GES - Family News From The Nest

We are rolling along in the 2022-2023 school year and already in the 4th quarter of the school year.

Check out what we have been up to for the past several weeks:

• GES Peace Flag We Are At 26 Days - See Below In Newsletter For More Information
• STEM Club After School
• 5th Grade And Kindergarten STEM Buddies
• Second Group Of 5th Graders Went To Glen Helen
• We Celebrated National Pet Day At GES
• Physical Education Roller Skating Has Begun
• 3rd-5th Grade State Testing For Math and ELA
• Preschool Gardening With Grandparents
• Graham Elementary Musical - "The Big Bad Musical"
• Kona Ice

Check out the Falcon Focus Important Information towards the bottom of the newsletter for our upcoming events.

We are here for our students and our families each day. If at any time you have questions, please let us know and we will do our best to find the answer for you.

Please take the time to look through the GES - Family News From The Nest. This will be a one stop shop for important information for our families.

Lynnette Roeth

GES Principal

Emily Shreve

GES Assistant Principal

School Fees Update - March 13, 2023

As stated in the student/guardian handbook in regard to school fees, if it is not possible to make payment immediately, then arrange for payments in the office.

Unfortunately, GES currently has over $39,000 in unpaid school fees among its 7 grade levels. These fees are for supplies used in the classroom this academic year. We are struggling greatly to provide the experiences that we hope to provide for students. Our goal is to not require teachers to buy supplies for students as that is not fair to our professionals. We are not preventing your child from access to materials; however, the school has been forced to cut back in many other areas to guarantee them access as they deserve.

I also want to reiterate that the school fees at Graham are often considerably lower than surrounding schools. We are great stewards of our funds because we have no choice. School fee money cannot be used for anything other than consumable supplies for this school year either per Ohio Revised Code.

Moving forward we have to take measures to ensure collection. Students will miss out on the following due to outstanding fees balances:

• Field Trips

• Field Trip - beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

• Promotion or graduation ceremonies in grade 5, 8, 12

• 5th grade promotion beginning with 2022-2023 school year

The district will further consider options for collection of unpaid fees at a later time.

** If you need to set up a payment plan, please contact the GES office at 937-663-4449 or you can email either Mrs. Hoey hoeyp@grahamlocalschools.org or Ms. Roeth roethl@grahamlocalschools.org

There are amazing things happening at Graham Elementary, and we would like to invite our parents (or a special person if a parent is not available) into our classrooms to see what we have been learning!

Parents day will be from 9:05am-10:30am on the following days:

K & 1st Grades May 9, 2023

2nd & 3rd Grades May 10, 2023

4th & 5th Grades May 11, 2023

*Please plan to arrive at 9:05 a.m. You will need to sign in at the front office and then go to the cafeteria.

A yellow paper was sent home with a slip for you to sign and return with your child to school.

Please RSVP by Wednesday May 3, 2023. We look forward to seeing you!

Did you know GES announcements are almost entirely led by our students at Graham Elementary School? How awesome is that!

Check out our daily announcements on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeOlG5-Za6RPEEl2icyyq5A

Thank you to Ms. Hager who is in charge of the Student Lighthouse Team who helps our students with the daily announcements.

Have You Seen The Changes To The Graham Local Schools Website?

Check It Out.

https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/

Direct Link To The Graham Elementary Page

https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/o/ges

The Graham Falcon 5K run/walk will take place on Saturday, May 27th. There is also an elementary 1-mile fun run. Everyone who signs up by Friday, May 12th will guarantee an event t-shirt with registration. We also have medals for top 5 in each category. We hope you can join us for this event to help fund student organizations and PBIS initiatives at GMS!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12mUvfBozcazPVOiiCcFeg_yxkpZ2KtVbr8oUpJtpJU0/edit?usp=sharing

What a night it was! Graham Elementary School students put on quite a show during the day for our GES students and at night for family and friends on April 27th. We couldn't be more proud of each and everyone of the cast, crew, sound and directors for their amazing performance of...

"The Big Bad Musical"

Check Out Our Graham Elementary School Facebook Page and Our Graham Elementary School Website For Even More Pictures Of This Performance

Can you imagine a time when ALL students have the opportunity to participate in a Club of their choice?

You need to look no further than at Graham Elementary School. At Graham Elementary we provide EVERY student in our school K-5 the opportunity to participate in a School Club during the school year.

