Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Spring Pictures have arrived!

Your spring portraits have arrived!



When you receive your portraits, select your favorites and pay online!

  1. Go to mylifetouch.com
  2. Log in with your Portrait ID and Access Code, located on your portrait package insert.
  3. Select which sheets you want to purchase and pay online,
  4. Please return unpurchased portraits to your school.
Thank you!  

Lifetouch Portrait Studio

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Sycamore Offers Summer Sports Camps!

Register Now for Sycamore Summer Sports Camps!
The Sycamore Athletic Department sponsors camps in a wide array of sports for most grade levels. Go to the Camps & Clinics page on AvesAthletics.com for more information and to register on-line through parent portal!

Symmes 3rd and 4th Grade AIR Testing Schedule

3rd and 4th Grade Parents,
Please have your children to school on time the next two weeks, as we will begin our AIR testing!

AIR Testing Schedule

Date
Test
Length of test
Start Time
April 4
4th Grade ELA Part 1
90 minutes
9:30
April 5
4th Grade ELA Part 2
90 minutes
9:30
April 6
3rd Grade ELA Part 1
90 minutes
9:30
April 7
3rd Grade ELA Part 2
90 minutes
9:30
April 7
4th Grade SS Part 1
75 minutes
1:10
April 8
4th Grade SS Part 2
75 minutes
9:30
April 11
4th Grade Math Part 1
75 minutes
9:30
April 12
4th Grade Math Part 2
75 minutes
9:30
April 13
3rd Grade Math Part 1
75 minutes
9:30
April 14
3rd Grade Math Part 2
75 minutes
9:30


*****April 6,7,13,14:  2nd grade and 3rd grade switch specials
*****April 7: 4th grade and 1st grade switch specials

Monday, March 28, 2016

OHIO Department of Education



Ohio’s learning standards in mathematics, English language arts, science and social studies are five years old. The Ohio Department of Education now is reviewing the standards to update them, if revisions are necessary. To get started, the department is asking educators, parents and other members of the public to review and give feedback on the math and English language arts standards.  


Educators and parents have an opportunity to review and comment on these standards now through April 5 at ohio-k12.help/standards/. On the Ohio Department of Education’s Standards Revision Web page, a one-page overview for parents has been provided by the department.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Listen to Bunnicula - Chapter 7 & 8

Please check out the read alouds of our final chapters of Bunnicula. 

Chapter 7 is read by Steve Money from the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department  and
Chapter 8 is read by Kimoni Fitz (#51) defensive end for the UC Bearcats football team.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist…
Don't Miss the Book Fair before it disappears! 
New Bargain Books now available.  


The Symmes Book Fair is open 
Wednesday until 4:30 pm
Thursday 8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am - 1:30 pm

A NEW shipment of bargain books arrived today including: Skylanders, James and the Giant Peach, The Night Fairy, The Menagerie, Freckle Juice, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, Fractions in Disguise and much more!  Bargain Books start at just $1.99. 

Don't forget to buy a book for a favorite teacher!  Teacher Wish Bins still have books available for purchase.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP REMINDERS

DROP OFF AND PICK UP REMINDERS

MORNING DROP-OFF – 9:00 am – 9:10 am

Parents, PLEASE remember that morning drop-off is 9:00 am on the side of the building.  The drop-off lane is open from 9:00 – 9:10 am.   Please keep in mind we have NO supervision before 9:00 am in the front office.  (Please DO NOT drop your child off at the front door.)  If you arrive AFTER 9:10 am and the drop-off is closed, you must park your car and walk your children into the building.

AFTERNOON PICK-UP – 3:45

PLEASE remember to send in a communication form IF you are picking your child up at the end of the day.  (PLEASE do not call at the end of the day for bus changes or end of the day pick up unless it is an emergency!)  Because of the hallway student traffic, it is so helpful if you EXIT the gym through the side doors after picking up your children!


We appreciate your cooperation with these procedures.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Literacy Night Fun



What fun we had on Friday evening celebrating Literacy!  Thanks to Dr. Bruner for bringing in a bunny for the children to see!  A special thanks to all the parents who volunteered to help with Book Fair and the staff who helped with the Bunnicula activities!







Friday, March 11, 2016

3RD GRADE CONCERT

Check out the 3rd Grade Concert at Symmes Elementary:

Attention 4th Grade Parents!!

Do you have a 4th grader coming to Greene next year? 


