Grindstone News

What an AMAZING first week of school it has been! Thank you for sharing your Little Titans with us—Grindstone truly comes alive when all of our Titans are together!

A special thank you to our incredible Grindstone PTA for their ongoing generosity and support. This week alone, they provided our student take-home folders, a delicious staff lunch on Tuesday’s workday and helped welcome all our new staff members with an awesome Grindstone Titans T-shirt. Their kindness and commitment make such a difference for our students and staff!

We are also grateful to the many parent volunteers who lent a hand during the first days—welcoming students into the building and helping with Kindergarten Meet & Greets. Your time and care mean so much!

Together, we are off to a wonderful start, and we can’t wait to see all the growth, learning, and memories this year will bring.

Always Be A Titan!
Mrs. Grimm and The Grindstone Staff

All schools in our district are focusing on attendance because missing even 2 days in September can affect a student’s success for the rest of the year. We’re reaching out early to help families notice absences, identify barriers, and find support. Together, we can build strong attendance habits that lead to academic success!

1. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back. Read more... (Elementary)

2. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school. Read more… (Middle)

3. When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating. Read more… (High)

4. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. Read more...

5. The most recent federal data show that in the 2020-21 school year, at least 14.7 million students nationwide were chronically absent. This means that chronic absence has almost doubled from the more than 8 million students, pre-Covid-19, who were missing so many days of school that they were academically at risk. Read more...

6. Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. Read more...

7. Research shows that missing 10 percent of school days, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence. Read more...

8. Students who live in communities with high levels of poverty are four times more likely to be chronically absent than others, often for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care. Read more...

9. Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students. Read more...

Most school districts and states don’t look at all the right data to improve school attendance. They track how many students show up every day and how many are skipping school without an excuse, but not how many are missing so many days in excused and unexcused absence that they are headed off track academically. Read more...

Breakfast: Breakfast is available from 8:45-9:15 a.m.

• Students wishing to eat breakfast can enter the building at 8:45 a.m. through the cafeteria doors.

• Bus riders who will be getting breakfast will be released from their bus at 8:50 a.m.

Arrival: The school day starts at 9:00 a.m. All car riders should wait in their cars until a Grindstone staff member either opens the door or signals them to exit the car. For student safety, all students should exit and enter their car curb side. All car riders will enter the building through the front doors.

• Walkers will enter the building through the front doors.

• Bus Riders will be dismissed from their bus at 9:00 a.m. and enter the building through the cafeteria doors.

• Late students, an adult must come to the office and sign the student(s) in.

Dismissal: Student dismissal will begin at 3:40 p.m.

• All walkers will exit the building through our front doors. Students will follow the sidewalks and cross at the designated and safe crossing areas.

• Parents, please wait off to the side away from the front door to help make safe space for our car riders to wait.

• All bus riders will come to the gym to wait for their bus to be called. Students will walk safely in a line to get on their bus.

• Cars should not arrive any earlier than 3:30 p.m. for dismissal. Parents must remain in their car.

• All car riders will wait outside in assigned ‘car zones’ for their car to pull forward and then safely get in the car (curbside).

Please be kind to Grindstone’s neighbors on Race, Edgewood, and other surrounding streets by not blocking their driveways as you wait in line to drop off or pick up your Titan. Drive slowly through the parking lot, as we have students crossing in the crosswalks as they walk home.

Also, there are to be NO cars in our bus drop-off and loading area (blacktop area by our cafeteria doors.)

Thank you.

For the safety of students, staff and visitors, no dogs are permitted on school property during regular school hours or during arrival/dismissal times unless they are part of an approved visit/program. Families walking students to and/or from school should not bring dogs on the property to drop students off or pick them up.

For the 2025-2026 school year, our K-8 classrooms will continue to implement Compass360 lessons as a part of our District's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. These weekly lessons are specifically designed to nurture our students' emotional growth and interpersonal abilities.

Compass360 directly aligns with the five core competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL):

• Self-Awareness: Students will learn to recognize their emotions and thoughts, understanding how these internal states influence their behavior.

• Self-Management: We'll equip students with practical tools to manage stress, control impulses, and effectively set and achieve personal goals.

• Social Awareness: Lessons will cultivate empathy, encouraging students to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives and backgrounds within their community and beyond.

