Edgewood City Schools

Do you or someone you know have students who are part of a military family? Read here for details on how Edgewood supports our military families within the district. Included are details about our tailgate event for activity duty, veterans, and their families prior to Military Appreciation Night at the September 6th football game against Badin. https://5il.co/2usy3

The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) wants to make you aware of a FREE advanced driving skills training opportunity coming soon to your area! OTSO is hosting an Advanced Drive for Training Series this summer, where students with a permit or license can get hands-on instruction in crash avoidance techniques on a closed course. These programs usually consist of practicing skid recovery, anti-lock braking system stops, slalom drills, and more. Events are scheduled in Butler County on September 28th and 29th! Registration is free, but spots are limited, so please encourage students to sign up for a session soon! Each session is half a day. You can register here. https://otso.ohio.gov/home/news-and-events/all-events/ford-hands-on-training-092924

EMS picture day is tomorrow! Students have been given picture pakets or pictures may be ordered online at mylifetouch.com Our picture day code is EVT3BWFHW

Hi little cougar families! Preschool class lists will be posted today (Tuesday, August 20th) at 4 pm here at EECC on our Main Entrance. Preschool will start: A-M: Thursday, August 22nd (A-M do not come on Friday, August 23rd) N-Z: Friday, August 23rd All Preschoolers will attend on Monday, August 26th. We can't wait to see all of our little preschool cougars!

Hi little cougar families! We know that this week is a big time for both students and parents! It's an exciting time and can be a nervous time for students first time away from their family members and into a new environment. That is why we take this week to be our staggered start week to help ease those students into this new beginning and new stepping stone for their educational journey! Families remember: Kindergarteners A-M start on Monday, August 19th (do not come on August 20th) Kindergarteners N-Z start on Tuesday, August 20th All kindergarteners will join together on Wednesday, August 21st. Preschoolers A-M start on Thursday, August 22nd (do not come on August 23rd) Preschoolers N-Z start on Friday, August 23rd All preschoolers will join together on Monday, August 26th Student drop-off begins at 8:05 am. (This is the time we open our doors to the building for students to enter.) Student dismissal begins at 3:00 pm We can't wait to see all of our students in the building this week! -EECC Staff

Greetings EMS parents/guardians. First up, I am happy to report that the first day of school was absolutely wonderful yesterday! Students seemed happy and excited to be back in the building. It takes a few weeks for students to settle into their routines, especially the 6th graders, but overall, I am optimistic about our school year! I do need your help, however. This school year, we are opening and starting school 10 minutes later than last year. Our student start time is 7:20 am. Students should not be dropped off any earlier than 6:50 am and those early drop offs must occur in the rear (auditorium) drop off area. The main front drop off area does not open until 7:00 am. Please do not arrive on school grounds until 6:50 am. This will ensure that the drop off lines are open and moving and not backing up traffic onto Busenbark and SR 73. Please share this information with all drivers that transport your child. Thank you, EMS staff!

The Edgewood City School District would like to congratulate those staff members celebrating a service milestone this year as well as those who received a special award for service at the Staff Opening Day ceremony on August 14th. See the full announcement here: https://5il.co/2tptu

First day of school at EMS is tomorrow, Thursday, August 15! There is no staggered start at EMS. All students should report. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. First period begins at 7:20 a.m. Please review the drop off map if you are going to be bringing your student to school (or share with those that will be dropping them).

Hi families! Preschool and Kindergarten screenings are this Thursday and Friday! Please bring your child's school supplies during their screening times excepting for the following: Kindergarten: Headphones (bring on their first day of school) Preschool: Notebook (bring on their first day of school) If you do not remember your scheduled screening day or time, please call 513-867-3420. We can't wait to see our little cougars on Thursday and Friday!

Meet the new staff members of the Edgewood City School District for the 24/25 school year. https://5il.co/2thss

The Edgewood Admin Team would like to wish our students and parents a great start to the school year. Go Cougars! https://5il.co/2t8iy

