Graham Elementary Schools

Hello Falcon families!

First and foremost, Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms/grandmothers/aunts/sisters who positively impact the lives of the children we serve each and every day! We hope your day has been a great one💐

We are excited to welcome 4th and 5th grade students and families to GES on Tuesday for our first annual GES Nights with the Arts. Details of the evening's events can be found on the flyer below and on DOJO.

The last couple of weeks have included Grandparents Day, the annual GES Trout Release, GES Musical - Miss Nelson is Missing! and much more! We have included a few pictures from these events in this issue of the News From the Nest. Don't miss pictures of Mr. Myers, GES superstar assistant principal, being taped to the wall for a good cause! Thank you to the GES PTO for a fun way to raise money for future supports for our teachers and learners!

When students return to school tomorrow, we have an exciting announcement for them! Like we say at Graham Elementary - "A Better ME Means a Better WE" - and students' hard work will be rewarded soon!

While many are counting the days left in this remarkable school year, let's encourage our learners to make the days count! Encourage your children to stay focused on working hard, showing us what they know, being the best version of themselves and WINNING each day! A better ME means a better WE!

As our teachers continue to work hard to facilitate powerful learning opportunities for your children at GES, we are thankful for the support and partnerships we are developing with each family we are lucky enough to serve at Graham Elementary! Thank you for trusting us with your children's education and development both as learners and as people!

This school year continues to be filled with learning, achievement, success and LOTS of smiles!

Our Graham Elementary Staff is the best in the land!

Stay informed about all things happening at Graham Elementary by following us on:

Facebook: Graham Elementary School

ClassDOJO

Graham Local Schools website: grahamlocalschools.org. (Graham Elementary School)

Emily Shreve, Graham Elementary School Principal

Aaron Myers, Graham Elementary School Assistant Principal

Hello Falcon Families! Our 4th and 5th grade Night with the Arts event is happening SOON!
The event is on Tuesday, May 13 and begins at 5:30p.m. and will conclude at 7:00p.m.
This event will be an awesome opportunity for families to see the greatness of our learners. Displays and performances for the night will include:
*improv performances
*Physical Education favorite activity displays
*steel drum performances
*STEAM project displays
*grade level art projects
*...and MUCH more!
We are looking forward to seeing our 4th and 5th grade students and families at this event!

Mark your calendars for May 24th! The traditional Falcon 5k is taking on a new look. It's back on the campus of GMS/GES and we look to make this a larger community event! Sponsorship, volunteer, vendor and spectator opportunities outside of participation are available.

Use this link to sign up for this event...it will be a BLAST!

Proceeds from this event benefit student opportunities for the amazing learners we serve!

Teachers, Julie Butcher and Misty Roach have completed another successful year of Trout in the Classroom at Graham Elementary School!

This project is affiliated with the national and state organization, Trout Unlimited, and provides learners the opportunity to watch trout hatch from eggs and grow to fingerlings prior to being released in the Mad River. Members of the Ohio chapter of Trout Unlimited came along and taught our learners the basics of fly fishing! Students and adults alike enjoyed

Graham Elementary has participated in this project for at least 10 years, and we are proud of the work we have done to benefit the river ecosystems of Ohio and beyond!

Thank you to Mrs. Butcher and Mrs. Roach for your dedication and hard work toward this impactful opportunity for our learners!

When a math teacher and a librarian come to you and ask if they can host an elementary school musical, you say YES!

Miss Sarah Hager, 5th grade math teacher, and Mrs. Shelbi Jenkins, GES librarian have worked alongside our learners for months to plan, audition, rehearse and perform what was an EPIC elementary musical - Miss Nelson is Missing!

All of our learners traveled to Graham Middle School on Thursday, May 8 and were able to watch the dress rehearsal. It was amazing to see and hear their excitement as the theatre lights dimmed and the curtain opened.

Thank you to Miss Hager, Mrs. Jenkins, Miss Henrick, GES students and many families for your support and hard work in making this a success!

Thank you to the many grandparents who joined us for this year's event! Students in kindergarten, first and second grade enjoyed time potting flowers and completing various activities with their special adults.

Special THANK YOU goes to Hillside Greenhouse in West Liberty, Ohio for their assistance with supplying 360 beautiful flowers for the day's event!

The support of many for the learners we serve is a critical piece of their success, and we are fortunate to have so many folks who love our students!

HOW IT STARTED🔼

When the GES PTO committee members asked Mr. Myers if he was up for being taped to the wall for a good cause, he didn't skip a beat before he said YES!

On Friday, May 9, he made good on his commitment and the staff and students at GES enjoyed every minute of it.

This event raised over $400 that will benefit future activities for learners and adults alike!

HOW IT ENDED🔽

As we continue to focus on student safety at Graham Elementary School, we have made some updates to our class treat protocol.

Please see the information below to learn of updates and additions to allowable treats and protocols. These changes are effective immediately.

Please contact Mrs. Shreve and Mr. Myers with any questions.

We appreciate our Falcon families!

