Welcome back, Wildcats!  Summer vacation has given everyone at Miami Whitewater Elementary the opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge so we can be even better for your kids this school year.  I am thankful that you put your trust in our teachers and staff members to take excellent care of your most prized possession.  Have confidence and faith that your child’s safety and wellness is our top priority! 

I am thrilled to lead our teachers and support staff in growing your child academically, socially, and emotionally.  Education and working with children is my passion!  As the parent of two children, I recognize the importance of a strong home-school connection.  Parents and guardians are every child’s first teacher and I believe that by working together, we can make sure that your child’s needs are met.  It’s exciting to see children through their parent’s eyes, so please understand that my office door will be open and I welcome visitors at any time! 

When you meet your child’s teacher next week, be sure to share your gratitude.  Elementary teachers, staff members, and counselors are a different breed – in a good way!  Our school is bright, inviting, and decorated top to bottom.  I guarantee if you have driven by school the last 3-4 weeks, you would find multiple cars in the parking lot.  Our Miami Whitewater Teachers and staff members are tirelessly working “off the clock” to perfect every little detail so that your child has a wonderful school year.  We’re lucky to have incredible grown-ups who are ready to welcome your kiddo to their new “school home”!

“Back-to-School” time is so exciting!  There are several updates and lots of information for you below.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the school office (513) 367-5577.

Final Forms - It's time to update your student's Final Forms information for the 2023-2024 school year! This process must be done every school year. 

1. Go to: https://southwestharrison-oh.finalforms.com/
2. Login as a Parent.
3. Complete all the Final Forms.
4. Please note, if your child attended school in our district last year, the 2022-23 info. will auto-populate in Final Forms. Review, confirm, or update, then sign.   

Food Service Update – Families who would like to see if their student qualifies for free or reduced meal prices based on the household income of all family members need to complete and submit a Free/Reduced Meal Application for the 2023-24 School Year.  This window for applications is open now and will remain open for all families to complete prior to the start of the school year.  Please click https://mealapp.lunchtimesoftware.net/  for the online application or you can pick up a paper application in the Miami Whitewater Elementary office, fill it out, and return it to school.

Does your child have allergies or special dietary needs?  Please make sure this information is updated in Final Forms and notify Nurse Simpson as well so we can be prepared at barb.simpson@southwestschools.org.

School Hours – Arrival begins at 8:40am and the school day officially starts at 9:10am when the tardy bell rings.  Breakfast is available for purchase starting at 8:40 in the café.  Breakfast is not grant-funded or free this year.  Afternoon announcements and dismissal begin at 3:40pm.  Our office staff is available starting at 7:30am if you are in need of assistance before students arrive.

Summer Reading – During the last couple of weeks of summer, please continue to enjoy some special reading time with your child. Just twenty minutes of reading each day will help your child maintain acquired skills and can have a great impact on his/her success in the upcoming school year. To help you continue summer reading adventures, here are some tips:

• Set the stage for pleasure-reading by choosing a quiet time and location.
• Participate in Scholastic's new Reading program, "Home Base".  Each child will need to set up a “home base” account to help log their reading time.  This is not a fundraiser but a way to keep kids engaged with reading over the summer.  You can find more information here:  https://www.scholastic.com/site/summer-reading.html
• Don’t forget the value of read-alouds; children love to have adults read to them, and an engaging chapter book is a great treat for a parent and child to share.
• Check the Harrison Public Library’s schedule of reading-related activities and events: https://chpl.org/locations/HA/

Kindergarten Boot Camp – A special welcome to our youngest wildcats, the Harrison HS graduating class of 2036!  Don’t worry, Parents & Guardians, we are experts at making your kindergarten child’s transition to school as smooth as possible.  All incoming Kindergarten students are required to be screened for Kindergarten readiness.  This week, Kindergarten Boot Camp included early numeracy, early literacy, and fine motor skills assessments.  If you have a child in Kindergarten this year, and he/she did not come to Boot Camp earlier this week, please call the office to schedule an appointment for Aug. 7^th between 9-12:00. 

Kindergarten Phase-In – In order to help our Kinders learn routines, receive more 1:1 attention from the teachers & ParaProfessionals, and transition smoothly to school, we will have phase-in days for all Kindergarten students.  All students with last names beginning with A-L will start school on August 15.  The other half, students with last names that begin with M-Z will start school on August 16.  All Kindergarten students will attend school together starting Aug. 17^th.  All Kindergarten students who are car riders enter and exit the classroom for arrival and dismissal through the classroom exterior door.  Parents and guardians should walk the student to the door, where you will be greeted by the teacher.  

