Wiggin Street Parent Update

August 2, 2023

Welcome

Families,

The long awaited school class rosters have arrived! We appreciate your patience, and hope that the extra time has allowed us to create classes that will best serve your students. We want to welcome all new families to Wiggin Street! Kindergarten parents, please notice the group that your child has been assigned as well as the days they are to attend during the staggered start.

Please remember to send Mrs. Phillips a summer reading picture of your student over the summer. Also, encourage students to read and fill out their summer reading logs. It's easy to qualify for our Wet-N-Wild Water Day, but you must turn in your summer reading log to be part of the fun! There is more information below, and our website has links to the reading logs. Make time to relax in the sun with a good book this summer!

Class lists are included in this update via Instant Connect and will be posted on our front doors. Click here if you need an Instant Connect account. All communication, including these updates, are sent by email and text through this method. Also, school supply lists can be found here. New parents, did I forget anything? If so, check out our website, and if you still don't find what you are looking for, email me at cgrandstaff@mvcsd.us.

This Back to School Update is also packed with lots of information to help you and your child have a successful start to the school year. Thank you for trusting us with your children each day, and please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to seeing all of you at Open House.

Have a great rest of your summer!

Warmly,

Christy Grandstaff

2023-24 Class Rosters

Please click here for the class rosters for this school year.

Kindergarten Staggered Start

In order to assist children in their transition to kindergarten, all elementary schools will be implementing a "staggered start" for just our kindergarten students. Please take note as to the group assigned on the class rosters and the dates they are to attend. Group A will begin on August 17th and Group B on the 18th. The A/B schedule continues through August 24th with all kindergarten students together on the 25th. Kindergarten teachers will meet the students on the front lawn on the first days, and they will walk together to class.

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Open House

Our teachers are busy getting their rooms ready to greet students at our Open House on August 15th 6:00-7:30pm. This will be an informal meet and greet and opportunity for students to bring in their supplies. I will be available outside the office and look forward to meeting you, so please stop by to say hello.

Staff

There have been very few changes in our staffing this year. Dayna Stelzer took another Speech position outside of the school setting, and we were so grateful to have Lynn Kneile joining us this year. Also, Mrs. Ballard retired at the end of the year last year, and Madison Vipperman is our new Intervention Specialist. You may remember her as one of our Reading Specialists for the past 2 years. We are so happy that she accepted the Intervention Specialist position and is already familiar with the kids she will be working with this year. Her position will be filled by Nikki Schuster. This will be her first teaching position, but she is bringing a wealth of knowledge. Please help me welcome them at the Open House.

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Lynn Kneile- Speech Language Pathologist

I learned about the field of speech-language pathology after having graduated from college, so back to school I went! It’s been a good fit because I’ve always been enamored with words and language. I also enjoy family game nights, reading, and eating out. In nice weather, you’ll likely find me outside enjoying nature, working in my flowerbeds, or on one of the local bike trails or pickleball courts.

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Nikki Schuster- Reading Specialist

I am very excited about the opportunity to work as a Reading Specialist at Wiggin Street Elementary. I grew up in Ashland, Ohio, with my parents and three siblings. I graduated from the University of Findlay with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2022. I also just finished my Master of Arts in Education Degree with a Reading Endorsement and Literacy Leader Certificate from the University of Findlay. I have a true passion for teaching. It is an amazing experience seeing students develop into confident readers and writers!

Outside of school, I love spending time with my family and friends. One of my hobbies is baking! I enjoy making wedding cakes in the summer. I am looking forward to a great year at Wiggin Street Elementary!

Chromebooks

As a district we are 1:1 on Chromebooks, and students in grades 3-5 receive a touchscreen Chromebook to be used in class as well as students in grades 3-5 have a Chromebook that they can keep at home to complete assignments.

The 2022-23 MVCSD Student Electronic Device Handbook can also be found on the district website, but I've linked it here for convenience. Please read carefully to understand that "a Student Electronic Device or any of its accessories that are lost (whereabouts unknown) or damaged is the responsibility of the student and parent involved in the loss of property. The replacement costs are listed below. The user will not be given another device or accessory to take home until the replacement cost of the lost/damaged device or accessory is paid in full"

Replacement of the Chromebook - $341

Chromebook Touchscreen-$199

Chromebook Charger-$29

Chromebook Motherboard-$269

Chromebook Non Touchscreen-$50

iPad-$299

There is an option to purchase insurance again this year, and more information can be found here:

OPT IN Student Electronic Device Insurance Flyer (These will be sent home at the start of the school year.) The cost is $44 per device (K-12).

Parents' Guide: Keeping Children Safe Online

Acceptable Usage Policy

Pick Up and Drop Off

Below you will see the route to enter our drive for pick up and drop off of your children. Please know that students should not be dropped off earlier than 8:40 am. for the students' safety.

For pick up, please do not arrive until 3:30. There is no stopping, standing, or parking on E. Brooklyn St. allowed, and you will be ticketed. Also, our school is an Idle-free zone. So, please protect our children and the community by turning off your engine.

Children need to be picked up by 3:45. We appreciate your cooperation and efforts to help this process run smoothly. Thank you!

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School Supply List

We are getting ready for an exciting school year! Click here for Wiggin Street's 2023-24 School Supply List.

