Birch School Newsletter
New Building Visit
Birch school will have an opportunity to take a walking field trip on Wednesday, October 28th to our backyard to see the new school that we will all be moving into following winter break. Our Preschool and Kindergarten students and staff will be the first to get a glimpse of the inside classroom spaces, and meet some of the workers who have been busily preparing the building for our move.
No field trip permission slips necessary for this walk as it is simply out our back door and steps into the new building in our backyard. This is going to be an exciting visit!
See the link below with some current photos of the new building including upcoming events planned to celebrate its opening.
Halloween Celebration at Birch School
It is an exciting time for children at school on Halloween. Although we still do a lot of learning, we plan for some fun activities on the below days for our Preschool and Kindergarten students.
Preschool students will celebrate on Thursday, October 29th.
Kindergarten students will celebrate on Friday, October 30th.
Students may wear a costume on the day their grade level is celebrating.
As you guide your child toward his/her selection of a costume, please remember that if they plan to wear a costume, please follow the below guidelines.
· Costumes should be school appropriate.
· Costumes should not include masks.
· No weapons, even pretend, should be sent to school at any time.
· Children should be able to put on and take off costumes with minimal support to use the bathroom.
Please practice this at home. It is always sad when a student has an accident in their costume and may not be able to wear their costume for evening Trick-or-Treat.
The PTA works with room parents to assign only a certain number of parents to the classroom parties. Weather permitting, children will parade in front of the school and parents and family members are welcome to stand outside to watch the parade. If weather does not permit, we will parade inside the school and parents will be welcome to stand in the halls to watch the parade.
Our morning/afternoon Preschoolers will parade inside the school beginning at 10:30 (morning classes) or 2:30 (afternoon classes) and then exit outside. Parents are welcome to stand on the front sidewalk around the picnic tables and flag pole to watch as we walk around the front sidewalk right in front of the school.
Our Kindergarteners will parade inside the school beginning at 2:00 and then exit outside. Parents are welcome to stand on sidewalks surrounding the school, out to Palm Drive (near the entrance and exit to the parking lot) to watch the parade.
PTA Halloween treat donations - click the link below and select your child's teacher to sign up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/13572DB07A0CCE9C7A18-2026halloween#/
PTA Halloween party volunteers - click the link below and select your child's teacher to sign up.
Preschool: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949ADA92CA7FCCF8-66300465-preschool#/
Kindergarten: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949ADA92CA7FCCF8-66300803-kindergarten#/
Afternoon parties will end at 3:00 to allow time to prepare for dismissal.
November Birch Parent and Teacher Conferences
Parent and Teacher conferences are scheduled during the late afternoon and evening at Birch on November 4th and 12th. The link to sign up for a date and time to meet with your child's teacher is below. If you have any questions, you can also call the school office for support with scheduling a conference.
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Birch
Mark your calendars for the Scholastic Book Fair at Birch School starting November 4th through November 12th. The book fair is a great way to get your children excited about reading.
Kindergarten students can purchase books at the Book Fair during their Library time. If Preschool students are interested in purchasing, we will make time during the school day to assist them in making a choice. Additionally, all parents can purchase books at the Book Fair during conferences on November 4th and November 12th.
Scholastic is now offering Book Fair eWallet as a payment option. Simply set up an account and have funds immediately available for your child to shop at the book fair. If you decide to send cash or check (payable to Birch Primary School) please put the cash/check in an envelope with your child’s name and Scholastic Book Fair written on it. Please note that Scholastic is now required to charge sales tax.
Scan the QR code or click the link below to visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/birchprimaryschool
See you at the Book Fair!
Kindergarten Report Cards and Preschool Progress Notes
It is hard to believe that the first quarter of the school year has ended. Kindergarten report cards will be made available to parents on Powerschool on Friday, October 23rd. Preschool progress notes will be sent home with students on Monday, October 26th. Progress will also be shared with parents at Parent and Teacher conferences scheduled for November 4th and 12th. If you have not had an opportunity to sign up for a conference with your child's teacher, please see that section of the newsletter. We look forward to meeting with you and discussing how your child is doing in school.
