Trailblazer Family Newsletter
October 11, 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Broken Arrow Families,
Our building goals, called WIGS (Wildly Important Goals), are our school's priority focus for the school year.
Our goals are to focus on student growth in the area of reading as well as growth in student social emotional learning and health. As a key element in success in meeting our goals, we are emphasizing the importance of students being present at school. Ultimately, if students aren't present, it does have a sound impact on student learning and achieving our goals as a school. We will be focusing on reducing chronic absenteeism at Broken Arrow. Chronic absenteeism is made up of all absences even "excused absences" (doctor appointments, illness, etc). Any student missing 10% or more of the days that school is in session is chronically absent.
During the 2022-23 school year our chronic absentee rate was 21%. To accomplish our goals, we need to greatly reduce this percentage. Students should always stay home from school if they are running a fever. However, I am asking for your help in not scheduling appointments, vacations, and allowing students to just stay home when school is in session. Our goal is to reduce the rate from 21% to 15% by the end of the school year. This will take intentionality on everyone's part but if made a priority it is attainable. Our students at Broken Arrow deserve the best opportunity to learn and be successful.
Thank you in advance for your support in working toward our school goals.
Mr. Horne
BA CALENDAR
OCTOBER
12: No School- Professional Learning
13: No School- Teacher Workday
16-18: Book Fair Open 2:30-4:30 pm
17: 6th Gr Band Concert, 7pm at Trailridge Middle School
19: Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:30-7:30 pm
19: Book Fair Open 3:30-6:30 pm
19: Report Cards Posted to Skyward by end of day
19: PTA Souper Supper for Teachers, Sign Up Here to Help
20: No School- Parent Teacher Conferences, 8:00 am-3:00 pm
23: APEX Fundraiser Starts (runs through 11/03)
24: 5th Gr Field Trip to Ernie Miller Nature Center
25: 4th Gr Field Trip to Mahaffie Farm
25: PTA Restaurant Night at Papa Murphy's, 11 am-8 pm
26: 3rd Gr Music Performance, 5:30 pm, MPR
31: Halloween Parade, 2:30pm
NOVEMBER
3: APEX Fun Run during Specials
8: Picture Retakes
9: 4th Grade Music Performance, 5:30 pm, MPR
13: PTA Meeting, 6pm, Library
CLUB CALENDAR DATES
- Mon/Tues- Grades K-3
- Thurs/Fri- Grades 4-6
- No Club on Wednesdays
6th Gr ASL Club, Thursdays from 3:10-4:00 pm in the Library
- October 26
- November 9, 30
- December 14
Choir, Mondays or Wednesdays in Rm 227
- 4th Gr, Mondays, 3:10-4:10 pm
- 5th & 6th Gr, Wednesdays, 3:10-4:10 pm
4-6th Gr Math Club, Mondays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 218
- October 16, 30
- November 13, 27
- December 11, 18
- January 8, 22
Good News Club, Mondays 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 121
- Pre-Registration required
- Meets every Monday that school is in session, starting October 2
STUCO, Thursdays 7:15-8:00 am in the Library
- Leadership & Reps: October 26, Nov 16, Dec 7
- Leadership Only: Nov 2, Nov 30
FALL CONFERENCES SOUPER SUPPER
Broken Arrow PTA would like to provide dinner for our teachers as they stay late on the evening of Thursday, October 19 during Parent/Teacher Conferences. Volunteers are needed to bring food, a centerpiece item or to help at the event. This is a great way to show your appreciation to our amazing, hard-working BA team who do so much for our kids!
Non-perishable items may be dropped off the week of October 16. Soup (prepared in a crockpot with a liner for easy cleanup) can be dropped off between 3-4 pm the day of the event (Thursday, October 19). Please mark your crockpot and provide a ladle if possible. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EABA82FA2F49-44747694-fall
LOST & FOUND
BROKEN ARROW TEACHER OF THE YEAR
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR NEXT WEEK
Our annual Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held October 16-20. Students will be able to preview the Book Fair each day during their scheduled library time. Open shopping hours will be from 2:30-4:30 pm on Monday-Wednesday. Then, it will be open from 3:30-6:30 pm during Thursday night's parent teacher conferences and from 8:30-11:30 am on Friday morning's parent teacher conferences! All proceeds benefit ALL students by helping by new library materials.
Checkout our Book Fair Homepage to learn more about open shopping and how to volunteer!
HALLOWEEN PARADE
Parents are welcome to join us for our Halloween Parade on Monday, October 31 at 2:30 pm.
Please note the following:
Students will NOT wear their costume to school on October 31
Students should bring their costume to school in their backpack on Halloween
All student costumes should be able to be easily put on over the top of the clothes that they wear to school.
No extreme gore will be permitted. No costumes with extra blood, severed body parts, weapons, etc, should be brought to school. If the costume is not appropriate, parts not meeting the guidelines will be removed and can be picked up by the parent after school in the office.
Students should not wear their make-up or dye or spray their hair different colors for this event.
Please do not send class treats as a treat will be provided by PTA. We will hold any treats sent to school in the office until November 1.
Parents can go to our gym to see their children in the parade.
Parking is always a challenge at our school. Please do not park in the circle drive. Parking is available:
Along Alden Street
Along West 60th Terrace
Along Greenwood Street
Please be courteous to not block our local neighbors’ driveways
If your child would happen to see you and step out of the line with the class please encourage them to rejoin the line.
Does your child need to borrow a costume? Please email Ms. Rogers at AlyssaRogers@smsd.org
PICTURE RETAKE DAY, NOVEMBER 8
If your student was absent on the first Fall Picture Day or is a new student they will be able to have their picture taken on November 8.
If you were not happy with your student's fall pictures, please send the picture packet you received with all of the picture sheets enclosed with your student to school on retake day, Wednesday, November 8. They will need to give the packet to the photographer. If you originally never ordered and just received the second chance proof it is not necessary to bring that back. Please let your child's teacher know if you would like your student photographed for retakes.
PTA NEWS
FOOD SERVICE
MENUS:
The school meals menus are on https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION. To log on, select View menus (as a guest). School Café also show allergen and nutritional information.
MEAL BENEFITS:
Did you know filling out the Free or Reduced Lunch Application helps with more than meals? Applying and qualifying can benefit families and students with reduced fees, transportation, broadband, and other discounts.
Families are encouraged to complete an application for meal benefits- free or reduced priced meals as part of the Online Verification. The link to the Child Nutrition Program Meal Benefit Application is available on Skyward or the online application is on School Cafe. Contact the Food Service Office by calling 913-993-9710 for questions on the meal benefit application.
LUNCH MONEY:
Need to add breakfast or lunch money to your student's account? Bring cash or check to the office - be sure to write your students name & class code on the envelope. Payment by card can be made online or by calling the Food Service Office at 913-993-9710.
MY VOLUNTEER PAL (MVP) TRAINING
Volunteer Pals are utilized for a variety of in-school activities including:
- Classroom or school volunteering
- Sharing career interests or special talents with students
- Tutoring
- Chaperones for Shawnee Mission School District approved field trips
Please visit this link for more info on how to become a MVP.
FROM OUR SOCIAL WORKER
- Clothing for SMSD students & families: https://www.smac-pta.org/clothing-exchange
- Homelessness Resources
- Health Partnership Clinic
- Resource Request Form
UPDATED last on September 21st, 2023