The Wellness Committee is excited to announce that Symmes Elementary received a 2014 National Healthy Schools Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation! As a recipient of the bronze award, Symmes Elementary is making strides towards healthier students, staff, and families to create an even stronger learning environment.

Symmes Elementary, represented by Julie Ferron, received the award at the Alliance’s 2014 Leaders Summit in Washington, DC on September 13th. Mrs. Ferron was proud to accept the award along with the rest of the Sycamore Community Schools. Find out more about building a healthy school environment by contacting the Wellness Committee Chairs - Beth Andrews at mbwandrews@aol.com or Karen Brownlee at karenbrownlee@gmail.com.

With falling leaves and falling temperatures comes an increased likelihood of inclement weather.

In preparation for winter, Sycamore Community Schools will test our phone notification system on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

Sycamore will use this opportunity to call all primary contacts that we have on file for all of our registered students in order to correct any errors in advance of a real weather emergency. Parents DO NOT need to “opt in” to receive these recorded calls. This is a change from previous years.

If they so choose, this test will also give families the opportunity to opt out of receiving future calls. Please listen to the test call message and follow the prompts to be removed from the call list.

If you do not receive the test call and would like to receive future calls, please contact your student's building secretary.

If you receive the test call and would like to opt out of future calls, please contact your student's building secretary or call (513) 686-1793 and leave a message with the following information:

•   Phone number to be removed from our call list.

•   Name of student connected with this phone number. 

In case of a real school delay or closing due to inclement weather, messages will be sent both through email and telephone calls. Calls will be made no earlier than 5 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m.

The children were able to see the fire equipment and fire truck up close and interact with the firefighters.  In class, the kindergartners viewed a video called Be Cool About Fire Safety.  They made a booklet and were encouraged to have a Fire Safety Escape Plan at home.  The children also learned the basics of calling 911 in an emergency and the stop, drop and roll protocol.  Each child was able to take a fire hat home.  Thanks to the Loveland Symmes Fire Department for their educational outreach! 

Bring your cameras and lawn chairs and enjoy our 26th annual Halloween Parade!  The parade will take place on Friday, Oct. 31st at 2:30 p.m., weather permitting, on our walking track.  Students are invited to wear their Halloween costumes, although no weapons or gruesome costumes will be permitted.  We ask that parents please monitor costumes.  Thank you!

A very special program started last week at Symmes, called Symmes Stars. The objective of this activity is to honor every student as a valuable member of our Symmes family.  One student from each classroom will be highlighted each week.  Your student's picture, along with an interview will be displayed in the hallway next to the health room entrance.  If you would like to visit your child for lunch during the week they are honored, please send a note or call the school office to reserve a lunch.  If you are bringing a special lunch, there is no need to call, just come to the office and sign in before you go to the cafeteria.

Today is the end of the first quarter of school!  There will be no school for students tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 24th due to teacher records day.  Conferences will begin on Thursday, Nov. 6th, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. There will be no school on Friday, Nov. 7th with conferences scheduled from 8:30 - 3:30.  The final night of conferences will be Thursday evening, Nov. 13th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. If you have not signed up for a conference, please contact your child's teacher.  In order to have time for all parents, we ask that you please be on time and keep the conference to the time allotted.  Thank you!

It's widely known that it takes special training and knowledge to become a teacher.  Being an educator means knowing how to make the classroom an exciting place to learn new skills and explore new ideas.  It means knowing about assessment and grouping enrichment and discipline and modeling classroom management and much, much more...including knowing the fundamentals of mathematics, science literature and the full range of the school curriculum.
Here is something that still isn't very widely known:  Even with all the expertise in the world, it's impossible to be the best that he or she can be for any particular child without the help and support of that child's parents.

You, as a parent, know better than anyone else what makes your child click as a learner.  Your closeness gives you a special understanding of what makes your child unique.  That's why the parent-teacher conference is so important.  You bring to the meeting information that can have a powerful influence on your child's school achievement.  You are the expert on what motivates and frustrates your child.  You know what sparks your child's curiosity and creativity and what makes him or her angry, excited or bored.  Take time before your parent-teacher conference to reflect on what you know about your child and make some notes to yourself to bring to the meeting.   Become familiar with his report card so that you can make informed comments about his progress and/or ask questions about his marks.  Having this information ready to share, along with a list of any question about our programs and policies that you  might have, will guarantee that your time at the conference is well spent.  Don't be wary of asking questions and feel free to take notes so that you can have a record of the most important points.

Symmes Nature Trail Work Day

One of the most exciting things at Symmes Elementary School is our wonderful nature trail. Most of our classes go out for nature walks, lessons and even just to spend some time reading in nature.  The boys and girls are always excited to spend some time out there!  On Saturday, Nov. 1st, you can spend some time with us on the Nature Trail!  It is our annual fall work day!  We are working to rid the trail of the alien species of Amur honeysuckle.  Although this species is not harmful to humans, it is harmful to our woods. Bring the whole family and come with shovels, saws, pruning shears and work gloves and spend the day working together!  We have some fun things planned for the kids (finding aliens along the way!), lunch will be provided and extra credit will be given in science and in social studies to fourth graders who come and help!

