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Weekly Wildcat-Community
Feburary 2, 2024
Stanley Elementary Building Statements
Because being safe and kind matters,
It will never be okay to be hurtful.
Because growing is important,
It will never be okay to disrupt learning.
Save the Date
2/5-2/8- School Counselor Week
2/6- Board Only PTO Meeting @7pm in library
2/6-2/7- Parent/Teacher Conference 4pm-7:30pm
2/8- No School, Parent/Teacher Conference 8am-4pm
2/9- No School
2/14- Valentine's Day Class Parties
2/8- No School (Parent/Teacher Conference)
2/9- No School
2/13- Dental Screening
2/19- No School (President's Day) and Stanley Restaurant @ Panera (Bluhawk) from 8am-8pm
2/24- Sweetheart Dance
3/7- 1st Grade Musical
3/4-3/8- School Social Worker Day
3/5- Open PTO meeting @ 7pm in library
3/8- No School (End of 2nd Quarter)
3/11-3/15- No School (Spring Break)
3/18- No School - Professional Learning Day
3/23- Boys Night Out
4/1- No School- Professional Learning Day
4/3- Paraprofessional Day
4/4- School Libarian Day
4/12- Kindergarten Round Up- (No school for Kindergarten)
4/17- Family Literacy Game Night 6-8pm
4/19- No School- Professional Learning Day
4/24- Professional Adminstrative Day
5/1-School Principal Day and School Substitute Day
5/3- School Lunch Hero Day
5/8- School Nurse Day
5/14- Open PTO meeting @7pm in library
5/23- Fifth Grade Farewell
5/24- Last Day of School- Half Day 11:45am dismissal
Chiefs Spirit Week- Let's Go!!!
NOTE FROM NURSE
Hi Stanley Families,
There has been an uptick of students out sick recently! We have seen some Influenza A and Covid as well as other viral illnesses. To help protect yourself and others, please emphasize proper hand hygiene, covering your cough, and practicing good sleep habits with your students! As always, if your student is diagnosed with a specific illness such as Covid, Strep, or Flu, I appreciate you letting me know for tracking purposes. Please be assured that your child's name would never be shared with that information! My e-mail is asferguson@bluevalleyk12.org.
Thank you so much for helping to keep our students safe!
Early Childhood News
Preschool Bus Riders: Please remember if your child is not riding the bus, please let the bus company know so they don’t make an unnecessary stop. Durham’s phone number is: 913-681-2492.
Thank you,
EC Team
Handle with Care
Every Child Can Read Act
On July 1, 2023, the Every Child Can Read Act went into effect in Kansas. The intent of this legislation was to address literacy initiatives with a target of ensuring students reach grade level benchmarks by third grade. In Blue Valley, we prioritize partnership with families in conjunction with high quality, evidence-based instruction rooted in the science of reading. Rather than limit conversations about reading progress to 3rd grade, it is our practice to do so at each grade level. KSDE has provided a summary of this Act which can be found here.
BVEF Innovative Educator Award
Do you know an educator who goes above and beyond to inspire, engage, and innovate in the classroom? Now is your chance to recognize their outstanding contributions! Nominations are officially open for BVEF’s annual Innovative Educator Award. This prestigious honor celebrates two classroom teachers (one elementary and one secondary) who creatively apply innovative teaching methods, foster critical thinking skills, and ignite a passion for learning in their students.
Each innovative educator will receive a $1,250 grant for their classroom. Applications are due March 1st. Click HERE to learn more and nominate a deserving educator. Thank you!
Securly HOME-
Have you ever wondered how to monitor your child’s usage on their Blue Valley device? We have parent tools that will allow you to receive notifications to ensure your child is using their device safely. School staff members monitor these devices during the school day and intervene, when necessary. However, parents can receive alerts if concerns arise when students use devices after school hours–including weekends and school breaks. Check out the Securly HomeParent Portal App here.
Inclement Weather Information
As the winter months continue, there is always the possibility of inclement weather. When extreme weather conditions exist, the district may cancel school or utilize a two-hour delayed start when temporary adverse weather conditions exist. When possible, inclement weather announcements will be made the day before so staff and families can plan. More information about inclement weather (including 2-hour delayed starts) can be found on the district website.
Attendance Reporting and Notifications
Families can expect automated attendance messages by email, phone, and text if a child is absent and their absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to report an absence or reply to the automated email or phone message.
