Musketeer News Aug_ 2012.pdf - Monfort Heights Elementary

Musketeer News 

From the keyboard of Principal Estabrook– destabrook@nwlsd.org 

At Monfort Heights, we come to school ready to learn, listen and achieve. 

By creating an environment where students like who they are, and look forward to who they will become, 

they will be able to shine like the brightest stars 

Where Learning Is Always Fun 

Welcome to the 2012-13 school year. Our team of parents, staff, and students 

worked hard to accomplish another year of earning an EXCELLENT rating on the State 

Report Card. We hope you were able to attend the Open House Monday and visit the 

tables at our PTA Community Night. We thank our business partner Kiwanis for cooking 

and serving hundreds of hot dogs. We encourage you to join our PTA. The money goes 

right back to our students by purchasing supplies for the classroom, supporting assemblies, 

maintaining our laptop carts by replacing old and purchasing new batteries, and this year purchasing 

ipads! PTA also needs volunteers. We know many of you are busy outside and inside the home, but a 

few hours are all that is needed. Look for information in your child’s backpack. 

Staff News: Our enrollment is 645 and changing daily. We have new staff: Ms. Susan 

Peveler, from WOM- Assistant to, Teacher Coach, and second grade math (Mr. Lohbeck is 

at Colerain Elementary), Mrs. Julie Ardis- Kindergarten, (Mrs. Anne Demmel is teaching 

first grade this year), Ms. Tiia Konsen and Mrs. Kris Kremer- second grade, Mr. Zach 

Phelps- third grade, Mrs. LaDonna Stouder- Intervention Specialist, Ms. Heather Mees and 

Mrs. Angie Lorenz- tutors, Ms. Faith Rasmussen- school psychologist, Ms. Cathy Mills- custodian (Mr. 

Don Goins is going to NWHS, Ms. Viona Hafer- CEED, and Ms. Mary Helkamp and Mrs. Anne Stenger- 

teacher assistants. Our ALP assistant Mrs. Longo just took a teaching position at Mt. Healthy Prep 

Academy and her replacement is Mr. Tony Fehr. Mrs. Schneider will be teaching grade four and five 

ACCESS and grade four LA. Dr. Mackey will be teaching grade four social studies and grade five Math, 

Mrs. Fricke will be teaching grade four science and LA. 

Due to budget reductions, our office and recess assistants, Kathy Lawson and Tammy Hoffman were 

reassigned to other buildings and duties. We ask for your patience when requesting help or calling the 

office. Mrs. Gerry Selvaggio will be working with the new automated attendance and doing recess duty. 

Mrs. Janice Chapman will be juggling all the other duties. 

KEEP INFORMED 

� SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL EMAILS. Go to www.nwlsd.org; look on the bottom for sign up for MHE 

email. 

� CHECK THE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR 2012-2013 MHE AND DISTRICT POLICIES. (It 

is also on the website.) Please read the section on class parties, page 9. Class parties are for the 

students. Your room parent(s) will inform you of any supplies that are needed. Also, a reminder 

that classroom treats must be store bought, with the label attached. Many of our Musketeers have 

food allergies and we need to assure their safety. I noticed that last year more parents sent in 

candy or a novelty item. 

� Sign up for text and/or email messages DISTRICT ALERTS. Parents have the opportunity to 

register for the public lists. These include 1) school closing and delays and 2) individual school 

announcements. (There are also moderated lists that are restricted to staff members. Please do not 

attempt to register for these).

To receive messages, follow these steps to enroll: 

1. Go to www.ohioalerts.org/NWLSD 

2. Click subscribe 

3. Enter your information 

4. Select the lists that you want – NWLSD closings and individual school messages are available 

5. Select text or email – (you can only register for one method at a time) 

6. Enter your number and carrier or your email address 

7. Type the code word found on the page 

8. Check you are over 13 

9. Submit 

10. You will receive a message saying you are subscribed. 

Want both an email and text? Go back and enter the info for the second method. 

� Students in grades 2-5 receive student planners. Check these daily for notes from the teacher 

and homework assignments. 

� Parents of students in grades three, four, and five will receive information on signing up for 

Progress Book to view on line grades. Go to the district web page- parent info. Students in grades 

3-5 will receive information at the beginning of the school year. You can use previous log in 

account and password information. This is a great way to keep track of your child’s progress. 

