Overlook Grizzly Tracks

The halls are getting ready, classrooms are coming to life, and a brand-new school year is just around the corner! I am so excited to welcome our students and families back to Overlook Elementary.

This year, we will continue to live The Overlook Way — being Safe, Kind, and Responsible — while creating a school where every student feels welcomed, supported, and excited to learn.

Here’s to a fantastic year of growing, learning, laughing, and making memories together.

I can’t wait to see our Grizzlies!

August 18th

• 6:00-6:30 -- New Student Orientation Grades 1-4
• 6:30-8:00 -- Open House Grades 1-4

• Grades 1-4 First Day of School

August 24th

• 6:00-7:00 -- Preschool Open House

August 25th

• 6:00-7:00 -- Kindergarten Open House

• Preschool & Kindergarten First Day of School

September 4th

• PTO Spirit Sales at lunch - Students will have the opportunity to purchase items at lunch.

• No School - Labor Day

September 8th

• PTO Meeting - 6:30 pm at Overlook Library

• Picture Day

September 11th

• Patriot Day (9/11 Remembrance) - Wear Red/White/Blue

September 14th

• Board of Education Meeting 7:00 pm

• PTO Dine to Donate - Blue Heron

September 18th

• No School for students - Professional Development Staff

• Please call Mrs. Jira at 330-335-1420 to make changes in transportation in the afternoon. Please do not rely on email, as there are occasions when the teachers or office staff are out of the building or district! The end of the day can be very busy, and we are not always able to access email...again, PLEASE CALL by 2:45 p.m.
• If you have not already done so, please turn in your $45.00 Instructional Fee or any other outstanding fees with a check made out to Wadsworth City Schools or pay online with PaySchools.
• Lunch Money: You can send in cash for student lunch money in a labeled envelope or baggie. You can also pay into your student's lunch account by clicking here: https://payschoolscentral.com/. You will need your student's ID to register. If you have any questions, please call the office.
• Please see the information below related to pets at Overlook and Birthday celebrations in the classrooms.

Our secretary, Mrs. Jira, is the contact person for calling off your student and any change of dismissal plans throughout the day. Please call the attendance line at 330-335-1424 and leave a message with any changes BEFORE school starts. If you need to make changes after 9:00 am, please call the main line at 330-335-1420. We recommend you let Mrs. Jira and your child's teacher know when your student will be absent, leaving early, or arriving late. Letting us know when your child will leave early allows us to be prepared for when you arrive. We ask that all end-of-the-day dismissal plans be made by 2:45 p.m. Thank you for your efforts!

**REMINDER- Mrs. Duerr must approve all vacations AHEAD OF TIME. Please send her an email requesting excused absences. hduerr@wadsworthschools.org

Welcome back, Overlook families! I am so excited to welcome our students back to school on Thursday. I look forward to meeting and connecting with those of you who are new to Overlook and reconnecting with our returning students and families.

The start of a new school year can bring a wide range of feelings and emotions. Students may feel excited, nervous, curious, or even a little unsure as they adjust to new routines, classrooms, teachers, and expectations. All of these feelings are normal!

First-Day Tips

Whether your child is joining us for the first time or returning to Overlook, here are a few tips to help make the first day a positive one:

• Talk about the first day. Ask your child what they are looking forward to and what they might be feeling nervous about. Reassure them that it is okay to have mixed emotions.
• Practice the routine. Review morning routines, transportation plans, where they will go when they arrive, and what dismissal will look like.
• Keep the morning calm. Preparing backpacks, clothes, and anything needed for the day the night before can help reduce stress and allow for a smoother start.
• Keep goodbyes positive and brief. A confident goodbye and a reminder that you will see them after school can help children feel secure.
• Encourage them to ask for help. Remind your child that each adult at school is here to support them. They do not have to figure everything out on their own.
• Celebrate small successes. Making a new friend, finding their classroom, remembering a routine, or simply getting through a challenging moment are all accomplishments worth celebrating.
• Give it time. It can take a little while for students to settle into a new school-year routine. Be patient, listen, and give your child opportunities to share about their day.

Most importantly, remind your child that they belong here and they are not alone. The Overlook staff is excited to welcome every student and help them feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

I am looking forward to a wonderful school year and to partnering with you and your children throughout the year.

