January 14, 2016 Pioneer News Follow us: @McVayElementary

Kiwanis Terrific Kids Program

Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, positive self-esteem, and MCVAY EL EMENTARY perseverance. Students work with their classroom teacher 270 S. HEMPSTEAD and establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, W ESTERVIL L E , OHIO 43081 attendance, or schoolwork. Students then work toward achieving the goal during a specific time period. The teachers Attendance -614-797-7227 and principal determine the best schedule for recognition. Some schools recognize Terrific Kids during each grading Fax - 614-797-7231 period. Other recognize students more often. At the end of the Main Office 614-797-7230 designated time period all students who achieved their goals are recognized as Terrific Kids. Recognition includes being SCOTT C. MAY - PRINCIPAL pinned as a Terrific Kid; a pizza, ice cream or other food themed party; and presentation of certificates, and other

SANDY SPOHN - SECRETARY giveaways. A Kiwanis-family club helps support the Terrific Kids program at the school. The club plans Terrific Kids parties, provides recognition, and establishes partnerships APRIL MCDAVID - CL ERK with local community businesses to secure support for the p r o gram. Sponsoring businesses have the option of providing coupons, giveaways, or food for Terrific Kid parties. The Our vi si on i s to be the Terrific Kids program provides teachers with a tool to reward benchm ar k of students for special achievements that may otherwise go educati onal excel l ence. unnoticed. ?Terrific? is an acronym representing the following: Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Our m i ssi on i s to Friendly, Inquisitive, and Capable. Though the Terrific Kids pr epar e students to program was designed as a school program, it also can be contr i bute to the adapted for use in community centers or other organizations com peti tive and that support youth. When used in this setting, a staff member changi ng wor l d i n steps in to serve in the teacher?s role. The staff member then whi ch we l ive. works with participants to set goals and monitors achievement. Kindergarten

2016-2017 KINDERGARTEN CLASS Kindergarten registration begins February 16, 2016. Kindergarten is required for children before entering first grade. If your child will be five years old on or before September 30, 2016, you may register him/her for kindergarten. Kindergarten 101 is a presentation by principals and Kindergarten Teachers and will be held on Tuesday February 9th and Thursday February 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Each Elementary building will host Kindergarten 101, with the same presentation being made at all sites. McVay's Kindergarten 101 will take place on February 11th at McVay (in the Atrium) beginning at 7:00 p.m. Kindergarten Informational Materials will be made available online. Hard copies will also be available at Kindergarten 101 Sessions. The Early Learning Center and the Enrollment Center will also have materials at their sites. Parents MUST Pre-Register online (which will inclue scheduling an appointment) before going to the Enrollment Center with the required documentation. In August, parent will receive aq letter from their child's sschool with an assigned date and time that their Kindergarten child is to report to school for Gentle Star. Gentle Start will take place druing August 17-19. Kindergarteners will attend school on one of those three days. All Kindergarten students will report to school on August 22, 2016. Applications will be available after 5:00 p.m. on February 10 and be available until midnight on April 8, 2016.

Word of the Month: The word of the month for January is Attitude, and today is Timely Tuesday. Being timely is a good way to show your positive attitude to yourself, and others. Focus on how you can help others have a positive attitude. Be ready for class when the bell rings. Help someone else get ready on time. Finish your work on time. Get to class on time. Get into a line quickly and silently. Finish breakfast and lunch promptly. Get your materials ready at the proper times. Show your PRIDE and your positive attitude by being timely and living your one word! Attitude is like a magnet, what you think is what you attract ?EARLY RELEASE? Days for Students

Improving student achievement is our Number #1 priority. In order to achieve this priority, Westerville City Schools will have four ?Early Release? days during the 2015-2016 school year for the purpose of staff professional development. These ?Early Release? days will focus on meeting the goals of the district?s and school?s continuous improvement plans. The Next Elementary school ?Early Release? day is: January 28, 2016. The elementary school student day will be shortened by one hour, with dismissal at 2:25 p.m. for students in grades p.m. K thru 5th Grade. Starting time and lunch for the day will NOT be affected. Morning kindergarten will NOT be affected by this change. Afternoon kindergarten will be held from 12:55 p.m. ? 2:30 p.m. Bus schedules for elementary school students will be one hour earlier for dismissal only. Information on the SACC program will be available from your site director. Teachers will participate in professional development activities beginning at 2:40 p.m. and ending at 4:25 p.m. Please mark your calendars with these changes in schedule for the elementary schools.

