December 2024
November 19th, 2024
Important Dates This Month
December 4 OSU Dental Van
December 5-20 12 Days of Spirit week
December 6 4th Grade to All that Jazz
December 11 Winter Concert 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
December 12 Family Literacy Night 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
December 19 Special Olympics Bowling Rooms 1 and 3
December 20 Early Release 3:00 p.m. and K-2 Secret Santa Visit
December 23-Jan 3 Winter Break NO SCHOOL
12 Days of Spirit week
Get ready for a festive December full of fun dress-up days! Here's the lineup:
- 12/5: Over The Top Fur – Wear hats, boots, scarves, gloves... etc.
- 12/6: Spirit of the Season – Dress in holiday colors: red, green, gold, white, and blue.
- 12/9: Deck The Halls – Wear your favorite or craziest holiday socks or necklaces.
- 12/10: Shine Bright – Add some sparkle with garland, glitter, tinsel, or anything shiny!
- 12/11: Grinch Day – Wear green like the Grinch!
- 12/12: Ho Ho Ho Down – Cowboy & cowgirl gear for a western holiday vibe.
- 12/13: Long Winter’s Nap – Cozy up in school-appropriate pajamas.
- 12/16: Tree Topper – Wear your favorite holiday hat or headband.
- 12/17: Plaid – Rock your flannel or plaid!
- 12/18: Blackout Silent Night – Wear an all black outfit.
- 12/19: Baby It’s Cold Outside – Bundle up in your warmest sweater.
- 12/20: Get Comfy and Cozy- Wear sweatpants, hoodie or sweatshirt.
Valleyview Winter Concert
In celebration of the winter season and to showcase the musical talents of our students, Valleyview Elementary School is thrilled to invite families to our 2024 Winter Concert! Our students have worked hard in their music classes, and we can't wait to share their progress with you.
Join us on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, for two showings:
- 9:30 AM – Students in grades K-2 (not performing) will attend this showing.
- 10:30 AM – Students in grades 3-5 (not performing) will attend this showing.
We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate this joyful occasion together!
En celebración de la temporada de invierno y para mostrar los talentos musicales de nuestros estudiantes, ¡Valleyview Elementary School tiene el placer de invitar a las familias a nuestro Concierto de Invierno 2024! Nuestros estudiantes han trabajado arduamente en sus clases de música y estamos emocionados de compartir su progreso con ustedes.
Únase a nosotros el miércoles 11 de diciembre de 2024, para dos funciones:
- 9:30 AM – Los estudiantes de los grados K-2 (que no participan) asistirán a esta función.
- 10:30 AM – Los estudiantes de los grados 3-5 (que no participan) asistirán a esta función.
¡Esperamos verlos allí mientras celebramos juntos esta alegre ocasión!
12/12/24 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Join us for our Winter Literacy Night! Snuggle up with a good book and enjoy read-alouds in both English and Spanish. There will be milk and cookies, so don’t forget to wear your favorite pajamas and make memories with your family. We can’t wait to see you!
Pathway Express is BACK
Join Columbus City Schools’ Pathway Express on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (4850 W Powell Rd., Powell, OH 43065), for a day full of exploring STEM and Zoology!
Registration is now open!
On December 14, Family Learning Experiences include:
Free Flu Shots
Marine Life Exploration with the Watters Aquatic Conservation Center
Environmental Responsibility Awareness with Keep Columbus Beautiful
Free Books and Giveaways (While Supplies Last)
Experience the Magical Zoo Lights!
During December’s Pathway Express event, learning will be centered around Critical Thinking, a key quality in our Portrait of a Graduate. This means helping our students analyze and apply evidence-based reasoning to understand “big picture” challenges and how solutions affect other parts of a system.
Come see what the excitement is about and be one of the 15,000+ families who have embraced an innovative approach to education through inclusive learning experiences aligned to Ohio Standards.
Families must register in advance for tickets. Click here to register today.
Ticket registration begins on Monday, November 18 at noon.
Free transportation is provided! Buses will shuttle families from Northland, Walnut Ridge, South, and West High Schools to the zoo and back. Buses will depart from each school at 3:00 p.m. and will depart the zoo at 8:00 p.m. to drop families back off at the school that evening.
