Fall has been packed with lots of fun activities and events at school!  

• Our 5th grade, 2nd grade, and Kindergarten students have welcomed their Grandparents & Special Friends to school throughout the month of October.  You can find the details for all other grades' Grandparents/Special Friends days here: Grandparents/Special Friends graphic .  Please remind your family members that parking is available in our main lot and also in the blacktop lot between Miami Whitewater Elementary and Harrison Junior School.  
• PTO sponsored the Cincinnati Museum Center on Wheels program in the gym this past Thursday & Friday.  Students visited multiple Science stations and learned more about forces of nature, animal adaptations, experimenting with physical science, and a dinosaur dig!  Thanks to PTO for bringing the excitement of the Cincinnati Museum Center to our school and making learning enjoyable!
• Miss Caitlin, the Harrison Children's Librarian, came to visit and share special fall stories with each homeroom.  Miss Caitlin is leaving her position at the public library, so this was her last visit to MWE.  We wish Miss Caitlin the best and will miss her entertaining songs and the way she reads with expression better than most!
• The fifth graders went on a STEAM educational adventure field trip on B & B Riverboats this week.
• 426 students earned our monthly PBIS "Poppin' with the Principal" incentive today!  Students enjoyed blow POP suckers and extra recess with Asst. Principal Mr. Kelly!
• Harrison High School senior student-athletes and band members helped us welcome students during arrival this morning in the carpool lane and bus lot.  Our young wildcats look up to these HS seniors as role models and leaders.  We're fortunate to be located near the high school so our elementary students can connect to secondary students throughout the school year!  Thanks to Mr. Pollitt, Mr. Niehaus, and Mr. Meibers for allowing the seniors to join us this morning.
• Mrs. Guilfoyle, the Brickner family, and the MWE PTO joined forces for our annual straw maze fundraiser at Weber's Pumpkin Festival last weekend.  Thanks to all the visitors and volunteers who made this a huge success!

Art to Remember

Miami Whitewater Elementary is participating in a creative fundraiser with Art to Remember that allows you to purchase keepsake products customized with your child's art. There are over 60 products and many are less than $15. These make great gifts and a percentage of every purchase goes right back to our school and Art program with Mrs. Ferguson. You should have recently received an order form with your child's artwork. Click on the link below and enter the online order code shown on your child's order form or to search for your child's artwork. Then, have fun shopping!  The ordering window closes on November 8th.  We're hoping to send orders home on December 4th, just in time for the holiday season!  Email Mrs. Ferguson with any questions tracy.ferguson@southwestschools.org.

https://arttoremember.com/school/4EW2QL

Second Quarter Extra-Curricular Survey 

Please take a few minutes to complete this Google Form survey: https://forms.gle/ge7JV6BuTk9uggdS7  We ask that families share updated info. about their child's after-school activities and extra-curriculars every quarter.   Thanks so much for helping us reach our SLSD goal of 100% of students participating in a club, sport, or activity after school or on the weekends! 

There are two special opportunities for students in the Harrison community.  Harrison HS has a ski & snowboard club at Perfect North Slopes.  There is a "friends and family" option available through this club until November 5, 2023.  Click HERE for more information or go to www.perfectnorth.com/clubs and enter "harrisonff" as the username and "downhill" as the password.  

Performing Arts Inc. has a group in Harrison and is hosting auditions for "Seussical Kids" and "The Sound of Music" soon.  Click HERE to learn more or visit https://www.performingartsinc.net/harrison 

How do you HOLIDAY?

In today’s society, it is so important that children learn the importance of understanding and respecting different values, views, and opinions.  Our community is becoming more diverse and we need to make sure ALL students feel included at Miami Whitewater Elementary!  Please take a few moments to complete this survey: https://forms.gle/1wYsnNsjNV5fM6th9  The survey results will serve as a great resource for the teachers and administrators to make sure all students and families are represented.  It’s also a wonderful reminder of the positive connection between school and home.  Thank you for helping us promote knowledge of other cultures at Miami Whitewater Elementary!

