Week of November 23, 2020

Important Information Remember, no school for students November 23 - 27 (parent-teacher conferences and Thanksgiving break) Remote learning begins November 30 through the end of winter break. All students are eligible for free school meals (delivery or pick-up available during remote learning) through the end of the school year. No application or form to fill out. Email Diana Hill to be added to the list.

Report Cards  The first quarter report cards are now available to view online through PowerSchool.  Report card envelopes came home on Monday, November 16th.  Inside the envelope is a letter with a summary of the Ohio Learning Standards your child learned as well as your child’s MAP assessment report.   Your child’s teacher will discuss the MAP assessment as well as your child's progress during conferences on November 23rd and 24th.    Please remember to empty the report card envelope before you sign the envelope and send it back to school.

Scholastic Book Fair

You’re invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online from November 18th - November 26th! All purchases benefit our Gilles-Sweet PTA and connect kids with new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more. You’ll love the NEW option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy these special online shopping features: Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, and value packs All orders ship direct to home FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25* All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards Visit our Book Fair Homepage and click “Shop Now” to get started:  SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR   Happy reading, Gilles-Sweet PTA *Free standard shipping is available on book-only orders of $25 or more, after all discounts are applied. Free standard shipping (books) must be selected during checkout. Orders containing products other than books are not eligible for this shipping promotion.

Gilles-Sweet Giving Tree

Gilles-Sweet is collecting hats, mittens, and scarves for Fairview Park residents.  There will be a mitten tree in the GS Office for anyone who would like to donate.

Gilles-Sweet PTA - Have you joined?

The PTA has been hard at work trying to plan COVID-style events for this school year. We would like to thank everyone who has joined the PTA so far! We are using a site called Member Hub for our membership sign ups this year. The link to join is below. Please reach out to Maureen McDonald (moegroves716@yahoo.com) if you have any questions regarding membership or the PTA. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 2nd at 7pm. We will send out a Zoom link for the meeting closer to the meeting date. Thank you for all of your support of the Gilles Sweet PTA! MemberHub

Earn Box Tops with Digital Receipts

The Box Tops app is so easy to use.  If you are shopping online for groceries or get email receipts, you can still earn Box Tops for Gilles-Sweet.   1. Download the app on your phone.Box Tops 2. Choose our school: Gilles-Sweet Elementary. 3. Start scanning receipts to earn money for our school! Gilles-Sweet will still be collecting the old clipped Box Tops that have not expired.  Place the Box Tops in a small baggie and send to school with your child.  The Box Tops will then be collected from a PTA coordinator who then submits them.

News from the Counseling Department

Read the latest edition of the Counselor Advantage newsletter here.

Mental Health Resources Highlighted by OhioGuidestone

Under the leadership of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, OhioMHAS has ramped up state efforts to increase access to mental health and addiction services and promote helpful resources throughout the pandemic and is approaching the issue of social isolation from multiple angles. Earlier this year, the department established the COVID Careline – 1.800.720.9616 – to help meet the needs of Ohioans struggling with loneliness, isolation and other challenges resulting from the pandemic. OhioMHAS also launched the Strive For Five Challenge, a statewide awareness campaign to help individuals and families cope with feelings of stress, anxiety, and isolation by connecting with others.    OhioMHAS and its county partners continue to promote a variety of resources to help young people through these challenging times as well. The Hey I’m Here campaign is a youth-led online community that provides a safe digital space for young people to share their stories, offer encouragement to one-anther, and help peers find mental health resources. Meanwhile, the Be Present Ohio website offers resources for teens and young adults to learn how they can care for their mental health in stressful times, and it provides them with tips for talking to close friends, siblings and classmates who may be struggling emotionally.

InfoSnap & Emergency Contact Information Update

If you haven’t updated your contact information and emergency contacts on InfoSnap, please do so. For your student’s safety it is important that Gilles-Sweet have your most current contact information. Log onto your PowerSchool Parent Portal. PowerSchool From there click the tiny box with an arrow in it on the top right corner. Click on Returning Student Registration. You will be asked to type in your student’s birthday before you can begin. Please call the office at 440-356-3525 if you have questions.

Student Fees

School fees have been applied to your student’s PowerSchool account. Fees this year are $70.50 for all 1st and 2nd graders. Fees for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are $73.50. These student fees are for Technology Insurance, Technology Licenses and Everyday Math workbooks. A check can be sent to Gilles-Sweet (made out to Fairview Park City Schools) for your students school fees. They can also be paid online through the PayForIt Program link on www.fairviewparkschools.org or at www.PayForIt.net. Cash cannot be accepted. Please call the school office at 440.356.3525 with questions.

Family and Community Engagement

Thank you for being such awesome families and for being patient and flexible during all that we are going through!!!  Since Parent Universities are very different this year, however, I am continuing to locate resources for parents on a variety of different topics.  This week I am highlighting three different programs available to all families: 1) Improbable Players - they have 2 upcoming performances that will be zoomed.  The links and dates are enclosed.  Both would be a great experience for the family to watch together and have great discussions after. Grades 6-12 2) Bellefaire's School-Based Counseling Program Presents: all ages -  A Free Virtual Parent Support Series (open to parents and school personnel) Managing Your Child's Risky Behavior Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM Zoom