Tiger Newsflash 4-23-17

4-23-17

Good evening!

I hope you and your family are doing well! Ashley (My Wife) and I spent the day today in The Hocking Hills at Old Man's Cave. If you haven't had the chance to go down to this part of Ohio, I would highly recommend it.  We had a great day hiking enjoying the scenery, and enjoying our time together.  I hadn't been there since my Middle School days with my church youth group, and it was great to see it again!

Please excuse the length of this blog as my intentions are to keep you in the loop with the many activities that are taking place this time of year.  Although there are many activities going on over the next five weeks, it is vital that we continue to focus on the importance of learning and being engaged in our classrooms.  The upcoming five weeks continue to matter.  Especially the upcoming two weeks for our students in Grades 3-5 as they face their State Level Competition with the continuation of State Testing.  These test matter to them now and in the upcoming year in their instruction.


Please enjoy your weekly updates below:

MVCSD Renewal Levy-Tuesday May 2nd:

This is a Renewal of existing levies.  Keeping this funding in place is urgent to maintain our programs and staffing at current levels.

Renew:

-May 2nd-Emergency Levy Renewal for Mount Vernon City Schools that will combine two existing levies into one.

-Levies first approved in 1981 and 2013 will appear as one issue.

-ZERO ADDITIONAL TAXES. Approval of this issue keeps Mount Vernon City Schools’ funding at current level and helps us to keep the programs and high quality teachers that we have.

Protect:

-This levy represents 10% of our general fund budget.

-These funds are crucial to keep our high quality staff at current levels.

Preserve:

-Our Board, Administration and Staff have focused on very careful spending trends to these three key areas:

1. Classrooms and students-high quality teachers, necessary supplies and curriculum.
2. Safety and security-student and staff training and upgraded facilities.
3. Technology-providing state of the art equipment and innovative/interactive programs for our students.

WHEN AND WHERE:

-Vote at your local polling place on May 2nd OR

-You may vote absentee beginning April 4th. To request an absentee ballot, download and fill out this form: www.co.knox.oh.us/offices/boe/absentee.pdf

-April 29th is the deadline to request absentee ballots.

-Early voting in person begins on April 4th.

It is important that we renew these levies in order to protect our funding, and preserve our great school district!

State Testing Update:

Reminder: Our students in grades 3-5 are continuing to face their State Championship Match to prove to everyone else in the state that they truly are "The Best and The Brightest." If they attained at least a proficient mark on all parts of their required State Tests, they will earn a pass on The Game Truck in the Fall of 2017 for their hard work.

Below is a schedule of our State Testing Dates.  All Tests begin at the very beginning of the day, All students need be well rested and arrive to school on time by 9am.

	ELA	Math	Science	Social Studies
3rd Grade	3/28-3/29	4/27-4/28	NA	NA
4th Grade	3/23-3/24	4/25-4/26	NA	5/1 (Both Sessions)
5th Grade	3/21-3/22	5/3-5/4	5/2 (Both Sessions)	NA

Money Machine for Flower Sale-During Lunch on Monday-4/24:

On this Monday, the Flower Salesman will be here doing the money machine again during lunch.  We will do this just before the students go out for lunch (i.e. 12:15pm and 12:45pm)

Highly Recommended: Hidden In Plain Sight Class-Great for Educators and Parents This Monday at 6:30pm in Gym:

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Talent Show Sign Up-Grades 3-5:

Columbia Elementary, needs our students’ talent in Grades 3-5!!! For this year's talent show they will have the option to either perform in front of the entire school or submit a video of your talent or the talents of you and your friends. These talents may be in music, gymnastics, martial arts, a short skit, a STEM Project, or something creative that they (with or without their friends can do).  They need to  know that playing music without signing is not considered to be a talent.

They may either tryout in person or submit a short (no more than 5 mins) video on Monday May 15th during their recess in the gym.  We ask that their performance can't be any longer than 5 minutes.  If they are submitting a video make sure it is sent via e-mail to mdill@mvcsd.us or on a flashdrive.  Videos can be recorded on our off school grounds but must not break any school rules.

All students in grades 3-5 and these teachers should have received this Google Form in their school e-mail last week:

CLICK HERE to see the sign up sheet.

Important Dates for Talent Show:

Tryouts or Video Submissions--5/15 -12-1pm

Talent Show-5/23-2:30pm Tentatively

Ariel Foundation Park-Columbia PTO 5K On 5/19
Register Now!

                                              

                                           

All race participants that register prior to 4/28/17 will receive a technical race shirt.  Packet Pickup:  Race day only

Proceeds from the race will benefit Ariel Foundation Park and Columbia Elementary School (i.e. MORE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT)

Please register online at:  www.freddieboosters.org/fab-timing by April 28th, 2017 along with your credit card payment.