Spanish Version - https://forms.gle/Zd6cpmBsrwd1Utja9 

Hindi Version - https://forms.gle/zpKpjRd4sf3Zm66c9

MWE Veteran’s Day parade & program

It is hard to believe that Veteran's Day is fast approaching. We will have two parts to our Veteran's Day recognition at Miami Whitewater this year, a parade and a program. Both parts will be held on Thursday, November 9th. The first part will be a Veterans Recognition Car Parade which will be held after the conclusion of the High School’s Veterans Day Assembly at 9:45 a.m.  This is a time change, as the flyer that was sent home listed 10am.  Harrison HS's program will be ending earlier than last year.   Our Veteran's Recognition Car Parade participants will meet in the high school Activity Center lot on the side near the school bus lot starting at 9:30am.  The Veterans leaving the HS assembly, Veterans from the Junior School, and Veterans invited by MWE students will be led over from the Activity Center by one of Harrison Police Department's school resource officers to be recognized for their service to our country. Our students will hold and wave patriotic flags on the parade route.  Our afternoon building tour for Veterans and program will begin at 1:30 p.m. Students may invite a relative/friend who has served in our armed forces to participate in the car parade and program.  Please note that our two events on November 9th take place at two different times of day.  Flyers were sent home for each student to RSVP for their Veteran and attach a picture.  We will use the photos in a display and also in a slide show during the program.  You can also RSVP by clicking HERE for a QR Code to scan,  or visiting the link here: https://forms.gle/VRMLVRvtEkeLisHQ8  **The parade will be streamed on Facebook Live on Miami Whitewater Elementary’s PTO Facebook pages.  As a reminder, we do not have school on November 10, 2023 in honor of Veteran's Day.

Academic Growth - Your children, our teachers, and our ParaProfessional staff are working SO hard at school on whole-class academic lessons and small group interventions and/or enrichment.  WIN Time has been implemented daily & the growth that students are making is evident during progress monitoring and assessments.  Personalizing your child's learning as much as possible is our goal!  Let's keep the momentum going through all the holiday breaks and programs during second quarter!

Reading with RIVER -  

We are fortunate to be an inclusive school and take pride that MWE welcomes all children from across the Southwest Local School District, regardless of any challenges they may have!  Our students receive high-quality instruction, interventions, and supports that enable them to meet their needs and make growth academically and socially.  Recently, I was contacted by Bethany Van Meter about bringing her dog to our school for an author's visit.  Bethany's dog, River, was abandoned then adopted by the Van Meter family.  River has no eyes, but is able to experience the world in a whole new way.  You can read more about River's journey here: rivervanmeter.com. **This is a correction from the link shared in yesterday's email!  Miss Bethany & River will be visiting MWE on November 14, 2023!  They will be reading their children's book, I See With My Heart, at 3 assemblies throughout the school day.  The book focuses on River and his journey of discovery, what it means to be different, and how we can all learn to see the world in a new way.  River's heartwarming tale teaches children about acceptance, love, and the power of determination.

MWE is offering pre-sale orders of the children's book,  I See With My Heart.  Order your child's copy today and let River’s story inspire your family! Go to https://rivervanmeter.com/ Please type in the discount code “shipping” to waive any shipping charges. In the notes section, include that the order is for MWE on 11-14-23, the student’s name, and any details about wanting your child's book signed.  

Thanks to Ms. Lisa Niesen, one of our MWE Intervention Specialists in the Multiple Disabilities Department, and her sensational students for coordinating the assemblies and sorting the book orders when they arrive.  Please email me if you have any questions before our author visit with Miss Bethany & River!

Saturday with Santa –  We’re collecting raffle basket donations for this year’s PTO Saturday with Santa event.  PTO shares so much with our students and teachers, so classes are collecting themed donations to support one of the biggest fundraisers of the school year!  Teachers are collecting items starting through Nov. 2nd.  You can find your child's theme below.  Feel free to bring items to fill your child's basket to conferences if that's easier than sending the donations in to school.  If most families are able to contribute, we will have about 15 beautiful baskets for Saturday with Santa.  PTO volunteers will pick up the donations, create the themed baskets, wrap in cellophane, tie with Christmas ribbon, and add a tag.  If you have a connection or family member who would like to make a separate basket, please email Mrs. Casey at caseysgrl2000@yahoo.com .  PTO volunteers will be setting the baskets up the week before the event at lunchtime for students to buy tickets (November 27-Dec.3).  PTO will send more information about the raffle ticket prices and Saturday with Santa by the end of this month.  PTO has also secured autographed items from the Cincinnati Bengals that will be in a "Grand Raffle".  The Grand Raffle tickets will be separate from the themed raffle baskets due to the value of these items.  Thanks for supporting Saturday with Santa!