Back by popular demand, please see the 2024-2025 Family Falcon Focus for important dates at GES. This document will be updated as the year progresses. Dates are subject to change if/when necessary.

Thank you!

May

12: PTO Meeting in first grade pod @ 5:30p.m.

13: 4th and 5th grade GES Fine Arts Festival evening @ 5:30p.m. to 7:00p.m.

13: 1st grade field trip

14: End of Year ZERO REFERRAL celebration

15: GES Club Day

16: Kindergarten field trip to St. Paris

17: GHS Graduation

21: 5th grade promotion @ 6:00p.m.

21: Last Day for Kindergarten

22: Preschool Last Day for all students

22: Second grade field trip to 36 Skate Club

22: Second Semester Student Dance (Students Grade 3-5)

23: Kindergarten Screening

23: Kona Ice

23: Preschool/KPrep graduation @ (time TBD)

23: CLUB DAY @ 2:15p.m. to 3:00p.m.

24: Graham Color Blast and 5K Run

26: MEMORIAL DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE

27: Kindergarten Screening

28: Last day of Quarter 4

28: Kindergarten Screening

28: Students Last Day Of School Grades 1st-5th

Please see the attached letter containing information about Ohio Department of Education and Workforce required student learning opportunities. Links for all materials and opt-out procedures are included.

Please reach out to Mrs. Shreve and/or Mr. Myers with any questions.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your children's learning!

At Graham Elementary, our students' safety is critical. One piece of ensuring student safety is the morning and afternoon drop-offs procedures.

Please be reminded that the west lane of the front parking lot is for handicap drop-off only. Often times, the gate is not in the lane to allow for handicap drop-off/pick-up. Even when the gate is not blocking the lane, we ask that that lane be used for handicap drop-off/pick-up only.

In addition, the east lane of the front parking lot is not to be used in the afternoon. Typically, it is blocked by a saw horse. In the event that it is not, please refrain from using this lane.

Lastly, if someone other than parents/guardian are dropping off/picking up your child, please advise them of these procedures.

Thank you for your cooperation🙂

**Previously posted on ClassDOJO (September 3, 2024)**

Hello Falcon Families! If you are interested in volunteering at Graham Elementary, please use this link - https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/page/volunteer-portal-and-information - to view updated information regarding the volunteer process at Graham Local Schools.

If you are considering volunteering and/or helping with classroom parties at Graham Elementary, you must complete an application and be approved through the Secure Volunteer site before you volunteer.

Please email Mrs. Shreve (shrevee@grahamlocalschools.org) with any questions.

Thank you for your partnership in your child's education!

This is a reminder that free and reduced lunch applications expire at the end of every school year. If your child qualified for free and/or reduced lunch last year and you have not completed a new application for this year, please do.

Paper applications can be found here:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/.../Graham

Free and Reduced Lunch forms can also be sent home with your child. If you would like a copy, please contact the GES office and we will send one home.

Online applications can be found on PaySchools Central here https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

**Reminder...A.M. preschool students enter the building at 8:30a.m. to begin their A.M. session**

As stated in the Graham Elementary Student Handbook,

"All school fees must be paid in order for students to attend field trips (Glen Helen included) or participate in preschool promotion and/or 5th grade promotion."

Fees can be paid by cash or check (Graham Elementary School) or online at https://www.payschoolscentral.com/. Please contact Mrs. Shreve with any questions.

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 end of day pick-up procedure will make our out front pick-up safer for our students at Graham Elementary . Thank you for your cooperation!

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.

Students who are not permanent pick-ups who will be picked up on a day must call the elementary office or send in a note to pick-up their child. When picking your child up, please follow the procedure below:

• 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.

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

*In an effort to remediate behaviors through reflection versus consequence, Graham Elementary will institute Restorative Recesses when deemed appropriate. This opportunity is a consequence targeted at reflection instead of punishment. It provides students the chance to work alongside an adult to reflect on their behavior and make plans for corrective behaviors.

*Cell phones and Smart Watches are to remain off and in student bookbags upon entering the building and should not be used until after the final dismissal bell and students have exited the school building. In effect, cell phones should not be “seen, heard, or used” during this time. Also, cell phones should NOT be used to take any type of photograph, video, or recording at any time unless directed by a staff member.

Students cannot contact parents via a personal cell phone during the day; they are to utilize a classroom or office phone. If violations of this policy should occur, a CELL PHONE WILL BE TAKEN AND CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY.

1st offense – warning 2nd offense – parent called 3rd offense – detention/parent picks up phone.

*Clothing must cover the chest, stomach, back, buttocks, upper thighs, and undergarments when the student sits, stands, raises his/her hand, or bends over. Any article of clothing that reveals an excessive amount of skin will be deemed inappropriate for the school environment.

Emily Shreve - Principal - shrevee@grahamlocalschools.org

Aaron Myers - Assistant Principal - myersa@grahamlocalschools.org

Jon Comer - School Counselor - comerj@grahamlocalschools.org

Morgan Boggess - School Nurse - boggessm@grahamlocalschools.org

Kristina Thornton - Administrative Assistant - thorntonk@grahamlocalschools.org

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