PTA Fall Festival and Birch Farewell
The Birch PTA Fall Fest is coming soon. This is an open house event where families can come to enjoy games and light refreshments anytime between 6:00-7:30pm on Thursday, November 19th. Please RSVP below so our PTA has an idea of how many people will be coming. This will be our last large family event at Birch school before we move to the new elementary school in January.
Please bring a pre-packaged snack to share with everyone at our food table in the cafeteria. Last Name A-M, please bring a salty snack to share. Last Name N-Z, please bring a sweet snack to share.
This has always been a highly populated event. Remember that parking is limited. Street parking is also an option.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0545ABAD2EA1FBC34-66730244-birch
PTA Reflections Contest
The National PTA Reflections program is an opportunity for students to showcase their artistic talents. This year the theme is 'What My Culture Means to Me'. If you would like more information on how your child can participate, see the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-hPe8p9FSQ
A Message from Mrs. Mayle
Hello Families,
This year I will share the below links with you in our school newsletters. These links will be updated periodically throughout the school year.
One link will provide strategies for parents and the other link will provide strategies parents may find helpful.
Conscious Discipline Parent Strategies:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/193BmkVzrNsk2T6S8IvQMhgVCJFUkSFUQ0axOWLGS4TY/edit?usp=sharing
Classroom Lessons:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IAob7-rHTWgGFS3Tn1HE74BoesRcq3LpVcScmu27d90/edit?usp=sharing
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any additional support to your child.
Mrs. Gina Mayle, School Counselor
What do I do if I need to change the way my child will come home from school?
If your plans change for how your child will be going home from school (for example: your child is typically a bus rider, but you will be picking up your child by car on a specific day), it is important that you call the school office no later than 3:00pm. This way we have time to alert the classroom teacher of the change and we can make certain that your child is in the correct transportation line. In most cases, our buses will leave the parking lot before car riders are put into vehicles.
Questions for Transportation Department
Our school office is available to take calls and answer any questions parents may have, however if you have questions for our transportation department regarding bus schedules, stops, or if you are concerned about buses running behind schedule, please call the department directly as they can best answer your questions quickly and efficiently. The direct phone number is 440-588-5330.
School Attendance
If your child will be absent from school, parents should call the school office no later than 9:30am on that day to let us know. You are able to leave a message and include your child's name, your name, and the reason why your child will not be in school. The attendance line is available and open to calls 24 hours a day. Your support with this is greatly appreciated.
Student attendance is very important to help build students' routines and support their learning continuum. We understand that children become sick and should not come to school on those days.
If a child is sent home from school with symptoms which include fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, the student will need to remain home for 24 hours and may return to school when symptoms subside.
By law, it is our responsibility to make certain students are accounted for during the school day. Many absences can be problematic, and could lead to a meeting with school personnel to discuss how we can improve your child's school attendance.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we want your child to have a successful school year!
Birch's Arrival and Dismissal Routine
This is a lot of information, so thank you for reading this section carefully as it relates to Birch's Arrival and Dismissal Procedures. We are happy to answer any questions you may have during orientations.
All cars must enter the lot heading west on Palm Drive from Coe Avenue.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURE: Kindergarten and AM Preschool Begins at 8:35am:
We are welcoming our youngest students in the district each morning. This process will take time. Safety is our first priority always! Thank you for your patience.
Buses and Cars will begin to unload at 8:35am each day and school begins at 8:50am. Our school staff will come out each morning at 8:35 to assist with this process. Children should not be dropped off and left unattended. All children will need to wait in a car or on a bus until our school staff is present outside.
Buses enter the drive keeping to the right lane and park along the east sidewalk to unload. We do have a couple of Buses that will unload along the front walk due to special needs.
