BIG CREEK FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Hello Big Creek Families!

Student Fees

Your student(s) fee statement(s) will be coming home over the next few days. Please check homework folders. They are due by 11/01/2023. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Krista Pritko in the main office by calling 216-898-8303.

Vision & Hearing Screenings

On October 19th, Baldwin Wallace University students will be coming to Big Creek to do vision and hearing screenings with our nurses for students in PreSchool, Kdg, 1st, 3rd and all students new to Big Creek. There is no charge for this screening and you will be notified of results.

Have a great week,

Ms. Kubec

Parent Teacher Conferences for the fall are scheduled for the evenings of Oct. 17th and 19th.

If you have not signed up for a time, we encourage you to sign up now. If you have any questions, please contact your child(ren)'s teacher(s).

Use this LINK to sign up!

The Titan Football Turkey Drive is here to help families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday be able to celebrate. A $25 donation will enable us to purchase a turkey to donate to these families. Collections of the donations will start on Monday, October 9th and run through to November 10th. Donations can be sent to your child’s school to be deposited in the boosters’ collection box or through the athletic boosters Venmo (@Jeff-Haas-5). When using Venmo, please indicate that it is for the Titan Football Turkey Drive. There will be tents set up at the last 2 home football games on October 13th and 20th to collect donations. Turkeys will be passed out at Berea-Midpark High School on Tuesday, November 21st. More details will follow. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Dan Rivera (drivera@bereaschools.org).

With allergy season, the crazy weather and cold/flu season upon us or coming soon, we wanted to remind families of when to keep a child home. This information can also be found in the Student Handbook.

Should you keep your child home?

1. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) - YES! Child may return 24 hours AFTER treatment has started.

2. Cough - YES, if the cough is persistent and productive coupled with thick or constant nasal drainage.

3. Fever - YES! A fever is noted to be present at 100 degrees. Please keep your child home until he/she is fever free (oral temperature below 99 degrees) for a full 24 hours (or one full school day) without fever-reducing medication.

4. Vomiting or Diarrhea - YES! Please keep your child home until 24 full hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea without the use of medication.

5. Strep Throat - YES! Student may return 24 full hours after treatment has started and when fever is no longer present.

Please remember, if your child is present the next day at school, you will be called to pick them up.

If you have any questions, please call the school to speak with one of our school nurses.

Attention 4th Grade Parents!!

We are getting ready to start planning for our 4th Grade Farewell. It will be here before we know it! If you are interested in helping with the PLANNING (in any way, big or small!) , please fill out the Google Form below before Monday, October 9th. Please look for more information to come in the weeks ahead!

Committee Interest Form

Dear Big Creek Students, Parents, Faculty and Staff,

The State Fire Marshal's Office has announced plans for the annual statewide Fire Safety Poster Contest. The purpose of this contest is to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated an understanding of the issues related to fire safety education and have an ability to visually portray that knowledge.

All students from Kindergarten to 6th grade are invited to participate in this coloring contest. Artists are to create a fire safety poster displaying a fire safety theme following the given guidelines. One winner will be selected from both K-3 and 4-6, to be entered in the State Fire Marshal's Coloring Contest. Winning posters will be on display on the State Fire Marshal's website in March 2024.

On the local level, a winner will be selected from each grade, K-6. Firefighters from the Middleburg Heights Fire Department will judge the entries. The winners will receive a $5.00 Dairy Queen Gift Card.

Please refer to the contest rules that must be followed to be considered and return entries to your school office no later than Friday, October 20th, 2023.

Thank you for participating in the contest. We look forward to seeing your entries.

Sincerely,

Briant J. Galgas, Fire Chief

Dale M. Higginbotham, Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Prevention

Last year we had many students participate and we hope to have even more particpate this year!

Click on the pictures to see the letter and rules in larger print.

A paper copy will be sent home with students on Monday.

Hello! My name is Krista Pritko and this is my third year at Big Creek. I have worked in multiple positions here and have loved every one, but this position allows me to utilize all of my skills to help keep this school wonderful for our children. I am also a co-fundraiser chairperson for the PTA. I enjoy elementary school life and truly love watching all of your children learn and grow. My husband (Chris) of 13 years was a Midpark Meteor (02) and I was a Berea Brave (06). We live in Middleburg with our two children Ryan (7) and Ben (5) who also attend Big Creek. We are proud that we were not only raised in this district, but that we now have the opportunity to raise our children in this district!

~It isn't work when you love what you do~

Hi Big Creek family! My name is Jake Yurik! I am the new Speech-Language Pathologist to Berea City Schools. I will be working at Grindstone Elementary (Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays) and Big Creek on Tuesday and Thursdays! I am beyond thrilled to be here. I also have the pleasure of being a 7th and 8th grade football coach here within the district!!

When I am not at school/coaching you can find me hanging out with my fiance, Erica and our dog, Boo! Some of my favorite things to do consist of: golfing, playing pickleball, hiking, working out, hanging with friends/family, and watching/playing sports. I am a big time Cleveland sports fan and I am looking forward to going to some Browns game here in the fall! Go Browns, Go Titans!!

Stay in the Game!

September is National Attendance Awareness Month!

