2013-2014 School Calendar Changes

The West Clermont Board of Education at their November 7, 2012, board meeting approved revisions to the 2013-2014 school calendar. Highlights include starting before Labor Day as well has having longer Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. 

The new 2013-2014 school calendar can be found here: 

http://www.westcler.k12.oh.us/public_html/files//2013-2014.pdf

School Supply Lists

The 2012-'13 school year starts in less than two months!  September 4 will be here before we know it, so now is the time to start looking for those back-to-school sales on supplies.  Below is a quick-reference list of the school supplies needed for each grade.  If you'd like to print the entire list, a PDF file is available for download on the "E-Flyers" tab above.

Kindergarten
1 pair blunt scissors
1 package jumbo glue sticks
1 large eraser
1 yellow highlighter
1 box crayons
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
2 packages #2 pencils

Grade 1
1 pair blunt scissors
1 package jumbo glue sticks
1 large eraser
1 yellow highlighter
1 box crayons
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
2 packages #2 pencils
Pencil box or bag

Grade 2
1 pair blunt scissors
1 package wide rule lined paper
1 package eraser “pencil toppers”
1 yellow highlighter
1 package colored pencils or crayons
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
1 package of jumbo glue sticks
2 spiral notebooks
2 packages #2 pencils
Pencil Box

Grade 3
1 pair school scissors (pointed)
1 package wide rule lined paper
1 package eraser “pencil toppers”
1 yellow highlighter
1 package colored pencils or crayons
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
1 package of jumbo glue sticks
2 spiral notebooks
2 packages #2 pencils
Pencil Box

Grade 4
1 pair school scissors
1 package eraser “pencil toppers”
1 yellow highlighter
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
1 package jumbo glue sticks
2 packages wide rule lined paper
2 packages #2 pencils
3 spiral notebooks
Pencil bag

Grade 5
1 pair school scissors
1 package eraser “pencil toppers”
1 yellow highlighter
1 package colored pencils
1 box tissues
2 packages wide rule lined paper
2 packages #2 pencils
3 spiral notebooks

Cook's Choice Menu for June 4, 5, 6

Monday, June 4
Grilled Cheese
Tomato Soup
Fruit
Milk

Tuesday, June 5
Nacho Chips with Cheese
Vegetable
Fruit
Milk

Wednesday, June 6 (Bag Lunch)
Ham & Cheese Sandwich or Peanut Butter & Jelly
Vegetable
Fruit
Milk

A West Clermont Christmas 2011

This message is brought to you by the West Clermont School District. The original page can be found here.

Merwin Staff Honored at Board of Ed. Meeting

Our awesome Merwin staff, students and parents were recognized at the West Clermont Board of Education meeting tonight for achieving "Excellent with Distinction" status by the Ohio Department of Education.

Dr. Mary Ellen Steele-Pierce, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, introduced Merwin honorees by highlighting these statistics:

* It is particularly exciting that this is the fourth year in a row that Merwin Elementary has achieved this highest rating.

* Merwin met 8 out 8 indicators, earned a 102.4 performance index, and gained above expected growth for students.

* Principal Jackie Hospelhorn tells us that Merwin’s goal is to focus on academics all the while making it fun for students!

* Of special note: 51% of Merwin’s fifth graders scored Advanced in Math (Advanced is the very highest level).

West Clermont Supply List

The school supply list for all West Clermont schools is available at the district website.  This link takes you to a downloadable one-page PDF file, which is copied below for your reference.

Kindergarten & Grade 1
1 pair blunt scissors
1 package glue sticks
1 large eraser
1 yellow highlighter
1 box crayons
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
2 packages #2 pencils
Pencil box or bag

Grades 2 & 3
1 pair blunt scissors
1 package wide rule lined paper
1 package eraser “pencil toppers”
1 yellow highlighter
1 package colored pencils or crayons
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
1 package of glue sticks
2 composition books (no spirals)
2 packages #2 pencils
Pencil box or bag

Grades 4 & 5
1 pair school scissors
1 package eraser “pencil toppers”
1 yellow highlighter
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 box tissues
1 package glue sticks
2 packages wide rule lined paper
2 packages #2 pencils
3 composition books (no spirals)
Pencil box or bag

Private Busing Option

A private busing option is now available to West Clermont families.

This is for your information only; there is no implication of endorsement by West Clermont and/or Merwin Elementary.  We just want parents to know about all transportation options that are available as we all prepare for major adjustments this year.

If you are interested, please refer to the following 2-page 'postcard' from LBS, a private bus company. The postcard states that enrollment ends on August 24.

LBS Busing

Student Drop-Off Plan is Finalized

Mornings at Merwin will be different than ever before, so please carefully note the traffic flow pattern that has been approved by the district as well as by local public and safety officials.  The district website has maps posted for all schools in the district.

WC Student Drop-Off Plans

Please note that printing and distributing these maps to all families is cost-prohibitive, so you will not receive a printed copy from the school.  You are welcome to print the map for yourself if you so choose.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience with these new procedures, as we all work to make this period of transition as seamless as possible.

Summary of the drop-off plan:
All car traffic should enter from (and exit to) the direction of Bennett Road, to the west of the school.  Buses will enter the school driveway from the direction of Merwin-Ten Mile Road to the east.

Letter to Kindergarten Parents

On July 27, a letter was mailed from the District's Superintendent to parents of incoming kindergarten students. 

