Memorial Messenger

Wednesdays are House Day - students please wear house colors

Click on slides below to see what we'll share at our House Meetings. Great lessons and resources you can even used at home for communication.

• Students may not be dropped off before 8:50am as there is no supervision.
• Please do not block any driveways while waiting in line to drop off or pick-up students. Please wait in space in between driveways.
• Our neighbors also need to get to/from work and in/out of their driveways in a timely manner.
• BPD may issue a ticket for violating this city ordinance

Attendance at school for school aged children is the law. Please click here to see the Brunswick City School District Handbook for the policies/procedures regarding Attendance.

If your child is absent or will be late due to a doctor appointment:

1. Please call the attendance phone number – 330-273-8107 by 9:00 a.m. or after 4pm on the day preceding an absence.

2. If your child is going to be absent or late, please briefly state the following information:

1. Your name and relationship (must be a custodial parent/guardian)

2. Student’s first and last name

3. Grade level

4. Teacher’s name

5. Reason for absence or late arrival

6. Make sure you send in a copy of Doctor’s note or proof of office visit to be medically excused.

You must call the school everyday that your child is absent. If we do not receive a call, you will receive a call directly at home or work. Outgoing attendance calls from school start at approximately 10:15 a.m.

If your child is leaving early for an appointment or a change for dismissal:

Please write a note; dated and signed by the legal custodial parent (unfortunately, a babysitter or other family member is not allowed) and send it to school with your child. The note will be sent to the office in the morning to record for attendance/dismissal purposes. Please DO NOT email or message via any apps/social media to teachers as these are not checked throughout the school day due to instruction and the message needs to go to the office. Dismissal changes from 3-3:25pm will not be accepted as there is not enough time to notify teacher and student(s) unless there is an emergency. The office phone cannot be answered between 3:25-3:35pm while dismissal is in progress.

If you or an emergency contact needs to pick up your child(ren) from school - please make sure the person has a valid picture ID with them. Upon arrival at Memorial, please press the buzzer and let the office staff member know who you are and what you need (pick up for appointment etc) and be prepared to show your ID. There are many new families at Memorial and we are still learning all our students' family members.

*Make sure person picking up student is listed in final forms. Students will NOT be released to anyone who is not on the approved list (emergency contacts) from parents/guardians listed in final forms.

Did you move? Get a new cell phone? Need to update our emergency contacts? Please make sure you update these things in final forms. Thank you!

Dear 2nd Grade Families,

On Wednesday, February 19, your student will take the Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®). The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the test so that—with your support and encouragement—your student will do his or her best on the test.

About CogAT
CogAT measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most closely related to success in school:

The Verbal Battery measures students’ abilities to reason with words and concepts. These reasoning abilities play an important role in reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and virtually all verbal learning tasks.

The Quantitative Battery measures students’ abilities to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts. These reasoning skills are significantly related to problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.

The Nonverbal Battery measures students’ abilities to reason with geometric shapes and figures. To perform successfully, students must accurately implement strategies for solving novel problems.

The three separate batteries provide a broad perspective on each student’s learned reasoning abilities, identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

Each subtest takes 10 minutes and includes practice questions to help students become familiar with the content and format of the subtests. These practice questions help students gain familiarity with the item formats and how to complete the different reasoning tasks.

The CogAT score will not be reflected in your child’s grades, however, scores from this test are used in combination with their performance on the NWEA MAPS testing for the purpose of determining future programming for your child, such as placement in the EXCEL gifted program and/or advanced courses at the middle school level. Scores for the CogAT are also used to screen students for gifted identification in the areas of superior cognitive ability and creative thinking. The best preparation for this test is:

• A good night’s sleep
• Encourage your child to relax and think positively!
• Be sure your child eats a healthy breakfast the morning of the test. This will help your child concentrate and provide the proper energy to function at his/her best.
• Discuss the importance of testing with your child and encourage your child to put forth his/her best effort.
• 
  

Many students in Brunswick City Schools have already taken similar tests to determine academic and cognitive ability for various reasons. If you feel that your child would not benefit from additional cognitive testing to help determine future programming and gifted identification in the areas of superior cognitive ability and creative thinking, you may opt your child out of the CogAT test using the link below. Opt-out forms must be submitted on or before February 14, 2025.

2nd Grade CogAT Parent Opt-Out Form Link

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at efoster@bcsoh.org or 330.273.0444.

Ellen Foster
Coordinator of Instruction/Gifted Coordinator

In case you missed our Superintendent, Mr. Niedermeyer newsletter or our District weekly newsletters

(please click on archive links below):

Superintendent Messages

District Newsletters

https://media.bcsoh.org/user/jbierman

Wednesday, February 19th at 6:30pm

1/31 6-9pm PTO Bingo Night (Doors open at 5:45pm - RSVPs required to attend)

2/3-2/7 PTO Candygrams Sale

2/4 6:00pm PTO Meeting in the MPR

2/12 Valentine Activities (Grades K-5)

2/13 PTO Candygrams Delivery

2/13 6-7:30pm Spring Paint Night with Pickled Pineapple

2/14 No School for Students (Staff In-Service Day)

2/17 No School Presidents’ Day

2/20 4:30-7:30pm Parent/Teacher Conferences

2/21 PTO Popcorn Friday

2/24 BCSD Family First Night

2/27 PTO Marco's Pizza Dine to Donate

3/4 6:00pm PTO Meeting in the MPR

3/13 End of Third Quarter

3/13 6:30 - 8:30pm PTO Skate Night

3/14 No School for Students (Staff In-Service Day)

3/21 PTO Popcorn Friday

3/24-3/28 Spring Break - No School

In the fall, more than 40 outstanding staff members were nominated for the first round of "B” For Excellence Awards! This recognition program celebrates the dedication and impact of BCSD staff who go above and beyond in inspiring, serving, and educating our students. We invite our entire school community - students, parents, colleagues, and community members - to help us spotlight more exceptional individuals by submitting nominations using this LINK. Your nominations allow us to recognize the profound impact our dedicated staff members have on student success.

Link CLOSED for this quarter...