If you do not want to register online, please send in your registration form (CLICK HERE) with cash or check payment to Columbia Elementary's Main Office.  All checks need to be payable to:

Columbia Elementary PTO.

Not Too Late-Loving Solutions-Great Parenting Class 
(Every Tuesday for 10wks) Beginning on 4/18 at 6:30pm-Classroom on Second Floor at Columbia Elementary
(Mrs. Humphrey's Classroom):

Join us for

Loving Solutions

Presented by The Freedom Center:
A Parent’s Guide to Raising Tough Kids ages 5-10 years old

“A concrete, concise resource for parents struggling to meet the needs of their strong-willed Elementary age child.”

Classes to be offered EVERY TUESDAY

Starting on April 18th until June 20th from 6:30-8:30pm

At Columbia Elementary

Located at:

150 Columbus Road

Mount Vernon, OH, 43050

Please contact Melissa Body or Angie Shuman

Phone: 740-397-2660

Email: Melissab@freedomctr.net

Cost: $30.00 10 Week program

Begin Planning for Your Child to Go To College Now!

On 5/17 at 6:30pm in our gym, Todd Hawkins, First Knox Representative, and Sheryl Mickely,  Knox County Career Center Financial Aid Representative, will be meeting with our parents to begin their investment and savings process for their child’s college education or advanced training after High School Graduation.   

*All children of parents that attend this information session will receive an ice cream sandwich the next day at school for their parent’s attendance.  

KDG Registration & Immunizations-5/22

Mr. Seder, Mrs. Stutzman, and I are currently working together with the Knox County Health Dept. We are trying to get them to come to Columbia Elementary during our KDG Registration to offer immunizations onsite for incoming students (as a one stop shopping approach for our parents).More details will come once this is finalized.

Reminder: Volunteers Needed-Outdoor Learning Pavilion & Playground Installation

Outdoor Learning Pavilion: I am in the process of getting more specific dates:-May 28th (8am to 8pm) and May 29th (1-6pm):

*We are looking for volunteers  to help with the staining of this lumber. *

Playground Installation:

Taking place the weekend of June 10th & 11th

Please sign up for either or both of these projects below:

PLEASE ADD NAMES TO THIS LIST IF YOU/YOUR FAMILY/OR PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW (i.e. Church) ARE WILLING TO HELP With Either or Both Projects




Important Dates:

4/24-Students 5k Sponsors Due

4/24-”Hidden In Plain Sight” Meeting for Parents-6:30-7:30pm in Gym

4/25-Loving Solutions-Parent Class at 6:30pm

4/26/17-PTO Flower Delivery-Volunteers Needed

4/28-5th Grade HS/MS Concert-

5/1-5K Meeting at 6pm in the library

5/2-ELECTION DAY-WE HAVE A RENEWAL ON THE BALLOT

5/2-PTO Meeting-6pm

5/2-Loving Solutions Parent Class Continues at 6:30pm

5/5-2nd Grade Field Trip

5/5-Student of the Month-Pizza Party with Matt

5/5-Last Day for Students to Check Out Library Books

5/8-5/10-5th Grade Camp

5/9-4th Grade AG Day

5/9-Loving Solutions Parent Class Continues at 6:30pm

5/12-Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast-Library @8am

5/12-All Books Due Back to Library and Last Day for Library Classes

5/14-Mother’s Day

5/15-Grades 3-5 Talent Show Tryouts-12 to 1pm in Gym

5/15-5/17-Students can go to Marcos Pizza and buy a pizza in a pizza box that they decorated.  We earn 15% for playground equipment.

5/16-Loving Solutions Parent Class Continues

5/17-Tiger Up-Future Planning for College or Advanced Training

5/17-Parent Night-Financial Planning for Higher Ed-6:30-7:30pm

5/18-Field Day (AM) and Water Day (PM)

5/19-Columbia Senior Graduates Lunch and Clap Out(Seniors to Come with Caps and Gowns)-12-12:30pm

5/19-Ariel Foundation Park and Columbia Elementary 5K-6pm

5/22-KDG Registration at Columbia Elementary

5/23-Grades 3-5 Talent Show-2:30pm-Tentative

5/23-Loving Solutions Parent Class Continues-6:30pm

5/24-Grade Cards Go Home with 2017-18 Class Assignments

5/24-Last Day for Students

5/24-K-2 Awards Assembly-9:15-10am

5/24-Grades 3-5 Awards Assembly-10-10:45am

5/24-5th Grade Graduation-11-11:45am

5/24-2 Hour Early Dismissal-1:30pm

5/30-Blood Drive at Columbia Elementary

2016-2017 District Calendar

Thank you for your continued support of our students!

Tiger Up!
Matt