Week Nine

A Little More Than Just a School Day

Hello, Viking Village! 💙

I can't believe we're already halfway through October. Some days I feel like I've been at John Muir forever, and other days I still find myself asking where something is or trying to remember which hallway leads where! 😂

But I will tell you something. I'm really starting to feel at home here.

One of my favorite parts of being a principal is getting to know the kids. Not just their names or what grade they're in, but the little things about them. Who loves to talk your ear off, who gives the best hugs, who needs a little encouragement in the morning, and who might need someone to notice that they're having a rough day.

And trust me, our Vikings have some BIG personalities! They make me laugh, they surprise me, and yes, sometimes they test my patience. But that's part of working with kids, and I wouldn't trade it.

I also know that when you send your child to school each morning, you're trusting us with someone who means the world to you. That's not something I take lightly.

I want your children to learn. I want them to be challenged, to work hard, and to be proud of what they accomplish. But I also want them to have fun, make friends, learn from their mistakes, and know there are adults here who care about them.

And I want you to know that when something isn't going well, I care about that too.

We aren't going to get everything right every single day. I certainly won't. But I will keep listening, learning, asking questions, and trying to make things better. That's something I can promise.

As we head into another busy week, with fall activities, school traditions, and lots of excitement ahead, I hope you'll take a minute to ask your child about something they enjoyed at school this week. Maybe it was something they learned, something funny that happened, or even a new friend they made.

Those little stories are often the ones that remind us why all of this matters.

Thank you for continuing to welcome me into your Village. I'm enjoying getting to know your children, your families, and all the things that make John Muir special.

Have a wonderful week, Viking families!

One Village. Every Viking. Every Day.

Mrs. Randolph
Principal, John Muir Elementary

What a fun week of reading at John Muir! As part of our Read-A-Thon, our students had the opportunity to enjoy stories shared by some very special guest readers! There's something wonderful about seeing our Vikings gathered around a good book, especially when a surprise visitor is the one reading it!

A HUGE thank-you to our amazing PTA for organizing these special visits and bringing a little extra excitement to reading! We appreciate the time, creativity, and love you put into making these experiences possible for our students.

Take a look at some of our special visitors and the smiles they brought to our classrooms this week! 📸📖

Thank you for helping us show our Vikings that reading is something worth celebrating! 💙⚔️

⏰ Afternoon Pickup — Being on Time Matters!

Our school day ends at 3:40 PM, and we ask that all families picking up their children make arrangements to be here on time. Our teachers' workday ends at 4:00 PM, and when students are picked up late, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide the supervision they need while staff are completing their end-of-day responsibilities.

We certainly understand that unexpected situations happen—traffic, appointments, and those days when nothing seems to go according to plan! However, we ask that families make every effort to be consistent and punctual with afternoon pickup. If an unexpected delay occurs, please contact the school office as soon as possible so we know what is happening and can make sure your child is safely supervised.

📞 Changes to Dismissal Plans

If your child's usual way of getting home needs to change, please call the school office before 2:30 PM. This allows us enough time to communicate with teachers and students without interrupting instruction or scrambling to make last-minute arrangements.

🥞 Morning Breakfast Reminder

Students may eat breakfast at school beginning at 8:55 AM. If your child plans to eat breakfast, please try to have them in the cafeteria by 9:15 AM, as students are dismissed to class at 9:25 AM.

Thank you for helping us keep our Vikings safe and our school day running smoothly. We appreciate your understanding and partnership! 💙⚔️

Who says learning always has to happen at a desk? Not Mrs. Toth's third graders! This week, students celebrated their positive choices and teamwork with a special School on the Floor Day!

Mrs. Toth's class has been working together to fill their Smiley Face Jar by demonstrating our RRR expectations: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn! Each time students show these behaviors, they earn smiley faces toward a class celebration.

Once the jar was full, students got to vote on their reward, and they chose School on the Floor Day! Desks were pushed aside, blankets came out, and students spent the day learning from a whole new perspective—right on the classroom floor! The classroom may have looked a little different, but the learning didn't stop!

What makes this celebration so special is that students earned it together. Every positive choice helped the class reach its goal, reminding our Vikings that teamwork, kindness, and responsibility really do pay off!

Mrs. Toth couldn't be prouder of her students, and we love seeing classrooms find creative ways to celebrate their hard work! 💙⚔️

I've been thinking about something lately, both as a principal and as a mom. Sometimes one of the hardest things we can do for our kids is NOT jump in and fix everything for them.

I don't know about you, but when I see one of my own kids getting frustrated, my first instinct is to help. Whether it's homework, a disagreement with a sibling, something they can't figure out, or one of those mornings when we are already running late and nobody can find their shoes! 😂 Sometimes it's just easier and faster to do it ourselves.

