Washington Elementary School

October
2005 Newsletter

 

Calendar of Events:

Oct. 3-7 Reading Achievement Test 3rd grade
Oct. 6 Fifth grade field trip- Brumbaugh Nature Center
Oct. 10, NO SCHOOL Staff In-Service
Oct. 11, PTO meeting 7:00 p.m. & State of the Schools
Oct. 13, Vision Screening – grades 1,3,4
Oct. 14, IDENT-A-KID 9:00-11:00 –see information
Oc.t 18, School Board Meeting
Oct. 19, Zap-A--Snack Fund Raiser begins
Oct. 20, Grandparents' Day-4th and 5th Grades, from 1:00-2:00
Oct. 21, Grandparents' Day-K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades, from 9:00-10:00

UPCOMING DATES:
Nov. 11, Picture Retakes
Nov. 17, Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:30-8:30
Nov. 22, Parent-Techer Conferences 3:30-8:30


FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL:

ZAP A SNACK – After the fantastic response to the delicious “Zap A Snack” products and requests to repeat the sale, we will again be offering this fundraiser. Thank you in advance for all of your help with this sale. ALL PROFITS will go toward classroom materials. This is for all of “OUR” students here at Washington. Remember the convenience of these delicious products. They will be here just in time for the rush of the Holidays.

Mr. Swisher

Marlington Seeks Renewal Operating Levy

GENERAL OPERATING RENEWAL LEVY ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL
The Ohio Supreme Court declared the way we fund our schools unconstitutional. However, what the state has failed to do is provide a viable alternative. So, until our legislature comes up with a plan, we are forced to continue to go back to the community for funding. We dislike returning to the voters for support as much as you dislike taxes. Preparing for levies takes an enormous amount of time and effort away from our primary focus of educating children. Marlington Schools generates local funding through two types of levies: General Operating and Permanent Improvement. General operating funds can be used for the day-to-day management of the district, including salaries, maintenance, utility expenses, insurance, refuse removal, grounds maintenance, and educational supplies and materials, etc. Permanent improvement funds can only be used for capital improvements and repair.
This November, the 5.7 mill general operating levy that was initially passed in 1981 has cycled for renewal. The voters have approved renewal of this particular levy two times. PLEASE NOTE: A renewal levy does not increase your taxes. We thank the voters for their continued support at the polls to make our schools a better place to learn and for protecting the community's investments!

INDENT-A-KID – This program will be at Washington Elementary on Friday, October 14th to photograph, fingerprint, weigh, and measure the children. Participation in this program is at the parents’ option. A small fee will be charged and the parents will be provided with a laminated, wallet sized ID card (similar to a driver’s license) with information about their child. An application envelope will be sent home with the children a few days before the program date. Due to changes in height, weight, and facial features it is very important you update your child’s card.

Library News:

CONGRATULATIONS- Washington Summer Readers! Washington Elementary received second place again this year, in the Rodman Library Summer Reading Program. We had 86 students/teachers complete, 23.3% of our school’s enrollment. Regina Coeli placed first, with 63 students completing, 40.9% of their enrollment, and Parkway placing third, with 41 students completing, and 18.6% of their enrollment. Our library will receive a couple of new books from Rodman, for placing second. All of the students who completed have had a Washington library book dedicated in their honor. Kindergartner’s had 12 students complete, first grade 10 students, third grade 14 students, fourth grade 17 students, and fifth grade 9 students completed. The 21 students who completed from the second grade earned “Dessert with Mrs. Carli” for having the most in their grade level complete. Hats off to the following students who completed the prgram this year. We are very proud of you!

BOOK FAIR-Fall Book Fair will run the week of November 14th. Each class will make two visits to the Book Fair. The first is to browse, and the second to buy. Volunteers are scheduled at classroom times. A family Event will be held on Thursday, November 17th from 2:30-7:30 p.m. on conference night. We encourage you to visit the Book Fair, and consider presenting a special gift to your child’s classroom. Proceeds from the Book Fair will be used to support the Washington School Library. We are always looking for new volunteers. If you would be interested in helping at the Book Fair, please contact Mrs. Carli. We are happy to work out a day and time to fit into your schedule. J


Important Information:

Latchkey – A REGISTRATION FEE ($10 a child or $15 per family) must be paid the first day your child attends latchkey. Please include this with your paper work. Also specify when you would like the service to begin. The hourly rate is $1.75 per hr. This is billed every two weeks. Special arrangements may be made with Mrs. Caruso for students in Band or after school tutoring. Any questions should be directed to Mrs. Caruso at 330-823-7299 from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and 2:00-5:30 p.m.

MORE INFO:
SCHOOL FEES: If your child’s fees have not been paid we are asking for those to be finalized at this time. If you need special payment arrangements for your child’s fees or qualify for their fees to be waived, call the office to request a form. (823-7586)

FREE & REDUCED LUNCHES: LAST year's forms will carry over till Sept. 30th. A new form must be filed at this time to continue the free and reduced lunch. Forms can be picked up in the office if needed!

Class Room News:

Welcome to Amy Rovnak & Candice Robinson, serving as the intervention tutors in Mrs. McCamon’s and Mrs. Mathes' 2nd grade classes!

The Education Station – Our school supply store, owned and operated by the students in the fourth grade classes, will again be open for business before school in the morning. It will be located in front of the office. Opening day will be Thursday, Oct. 6. The fourth graders appreciate the opportunity to learn about economics in this hands on manner as they provide Washington consumers with products to meet their needs. If you have any suggestions or questions about the Education Station, please contact Mrs. Akenhead, who coordinates this program.

SCHOOL PARTY DATES:
Halloween October 28th
Christmas December 22nd
Valentine’s Day February 14th

PTO NEWS:
The PTO has adopted a new program this year called “Kash for Kids”. It is a recycling program that collects printer cartridges (both inkjet and laser) as well as cell phones (dead or alive). Please deposit your empties in the box by the desk outside the front office. We help the earth and receive money for them.

Have you joined the PTO yet? It’s not to late! Join the group have some fun and help our kids, too!

Attention Parents:

Parents are invited to attend the following community discussions this October for the National Overture of Education and the Arts in Ohio . This is a year long series of public discussions, demonstrations and professional development programs designed to show the power of the arts as teaching tools and to help develop this approach in classrooms. This is sponsored by the national nonprofit Institute for Education and the Arts (IEA). Parents are invited to attend the following community discussions in October:
The Role of the Arts in Effective Teaching and Learning
October 11, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Location- Stark County District Library
October 11, 6:30 p.m. -8:30 p.m. Location - Jackson Township Branch Library October 12, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. location - Alliance Middle School
October 13, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 –11:30 p.m. Location- Massillon Washington HS
For more information contact (IEA) 330-649-1219 or info@edartsinstitute.org


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