Greetings EMS parents/guardians! In an effort to make morning parent drop off safe and efficient, last school year, EMS added a second morning drop off location. The goal of the second drop off location is to prevent traffic from backing up on Busenbark and State Route 73. Sitting backed up in traffic is not only frustrating, it is unsafe. Having observed this new traffic pattern for the second half of the school year, I am confident that morning EMS drop off can be safe and very efficient, but I need your help!! If you are not personally driving your child to school, please take the time to make sure that whoever is driving your students to school are aware of the traffic pattern and are utilizing BOTH drop off locations. There were times last year that I observed drivers waiting to turn left, blocking traffic behind them, creating unsafe conditions for everyone. When confronted, I was told by multiple drivers that their students prefer to be dropped off in the front versus the back of the school. Sorry to be blunt, but those teenagers will be fine walking a few extra steps to ensure that everyone gets to school on time SAFELY! As you approach the southwest corner of the building (yellow star on the map below), you may turn left to drop off students in the front of the building, or you may continue straight and drop off students at the Auditorium entrance. Both entrances are supervised by EMS staff and are convenient for students and drivers alike. Drivers should pull as far forward as possible before stopping to drop off students. This will allow as many cars as possible to fill in to maximize drop off space. Do not stop and drop off before pulling as far forward as possible! Drop and go! Have your students prepared and ready to step out and exit as quickly as possible. If your student is not prepared or you anticipate a longer than usual drop off, please pull out of the drop off lane and park in one of the parking lots to prevent causing a back-up. Be courteous and mindful of your surroundings. Morning drop off should be quick and efficient but safety must be paramount! Anyone observed behaving in an unsafe and discourteous manner will be addressed accordingly. The front doors(front drop off) will open at 7:00 a.m. The auditorium doors (rear drop off) will open at 6:50 a.m. Please plan accordingly. Please review the drop off map carefully and share the map with anyone who will be transporting your child.

Greetings EMS parents/guardians! Attached is the fee schedule for the 2024-25 school year. Any student who owes delinquent fees, fines and charges will be subject to the following restrictions: • Transcripts and school credits will be withheld until student fees are paid in full. • Participation in non-curricular field trips/activities (8th grade DC trip, Cougar Pride quarterly incentives, etc..) will be prohibited until student fees are paid in full. • Students will not be permitted to participate in any extracurricular activity until all fees, past and present, are paid in full . These fees must be paid before the first contest or performance. All fees may be paid with cash, check, money order or credit card when paying through PaySchoolsCentral. School Meals Program Below you will find meal prices for the year. Students may pay with cash or money may be added to their account through PaySchools Central. Applications for free and reduced lunch can be found on the district website or picked up in the main office. Please see the food services section of the district website for more details: click here Only those families who complete the applications will be eligible for free and reduced lunch. For the 2024-2025 school year meal prices are as follows: Breakfast - $1.85 Lunch - $3.60 Milk - $0.60 Transportation For bus routes and schedules, click here, or visit the transportation page on the website. BUS SAFETY All school rules apply on the school bus. Directions from the bus driver must be followed promptly and respectfully. Students with medical needs should provide the driver with a note providing any information that would be relevant to the driver. Drivers will report student misconduct to the Principal. ENTERING THE BUS • Students are to arrive at the stop before the bus is scheduled to arrive • Students are to wait in a location clear of traffic • Students are to stand clear of where the bus stops • School rules are in effect at the bus stops • Students are to go directly to an available seat or assigned seat • Students are to remain seated keeping aisles and exits clear EXITING THE BUS • After exiting the bus, immediately step away at least ten (10) feet • Stop movement, look at the bus driver’s face • Do not move toward the bus to cross the road until the driver signals • Stop at the left headlight of the bus and look before crossing the street PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS • Students may not eat or drink while on the bus • Students may not use profane language on the bus • Students may not use tobacco or alcohol products on the bus • Students may not put their head or arms outside the bus windows • Students may not throw or pass items on, from or into the bus • Students may not enter or exit at someone else’s stop unless they have written approval from their parents and the school administration • Students may not ride a bus which they were not assigned unless they have written approval from their parents and the school administration Students not following bus rules or behaving in a manner which distracts the driver or does anything to create an unsafe condition will be removed from the bus and transportation to and from school will become the responsibility of the family. Respectfully, Curtis Philpot, Principal Edgewood Middle School curtis.philpot@edgewoodschools.net

Please see the attached Fall 2024 Update from Kelly Spivey, Superintendent of Edgewood City Schools. https://5il.co/2su16

Please see the attached information regarding the Edgewood Substitute Career Fair on Wednesday, August 7th from 8am-5pm at the Board of Education office: https://5il.co/2stk7

Bus routes for the 24/25 school year have been posted on the transportation page of the Edgewood City Schools website. Quick link here: https://www.edgewoodschools.com/page/transportation. Please contact the transportation department with any questions.

