Miller Elementary Weekly Update

Hello Miller Families!

I hope your December is off to a great start and you are enjoying this holiday season! We want to send out a Happy Hanukkah to any family that celebrates during this time of year! Our children are enjoying learning about the many traditions, celebrations and festivities that your family participates in not only during this time of year, but all year long!

We have been greeted with some yucky viruses throughout our building causing many children and some staff members to become ill. Specifically, children are displaying multiple days of stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. Although this is not a fun topic to discuss, this can be problematic in a building where young children are still learning how to properly wash hands and prevent the spread of viruses by touching surfaces and or their mouth, continuously. Please be extra diligent in following our illness protocols. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea, they must be free of symptoms for 24 hours prior to their return. This helps to ensure your child isn't returning during the contagious period and thus continuing the spread. At school, we will be enhancing our cleaning protocols and continuing with proper hand washing routines. Also, when you fill out the Google Form that your child will be home sick, it would be helpful during this time if you include the symptoms they are displaying. THANK YOU!

This also is the time of year when we have fun events and activities with our family and friends that will make the holidays extra bright. I like to provide some helpful tips to support you during this busy time. It's important to remember that our young children thrive on routines and knowing what's ahead. Here are a few tips to help during the holiday hustle and bustle.

1: Prioritize the same eating and sleeping routines. Trying to keep some consistency will support their physical and emotional needs.

2: If possible, review the fun activities with your child before they happen. Knowing what's ahead can ease their minds and help them understand what will be happening next. You can use a picture schedule to help them understand what is first, second, or even last.

3: Keep a comfort item close by. A special blanket or stuffed animal can become very helpful when your child feels upset or overwhelmed. This special item can be especially helpful at times of deescalation.

4: Be open and honest with your family about your routines and expectations. Being forthcoming about your household rules will keep an open line of communication with extended family.

5: ENJOY THE MOMENT! Focus on creating memories with your child and enjoy this special time of year!

I hope you have a Happy Holiday Weekend!

Maria Goodman

Miller Elementary Principal

330-954-2189

Email mgoodman@aurora-schools.org

We want to send a BIG THANK YOU to our PTO for organizing another fun-filled Holiday Shop! Many children enjoyed shopping for a special treasure for family and friends. Thank you to all our volunteers!

As a reminder, 2nd-semester tuition payments for preschool and kindergarten will be due on January 15th, 2024. You will be receiving a letter in the mail with your remaining balance and payment options. If you should have any questions after you get the letter, please contact Vicki Wolf at 330-562-6199.

Our nutrition group secured a grant that will allow all of our students to partake in a fresh fruit or veggie every Tuesday and Friday, in addition to what they are offered at lunchtime. Beginning Tuesday, 12/12, students will be offered the fruit or veggie of the day and they will have the choice to take it or refuse it. They can only take one and are more than welcome to bring it home. All of the fruits and veggies will be prepackaged and easy to grab and go! The thought is that your child may enjoy this during snack time in the afternoon or bring it home to enjoy after school. Many thanks to Sirna and Sons for providing these delicious and healthy snacks for all of our students! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out!

December

• Thursday 12/7 & Friday 12/8 - The Holiday Shop (More Information Forthcoming)
• Monday, 12/18 - Grinch Day - Wear Green or Dress up as a Character from The Grinch
• Monday, 12/18 - Preschool Gingerbread Family Event 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM
• Tuesday, 12/19 - Polar Express Day - Wear PJ's to School - Milk & Oreo's will be Served
• Wednesday, 12/20 - Winter Festival Parties - Wear Holiday Festive Clothes or Colors
• Thursday 12/21 - Winter Break Begins
• Wednesday 1/3 - School Resumes

Can you believe the temperatures are getting cooler and snowflakes are coming! Many families had questions about our outdoor recess policy when it gets cold and the snow starts to fly. Our full-day students will continue to go outside if the feels like temperature is between 15 and 20 degrees or higher. We watch the weather closely as it is important for our children to get outside, run around, and enjoy some fresh air. The playground is a great place to practice social skills such as turn taking, problem solving as well as how to communicate with their friends. Plus, when the snow comes, it provides some fun experiences to build snowmen or use our sleds down our playground hills!

