Miller Elementary Weekly Update

Hello Miller Families!

I hope this weekly update finds your family adjusting well to your new morning and afternoon routines now that we are a few weeks into the school year! It can be an adjustment for children and adults to get back into a school schedule. I'm sure children are coming home tired and needing time to rest and recharge. This is very common for the first 4-6 weeks of the school year so hang in there if your little one is not ready to share about their day quite yet!

One of the deeply rooted practices that we use at school is the idea that we focus on the process of learning and not just the end product. During this time of the year, many children are learning how to successfully pack up their bookbag with their folder, lunchbox, and maybe a special item from the day. This takes time and practice as we show children an example of the steps to follow to successfully pack their bags. They will experience a little bit of a productive struggle when that folder doesn't go in perfectly, or the lunchbox is a little too big, but it's important that we have them try, try and try again. This also includes helping them with zipping up their bookbag or jacket. They are learning how to do this independently at school each day so please allow them to practice this at home too! I know it is easier as a busy mom myself to help pack bookbags and get out the door, but remember to stay focused on the process of learning and not just the end product! This is the perfect time to start practicing for fall and winter zipper season. Try sending your child with a zip-up hoodie or jacket that they have to zip up each day. Very soon, they will be independently packing their bookbag and zipping up their jacket and you'll be buzzing out the door on time, each day!

Finally, I want to remind families that school picture day is coming on Wednesday, September 16th! We sent home the order forms this week or you can use the direct link found below to order pictures online. Pictures usually take at least 6 weeks to arrive. If you order a package with a composite photo, the composite will be delivered early winter once we have retake picture day. If you have any questions, please see the details below about school pictures.

We hope you have a wonderful long Labor Day weekend!

Kindly,

Maria Goodman

Miller Elementary Principal

330-954-2189

mgoodman@aurora-schools.org

Our fall picture day is quickly approaching! All children will have their picture taken by Ripcho Studios that will be used for our school yearbook and your family has the option to purchase a picture package using the online ordering form or a traditional form. We have volunteers ready to help every child fix their hair, adjust their outfit and ensure we can capture that perfect smile.

Picture Day is Wednesday, September 16th at Miller Elementary School

Save time and preorder your photographs on the Ripcho Studio webpage before your Picture Day, by clicking on the "Order Online" button below.

You Access Key is:94EPCHS9

Please Note: The Online Password will expire 48 hours after the Photo Date so all online orders need to be submitted no later than 48 hours after picture day.

Reading to your child at home is one of the most powerful, impactful ways to build early literacy skills, nurture a love for learning, and prepare them for future academic success. Whether you are cuddled up with a toddler or exploring picture books with a preschooler, sharing stories together creates lasting bonds and builds vocabulary every single day.

To help grow your home library, we are lucky to have access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

• What it is: A free book-gifting program that mails a high-quality, age-appropriate book directly to your home every month.

• Who qualifies: Children from birth through age 5.

• Cost: Completely free to families.

Dolly Parton created this amazing program and it will be part of her legacy to inspire a lifelong love of reading in all children. If you have little ones at home, check their website (imaginationlibrary.com) to verify eligibility and enroll your child today!

Kindergarten Assessment Days for the KRA

• Friday, September 4th - Back to School Assessment Days - K-5 Children A-L attend School and M-Z NO SCHOOL (NO PRESCHOOL)
• Monday, September 7th - NO SCHOOL FOR ALL - LABOR DAY
• Tuesday, September 8th - Back to School Assessment Days - K-5 Children M-Z Attend School and A-L NO SCHOOL (ALL PRESCHOOL STILL ATTENDS)

SEPTEMBER

• Monday, September 7th - NO SCHOOL FOR ALL - LABOR DAY
• Wednesday, September 16th - School Picture Day - More Information Forthcoming

OCTOBER

• Friday, 10/9 - NO SCHOOL for NEOEA Day
• Monday, 10/12 - NO SCHOOL for Staff Professional Development Day
• Friday, 10/30 - Fall Costume Parade and Festival - Times will be shared later

This is a friendly reminder that we have sent out tuition letters to any families that have an upcoming payment due on September 15th. These letters came home in your child's take home folder this past week and will be coming home with our preschoolers next week.

Our total tuition cost for preschool is $2000 and full-day kindergarten is $2500. Many families have paid the initial down payment and we collect the next set of fees by September 15th and the final payment will be due on January 15th.

If you sent in a check for the September payment, thank you! We will be running credit cards that you have listed on file after September 15th. If you have changed your credit card information or would like to change the card we have on file, please call Erin Toler at 330-562-6199 and she's happy to get the new information. As a reminder, the tuition information along with our tax-id number for taxes can be found on the tuition contract you signed for preschool or kindergarten enrollment.

Has your child come home talking about earning a fuzzy pom? Did they bring home a reward ticket? We have officially kicked off teaching our learners about school expectations. At Miller, we work to help our children develop skills to be respectful, responsible, and problem-solvers. However, what does that look like and sound like in our school building? Each week we target a skill that supports the development of social and emotional skills that help all children be a member of a safe and fun learning environment. We will teach them a new skill for the beginning 6 weeks of the year that helps them be safe, happy, and ready to learn.

Our teaching and reinforcing of school expectations and appropriate choices has started off with "I CAN HAVE A SAFE BODY or I AM READY TO LEARN." These two skills can be some of the most important skills we target at Miller. Many children are learning how to use their words to communicate their wants, needs and feelings instead of using physical means of communication. At school, this can look like taking toys from another friend, pushing too hard when playing tag, swinging their backpack which accidentally hits a friend, or invading someone's personal space. When we see children using a safe body or safe hands, they are rewarded with verbal praise, we hand them a Pom Pom and they get to add their Pom Pom to their class bucket!