Program Times: Monday -Thursday

Morning Session: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Afternoon Session: 12:45 - 3:15 PM

• Staff will get students from cars at drop off. Please remain in your vehicle. Staff will bring students to cars at pick up. You must buckle them into his/her seat. Please seat child on the passenger side of vehicle for safety of families and staff.

• Please refrain from having in-depth conversations with teachers in the line. Feel free to call or email :)

Curriculum Information

• We follow the Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards

• AEPS (Assessment Evaluation Programming System) - Set of standards and skills that are observed

• Handwriting Without Tears - hands on materials and lessons to assist with how to write letters and numbers

• Phonics in Motion - interactive approach to individual letter sounds

• Monthly quick checks sent home

• Office Information

To reach the main office, please call (330) 335-1420

April Jira, Overlook Secretary

Contact Information:

Ashley Ruedisueli - aruedisueli@wadsworthschools.org

Haley Duerr - hduerr@wadsworthschools.org

PTO has a lot of fun events coming up. Be sure to join the PTO or follow them on Facebook to hear more information and news!

Also, consider joining PTO for the monthly meeting at 6:30 pm at the Overlook Library.

When dropping off or picking up, patience is essential to keeping our students safe.

Reminders:

• Kdg.-4th grade students can be dropped off at 8:45 and need to be in class by 9:05.

• Preschool students should be dropped off after 8:55 a.m. If you are early, you may be asked to park and wait.

• On Wednesday (8/26), we will welcome our preschool and kindergarten students. Preschool car pick-up will begin at 3:20. (Mon-Thur.)

• For our Kdg.-4th student's PM pick-up, please do not arrive before 3:30. If you come early, you may be asked to find a parking spot or take a loop around. (The right lane that leads to the curb is for Pre-school pick up only until 3:30.) There are no pre school classes on Fridays.

Picture Day Photo Date: Thursday, September 11

Your Online Access Key is: VM37THY7

Your Online Ordering Link is: https://ripchostudio.orderphotos.online/ordering/with?key=VM37THY7

We greatly appreciate our volunteers every year. Below is an explanation to the volunteer process. You may sign up to volunteer by clicking here or please call the Main Office at (330) 335-1420 if you would like a paper copy.

Our volunteer program consists of two tiers, each with specific requirements:

• Tier 1 Volunteers: These volunteers do not have unsupervised interactions with students, and as such they do not require board approval or a background check. The only requirement for a Tier 1 volunteer is a signed “Volunteer Release Form.”

• Tier 2 Volunteers: These Volunteers have unsupervised interaction with students and therefore require additional measures, including a background check.

According to our records, the following steps are necessary to complete the volunteer process for our 2026-2027 calendar school year:

• Fingerprinting / Background Check (Tier II Volunteers Only): If you are interested in becoming a Tier 2 volunteer, this step is essential. Fingerprinting can be completed at the Assistant Superintendent’s office at the Board of Administration located at Wadsworth High School Room #1214, 625 Broad St., Wadsworth, OH. No appointment is required. Please note that there is a $50.00 fee for fingerprinting payable at the time of service (exact cash or check only).

• Volunteer Release Form: The fingerprints/background check is still valid for the 2026-2027 school year; you only need to sign and return an updated “Volunteer Release Form” to Valley View. This will allow us to provide you with a current-year sticker for your volunteer badge.

• Badge Sticker: If your Volunteer Release Form and background check are up to date, you will need to secure the 26-27 school year sticker (attached) to the bottom of your volunteer ID badge. This step ensures that your badge is current. If you do not have your WCS Volunteer badge, please be aware that a new one can be printed free of charge at the Board of Administration office.

Please take the necessary steps to complete the volunteer process as soon as possible, to ensure that you are eligible to volunteer for events during the school year. Your involvement is essential to the success of our students, and we look forward to having you as part of our team.

Thank you for your commitment to Overlook and for helping create a supportive and enriching environment for our students.

Here is what the student handbook says:

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS:

In compliance with our District Health and Wellness policy and allergies, food treats are not permitted. Stickers, pencils, erasers or other non-edible treats are welcome to be distributed instead.

We appreciate your help in following this policy.

Board policy 8390

Animals permitted in schools and elsewhere on District property shall be limited to those necessary to support specific curriculum-related projects and activities, those that provide assistance to a student or staff member due to a disability (e.g., seizure disorder), or those that serve as service animals as required by Federal and State law.