• Relationship Skills: Students will develop essential communication strategies, learn to work effectively in teams, and gain valuable conflict resolution techniques.

• Responsible Decision-Making: We'll guide students through processes that help them make constructive and ethical choices regarding their personal and social conduct.

Through engaging activities, thoughtful discussions, and regular reflection, Compass360 lessons create a supportive and positive environment where students can grow, both academically and emotionally.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Compass360 lessons, please don't hesitate to reach out to:

• Lori Sancin: lsancin@bereaschools.org

• Meredith Ondak: mondak@bereaschools.org

If your student(s) will be a designated car rider this school year; please complete the link below. We will not be carrying over car rider numbers from previous years. All families requesting a car rider number tag will be assigned a new number. Bus riders do not need to put a request in for a car tag.

Grindstone 2025-2026 Car Rider Number Request Form

We would like to inform you of an error regarding the QR code distribution for the recent PTA Mum Flower sale. Each student should have received a unique, individual QR code for their order, but instead, a single school-wide QR code was provided.

To rectify this, individual QR codes were distributed to each student. Each student should use their own unique QR code. If you prefer not to use the QR code, please email Valerie Asp, vpfundraising@grindstonepta.org with your students name, teacher, and your email address and you can be added to the sale.

We sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Should you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out to Valerie Asp, VP of Fundraising, at vpfundraising@grindstonepta.org.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Best regards,

Grindstone PTA

4TH Grade(Class of 2034): https://www.facebook.com/share/cLq3EqQVbQ8kuHeB/

3RD Grade(Class of 2035): https://www.facebook.com/share/1FubfLLNniyEjUm1/

2ND Grade(Class of 2036): https://www.facebook.com/share/3M1GZcHUHxfBSiCP/

1ST Grade (Class of 2037): https://www.facebook.com/share/ZYqMLLhRxTfcqR6u/

Kindergarten (Class of 2038): https://www.facebook.com/share/qxJMB39fxAvfRcYg/

Online registration and OLR annual updates must be completed on a desktop or laptop.

Existing Families

Important Chromebook Information for Parents and Students

1. All clothing should be neat, clean, and safe.

2. Shorts are permitted on warm days only.

3. Coats are encouraged on cooler days and should be worn by students during outdoor recess.

4. The following clothing is not allowed:

● That which exposes too much or is too tight, including but not limited to tank tops, spaghetti strap tops, halter tops, cut-off T-shirts, bare midriffs, short shorts, and spandex (biking) pants or shorts.

● That which contains messages that are obscene, profane, drug-related, gang-related, or inflammatory or depicts weapons or violence.

● Sagging pants.

5. Parents are encouraged to send a change of clothes to be kept at school for their child.

Disclaimer: Any new “fads” in clothing, or anything not specifically covered in the above guidelines, determined to be inappropriate dress or disruptive to the learning environment, shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Berea City School District Elementary Schools’ Administration. Any student not adhering to the above will be referred to the office where parent contact will occur.

RECESS:

“When the temperature, including the wind chill, is 20 degrees or above, students will go out for recess and need to be dressed for the cold weather. The administration reserves the right to hold indoor recess based on the conditions of the playground/blacktop areas.”

• The school day starts at 9:00 a.m. All car riders should wait in their cars until a Grindstone staff member either opens the door or signals them to exit the car. For student safety, all students should exit and enter their car curbside.

• For all our Titan Friends who walk to school and arrive before the first bell, it is imperative for your child’s safety that they are waiting in line like a Super Titan; being respectful, responsible, and safe. Students should not arrive at school too early as there is no supervision before our first bell rings at 9:00 a.m.

• Students coming for breakfast may enter the building through the cafeteria doors beginning at 8:45 a.m.

School Fees will be added to student accounts on October 1, 2025. Payments may be made in person at Grindstone using Cash or Check , or through Infinite Campus. Instructions are provided below.

Families are asked and encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Verification Application to access additional benefits, including increased state and federal funding for staff, equipment, and supplies; discounts on fees for academic assessments; and access to local scholarships, tuition assistance for dual credit and AP courses, and discounts on college application fees. By completing the application, you help the district continue to provide valuable resources and opportunities for every student.

