SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWSLETTER

Checking Grades

You can sign-in to Progress Book to monitor your child's grades (4-12 grade). Parents of 4th grade students and parents new to the district will be given a password that enables you to sign-in. The sign-in link can be found at the Parent Portal for ProgressBook

If you need more instructions about ProgressBook, please go to the information page on our website.

From the Library

Do you ever worry about the information your child is consuming? Are you looking for a way to know if books, movies, and games are age-appropriate for your unique kiddo? Common Sense Media is a great resource for helping families navigate the 21st century. This nonprofit organization provides independent reviews, age ratings and other information about all types of media and technology.

The next time your child asks you a tricky question about a new movie or piece of technology… head to Common Sense Media for a second opinion!

From the Cafeteria

How to add money to your child's lunch account:

Send cash or a check in an envelope with your child's name on it with your child to school. If you have more than one child you can write one check and designate in the memo line how much you want on each child's account.

EZpay is the website parents can use to add money to your child's lunch account using a credit card, but did you know it can do so much more? Here are a few helpful tools EZpay provides:

- You can have an alert email sent to you when your child's lunch account balance gets to a dollar amount you set. Never be surprised by a negative balance again!

- Statements can be emailed to you on a regular basis.

- Your child's lunch account can be automatically reloaded using your credit card when the account gets to a dollar amount you set.

You don't have to put your credit card into EZpay to take advantage of these features (besides the auto reload of course). These are just a few of the reasons to check out the EZpay website. 

Any questions email or call me - Linda Miller, Cafeteria Manager Smith School
miller.linda@oakwoodschools.org or 297-5335.

From PE Department

Cardio Club is held every Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. now through Oct. 24.

Walk to School Day is Oct. 4. Look for a flyer in September.

From the Counselor

As we dive into our first full month of school, I am so very humbled to be working with such amazing staff and students. I am working this year to complete a unit of lessons with each grade level, build opportunities for students to participate in various groups, engage in a learning with students, and continue programs such as Talented Tutors and Wednesday Mentors. I am looking forward to a fun-filled year and hope it's just as amazing for our students, their families, and our school.

Timber is the new name of our Character Education program (formally GRIT). The new name reflects our effort to be one Oakwood with Harman and to grow strong, resilient, and curious kids. We had our first meeting on Aug. 31, and focused on making connections with others. Students were able to meet their group members, visit with their staff leader, and participate in activities that help us engage with others and be more present. We are excited to be using Peter Reynolds' books to guide our yearly theme of "collecting character words" to enhance our abilities to Learn, Love, and Lead. Be sure to visit the School Counselor webpage for all the details on our upcoming dates and topics. And, ask your children about it! See what they can tell you about our topics and encourage them practice what they learned at home as well!

Harman and Smith are once again offering Coffee with the Counselor opportunities for parents to be able to meet with us, ask questions, and discuss topics that are relevant to our students and ourselves as we grow together.

The dates for these meetings are Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m. in the Smith Library, Nov. 2 at 8:30 a.m. at Smith and 11:40 a.m. at Harman, and Feb. 1, 8:30 a.m. at the Oakwood Starbucks. All are welcome and feel free to email with questions or to RSVP.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or suggestions for the school counseling program or to inquire if I can be of help to your child. Your input is important!

Thanks once again for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful school and community.

Traci Hummer
Smith School Counselor

School Store 

The School Store is accepting applications from current 5th grade students. If you would like an application, please see Mrs. Knostman. Applications are due by Sept. 7. Forms must be signed by a parent. Interviews will be conducted the following week.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Julia Nielsen and Lydia Schlottke. These ladies will be a part of the Dayton Youth Philharmonic Junior Strings Orchestra for the 2018-19 school year, based on a competitive audition.  Best wishes to both of you on the experience!

Timber - Character Education

Did you hear about the change to GRIT? During the past three years, a group of faculty from both Harman and Smith has been working as a team to plan sessions, speak at conferences and remain current in social emotional trends and research to benefit the Oakwood population. This summer, team members decided to show their unity by creating one name to be used across the district for the character education program. The program is now called TIMBER.

The team chose the name Timber after hours of discussion and debate. Teachers, principals and counselors wanted the new name to carry meaning, along with the connection to the heritage of the Oakwood Lumberjacks. While "timber" has several meanings, two made their mark and solidified the team's decision.

Timber is defined as a cluster of strong trees growing together. It is also defined as character. If someone has particularly marketable skills or values for a position, he or she is said to have good timber. As the district has a desire to grow strong students with great character and even better strategies to conquer life's inevitable storms, Timber was seen as a fitting title for a program to prepare the young people of Oakwood.

Throughout the year, students will participate in activities that relate to a collection of picture books by Peter Reynolds. The first week's lessons focused on making connections with others and the book, I'm Here. We talked about what it means to be present in the moment and worked on making connections with the other students in the group.

From the School Nurse

September is National Pediculosis Month. Pediculosis is the official name for head lice. I know this is a topic no one wants to talk or think about, but as school begins so do the cases of head lice. Here are some suggestions to help you try to keep your child lice free.

1. Educate your child that they DO NOT share any kind of hats, hair accessories, combs, brushes etc. with anyone.

2. Check your child's head weekly for head lice. Look for signs such as itching, live bugs, or nits (eggs) in the hair. Lice are small wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed, they can't jump or fly and are brownish in color. They are transmitted by direct head to head contact. Nits (eggs) are yellowish-white, teardrop shaped, about the size of the eye of a needle. They attach to the hair shaft and are difficult to remove, unlike dandruff or dirt. Nits are frequently found at the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and on the crown of the head.

3. If your daughter has long hair, keep it in a ponytail or bun. There are some studies that have shown using hair products, such as, hair gel, hair spray, certain shampoos and conditioners can offer extra protection.

4. Keep coats, scarves, backpacks, hair accessories, anything that comes into contact with your child's head and shoulders clean by washing and drying frequently.

Remember, ANYONE can get head lice, it has nothing to do with hygiene.

If your child has head lice please let the school know so they can give you information on what to do, and take the proper steps needed at school.

It is important if your child has had head lice to follow the instructions on the treatment used and repeat treatment as recommended. You will need to check your child's hair every night for at least 2 weeks to continue to remove nits (eggs) to prevent a re-infestation. Remember one live louse left can start a re-infestation.

Most treatments only kill the live lice so it is VERY important to remove ALL the nits (eggs).

If you ever have any questions please call the school nurse.

Destination Imagination

It's time to start thinking DI! Destination Imagination Applications have gone out to students. These are due back by Sept. 21. If you have questions, please join us for a informational meeting Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Harman School Library.

Title 1 - Right to Know

Edwin D. Smith receives federal funds to support the Title 1 reading program. In accordance with the requirement of federal law, each school receiving Title 1 funds must make sure all parents of students in that school are notified that they may request, and be provided, information about staff certification and student achievement.

All Smith School teachers completed undergraduate major requirements in their area of study and all hold certificates in their field of teaching. No staff member is teaching under any emergency provisional status. The staff at Edwin D. Smith Elementary meets the requirements to be given the Highly Qualified Teacher status.

All Smith long-term substitutes who will be in the same classroom for 20 or more days must also meet the Highly Qualified Teacher status. In each instance, parents will be notified about the status of the substitute.

If you need any more information about the qualifications of any staff member or any information on the level of achievement of your child(ren) on required state academic assessments (achievement testing), please contact Kimbe Lange (Director of Curriculum) or Lynn Cowell (Principal).