Graham Families,

Time is flying. We are already halfway through the 2nd 9-weeks of the 2023-2024 school year!

As you can see we have been quite busy over the past several week as we have had the following events at GES:

• GES Peace Flag We Are At 12 Days - See Below In Newsletter For More Information
• Grandparents Day(s)
• STEM Club
• Staff LETRS Professional Development
• 2nd Grade Thanksgiving Day Program
• GES Team Spirit Day
• 2nd Grade "Macys Day Parade"
• KONA ICE
• Leader in Me Club Day

Our Kindergarten and 1st grade Christmas Programs will be on the following dates/times:

December 7 @ 6:00pm - Kindergarten

December 7 @ 7:00pm - 1st Grade

To stay informed on Graham Elementary Information:

Follow us on:

Facebook: Graham Elementary School

Graham Elementary Classdojo

Graham Local Schools Webpage: grahamlocalschools.org (Graham Elementary School)

GES - Family News From The Nest

We are here for our students and our families each day. If at any time you have questions please let us know and we will do our best to find the answer for you.

We are looking forward to a great year!

Lynnette Roeth

GES Principal

Emily Shreve

GES Assistant Principal

Did you know GES announcements are almost entirely led by our students at Graham Elementary School? How awesome is that!

Check out our daily announcements on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeOlG5-Za6RPEEl2icyyq5A

Thank you to Ms. Hager who is in charge of the Student Lighthouse Team who helps our students with the daily announcements.

Check Out Our School Website

https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/

Direct Link To The Graham Elementary Page

https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/o/ges

During the school year our students will learn the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids and learn how to implement the habits in their daily lives.

The 7 Habits

Habit #1 - Be Proactive

Habit #2 - Begin With The End In Mind

Habit #3 - Put First Things First

Habit #4 - Think Win-Win

Habit #5 - Seek First To Understand Then To Be Understood

Habit #6 - Synergize

Habit #7 - Sharpen The Saw

We look forward to working together with you to help your child be successful in all that they do using the 7 Habits!

What a great 3 days we had at Graham Elementary School. We welcomed over 875 grandparent/special person's into our building. Some people traveled from Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York just to name a few!

We want to thank all of the grandparent's/special person's who came out to visit our school. Our students love this day and we sure hope all of the people who came enjoyed their day with us as well.

Are you raising your grandchild, niece, nephew, or non-biological child? This group is for you!

Graham Kinship Connections

Contact Stacey Logwood, logwoods@grahamlocalschools.org or through messaging on Class DOJO for more information

On November 21st our 2nd grade student's and their teacher's held their annual "Macy's Day Parade". Our students worked on a STEM activity where they designed their projects on paper before constructing their "Macy's Day Parade" balloons. At the end of this STEM activity our 2nd graders paraded through the hallways of GES as our students clapped and cheered for them.

Graham Elementary held a full school STEM activity day on November 21st! Check out our Graham Elementary Facebook page and Graham Elementary School Website for lots of photos and descriptions of many of the activities held on November 21st!

For the 2nd year we will have the GES PEACE FLAG. The students at GES will have a day filled with fun activities when we hit 30 days during the school year that are Office Referral Free!

New this year, in addition to the 30 day celebration - we are adding Quarterly Award Celebrations for any student who does not receive an office referral each 9-weeks!

The PEACE FLAG is located in the cafeteria and is updated each night for the students to keep track of our building progress.

As of December 1st we are at 12 days Office/Bus Referral Free!

18 More Days To Go - For Our Full Day Of Fun Activities

Our 2nd grade student's and our Graham Elementary Choir under the direction of Graham Elementary Music teacher Rebecca Carlson and accompanist Kristen Gleeson put on a wonderful music program celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Great job 2nd grade and GES Choir!

Hello Falcon families!
We are excited to share that our teachers are now using University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) Foundations lessons in our phonemic awareness/phonics instruction.
UFLI is, "an explicit and systematic program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading. It follows a carefully developed scope and sequence designed to ensure that students systematically acquire each skill needed and learn to apply each skill with automaticity and confidence."
Teachers and learners have spent the last couple of weeks exploring the Getting Ready lessons, and classrooms will begin the first set of lessons this week. Soon, teachers will be sharing more details at the classroom-level and how you can support your children at home in their learning of these critical foundational skills.
Thank you for your partnership in your child's learning. We appreciate you!

