Mc GREGOR STALLIONS Mr. Steve Perry, Principal From the Principal… Welcome back to school! I know it’s hard to believe the summer is already over, but I hope everyone had a great summer break. This is my first year as McGregor’s principal and I’m very excited. I hope to learn everyone’s name as quickly as I can. Be sure to say hi and introduce yourself as you pass me in the hallway and I will definitely do the same. Our school again earned an “excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education. This shows all of the hard work and dedication of our students and staff here at McGregor. You should be proud of yourselves. We have a lot of exciting things planned this year for our students. My goal is to make sure that this is the best year ever. If there is anything we can do to make sure this happens, please contact me at 419-473-8279. Sincerely, Mr. Perry August/September 2012 Counselor’s Corner A new initiative we have here at McGregor is a higher focus on the Washington Local School District’s 12 Core Values. Each month, students will learn more about a specific core value through the announcements, interactive activities in the cafeteria, points incorporated into the classroom curriculum, and classroom counseling lessons. Two students who best demonstrated that month’s core value will then have the opportunity to be recognized on the announcements AND will be able to eat lunch with Mr. Perry. Plans are also in preparation for the creation of a Core Value Committee, which will include 5th and 6th graders as student leaders. We will offer more information to the students soon. As always, do not hesitate to contact me regarding your child. I am always willing to help in any way possible. Have a great beginning to the school year! Take care, Mrs. Stack Mc GREGOR STALLIONS Mr. Steve Perry, Principal Note from the Nurses August/September 2012 a “summer” schedule. An early bedtime helps children remain alert and focused all day long. If you have any concerns about your child you can contact the nurses through the school office at any time. We look forward to a healthy year! Mrs. Graver RN, Mrs. Win-Szafarawicz RN We have a new nurse joining our team this year. Mrs. Win-Szafarowicz is an experienced school nurse starting with WLS this year. Please give her a warm McGregor welcome! She will be at McGregor on Fridays. Mrs. Graver will continue to be at McGregor on Wednesdays. We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer. It is so nice seeing the eagerness of the students as they return to school. We are off to an awesome start this year. Here are a few reminders to help this year continue to be a great experience for your children. Hopefully everyone has reviewed the Emergency Medical Form and returned it to your child’s teacher. The information can be updated at any time throughout the year whenever phone numbers change, employment changes, or a new medical concern is discovered. It is imperative that the school be able to contact you during school hours. A note sent in to school with the new information on it works well. Also, remind your child of the importance of eating a healthy breakfast before school. Children who eat breakfast have an easier time concentrating and are prepared to learn. Eating breakfast can help prevent late morning headaches and stomach aches as well. Lastly, stress to your child the benefits of getting a good night’s rest. This time of year is difficult for children as their bodies sometimes remain on We Need Volunteers! We love our volunteers! If you are interested in chaperoning a fieldtrip this year, you are required to complete the WLS Volunteer Form located in the Open House folder. Please turn in the bottom portion to the classroom teacher by Friday, September 9th. If you are interested in volunteering on the playground and/or in the lunchroom, please call the office at 419-4738279. Thank you! ENTERING THE BUILDING & SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS All doors to the building are locked every morning at 9:00 a.m. This helps to ensure that our school is safe and secure throughout the day. If you visit the building during the school day, you must use the front entrance. Please park in front of the school and check in at the main office for a visitor’s badge. If you need to speak with your child’s teacher, please call the office at (419)-473-8279 to schedule an appointment. Mc GREGOR STALLIONS Mr. Steve Perry, Principal August/September 2012 ATTENDANCE/TARDINESS SCHOOL PICTURES A student who is 10 minutes late to school each day will miss a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction throughout the school year. If a child is late or has an appointment a written excuse must accompany the child upon his/her arrival. School pictures are scheduled for Wednesday, October 25, 2012 for grades K-6. Please mark this date on your calendar. Pictures are sold on a prepaid basis. Envelopes will be sent home for these pictures and checks must be made payable to Interstate. Breakfast students are expected to be in class by the 9:00 bell. These students should plan to arrive at school between 8:30-8:40, which will allow them enough time to eat their breakfast. Students who do not eat breakfast may enter the school at 8:45. Please remember that there will be no adult supervision on the playground or school grounds before 8:45 a.m. SCHOOL SECURITY GUIDELINES Security guidelines have