2023-24 Mariemont Elementary School Success Guide

SUCCESS GUIDE

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM

Teachers and administrators work together to make certain that the content and skills learned flow consistently from grade level to grade level. Our curriculum serves as the blueprint for college and career readiness and success with state and national assessments. Beyond the classroom, we offer students opportunities to develop leadership and collaborative skills to help prepare them for success.

The district achievement goal is that student success will increase through rigorous curriculum design, instructional best practices, meaningful programming and purposeful environments that maximize learner autonomy and capacity to thrive.

This goal is reflected in our academic programs at each grade level, using a workshop model in our literacy and math blocks giving us the ability to meet the individual needs of all of our students.

90-minute block of an Explorations class as the special on Monday.

Wellness/PE Art Wellness/PE Art Wellness/PE Art

Library

Library Spanish Library Spanish Music Music

Music Choice: STEM Orchestra, Band, or Chorus STEM

LEARNING LAB

Learning Lab is a structured support system that presents added learning opportunities for each child in Kindergarten through 6th grade. It is a resource we hope each parent and child feels is valuable and enjoyable. Learning Lab includes three platforms: intervention, special education, and enrichment. The goal of each platform is to provide the students with an environment that fosters learning through activities that are based on individual student needs. The Intervention Learning Lab platform provides a concentrated focus on math and reading, and will include evidenced-based reading and math-specific programs to strengthen skills.

TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION

Technology skills are taught from kindergarten through grade 12. There are numerous skills that students are taught/introduced to throughout the year by the classroom teacher and school library aide. Students in grades K-3 will have access to an individual iPad in the classroom while students in grades 4-6 will be permitted to take their iPads to and from school/home. Throughout instruction, your child may use age and skill-appropriate websites and/or apps related to math and reading. Additionally, they will be involved in writing tasks or publications.

COMMUNICATION

The best way to stay informed about important school events, fundraisers, programs and other news is via the WEDNESDAY EMAIL news from our PTO. We use our school distribution lists to send out this weekly communication.

QUARTERLY REPORT CARDS

To improve communication with parents about their child’s academic and social progress, we use a quarterly standards based report card for our learners in grades K-4. This report card format provides detailed information about students’ strengths and areas for growth. Report cards in grades 5 and 6 show traditional letter grades based on classroom performance.

SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST

Supply lists are available for grades K-6 online on the school home page (www.mariemontschools.org) – click on “Student Supplies Lists” under the Parent heading.

VISITORS + SECURITY MEASURES

The Mariemont City School District makes a concerted effort to implement daily security measures and keep our school safe and secure. All doors are kept locked during school hours. The front doors facing Wooster Pike are locked and inaccessible during the school day. During school hours, every visitor must enter the office and register their name and purpose of visit. A driver’s license is required to be given a visitor’s badge that should be worn for the duration of the visit. Visitors must also sign out in the office at the conclusion of their visit and turn in their badge to office personnel.

FOOD GUIDELINES

Parties involving food in the elementary schools will take place four (4) times a year in the classrooms for Halloween, winter holiday, Valentine’s Day and end-of-year picnics. Food treats brought in during a party by a student or student’s family for purposes of sharing in the classroom must be accompanied by original packaging with nutritional and ingredient list(s) and should be tree-nut/peanut free. Specific classrooms or grade levels may further limit food items. Parents are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher several days in advance to determine what food allergens will not be allowed. Parents of students with food/health related conditions will be notified in advance of any food/treat that is being served in a classroom.

Birthdays are very special days for students. We acknowledge every child’s birthday during the school year. If parents would like to bring a birthday treat in for your child, it must be for your child only. We ask that birthday treats not be brought in for sharing with other students within the classroom and/or grade level.

Kindergarten classrooms and 2nd grade classrooms (due to the late lunch time) will have a snack time each day. Students will be required to bring in their own snack, which should be peanut/ tree-nut free. If a student forgets to bring in a snack, pretzel rods will be provided to the student.

HOW DOES LUNCH WORK?

Students have a combined lunch and recess time. At the beginning of each day, students inform their teacher if they are buying lunch, packing or going home. We require all students to have a parent note stating their lunch plans. If your child will do the same thing every day or week, one note at the beginning of the year is all that is needed. If your child has a change in lunch plans or an unpredictable schedule, we ask that parents send a note any time they plan to go home. Again, safety is our priority!

