Grindstone News

Please be sure to make yourself familiar with our new visitor system. Last week BCSD implemented the Raptor Visitor Management System; anyone coming to volunteer, visit, or pick up their student must bring a valid ID. Below is the notification sent out to families via email on January 14, 2024. Visitors need to bring an ID every time they come to Grindstone; after the first scan your information is in the system and every visit after makes the check-in process a bit faster. It also allows us to preprint badges for big events; ie Classroom Party days.

BCSD Raptor Visitor Management System

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a teaching approach that works to accommodate the needs and abilities of all learners and eliminates unnecessary hurdles in the learning process. Bi-weekly we will be sharing some of the great teaching and learning happening at Grindstone!

We are experiencing levels of damage to Chromebooks that our technology department can't keep up with regarding repairs and cost. Coupled with concerns over screen time, the burden of young children carrying Chromebooks every day, and concerns from parents about trying to manage devices at home, we are going to return to the following model:

We will cart all K-4 Chromebooks and let teachers decide if they want to send them home for the night for specific assignments. We are asking families to please return your student’s Chromebook and charging cord to school by Thursday, February 1, 2024, so that we can begin the process of rewiring classroom carts.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Currently, we have a number of students coming to school not dressed appropriately for the colder weather; hoodies, sweatshirts, and shorts. Below you will find the guidelines and expectations printed in our BCSD Elementary Handbook. Your cooperation in helping your child be dressed for the colder weather is much appreciated.

1. All clothing should be neat, clean, and safe.

2. Shorts are permitted on warm days only.

3. Coats are encouraged on cooler days and should be worn by students during outdoor recess.

4. The following clothing is not allowed:

● That which exposes too much or is too tight, including but not limited to tank tops, spaghetti strap tops, halter tops, cut-off T-shirts, bare midriffs, short shorts, and spandex (biking) pants or shorts.

● That which contains messages that are obscene, profane, drug-related, gang-related, or inflammatory or depicts weapons or violence.

● Sagging pants.

Parents are encouraged to send a change of clothes to be kept at school for their child.

Disclaimer: Any new “fads” in clothing, or anything not specifically covered in the above guidelines, determined to be inappropriate dress or disruptive to the learning environment, shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Berea City School District Elementary Schools’ Administration. Any student not adhering to the above will be referred to the office where parent contact will occur.

When the temperature, including the wind chill, is 20 degrees or above, students will go out for recess and need to be dressed for the cold weather. The administration reserves the right to hold indoor recess based on the conditions of the playground/blacktop areas.

Below are the dates for the 4th-grade K-Kids meetings for the 2023-2024 school year. Our meetings are always on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Please keep it marked on your calendar.

February 13th, 8:00 am-9:00 am

March 12th, 8:00 am-9:00 am

April 9th, 8:00 am-9:00 am

May 14th, 8:00 am-9:00 am

Helena Kleem-Goliat

Beginning in January, parents and guardians can use the Absence Request tool to submit a request that informs the office in advance when their student is not going to be in school. After the request is processed, an attendance record is created for the student. Use this LINK to find out how to use this absence request tool.

When: January 26 & January 30

Registration Forms were sent home or you can register at Mobile Dentist Registration Link

• The school day starts at 9:00 a.m. All car riders should wait in their cars until a Grindstone staff member either opens the door or signals them to exit the car. For student safety, all students should exit and enter their car curbside.

• For all our Titan Friends who walk to school and arrive before the first bell, it is imperative for your child’s safety that they are waiting in line like a Super Titan; being respectful, responsible, and safe. Students should not arrive at school too early as there is no supervision before our first bell rings at 9:00 a.m.

Student Success Centers - Cuyahoga Community Library

https://cuyahogalibrary.org/services/student-success/homework-help

Academic Assistance

Brook Park Library

Monday- Thursday

4:00-6:30 PM

Kid’s Café (free after school meals)

Brook Park Library

Monday-Thursday

3:30-4:30 PM

https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/9120967

These are the topics and dates:

• Hassle-Free Shopping with Children
  
• Wed, Feb 7 ... 6:30 - 8:00pm
• Hassle-Free Mealtimes
  Sat, March 16 ... 10:30 - 12 noon

Students purchasing breakfast and/or lunch will be required to enter their lunch number. Please take a moment and work with your students to remember their Student ID, which is their Lunch Code. Student ID numbers can be located in Infinite Campus - you can look under "Home".

Please check the Infinite Campus/Parent Portal for school fees - School Fees were due 11/1/23. https://campus.berea.k12.oh.us/campus/portal/berea.jsp

Payment can be made by cash or check payable to Berea City Schools or through Payforit.net.

Please note: PayForIt charges a $1.75 flat fee per ACH transaction and a 3.9% Credit Card transaction fee.

Free and Reduced Meal Application
Applications will open on August 7, 2023

IMPORTANT: Applications cannot be filled out on a mobile device. You must use a desktop or laptop.

1. Go to www.mymealtime.com
2. If you are already logged into your child's account, logout. That will take you back to the homepage.
3. Click on the orange box that says "MealTime Apply Online" to start the application.
4. You will need your students ID number to complete the application.

You will receive an approval or denial letter within a week of returning your completed and signed application. Questions, please call Supervisor of Nutrition Services at 216-267-2142.

Meal Benefits Application

1/30 Mobile Dentist Visit

2/2 Spirit Day ~ National wear Red Day!

2/5 - 2/9 PTA Scholastic Book Fair

2/8 Miss Laubert and Mrs. Wiklinski's Classes to Planetarium @ BMMS 9:30 - 11 AM

2/9 Mrs. Arthur and Mrs. Horley's Classes to Planetarium @ BMMS 9:30 - 11 AM

2/9 PTA Sponsored Family Dance & Book Fair 6 PM - 8 PM

2/12 Mr. Kruggel's Class to Planetarium @ BMMS 9:30 - 11 AM

2/15 Mrs. Stajcar & Mrs. Fontana's Class' to Planetarium @ BMMS 10:15 - 11:30

2/15 Preschool Field Trip: Cleveland Children's Museum

2/15 PTA Sponsored Hearts and Hugs Class Parties

2/16 No School ~ Staff PD

2/19 No School ~ Presidents' Day

2/22 Parent/Teacher Conferences

2/23 Mrs. Carlson & Mrs. Mandato's Class' to Planetarium @ BMMS 10:15 - 11:30

2/26 Mrs. Byers' Class' to Planetarium @ BMMS 10:15 - 11:30

School Hours
9:00 a.m. Students enter the building

(8:50 a.m.-9:10 a.m. Breakfast students may enter through the cafeteria door)
9:15 a.m. Tardy bell rings
3:40 p.m. Car Riders, Walkers, and Right at School After Care Students dismissed
3:45 p.m. Dismissal bell for bus riders

Email: tgrimm@bereaschools.org
Website: www.bereaschools.org
Location: 191 Race Street, Berea, OH, USA
Phone: (216)898-8305
Facebook: facebook.com/GrindstoneBCSD
X/Twitter: @GrindstoneBCSD