Hi Edgewood families! Our preschool and kindergarten screening times will take place on Thursday, August 15th & Friday, August 16th. We will be calling families over the next few days to make sure that all families who have registered for preschool (and those returning) and kindergarten have scheduled a screening time. We know some of our families have questions on when our start days. Edgewood Early Childhood Center (EECC) preschool and kindergarten staggered start dates are as followed: Kindergarteners with the last name starting with A-M start on Monday, August 19th Kindergarteners with the last name starting with N-Z start on Tuesday, August 20th All kindergarteners will be together on Wednesday, August 21st. Preschoolers with the last name starting with A-M start on Thursday, August 22nd Preschoolers with the last name starting with N-Z start on Friday, August 23rd All preschoolers & kindergarteners will be together on Monday, August, 26th We can't wait to see all of our little cougars at screenings and on their first days of school! If you have any questions, please call 513-867-3420

Greetings EMS parents/guardians! As we embark on a new school year, I wanted to take a moment and provide you with some important information to share with your student on how to be successful at EMS. While I will be meeting with each class separately to review school rules and expectations, here are a few tips you can share with your student as they prepare for the new year! Come to school each day and try your hardest! Attendance and effort are the two single biggest factors in determining a student's success or their challenges. Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind! These are the core beliefs at EMS! We understand that every student is different and each of these attributes might present differently from one student to the next, but know that any action whether intentional or not, which contradicts these core beliefs will not be tolerated. Come to school prepared to learn! Bring necessary materials to class, leave unnecessary materials at home or in your locker (cell phones, earbuds, etc..). Be familiar with the classroom expectation and be prepared to follow them! Stay away from drama. Keep your focus on your studies, your friends, and your activities. DO NOT get caught up in the drama cycle. If you are hanging around others who want to talk about others, make fun of others, start trouble with others, or put their nose into other people's business, etc... Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from this person or group and stay away. In life, you reap what you sow....if you give away kindness and respect, you will get kindness and respect in return. This applies at school and on social media outside of school. Please choose kindness! Take pride in your school! Edgewood Middle School is your home for nearly 8 hours a day. Thousands of students and staff members have gone to school or worked in this building since 1970! As a member of the class of 1984, I cherish the memories of this school building and my time at Edgewood. Please show the respect to the building that it deserves! Many of your siblings, parents, grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, aunts, and neighbors attended this school and this building is a special place to them. My sincere hope is that you will have a great experience at EMS and you too will join the thousands and thousands of students with fond memories of this school. With that said, please treat the building with respect and encourage those around you to do the same. My gratitude goes to the custodial and maintenance staff for keeping this building in such great shape and expect our students to demonstrate their gratitude by being respectful to the building and not tolerating those that are not! I am very excited to start the new school year and hope that your students are excited as well. EMS is a great place to go to school and our staff is working hard every day to make it better. While the focus the past few years has been on culture and climate, this year's focus will be on teaching and learning. Students are aware of the expectations of EMS and now it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work to improve our academic achievement! Students will be expected to come to class prepared and to participate fully in the curriculum!   Disruptive or disengaged behaviors will not be tolerated! Thank you for taking the time to read this message and please share with your students. I look forward to getting to know you and your students and look forward to a great school year at EMS! Sincerely, Curtis Philpot, Principal Edgewood Middle School curtis.philpot@edgewoodschools.net (513)867-3450

Please welcome new staff to EMS! Alex Ahlers - Assistant Principal Kris Barnes - Social Studies Jenny Roberts - Math Tyler Hines - Math Theodora Kuhn - Spanish Jimmy Cassidy - Science April Craft - Intervention Specialist

Greetings EMS parents/guardians/students! All EMS students are assigned a locker. Lockers are located in close proximity to the grade level's classrooms with a few exceptions. Students are expected to utilize their lockers to store their backpacks, coats, school supplies, and any other personal items students elect to bring to school. School lockers do not have built in locks so it is suggested that students bring their own lock from home or you may purchase a lock from the school. School locks are $7 and feature a control key so that if a student forgets their combination, they may be accessed without having to cut them off. School locks are also numbered and registered and can be returned to their rightful owner in the event they become misplaced. Because we buy them in bulk, you will be hard pressed to find a master lock at a cheaper price. Locks can be purchased for $7 during office hours or at Open House. Backpacks are permitted to be carried to and from school, but are not permitted to be carried to classes. Students must stow their backpacks in their lockers upon arrival to school and may retrieve them at dismissal time. Cell Phones/ELECTRONIC DEVICES Student use of cell phones/earbuds are considered a distraction/disruption which interferes with the educational environment and are prohibited during the school day. Because students are not allowed to use or carry cell phones/earbuds during the school day, it is recommended that they remain at home. If a student brings a cell phone/earbuds to school for after school use, it must remain powered off and stored in their locker during the school day. Expectations for Storage of Cell Phones/earbuds: Devices are REQUIRED to be powered off and stored inside the locker upon arrival to school and must remain powered off and inside the locker until school dismissal. The school assumes no responsibility for any theft or damage to a student’s cell phone, electronic devices, or earbuds. Students are NOT allowed to carry cell phones/earbuds in their pocket and/or use the cell phone/earbuds during the school day. Students violating the cell phone policy will have their cell phone/earbuds confiscated and face disciplinary action. Parents/Guardians are advised that the best way to get in touch with their child during the school day is by calling the school office. Additionally, phones are available in our office should a student need to contact their parent/guardian.