But I've been reminding myself that when we rush in to solve every problem, we might accidentally be taking away an opportunity for our kids to learn that they really can do hard things.

Our Vikings recently enjoyed NED's Mindset Mission assembly, where they learned three important lessons: Never Give Up, Encourage Others, and Do Your Best. I've been thinking about how much those lessons apply outside of school, too.

Resilience isn't about never getting upset or frustrated. It's about learning what to do when things don't go our way. It's trying again after making a mistake, asking for help when we need it, and realizing that not being able to do something yet doesn't mean we never will.

And trust me, I'm not suggesting we stand back and watch our kids struggle with everything! Sometimes they genuinely need our help, comfort, or guidance. But other times, maybe we can give them a little more time, ask a question instead of giving the answer, or simply remind them that we believe they can figure it out.

💙 This Week's Family Challenge

The next time your child says, “I can't do it!” try responding with:

“You can't do it yet. What's one thing you could try?”

And then give them a little time to think, try, and maybe even make a mistake.

It might take longer. It might get a little messy. And yes, there may be moments when we have to resist the urge to just do it ourselves! 😂

But imagine how proud they'll feel when they finally figure it out.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give our children isn't making things easier for them. It's helping them believe they're capable of doing hard things. 💙

I know mornings can be hectic! Between getting everyone dressed, finding missing shoes, packing lunches, and getting out the door, some days just getting to school feels like an accomplishment! 😂 But those everyday routines really do make a difference. When children attend school consistently, they're not only keeping up with learning, they're building friendships, gaining confidence, and developing habits that will stay with them for years to come. We understand that illnesses and unexpected situations happen, and we never want families to feel that they have to send a sick child to school. What we do ask is that you make attendance a priority whenever your child is healthy and able to attend. Every day is another opportunity to learn, grow, and be part of something special at John Muir. Thank you for helping our Vikings build strong attendance habits! 💙⚔️💙 One Village. Every Viking. Every Day.

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We invite our kindergarten families to join us for our Kindergarten Senior Walk, a special tradition that brings together our newest Vikings and graduating seniors! There is something pretty amazing about watching our littlest learners alongside students who are preparing for their next big adventure. It's a wonderful reminder of just how quickly these school years go and a memory we hope our families will treasure for years to come. 💙

But the celebration doesn't stop there! 🎉 This year, families are also invited to join the Battle of Parma festivities! Bring your school spirit and enjoy tailgating from 4:00–7:00 PM, and help us cheer on our schools and community partners during the 5:00 PM parade from Valley Forge High School to Byers Field!

Whether you're celebrating your kindergartener's first steps in their school journey or cheering on our older students, this is a wonderful opportunity to come together as one community.

⚔️ Let's show everyone our Viking Village pride!

We have an exciting opportunity that has been added to this event. An all district parade!!

Parade Lineup

All students and families are welcome to join John Muir Elementary in the district parade. The parade will be from Valley Forge to Byers Field. Parade walkers should arrive by 4:15 p.m. We will line up in the loop (labeled Lantern Ln. on Google Maps), on the far side of the gym parking lot. All participants should be in place by 4:45 p.m.

The parade order will be:

1. Police escort

2. Board of Education

3. District staff

4. Mayors/officials

5. Valley Forge band (home team)

6. Valley Forge cheerleaders

7. Valley Forge fall sports

8. Remaining Valley Forge students, staff and families

9. Greenbriar

10. Hillside

11. Shiloh

12. Dentzler

13. Green Valley

14. John Muir

15. Pleasant Valley

16. Ridge Brook

17. Thoreau Park

18. Parma Park

19. Normandy band

20. Normandy cheerleaders

21. Normandy fall sports

22. Remaining Normandy students, staff and families

Parking and Transportation

• High school bands and cheerleaders: Both schools’ bands and cheerleaders should park or be dropped off at Byers Field and will be bussed to Valley Forge before the parade. Bus loading locations and departure times will be provided separately.

• All other participants: You may park at Valley Forge. Because the parade ends at Byers, please arrange transportation back to your vehicle afterward.

• Parade and Arrival at Byers

• The parade will conclude at the tailgate area at Byers Field. Students walking with their families may remain with them and enjoy the tailgate, which runs 4–7 p.m.

**The parade is weather permitting. While the forecast currently looks clear, we will notify participants on the day of the event if inclement weather requires cancellation.**

https://forms.gle/KZzABBWpG7HBC9oU8 Click this link to sign up for the kindergarten walk.

https://forms.gle/yVPTHgNbgToVEBCc7 Click this link if you plan to attend the parade with us.

Families, a quick reminder that Home Access Center (HAC) is now called My Power Hub! This is where families can stay connected to important student information.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent/Guardian Access: Click here to access My Power Hub

Most families will need to reset their password. Simply select “Forgot Username or Password?” and follow the instructions.

