8/22 Elementary Schools Open House 6:00-7:30 p.m.

8/23 First Day of School Grades 1-12

8/25 BMMS Grade 5 Open House 5:00-7:30 p.m.

8/26 First Day of School Kindergarten

8/26 Class of 2035 Kindergarten Football Night

8/26 Employee and Teacher of the Year Recognition Night

9/1 BMHS Open House 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Berea City School District Annual Employee and Teacher of the Year awards are entirely nominated and voted on by Berea City School District staff.

Congratulations to the following honorees:

Employee of the Year

Teacher of the Year

• Sherri Fox, Berea-Midpark High School
• Joycelyn Huntz, Snow School
• John Kruggel, Grindstone Elementary
• Moira Lusky, Big Creek Elementary
• Mike Pearl, Berea-Midpark Middle School
• Kim Shroka, Brook Park Elementary

We ask staff to consider the following traits and characteristics of their colleagues when voting.

1. Shows a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.
2. An outstanding professional who has risen to challenges in their job time and time again and holds themselves to extremely high standards.
3. An outstanding professional who goes above and beyond consistently in their position and works to partner with our communities and supports our students in any way they can.

We hope our Titans community will be available to join us next week at the home football game against Nordonia High School at Finnie Stadium for our Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year pre-game recognition. We will recognize each winner and their family during the pregame starting at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy a late summer evening, feast on local food truck cuisine, attend the Berea-Midpark High School Homecoming football game, have a chance to win a room at Kalahari, AND support The Education Foundation!

Join us on Friday, September 23rd in the BMHS parking lot from 4.00 - 8.00pm.

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 student's 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, Briana Cates at 216-267-2142 or email at bcates@bereaschools.org.

For the past two years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has offered waivers to Nutrition Services Programs across the United States, allowing these programs to offer all students breakfast and lunch, at no charge. These waivers expired on June 30, 2022. This means that starting this school year, 2022-23, the Nutrition Services programs across the nation will return to normal, pre-pandemic operations. Families will once again be asked to complete and submit a current school year Free/Reduced Meal Application if they would like to see if their students qualify based on the income of all family members. If you completed a 2021-22 meal application and were approved for free or reduced meals, your status will carryover for the first 30 days of this school year. Please be aware that reduced meals now have a cost. Breakfast is $.30 and lunch is $.40.

The Nutrition Services Department is committed to assisting families and making this transition back to normal operations as easy as possible. Please feel free to contact the department at 216-267-2142 or email bcates@bereaschools.org

New chromebooks will be distributed to 1st and 5th graders during the first few weeks of school. 1st and 5th graders must turn in their old chromebooks and chargers. Before turning in your old chromebooks, please clean them according to the instructions shown here: Chromebook Care & Use

Join a panel of BCSD administrators and School Resource Officers on Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. for a presentation on district Safety and Security. Let us know what questions, ideas, and concerns you would like the panel to address during this presentation.

Submit your Safety and Security questions, ideas, and concerns

* New updates are in BOLD and UNDERLINED

• Masking is optional. Students and staff are asked to remain respectful of all individual choices for personal health protocols.

• Social distancing is not required. Classroom group, partner work, and eating in the cafeteria occur as normal.

• Visitors and volunteers are allowed in school buildings during the school day, in accordance with our district and building visitor guidelines.

• Adequate supplies to support healthy hand hygiene behaviors, including access to soap and water and/or hand sanitizer, will be maintained.

• If students or staff feel sick or suspect they might have COVID-19, they should stay home and take a rapid test. If positive, students and staff should stay home from school for at least 5 days and longer if necessary until fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

• ODH is no longer recommending the Mask to Stay, Test to Play quarantine alternative for schools.

TESTING POSITIVE

Regardless of vaccination status or symptoms, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 5 days. However, if symptoms are improving (and no fever), isolation may end on the sixth day if the person consistently wears a mask for the next five days. Refer to the Ohio Department of Health flowchart for full guidance.

EXPOSURES

Regardless of vaccination status, an individual that has been exposed to a COVID positive case (school or home setting) can continue to come to school/work as long as they do not develop symptoms. They must wear a mask for 10 days after the last exposure. It is suggested that they test on day 5 if possible.

COVID TESTING KITS AVAILABLE

The Berea City School District offers the BinaxNOW rapid antigen COVID-19 testing kit for pick up at the Board Office (390 Fair Street, Berea). There is no cost for the tests. The District encourages you to take advantage of requesting a BinaxNOW rapid test if your child demonstrates symptoms associated with the coronavirus. Test kits are also available at Cuyahoga County Public Library Branches. Call your local branch for current availability.

BCSD uses Peachjar, an electronic flyer posting and distribution system to distribute school flyers and approved flyers from community groups and organizations that sponsor activities of an educational/enrichment nature for students and staff >> view current flyers

• Cities seek military veterans to volunteer in Berea City Schools

• Stuff the Bus broadens reach to help more Berea Schools, Polaris students

The Berea Board of Education holds regular community conversations to give the public access to board members outside of the formal public participation setting of a meeting. Residents will have the opportunity to meet and discuss any concerns they may have with two board members during a 30 minute time-slot set aside prior to each Board of Education meeting in 2022. The goal of this effort is to more effectively connect with the public and learn more about the community. Visit our website at www.berea.k12.oh.us/boe for a list of 2022 meeting dates.