November 2013 South Elementary 280 East Shafer Ave.

(330)-364-7111 Tracie Murphy, Principal Laurie Gintz, Secretary

A MESSAGE FROM MRS. MURPHY This is my favorite time of year. The air is getting cooler and the leaves are changing colors. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy and notice the changing of the seasons. It is hard to believe that the end of the first nine weeks is here. Time is moving quickly and students have been hard at work. Now that we have finished the first nine-weeks, our students have become familiar with the school and the classroom routines. We work hard to encourage our students to be independent. Please help us with this by saying good-byes in the lobby and allowing your child to walk to class. (Except preschool students) Teachers need to begin their day by 8:50 A.M. We appreciate your help and cooperation with this matter. Our third graders took the Ohio Achievement Test in reading at the beginning of October. We are waiting for the results. I know they worked hard and did their very best!! Open House was a huge success. The halls were filled with families and friends here to check out what we have been doing. We appreciate all of your support as we work together to provide a positive and welcoming learning environment for all children. As always, anytime you have a question or concern, please feel free to contact me through the school office or by email. I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving with your families. Sincerely, Mrs. Murphy Upcoming Events: November: 4th: 2-hour delay K-12 5th: Parent/Teacher conferences 6th: Picture Retakes 12th:PTG meeting 7:00 PM South School Library 14th: Parent/Teacher Conferences 20th: Midterms 27th-29th Happy Thanksgiving: No School

December: 10th: PTG Meeting 7:00 PM South School Library 11th-17th: Santa Shop 16th: 2-Hour delay K-12 23rd:-2nd: Christmas Break

November 11th is Veterans Day: Please remember to reflect on the sacrifices that have been made by those who have served or are currently serving our country in order for us to enjoy the freedoms we have. Take time to say Thank You!!

School Fees: The school fee for students in grades K-5 will be $25.00 this year. Please pay this fee as soon as possible.

Weather changes: According to the dress code in our school handbook, shorts may no longer be worn after October 31st. As the weather is getting cooler, please remember to have children dress for the weather. It is time to dig out those coats, sweaters, hats and gloves. We will go outside if it is not raining and as long as the temperature remains above 20 degrees

Phone Notification System: If school would be canceled or delayed due to the weather or there are any announcements that you need to be aware of, we have a phone notification system in place. You will be contacted at your primary phone number. (This is the number you used to enroll your child in school.) We also use this system to give you information regarding upcoming events or announcements. If your phone number has recently changed, please be sure to notify the office immediately. Safety Reminders: We have several procedures in place in order to keep all of our children safe. Please help us by remembering to follow a few safety rules. *Please sign your child in or out when arriving late or leaving early. *If you are in the building, please sign in at the office and wear a visitor badge where it can be clearly seen. It is also necessary for you to sign out when you leave. *Do not park in the bus lane in the morning or at pick-up time. *If your child is going home a different way than is typical for them, we MUST have a note. *Please leave pets at home when picking up or dropping off your child. Morning and dismissal times are very busy and animals can become unpredictable. Attendance: Regular attendance is important for the success of all students. School begins at 8:50 each morning. It is important for students to be at school on time each day unless they are ill or have some type of family emergency. Please remember to call the office if your child will be absent from school.