Raffle Basket Themes:

1. Pet Lovers - Mrs. Hollmann, Mrs. Payne, & Mrs. Blankenship

2. Wildcat Pride - Mr. Borcher & Mrs. Jackson

3. Hot Wheels (car cleaning supplies, air fresheners, gas gift cards, etc.) - Mrs. Osterhage & Mr. Williams

4. Spa Day - Mrs. Schaber & Miss Ventre

5. Foodie Fun - Miss Rack & Ms. Hollstegge

6. Green Thumb Gardening - Mrs. Beasley & Mrs. Mumfrey

7. Movie Night - Mrs. Ard & Mrs. Kober

8. Arts & Crafts for KIDS - Mrs. Pfeffer, Ms. Vandeventer, & Mrs. Midei

9. School's Out/Fun in the Sun - MWE Admin team, School Nurse, School Counselor, & Office Staff

10. Cincinnati Favorites - Mrs. Deller & Mrs. Heinrich

11. Cincinnati Bengals - Mrs. Guilfoyle, Miss Cole, & Mrs. Stafford

12. Gift Cards Galore - Mrs. Ange, Mrs. Horning, & Mrs. Weber

13. Cozy Comforts - MD Department

14. Family Game Night - Mrs. Houpe & Mrs. Linde

Halloween Parade & Parties – The MWE Halloween Parade & Party day is next Tuesday!  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 room parents and guardians should have contacted you for donations & volunteers.   All parents and guardians who are volunteering need to come to school with a valid driver's license when they check in for party in the cafe on Tuesday.   No additional visitors will be allowed to go to classrooms during party time.  We will encourage 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 buses will be coming for dismissal during the parties and we can't block bus traffic. 
• Party volunteers are welcome to arrive at 1:30 and need to bring a photo ID when checking in.  We'll send party volunteers to classrooms at 1:40pm to get set up and help little ones get into costumes.
• 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 2:20 after the parade ends.
• Our annual Halloween parade will begin at 1:50pm.  All full-day Kindergarten, PM Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students will parade through the intermediate hallways, cafeteria, and gym or outside on the playground blacktop if weather permits.   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 (or the sidewalk bordering the playground if weather permits) & 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!  
• Thanks in advance for helping our young wildcats celebrate Halloween in a fun and exciting way!

Upcoming Dates:

October

Oct. 27 - Poppin’ with the Principal 3:00

Oct. 31 - Halloween Parties

November

Nov 1- Student Banking 

Nov. 1- PBIS Assembly 2:00 “Empathy”

Nov. 3 - 5th grade “B & B Riverboat” STEAM field trip (Guilfoyle, Stafford, & Cole)

Nov. 6 - Fourth Grade Grandparents Day 9:30

Nov. 7 In-Service Day - No School 

Nov. 9 -  MWE & HJS Veteran’s Day Parade @ 9:45AM (time change)

Nov. 10 Veterans’ Day - No School 

Nov. 14  PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM 

Nov. 15 Student Banking

Nov. 17 - Poppin’ with the Principal 3:00

Nov. 21 - Third Grade Grandparents Day (PM)

Nov. 22 Conference Release Day - No School 

Nov. 23-24  Thanksgiving Break - No School 

Nov. 29 - Student Banking 

December 

Dec. 2 - Saturday with Santa 

Dec. 5 - PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM 

Dec. 11 - Primary Holiday Musical (1st grade 6:00 and 2nd grade 7:00)

Dec. 11-15  - AIMSWeb Plus fluency Winter benchmark (grades K-3)

Dec. 13 - Student Banking 

Dec. 13 - CAT Store

Dec. 15 - First Grade field trip to Children’s theater

Dec. 15 -  Poppin’ with the Principal 3:00

Dec. 18 - 5th grade field trip to iSpace

Dec. 19  - 5th grade field trip to iSpace

Dec. 19-20 Dental Van 

Dec. 20 - Class Holiday Parties 

Dec. 21 - End of 2nd Quarter - No School 

Dec. 22-31 - Winter Break -No School 

January 

Jan. 1-2 - Winter Break - No School 

Jan. 3 - First Day of Second Semester 

Jan. 3 - Student Banking 

Jan. 8-12- NWEA MAP Winter Benchmark assessment week

Jan. 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School 

Jan. 17 - Student Banking 

Jan. 18 - MWE Spelling Bee 1:30pm

Jan. 31 - Student Banking