Dad and Donuts

Donuts with Dad

The second session for those not attending on October 10th
is this Friday, Oct. 17th.

The Symmes PTO would like to thank Dunkin' Donuts on Mason-Montgomery Rd. for sponsoring our Donuts with Dad events on Oct. 10th and Oct. 17th.  Please be sure to thank them the next time you visit Dunkin' Donuts! 

Our  new school counselor, Beth Hill, is forming two new groups. Groups will begin in the middle of October and last for 8 weeks.

 The “Changing Families” group would be perfect for students who have parents going through a divorce or separation, are living with a grandparent, or have a new step-parent or siblings in the home.

The “Why do Sad Things Happen?” group is forming for students who have experienced recent a loss: the passing of a parent, grandparent or close family member.

If you would like your child included in either of these groups please email our school counselor at hille@sycamoreschools.org

SYMMES ANNUAL CLOTHING DRIVE

It is time again for the annual fall clothing drive.  Please donate your gently used FALL and WINTER clothing. All sizes- infant through adult would be greatly appreciated.   Please no spring or summer clothing at this time.  Short sleeved shirts are fine.  Winter coats, hats, gloves and shoes would be wonderful too!! These clothes are used  to help our own school community.

We will start collecting clothes today,  Monday  October 13^th - Thursday October  23^rd  . October 23^rd  is Family Fun night, so please feel free to bring your clothes with you that evening.  A collection bin will be located in the school lobby for you to just place your clothes in.

We will start to sort the clothes on October 27th-Oct. 31st.  I am in need of  a few volunteers to help sort and bag the clothes. If you are interested in helping  for just a couples hours please e-mail Linda Young at  Purdueyoung@cinci.rr.com or call / txt 636-212-0161

Thank you for making a difference for our students!!!!!

FOCUS ON READING
The practice of reading for enjoyment and reading for knowledge is crucial to lifetime learning and success.  We, as parents and educators must demonstrate the value of reading by making reading a part of our daily lives.  We must show children that we read for enjoyment, to learn more about the world and to advance our own situations at work and home.  We can show children the importance of reading by setting aside regular times to read.  We should turn off the television and insist that some evenings remain "activity free" so that families can enjoy story time together.  Research is very clear about the relationship between school grades and television viewing.  Good patterns that are established early in elementary school are habit by junior high school.

At Symmes Elementary, all students  will be required to read at least 15 minutes per night as part of their weekly homework.  this is intended to provide practice time for reading as well as to motivate habitual reading among our students.  This can be in the form of independent reading, family reading or review of reading sight words.  Your child's teacher can provide specific information about appropriate reading books and levels for your child.  Thanks for your diligence in overseeing this ongoing assignment that will greatly benefit your child.

LUNCH WITH YOUR CHILD
We love  visitors at lunch time! If you would like to purchase lunch at Symmes, please send a note to your child's teacher in the morning and your lunch will be included in the lunch count. The menu is available on our website at www.sycamoreschools.org . You may also bring in lunch for your child. Adult lunches are $3.50.   Lunch times are as follows:
Kdg:  11:30
1st :      1:20
2nd:    12:05
3rd:     12:25
4th:     12:45

Nurse News

KEEPING STUDENTS HOME FROM SCHOOL DUE TO ILLNESS

It can be difficult to decide when and how long to keep an ill child home from school. The timing of the absence is often important in order to decrease the spread of disease to others and to prevent your child from acquiring any other illness while his /her resistance is lowered.

• If your child has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhea they must stay home until they no longer have the symptom for 24 hours without the use of medication.
• Please remember to call the attendance line at 686-1748 before 9:30 a.m. if your child will not be attending school.

Please contact our School Nurse, Mrs. Ferron at 686-1743 if you have any questions.

 Substitute Nurses:  The Sycamore Community School District is currently looking for registered nurses who would like to be employed as substitute nurses. Applicants must have current nursing experience, preferably with children,​ special needs​,​​ diabetes and an active nursing license. If you qualify and are interested, please call Susan Murphy, R.N. at 686-1773 or email at murphys@sycamoreschools.org

Sycamore Spirit Wear

Did you forget to buy spirit wear?  We have some of the following items left:

• boys gym shorts
• girls zebra gym shorts
• Aves sweats and zip up hoodies
• Symmes T-Shirts
• Adult Sycamore T-Shirts

For sizes and prices, please call Melissa Wittenbaum at 513-919-8272 or send her an email at melissa@wittenbaum.com.

