School Newsletter: February 2024

Learning About Dinosaurs (and their poo!)

Preschoolers visited with a paleontologist from the Orton Geological Museum on Tuesday, January 16, as part of this year’s STEAM series. The series introduces students to science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics through visits to the school by those who work in those fields.

During the visit from the Orton Museum paleontologist, the students got to touch fossils of bones and footprints from prehistoric animals. The students even got to touch fossilized dinosaur poo! 

Black History Month is here! There are some great events for kids to commemorate this month around Columbus that are linked below in the “Family Activites” section of this month’s Newsletter. Stop by the library’s book display to pick up a book about the real-life superheroes of Black History.

We are also having two family-led holiday celebrations this month. Add the Lunar New Year storytime on Tuesday, February 6 and Saraswati Puja on Wednesday, February 14 to your calendar. If your family would like to lead a program in partnership with Miss Sarah, reach out to her by email at Simpson.962@osu.edu or stop by the library to chat!

Book Bundles

Your child will be receiving their second Book Bundle of the year at the end of February. Prior to picking up your bundle, families will be asked to give feedback about their bundles. 

The Schoenbaum Family Center is a university building and typically follows The Ohio State University’s closure policies in the case of inclement weather. When checking for school closings or delays on local media, families should look to see if Ohio State (Columbus campus) is closed or delayed. Even if the university remains open, Schoenbaum Family Center may additionally delay start time, close early or remain closed in extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather or building failure.  

In the case of closure, families will receive an email and/or text from our automated system. It is the family’s responsibility to ensure that the phone number(s) provided to the school for the system is active and current. Any changes may be given at the front desk.  

We go outside every day if it is over 24 degrees! Please bring hats, gloves and boots so that winter outdoor play can be enjoyed! 

Thank you to all who attended our kindergarten transition informational session on January 25! Many of the items discussed can be found in resources on the website of our research partner the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, including Tips for Supporting Your Child During This Important Transition and the downloadable PDF document Kindergarten Transition: Examples from the A. Sophie Rogers School. Our 2021 webinar on Kindergarten Readiness and Transition is also available online. 

We are here to help and support your family’s kindergarten transition!  If you would like to discuss your child and their educational/developmental readiness for kindergarten, your child’s teacher would be happy to schedule a meeting or Zoom with you. If you would like more information or support with the kindergarten enrollment process, including the Columbus City Schools’ School Choice/Lottery, please contact Ari Dillard, our Schoenbaum Family Center School social work intern, at dillard.130@buckeyemail.osu.edu, or call her at 614-247-7007.  

Applications for Columbus City Schools’ School Choice are due online by March 29. If you are interested in learning about school choice options in the Columbus City Schools, the Elementary School Choice Fair will be held on Tuesday, February 13, from 6–7:30 p.m.  This is a great way to meet elementary school principals and ask any questions you may have as you evaluate possibilities for your child.  The Columbus City Schools website also contains video profiles for all of the district’s elementary schools. The district’s main School Choice/Lottery webpage can be found at https://www.ccsoh.us/schoolchoice.

Signing In/Out 

Thank you for supporting the front desk as the school returns to families signing children in and out upon arrival and departure from school. This can be done either by simply typing in your child’s four-digit number or by scanning the bar code available at the front desk.  

YogART is a new monthly family programming option for families which begins in February.  Our school will be partnering with Replenish Yoga and Wexner Center for the Arts to present monthly YogART sessions.  The family-child sessions will be held at pick-up time on the first Thursday of the month through the spring. We are excited to kick off the series on Thursday, February 1, in the Town Square at 4:45 p.m. Stop in, reflect and rewind with your child and other families.

YogART encourages families to get to know the power of their own internal voices collectively in a world that can feel overstimulated and stress-filled. How do we practice connection with our inner tools in the present moment?

We create an inspired community space that allows families to find beauty together in their unique being-ness. We ground through a guided exploration of yoga, art, music and imagination. Come discover your colors of the rainbow and paint a brighter connected transition from school to home. When families are well, the world is well. This is quality time and is worthy of your attendance. Chime in.

Columbus Metropolitan Library Black History Month Events

(click the red text above to go to the event webpage)

• In-person events throughout the month at the Main Library and other area branch locations, as well as online events
• Among notable events at the Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.: Saturday, February 3 — “Let’s Throw Stones” interactive storytelling with Lyn Ford, 1:30-2:30 p.m.; Sunday, February 4 — “Hip Hop at 50: A Hands-on Experience” with J. Rawls & Friends, 2-4 p.m.; Sunday, February 25 — Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra Black History Month concert, 2-4 p.m.

Columbus City Schools Summer Opportunity & Engagement Fair

(click the red text above to go to the event webpage)

• Saturday, February 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.
• Over 50 community organizations, partners and Columbus City Schools departments will share information on camps, academic enrichment, STEM, arts and other summer fun activities

Columbus Academy Summer Experience

(click the red text above to go to the program webpage)

• Week-long summer day camp programs in academics, arts and sciences and athletics for pre-K through grade 12
• “Family” division includes programs for parents/caregivers and their children ages birth and up
• Online public admissions open February 8 at 9:00 a.m.
• Location: 4300 Cherry Bottom Rd., Gahanna

Discovery Riders

• Therapeutic riding center providing low-cost summer camps and equine therapeutic riding to children ages 4 and older with a disability
• Horses provide a special format for individuals to connect and socialize with the animal and each other
• Location: 1797 State Route 47 E., Bellefontaine

Summer Camp Recky

(click the red text above to go to the program webpage)

• Summer camp program of Ohio State’s Recreational Sports office
• Open to the general community
• Campers will be introduced to two sports per week, learning basic skills while focusing on sportsmanship, teamwork and participation
• Location: Ohio State’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center, 337 Annie & John Glenn Ave., Columbus

Wellington School Summer Program

(click the red text above to go to the program webpage)

• Week-long summer day-camp programs from creative arts and outdoor adventures to athletic skill-building and academics, for grades pre-K to grade 12
• Full, half-day and afterday care programs are available
• Online public admissions open February 1 at 6:00 a.m.