Every student was given the opportunity in their computer class to hear all 40 Clubs we have to offer. From those 40 Clubs our students were able to select their top 3 Clubs. We are pleased to say that every student was able to be placed in one of their top 3 choices for a Club.

Make sure to ask your child about the club they have chosen to participate in - Students were in clubs on April 27th.

LAST CLUB DATE IS MAY 16TH

This year we have introduced the GES PEACE FLAG. The students at GES will have a day filled with fun activities when we hit 30 days during the school year that are Office Referral Free!

This School Wide WIG (Wildly Important Goal) is a year long goal for our students. During the year our goal is to by the end of the year have 30 days that are Office Referral Free!

The PEACE FLAG is located in the cafeteria and is updated each night for the students to keep track of our building progress.

As of April 28 we are at 26 days Office Referral Free!

4 More Days To Go - For Our Full Day Of Fun Activities

2022-2023 GES Calendar Of Events

The following are some of the pertinent calendar events at GES for the 2022-2023 school year.

We will send updates out as other items are added to the calendar of events for GES.

Dates/Events are subject to change

May

3 - STEM CLUB AFTER SCHOOL

4 - GES Movie Night - Must have pre-registered - Pick-up time is 5:30pm

9 - K and 1st Parent’s Day 9:15-10:30

10- 2nd and 3rd Parent’s Day 9:15-10:30

11 - 4th and 5th Parent’s Day 9:15-10:30

11 - PTO Meeting 3:45

12 - Physical Education Roller Skating Unit Ends

16 - TP Lanes in Bellefontaine - 1st Grade Field Trip

16 - GES CLUB Day

17 - STEM CLUB AFTER SCHOOL

17 - All School Field Day (Rain Date 19th)

18 - 36 Skate Club STEM - 2nd Grade Field Trip

18 - Kindergarten Last Day Of School

18 - Preschool Last Day of School

19 - Preschool Graduation

19-24 - Kindergarten Screening - Call The Office At 937-663-4449 To Register For A Screening Time

22 - 4th Grade Field Trip (Johnston Farms - Rescheduled Date)

22 - 5th Grade Promotion 6pm GES Gymnasium

23 - 4th Grade Field Trip (Johnston Farms - Rescheduled Date)

24 - Kona Ice

24 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/Student 2 hour early release for students

At Graham Elementary we want to recognize positive behavior in our students! Our students have the opportunity to receive a lanyard, pins and certificates during our quarterly assemblies throughout the year for a variety of areas.

Our students each day can also be recognized by the staff at Graham Elementary for their behaviors that go above and beyond our daily expectations of following directions.

Students can receive a FALCON AWARD for positive behaviors.

GRAHAM ELEMENTARY STAFF HAVE PASSED OUT 97% MORE POSITIVE FALCON AWARDS THAN OFFICE REFERRALS THIS SCHOOL YEAR!

Positive Student Recognition Is Our Goal At Graham Elementary!

At Graham Elementary - A Better Me Means....A Better Me

When you come into Graham Elementary please check out our data walls on the main office bulletin boards.

On the data walls you will find the following:

• NWEA MAP Student Growth Summary Report By Grade Level For ELA, Math and Science
• The Building Level Wildly Important NWEA MAP Achievement Goals
  
• The Graham Elementary Building NWEA MAP Growth Goals
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Data Compared To Our Office Referrals.
• Leader in Me 7 Habits Information and Quarterly Assembly Award Information

Did You Know...... At Graham Elementary Positive Student Recognition Is Our Goal

At Graham Local Schools, we take a proactive approach to attendance. If/When GES students accumulate 50 hours of excessive absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #1. When students accumulate 65 excessive hours of absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #2.

An absence intervention meeting will be scheduled when students accumulates 72 excessive hours of absence

Please see the GES Handbook language below for the steps to report an absence...

A. When a student is ill or for some other reason is unable to attend, the parent/guardian is ex­pected to contact the school office by phone before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. For your convenience, you may call the night before and leave a message on the answering machine (937-663-4449).

B. A written reason for all absences properly signed and dated by a parent/guardian is required. Written notes not filed in the office within one day after the student returns to school following an absence will result in an unexcused absence. Administration reserves the right to excuse student absences with reasonable cause.

C. For each unexcused absence, the student is responsible for obtaining work and following make-up work policies.

The water fountains will be turned on this year. Students may also bring a water bottle to school if they choose. No glass water bottles should be brought to school.