Information on MySchoolBucks (the online system to monitor and add money to a child’s lunch account) and the Free and Reduced Lunch Program can be found on the district’s website under the Parents tab.

STUDENT

DROP OFF + PICK UP

• Students in grades 1-6 can enter the building beginning at 8:15 a.m. Students can enter via the walkway off West St., at the main entrance or through the dining hall doors located off Plainville Rd. You may drop children off in two location choices: the drop off zone in the upper school parking lot located off West St. and the drop off zone behind the Parish Center.

- In both parking lots for safety reasons please have your child(ren) exit on the passenger side of the car versus on the driver’s side within the “drop off zone”

- To keep the flow of traffic moving efficiently within the car lines, please have your child ready to exit on the passenger’s side as quickly as possible.

- During our morning arrival when staff are on duty (8:15 – 8:30 a.m.) if you are parking in the visitor’s spots or not able to utilize the car-line to drop-off your student, please park your car and escort your child(dren) to the sidewalk where there is a staff member on duty or please park your car and escort your child(dren) through the parking lot to the walkway.

- Please limit cell phone usage during arrival and dismissal time while in the parking lot.

• You may use street parking on Plainville Road.

• You may park in the parking spots along the right side of the Mariemont Church Parish Center lot on Plainville Road.

• You may park in the lower parking lot off Plainville Road between 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

- When pulling into the lower parking lot (lower playground area) as well as the upper parking lot, please stay on the lookout for students crossing and other cars pulling out, and please watch for the direction of our staff on duty who are there to assist with the car line and traffic flow.

- Please be aware that every Tuesday our Kiwanis group meets from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. in our Dining Hall. On this day there will be an increase in the number of cars parked in the lower parking lot off of Plainville Rd.

• Please do not park in the lots by the Mariemont Strand, including those by the executive building on West Street. These are not public parking lots, and we have been asked not to park in these lots during student drop-off, pick-up or special school events.

• Bus drop off will take place on West Street. Bus pickup will take place on Plainville Rd.

• Kindergarten students will line up on their playground outside their classrooms located in the black fenced-in area off of West Street.

• Walkers & Bike Riders can enter via a walkway off West St., at the main entrance or through the dining hall doors located on Plainville Rd.

• Bike racks are available off of West St. and near the walking path off Wooster Pike by the doors closest to the dining hall.

TRANSPORTATION BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Please visit our website to check out bus schedules and info on the bus tracker app: https://www.mariemontschools.org/ Transportation.aspx

Right at School will offer before and after school program here at ME. If you have any questions please email rightatschool.com or call 855-287-2466 for more information.

The Mariemont Community Church also offers a before and after school program. If you have any questions please call 504-9287 for more information.

LATE OR SICK CHILD

What do I do if my child is late to school or sick?

• When it is necessary that a child is absent from school or if your child is to be late, please call or e-mail the school by 8:45 a.m. and inform the secretary of your child’s absence and the reason for the absence. You also may send an email to me.attendance@mariemontschools.org. This is done to assure the safe whereabouts of each child.

• Per House Bill 410, absences are no longer counted as how many days missed, but by how many hours of school missed. It is important to be aware that we are required by law to send the first notification at 38 or more hours in one month or 65 or more hours in one school year, excused or unexcused.

• Your child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. In general, it is advisable to ask your doctor to recommend readmission after a communicable disease.

EVENTS

What are the big events I should attend?

There are many events throughout the year but some of the events that you may want to make arrangements to attend are the first day of school flag raising ceremony, Parent Information Night, the Halloween parade, PTO Carnival and the end-of-year parties. Please ask your child’s classroom teacher for details.

SCHOOL-HOME PARTNERSHIP

We have a caring and committed staff here at Mariemont Elementary. Your partnership and involvement in the school is critical to the success of your child(ren)’s education. We invite you to visit the school often, to call or email when you have questions or need more information, to communicate regularly with the teachers and to talk with your child about what they are learning.

We are committed to partnering with each of our families and with our staff to create a nurturing, caring, welcoming, fun and rigorous school environment where all students can pursue their passion, be transformed as learners and achieve high levels of excellence.

Principal: Ericka Simmons

Dean of Students: Holly Zimmerman

Counselor: Paige Francis (K-2), Suzanne Lehman (3-6)

Office staff: Chris Buxsel, Jamie Keyes

School Health Aide: Sue Fahey RN, MSN