Online payment is our preferred method for parents and guardians to pay for school fees, cafeteria payments, and more.

The Infinite Campus Online Payment system is a payment processing

solution that allows you to submit food service and school-related fees 24/7

via the Parent Portal. Payments can be made for one child or the entire

household.

The Fees tool provides a list of all fees assigned to you. Fees may include things like a lab fee for a science course, a fee for a field trip or the cost of an athletic activity. Fees that are still owed and fees that were paid appear in this list, followed by the ongoing balance for all fees.

View the Fee Payment tutorial

If you are unable to use the online payment system, please contact the

treasurer's office at (216) 898-8300.

This is a continuation of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, and all students will be automatically enrolled.

The CEP is free for eligible public school districts to participate in. Districts must apply through the state, which involves calculating and submitting a percentage of students who are identified as eligible for school meals for any reason other than a free and reduced student meal application. If the percentage is 25% or higher, the district is eligible. Schools participating in the program will be partially reimbursed for each meal served. The CEP also eliminates any stigma associated with free or reduced-price meals, promoting equality and fostering a supportive atmosphere for all students.

The free meal will be the set meal for each day, although additional items will still be available for purchase. Parents are encouraged to contact Carrie Beegle at cbeegle@bereaschools.org or 216-267-2142 to discuss food allergies, special dietary needs, and any specific requirements their children may have.

This initiative reflects Berea City School District's dedication to ensuring that every student has access to nutritious meals, which is essential for their health and academic performance.

Parents may continue to deposit money into their students’ accounts using Infinite Campus Food Service at any time during the school year. Please make checks payable to the school cafeteria, and funds can be dropped off in the school office or sent in with your student. Funds may also be added to your student’s account using the online site. There is a minimal charge to use this feature. It is always free to view your student’s account. Please allow at least 30 minutes for the online payment to appear in your student’s account.

Families are asked and encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Verification Application (FORM WILL BE AVAILABLE IN AUGUST) to access additional benefits, including increased state and federal funding for staff, equipment, and supplies; discounts on fees for academic assessments; and access to local scholarships, tuition assistance for dual credit and AP courses, and discounts on college application fees. By completing the application, you help the district continue to provide valuable resources and opportunities for every student.

8/29 - Kindergarten Night at Titans home FB game

9/1 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

9/4 - Parent Information Night 5:00 - 6:45 p.m. Two 45-minute sessions

9/8 - School Picture Day

9/10 - PTA Meeting 6:30 PM

9/19 - PTA Fun Run/ Titan Tailgate

9/27 - BCSD Well-Fest 2025

10/1 - Mum Flower Delivery

10/1 - School Fees Available in Infinite Campus

10/10 - No School - Teacher Workday

10/13 - No School - Professional Development Day

10/14 & 10/16 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:45 p.m. Watch for the sign-up sheet.

10/14 - 10/17 - Fall Book Fair

10/20 - Picture Retake Day

10/24 - PTA Sponsored Trunk or Treat

11/11 - Grade 3 Veteran's Day Music Program 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

11/19 - PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

11/21 - Fall Class Parties

11/26 - 11/28 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

12/10 - PTA Sponsored Winter Fest

12/22 - 1/2 - No School - Winter Break

1/14 - PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

1/16 - No School - Teacher Workday

1/19 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2/13 - No School - Professional Development Day

2/16 - No School - Presidents Day

4/2 - No School - Teacher Workday

4/3 - No School - Good Friday

4/6 - 4/10 - No School - Spring Break

5/13 - 5/15 PTA Sponsored BOGO Book Fair

5/25 - No School - Memorial Day

5/27 - 4th Grade Farewell

5/28 - Last Day for Students

8:45 a.m.-9:10 a.m. Breakfast students may enter through the cafeteria door
9:15 a.m. Tardy bell rings
3:40 p.m. Car Riders, Walkers, and Right at School After Care Students dismissed
3:45 p.m. Dismissal bell for bus riders

Email: tgrimm@bereaschools.org
Website: www.bereaschools.org
Location: 191 Race Street, Berea, OH, USA
Phone: (216)898-8305
Facebook: facebook.com/GrindstoneBCSD
X/Twitter: @GrindstoneBCSD