West Carrollton Schools

Harry Russell Newsletter

January 16, 2025

Welcome Back!

We are thrilled to welcome you back for the second half of the 24-25 school year!

Whether you are returning or joining our community for the first time, we are excited to partner with you in making this year a positive, enriching, and successful experience for all our students.

Our dedicated staff has been hard at work preparing engaging lessons and activities that will challenge and inspire your child to reach their full potential. We are committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

We encourage you to stay connected through our newsletters, parent-teacher conferences, and upcoming school events. Together, we can create a strong foundation for academic success and personal growth.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. Let’s make this year one to remember!

Welcome Back

Great books for the season!

The Snowy Day

Written and Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

the snowy day

The Snowy Day

One morning, a little boy in Brooklyn wakes up to a changed world — sparkling with fresh snowfall. And though it's never directly mentioned in the text, young Peter is Black, one of the first non-caricatured Black people to star in a major children's book. Author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats was white, but his sensitive depiction of a child's first experience with snow won the Caldecott Medal and was embraced by parents and children of all colors.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Written by Kevin Henkes

lilly's purple purse

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Lilly loves everything, especially her purple plastic purse full of treasures. She even loves her teacher Mr. Slinger — but when the wondrous purse and its contents keep interrupting his lessons, he confiscates it, leading Lilly to attempt revenge. Luckily, her favorite teacher understands her emotions.

What do you like to do in the snow?

In the know....

Do you need a winter coat for your child?

Through a generous donation from Domtar, who donated over 100 coats to our district, we have winter coats for our students who need them. Please stop by the office or reach out to Nicole Meyer ((937) 859-5121  x3780 or nmeyer@wcsd.k12.oh.us) to obtain a coat or to discuss other needs you may have! We strive to ensure that our students are supported and cared for both inside and outside the classroom!

coats

Beginning in January, I will be spending time at Russell as we prepare to combine the two buildings for the opening of West Carrollton Elementary School in the 2025–2026 school year. Dr. Dauterman and I will be sharing responsibilities between both buildings, giving the Schnell community an opportunity to get to know her as well.

Our schedule will be:

MWF: Thobe @ Schnell, Dauterman @ Russell

TR: Thobe @ Russell, Dauterman @ Schnell

Feel free to reach out to either of us if you have any questions or concerns.

schedule change
conferences

Parent Conferences will be held:

January 21st and January 30th

3:45 pm-7:15 pm

Please reach out to your child's teacher if you would like to meet with them.

5th grade

Hard to believe that our students will be transitioning to 5th grade in a few months! With change comes anxiety and curiosity about what school will look like in a new building!

Dr. Woods and Mr. Siler will be attending our Parent Conference night on JANUARY 21ST to host a Q&A about 5th grade. This is a great opportunity for families to learn more about the schedules, environment, and staff of the Intermediate Building. They will be at Russell from 3:45-4:45 to discuss this with parents.

no school

Just a reminder.......

No School on

January 17th (QPT Day)

January 20th (MLK Day)

See you on Tuesday, January 21st!

OUTDOOR RECESS

Living in Ohio can sometimes limit our time outdoors, but fresh air is so beneficial for everyone. Your child will have the opportunity to go outside whenever the weather permits—specifically when it’s 32 degrees or above and there’s no precipitation. Please ensure they’re dressed appropriately for these conditions.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if your child needs a coat, hat, or gloves. Thanks to the generosity of our community members, we can help provide these essential items.

cold temperature

PBIS INCENTIVE FOR JANUARY

PBIS supports every student in our school. Monthly, we do incentive parties. Students are expected to Be SAFE, Be RESPONSIBLE, and Be RESPECTFUL everyday in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, specials, and bus. Points are given throughout the day that the students can use to participate in the monthly incentives. Our goal is to have EVERY student be a part of the reward!

The January incentive is a visit from the UD Pep Band...we are so excited!!

band
triple p

Triple P

Triple P is a FREE positive parenting support class for caregivers and families. Please click on the link below for the latest Triple P Newsletter. Parents can also sign up for free online classes that are self-paced and available for up to 1 year at: https://www.triplep-parenting.com/oh-en/triple-p/. If you are interested in looking for ways to improve your co-parenting situation click HERE.

dates

Friday, January 17| QPT Day-No school

Monday, January 20| MLK Day-No school

Tuesday, January 21| Parent Teacher Conferences (3:45 pm-7:15 pm)

Thursday, January 30| Parent Teacher Conferences (3:45 pm-7:15 pm)

Friday, February 14| QPT Day-No school

Monday, February 17| President's Day-No school

District Social Worker

Need Resources, want to submit a referral to talk with our District Social Worker, or want to check out programs in the school/community?

Check out our Family Resources Page by clicking the link below:

WCSD Resources Website (google.com)

Transportation

If you have concerns about transportation please click HERE and submit your concern.

bus

Final Forms

If you haven’t completed your final forms registration please do so by clicking the LINK.

final forms
telephone

If your child is not able to attend school, please call the office as soon as possible at 937-859-5121, ext. 4

menu

The daily lunch menu is available for you to review. By clicking on the item, you are able to check for allergens, ingredients, and more. Click on this link: lunch menu!

principal

Principal

Brad Thobe bthobe@wcsd.k12.oh.us

Assistant Principal

LaShell Dauterman ldauterman@wcsd.k12.oh.us

TOSA

Erin Lynch elynch@wcsd.k12.oh.us