Then check out the Greene101 program happening in August! Greene101 is a great way for your child to meet new friends, learn about Greene School, and gain some valuable skills (like practicing that dreaded locker!) that will help them have a successful 5th grade year! This year, Greene101 is paired with Gear Up For Greene. Pick up your laptop, get your picture taken and turn in all school forms on Monday, August 8th, then bring your new laptop with you Tuesday through Friday and join us in learning about your new school and meeting your teammates! Greene101 runs Tuesday, 8/9 through Friday 8/12. Choose from the 8-10 or 10-12 sessions.  Look for registration and transportation information on the summer school page of the district website and register on Parent Portal.  
Please contact Andrew Gruber (grubera@sycamoreschools.orgor Ann Marie Brubaker (brubakera@sycamoreschools.orgat E.H. Greene with any questions.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Improving keyboarding skills

In order to improve keyboarding skills and learn proper keyboarding technique, we have purchased a license to Typing Pal for K-5 students.  This is a web-based program that can be accessed on Chromebooks and Windows devices.  Students can also access the program at home (if they have have internet access). 

To Log in, click Typing Pal School Log In at the following URL: 
(also located on the Sycamore Launch Pad).


Use the following directions to log in:

Student Login:
School Code: SYCDSYCS
Username: sycamore student lunch # (i.e. 1233456)
Password: Building MMDD (i.e. ba0218)

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Thank you to the PTO!


Fourth grade would like to thank our wonderful PTO for giving them money to purchase these exercise balls as an option for students to use in their classrooms. Research shows this can help students with focus and attention.  Thanks for all your support, Symmes PTO!


Book Fair Volunteers Needed!

Book Fair Volunteers Needed!

The Symmes Book Fair is March 11 - 18! ​​
Want to help make the Book Fair a fun and exciting event for our students?  Sign up to decorate and set up the fair, help students create wishlists, and assist shoppers!  

Questions? Contact Erika McCoy at 703-217-1014 or eurosass1@gmail.com

Bunnicula - Listen to Chapters 5 and 6



Listen to Greene School principal, Mr. Hackett, read chapter 5 of Bunnicula and Mrs. Hill and her husband, Officer Hill, read chapter 6. 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist…

Monday, March 7, 2016

Update for Parenting Partners Classes

Sycamore Community Schools is proud to present this exciting and rewarding opportunity for our parents…

Are you interested in building skills to help your child become more successful in school and resist negative influences?  Learning more about family literacy activities, how to create a strong home learning environment and positive ways to communicate with teachers and staff in your child’s school?  If so, Parenting Partners may be for you!

Parenting Partners workshops bring parents the best practices in youth development. Each week you will gain more manageable, effective parenting skills, including effective discipline.  Classes will be taught by Sycamore teachers and parents and will cover several topics:

  • Positive Parenting: Building on Strengths and Practical Tools
  • Creating Confident Kids: Building Grit, Curiosity and Resilience
  • Communication that Works: Listening and Setting Expectations
  • Deflecting Arguments and Setting Boundaries: Avoiding Power Struggles
  • The Discipline Difference: Effective Consequences and Consistency
  • What Kids Need to Succeed: Helping Our Students Maximize School Opportunities

Parenting Partners believes that every parent is a leader and can make a profound contribution in the life of their child. We look forward to working with you and hope you can join us for this interactive and fun class!

Parenting Partners will meet, in the UC wing of Blue Ash Elementary School, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.  
Our class will meet on a series of four Thursday nights::  
April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28

Childcare will be available.  Participants will be served dinner between 4:15-5:00 p.m.

Please RSVP your name, as well as the age of your children planning to attend childcare,
by March 31, 2016 to:
Monya Jones, Assistant Principal at Blue Ash Elementary, at 686-1710 ext. 1151,
or by email at:  jonesm@sycamoreschools.org

Thank you for signing up for the Parenting Partners class! We are excited to have you join us!
Parenting Partners™ is a university-affiliated program bringing parents the best practices in youth development. Our research partner, the Search Institute, has identified 40 Developmental Assets through their research on more than two million youth – these are the real life practices of youth who succeed in school and resist negative influences such as drugs.
Parenting Partners™ gives parents the skills to build these 40 Assets in their children. Parents are empowered by this research and the practical power of the assets to promote their children’s success.
The Search Institute has selected Parenting Partners™ as its training resource across North America for parent engagement with the 40 Assets.
To learn more about The Search Institute visit www.search-institute.org

Friday, March 4, 2016

What's happening at Symmes Players?



Symmes Players needs help.  It could be in its final season - how awful!  We are in dire need of parent volunteers for next year's leadership team.  