A TTENTION! Cold w eather is fast approaching us! Don?t forget that our children do not enter the building until 8:55 a.m. and they go outside for recess if the temperature is 20 degrees or above. M ak e sure they are w armly dressed w ith coats, hats and gloves and appropriate footw ear w ith sock s. If your child is on Safety Patrol they w ill w ork outside before and after school on these inclement days. Please have them dressed for the harsh, cold w eather. Cal endar Intr a-Di str i ct Open Enr ol l m ent January Intr a-Distr ict Open Enrollment applications ar e being 18th - Martin Luther King accepted for the 2016-2017 school year. The deadline for Day - No School applications for middle and high schools is Mar ch 15, 2016. For elementar y schools, the cut-off date is May 1, 2016. The progr am is coor dinated through the Deputy February Super intendant's Office for families w ho ar e enrolled full time in the Wester ville City School Distr ict. Par ents or 5th Interim Reports guar dians w ishing to have their childr en attend a differ ent 9th PTA Meeting, Art Room @ school from their home school of attendance must complete 7:00 p.m. and submit an Intr a-Distr ict open Enrollment application. 12th Valentine Parties @2:30 With this progr am, tr anspor tation to and from schol p.m. becomes the r esponsibility of the par ent. Par ents or 15th Presidents Day (No guar dians w ill be notified of the decision in w r iting . School) Application for ms ar e available at each school building; at the Wester ville City Schools Enrollment Center (300 Polar is Parkway, Suite 3200); at the Early Lear ning Center (936 Eastw ind Dr ive, Suite 200); or at w w w.w csoh.org, w her e March gener al guidelines can also be found. Please call (614) March 8 - PTA Meeting 797-5756 or email Jennifer Far r is at far r isj@w csoh.org w ith March 17 - Grade Cards any additional questions. March 25 thru April 1 - Spring Literacy Night at McVay Break Save the Date: Wednesday February 10th, 2016 Time: 6:30pm-8pm April April 12 - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 Why? Superhero Family Literacy Night p.m. in the Art Room Come explore literacy stations for all ages and enjoy a night April 19 - Interim Reports of fun creating your own superhero. We will have a number of activities to partake in, an author to read to us and share an awesome reading app and an opportunity to swap a book with a friend! Our school Book Fair will be going on that week and will be open that evening as well. Look for more information to come home as the date gets closer. From the office of the School Nurse

News from your School Nurse There have been several cases of strep throat this year. The following is information regarding strep throat. All symptoms may not be present. SYMPTOMS Fever Sore & red throat Pus buds on back of throat Tender and swollen glands of the neck TRANSMISSION Spread by direct contact with nose and throat secretions of infected person or carrier Indirect contact through objects or hands contaminated is rare TREATMENT Medication from a physician Exclusion from school ? A child remains contagious until 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy is completed Please report to the school if your child is diagnosed with strep throat. Be sure to finish recommended dosage as your antibiotics are prescribed.

In order to promote a safe and healthy environment for all, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises that people who have a f ev er, rash, sore t hroat , and / or red ey es, should refrain from visiting public places where a large number of people congregate. To encourage an environment of joyful active learners, McVay asks that students wait to come back to school when they are healthy enough to enjoy the creating, experimenting, and discovering experiences that school has to offer! What's for Lunch January 18th January 19th January 20th January 21st January 22nd Martin Luther King Walking Taco Cheezy Breaksticks Chicken Sticks Grilled Cheese Day - NO SCHOOL cheese, lettuce, salsa Marinara Sauce Cheez-It Crackers Tomato Soup Black Beans Broccoli Florets Starz Potatoes Oyster Crackers Grapes Orange Wedges Pineapple Tidbits Blue Raspberry Icee

January 25th January 26th January 27th January 28th January 29th Cheese Bosco Stix Turkey Hot Dog Pepperoni Pizza Chicken Drumstick Apple Cinnamon Texas Toast Marinara Sauce Sweet Potato Puffs Salad with Dressing Dinner Roll Yogurt Cup Baby Carrots Celery Sticks Cherry Tomatoes Baked Beans Tater Tots Pears Apple Slices Tropical Fruit Cauliflower Banana Craisins

2015-2016 Br eak fast/Lu n ch Pr i ces BREAK FAST $1.25 LUNCH $2.60 REDUCED LUNCH .40 EXTRA M ILK .60 Al ter n ate Choi ce l u n ch dai l y: Chef Sal ad w i th Tu r k ey Pr odu cts an d Cheese or Tu r k ey & Cheese San dw i ch Cafeter i a M an ager : Li n da Ni el d

