The Piper Prairie Press
April 5, 2024
Piper Prairie Families,
As we round the fourth quarter of the school year, you will see evidence of our school's action steps of Goals 1 and 2 of our Building Action Plan, Future Ready Success for All and Connected Culture Among All. Your students, their grown ups, our teachers and staff have truly worked hard to make growth. Every day is a learning day up until our last day of the school year! Thank you for continuing to partner with us in education!
We have an updated last day of the school year, which is Tuesday, May 21 and it is a full day of school.
It's a great time to be a Piper Prairie Pirate!
Mrs. Bast and Mrs. Porras
Important Dates
Solar Eclipse, Monday April 8
On April 8, we will have the rare opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse, which will be the last one viewable within the contiguous United States until 2044. Due to this very cool and rare learning opportunity, the district has purchased and we will provide solar eclipse glasses for all students and staff to participate in this momentous occasion.
The partial eclipse will be visible in Kansas City from approximately 12:37 to 3:11 P.M., with the maximum eclipse taking place at approximately 1:54 P.M. We will provide our school a schedule during the afternoon that will allow students and staff at their respective schools to view the eclipse.
We will ask parents/guardians who don't want their students to participate to contact our office 913-721-1243 to arrange for an excused absence or reach out to their child's teacher to arrange to have their child participate in an alternative activity.
We look forward to sharing this exciting learning experience with our students! To learn more about the eclipse, what to expect, and safe viewing practices, please explore this link from NASA.
Body Venture was an amazing ADVENTURE!
Students from all classes had the opportunity to tour the human body with this exciting, immersive experience, Body Venture. Throughout the inflatable exhibit, students learned how to apply the Body Venture Motto: EAT SMART. PLAY HARD.
We could not have done this without our amazing parent volunteers. We had 11 stations plus 3 parents guiding each small group through the stations. At each of the 11 Body Venture stations, the parent volunteer presenter engaged the students in a five-minute activity focused on healthy choices.
Thank you Mr. Lockwood for arranging for this traveling health education exhibit to Piper Prairie!
Beach Day at Prairie!
Students of the Month
Portrait of a Graduate Awards
Using LiveSchool Points to buy Experiences! Principal for an Hour!
Pledge Speakers
Fabulous Faculty
NO SCHOOL for Kindergarten Students on May 6. Prairie hosts Discovery Day.
Nurse's Notes
Piper is proud to partner with Screen Sanity to host a special in-person event that will bring together parents and caregivers to address one of today’s most challenging parenting topics: screentime.
“We are the first generation to raise digital natives — kids who’ve never known a world without the Internet or smartphones — and the responsibility can feel overwhelming,” said Tracy Foster, Co-founder of Screen Sanity. “Screen Sanity Parent Night offers an opportunity for parents and community members to learn healthy tech habits and gain strategies for mentoring kids in a digital world.”
Click here for the full release.
This event is limited to parents and guardians, and registration capacity is 50 people. Please register at https://forms.gle/bkRvPwG26Ud47fhw8.
Updated Last Day of School!
🧭 Speech Directions 🧭
As the weather begins to warm, maybe..., check out these playgrounds throughout Kansas City that provide activities for all!
https://kansascitymomcollective.com/inclusive-playgrounds-in-kansas-city/
In Case You Missed It...
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICE!
- Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:30 am (Monday- Thursday) and 9:10 on Friday to avoid a tardy slip. We will start dismissal at 3:40 pm.
- Students arriving after 9:15 am Monday- Thursday, and 9:55 Friday will be counted as 1/2 day absent.
- Students leaving before 3:40 pm will be counted as 1/2 day absent.
- Tardy Policy: 5 Tardies = 1 unexcused absence
- All transportation changes MUST be made by 2:30 pm on the day the change is requested to ensure that the teacher is notified in time and your child arrives home safely.
- Students Arriving Late: If your child has an appointment of any kind that causes them to arrive late to school, please call the office. Please have a doctor's note for the absence to be excused.
- Students Leaving Early: If your child has an appointment of any kind that causes them to leave early from school, we request that you email the front office at heather.bryant@piperschools.us as well as your child's teacher or you may call our front office at 913-721-1243. Upon arrival at the school, you will enter the front of the building to sign your child out and we will call your child to the office at that time.
- Child Absence: Please call and let the office know if your child is absent or late coming to school. Our office will call and verify that your child is safely at home if we have not received notification. The office number is: 913-721-1243.
Our friends in Opaa food management need your help. If your student has a food allergy or intolerance that requires the kitchen staff to make modifications to their meal preparation or service, please have your healthcare provider fill out the linked Medical Statement to Request Meal Modification form. If you’ve already had this form completed, you do not need to complete it again.
If your student has a food allergy or intolerance on file that is no longer valid, please fill out the linked discontinuation form for meal modification and return it to the school.
If you have any questions or are unsure if you need to turn any paperwork in, please direct those questions to your building nurse.
Helpful hint! You can review the Opaa menu in advance with your student to help them select healthy and appropriate options. Utilize the drop downs on the right side of the screen to filter out ingredients that your student is allergic or intolerant to. There is even a section for dietary preferences to filter out ingredients that your student/family does not consume.
Food Service Message
Student Food Accounts: Free/Reduced Lunch Applications. Make Payments and Auto Replenish to Accounts
To Apply for Free or Reduced meals"
Sign in on Skyward Family Access
Select one student from the All Students arrow.
On the left side, select Food Service
Click on Applications, then Add Application
Go through each of the areas to complete the application. Once you complete the application and submit it, the application will be reviewed and a letter will be emailed to the family within 5 business days letting you know your family’s eligibility. Should you have any questions about this process, please contact Sarah Dunn Sarah.Dunn@piperschools.us or 913-721-2088. A new application must be submitted every new school year to determine eligibility.
To Make a Payment on your student's Lunch Account"
Sign in on Skyward Family Access
Select one student from the All Students arrow.
On the left side, select Food Service
Click on Make a Payment
You can make a single payment or set up an Auto Replenish payment if your child goes below a certain dollar amount on their account.
To set up Auto Replenish Payments, make sure the button has been clicked to Enable Auto Replenish these payments.
Links
Menus
Who Should I Contact?
Please follow the communication matrix.
Attendance: heather.bryant@piperschools.us 913-721-1243
Transportation changes (request must be by 2:30): kristin.miller@piperschools.us 913-721-1243
Nurse or medical concerns: taunisha.mcdonald@piperschools.us 913-721-1243
Counselors: daneen.kelsey@piperschools.us or serena.keenan@piperschools.us
I am Responsible, Respectful, Safe, and Prepared! It's the Pirate Way!
Piper Prairie Elementary School
Mrs. Bast - Principal darcey.bast@piperschools.us
Mrs. Porras - Assistant Principal laura.porras@piperschools.us
Email: darcey.bast@piperschools.us
Website: https://ppe.piperschools.com/
Location: 3131 N 122nd St, Kansas City, KS 66109, USA
Phone: 913.721.1243
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiperElementary/?scrlybrkr=41859c6e
Twitter: @PiperElementary