Please come Tuesday evening, March 8th at 7:00 p.m. to find out what you can do to save this amazing opportunity for our kids.  In the mean time, enjoy these pictures from our recent Lion King Jr. rehearsals.






March PTO Meeting

Don't forget to attend our March PTO meeting next Thursday, March 10th at 9:30 am in our Multi-Purpose Room.  Babysitting will be provided!

Please consider staying after the meeting to help set of the Book Fair!  Sign Up at  http://tinyurl.com/zpnty3a  Volunteers are need throughout the following week!

Trees and Me!!

The Nature Trail at Symmes is hosting it's annual poster contest.  The theme for 2016 is:  Trees and Me!  On the poster, include words and pictures listing what trees mean to you or your family.  The winning poser design will be enlarged and displayed throughout Symmes.

There will also be a winner from each classroom that will be chosen to plant a tree on the nature trail in memory of former Maintenance Supervisor Ted Hungler.

POSTER REQUIREMENTS:

  • Draw your poster on white paper, 8 1/2 by 11 inches
  • Include the title:  Trees and Me on your poster
  • Use markers or crayons on your poster
  • Neatness and spelling count
  • Submit your poster design to your homeroom teacher by Friday, March 11th
  • Write your name and room number lightly on the back of your poster

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Author visit for 3rd and 4th graders

Author Linda Sue Park will visit Symmes Elementary 3rd and 4th graders on Tuesday, March 8th!
A big thank you to Joseph-Beth Booksellers for providing this FREE author visit!

Linda Sue Park will discuss her latest book, Wing and Claw: Forest of Wonders, the first book in a trilogy.

Linda Sue Park was born in Urbana, Illinois on March 25, 1960 and grew up outside Chicago.  The daughter of Korean immigrants, she has been writing poems and stories since she was four years old, and her favorite thing to do as a child was read.  She went to Stanford University and graduated with a degree in English.



Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Future of Symmes Players!

You are the future of Symmes Players!
Join us for a Symmes Players discussion on Tuesday, March 8th at 7pm


We are inviting the parents of current 1st and 2nd grade students to come to discuss what Symmes Players is and how it has impacted our school and our children.  As the current parent volunteers who are Directing and Producing this year’s show will be moving on next year, the program will be in jeopardy of ceasing in 2017 if we do not find parents who are willing to help get next year’s play in motion.


This is the 19th year of Symmes Players! This amazing program was started by a parent who wanted the opportunity for every child, regardless of abilities or disabilities, to engage in a parent-led drama program.   Parents and students get to work on this project TOGETHER, whether it is chaperoning, backstage, painting props, sewing costumes, or more.  We want the tradition of Symmes Players to continue, but NEED YOU to attend the meeting, learn more about Symmes Players, and see how you can help this legacy live on.


Symmes Elementary is the ONLY elementary school in the area to offer an after school drama activity of this magnitude, teaching students -- responsibility, leadership, being a part of a team, self-confidence, friend-making, self-esteem, and more. Symmes Players is a one-of-a-kind PTO supported event that is financially independent, but has been providing additional funds to the PTO for several years. Nearly 1,000 3rd and 4th grade students have participated, either on-stage or back stage, in Symmes Players in the past 19 years, some continuing to pursue drama programs at the high school level, collegiate level, or at community theaters.
Date: Tuesday, March 8th
7pm in the Multipurpose Room at Symmes Elementary


Thank you!
Carina Henry, Dana Auer, Beth Andrews, Suzanne Donovan, & Jinny Max
The Symmes Players Leadership Team

I Spy a Book Fair!


I Spy a Book Fair! 

Student Class Visits
Friday, March 11 -Thursday March 14 - 17
Two visits: Preview and Shopping
Sales: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Book Fair Family Night
Friday, March 11
Sales: 4:30 - 8:30 pm

Stop by the Book Fair during the One Book, One School Family Event.  This is a great chance to stock up on books before Spring Break!

Moms and Muffins Morning ShoppingMuffin, Fast, Food, Bakery,
Wednesday, March 16 and Friday, March 18
8:30 - 9:15 am
Buy books for Classroom Libraries from Teacher Wish Bins.


Last Chance Shopping Day
Friday, March 18 
9:00 am - 1:30 pm

Volunteers Needed! http://tinyurl.com/zpnty3a
Volunteers are needed for set up, decorations, assisting students, and bringing treats for the Teacher Preview!

Questions?
 Email Erika McCoy at eurosass1@gmail.com or 703-217-1014