Carman Paw Print

Dear Carman Families,

We have so much information for you this week -- Early Release, Book Fair, Coin War, Read Across America, Papa John's Night, and MORE! Let's get started:

We will have Early Release on Wednesday, March 2nd at 2:05 p.m.

Yearbook order forms were sent home on Friday! Please make sure to check your child's backpack for a flyer with information on how to order. The cost is $15 and the deadline to order is March 11th.

The Scholastic Book Fair is back! The Book Fair is In-Person for students and began on Friday, February 24th, continuing through March 4th, 2022. The ONLINE Book Fair will continue through Wednesday, March 9th.

Students can shop during their library time or throughout the day. They will preview items and make their wish list during their library time. Parents, please be aware -- there will be TAX on items purchased, so please plan to add a bit of extra money to cover costs. Students may utilize the eWallet system for purchases at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/carmantrailselementarysch

We are happy to invite families to shop in-person at the Book Fair on the following dates and at the times listed:

Tuesday, March 1st - 4:20 - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 2nd - 2:15 - 5:00 p.m. (due to Early Release)

Thursday, March 3rd - 4:20 - 6:00 p.m.

Beginning on Monday, February 28th and continuing through the week, Carman students will be able to participate in a "Coin War" - each day students can bring in a specific coin to add to their classroom's Coin Jug and compete against other classes to win the grand prize of a Silly String War! Please see the flyer below for details on "coin days".

To help celebrate Read Across America Week, we will have specially themed days all week that students and staff may participate in:

Monday - Wear Mismatched Shoes and Socks

Tuesday - Bring a Stuffed Animal

Wednesday - Wear Your Pajamas to School

Thursday - Wear Your Favorite Color(s)

Friday - Wear a Special Hat

Do you have a student who will turn 5 years old before Aug. 1, 2022? Kindergarten Registration is OPEN and online! Just go to https://www.parkwayschools.net/Page/1950 to register! If you have any questions, please feel free to call Mrs. Regan at 314-415-6104. Families are encouraged to register early for staffing and planning purposes. You can also visit https://www.smore.com/u9caf which includes information on registration, a recording of Wonderful World of Kindergarten and an interactive google classroom that has tons of stories and information on how to best prepare for kindergarten.

Don't forget that our PTO Fundraiser is Papa John's Pizza Night on March 3rd -- 10% of net sales will come back to Carman! Valid at the Valley Park location only.

Please note, we will be having outdoor recess daily, when conditions permit. Please be sure your student arrives at school with a coat and gloves, and a hat if possible.

With CT Pride,

Allison

Volunteers and Visitors

We will begin to welcome volunteers and visitors inside Carman Trails after President's Day holiday! While we will slowly be opening back up for different volunteer and visitor activities, we will not be opening visitors at lunch for the rest of this school year. Due to the nature of how we are currently using our cafeteria with students' masks off at this time, keeping 3 feet apart, and utilizing table dividers, we will not have space to welcome lunch visitors at this time. Please be on the lookout for more details as we begin navigating opening our buildings back up to our community. Teachers and staff will begin to share ways they might be able to use the assistance of volunteers for the classroom. We have certainly missed this aspect of our partnership over the past eighteen months.

Please note the following specifics related to volunteer and visitor opportunities:

• A Parkway volunteer is an individual who has an opportunity to be alone with a student.
• A Parkway visitor is an individual in a school for a limited period of time who does not have the opportunity to be alone with a student.
• Visitors and volunteers will follow the same health and safety protocols as students and staff.
• If a COVID outbreak occurs in a school or building, volunteers and visitors would not be allowed in the building during the outbreak period.
• Per Missouri Statute 168.133, those who wish to volunteer must complete a fingerprint background check through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI. The cost for the background check is $41.75 and is the responsibility of the volunteer. The background check will remain current as long as a volunteer stays active. If a year passes, the volunteer will need to complete and pay for another background check.
• Volunteers may complete the App Garden (Parkway volunteer tracking software) beginning on February 14, 2022.

Here is the link to register. https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/783

After someone signs up with App Garden, the training on App Garden will include all the information about background checks including where to go and how to sign up.

Hello Carman Families!

Your PTO is thrilled to see the return of an in-person Trivia Night for the Carman community this year! Though we couldn't get the actual Saturday Night Live comedians on board with the event, we're really excited for our surprise emcee and the line up of auction items that we're sure won't disappoint!

