FAQ

We’ve pooled our collective experience to create a list of FAQ and essential info for SCPA parents. Don’t see your question on the list? Email wearescpa@gmail.com and ask!

PLEASE NOTE: This is a collection of information created by PTSO families. For OFFICIAL information, go to the school website.

How can I learn about what’s going on at SCPA?

The best way to learn about upcoming school events, holidays, closed-school days, and district-wide or state-wide testing is on SCPA’s all-school calendar.

Principal Owens sends out a weekly update on Fridays–you should get both a recorded phone call and an email every Friday. It is always filled with helpful information, so don’t ignore those!

The PTSO Meetings and Events page has information about PTSO events and activities, including volunteer and support opportunities.

Elementary teachers often use a folder system to communicate with families–check your child’s backpack for their communication folder where you will find letters, flyers, field trip permission slips, etc. It is best to check everyday, but at least check after the first and last day of the week since that is usually when teachers send that stuff home!

There are a variety of official and non-official sources related to SCPA:

How can I meet and get to know other SCPA parents and families?

The PTSO organizes events for this very purpose! Our Coffee Chat at the beginning of every school year is a morning event where parents to stop by for free coffee and a light breakfast to meet each other and learn more about the PTSO. In the fall we also host The Soiree, which is a fun party intended equally as a fundraiser and a way for parents/guardians and other adults in the SCPA community to meet each other. Some other ways to meet other SCPA families include coming to our monthly PTSO meeting (first Tuesday of every month) and volunteering with school, major-specific, or PTSO events. If you have elementary kids you will usually (on nice days at least) find a collection of other SCPA elementary-school families at Washington Park playground after school.

How can I get more involved with the school and my kids’ classroom?

There are so many opportunities to get involved! First, many volunteer opportunities require you to have a security badge–this is a district-wide requirement for working with kids. Here is a link to more information about the badges: https://www.cps-k12.org/our-students/student-safety/security-badges

There are some volunteer opportunities with PTSO that do not require a badge, but most do, so we suggest that every volunteer gets one. If cost is a barrier for you to get a badge, please email us. PTSO may have funds available to help parents and guardians get badges, but we will ask you to commit to volunteering with the school in exchange.

If you want to volunteer in your child’s classroom, contact their teacher directly. Many teachers welcome parent volunteers during the year.

PTSO has lots of volunteer opportunities, check out our current list here: Volunteer Signups.

Major-specific groups always need volunteers. Contact your student’s teacher for more information.

Come to PTSO meetings (in person or over zoom)–the principal and artistic director provide monthly updates and there is always time for questions!

Attend SCPA events and performances. SCPA has a really fun and great community, so SCPA events are always a blast! And SCPA performances are world class; you don’t need to have a student in a performance to come watch and enjoy. Contact the Box Office for ticket information.

How can I help support SCPA and my kids’ teachers?

Volunteer!

There are multiple ways to financially support SCPA. The SCPA Fund is a non-profit organization created to support the mission of academic and artistic excellence at the School For Creative & Performing Arts.

With the help of private contributions, SCPA is better equipped to serve the unique talents and needs of its diverse student body. From basic necessities to enrichment opportunities, contributions help supplement a broad range of essentials, including additional staffing and equipment, new pointe shoes, sheet music, costumes and the rights to bring innovative productions to its theaters each year.

The PTSO also raises money to support student activities, teacher & staff appreciation, and community-building at SCPA. Explore ways to support us on our Ways to Give page!

You can also help support the SCPA Resource Coordinator who provides vital necessities to SCPA families in need. She can always use grocery store gift cards and personal hygiene items.

Teachers–especially elementary teachers–can always use help with supplies and snacks. If you are in a position to send in additional supplies, just reach out to your kids’ teachers and ask if the classroom has any needs. The elementary arts teachers often have classroom needs as well. Ms. Drout is always collecting art supplies and items that can be repurposed into art supplies for the annual K-3 art installation.

How should I communicate with my kids’ teachers?

All the teachers’ email addresses are on the SCPA website here: https://scpa.cps-k12.org/contact/staff-list. Beyond that, many teachers–especially elementary teachers–use apps for messaging and class-wide communication. If the teacher uses one of those, they will tell you about that early in the school year. There are unconfirmed rumors that the school will be choosing a universal app for this purpose, but us PTSO parents haven’t gotten word of that yet!

What do working parents/guardians do with their kids on school breaks and closed-school days?

There are few organized all-day activities in Cincinnati for these days and breaks. The zoo runs a popular camp during spring break and it includes before/after care. It is very popular and fills up fast. The YMCA offers some day camps on holidays and has financial assistance. Places like climbing gyms and ninja gyms sometimes offer single-day camps. Some daycare centers and home daycares provide drop-in care.

And since SCPA is an elementary through high school, there are awesome older students just waiting for babysitting jobs. A few of those students are the kids of PTSO members, so feel free to send an email if you want a referral for those students!

What are my kids going to eat all day?

All elementary students get breakfast as soon as they arrive at school. They will have a few options for breakfast everyday, and breakfast is always free for all students! School lunch is only free if you qualify. More information about the application process for free and reduced lunch can be found on the CPS website. Even if you don’t qualify, the school lunches are a great deal, and you can put money in your students’ account easily online. School lunches are planned out by the district, and menus are available on the School Cafe website. Or kids can pack a lunch.

Can I bring little kids, extended family, etc. to an upcoming event at SCPA?

As a rule, SCPA is a really open and inclusive place and younger siblings and extended family are generally welcome at events.

How can I survive the pick-up/drop-off line?

Ugh. Pick-up/drop-off lines are the banes of our collective existence, right? First, know that the first week or two is always hard, but then it gets better. Principal Owens will send out information at the start of school on how to operate the pick-up/drop-off system. But here are some extra tips: Bring lots of patience. Don’t park and leave your car in the drop-off or pick-up lane. There are almost always spots available across the street on 12th or in the surrounding blocks where you can park and walk directly to the gate (or kindergarten door). The busiest time is right at the beginning of drop off/pick up. Most important, drive slowly and safely near the school–especially down 12th. SCPA’s staff takes great care of our kids and keeps them inside the gates, but little siblings and kids getting out of cars can occasionally mean a sudden child darting across 12th.

Is there before and after care for elementary students?

Unfortunately, this is a big question mark. The YMCA runs the before and after care program at SCPA, and they have had problems in recent years staffing the program. We have not had a reliable before and after care program since covid, but there are reasons to be optimistic that this year is when it will come back for us! All we can say is fingers crossed, and keep following any updates from Principal Owens on this.

Yes! But they are limited.

Many SCPA kids join non-school sports leagues, like the Clifton soccer league. This league often groups students by school so they get to be on teams together! If your family lives or works in the West End, you can also join the West End Pride soccer league run by FCC! Many SCPA elementary students also join the Cincinnati Reds Little League. The Cincinnati Tennis Foundation has great and affordable tennis and pickleball options.

What’s the procedure if my child needs to stay home from school?

If your student needs to stay home from school, fill out the form for submitting absences via the school website. The form can be found HERE.

You will need to provide a note when your child returns to school to make sure the absence is marked as excused. Your student should give this to the front desk.

Where can I find more information about school policies?

The handbook! The 4-12 Student Handbook, available HERE, contains guidance for grades 4-12. The K-3 Student Handbook is available HERE.