been established for all Washington Local buildings to help ensure the safety of our students. Because of these guidelines, parents are asked to refrain from escorting their children down the hallways to their classrooms. For parents of kindergarteners, we are flexible during the first week of school. All families should make arrangements to meet your child(ren) at the designated entrances or at your vehicle after school. Thank you for your cooperation in these matters. CAFETERIA CORNER Elementary student lunch prices will remain at $2.50 for the 2012-13 school year. Reduced lunch prices are still 40 cents each. Student breakfasts are $1.50 and reduced price breakfasts are 30 cents. Students who are approved for the free and reduced program are eligible for both breakfast and lunch. Milk is also available for 50 cents for a ½ pint. New free and reduced lunch forms for 20122013 should be turned in by Friday, September 21st . One free and reduced lunch form may be completed per family. Students who were eligible last year are still eligible until September 21st, 2012. Effective September 24th, students must have a new approved form or will be charged full price for lunch. If needed, you may apply for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Riebe at 419-473-7257. Mc GREGOR STALLIONS Mr. Steve Perry, Principal August/September 2012 INSTRUCTIONAL FEES The Board of Education has established districtwide instructional fees to help offset the cost of materials for children in grade kindergarten through six. The fees will be used to pay for the cost of workbooks, art materials and extra resources used for instructional purposes. ♦ A family will be assessed no more than $30.00 regardless of the number of children that they may have in the elementary grades. ♦ Kindergarten through grade 2 fee: $20.00 ♦ Grade 3 through Grade 6 fee: $10.00 General Mills Box Tops for Education We are once again collecting General Mills Box tops. We receive 10 cents per box top from General Mills. Please cut them out and place them in the container in the main hallway. A big thank you to Mrs. Sutherland for her time and energy in handling our Box Tops at McGregor! Directory Information Ohio Law provides for the release of “directory information” without the written consent of the parent. “Directory information” may include the following: a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, photograph, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight, dates of attendance, date of graduation, awards received, honor rolls, and/or scholarships. The district will make this directory information available upon a legitimate request unless a parent, guardian, or adult student notifies the school in writing. Within five days from the date of this notification any or all such information will be removed from the directory. Contact the school office for this request. STUDENT ASSIGNMENT BOOKS Students in Grades 3 – 6 will receive assignment books. Parents are asked to check these books on a daily basis to make sure students are keeping track of their homework and long range assignments. There is also space in the assignment book for communication between parents and teachers. If your child loses an assignment book, a replacement book will cost $3.00. Mc GREGOR STALLIONS Mr. Steve Perry, Principal Playground and P.E. Just a reminder that students have P.E. on specific days. Please make sure that your child(ren) are wearing proper footwear to participate. Students should not be wearing flip flops or crocs on P.E. days. Your child’s safety is our first concern. Kids also play outside on recess and we would also like students to be safe and injury-free. August/September 2012 CORE VALUES Courage Dedication Dignity Excellence Gratitude Honesty Loyalty Weather Please be conscious of the upcoming weather. As it gets colder, we would like to make sure our students are warm or dressed properly for school and recess. Respect Responsibility Responsibility Service Teamwork Trust Mc GREGOR STALLIONS Mr. Steve Perry, Principal NEW STAFF & POSITIONS…. Lindsay Kinsey Proficiency tutor Laura Ersepke Bethany Petras 2nd grade teacher 5th grade teacher Amy Win-Szafarowicz Laura Dudney Nurse Psychologist CALENDAR OF EVENTS August/September Sept. 4-14 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 17 Sept. 25 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 25 Oct. 26 Oct. 31 Parent Club Officers 20122012-2013 President: Vice President: Treasurer: Secretary: Julie Kujawa Gary Kujawa Stacey Bigelow Beth McCartney Parent Club Meeting Dates 6:30 p.m. in Rm.19 (Art Rm.) Fall “Save Around” Fundraiser Market Day orders due Market Day Pick Up Parent Club Meeting 6:30 in Art Room Family Breakfast October Oct. 1-5 Oct. 1 Oct. 2 Oct. 4 Oct. 5 Oct. 8 Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 12 August/September 2012 6th grade camp Skating Party (6-8) 1st Quarter Interims Snake Dance Market Day Orders Due Smart Snacks For Stallions Delayed Start Parent Club Meeting Marco’s Pizza Night Wellness Walk, K-3 Fall Festival, Market Day Pick-Up Candlelight Walk Parent Club Meeting 6:30 in Art Room Picture Day 1st Quarter Ends Teacher Work Day Pumpkin Run and Halloween Parties Monday: September 17, 2012 Monday: October 22, 2012 Monday: November 12, 2012 December: No PTA Meeting Monday: January 28, 2013 Monday: February 25, 2013 Monday: March 18, 2013 Monday: April 15, 2013 Monday: May 6, 2013