355 Liberty Street, Delaware OH 43015

Phone: (740) 833-1350 Fax: (740) 833-1399

Rochelle Thompson, Principal

August 1, 2013

Dear Smith Families,

Welcome to the 2013-14 school year! On behalf of the Smith School Staff, we look forward to a remarkable school year. Here are a few items to note:

SCHOOL HOURS

School Age Child-Care (SACC) is available from 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

School Breakfast begins at 8:15 a.m.

School bell rings at 8:35 a.m. for all students to walk to their classrooms and the bell rings at 8:45 a.m. to begin school.

Dismissal bell is 3:00 p.m.

OFFICE HOURS – 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

PARENT COMMUNICATION

There are several ways to receive information about events at Smith School and Delaware City Schools. Please check out the following:

  1. District website –
  2. Smith School website – Click on the Schools tool bar on the Delaware City Schools website. School events and dates are posted for your information.
  3. To join our Smith e-mail list, please click on the Join Our E-mail list on the home page of the Smith website. It’s an opportunity to receive Smith School Newsletters electronically.
  4. Classroom newsletters – Look for information in your child’s bookbag from their classroom teachers related to specific classroom events and expectations.
  5. Smith School telephone number – If you have any questions, please contact our school office at 740 833-1350.
  6. Hard copies of Smith Newsletters are sent home for those families who choose not to receive an electronic version.

MORNING ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL - TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES

  1. Liberty Street student drop-off (front of Smith School) --- This is a continuous drop-off area each morning between the times of 8:20 – 8:45. It is suggested that you pull up to the curb, let your child out, and then continue forward to let the next vehicle drop off their child. There is no parking permitted on Liberty Street, Mason Avenue, and Heffner Streen within the school zones. Students stand in lines according to Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade and Fourth Grade until the doors open at 8:35 a.m.
  2. At dismissal, we recommend that you park, pick-up your child, then leave in a timely manner to accommodate other parents. It is congested at the end of the day, so we please ask for your patience so that all students and family members remain safe.
  3. DISMISSAL ROUTINE – At all times, we work to ensure the safety of our students. If there is a change in your child’s normal dismissal routine on a given day, please contact the office prior to 1:00 or send a written note. It is always helpful to double check with us by calling to indicate a change in transportation.
  4. Questions regarding bus transportation can be directed at 740 833-1650.

ABSENCES - Please call the school office at 740 833-1350 when your child will be absent from school. You may leave a voicemail prior to the start of school or call the office by 9:15 a.m.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH - Breakfast is available to all students starting at 8:15 a.m. The cost is $1.50. The lunch cost for elementary students is $2.50. Please refer to information on the Delaware City Schools website. Refer to the Site Shortcuts on the left hand side of the DCS home page – School Lunches. Paper copies of information will be sent home with each child related to School Meals and Parent Access to Lunch Account Payment On-Line.

Smith School Lunch and Recess Times

Kindergarten Lunch: 11:15-11:30Recess: 11:30-12:00

First Grade Lunch: 11:30-11:45Recess: 11:45-12:15

Second Grade Lunch: 11:45-12:00Recess: 12:00-12:30

Third Grade Lunch: 12:00-12:15Recess: 12:15-12:45

Fourth Grade Lunch: 12:15-12:30Recess: 12:30-1:00

Dates to Note:

August 12 – Back to School Social from 4:30 -6:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for students and families to visit classrooms and meet their child’s teacher. Information about Scouting opportunities, transportation, P.T.O., and School Age Childcare will also be available for families. This is an Open-House Event.

August 14 – First Day of School

August 26 – Kindergarten Curriculum Meeting: 5:30-6:00 p.m.

August 27 - First Grade Curriculum Meeting: 5:30-6:00 p.m.

August 28 – Second Grade Curriculum Meeting: 5:30-6:00 p.m.; School pictures for all students

August 29 – Third and Fourth Grade Curriculum Meetings: Grade 3 – 5:30-6:00 and Grade 4 – 6:00-6:30 p.m.

Curriculum meetings are for parents of students and are held in classrooms. It is an opportunity for teachers to share information about grade level curricula expectations and classroom procedures. Please plan to attend.

