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Cassingham Newsletter #32: 04/05/2026

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Cassingham Newsletter #32: 04/05/2026

Cassingham Newsletter #32

Dear Families:

You might have noticed that information about school attendance is in our newsletter every week. We understand that kids get sick, and of course they should stay home to get well. As a reminder, the State of Ohio requires schools to track attendance by hours. We notice there is a direct correlation between school attendance and academic performance. Attendance is discussed during our MTSS process, which stands for multiple tiered systems of support.  We are seeing that a number of students in the MTSS process have chronic absenteeism or are trending in that direction, which means they are out of school for more than 10% of the school year. When possible, we ask that family vacations take place during days when there is no school. Time missed from school for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences, will contribute to chronic absenteeism. We want all of our Mallards, Moose, and Cubs to have the highest academic achievement and growth possible.  During the MTSS process, we provide many interventions and accommodations to help our students.  For this to happen, students need to be in school.

Thanks for your partnership!

Nyesha Clayton, Montrose Elementary School Principal

Rachel Niswander, Maryland Elementary School Principal

David Schottner, Cassingham Elementary School Principal   
 

Important Dates

4/8 & 4/9 3rd, 4th, & 5th Reading OST

4/22 & 4/23 3rd, 4th, & 5th Math OST

4/29 & 4/30 5th Science OST 

4/23 Kindergarten Orientation meeting 6:00-7:00pm in school library

5/05 No School, Teacher Professional Development Day

5/07 Arts Extravaganza (Details to be shared soon)
 

Class Lists for 26-27

Our staff takes months to build our class lists, using everything we know about your child and what they need to succeed in the future.  Therefore, we kindly ask you to not make any requests about teachers and classmates.  Class Lists Info for Cassingham Families
 

Kindergarten Registration

If you know of any families who have a child starting Kindergarten in the fall, please share this enrollment link with them!  Enrollment for the 26-27 school year is now open!  All registered kindergarten parents/guardians are invited to kindergarten orientation in their respective elementary school library on Thursday, April 23, from 6-7 p.m. This event is for adults only.  

Students will be invited to a Meet and Greet session with kindergarten teachers, which will take place the week before school starts in August. We look forward to meeting our Moose, Mallards, and Cubs who will one day be the Bexley Lions Class of 2039!
 

 

Wheeled Vehicles on School Grounds

Wheeled vehicles (bikes, scooters, etc.) are not to be used on school grounds during or after school hours. Students may walk their wheeled transportation to and from the bike racks on school property, but please refrain from riding them on school grounds for the safety of all.
 

Attendance

It is important for every student in Ohio to attend school every day. Missing too much school has long‐term, negative effects on students, such as lower achievement and graduation rates. By using data to identify and support students who may need extra support and services, districts can implement targeted supports to help students get to school every day. In December 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation to encourage and support a preventative approach to excessive absences and truancy.

Like all schools in Ohio, your child’s school cannot (and will not) suspend or expel students for missing too much school. Districts will amend or adopt policies that outline their interventions and plans for students who miss too much school. Regular school attendance is an important ingredient in students’ academic success. Excessive absences interfere with students’ progress in mastering knowledge and skills necessary to graduate from high school and be prepared for higher education and the workforce. 

To support academic success for all students, the district will partner with students and their families to identify and reduce barriers to regular school attendance. The district will utilize a continuum of strategies to reduce student absence, including, but not limited to:

  • Notification of student absence to the parent or guardian
  • Development and implementation of an absence intervention plan, which may include supportive services for students and families
  • Counseling
  • Parent/guardian education and parenting/guardian programs
  • Mediation
  • Intervention programs available through juvenile authorities
  • Referral for truancy, if applicable.

Definition of Truancy & Excessive Absences 

The definition of “habitual truant” is:

  • Absent 30 or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse
  • Absent 42 or more hours in one school month without a legitimate excuse
  • Absent 72 or more hours in one school year without a legitimate excuse.
  • The definition of “excessive absences” is:
  • Absent 38 or more hours in one school month with or without a legitimate excuse
  • Absent 65 or more hours in one school year with or without a legitimate excuse.

(See Policy JEDA.)
 

Head Lice

It is very common for head lice to be a problem in an elementary school setting. Lice is not caused by lack of hygiene. Lice is spread mostly by head to head contact and has been proven to be primarily spread outside of the classroom setting (playdates, sleepovers, etc). It is imperative that parents are proactive about checking their child’s/children’s head(s) regularly, especially elementary aged children. If head lice is present you should notify the parents of any close contacts that your child may have had. Additionally, please inform the school health office immediately, so that we can send out a timely notification.  

If you receive a notification from the school, please check your child’s head at that time and report any positive lice findings to the school health office.  Please contact your healthcare provider or your school nurse for recommendations on treatment.  

Please review Head Lice Procedures for Bexley City Schools as well as links to the science behind this protocol. Please take the time to read the recommendations from the CDC, AAP and NASN.    

CDC 

American Academy of Pediatrics

National Association of School Nurses

How to treat head lice
 

Cassingham Update

 

Upcoming Talent Show

Dear Cubs and Families,

Cassingham's Star Search is coming soon on Monday, May 11. Start working on your acts now! Video submissions are due no later than Wednesday, April 15.  Fill out the form and upload a recording of your talent using the following link: Sign Up Here.  We are so looking forward to seeing all the creative ways Cubs showcase their multitudes of talents. A panel of judges will select a unique variety of acts for the May 11th assembly. Our goal is to have approximately 1 act per class (20-25 acts total). Even if your act is not chosen for the May 11th assembly, we would like to share your performance on CCN.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Miss Akilah, Mr.Bellamy, or Mr. Leck

 

Playground

Students must go home before returning to the playground after school, unless they have an adult with them.  School supervision ends at 3:00 PM.  It has been reported to me that students are exhibiting unacceptable behaviors, including physical contact, using profanity, and being unkind to other Cubs, on the playground after school.  We encourage you to contact other parents when this happens.  If students are unsupervised directly after school, we will ask them to return home.

 

Rising 6th Grade Meeting

For our 5th grade families that could not attend the recent meeting with the middle school leadership team, here is the video recording of that meeting.