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Bus Information

All bus information will be available on the portal shortly after August 8th. An Instant Connect message will be sent out to let you know when they are final. Please wait for the message before contacting the bus garage.

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School Attendance

Our doors open at 8:40, so students should not be dropped off prior to that time for safety due to supervision. Attendance is taken at 9:00, and your child's success in school depends on them being prompt, so they are ready for morning routines which can reduce student anxiety. If they are tardy for some reason, you will need to come into the office to sign them in. If they are ill and need to be absent, please call the office. A note of explanation is needed in the office upon returning to school including medical excuses if applicable.

You can send a note with your child to the office in the morning if there is a change in their pick up routine. Sometimes changes are necessary during the school day for pick up. If you have a change in the way your child needs to go home, it is preferred that you send an email to your child's teacher and Anne, our secretary, at aphilllips@mvcsd.us. Phone calls must be made to the office before 2:00 pm if needed, so the change can be communicated.

School Lunches

MVCSD asks for all families to complete the Free/Reduced Meal application as it affects funding in many areas besides meals. Completing this form will ensure continued funding to support ALL students in our district. New financial criteria has been established, and we believe that families who qualify for 'reduced' status may now be eligible to receive free lunch and breakfast under the most recently passed biennial budget. When the Free or Reduced application is approved, it will impact much more than meals.

Breakfast- $1.00

Lunch- $2.75

Milk only- $0.50

Mrs. Walker will be available at Open House to put funds on your student's account.

2023-24 Parent Portal Electronic Forms

Dear Mount Vernon Families,

Mount Vernon City Schools look forward to welcoming back our students for the 2023-24 school year! We hope you and your family had a wonderful break and are ready for a fantastic year ahead. As we prepare for the upcoming academic term, we kindly request your assistance in completing the necessary electronic forms to ensure a smooth start for your child. Please take a moment to read this notice carefully and complete the required information.

In our continuous efforts to streamline administrative processes and minimize paperwork, we are continuing our partnership with OneView/LINQ electronic forms. This convenient method allows you to complete all essential forms securely and efficiently from the comfort of your own home. By embracing this digital approach, we aim to save you time and effort, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

To get started, please follow the instructions below:

Access the Electronic Forms: Visit our school website, www.mvcsd.us and locate the 'For Families' dropdown menu. Select 'Parent Portal' in this section which is the link to our electronic form platform.

Login Credentials: If you have used our electronic forms in the past, you can use your existing username and password. If this is your first time using the system, you will need to create a new account. Follow the instructions on the parent resource page to set up your account.

Complete Required Forms: Once you have logged in, you will see your student(s). Selecting your student will reveal a list of forms relevant to your child's grade level and needs. Please review each form carefully and complete all the required fields accurately. The forms for elementary students include the Emergency Medical form, District Authorizations form, and Free and Reduced Lunch form. We would encourage everyone to complete the free-reduced lunch and breakfast applications. New financial criteria has been established and we believe that families who qualify for 'reduced' status may now be eligible to receive free lunch and breakfast under the most recently passed biennial budget.

Middle and High School students will have the same forms with the addition of the Athletics form for students competing in extra-curricular athletics. Your cooperation is vital in ensuring we have up-to-date and accurate information to best support your child.

Submission Deadline: To ensure a timely start to the school year, we kindly request that all electronic forms be completed and submitted one week prior to the start of school. This will allow our administrative staff ample time to review and process the information before the first day of classes.

Need Assistance? If you encounter any technical difficulties or require assistance during the form completion process, please reach out to your building secretary. For additional questions or assistance contact John Frye, district Web Manager, at 740.397.7422 x 6038; email jfrye@mvcsd.us or Deb Doup, District Registrar at 740.397.7422 x 6000; email dedoup@mvcsd.us . We are here to help and will promptly address any concerns you may have.

We appreciate your cooperation in completing the electronic forms promptly. Your efforts will greatly contribute to a seamless beginning for your child and our school community as a whole. If you have multiple children attending our school, please ensure you complete the forms for each child individually.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in your child's education. We are eagerly looking forward to another amazing year together. Should you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

William Seder Jr.
Superintendent

Summer Reading Program

There is still time to get some reading in and don't forget to send us pictures of your child reading for the Summer Reading assembly slideshow! Please email them to Mrs. Phillips @ aphillips@mvcsd.us.

Everyone loves Water Day and students who meet their reading goal will earn a Wet-N-Wild Water Day! The goals are achievable! Please read this letter to learn more.

Summer Reading Goals

Going into K&1 - 45 books
Going into 2nd - 400 pages
Going into 3rd - 800 pages
Going into 4th&5th - 1,000 pages

Research has shown that reading over the summer can help prevent that dreaded “Summer Slide” and allow students to maintain the growth they worked so hard for during the school year. Go find new adventures, make exciting discoveries, and explore the possibilities. Take advantage of online reading programs, Lexia Core 5, the Little Free Library on the front lawn, or contact the school if your child needs appropriate reading materials. Let’s start off the new year as strong readers!

Hold onto Brag Tags

Please save your student's Brag Tags to add to their new backpack for next school year. Some new tags have been purchased, and the kids love to collect them!

PTO Corner

Interested in being more involved with our school? Our PTO, Friends of Wiggin Street, will have a table set up at our Open House with sign up sheets for different committees and opportunities for parent volunteers. All are welcome!