Can you imagine a time when ALL students have the opportunity to participate in a Club of their choice?

You need to look no further than at Graham Elementary School. At Graham Elementary we provide EVERY student in our school K-5 the opportunity to participate in a School Club during the school year.

Every student will be given the opportunity in their library and computer class to hear all 40 Clubs we have to offer. From those 40 Clubs our students will be able to select their top 3 Clubs. We do our best to make sure every student gets one of their top 3 choices.

Our 2nd GES LIM Club Day is November 30th!

We would love for you to be part of the Graham Elementary School PTO. Come join a great organization that puts the needs of the students and staff at the forefront of all they do.

Come to a few meetings or come to them all - Join the PTO

PTO Meetings Are Held In The Graham Elementary School Media Center

The following are the PTO Meeting Dates and Times :

December 7th - 5:30pm

January 8th 3:45pm

January 25th 5:30pm

February 15th - 5:3pm

March 4th - 3:45pm

March 28th 5:30pm

April 15th - 3:45pm

May 9th - 5:30pm

May 20th - 3:45pm

Graham Elementary PTO Student/Staff Events

Santa Shoppe

December 11-15 During Library Time

Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5-11

Graham Elementary PTO Email - gespto@grahamlocalschools.org

Do you want to volunteer at GES?

Reminder - If you plan to volunteer at GES you have to be on the approved volunteer list.

At times it can take over 2 weeks to get your approval information so make certain to get your information in early.

How to:

1 - Go to grahamlocalschools.org

2 - Click - DISTRICT

3 - Click - VOLUNTEER PORTAL (at the bottom)

4 - Click - Volunteer Sign Up

5 - Follow the directions in Secure Volunteer

At Graham Local Schools, we take a proactive approach to attendance. If/When GES students accumulate 50 hours of excessive absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #1. When students accumulate 65 excessive hours of absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #2.

An absence intervention meeting will be scheduled when students accumulates 72 excessive hours of absence

Please see the GES Handbook language below for the steps to report an absence...

A. When a student is ill or for some other reason is unable to attend, the parent/guardian is ex­pected to contact the school office by phone before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. For your convenience, you may call the night before and leave a message on the answering machine (937-663-4449).

B. A written reason for all absences properly signed and dated by a parent/guardian is required. Written notes not filed in the office within one day after the student returns to school following an absence will result in an unexcused absence. Administration reserves the right to excuse student absences with reasonable cause.

C. For each unexcused absence, the student is responsible for obtaining work and following make-up work policies.

GES Family Calendar

2023-2024

December

7: Kindergarten Christmas Program 6pm

7: 1st Grade Christmas Program 7pm

13: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

14: KONA ICE

15: Winter Fun Inflatable Day

17: Falconland Market 1-3pm

Winter Break - December 18-January 1 (Return to School January 2nd)

January

3: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

11: End of Quarter 2

12: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Staff In-Service/Records Day

15: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Martin Luther King Day

16: Quarter 3 begins

17: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

18: Progress Reports Sent Home

25: KONA ICE

February

7: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

19: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - President’s Day

21: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

27: Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7pm

29: Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7pm

29: KONA ICE

March

5-8: Glen Helen Group

6: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

14: End of Quarter 3

15: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Staff In-Service Day

18: Quarter 4 begins

20: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

20-24: Mobile Dentist

27: Spring Picture Day Time TBA and 5th Grade Group Photo

28: KONA ICE

29: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - No School/Holiday

April

1 - 5: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

8: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Staff In-service Day

10: 3rd Grade Chicken Hatching - OSU Extension Office (During School Day)

15: Skating in PE Begins (Ends May 10)

17: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School In Ms. Hager’s Room

24: STEM Club AFTER SCHOOL 3:45-5:00

25: KONA ICE

26: NO SCHOOL FOR GES STUDENTS - Staff Professional Development

May

1: 2nd Grade CogAT Testing

1: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

2: GES Musical 1st Performance (PM Assembly and Evening Performance)

