
Trailblazer Family Newsletter
January 31, 2025
Principal's Message
BA Families,
I know it is only the start of February but now is the time we need your help in identifying 2025-2026 kindergarten students. If you know of any families that live in the Broken Arrow or even the SMSD boundary, please encourage them to apply online now. This can impact the number of teachers we have to serve students. The more students we can plan for in advance reduces last minute changes in August after students have started school.
In addition, now is also the time for families who want to be considered for a transfer to another SMSD school outside their boundary.
For students that live within the district and students of employees, the next transfer window will be open from February 1, 2025 through February 28, 2025. This transfer window will apply to the 2025-2026 school year.
If you are applying for a transfer during the February window, your student must be fully enrolled in order for you to access the transfer application on Skyward. In order for your transfer request to be considered, the office of Leadership and Learning must receive the following before the window closes:
- a complete enrollment for your student
- a submitted transfer application through Skyward
- school records
- must be for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, including all quarters
- must be sent directly from the previous school to TransferRecords@smsd.org
- must include grades, itemized attendance, and discipline records
- if there is no discipline record, have school send confirmation of no discipline record
It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to ensure that the office of Leadership and Learning has received all of the required transfer materials before the window closes. Notifications will not be sent for incomplete transfer requests.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, in-district transfer and enrollment of nonresident employee student decisions will be communicated by the office of Leadership and Learning no later than March 14, 2025.
Students in good standing who are currently attending on transfer and wish to continue at the same school do not need to reapply.
Have a great weekend!
Mr. Horne
BA Event Calendar
FEBRUARY
1-28: SMSD Transfer Window
3- 3rd Gr Field Trip to Folly Theater
5- PTA Restaurant Night at Papa Murphy's/Shawnee, 4-8 pm
6- District Night Event for Parent Conferences PreK-6
7- Parent Conferences, No School
12- Mathletics Regionals at BA, 4 pm
14- Classroom Valentine's Parties
17- Presidents' Day, No School
18- Professional Learning, No School
24- PTA Meeting, 6 pm
27- Choir Concert, 5:30 pm
MARCH
6- 1st Grade Music Program, 5:30 pm
6- Wild Robot Family Engagement Night, 6-7pm
14- Teacher Workday, No School
17-21- Spring Break
APRIL
17- PreK & Kindergarten Kickoff at Broken Arrow, 6:00-7:30 pm
21- Professional Learning, No School
MAY
22- Last Day for PreK
23- Last Day for Grades K-6, Early Release- 12:30 Dismissal
BA Club Calendar
Running Club, 7:50-8:05 am in the Gym
- Mon/Wed- Grades K-3
- Thurs/Fri- Grades 4-6
- No Club on Tuesdays
Choir
- Tuesdays, 7:00-7:50 am in Room 227
Grades 4-6
- Parent Permission Slip Required
Good News Club
- Mondays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 219
- Grades K-6
- Pre-Registration Required
- Meets every Monday that school is in session
Math Club
- Some Wednesdays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 224
- Grades 4-6
- Parent Permission Slip Required
Student Council
- Some Thursdays, 7:30-8:10 am
- Grades 4-6
Chess Club
- Thursdays, 3:10-4:00 pm
- Grades 4-5
- Parent Permission Slip Required
- Last Club Meeting is April 24
Conference Night Dinner
Kindergarten Enrollment is Now Open!
School Fees for 2024-25 are past due
***Statements for unpaid fees will be emailed from the district on Friday, February 7. Fees are due before June 1st to avoid Collections.***
- Please use the online fee payment portal. Go to www.smsd.org, hover over the "Families " tab, and click the link entitled "Pay Fees Online". You can also pay fees in our school office with cash or check.
- Add lunch money online using “Optional Fees”. Create an account or use the Guest option with the student’s ID number and last name.
- If you are interested in applying for free or reduced lunch, please use this link.
- A $60/year elementary instructional resource fee (classroom materials) is required.
- If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, email a copy of your food service benefits letter to kelliunruh@smsd.org. Free lunch students receive a $60 fee waiver & reduced receive $30.
- For payment plans and questions, please call 913-993-2300 or email kelliunruh@smsd.org. Unpaid fees may be sent to collections, so please make payment arrangements.
Skyward Contact Information
Please help us ensure that your information is up to date in Skyward. Every student must have a non-parent emergency contact on file in the event that someone other than the parent/guardian needs to pick up a student from school. Updating your info is easy! Login to Skyward Family Access. Your login ID is your firstname.lastname
Click on "forgot my password" if needed.
The SMSD transfer window is the period of time when a student can apply to transfer from their home school (determined by place of residence) to a different school.
If your transfer request has been initiated by a change of address, please contact our school office for instructions on how to apply for a transfer.
If you are requesting a transfer for other reasons, you must go through the annual transfer window. The In-District transfer window opens February 1, 2025 and closes on February 28, 2025. This transfer window will apply to the 2025-2026 school year.
For more information, please visit https://www.smsd.org/families/transfer-procedures
Student Artwork Online
Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Parents and family can view the art online, maintain a digital art gallery, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork (20% of all purchases are donated back to your child’s school). You also gain access to hundreds of virtual art classes for your child to enjoy from home.
Link: www.artsonia.com/parents
Code: ZBKSW6P8
School Wide Family Read Aloud
Broken Arrow is hosting this special community event where families, students, and teachers will be sharing their love for literacy by all reading The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.
The Wild Robot book will be coming home with students on Friday, January 31st. One book per family will be sent home with the oldest or only child in the family. Within the front cover of the book, you will find a calendar. The calendar will let you know what chapters need to be read as a family each night. More information can be found here.
Plan to join us on Thursday, March 6 from 6-7 pm for a fun evening of Wild Robot inspired activities!
Superbowl Spirit Week! Feb 3-6
PTA News
It's time to order yearbooks!
Price: $20
Deadline: March 27 (this is the week we return from Spring Break)
Order forms are coming home in backpacks- pay by cash or checks made out to Broken Arrow PTA.
Or you can order online at inter-state.com/order Online order code: 91968H
Only a small number of extra yearbooks will be available at the end of the year for those who might miss the March deadline.
Parents, if you have any pictures from field trips, musical performances or clubs you'd like to share for the yearbook, they can be sent to ElizabethRowell@smsd.org
SMSD News
Title I Information
From Our Social Worker
Resources always available to Families:
- Clothing for SMSD students & families: https://www.smac-pta.org/clothing-exchange
- Homelessness Resources
- Health Partnership Clinic
- Resource Request Form
MY VOLUNTEER PAL (MVP) TRAINING
If you would like to volunteer on a field trip with your child's class you must be MVP trained prior to the Field Trip.
- On-site training will take place at Broken Arrow following the PTA Meeting on Monday, September 16 at 6pm in the Cafeteria.
- Click here for other MVP Training dates/times.
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 Nurse
Click HERE for monthly updates and health information from Nurse Kay.
From 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.