� Check our MHE website for calendar and event updates and students of the week. 

Voter Registration materials are available in the front office. We will also send completed 

forms in for you. 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: For the safety of our students: drop your child 

off at the turn around on West Fork or at the base of the steps leading to the 

playground from SAMs. The front driveway is for buses and day care vans 

only. Students may come in the building at 8:50. We will not have supervision 

until that time. You must wait with your child if you are arriving before 8:50. 

You may pick your child up on the playground at 3:35. Park your car at SAMS 

and meet your child on the playground. For safety reasons, we will not dismiss a child unsupervised to 

the parking lot. Day care vans pick up in the turn around on West Fork and we will not dismiss anyone to 

the parking lot during bus dismissal. Thank you for helping us to keep your children safe. 

We can use donations of hand sanitizer: Member’s Mark or Purell. 

We also need little girl’s clothing. 

School districts could apply for WAIVER DAYS from the Ohio Department of 

Education to address staff development in new evaluation procedures that rate 

teachers and administration to include 50% effective instruction and 50% on 

student performance. Students will not attend school on: 

September 14, October12, December 7, and May 14. 

This is part of Race to the Top education reform.

Monfort Heights Elementary PTA prides itself in supporting our students and 

staff. Be a part in helping us! Below is a list of upcoming/ongoing opportunities 

in which you can volunteer and/or participate. More information about each of 

these will be coming home soon. You can sign up to help in these and any areas 

of the PTA throughout the year by completing and returning the “Outreach” 

form, also coming home soon. Please take advantage of as many of the following opportunities as you can. Your 

time and participation will benefit your child(ren), and our school will be a better place for it! 

� Go for the GOLD! Purchase your membership today and join the MHE PTA as we "GO FOR THE 

GOLD" through the journey of your child's education. You will also receive a FREE Directory in the 

fall with parent contact info, important dates and school information. DUES: $6.00 per membership/ 

$10.00 per family. Everybody is welcome to join! Parents, grandparents, friends, and members of the 

Monfort Heights community. The top 3 winning classrooms will win a pizza party! EACH PERSON 

WHO SIGNS UP GETS A CHANCE TO WIN A $25.OO GIFT CARD TO PF Chang’s! 

� Cafeteria volunteers are needed during lunch hours (11:35 - 1:15). This fun volunteer opportunity 

would entail selling snacks to the students and possibly serving in the food line. We need YOU! Please 

contact Shari Heflin at shari09@fuse.net or 520-4456 with your name, phone #, child's name & 

homeroom#, and the preferred day(s) you would like to work (i.e. every 3rd Thursday or every 

Monday), or complete the “Outreach” form and check cafeteria volunteer. 

� Our Kroger Reward Program is up and running! PLEASE take advantage of this EaSy way to raise 

funds for your school. Simply sign up online with the code provided (80378) on the informational 

sheet being sent home soon and shop! When checking out, simply use your Kroger plus card number 

you’ve always used, or your phone number associated with your plus card, and MHE will get a portion 

of what you’ve spent! EACH PERSON WHO SENDS IN PROOF OF REGISTRATION HAS A 

CHANCE TO WIN A $25.00 GIFT CARD TO KROGER! 

� Library Volunteers Needed!! Take this wonderful opportunity to volunteer at the school library with 

your child's class. Just a couple hours out of your day once a month, or however often you’d like to 

volunteer, to stay involved with your child. Please contact Kim Margeson at kmargeson3@gmail.com, 

or call 582.0904 or complete the “Outreach” form. 

� Would you like to volunteer in your child’s classroom and have lots of fun at the same time? Become a 

Room Representative! You will plan and attend holiday parties throughout the school year. Sign up on 

the Outreach form. An informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 20 th at 7:00 p.m. 

� Please start collecting BoxTops and Labels for Education, if you haven’t already begun! Collection 

dates will be later in the year, but start collecting now! The top collecting homeroom will earn a treat!

� Fall fundraiser begins Tuesday, September 4 th ! Please help raise money for technology, supplies, and 

programs for your child and MHE by participating. All funds, as with any PTA monies, go directly to 

supporting the education of your child!

Musketeer News Aug_ 2012.pdf - Monfort Heights Elementary

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