New MWE Teachers & Staff Members – Miami Whitewater Elementary has several new teachers and staff members this year.  Please help us welcome the following family members:

• Mrs. Crystal Mumfrey – AM Kindergarten Teacher
• Mrs. Ashley Jackson – Second Grade Teacher
• Mrs. Kristie Herald – Intervention Specialist
• Mrs. Vicki Kinney – Intervention Specialist
• Mrs. Suzanne Wesling – Intervention Specialist
• Mrs. Rose Zix – ParaProfessional I
• Mrs. Jaci Gill – Assistant Pupil Services Director (Elementary Special Education Coordinator)

SchoolSAFE ID & New Dismissal Procedures– Miami Whitewater Elementary is partnering with SchoolSAFE ID again this year to make our dismissal procedures safer and more efficient for car riders.  More information and a welcome letter will be sent out in a separate email from Mr. Kelly.  Families will all receive new tags and numbers this year.  Please get rid of your green backpack tags and hang tags.  All vehicles pulling into the lot at dismissal will have a yellow hang tag with a number that matches your child’s backpack tag (grades 1-5 only).  As a reminder, all cars should enter at our main entrance and should not pull into the bus lot between MWE & Harrison Junior School.  This presents a safety hazard for our students.   If you have any questions about SchoolSAFE ID, please contact Mr. Kelly at dave.kelly@southwestschools.org.

Class Lists – Class lists will be posted on the front and back doors of school at 11:00am on August 4^th.  If your child owes school fees from previous school years, his or her name will not be on a class list for the 2023-24 school year.  Parents and guardians also need to make sure all information is updated and submitted in Final Forms in order for the child’s name to be added to a class list.  We will have office staff available to help with online Final Form completion and to accept school fees from 7:00am-2:00pm Aug. 3 & 4.  Additional district office personnel will be on hand Friday to support parents and guardians as well.

PTO - We are looking forward to the upcoming school year! We will have a table at Open House with give-aways, please stop by and join! There is a QR code HERE  that will link you to Membership Toolkit.  Our goal is to have 100% of our families join PTO this year.  We will kick off Mumkin sales once again, look for info coming home the first week of school. Please follow us on Facebook (Miami Whitewater PTO) for updates and information and look for our PTO updates in the school email blasts. Meetings are in the ELA space near Kindergarten on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30 starting in September and we are always happy to see new faces and would love for you to join us! 

School Supplies – School supply lists by grade level for the 2023-24 school year can be found on our website https://www.southwestschools.org/media/miamiwhitewater/Supply%20List%20MWE%2023-24.pdf

Open House – Open House will be August 10^th from 5:00-6:30.  Full-Day Kindergarten & Mrs. Mumfrey’s AM Kdg. parent/guardian orientation will start at 4:30pm before Open House.  If your child is in Mrs. Kober’s AM or PM Kindergarten class, she will have Open House/Meet the Teacher on August 14, 2023 at 4:30pm.  Mrs. Kober will not be at Open House on Aug. 10.  Please do not enter the academic wing on Aug. 10^th and visit classrooms before 5:00 if your child is in grades 1-5.  Teachers will not be ready to welcome you quite yet. We will have several tables set up in the café for PTO membership, SLSD transportation, Scouts, SLSD tech support, MWE raffle basket, and a sweet snack!  SchoolSAFE ID tags should be available for pick-up at Open House on your child’s desk and in the office as well.

SLSD Core Values – Our Southwest Local School District core values are – Trust, Respect, Ownership, & Leadership.   As we continue to grow as a Miami Whitewater family, I challenge all our students, teachers, staff, family members, and community to help elevate our wildcats this school year with the goal of focusing on being leaders, taking ownership, respecting one another, and being trustworthy.  Our PBIS (Positive Behavior Support & Intervention) program highlights character traits and our core values at school while celebrating each of our successes. This school year, we will continue to improve our PBIS program and teach our students the expected behaviors across all school settings. We will kick things off in a school-wide assembly on August 18^th by reviewing and teaching our students how to treat each other and our beautiful new school building with care and respect!

Social Media - Follow us on social media to see how our Wildcats #FindYourGreatness this year and see how we show our WILDCAT PRIDE!

Twitter – @SLSDMWE

Facebook – Miami Whitewater Elementary

Instagram –  slsdmwe

MWE Website - mwes.southwestschools.org 

Upcoming Dates:

8/4/23 – Class Lists posted at 11:00am (on front & back doors)

8/7/23 – Kindergarten Boot Camp make-up day (9:00-noon)

8/8/23 – SLSD State of the Schools 7:00pm at the Activity Center

8/10/23 – Full-Day Kdg. (Mrs. Ard & Mrs. Beasley) & Mrs. Mumfrey’s AM Kdg. Parent/Guardian Orientation 4:30

8/10/23 – Open House 5:00pm

8/10/23 – PTO spirit wear sale begins

8/14/23 – Mrs. Kober’s AM & PM Kindergarten Open House & Orientation 4:30

8/15/23 – SLSD First Day of SCHOOL!

A final word to our young wildcats: I am so honored to be your principal; you make me proud to be a Miami Whitewater Elementary Wildcat.  You keep me laughing and young at heart.  I am grateful for your joy, astute insights, wonderful character, and amazing talents.  Until school starts on August 15, here’s wishing you love, laughter, and learning in the bright summer sunshine!