P.T.O. – Smith P.T.O. is a wonderful support to the students and staff at Smith School. It is a wonderful opportunity to support Smith School! Our P.T.O. Board consists of

Mrs. Tatman (President), Mrs. Recker (Vice President), Mrs. Hejmanowski (Treasurer), Ms. Summers (Secretary), Mrs. Chapman (Market Day) and Mrs. Rumbalski (Volunteer Coordinator). Mrs. Kerr is our Smith School Arts Integration Specialist and co-chair of the Smith School Student Art Show and Benefit Auction Event held in May.

September

September 2 – No School: Labor Day

September 5 – Smith Fall Carnival 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a fun-filled P.T.O. sponsored event for all Smith students and families. Details will follow.

September 13 – Interim Reports

September 19-20 – No School; Brown Jug Days

September 24 – First Grade Suzuki at Schultz Elementary at 4:30 p.m.

A Look Ahead at October

October 10 and 15th – Parent-Teacher Evening Conferences

October 17 – End of First Term

October 18 – No School for Students; District Professional Development Day

October 28 – Report Cards (Report Cards will be sent home with students.)

Smith Staff – Smith School welcomes the following new staff members:

Mrs. Bogard – Virtual Reading Teacher

Mrs. Braun – Second Grade Teacher

Mrs. Darst – Educational Assistant

Mrs. Kress – First Grade Teacher

Mrs. Long-Erickson – Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Mosley – School Psychologist

Mrs. Papa – Literacy Coach

Ms. Spicer – Educational Assistant

Smith Teaching Teams are as follows:

Kindergarten

Mrs. Long – Tuesday/Friday + Wednesday Morning Class

Mr. Terry – All Day Every Day Kindergarten Class

Ms. Tilden – Monday/Thursday+Wed. Afternoon and Tuesday/Friday+Wed. Morning Classes

First Grade - Mrs. Brandum, Mrs. Chiles, Mrs. Kress and Mrs. McCue

Second Grade - Mrs. Braun, Mrs. Keeran, Mrs. Keister, and Mrs. Wakefield

Third Grade - Mrs. Knutson, Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Titus

Fourth Grade - Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Holliday and Mrs. Myers

Intervention Specialists - Mrs. Guarnera, Mrs. Korte and Mrs. Niley

Reading - Mrs. Baker (Reading Recovery), Mrs. Papa (Literacy Coach) and Mrs. Bogard (Virtual Reading Club for students identified gifted in Reading for grades 3 and 4)

Gifted Math (Grades 3-4) – Ms. Day

Art – Mrs. Farrell

Music – Mrs. Rederstorff, Mrs. Stallard-4th Grade Strings

Physical Education – Mr. Church

Arts Integration Specialist – Mrs. Kerr

Educational Assistants – Mrs. Darst, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Rausch, Ms. Spicer

Office Staff – Mrs. Kanode, Administrative Assistant; Mrs. Loyer, Administrative Assistant; Mrs. Duffy, School Nurse; Ms. Irion (Guidance Counselor); Mr. Compton and Ms. Elliot, Custodial Staff, Mrs. Jackson, Library Specialist.

Food Services – Mrs. Carman and Mrs. Edwards

School Age Child-Care – Mrs. Murfield and Mrs. Strubler

Kindergarten School Age Childcare (K-SACC) – Mrs. Strubler

This year, our alternate day kindergarten classes are as follows:

Monday/Thursday and every Wednesday afternoon;

Tuesday/Friday and every Wednesday morning.

The Kindergarten School day is 8:45-3:00.

Monday/Thursday class plus school on Wednesday afternoon from 12:15 – 3:00.

Tuesday/Friday class plus Wednesday morning from 8:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Other info.

  1. Lunch is not served on Wednesday half day sessions.
  2. Kindergarten School Aged Childcare is offered for students who are in our Tuesday/Friday kindergarten class. This means, our children who are scheduled for kindergarten on Tuesday/Friday, kindergarten child-care will be offered on Monday/Thursday and Wednesday afternoons. The childcare instructor is Mrs. Strubler, classroom 5a.

Thank you for choosing Smith Elementary School for your child’s educational experience. We are excited to begin the year! If you have any questions, please contact me at 740 833-1350 or e-mail at .

Respectfully,

Rochelle Thompson, Principal