The Roadrunner Review

October was an incredible month of community and achievement at our school! We kicked things off with a high-energy PTA fundraiser assembly in our gymnasium, and our third graders demonstrated excellent focus during their initial Ohio State Test (OST) assessments. We also hosted our very first Trunk or Treat event, which was a massive success thanks to your immense generosity. Our Student Council did a fantastic job helping weigh over 200 pounds of donated candy! Additionally, our staff worked diligently throughout October to finalize our RAES Continuous Improvement Plan, establishing a clear roadmap for our academic and community goals this school year.

In addition to these events, we are launching an exciting new tradition: T-Shirt Tuesday! Through a wonderful collaboration with our PTA and the Principal’s Fund, we have partnered with Mojo to provide a RAES t-shirt to every single student and staff member at absolutely no cost. Our goal is to foster a powerful sense of community, equality, and belonging across our entire building. When we wear our shirts together, we send a clear message that every individual at RAES belongs, matters, and is a vital part of our school community.

Looking ahead, November promises to be just as busy and rewarding. This month brings CogAT testing for our second and fourth graders, our school Book Fair, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and a well-deserved Thanksgiving Break. We are also thrilled to celebrate our Girls on the Run team as they complete their upcoming 5K race.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making RAES such a special place for our students to grow and learn.

Mrs. Zellner, Principal

2: PTA Book Fair Begins

3: No School *Election Day

5: Parent Teacher Conferences 3-7pm *Book Fair will be open this evening.

6: Deadline to opt out of Erin's Law presentations. Click here for more information.

10, 17, 24: T-Shirt Tuesday

10: PTA @ 6pm in RAES Art Room

11: Veterans Day

21: Girls on the Run 5k

25-27: No School *Thanksgiving Break

30: Students Return to School

1: Fourth grade field trip to The Chiller

3 & 4: PTA Holiday Gift Shop

8: PTA Reflections Art Show

11: PTA Holiday Family Night 5:30pm-7:30pm

21-1: Winter Break *Students return to school on Monday, January 4, 2027

✨During the month of October our Richard Avenue Promise focus was Accept Responsibility. Over twenty students were nominated for demonstrating this virtue daily! Congratulations to all of our nominees for setting a positive example and helping make Richard Avenue a caring, supportive community for everyone.

At Richard Avenue, students earn a Good Choice Award by keeping the RAES Promise. That means when you Respect Others, Accept Responsibility, Ensure Safety, and Show Self-Discipline, you show everyone you are making great choices! 🏅

As the calendar flips over to November, we would like to take a moment and share our deep appreciation for our military families serving, both past and present. In this month, we pay tribute to our veterans, those brave men and women who have selflessly dedicated their lives to protect our freedoms - including the right to a great education.

The sacrifices made by veterans extend not only to their own lives but also to their families. They endure long deployments, separations, and the constant worry for their loved ones' safety. It is a reminder of the remarkable strength, resilience, and unwavering support exhibited by our military families.

This month, we honor our veterans for their courage, valor, and dedication to our nation. As a school, we express our gratitude not just through words but through our actions as students will be participating in a number of studies and programming around veterans this month. [Insert building specific plans here for Veteran appreciation opportunities]

Thank you, veterans, for your unwavering commitment to our nation.

SWCS is excited to launch an innovative new tool for parents and guardians this school year in the form of a new Absence Request tool within the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (web or mobile application)! Parents and guardians can use this new 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. The tool helps parents log all types of absences at the ease of their fingertips, while also automating administrative tasks for school front offices in the process.

As a reminder, Ohio law requires written notification of all types of absences, including full-day absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals. Absence Requests can now be submitted through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Visit https://www.swcsd.us/Attendance.aspx or scan the QR code for instructions.

To keep our students safe and traffic moving smoothly, please follow these key arrival, dismissal, and car line guidelines:

• School Hours: Arrival and dismissal follow this daily schedule:
  • 7:50 AM: Doors open only for students eating school breakfast.
  • 8:00 AM: Doors open for all other students.
  • 8:20 AM: Tardy bell rings.
  • 2:40 PM: School dismissal.
• No Early Drop-Offs: Students are not monitored before 8:00 AM. Please refrain from dropping off your student before this time.
• Pull Forward: Always pull up as far as possible in the car line. If the traffic pattern allows, please move completely past the crosswalk before stopping.
• Look for Staff: Friendly adults will be stationed outside and inside to guide your student safely.
• Walking to the Entrance: If you prefer to walk your student to the front doors, do not use the car line. You must find parking instead.
• Changing Transportation: If you need to change your child's daily transportation please contact the office by 1:30 PM each day, or provide the change in writing to the office or your child's teacher.
• Car Riders: If your child will be car rider in the PICK UP line this year, meaning you stay in the car, and the child comes to you, we will be utilizing Car Rider pick up tags to continue to expedite our pick up process, and to increase safety. You can request tags for your family, and they will be ready for you during meet the teacher/open house! Please fill out the form below to request your car tags! *Please only request these tags if you know your child will be a car rider in the afternoon. Do not fill out the form if your child will be a walker, bus rider, day care, or if you plan to park and meet your child.

It will be very important for you to update all of your information in the Parent Portal so that you are sure to continually receive updates throughout the year. To create an IC account, click HERE. If you already have an IC account, please find directions to update your contact information by clicking HERE. It is important to update your child’s annual consent to emergency medical treatment or refusal. This is required by the State of Ohio.

To protect the growing number of students with severe, life-threatening food allergies, all South-Western City School District (SWCSD) elementary schools are enforcing strict safety rules aligned with Ohio Department of Education guidelines. [1, 2]

Please note the following policies for the school day:

• No Birthday Food Treats: Cupcakes, cookies, candy, or other birthday party foods will not be accepted for classroom distribution. Please send small non-food items instead. Your child may still bring a personal special treat just for their own lunch.
• No Unrequested Food Donations: Home food donations for daytime school events are strictly prohibited unless explicitly requested by staff and approved by the principal.
• Balloon Restrictions: Balloons or arrangements larger than a child's backpack are not permitted in school or on school buses.

After-School Events: These strict restrictions do not apply to after-school events where parents are present to monitor their own children. However, principals are partnering with PTA units to share ingredient lists in advance for seasonal events. Thank you for helping us keep our classrooms safe and inclusive for every student!

Please notify the school about any known allergies your child may possess on the student medical form so we can do our best to meet each student’s needs and keep them safe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our school office.

Under the No Child Left Behind Education Reform Act, parents have the right to request information regarding the qualifications of their student’s classroom teacher including:

1. If the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade level taught and subject matter being taught ESSA Section 1112 (e)(1)(A)(i)(I);
2. If the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status ESSA Section 1112(e)(1)(a)(i)(II);
3. The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major, certification, and field of discipline ESSA Section 1112(e)(1)(A)(i)(III);
4. Whether the student is provided services by a paraprofessional and if so, their qualifications. ESSA Section 1112(e)(1)(A).

The requested information must be given in a timely manner. ESSA Section 1112(e)(1)(A).

A HUGE thank you to our incredible PTA volunteers, staff, and everyone who joined us to help make another NEW event a success: Trunk or Treat! Thank you for making memories with our school community—our students definitely know how to light up the room!

Our PTA has a facebook page where you can stay up to date on special events and volunteer opportunities. Please reach out to raes.president1@gmail.com with any questions!