We recommend a warm coat, hats, gloves, snow pants, and boots (when necessary). We work with all children to help them learn how to dress themselves independently and in the correct order. (Snow pants, boots, jacket zipped, hat, and gloves are last). Please make sure all your child's items are labeled with their name. It is important that you check their book bag for an extra set of clothes and socks that match the new season. Children would rather wear their change of clothes if an accident occurs. Please have your child practice putting on their snow gear at home too!

This is a reminder that we are using our Miller Attendance and Parent Pick-up Form as an easy communication tool to report your child will be absent or you need to pick them up from school early. You still need to use the Alternative Bus Stop Form linked in this newsletter if you need your child's bus to change. You do not need to report if they will not be riding the bus in the morning due to an absence or illness on this form.

If you want to change your child from a bus rider to a parent pick-up, please scan the QR code below or click the button to fill out our Google form. This can be done from any device and your reply will be sent immediately to our secretary, Mrs. Wolf.

If you need an alternative bus stop or a change in busing, we also have attached the transportation forms to change your child's busing information. These forms need to be completed and sent to our transportation department at transportationinfo@aurora-schools.org

Greetings Families! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead! The classroom guidance focus this time around has been on solving problems. The Kindergarten students understand now that they’re “big kids,” they can solve small problems. Small problems are defined as problems we can solve when someone or something is bothering or annoying us. Students can use the following strategies: ignore, walk away, take turns, take a break, talk it out, or apologize. I have been hearing the term, problem-solver, quite a bit, and it is music to my ears throughout Miller. Encourage your children to solve small problems at home since they’re showing us they can do so at school!

Mrs. Lindsey Ambrosia

School Counselor

lambrosia@aurora-schools.org

330.562.6199, ext. 5414

AEPTO will be hosting Princess Prom on January 27th. Please fill out this survey to help us gauge interest and help our committee finalize details. Thank you!

Hello Miller Families!

Below are your AEPTO updates.

1. Our next AEPTO meeting is Wednesday, January 4 at 10:00am. The location has changed and we're excited to announce Lotus Wellness and MedSpa will host our January meeting! 251 West Garfield Road Suite 290 Aurora, OH. We hope to see you there!

https://www.lotuswellnessmedspa.com/

2. Giving Tree - Thank you to all our families who participated in our Giving Tree Project this year! We were overwhelmed with your generosity! We filled the truck with donations from Miller, Craddock, and Leighton.

3. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped during Holiday Shop! We truly appreciate you!

4. Wednesday, December 20 - Winter Festival classroom parties!

If you are interested in helping plan your child's classroom winter party, please click the link below. The party is winter themed and you will work with your HRP to plan the party.

Miller Winter Festival Volunteer Sign Up

5. Saturday, January 6 - AEPTO Family Night at the Cleveland Monsters Game! See the flyer for more information.

6. Thursday, February 15 - AEPTO Family Night at Kalahari! The deadline to book is 1/15 but this is very popular and will sell out fast! So get your room now! See the flyer for more information.

7. Saturday, January 27, 2024 - AEPTO's Princess Prom! More information to come.

8. Box Tops! Another easy way to help out our schools. Just download the app and then scan your receipts to earn box tops.

9. Interested in joining the AEPTO Board? My position, Vice President of Miller, will be open for next school year. If you are interested in this position, please let me know!

Important Upcoming Dates

12/20 - Winter Festival (classroom parties)

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Jen
auroraptomesvp@gmail.com

mgoodman@aurora-schools.org

Principal

Vicki Wolf

vwolf@aurora-schools.org

Secretary

Email: mgoodman@aurora-schools.org
Website: aurora-schools.org
Location: 646 S Chillicothe Rd, Aurora, OH 44202, USA
Phone: 330-562-6199