3: GES Musical 2nd Performance In Evening

2: 2nd Grade CogAT Testing

8: STEM Club AFTER SCHOOL 3:45-5:00

10: Last Day Of Skating In PE

10: Kindergarten Community Field Trip

15: Student Lighthouse Meeting After School

16: KONA ICE

16: Leader in Me Club Day

21: Last Day For Kindergarten Students

22: 5th Grade Promotion 6pm (Reminder School Fees Must Be Paid In Order To Participate In Promotion)

24: Preschool Promotion @ 10a.m. in gymnasium (Reminder School Fees Must Be Paid In Order To Participate In Promotion)

26: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Memorial Day

28: End of Quarter 4

28: Last Day of School

Student Breakfast and Lunch Prices For 2023-2024

Breakfast - $1.35

Lunch - $3.20

Individual Milk - $.65

Information - Free and Reduced-Price School Meals

https://filecabinet5.eschoolview.com/CA7BA98B-DAE2-42EF-BC3A-AA7201F54C54/37d3b39f-ba9e-4526-aee8-adaefdd631d2.pdf

Graham Elementary

Breakfast

Students eating breakfast may enter the building at 8:30am

School Start Time

Doors Open - 8:45am

School Day Begins - 8:50am

Students arriving after 8:50am will be counted tardy and the student and an adult will need to report to the front office to sign the student in for the day.

School Day End Time

3:25 - Out Front Pick-Ups

3:30 - Bus Dismissal

Building Time Schedule

8:00 Main Office opens

8:15 Teachers/staff in building

8:30 Cafeteria opens for student breakfast

8:45 Students enter the building

*Students eating breakfast may enter the building at 8:30.

8:50 Student day begins

*Students arriving after 8:50 are tardy and must report to the office.

11:00-1:30 Lunchtimes/recess

3:25 Students being picked up are dismissed

3:30 Bus students are dismissed

3:40 Staff is able to depart

4:00 Office closes

If you know your child will be a permanent pick-up in the afternoon. You can email Kristina Thornton and Kayla Yoder or have your child bring a note to school.

Kristina Thornton - thorntonk@grahamlocalschools.org

Kayla Yoder - yoderk@grahamlocalschools.org

The end of day pick-up procedure will make our out front pick-up safer for our students at Graham Elementary

Permanent Pick-Up

• Students will be dismissed at 3:25pm each day.

• Each student/family who is a permanent pick-up will be given 2 numbered tags and their child will have a numbered tag with a corresponding number for their bookbag.

• Those students who are picked up by a babysitter with proper transportation forms on file will have a number for their babysitter.

• Each grade level will have a designated area marked outside and the family will come to that area to pick up their student(s) from each area - families should have their numbered tag with them.

• Families must park and come to the sidewalk to pick up their students. There will be no parking in the fire lanes of the building.

Note - If you have a student with a mobility device you may pick your child up curb side on the primary (west) side of the front entrance.

We do understand this process takes time and we thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through this process together, keeping in mind our #1 priority is our students safety.

Students who are not permanent pick-ups on certain days or for the whole week and the family calls in or sends in a note to pick-up their child will need to follow the procedure below.

Call In/Parent Letter Pick-Ups - Non Permanent

• Families who are not permanent pick-ups must come to the front doors, provide ID and sign out their student from inside the building.

• Students will be dismissed to their family once the family has signed them out at the front office.

Once again we thank you for your patience and flexibility as we have made changes to our pick-up process for the safety of our students.

School Fees Update - March 13, 2023

As stated in the student/guardian handbook in regard to school fees, if it is not possible to make payment immediately, then arrange for payments in the office.

Students will miss out on the following due to outstanding fees balances:

• Field Trips

• School Fees must be paid in order to attend any field trips - this includes the 5th grade Glen Helen trip.

• Promotion or graduation ceremonies in Preschool and 5th grades.

• Students will not be able to go through preschool promotion or 5th grade promotion if their school fees are not paid.

** If you need to set up a payment plan, please contact the GES office at 937-663-4449 or you can email Ms. Roeth roethl@grahamlocalschools.org

Lynnette Roeth - Principal

Emily Shreve - Assistant Principal

Stacey Logwood - Student, Family and Community Support Coordinator

Email: roethl@grahamlocalschools.org
Website: grahamlocalschools.org
Location: 9464 U.S. 36, Saint Paris, OH, USA
Phone: 937-663-4449
Facebook: facebook.com/FreddieFalcon
Twitter: @GESFALCONS