There are times that young children need more time developing skills to keep a safe body and safe hands. It is important that we use consistent language at school and at home to monitor these behavioral actions. With consistent reminders about the appropriate expectations and time to practice these skills the right way, the more success students will find using their words instead of using unsafe hands. If we reach out to your family about practicing safe hands, please remember we are all working together to help remind your child about ways to communicate and treat others. We will also share all the great choices they continue to make while at school.

As students begin their educational journey, there are some state-mandated checkpoints and assessments to ensure that we are monitoring your child's growth and development. To accomplish these activities, it's best if we bring small groups of children to school to work on these various assessments.

All K-5 (NOT PRESCHOOL) will be by participating in the Fall Assessment Days on Friday, September 4th, and Tuesday, September 8th.

Friday, September 4th - Kindergarten KRA-R Assessment Days - Kindergarten Students Whose Last Name Begins with A-L Attend School (M-Z Does not attend school this day)

NO SCHOOL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th - LABOR DAY

Tuesday, September 8th- Kindergarten KRA-R Assessment Days - Kindergarten Students Whose Last Name Begins with M-Z Attend School (A-L Does not attend school this day)

In addition to our assessment days, we will be completing many of our kindergarten assessments during our normal school day. These screening assessments are required by the State of Ohio and they provide us with information to better know your child and to kick-start the school year to best meet their needs. We wanted to share what assessments they will be participating in and the expected dates so you know what is happening at school.

The dates listed below show the various windows of time we will be conducting assessments.

Speech & Language Screening - Kindergarten Students (September 1st & September 2nd)

Your child will work one-on-one with one of our speech and language pathologists to conduct a speech and language screener.

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA-R) - Kindergarten Students (Sept. 4th & Sept. 8th)

This assessment looks at your child’s readiness for engaging with instruction aligned to the kindergarten standards. These assessments are completed through observation in the classroom and via an interactive assessment on an iPad. Here are the skills that are checked:

• Social Foundations- including social and emotional development
• Mathematics
• Language and Literacy
• Physical Well-being and Motor Development

iReady Benchmarking - (Week of August 24th & Week of September 8th)

A 3-minute kindergarten universal screener to check your child's incoming knowledge of letters, sounds, and phonemic awareness.

Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener - (Around the week of September 8th)

Students whose families speak a 2nd language in the home as reported in Final Forms will take a language proficiency screener. This assessment is given by Mrs. Levey or Mrs. Flannery our English Learner educators.

Vision & Hearing Screening - All Kindergarten Students (Month of September & October)

Our school nurse conducted vision and hearing screening at kindergarten registration. She will conduct re-checks on some children and wrap this up on any child that missed registration in the spring.

We will communicate any results that require follow-up or reach out to you if we have any further questions. We are looking forward to getting to know your child a bit more!

Hello Miller Families,

I hope you’re enjoying the sunshine! I wanted to focus this week on two supports we can share and provide to families.

Parenting Program : We’re happy to share a free opportunity for families to access the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) — a trusted, research-based program that supports parents and caregivers in raising confident, healthy children.

Through this online program, you’ll find helpful strategies to:

• Strengthen your connection with your child

• Promote positive behaviors and routines

• Respond to challenges in a calm, consistent way

• Support your child’s growth and independence

• Balance parenting with your own well-being

The program is self-paced and can be accessed anytime from a phone, tablet, or computer making it easy to fit into your schedule. To sign up, visit the Positive Parenting Program - Triple P site and scroll to the bottom to select “Free online course today.” We encourage you to take advantage of this helpful resource!

Financial Needs: Miller Elementary partners with our PTO to assist families with financial needs. By reaching out via this form, phone, email, or in person, we can help with funds for Book Fairs, the Holiday Shop, holiday gifts, Thanksgiving “baskets,” winter clothing, yearbooks, school supplies, or any other need. Please don’t hesitate to contact me—simply let me know what you need, and I’ll connect you with

Warmly,
Mrs. Lindsey Ambrosia
School Counselor
📞 (330) 562-6199, ext. 5414
📧 lambrosia@aurora-schools.org

To report an absence or change your child to a car rider or bus rider, please click the button below or scan the QR code magnet that we will pass out at Open House. This can be done from any device and your reply will be sent immediately to our secretary, Mrs. Toler. We get a notification each time an entry occurs.

We operate exclusively through parent communication about change of transportation. If your child believes they will be picked up and you have not notified the office, then we assume they are to ride the bus or regular form of transportation. We will call you if there is any confusion between our office records and your child.

If your child will be absent, you will use this form to report the absence along with the reason for the absence. We are working really hard to reduce the amount of phone calls, emails, or notes that we receive. We ask that you reserve those modes of communication for emergencies only. Thank you in advance for your help and let us know if you have any questions at all!

If your child will require any medication to be administered during the school day, they must have a doctor's note on file. We have included all the important medical forms that are necessary.

Additionally, if your child has their well-visit or dental exam this summer, you can either upload the medical forms into Final Forms or bring it to school at our Open House in the fall!

New doctors’ orders and new medication will be required for each school year. You can locate all medication forms on our website at: www.aurora-schools.org→departments→nursing services or download the forms from below!

The Aurora Schools Foundation supports imaginative and innovative opportunities for Aurora School students beyond traditional funding. Teachers can submit grant applications in the fall and in the spring. Here is one example of an ASF grant impact spotlight. We are excited to see other grants brought to life this year! Visit auroraschoolsfoundation.org to learn more.

Miller Elementary Principal

Erin Toler : etoler@aurora-schools.org

Miller Elementary Secretary

Email: mgoodman@aurora-schools.org
Website: aurora-schools.org
Location: 646 S Chillicothe Rd, Aurora, OH 44202, USA
Phone: 330-562-6199