5/14/2020
DISTRICT UPDATE FROM SUPERINTENDENT WAGNER
Dear Fairview Families,

The time between these weekly updates seems to get shorter and shorter as the days are packed with more and more zoom meetings, local/regional/state “guidance”, district planning, and budget changes.  Whereas there have been some cost savings from keeping the buildings closed and the cancellation of spring activities, the state reductions to our budget created considerable upheaval.  We are working on a cost reduction plan to adjust as best we can.  Unfortunately, it is clear we will be receiving a significant cut for next fiscal year as well.  What’s not clear is exactly how much.  That makes planning and budgeting very difficult.  I often say, “plan for the worst and pray for the best.”  That is what we are doing. 

I’ve seen some of the recent social media activity after this article was published this week and want to be very clear and dispel any confusion out there… We have been planning on asking residents for a new operating levy in November 2020 for the past four years.  I’ve mentioned doing so in each of the past four State of the Community addresses. It’s also been in our annual reports and our quarterly Warrior Word newsletters . This information should come as no surprise to anyone.  The district has not had a new operating levy on the ballot since 2006, and due to current law around how schools are funded in Ohio, the amount originally approved can never increase.  Even with the smallest of annual inflation rates, that makes balancing a budget extremely difficult (and in recent years, impossible).  I know this is really NOT a good time for this information or for an upcoming new levy, but in the coming months, we promise to share more information regarding why it is so important. 


Child Care/Summer Camp 
Today Governor Mike DeWine announced that day care and day camps may begin operations as of May 31, with more details and guidance will be coming to child care centers by tomorrow. Once we receive the official guidance and establish a plan, we will share information with our current child care families. 


Social-Emotional Learning Resources
Five Social-Emotional Learning Games to Play with Your Children - (Grades K-3) This article offers games parents can play with their children to teach social and emotional skills at home. 

Eight Fun Activities to Practice Social Skills with Your Child - (Grades K-8) This site explains eight activities parents can do with children to teach social-emotional skills. 

Building social and emotional skills at home - (Grades K-3) This is a resource to assist with building social and emotional skills at home.   

Centervention - (Grades K-8) - This website offers free worksheets, games and activities that help build students’ social-emotional skills. 

Harmony at Home - This free online toolkit for educators, families and caregivers teaches vital social-emotional learning skills. With the rapid changes brought on by COVID19, educators, families and students need opportunities to connect and practice social-emotional strategies. 

How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus - (Early Childhood) This article offers suggestions for how parents can explain the coronavirus and outcomes to their children.  

How to Talk to Your Kids About COVID-19 - This article from Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers suggestions for how parents can explain the coronavirus and related news to their children. 

Reading Tips for Families - (Grades PreK-3) This website offers resources, informational videos, games and skills to boost a child's language and social-emotional development.  

SEL 101 for Parents - This is an informational video to inform parents about social-emotional learning in schools and provide them with insights into their own parenting practices to support their children’s social and emotional development. 

Steps to Help Ease Kids’ Fears and Anxieties About COVID-19 - This article from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital offers suggestions for how parents can ease their children’s fears about the coronavirus.  

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource - This article offers suggestions for how parents can talk with their children about coronavirus. 
Project Lead the Way Recognition

Lewis F. Mayer Middle School has been named a distinguished school for STEM and career learning programs. As a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, Mayer Middle School provides broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Gateway. It is one of just 176 middle schools across the U.S. to receive this honor. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in over 12,200 schools across the U.S.

The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Mayer Middle School had to meet the following criteria:

  • Offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit at each grade level;
  • Have more than 50 percent of the student body participating during the 2018-19 school year;
  • Have 25 percent of students advancing to high school participate in two or more units;
  • Have strategies and supports in place that support reasonably proportional representation with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty, gender and can support such claims with relevant data.

Through PLTW programs, students develop STEM knowledge as well as in-demand, transportable skills that they will use both in school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take. PLTW Gateway empowers students to lead their own discovery and uncover a range of paths and possibilities they can look forward to in high school and beyond.

Grading Reminder 

Reporting grades for Q4
Just a reminder that we will use the same reporting processes we always have for grading,  plus  we have strongly encouraged our teachers to make generous use of the grade and subject-related  comments . 

At the end of the school year, teachers will enter final marks that reflect the cumulative mastery level achieved throughout the school year, just as they always have. However, we know there are things that just can’t be assessed in this remote learning format. Therefore, adaptations are being made at all grade levels. Principals and teachers will work together to resolve any complications, and assure our kids progress to the next grade level, our seniors graduate, and school resumes in as normal a way as possible when permitted. 

Above all else, know that quarterly reports are just a snapshot in time of a students’ learning. Don’t get too hung up on them. We will do everything in our power to help your children learn as much as possible during these unique times, and have as successful and positive an end to this school year as we can. We will fill in whatever gaps may exist when we are all back together. 
Grab-and-Go School Meals 

The Fairview Park City School District is continuing to provide meals for families who rely on free or reduced-cost meals for their children. 

We will continue to offer no-cost, grab-and-go meals (each student will receive 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches) each week. 




*NEXT PICK-UP*
Monday, May 18
 
Pick-up is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., located in the back parking lot at Gilles-Sweet Elementary.
 
Please fill out the form on our Food Services page so our staff can accurately estimate how many meals to prepare. If you previously filled out a form for meals, please fill out this new version for the new pickup schedule.

Please contact Diana Hill, Food Service Director, at dhill@fairview.k12.oh.us or call (440) 365-3525 x4120 if:

– You are unable to pick-up meals and would like to request delivery
– You recently had a change in income and would like to apply for meal benefits
– You need to confirm if you qualify for free or reduced-cost meal benefits
– You need help applying for meal benefits
– You have any other questions related to food resources.