Barlow-Vincent Elementary School has received a $500 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program to support the school’s educational programs. Janet Niceswanger of Par Mar #2 in Barlow worked with school officials to secure the grant which is one of 4,000 available to schools across the country. Funded by the ExxonMobil Corporation, this grant program is designed to provide Exxon retailers like Par Mar Oil with an opportunity to invest in the future of their community through educational grants to neighborhood schools! Thank you Par Mar #2!

Today was our annual Thanksgiving Lunch – it was wonderful to have so many family and community members join our students! All families should have received a mailed notice from Warren Local Schools Food Services explaining the new computerized cafeteria system that will begin on December 3, 2008. Students should begin memorizing their PIN numbers. We realize that for students in grades K-2 memorization of a PIN number and use of a PIN pad system can be challenging and we do have alternative system in place for those students as needed. However, it is expected that all students in grades 3-8 will always individually access their accounts through the PIN system. Families are encouraged to make payments weekly or monthly rather than daily. For students purchasing breakfast, lunch, and A la carte items, money will NOT be collected in the cafeteria lines. Students must have money in their accounts prior to going through the lines. Account payments can be made in homeroom, and monthly statements are available upon request. This program is already working very effectively at Warren High School and Warren Elementary School and we look forward to its benefits here!

As I communicated at the beginning of the school year, Barlow-Vincent Elementary School is participating in the Ohio Department of Education’s School Improvement Process because we did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) with special needs students. School officials continue to work with staff from the Ohio Department of Education to analyze our academic testing data and to create a school improvement plan that will be enacted for the 2009-2010 school year. If you have ideas about how we can improve our academic or other school services, I welcome your suggestions and feedback.

Dismissal time can be hectic for our students and staff if there are many last minute changes in student departures. Our goal is that students will arrive home safely. If a student typically rides home on a school bus, we will send the student home on the bus unless the student has a written note from parents/guardians stating otherwise. Telephone instructions will only be taken in case of an emergency.

f you have school-wide or building concerns, please contact the school office. Classroom concerns can be directed to the classroom teacher. Remember to call the school to report the reason for your child’s absence

Mrs. Starcher
Barlow-Vincent Elementary School Principal