Amur Honeysuckle

Please sign up for the work day, follow this link!  Thanks!
http://tinyurl.com/workdaynov2014

It is with extreme sadness that we share the news of Mrs. Erin Gibbens' passing on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.  Mrs. Gibbens was a beloved Symmes teacher in our Special Education Department, and the mother of Alyx, a student in Mrs. Holcak's kindergarten class.  We grieve with and for Erin's family. Condolences can be sent to the school office and will be forwarded to the family. Thoughts and prayers for her family and our Symmes family are much appreciated at this time.

COSI is coming to Symmes Elementary!

The PTO is once again able to bring COSI to Symmes thanks to all of the generous support of our Symmes families!  COSI, the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, is bringing their traveling program on Wednesday, November 12^th (that’s an E day).  “Current Conditions” is this year’s theme.  Our students will learn about weather prediction, explore the formations of clouds, and discover the strength of air pressure.

This is a hands-on learning experience for all the students at our school and YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!  You don’t need a science background to help with the hands-on sessions, only ENTHUSIASM and ENERGY for a great day of learning and fun!  Grandparents and other family members are also welcome to help!

Check your calendars and see if you would like to participate in this fun event!

Volunteer times for both the morning (8:45 am - 12:30 pm) & afternoon (12:15 pm - 4:00 pm) are available and appreciated.  
The schedule is as follows:9:00 - 9:30am           Volunteer Orientation
9:30 - 10:15am           All School Assembly
10:25 - 11:05am          Pappas (AM), Jones, Wilkerson
11:05 - 11:45am          Burns, Blair, Pierce
11:45 - 12:20pm         Break and Afternoon Volunteer Orientation
12:20 - 1:00pm           Penn, Lobert, Stanford
1:00 - 1:40pm             Brochu, Romansky, O'Connor, Pappas (PM)
1:40 - 2:20pm            Matula, Holcak, Wuebbolt
2:20 - 3:00pm           Bouley, Reinke, Houston
3:00 - 3:40pm           Tanner, Schafer, Matacia
3:40 - 4:00pm            Equipment Breakdown

If you can volunteer, please send in the form that was sent home in your child's backpack or contact Megan Boni, at 614-432-0287 or meganboni@hotmail.com

Nurse News

Please inform Mrs. Vogt about your child’s illness when calling your child absent on the attendance line. (513-686-1748 or email : vogtj@sycamoreschools.org) We are trying to track illnesses here at Symmes and stop them in their tracks!! Also Mrs. Ferron  (our school nurse) should always be informed if your child has been diagnosed with a contagious disease. We want to keep Symmes healthy and safe with the upcoming flu season!!!

Illness guidelines are listed on our school district website at http://www.sycamoreschools.org/documents/contentdocuments/doc_23_5_1300.pdf

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_00

Family Fun Night

Thursday, Oct 23
6:00 - 8:30

                                                 
Put on your Favorite Family Friendly PJs and join us for popcorn, games, bingo, movies, story time and more!  There is no school the following day and this is a free event, so come and play at Symmes Family Fun Night!

Sycamore State of the District Address

Please join us on Wednesday, October 15 at 6:15 p.m. for the Sycamore State of the District Address, at Edwin H. Greene Intermediate School. 

Superintendent Adrienne James and Treasurer Beth Weber will be giving an overview about the district's goals and finances for the coming year.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Attendance at School

Attention to School Attendance Is Vital to Academic Success

Are you aware that a vast amount of research has proven that there is a high correlation between school attendance and academic performance, while absence from school is often the single greatest cause of poor performance and achievement? Student participation in class demonstrations, guided practice of new concepts, teacher interventions, and group problem-solving and discussion are learning acquisition opportunities that are difficult, if not impossible to replicate by simply reading over the text and making up written work. In fact, students with good attendance records generally achieve higher grades and enjoy school more. Over time, regular school attendance patterns encourage the development of other responsible patterns of behavior, which ultimately helps students to be more desirable to future employers.

The State of Ohio recognizes the importance of school attendance and is clear about the school’s responsibility to follow a set of compliance guidelines when students are absent from school.  In addition, state funding is no longer determined by a count of student membership during one week in October, but rather by daily counts of each district’s daily attendance.  

For all of the above reasons, we ask parents to partner with us to promote excellent daily attendance, which establishes good life habits for a positive future for each of our students. Parents can model the value of education, including the importance of regular attendance, by making sure that your child goes to school regularly and arrives on time every day. You can be sure your child understands that you do not approve of him/her missing school by refraining from taking students out of school for any reason other than illness, religious observations, or family emergencies.

If it is necessary for your child to be absent from school, please be sure to notify the school the same day by phone (see your school’s absence line below) or in writing when your child returns, indicating the reason for your child’s absence.

Schools are obligated by state law to follow-up with written correspondence when students are chronically tardy or have multiple unexcused absences, and to report to the court system when a regular pattern of attendance can not be achieved. This information is spelled out in our student Handbooks http://www.sycamoreschools.org/district/resources.html#student-parent-handbooks

and must be followed by the school to be compliant with Ohio Revised Code.

We sincerely appreciate your attention to your child’s regular school attendance and look forward to partnering with you for a successful, well attended school year.

Attendance Line for Symmes:  513-686-1748 or email vogtj@sycamoreschools.org