What is the purpose of attendance notifications?
We realize that students may occasionally need to miss school for planned absences, illnesses, and appointments. However, when a student does not arrive at school or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to make sure you are aware that your child is absent.
How can I get push notifications?
Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. If a child has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance, then a push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device.
Interested in push notifications? Simply download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings and select attendance notifications through in-app settings. Once the app is downloaded, these instructions will help you complete the set-up.
Incoming Kindergarten Information
We are so excited to start the process to welcome our Kindergarten families for the Fall of 2024. Children who reside in Blue Valley Schools and turn 5 years of age by August 31 are eligible to attend kindergarten that school year. If you live in the Stanley Elementary boundaries and will have an incoming Kindergarten student next fall, please click on this link to pre-register:Click Here
(This is a school-created Google form or link!)
More information will be shared with you at the end of February including welcome videos, online registration instructions, and information about Kindergarten Round Up in April.
Please pass this message/link on to neighbors that might not have a student in our system and might not yet receive our weekly emails!
New assessment tool replaces longtime MAP tests
A new assessment taking the place of MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing has made evaluating data easier for teachers and decreased testing time for students, allowing for more focused instruction time.
The district’s goal for the school year is to have 84% of students who take the assessment score in the low-risk or college-ready category — or the 40th percentile.
To learn more about Fastbridge, read this Learning Connection story
Fostering A Safe School Environment
As we move into a new semester, please share the following message in your upcoming family newsletters:
Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all of our schools. Through the convergence of physical and intellectual security measures, we are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of emergencies. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.
Stanley Social Media
Paw Winners
KDG – Molly P. & Easton N.
1st – Chadlee L. & Daxten F.
2nd – Cora H. & Haadiya N.
3rd – Hanna G. & Jacob H.
4th – Gideon B. & Abe S.
5th – Landree S. & Sofia V.
CAMP STAN IS BACK!
Join Coach B and Mrs. Miller this summer for a PE and art camp! Click here for more details or scan the QR code below.
Community for Kids
Dear Stanley Families:
We are excited to offer a great community resource through our partnership with Community for Kids.
Community for Kids is a local non-profit organization that has the mission “to alleviate food insecurity for students in the Blue Valley Community by providing weekend food packs”.
Here’s how it works: if your family chooses to participate in the program you sign up by emailing Kaitlyn Dobratz, School Social Worker at Stanley Elementary. Then, each week any child in your family ages pre-school through middle school is eligible to receive a weekend food pack throughout the school year. There is no cost to participate in the program and participation is voluntary. Community for Kids and Blue Valley are currently working out the details to deliver the packs each week to the school.
If you would like your family to participate in the weekend food pack program, please notify Mrs. Dobratz via email (kdobratz@bluevalleyk12.org) or by calling Mrs. Dobratz at 913-239-7223.
Nurse Notes
Parents,
Cold and Flu season is approaching so this is a reminder to keep kids at home if they are exhibiting signs of illness. Students must be fever free without the use of medication for 24 hours before returning to school and must be feeling well enough to physically participate in all activities. Blue Valley standard for a fever is above 100.0 degrees. Students must also be home for 24 hours following any episode of vomiting or diarrhea. To prevent the spread of germs, it is good to teach children proper hygiene such as washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth. If your child is diagnosed with a contagious disease such as Strep, Flu, or Covid it is helpful to let the nurse know so that I can track and notify as needed. Your child's name would never be shared with that information! My E-mail is asferguson@bluevalleyk12.org.
Also, with the colder air we have seen a lot of kiddos needing chap stick or lotion. Students are able to keep these items in their backpack for personal use as needed!
Thank you for your help in keeping students and staff safe this season!
Note from Art Teacher
Still collecting plastic grocery bags
Thank you for all the grocery bags you’ve brought in this week! The art room is still needing more though for all the clay projects we are doing in January!
Stay up to date with everything Stanley PTO @
· The Weekly Wildcat
· PTO Website (Click Here)
· PTO Facebook Page Click Here
· Stanley Community Facebook Group Click Here
Save the Date for Sweetheart 2024
Tickets sales are now LIVE on https://stanleypto.membershiptoolkit.com/ - Please purchase tickets by February 17th to guarantee a keepsake - Are you ready for it?
Join PTO Today!
