Our students and teachers are starting second quarter off strong!  Routines are in place and we're focused on academic and social growth for ALL students at school.  Establishing routines at home can be beneficial also.  After school clubs, sports, and practices can make getting into a homework "groove" tough.  But building patterns and making sure your child has everything completed each night will help him or her thrive.  Sleep also plays a huge role in helping children focus in school.  Developing a consistent sleep routine will enhance your child's ability to be successful in their academics.  The teachers & staff members at Miami Whitewater are lucky to have your support.  This is vital as we continue to guide your children to do their best!

Grandparents/Special Friends Days – Miami Whitewater Elementary will be hosting grandparents or special friends in November!  All guests will meet in the cafeteria then rotate through stations around the school and enjoy refreshments.  Here is the schedule:

• November 2 from 9:30-10:30 – AM Kindergarten (Beasley & Midei) & 4^th grade
• November 2 from 1:00-2:00 – 5^th grade
• November 3 from 9:30-10:30 – 2^nd grade
• November 3 from 1:00 – 2:00 – 3^rd grade
• November 4 from 9:30-10:30 – Kindergarten Kober & 1^st grade
• November 4 from 1:00-2:00 – Kindergarten Ard & PM Kindergarten (Midei)

Each teacher sent home grandparents/special friends invitations and RSVP forms.  Please email your kiddos’ teacher if you have not received this yet. We appreciate PTO for providing refreshments for Grandparents/Special Friends days!   We understand that this may be emotional for families who have suffered recent loss, or don't have grandparents living nearby.  Please reach out to Mrs. Gieringer, our school counselor, if your child needs support early in November.  We can also have teacher's aides or administrators accompany your child if they don't have a special friend or grandparent to join them.

Student grades and report card access - First quarter report cards will be available in Progress Book on November 4th.  To access Progress Book login information, login to Final Forms https://southwestharrison-oh.finalforms.com and click on: Student/Parent Access Codes. All the information you need to create or access your account is here. If you are having any issues email parentaccess@southwestschools.org .

PBIS Character Trait of the Month – Our character trait for the month of November will be GRATITUDE.  Parents and guardians can teach gratitude at home by helping children look at situations from a point of appreciation rather than a deficit.  Say, "please" and "thank you".  Help someone less fortunate.  Share gratitude and what you're thankful for at the dinner table or during your bedtime routine.  Remind your children to always look for the positive!  

Mobile Dental Van - The Mobile Dentist is coming to Miami Whitewater Elementary November 2, 3, & 4.   Permission slips were sent home first quarter. Our in-school dental program saves you time and provides a safe and comfortable place for your child to receive gentle dental care from licensed local professionals. Dental care includes a complete dental exam, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride, and sealants when necessary, and in some cases, restorative care such as fillings. Even better, dental care is usually at no cost to you. All insurance is accepted including Medicaid and CHIP. For those without insurance, a low-cost self-pay option is available. Return the permission slip to school or sign up online at: https://www.myschooldentist.com/HGSLOH_sch 

Veteran's Day Celebrations - MWE will have two opportunities to recognize and honor our Veterans this year, a parade and a program! Both the parade and program will be held on Thursday, November 10th. The first part will be a Veterans Recognition Car Parade which will be held at the conclusion of the Harrison High School Veterans Day Assembly around 10:00 a.m.  The Veterans leaving the assembly and the Veterans from the Junior School and MWE will be led over from the Activity Center by one of the school resource officers to be recognized for their service to our country. Our students will hold and wave patriotic flags on the parade route along our carpool lane and the blacktop lot between MWE and Harrison Junior School.  Click here for a detailed map of the parade route: 2022 Veteran's Day parade route MWE/HJS The parade will be live streaming on our PTO's Facebook page.  The Veterans Day program will be in our cafe/gym at 2:00pm on November 10th.  Students are encouraged to invite a family member or friend who has served in the US Armed Forces to join us as a special guest at the assembly/program.  Please remind your child to wear patriotic colors on Nov. 10th.  

Cold & Flu season - With the upcoming cold and flu season upon us, please remember to keep students home when sick to help prevent spread. Students must be free of fevers, vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours, without the use of medication, before returning to school. Please contact the school office if your student will be out sick. Lets stay healthy and safe this winter!

Arrival Time - If your child is a car rider, please do not allow them to get out of the vehicle until 8:40.  That's when the front doors are unlocked for arrival and teachers are in classrooms to supervise children.  It's getting chilly in the mornings & children can not enter the building until 8:40am unless they are in 4th & 5th grade and serving on Safety Patrol.

PTO Update -  PTO will be meeting on November 1, 2022 at 6:30 in the cafeteria.  If you ordered spirit wear, supply issues are delaying the orders a bit.  We should have the orders at school by the end of October.  

Weber's Pumpkin Festival Straw Maze -  Our straw maze at Weber's Pumpkin Festival was a huge success this year!  Thanks to Mrs. Lori Guilfoyle and her parents, The Brickners, we raised over $4,000 profit in just two days.  Several teachers, parents, guardians, and students helped build/break down the maze and work the booth during Pumpkin Fest.  The team effort is greatly appreciated!

Harrison Library - There is a lot happening at the Harrison Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library in November.  You can read more about November events and classes HERE .