📱 Having trouble resetting your password? Be sure to use a web browser (Chrome, Safari, or Firefox) rather than the PowerSchool app. If the reset link takes you to the app or App Store, copy the link from your email and paste it directly into your browser.

🎒 Student Access: Students can continue using their existing school login credentials through the Student My Power Hub Portal.

Get ready to join us next week for our school wide Fall Spirit Week Sponsored by our very own John Muir Student Council.

This week, on Wednesday, October 21, we're asking all of our John Muir Vikings to wear ORANGE in celebration of Unity Day!

Unity Day is a reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe, included, respected, and valued. Wearing orange is a simple way for us to stand together against bullying and show that kindness and belonging matter.

Let's fill our hallways with orange and remind everyone that there's a place for EVERYONE in our Viking Village! 🧡⚔️

Who doesn't love a night when someone else makes dinner AND it helps our school? 🍕💙

We are excited to partner with Marco's Pizza for the Marco's School Challenge, a fundraiser that will run October through April!

Here's how it will work:

🍕 Kindergarten–2nd Grade will have a Marco's School Challenge night on the last Wednesday each month.

🍕 3rd & 4th Grade will have their night on the last Thursday each month.

📱 On your child's scheduled Marco's night, watch TalkingPoints! We will send the flyer and ordering information directly to families that day so you'll have everything you need to participate.

Then comes the easy part—order pizza, enjoy dinner, and support John Muir! 🙌

Our first School Challenge nights are:

🍕 K–2: Wednesday, October 28

🍕 Grades 3–4: Thursday, October 29

The challenge will continue each month through April, so there will be plenty of opportunities to participate throughout the school year.

Thank you to Marco's for partnering with our Viking Village—and thank you to our families for supporting John Muir. We can't think of a much easier (or tastier!) way to fundraise! 🍕⚔️

Watch TalkingPoints on your grade level's Marco's Day for that month's flyer and ordering details!

Next week, we will begin our first round of required state testing at John Muir. Our third-grade students will begin the Ohio State Test (OST) in English Language Arts on Monday, October 26.

I know the word testing can sometimes make parents (and students!) a little nervous, so I wanted to share what this means, why we do it, and how you can help at home.

📚 What is the Third Grade OST?

The Ohio State Test is a required assessment that measures how well students are developing important reading and language arts skills. Students will answer questions about what they read, demonstrate their understanding of vocabulary and passages, and apply the reading skills they've been learning in the classroom.

💙 Why is this important?

In Ohio, third grade is an important year for reading development. The results help us understand how students are progressing toward grade-level expectations and provide important information related to Ohio's Third Grade Reading Guarantee.

More importantly, the results help our teachers identify students' strengths and areas where additional instruction or support may be needed.

🏡 How can families help?

The good news is that you don't need to spend the weekend giving your child practice tests or worrying about preparing them for every possible question!

A few simple things can make a big difference:

• 😴 Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep.

• 🥞 Encourage a healthy breakfast before school.

• ⏰ Arrive at school on time, especially on testing days.

• 💬 Remind your child to take their time, read carefully, and do their best.

• ❤️ Most importantly, keep it positive! Let your child know that one test does not define who they are or everything they are capable of accomplishing.

We want our Vikings to approach testing feeling prepared, confident, and supported—not worried or overwhelmed.

✏️ Looking Ahead — Second Grade Testing in November

Our second-grade students will also participate in required CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) testing in November. This assessment looks at how students reason and solve problems using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal thinking skills.

We will share more information with our second-grade families as we get closer to their testing dates.

Thank you for partnering with us as we support our students through these important assessments. Our goal is always the same: to understand how our children are learning and growing so we can help each Viking be successful! 💙⚔️

Who's Our Mystery Reader This Week? 👀

🦉🎄 A Little Christmas Spirit in October? Absolutely!

I know what you're thinking… Christmas in October? We haven't even made it through Halloween yet! 😂

But this week's story is a perfect reminder that kindness, compassion, and helping others aren't just things we celebrate during the holidays. They're choices we can make every single day.

Throughout October, we've been talking with our Vikings about what it means to be kind, include others, and make sure everyone feels like they belong. And sometimes, the best way to help children understand those lessons is through a good story.

This week's book, The Christmas Owl, shares a beautiful message about caring for others, especially when they need a little extra help. It's a wonderful reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference.

And of course, we have another Mystery Reader joining us this week! 👀 She's one of our very own John Muir Vikings, but you'll have to watch to find out who she is!

So forget the calendar for a few minutes, gather the family, and enjoy a story that reminds us the spirit of giving, caring, and choosing kindness belongs in every season. 💙

🎥 Click below to discover our Mystery Reader and enjoy this week's Viking Voyage!