PTO Membership is now open for the 2023-2024 school year! The PTO does so many great things throughout each school year to support our kids and staff. We are hard at work to make this school year AMAZING and can't do it without YOU! Join now at http://stanleypto.org for $25 per family!
Volunteer for 2023-2024
Volunteers are still needed for some key committees! We'd love to have you volunteer to help us plan our events and activities for the 2023-2024 school year. We can't do this without our wonderful Stanley community! Click here for volunteer opportunities and to sign up.
Community Celebrations and Observances - to promote awareness and appreciation of our Blue Valley families.
Some January Celebrations & Observances:
National Poverty Awareness Month - While the United States is considered the richest country in the world, 37.9 million people live in poverty, including 12.5 million children. National Poverty Awareness Month works to bring awareness to issues of poverty and increase access to resources and services. To help and or find support, visit Johnson County Outreach Services.
Maghi - January 13 - a Sikh celebration. Some Sikh families will celebrate with a recitation of the holy Guru Granth Sahib and religious rituals in Gurdwaras - a Sikh place of assembly and worship meaning “Gateway to the Guru”.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 15 - a day that honors the life and legacy of the civil rights leader. Some families will participate in a day of service to their communities.
World Religion Day - January 21 - established by the Baháʼí Faith community in 1950. Now observed by people around the world, it seeks to find common values shared by different faiths, encourage tolerance and dialogue, and foster cooperation among religious communities.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27 - an annual day of commemorating the six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims of the Holocaust and Nazism.
Field Trip
Attendance Procedures
If your child will miss school, please call the Stanley Elementary attendance line at 913-239-7205 or email the attendance line at
Please include your child's name (first and last), grade level, classroom teacher, and reason for the absence. If leaving a message, please make sure you speak slowly and clearly. It is always helpful to repeat the information as well. The Blue Valley School District has amended the district's attendance policy (Board Policy 3200). Students will be permitted seven excused absences during the school year for family emergencies, vacations, and personal business. Send a note to the teacher and the office if your child is on vacation. Separate letters should be written for each child.
Attendance Reporting and Notifications
Families can expect automated attendance messages by email and text if a child is absent and their absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to report an absence or reply to the automated phone message.
What is the purpose of attendance notifications?
We realize that students may occasionally need to miss school for planned absences, illnesses, and appointments. However, when a student does not arrive at school or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to ensure you know your child is absent.
How can I get push notifications?
Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. A push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device if a child has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance.
Are you interested in push notifications? Download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings, and select attendance notifications through in-app settings. Once the app is downloaded, these instructions will help you complete the setup.
Café (Cafeteria)
The breakfast and lunch menus can be found online here. You can also download the Nutrislice app to access daily/weekly menus.
Reporting an absence
If your student is going to be absent from school, notify us through Stanley's website no later than 9am.
- Go to Stanley's website, click on Parents, and then click on "Report An Absence".
- Please let us know why your student is absent (if they are ill please let us know what his/her symptoms are).
- You can leave a message on Stanley's Absence Line at 239-7205, 24 hours a day.
- You can also email the front office attendancestan@bluevalleyk12.org
- The office will notify the teacher of your student's absence
Attendance
- Email: attendancestan@bluevalleyk12.org
- Phone: (913) 239-7005
School Office:
- Email: StanleyElementary@bluevalleyk12.org
- Phone: (913) 239-7000
Nut-Safer Guidelines
At STA, we have a wide variety of food allergens and restrictions. To remain safe and to prevent exclusion, we don't accept food, including items from the Nut-Safe List, to serve in school or send home with students for birthday celebrations. This complies with our non-edible birthday celebration. Essentially, we must remember that sending food home is a risk for children as they transition between school and home, putting our families in an undesirable position when they cannot eat what is provided.
Blue Valley (BV) School's Nut Safer Guidelines for daily snacks will be implemented throughout the school year.
· Classroom snacks must be from the Nut Safer list.
· Nut Safer seating is available in the café during lunch.
We appreciate your support as we work to be more preventative with food safety measures to enhance student and staff safety.
The complete Nut Safer Foods and BV Guidelines can be found here.
Birthday Policy
Due to the growing number of food allergies and medical needs of students, STA has a non-edible treat policy. Students may bring non-edible birthday treats (e.g., pencils, stickers, etc.) per arrangement with the classroom teacher.
Birthday Invitations: We ask that students not distribute invitations to private birthday parties at school unless every class member receives an invitation.