Healthy Snacks

The following list is based on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggested snack list:

• fresh or dried fruit, grapes, bananas, apple slices, strawberries, raisins
• fresh vegetables; carrot sticks, pepper slices, cucumber slices, snap peas
• high-protein, low sugar dairy items like cheese sticks or greek yogurt
• whole grain foods with fiber like plain wheat thins, plain cheerios, pretzels, goldfish or popcorn

Please refrain from sending in the following items for daily or group snacks: doughnuts, candy, cakes, cookies, pastries, rice krispie treats, pudding or frozen desserts

Check out the below links to see pre-packaged, healthy snacks available for purchase at our local groceries!

Whole Foods

Kroger

Nurse News

Some beginning of the School year notes from our School Nurse:

• Emergency contact information and student health information.   Remember to keep current throughout the school year.  This information is vital in the event your child is sick or having a health concern.  Health conditions can change throughout the school year, please share this information so  we  can provide the best care for your child.
• Illness guidelines are listed on our school district website at http://www.sycamoreschools.org/documents/contentdocuments/doc_23_5_1300.pdf
• Vision and Hearing Screenings are scheduled for September 29, Oct. 1 & 2.  All Kindergarten, 1st grade, 3rd grade and all new students new to the district will be screened. It is important for students to bring their glasses if they have been prescribed glasses.
• Remember that kids need sleep.  Encourage your child(ren) to get the necessary rest so that they are ready for learning and fun.
• Breakfast is a must.  Children learn better when they eat breakfast.  Protein is important as well, so add eggs, cheese, or peanut butter to that toast or waffle!
• Water is important too. It helps with fatigue and fighting infection, so water bottles are great to send to school.

Facts about Enterovirus  D 68 (EV-D68)

According to the CDC, this virus  causes mild to severe upper respiratory symptoms.  “Transmission can occur when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches contaminated surfaces” (CDC, 2014 para. 5).  Children and teens that have asthma or are immunocompromised may have more severe symptoms  and should contact your healthcare provider.

The best prevention is following similar respiratory etiquette that applies to the common cold and flu.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds - remind your child to sing the happy birthday song 2x while washing and rinse hands  well with water.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid close contact, sharing cups with individuals who are ill.
• Disinfect frequently  touched surfaces, toys and doorknobs.
• Remember to follow the school illness guidelines when deciding whether or not to send your child to school.  

Please contact the school nurse for any questions or concerns at ferronj@sycamoreschools.org  or 513-686-1743.  

CDC (2014). Centers for disease control and prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV-D68.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001

The Flight of the Monarch Celebration

Come join us on Thursday, September 18,  for a night filled with fun facts and learning!  

Take a guided tour of our beautiful Butterfly Garden. Enjoy the presentation about our new monarch way-station and Project Monarch Watch.  See a Wild Krotts video about butterfly migration and why it is so important to the ecosystem. ! We already have a large number of families signed up, so please let us know if you are attending so we can plan for snacks and crafts

Getting Organized

GETTING ORGANIZED
As your family continues to adjust to the start of a new school year, please consider the following ways to make sure your children are in a routine that will promote school success:
*Set the rules. 
Make sure your children understand that there is a specific time set aside each day to do homework.  Make a special family reading time as well.  Enforce rules for TV watching, especially on school nights.  You might want to create a chart until daily routines become a habit.  Give your child a star on the days he does everything without being asked.

*Manage Correspondence.
In elementary school, there is always a lot of paper going between school and home.  Just like your child should know where to put papers when he arrives at school, set up a place at home where your child puts all the paperwork from school  Sign your child's planner or other necessary papers and put them back in their backpacks for the next day.
*Keep track of schedules.
Post a calendar at home where every family member can see it. Children as early as first or second grade should be expected to write down activities as they are scheduled.  If a book report is due the day after a soccer game, your child will hopefully see that he needs to finish it early.

Bus Schedule

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