they want at any time! Anyone is welcome to leave their gently used books that they no longer want so that others may enjoy the books as well!
Lost and Found
Our lost and found is overflowing! If your child has lost a coat, lunchbox, or other items, please come look through the Lost and Found! We have boxes and racks full of items. Please check in at the front office. The Lost and Found is in the front hallway right across from the Felix the Firebird mural outside of our school office.
Medication
Medication
If your student needs to take medication at school, a form must be filled out and signed by the parent (and doctor, if it’s prescription medication), and an adult must bring the medication to the school.
No Touchy Touchy
Please watch this video about keeping our hands to ourselves.
https://youtu.be/LcwJAIvZybU
If you didn't know, we are not allowed to suspend students in grades K-3, so we use natural consequences. An example of natural consequences is if a student hits someone at recess, they lose the next recess.
We are allowed under state law to suspend students in grades 4 and 5, and we do if they continue to put hands on others.
Parenting Support
I wanted to make you aware of this great resource available to you. It offers free parenting training and support if you are experiencing any difficulties at home with your children such as strong emotions or difficulty establishing sleep patterns.
https://www.triplep-parenting.com/oh-en/triple-p/
Parking Lot Kindness
Students need to stay in their cars until 8:30 AM when supervision arrives. If you see me or another staff member, you may let your child exit your vehicle and line up on their colored dot. It is important to wait until a school staff member is on duty. Also, it is kind and courteous to not beep your horn at parents who have been following this rule all along!
Please wait in the car loop. The loop with the parking lot is for school buses and daycare vans only.
Please be patient and do not drive around other vehicles in the pick-up parking lot loops. We sometimes have to move the cones to allow our daycare vans to get through. That does not mean you can drive around other cars.
Parking Lot Loops
When you enter the parking lot, the first loop is for buses and child care vans only. All car rider drop-offs and pick-ups must use the second loop. The only exception is for people who park and drop off or pick up their children at the flagpole. Those people may park in the first parking lot, but still may not drive through the entire loop to drop off or pick up.
Phones and Watches
Students must keep cell phones in their backpacks during the school day. They may use phones to contact families before school and after school of course. If a staff member sees a student with a phone during the school day, the student will receive a warning. If it happens a second time, the phone will be taken to the office and a parent or guardian will have to come pick it up.
Students may wear their smart watches, but they must be set to school mode during the school day. Students may only text from their smart watch with a teacher's permission. If a staff member sees a student use their smart watch inappropriately during school day, the student will receive a warning. If it happens a second time, the smart watch will be taken to the office and a parent or guardian will have to come pick it up.
Pokemon Cards
Pokemon cards have become a distraction to the learning environment.
If teachers and staff see that Pokemon cards are interfering with student learning, we will take the cards away and call a parent/guardian to come get them at your convenience.
School Day
The School Day
School begins at 8:45 a.m. School doors open at 8:35 a.m. Please do not drop students off before 8:30. There is no adult supervision before that time.
Our dismissal procedures begin around 3:00 p.m. The office closes at 3:30 p.m.
Special Areas Night
Please save the date for Wednesday, April 24 from 5:00-6:30 PM.
Special Education
Here is a link to A Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education. Even though it doesn't apply to everyone, it's important that everyone has access to it.
Student Businesses
Students are not permitted to sell anything to other students in order to make money at school. If this happens, parents will be contacted to come pick up the money.
Substitutes
We need lots of substitute teachers and paraprofessionals this year at French Run if you are looking for work that is not full time. Our school day for substitutes is 9:15 AM - 4:15 PM.
A high school diploma or GED is required to be a substitute paraprofessional. A college degree is required to be a substitute teacher.
Here are the pay rates.
REYNOLDSBURG CITY SCHOOLS
Substitute Teacher | $150.00/day
Substitute Paraprofessional | $14.83/hour
Substitute Secretary | $15.87/hour
If you are interested, please learn more and apply here!
https://www.escco.org/Stepstobecomeasubstitute.aspx
Reynoldsburg City Schools now gets substitutes through the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio. If you applied last year through Rachel Wixey, unfortunately that is no longer valid.
Ways to Stay Connected
Please stay connected to our school! We have lots of information available on our school website, https://www.reyn.org/frenchrunelementary_home.aspx. We use Class Dojo the most as our communication tool. Please be sure to sign up and accept invites from all of your child’s teachers on Class Dojo. If you are on social media, please search “French Run Elementary” on Facebook and Twitter to follow us if you are already not doing so. Finally, we send weekly email updates on Friday mornings. Please be sure the office has your current email address so you can receive them.
Ways to Support Your Child's Learning
Thank you all so much for all the support you are providing to your student(s). Some ways in which you can continue to support your Firebird(s) includes:
K-4 Reading: Reading to or with your students 20 minutes a day at least 3 times a week.
K-2 Reading: Use flashcards to work on letter names, letter sounds, and sight words.
2-4 Math: Have your student log into Reflex Math (on the FRES portal) to become more fluent in addition and subtraction OR multiplication and division.
K-4: Use the French Run portal to gain access to different educational sites including Brain Pop Jr. and Raz Kids.
Zones of Regulation
At French Run Elementary School we use a social-emotional learning program called Zones of Regulation across all areas of the school. This program teaches students social/emotional vocabulary, awareness, and strategies using visual cues. If you hear your child talking about being in the blue zone or the red zone they are talking about Zones! Here is a visual of the four color coded zones. No zone is bad, everyone experiences every zone! Today Ms. Wollam is in the blue zone. I’m feeling tired because I woke up too early today. What zone are you in? How are you feeling today?