The link below takes you to a one-page PDF file of that letter that is hosted on the West Clermont's website.  Please take the opportunity to browse the other pages on the school district's site as well.  You will find valuable information there throughout the school year.

Letter to Parents of Kindergarteners

Transportation Letter to Parents

This letter was mailed to parents of all students in the district on July 20 from the Superintendent.

Letter from Dr. Brooks

As mentioned in the letter, you can determine your student's eligibility for busing by going to the district's main website.  Or you can click here to go there directly.

WC Kindergarten Enrichment Program

West Clermont Local School District and Child Focus have created a program that will provide a service for kindergarten students' off-days.  Please share this flyer with anyone you know that has an incoming Kindergarten student.  There are only 20 spots available, so act quickly if you are interested.

WC Board of Education wants to answer your questions

The West Clermont Board of Education has announced that they will be answering questions from the public at their next regularly-scheduled meeting.  According to Board President Dan Krueger, this is in direct response to people in the community that have requested more interaction between Board members and meeting attendees.

For more information, please read this article at cincinnati.com (and recommended by the Board):
"West Clermont BOE to host question & answer session"

If you are interested in participating, please consider emailing your questions in advance to Board President Dan Krueger at [krueger_dan@westcler.org] so that the Board can conduct any necessary research. Also please attend the meeting on Monday, July 25 at 7:00 pm at the Union Township Civic Center.

Drop-Off Plan for Fall

West Clermont has published traffic plans for all schools in the fall.  Please follow the link below to the West Clermont site, then click on "Merwin Elementary School" to see how our drop-off traffic will flow for the 2011-'12 school year.  Both bus and parent-vehicle movement patterns will be different from last year.

West Clermont Student Drop-off Plans

UPDATE, 6/29: These plans are drafts and subject to change.  Please stay tuned here and at the district website for any changes or additional information.

Press Release from West Clermont

If you wish to receive information such as this press release directly from the school district in the future, please email oakes_s@westcler.org to sign up for the WC Connection newsletter.

***************************************************

For Immediate Release
March 7, 2011
Contact: Sharon Oakes, Communications Director, (513) 943-5053

WEST CLERMONT SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES BUDGET CUTS

The West Clermont Board of Education has placed a ten-year 7.9 mill emergency operating levy on the May 3 ballot. The proposed levy will generate $10.9 million in new operating money. The owner of a $100,000 home would see a tax increase of $242 or about $20/month.

Public school districts may not operate in the red. Regardless of the outcome of the ballot issue, the district will cut $2.4 million from the 2011‐12 budgets in order to continue to operate in the black. This $2.4 million includes

• 23 teachers including English, foreign language, math, physical education, science, and social studies
• 11 support staff including clerical and library aides
• 2 administrative positions
• $276K reduction in outsourced special education services from the county
• Streamlined administrative responsibilities
• $500K reduction in building budgets

This is in addition to the $45 million in personnel and services the district has cut since 2005. West Clermont has cut 170 positions in the past six years.

At the February 28, 2011, West Clermont Board of Education meeting, the Superintendent announced $5,000,000 in additional cuts—including 80 classroom teachers—that will be implemented if the May 3, 2011, emergency levy (Issue 4) does not pass. This would represent a 31% staff reduction since 2005.

As a result of this massive job loss, the district will cut the following programs, services, and opportunities for students.

• High school bussing
• Other non-mandated bussing (K-8 students who live inside a two-mile radius of the school building will not receive transportation services. This includes public, private, and parochial schools.)
• Art and music K-5
• Orchestra 6-12
• Gifted and talented
• Sports, marching band, and extra-curricular activities will become “pay to play.”
• All evening and weekend events or activities will be eliminated in elementary and middle school buildings and grounds.
• Elementary and middle school buildings will be closed to all activities and locked ½ hour after dismissal.

 “Failure to secure operating money from district residents in 2011 will force the district into Fiscal Emergency and takeover by the State of Ohio. District decisions will be taken out of the hands of local residents and controlled by Columbus bureaucrats,” said Superintendent Brooks.

“What a catastrophic loss to our children, to lose an additional 16% of our outstanding staff, the special people who helped raise this district to Excellent with Distinction.”

“It is critical to the education of our students and the future of this community that the emergency levy (Issue 4) passes on May 3.”

4350 Aicholtz Road, Suite 220 ● Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 ● 513-943-5000 ● Fax 513-752-6158

School Closing Announced

West Clermont Schools will be closed on Friday, January 21, 2011 due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.

School Delay Announced

West Clermont has announced that the start of school will be delayed for 2 hours on Friday, January 21, 2011.  There will be no morning kindergarten at Merwin.

School Closing Announced

West Clermont Schools will be closed on Thursday, January 20, 2011 due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.

School Closing Announced

West Clermont Schools will be closed on Thursday, December 16 due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.

School Closing Announced

West Clermont Schools will be closed on Monday, December 13 due to inclement weather and road conditions.

Because of this closure, Tuesday will now be a RED day at Merwin, and the day/colors will adjust accordingly for the rest of the week. In addition, all classes scheduled to visit the Santa Shop on Monday will now shop on Tuesday. This would be a great opportunity to spend time reading and doing Study Island today.

School Delay Announced

West Clermont has announced that the start of school will be delayed for 2 hours on Monday, December 13.  There will be no morning kindergarten.

The Santa Shop WILL operate for all classes scheduled to visit on Monday.  The school day will begin at 11:10am.