Come see the Huntington Holiday Train at Main Library
The Huntington Holiday Train has delighted people of all ages since 1992. This downtown holiday treasure was generously loaned to Columbus Metropolitan Library by Huntington National Bank in 2009 and is displayed in Main Library’s Grand Atrium.
Bring your family to see the display with its trains, tracks, tunnels, bridges, castles and other features to delight visitors of all ages.
On display Nov. 18-Jan. 18 Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.
Visit during regular library hours, with free one-hour parking in Main Library’s attached garage.
Main Library Hours
96 S. Grant Ave.
Monday-Thursday
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday
1-5 p.m.
Closed for the Holidays
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Wednesday, Dec. 25
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025
Fifth Grade Families Receive FREE Membership to COSI
This holiday season, give your family the gift of science with a free, one-year membership to COSI for CCS 5th-grade students and their families.
Visit https://cosi.org/CCS5 to sign up for your COSI FREE membership!
Memberships are limited. First come, first served. Application closes on February 28th, 2025. Don’t delay get your membership today!
Weather Related School Cancelations
When Winter Weather Forces Classes to be Canceled, You Need to Know Right Away
Winter weather is here, and Columbus City Schools is ready to help you plan ahead should the District be forced to cancel classes due to inclement weather.
Our goal is to announce a school cancellation as soon as we can. We are constantly monitoring weather forecasts and road conditions and will make an announcement the night before whenever possible. If weather conditions are such that a determination the night before is not possible, the Superintendent and her Operations team will make a decision no later than 5:30 a.m. Once the decision to close or cancel has been made, the next step is to alert parents, teachers, and staff.
STAY CONNECTED: news about cancellations of classes or the cancellation of extracurricular activities, field trips, and/or student-athletic events due to inclement weather are shared in several ways.
- Make sure the contact information on file at your child’s school is accurate. If you need to update this information, contact the main office in your child’s school or update online in the Parent Portal. (This includes emergency contacts, phone numbers, and email addresses).
- All families and staff will be alerted through an automated call, email, and text message from the District’s phone system. It is important to have your updated contact information on file in order to receive this notification.
- Follow Columbus City Schools on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or check our website. As soon as the decision is made to cancel school, we’ll share news and other schedule updates on the District website and on our social media pages.
- Monitor the news on local television and radio stations.
Extracurricular Activities, in the event of class cancellations or early dismissal due to inclement weather:
- Cancellation of School Day - Generally, evening activities, events, and athletic practices are canceled when classes are canceled for the day; however, there are occasions when an event might occur even when schools have been closed. Please monitor the District’s website and social media outlets for special instructions (ccsoh.us).
- Early Dismissal Due to Inclement Weather - Early dismissal for inclement weather will automatically cancel all after-school activities.
HAVE A BACKUP PLAN: When inclement weather impacts the morning commute, the Superintendent plans to determine whether to cancel classes as early as possible. This may be the night before or no later than 5:30 a.m. the next morning if possible. If bad weather is forecast for the afternoon, classes may be dismissed as early as noon. Have an alternative plan for your child’s day already set.
- Supervision: is your child responsible enough to be home alone, or do they need someone to stay with?
- Healthy Food: is there nutritious food available for your child to eat for breakfast and lunch?
- Safe Location: if classes are dismissed early, does your child go home or to another location? If your child is under the age of 8, will there be someone to meet them at the bus stop?
- Engaging Activities: what safe activities do you have for your child to do if they are at home for an unexpected amount of time?
Frequently Asked Questions about CCS weather and school cancellation process.
Flyer in alternate languages: Arabic | French | Nepali | Somali | Spanish
Winter Warming Stations
December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
HOMELESS HOTLINE
614-274-7000
For anyone in need of shelter.
FOOD LINE
614-341-2282
Monday–Friday 8am – 4pm.
MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH SYSTEM
614-512-2483
Warming Centers or community members can contact Mount Carmel Outreach Program for follow‐up with someone you are concerned about who is outside this winter, or at a daytime warming center and needs additional support.
Anyone in need of emergency shelter can call the Homeless Hotline; there is no need to contact Mount Carmel prior to calling the Hotline.
To get help or give help with other community resources, call 2-1-1.
Valleyview Contact Information
Phone: (614) 365-6312
Attendance Email: attendance.valleyview@columbus.k12.oh.us
School Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Valleyview Elementary School
2989 Valleyview Drive
Columbus, OH 43204