Casting call for Carman Night Live - Trivia Night!

When: Saturday, April 2, 2022- 6pm Doors Open, 7pm Trivia Starts

Where: Trinity Lutheran Church (1488 Clayton Road, 63017)

This is a great way to meet Carman families and staff, particularly for the younger families that haven't yet had the opportunity to network in person. If you have a group of 8 that you want to play trivia with, you can register a full group - OR - we will help place you with a table!

ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE:

1. Cash or Check can still be sent in with the paper form to school (This form was sent home a couple weeks ago, but is also attached if you need a new one)
   
2. NEW! We've now added a QR code to the printable flyer (attached) for your convenience. Please send in the paper form to school, noting you paid with this method
   
3. NEW! Register online- payment accepted thru Paypal (no account needed) CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION

REGISTER BY MARCH 13TH FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!: Thinking that you may need a little help with those tough to answer trivia questions?! Don't worry! All registrations received by Sunday, March 13th will be entered for a chance to win a set of Mulligans for your table.

We hope to see you there!

Carman Trails PTO

2/17/2022 -- The Parkway Board of Education voted 5-2 to approve the following changes to our health plan and other key decisions. Board President, Jeff Todd, joined me in this video to share more information about our plans.

Masks will be recommended, but not required, in all K-12 Parkway schools effective February 19. If the percentage of students testing positive reaches 2% or higher at an individual school, students and staff will be required to wear masks at that school for two weeks. Right now, all of our schools are under the 2% positivity rate.

I am aware that, after nearly two years since the pandemic began, moving to an environment in which masks are recommended but not required is significant. Many in our community will choose to continue to wear a mask based on their individual or family circumstances. Others will not. Regardless of the decision each individual makes, I want to be clear: we will continue to support and respect one another as we have throughout the pandemic. While this new phase will mark a visible shift, we will continue to foster the caring and respect for one another for which Parkway is so well known.

The board also approved the following:

• Students may be able to return to school after five days, instead of 10, after testing positive or having symptoms if certain criteria are met as outlined by the CDC. When a student returns to school after testing positive, they will wear a well-fitting mask at school through day 10 per CDC guidelines. Your school nurse will certainly guide you through this process in the event your child has symptoms or tests positive. Click here to learn more.
  
  
• Since preschool students are not eligible for a vaccine, preschool and Early Childhood staff will continue wearing masks when working directly with students.

We have a few calendar updates to share:

• Thursday, April 14, which is currently scheduled as an early release day, will be a No School day and the district will be closed. This decision was made in order to support the well-being of teachers, staff and students and give everyone time to attend to personal needs, mental health and wellness.
  
  
• We will be closed in observance of the new federal holiday, Juneteenth, which is observed this year on Monday, June 20. Parkway will be closed on June 20 and there will be no summer school.

Thank you for your continued support,

Thank you,
Dr. Marty
Superintendent

Kindergarten registration for the 2022-23 school year is now open. Students must be five (5) years old before Aug. 1, 2022, to enter Kindergarten for the school year. More information about Kindergarten can be found here as well as at https://www.smore.com/u9caf

Come be a part of our character recognition efforts! Now, whenever you see a student (or staff member) demonstrating character outside of school, you can nominate them using this Google Form - linked here: https://forms.gle/rtmmbkxByyZBRDR17

Nominees will be randomly selected and spotlighted in future Paw Prints and possibly other school communications. By submitting a photo (by choice, not required), you are granting permission for us to use the photo in school-related communications.

Thank you for your help in recognizing and spotlighting character in our students!

March 3 -- Papa John's Fundraiser Night 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

April 2 -- PTO Sponsored Trivia Night at Trinity Lutheran Church 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

April 14 -- Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser Night 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.

April 26 -- Chipotle Fundraiser Night 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

May 3 -- Virtual General PTO Meeting, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Dear Carman Trails Families,

Just a reminder if your child has been sent home from school due to COVID like symptoms or is home from school due to COVID like symptoms a note from a healthcare provider or negative COVID results are required to return to school. Please email the note/results to the school nurse at cconnelly2@parkwayschools.net prior to returning to school. In addition, please send a hard copy to school if possible. Students will not be permitted to return to class if this documentation has not been received per Parkway protocol. Please review the information below regarding the Parkway illness guidelines:

If a student has any 1 low risk COVID symptom, they should remain home until the symptom has resolved for 24 hours.