Celebrate with Big Creek Elementary had a great time this month

celebrating school attendance with the Cleveland Browns as we

Stay in the Game!

Keep learning, every day

#StayInTheGame

Oct. 12th

• Staff InService Day - No School

Oct. 13th

• NEOEA Day - No School

Oct. 16th

• Staff Work Day - No School

Oct. 17th

• Parent Teacher Conference Night 4:00-7:45
• PTA Scholastic Book Fair 4:00-7:45

Oct. 19th

• PTA Donuts with Grown Ups (Last Names A-L) 8:00AM
• Parent Teacher Conference Night 4:00-7:45
• PTA Scholastic Book Fair 4:00-7:45

Oct. 20th

• PTA Donuts with Grown Ups (Last Names M-Z) 8:00AM

Oct. 23rd-27th

• Big Creek Fall Spirit Week (details to come soon)

Oct. 26th

• Picture Retake Day

Oct. 27th

• PTA Treat Street 5:30-8:00 PM (5:30-6:30 Sensory Friendly time)

Nov. 2nd

• PTA Meeting Big Creek Library 7PM

OhioKAN will be joining Big Creek Elementary on Tuesday, October 17th, for Parent Teacher Conference Night from 5pm - 7pm!

Stop by the resource table located in the hallway near the nurse's station to learn more!

Parenting Workshop

Cuyahoga CountyPublic Library - Brook Park Branch presents free parenting workshops for preschool and elementary parents. Childcare will be provided.

Here is the link for the first workshop :

https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/9120967

These are the topics and dates:

• Dealing with Disobedience

  Wed, Oct 25 ... 6:30 - 8:00pm

• Developing Good Bedtime Routines

  Sat, Nov 18 ... 10:30 - 12 noon

• Managing Fighting & Aggression

  Wed, Dec 6 ... 6:30 - 8:00pm

• Hassle-Free Shopping with Children

  Wed, Feb 7 ... 6:30 - 8:00pm

• Hassle-Free Mealtimes

  Sat, March 16 ... 10:30 - 12 noon

From PTA:
Explore the Arts and Express Yourself through National PTA Reflections and contest!

Use this link for more information:
https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections

Check out this video too!
https://youtu.be/MuaoV5TyfBI?si=67SavvynGByaEvSk

Please check back here next week :)

If you have medication to drop off to our school clinic, please complete the form below.

Prescription and Nonprescription Medication/Treatment Authorization Form

Please feel free to stop in to see our nurse, Barb Eubank, to drop off any medications.

If you have any questions, please call our main office at 216-898-8303 and ask to speak with Nurse Barb or Nurse Dusty.

For all things related to Transportation, please use this LINK

Everyone loves a good dessert, but it is always better with sprinkles on top. The sprinkles go above and beyond to make the dessert stand out.

Is there a staff member at Big Creek who has gone above and beyond in some way? If so, you can help us to recognize that staff member with a You're the Sprinkles on Top Award!

All you need to do is fill out this FORM explaining why the staff member is "the sprinkles on top" and Ms. Kubec will recognize and reward that staff member.

"Sprinkles on Top" Award winners will be featured in future newsletters.

To join click HERE

Be sure to check out the Big Creek PTA page

on our school's website to stay updated

on all PTA news and events. Use this LINK!

Check out the Big Creek PTA Facebook Page HERE!

If you would like to volunteer, please print the flyer below, fill it out and send it to the Main Office.

PTA is still gathering our team of parent volunteers for the school year! Did you forget or lose the volunteer form? No problem, email us at BigCreekPTAEvents@gmail.com to let us know you're interested!

Thinking of Room Parent but not sure what it entails?

- assigning parent volunteers for the two class parties and Fall Fest

- creating a fun, simple Fall/Spooky themed table or car for Treat Street

- FYI, you don't need to be present at all events as Room Parent

- Optional info session will be held to get you all the info

Not sure what your schedule is but still interested? Sign up for general volunteering to be kept in the loop!

Can't wait to see you at our next event!

If you are interested in our preschool program,

please use this LINK to find all the information you need.

Registration is still open for Big Creek families interested in @RightAtSchool Before and after school programs! Families who register by October 15 can save $50 on their first month with Right At School with the code OCT23SAVE. For more information, visit https://ras.news/enroll23 or contact RAS Customer Service at (855) 287-2466.

The district has fortunately been approached by numerous groups and individuals that would like to financially contribute towards students' negative account balances. The district has created a Lunch Heroes Program that will allow anyone to make a donation towards negative breakfast and lunch balances. These funds will be applied at the end of the school year, dispersed evenly to each school, unless a school is specified on the donation form.

Donations can remain anonymous. To donate, complete this form and either mail or drop it off to:

Berea City School District
Attn. Treasurer's Department
390 Fair Street
Berea, OH 44017

Below is our Titans' Pride Matrix of Expectations. We would like families to remind students of the expected behaviors in each of the areas listed in the matrix. Below the matrix is our Titans' Pledge. We always want our students to be respectful, responsible and safe.

Coming soon!

Families - please be sure to review this year's Elementary School Handbook which can be found by clicking Elementary Handbook on this page of the district website.

We are receiving many phone calls/emails about information that can be found in the handbook - it is a great resource for families.