We would love for you to be part of the Graham Elementary School PTO. Come join a great organization that puts the needs of the students and staff at the forefront of all they do.

The following are the remaining PTO Meeting Dates for the 2022-2023 School Year

• May 11th meeting at 3:45 pm

PTO Meetings Are Held In The Graham Elementary School Media Center

PTO Officers:

President - Sadie Beasley

Vice President - Belle Borders

Treasurer - Caity Paul & Vella Reeves

Secretary - Melanie Ehrle

Graham Elementary PTO Email - gespto@grahamlocalschools.org

Do you want to volunteer at GES?

Reminder - If you plan to volunteer at GES you have to be on the approved volunteer list.

At times it can take over 2 weeks to get your approval information so make certain to get your information in early.

How to:

1 - Go to grahamlocalschools.org

2 - Click - DISTRICT

3 - Click - VOLUNTEER PORTAL (at the bottom)

4 - Click - Volutneer Sign Up

5 - Follow the directions in Secure Volunteer

Graham Elementary

Breakfast

Students eating breakfast may enter the building at 8:30am

School Start Time

Doors Open - 8:45am

School Day Begins - 8:50am

Students arriving after 8:50am will be counted tardy and will need to report to the front office.

School Day End Time

3:25 - Out Front Pick-Ups

3:30 - Bus Dismissal

Building Time Schedule

8:00 Main Office opens

8:15 Teachers/staff in building

8:30 Cafeteria opens for student breakfast

8:45 Students enter the building

*Students eating breakfast may enter the building at 8:30.

8:50 Student day begins

*Students arriving after 8:50 are tardy and must report to the office.

11:00-1:30 Lunchtimes/recess

3:25 Students being picked up are dismissed

3:30 Bus students are dismissed

3:40 Staff is able to depart

4:00 Office closes

If you know your child will be a permanent pick-up in the afternoon. You can email Kristina Thornton and Pam Hoey or bring a note to school.

Kristina Thornton - thorntonk@grahamlocalschools.org

Pam Hoey - hoeyp@grahamlocalschools.org

The end of day pick-up procedure will make our out front pick-up safer for our students at Graham Elementary

Permanent Pick-Up

• Students will be dismissed at 3:25pm each day.

• Each student/family who is a permanent pick-up will be given 2 numbered tags and their child will have a numbered tag with a corresponding number for their bookbag.

• Those students who are picked up by a babysitter with proper transportation forms on file will have a number for their babysitter.

• Each grade level will have a designated area marked outside and the family will come to that area to pick up their student(s) from each area - families should have their numbered tag with them.

• Families must park and come to the sidewalk to pick up their students. There will be no parking in the fire lanes of the building.

We do understand this process takes time and we thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through this process together, keeping in mind our #1 priority is our students safety.

Students who are not permanent pick-ups on certain days or for the whole week and the family calls in or sends in a note to pick-up their child will need to follow the procedure below.

Call In/Parent Letter Pick-Ups - Non Permanent

• Families who are not permanent pick-ups must come to the front doors, provide ID and sign out their student from inside the building.

• Students will be dismissed to their family once the family has signed them out at the front office.

Once again we thank you for your patience and flexibility as we have made changes to our pick-up process for the safety of our students.

Graham Local School District has a vacancy for your consideration. Please find the details below.

Non Degree Substitute Teacher Apply Online

Category: Substitute/Non-Degree Substitute Teacher

Date Posted: 8/23/2022

Location: GRAHAM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Graham Local School District uses the applicant tracking system from Frontline Education to manage employment applications online.

All applications must be completed using the Applicant Tracking Portal.

Go to www.grahamlocalschools.org

Click on the far left tab that reads “District”

Scroll down to “Employment Opportunities

Click on the open position of interest

Each item listed below is important in establishing a complete file on all applicants and only applicants with complete files will be considered for interviews.

Letter of Interest and District Application Form;

Signed Release of Employment Information Authorization Form;

Must pass BCI/FBI criminal background check.

Lynnette Roeth - Principal

Emily Shreve - Assistant Principal

Megan From - Guidance Counselor

Stacey Logwood - Student, Family and Community Support Coordinator

Email: roethl@grahamlocalschools.org
Website: grahamlocalschools.org
Location: 9464 U.S. 36, Saint Paris, OH, USA
Phone: 937-663-4449
Facebook: facebook.com/FreddieFalcon
Twitter: @GESFALCONS