Again, cars must enter the school's driveway from Coe Avenue (cars will not be permitted to enter the driveway heading east on Palm). Cars should enter the driveway keeping to the left as they pull into the lot. Cars will stay in a single file line and pull up as far as possible against the front curb for students to exit vehicles. Parents, please stay in your car and allow our staff to assist. As cars exit the lot, we ask that you make a right turn toward Columbia Road to minimize traffic congestion near Coe.
Our staff will teach our students how they enter the building. All Preschool students will enter through the front doors on the East Side of the building and Kindergarteners will enter through the front doors on the West side of the building.
Please be cautious when driving around the school, allowing for plenty of room for buses and allowing our buses the right of way.
Thank you for your patience and remaining in a single file line of cars, so we can keep all safe during our students' arrival.
MIDDAY AM Dismissal and PM Arrival of Preschool:
Our preschool staff begins loading cars and buses at 11:20am to dismiss our morning Preschool students.
Our Preschool staff begins unloading cars and buses at 12:55pm in preparation for our afternoon session beginning at 1:00pm.
Please follow the direction from our staff outside at these times to allow for a safe transition. Have your students' name tags displayed.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURE: Kindergarten/PM Preschool Begins at 3:30pm:
We are dismissing our youngest students in the district. This process will take time. Safety is our first priority always! Thank you for your patience.
If you are picking your child up by car, there is no need to come to the school any earlier than 3:20. It will take time for us to begin the car line process after the majority of buses are loaded.
Our staff members will assist the children on the buses at dismissal. Cars are to wait on the street (wrapping back onto Coe Avenue - please be courteous not to block neighbor's driveway aprons) until the majority of our buses are loaded and out of the school parking lot. After the majority of buses are loaded and leave the parking lot, cars will be invited to come into the school driveway. Cars must enter the lot from the east side of the building coming off of Coe Avenue and then exit the parking lot heading West toward Columbia Road.
Preschool cars will stay to the right of the driveway for their pick-up line.
Kindergarten cars will stay to the left of the drive for their pick-up line.
For families who have both a Kindergarten student and a PM Preschooler, we will arrange for them to be picked up at the same location together.
Student name plates with student name will be provided the first week to be placed on the drivers' side car visor. Please leave the name plate on your visor down until you approach the pick up area where your child is waiting for you. Students will be called in order to go to a specific location and drivers will pull up to meet their student for pick up.
Walkers will exit the west doors with adult supervision. School employees will escort the students across Palm Drive using the crosswalk where we ask parents to meet their children.
Please know that the first week, dismissal might go slower at first as we are establishing the routine for our new students and families, but it will improve as all become more comfortable with the procedure. When our Preschool students begin after Kindergarten's first couple of days, things will go a little slower as those families get accustomed to our procedures.
Thank you for your patience as we work hard to maintain safety and make any necessary adjustments necessary in our Arrival and Dismissal Plan.
Birch PTA
The Birch PTA welcomes parents to become members and get involved this upcoming school year.
Please join Birch PTA! Even if you are unable to attend meetings, membership and dues help the PTA support activities for the children. The link to become a member is below.
https://birchprimaryeagles.givebacks.com/shop
Meetings will take place at Birch in the Art room, but beginning in January, meetings will take place at the new campus once we transition into that new location. Birch PTA meetings begin at 6:00 PM and the dates are listed below.
September 15
October 13
November 10
December 8
January 12
February 2
March 9
April 13
May 11
We hope to see you become involved with your child's PTA this school year!
NOCS Preschool and Kindergarten Calendar 2026-2027
The link below will provide access to the Preschool and Kindergarten calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. Please note that this calendar is slightly different than our grades 1-12 due to our midyear move to the new campus.
https://www.northolmstedschools.org/MenuItem/Calendar%20Pk-K%20Birch%20Approved.pdf