Low Risk symptoms:

-Fever greater than 100.4

-Congestion/runny nose

-Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

-Sore throat

-Headache

-Muscle or body Aches

If a student has 2 or more low risk COVID symptoms or 1 high risk COVID symptom, they should be evaluated by a healthcare provider prior to returning to school.

High Risk Symptoms:

-Cough

-Difficulty breathing

-Loss of taste and/or smell

Please note, Parkway does not accept at-home Covid tests at this time.

As a reminder, Parkway is asking parents to consider sharing vaccination records if their child is fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Sharing proof of vaccination is entirely voluntary. Your child’s vaccination record will be kept confidential. If your child is vaccinated, please complete this voluntary form to share your record with our school. The form will ask for your child’s name, school, grade and will have a place where you can upload a photo/image of your child’s vaccination card. You will need to log into your personal Google/Gmail account or use your child’s Parkway Gmail account to complete the form.

Providing your vaccine information will help us measure vaccination rates within our school communities. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Nurse Connelly.

Please join us in the Above and Beyond 5k to honor and celebrate priceless Nancy Simpson. Our walk/run name plays off the Ephesians 3:20 verse that Nancy loved. It also encapsulates her as a person that went above and beyond for her family, friends, and her students.

The race will benefit the "Granting Dreams Program", a memorial fund set up in Nancy's name. This charity enables Parkway School District K-12 students to attend and learn in educational experiences outside their regular curriculum. Teaching, learning, and helping students were more of Nancy's passions where she went above and beyond.

The 5k will start promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, 4/2/22. The kids 100 yard dash will follow the walk/run at 10:00 a.m.

You can find more information at the link below, including sign-up and location information.

Please see the flyers below for more information; anyone who wishes to apply should reach out to Dr. Allison Love via email or by phone (314-415-6100) once you apply so she can pass your name on to the HR Director for Special School District.

Dear Carman Families:

Please see the attached link for the March Nurse's Newsletter, which includes the following topics:

Rethink Your Drink

Concussions

Seasonal Allergy Management

Promoting Good Oral Health Habits

Ask the Experts: Eyes on Screens: Maintaining Your Kids’ Ocular Health in a Digital World

Important Information from Parkway Health Services

Nurse Connie Connelly

What is the Sustainable Schools Challenge?

This is an annual Parkway program for all students, staff, and families to participate in sustainability activities while competing for prizes for their school running Sept 1, 2021 - April 29, 2022. It's designed to connect our district mission of preparing students to respond to an ever-changing world with our district sustainability goals incentivizing actions that reduce our environmental impact.

What you can do:

• Share and watch the 21-22 Sustainable Schools Challenge video presentation (6 mins) introducing the program, new updates, and a walkthrough of the website.
• Sign up now! Each student, staff, and family can sign up to earn a point for their school and receive the monthly newsletter with activities.
• Get the word out - schools have had success encouraging participation through their school newsletters and websites

Updates to the program include:

• Monthly prize winners will be selected through a drawing
• 50 points = 1 drawing entry
• New Mini-Grant program to fund projects up to $400
• Virtual Elementary, Middle, and High added as competing schools

Links
Sustainable Schools Challenge homepage

Sustainability Department homepage

February: African American History Month

28th - March 4: READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK (with special themed days)

28th - Wear Mismatched Shoes & Socks Day; Bring Quarters for the Coin War

March: Women's History Month

1st - Bring a Stuffed Animal to School Day; Bring Dimes for the Coin War

2nd - Wear your Pajamas to School Day; Bring Nickels for the Coin War

2nd - Early Release: Dismissal at 2:05 p.m.

3rd - Wear your Favorite Color(s) Day; Bring Pennies for the Coin War

3rd - PTO Sponsored Fundraising Night at Papa John's 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

4th - Wear a Special Hat to School Day; Bring any coins you want for the Coin War

10th - PAMEE Meeting In-Person at the Welcome Center, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

13th - Daylight Savings Time Begins - Set your clocks AHEAD one hour

18th - 25th - No School - Enjoy your Spring Break!

Email: alove@parkwayschools.net
Website: parkwayschools.net/carmantrails
Location: 555 South Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO, USA
Phone: 314-415-6100
Facebook: http://facebook.com/CarmanTrails
Twitter: @trailscarman