Third Grade Fall Reading OST & Third Grade Reading Guarantee-  Our third grade students are taking the OST Fall Reading Assessment this week.  Ohio's Third Grade Reading Guarantee is in the Ohio Revised Code to identify students from kindergarten through grade 3 who are behind in reading. Miami Whitewater Elementary provides help and support through MTSS/RTi/Skill Building to make sure students are on track for reading success by the end of third grade. The state of Ohio provides policy guidance, instructional tools and resources on the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.  Click HERE for parent roadmaps to help you navigate the primary grades.  Please understand that the fall administration of the OST Reading Assessment is only the first of many attempts for third graders to meet the promotion requirements set by the state of Ohio.  They will take the Reading assessment again in the spring.  Third graders need a promo score of 685 to be eligible for promotion to 4th grade.  The Reading subscore alternative assessment score for the ELA test is 47 this year.  Any student who scores 47 or higher on the reading subscore will be eligible for promotion to fourth grade at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, even if the student scores below 685 on Ohio’s State Test for grade 3 English Language Arts.  Students can also score a 195 on the winter or spring NWEA MAP Reading assessment and we can use that as a standardized assessment for students to demonstrate an acceptable level of Reading performance to be promoted to 4th grade.  If you have any additional questions about early literacy, the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, or our efforts to provide interventions and/or enrichment for every child please email Mrs. Neckel at mia.neckel@southwestschools.org.  

Haunted House - The Harrison HS Drama Department is hosting a haunted house at the community center October 29th.  For more information on the "Twisted Fairytale" haunted house, click HERE .

River's Edge & Soccer City- There are two locations close to Harrison for your kiddos to play indoor sports this winter.  Please click the INDOOR SPORTS BROCHURE for more information.

Halloween Party – Temps are dropping & fall is here!  That means our first celebration of the year is coming… MWE Halloween Parade & Party Day!  In order for our little ghosts and goblins to have an amazing party experience on Oct. 31 at Miami Whitewater Elementary, please keep the following in mind:

• Each homeroom will have five volunteers helping with games, snacks, and crafts at the party.  PTO helped coordinate the volunteer list in advance with our teachers by hanging lists at Open House.  All parents and guardians who are volunteering should have already come to school to complete a quick background check with the secretaries by Oct. 20^th with a valid driver’s license.  No additional visitors will be allowed to go to classrooms tomorrow during party time.  We are encouraging our teachers and staff to park in the Junior School lot next door or in the green barn lot to keep the front lot open for our parent and guardian volunteers on Oct. 31.  Parents need to park out front and not in the side bus lot, as the Junior School busses will be coming for dismissal during the parties and we can't block bus traffic.  Please do not park in the landscaping or grass. 
• Party volunteers are welcome to arrive at 1:45 and need to bring a photo ID when checking in.  We'll send party volunteers to classrooms at 2:00pm.  
• Costumes need to be appropriate for school.  We do not allow face paint, weapons, blood, or violence of any kind.  Students in full-day Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 grade should pack their costumes and not wear them to school.
• AM Kindergarten parties begin at 10:45am.  AM & PM half-day Kindergarten students can wear their costumes to school.  AM Kindergarten students will parade through the school before their parties begin.
• Parties for students who attend school all day will begin at 2:30 after the parade ends.
• Our annual Halloween parade will begin at 2:00pm.  All full-day Kindergarten, PM Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students will parade through the intermediate hallways, cafeteria, and gym.  4th and 5th grade students will be the parade audience.  Parents and guardians who are not helping at the party who wish to watch the parade can come to school between 1:50-2:00 to watch the parade from the seats in the cafeteria & be asked to leave after the parade.
• All treats and baked goods should be individually wrapped and packaged.  This keeps our kiddos safe and healthy & is aligned to our SLSD wellness policy.
• All parties will be wrapped up by 3:30!  If your child is going home a different way (ex. Aunt Heather is volunteering in the room next door for the party so she's taking your kids home also...) we need to know in advance.  The secretaries will also be taking car tag numbers down as parents and volunteers check-in for parties.  That way, the numbers can be entered in advance and are ready at dismissal time.
• Thanks in advance for helping our young wildcats celebrate Halloween in a fun and exciting way!

Communication – We pride ourselves in consistent and clear communication! 

District-

• The Southwest Local School District sends parent & guardian email using School Messenger (make sure your Final Forms are complete to be connected to School Messenger)
• SLSD website www.southwestschools.org
•  Facebook = Southwest Local Schools
•  Twitter = @SouthwestLocal

School-

• Principal- Mrs. Neckel sends parent and guardian emails at least twice a month using School Messenger (make sure your Final Forms are complete to be connected to School Messenger)
• MWE website https://www.southwestschools.org/miami-whitewater-elementary-school/
• Facebook = Miami Whitewater Elementary
• Twitter = @SLSDMWE

Teachers- Progress Book, weekly newsletters, family emails, educational apps (Dojo, Class Tag, etc.)

Upcoming Dates:

October

24-28           3^rd grade Reading OST Assessment week

28                 October Wildcat Walk

31                 Halloween Parade & Party Day

November

1                   PBIS Assembly - GRATITUDE

1                   PTO meeting - 6:30pm in cafeteria

2, 3, & 4    Grandparents/Special Friends Days

2, 3 & 4      Dental Van

8                  Election Day/Teacher Inservice – No school for students

 10               Veteran’s Day Parade (10:00am)

10                Veteran's Day Ceremony (2:00)

11                Veteran's Day- No School

14-18          InView Gifted assessments (all students in grades 2 & 5)

17               SLSD Board of Education meeting 7:00

23                 Conference Release Day- No School

24-25          Thanksgiving Break- No School

December

1                 PBIS Assembly - EMPATHY

3                 PTO Saturday with Santa event!

5 - 9           SLSD & Harrison Mayor's Fund Community Canned food & Clothing Drive

12              Winter Holiday Extravaganza assemblies

14               1st & 2nd grade Holiday Musical

15                Winter Holiday Parties

16               End of first semester - No School for Students

January 

3                School Reopens