Shoul d the need ar i se: you can apply for fr ee and/or r educed l unch ser vi ces onl i ne @ w w w.l unchappl i cati on.com Cal endar JANUARY 31st MCVAY PTA INFORMATION PTA Family Sw im Night at the Wester ville Community Center. Girls on the run online registration opens at 6am Mor e info to come soon. Monday February 8th. http://girlsontherunfranklincounty.org/registration/ FEBRUARY 9t h WCS Super intendent, Dr. Kellogg, w ill have a Q&A session pr ior to the PTA Meeting at 6:30-7:30 PM. The PTA meeting w ill begin immediately SAVE THE DATE! follow ing from 7:30-8 PM The ever-popular Summer Camp & Activities Expo is on Wednesday, March 9th at Westerville North HS from 5:30-7:30pm

DO YOU KNOW A VOLUNTEER, TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER WHO CONSISTENTLY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR STUDENTS AT MCVAY?

It?s that time of year to nominate someone for the GEM Award. GEM stands for Great Educator Mentors in Westerville Schools). The prestigious GEM Award is presented annually to one adult from each school building, as well as several district recipients, in recognition for going above and beyond for students in Westerville City Schools. Do you know a volunteer, teacher or staff member who consistently goes ?Above & Beyond? for the students at McVay? Nominate them for a GEM Award this year! Nominations are due Friday, February 5, 2016. If you would like to nominate someone for the GEM award, you can pick up a nomination form at the front office, or you can go to the WSNPTA website, click on GEM Award, and you can download a form to fill out. Recipients who won the GEM Award will be honored at a special Board of Education even in April. "http://teacherweb.com/OH/WSN/PTA/newsflash1.aspx" ?So when you're cold From the inside out And don't know what to do, Remember love and friendship, And warmth will come to you.?

? Stephen Cosgrove, Gnome from Nome

Inclement Weather?

School Closings and Delays The safety of our students and staff is the primary consideration in deciding to close or delay the start of school. If the need arises to close or delay school, notification will be made over local radio and television broadcasts including Radio 610 AM and WOCC TV channel 3, as well as other stations such as WCMH, WSYX, WBNS, WNCI, WSNY, WLVQ, WCOL and WTVN. You can also check their websites for school closures and delays. You can also sign up for text alerts @WCSOH.ORG It may also be necessary to delay the start of the school day by 1 or 2 hours. If school is delayed 1 hour, the busses will pick up students 1 hour later than usual, and school will start at 9:55 a.m. For a 2 hour delay, school will begin at 10:55 a.m. and the busses will pick children up 2 hours later than usual. Lunches will be served a little later than usual and we will follow our daily schedule. Please send a small snack with your child on the days that school is delayed. Dismissal will be at the regular time. Please listen to your radio and television for school closing information. Please do not call the school to find out if school is cancelled. You can also set up your Smart Phone or iPhone to send you notifications. If an early dismissal is necessary, it will be announced on the radio, television, websites and text alerts. We will follow the dismissal plan on your child?s emergency card. If you change those plans, please call the school and we will change your child?s emergency card information. . Planning ahead for such emergencies is important for your child. Make a plan with your child as to where they should go if school is delayed or dismissed early.

January 14, 2016 Bits & Pieces

YEARBOOK SALE AT MCVAY McVay News Januar y 25t h t hr u f ebr uar y 5t h

Reser ve your McVay year book now for only $15.00 each at book.hr imaging.com. Or der for ms w er e also sent home w ith your student. If you ar e in need of an or der for m, they can also be obtained from the school office. The ORDER KINDERGARTEN DEADLINE is FEBRUARY 5th. After that date, no mor e CONCERT or der s can be accepted in school office. Kindergarten Concert ? M ark Your Calendar Thursday, January 28 at 7:00 PM in the Westerville North High School Auditorium. We are very excited to announce the date for a combined M cVay and M ark Twain Kindergarten Year book Pictur e Day at McVay is Janaur y 22nd. This concert. We will hold the day w ill include candid shots of the childr en w hile concert at Westerville North lear ning and also social and educational clubs such as so there will be plenty of Safety Patrol and Reading Progr ams. good seating for all, even those with disabilities. All students will be expected to be there at 6:55 PM .