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Christa McAuliffe Chronicle

Christa McAuliffe Chronicle

January 2025

Principal's Note

Hello McAuliffe Families,

I hope that everyone had a nice winter break and got to spend some time with loved ones. I also hope that everyone was able to get in some relaxation and quality time with their families. With that being said though, we are excited to welcome everyone back from break on the 7th!


We ended the year on a great note with some fantastic holiday parties as well as our holiday performance. The 3rd graders and chorus did an outstanding job, led by Mrs. Morrey to put on a wonderful show.


Looking to the new year of 2025, we hope to get off to a good start with our Winter MAP testing window beginning on the 13th of January. These MAP tests gives our teaching staff some great insight into where our students are excelling and where we might need to address some of our shortcomings. As an educational team we take a look at the larger trends to determine our next steps for how best to serve our McAuliffe students as we continue to be #ChallengersOfPotential.


Hopefully the weather is not too horrible this year but there is of course a chance for weather to impact our normal functioning school day. You can see our eLearning plan outlined in more detail below and please pay attention to district and school communications for the latest information. We have some other great info below as well including our spelling bee winners, report card info, and important dates, please be sure to check it out.


As always, if you have any questions please reach out.


Sincerely,

Mr. Hanley

Congratulations to our Spelling Bee Winners!

Congratulations to the top 15 fourth and fifth-grade spellers who competed on Thursday, December 14, in McAuliffe's annual Spelling Bee. The first-place winner correctly spelled "nostrils" to capture the win.


Our finalists were:

  • 1st Place - Layla S.

  • 2nd Place - Jillian C.

  • 3rd Place - Omar A.


Best of luck to our first and second-place champions, who will advance to the District 140 Spelling Bee on Friday, January 10. Our third-place winner will be an alternate representative.

2024-25 Emergency Closing Notifications and eLearning Plan Review

As temperatures drop and winter weather begins, we’d like to take a moment to review our Emergency Closing notification protocols and eLearning Day plan.


If emergency days are needed due to snow or extreme cold, families will receive notification via an email/text message, and an alert will be posted on our District website. KSD 140 also communicates school closure information through the District’s social media accounts and the Emergency Closing Center (ECC). Detailed school closing information can be found here.


If an emergency closing day is needed, the District may elect to use an eLearning Day instead of a traditional “snow day” that has to be made up at the end of the school year. Please refer to our eLearning Day Overview to review specifics of the plan, including school hours and access to D140’s digital platforms.


Now would be a great time to ensure your contact information is up-to-date. Please log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal to check your contact information and make any necessary changes.

Second-Quarter Report Cards Available January 24, 2025

Second-quarter student report cards will be available in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal on Friday, January 24, at 3 p.m.


How to Access Student Report Cards

  1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

  2. Select Documents in your Message Center

  3. Click 24-25 School Name under Report Card, and a pop-up window displaying your student’s report card will open in a new browser. If you cannot view your student’s report card, please ensure pop-up windows are enabled in your web browser.


Please call your school office if you need assistance accessing your Parent Portal.

December Memories

Looking Ahead: Key Dates in January 2025

Important December dates to mark on your calendar:

  • 7th - Return to school from winter break

  • 13th - 17th - Winter MAP testing

  • 17th - End of 2nd quarter

  • 20th - No School (MLK Jr. Day)

  • 24th - 2nd quarter report cards issued


The entire school year calendar can be viewed on our website at 2024-25 School Year Calendar.

Stay Connected with ParentSquare!

KSD 140 uses ParentSquare for email, text, and voice messaging. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourages greater engagement and connection with the District. Families can choose their language preference and indicate how and when they want to receive information (email, text, and/or app notifications).

We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.

Please visit ParentSquare.com to register or download the free app for iOS or Android devices.

Social Emotional Wellness

Health & Wellness

D140 prioritizes comprehensive strategies to support students' mental, emotional, and physical health. Please click Health Information to review our resources. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.
Mr. Hanley