Trailblazer Family Newsletter
September 13, 2024
Principal's Message
BA Families,
All schools in the SMSD focus on WIGs (Wildly Important Goals). I wanted to share our Broken Arrow WIGs with our learning community, so you are aware of our ongoing focus for the school year. Our WIGs are directly aligned with the SMSD WIGs. Below you will find our WIGs and how teacher teams and as a school we are consistently monitoring our progress toward our goals.
WIGS (WIldly Important Goals!)
- Increase student achievement and performance through targeted interventions with a grade level focus for all students.
- 1. Data Used to Measure Progress:
- a. Reading and Math Common Formative Assessments (Every two weeks minimum)
- b. Reading and Math Acadience Progress Monitoring (Every week or two weeks)
- c. Acadience Benchmark Assessment Data (Three times per school year)
- d. Kansas State Assessment Data (Spring 2025)
- Improve the social and emotional wellbeing of students by focusing on motivation, attendance, meaningful responses, and an overall plan for success.
- 1. Data Used to Measure Progress:
- a. Discipline Data - Reduce percentage of students receiving two or more suspensions
- b. *Chronic Absenteeism - Attendance Data - Reduce students chronically absent
- c. Panorama Survey Data - Focusing on Growth Mindset ("Here we Grow" our theme for the school year)
*Chronic absenteeism is defined as - When a student misses at least 10% of the school days in a school year, including excused and unexcused absences.
I plan to share more about our Broken Arrow Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) at our upcoming PTA Meeting on Monday, September 16.
Have a great weekend!
Mr. Horne
BA Event Calendar
September 16-Good News Club Starts, 3:10-4:00 pm
September 16- MVP Training & PTA Meeting, 6pm in the Cafeteria- Pizza provided!
September 18- Math Club Starts, 3:10-4:00 pm
September 19- StuCo Leadership Team Meeting, 7:30-8:10 am
September 19- 6th Gr Band Performs at SMNW Football Game
September 20- Cookie Dough Fundraiser Begins
September 20- Skating Party at Skate City Merriam, 5-7pm
September 22- Spirit Wear Orders Due
September 27- PTA Family Picnic at Swarner Park, 5:30-7:30 pm
BA Club Calendar
Running Club, M/W/Th/Fr, 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
Starts Tuesday, September 10
Grades 4-6
- Parent Permission Slip Required
Good News Club, Mondays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 219
- Starts Monday, September 16
- Grades K-6
- Pre-Registration Required
- Meets every Monday that school is in session
Math Club, Wednesdays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 224
- Starts Wednesday, September 18
- Grades 4-6
- Parent Permission Slip Required
- Meets twice a month
Student Council, Thursdays, 7:30-8:10 am
- Starts September 19 (Leadership meeting)
Attendance Line 913-993-2388
Per district policy, parents are required to notify the school to report a student's absence in a timely manner. Please report your student's absence or late arrival to the school office in one of these ways:
- 24-hour attendance line - 913-993-2388
- Online via Skyward (new this year!)
- click here for directions on how to submit an absence online from a desktop
- click here for directions on how to submit an absence from the Skyward app
Please do not call the office main line to report an absence.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Your help is needed to student arrival to school and dismissal from school goes as smoothly as possible.
When dropping your child off at school in the MORNING:
- It must be 7:50 AM or after as we do not have staff on duty until that time - Students are not supervised before 7:50 which is a major safety concern
- Students are tardy at 8:10 AM
- Please pull all the way up around the circle drive (in the front) to the ARROW SIGN before stopping to let your child out.
- Please stay in your car when dropping off and picking up your child. There will be adults at the front & back of the building who will make sure your child enters and leaves the building safely.
- Dropping off in the back of the school is also fine
When picking up your child from school in the AFTERNOON:
- Remember, students are dismissed from classrooms at 3:10 PM
- Please only pick up in the front if your Family Number starts with the NUMBER 1
- Please only pick up in the back of the school if your Family Number starts with the NUMBER 2
- If picking up in the back please be cautious to not block the driveways of our neighbors while waiting in line
- Be patient :)
Thank you for your help - We will get your child to you as safely and as efficiently as possible.
Spirit Wear Order Info
SPIRIT WEAR!!!! Its time to order your spirit wear. A flyer with order info will be coming home with your student soon. All orders will need to be submitted online by Sunday September 22 via the below link.
PTA News
You do not have to be a member to attend the meetings; however, it is only $10 to join PTA, giving you an opportunity to be a voice and advocate for your child's educational community. Your dues help support many of the programs and activities provided to Broken Arrow Elementary.
PTA Cookie Dough Fundraiser starts Friday, September 20! Watch for info coming home with your student next week!
Broken Arrow Family Picnic in the Park, Shelter 1
Friday, Sep 27, 2024, 05:30 PM
Swarner Skate Park, Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS, USA
Please join us for a BA family picnic on Friday, September 27th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at Swarner Park! Let’s gather at the park so the kids have the opportunity to hang out outside of school, and parents/guardians can connect with other parents/guardians!
The BA PTA will provide food to enjoy (sandwiches, chips & water) and we have Shelter #1 reserved (located between the skate park and playground). Kona Ice will be there for purchase as well!
We have the softball field reserved, and plan to organize a kickball game around 6:00 PM. Feel free to bring yard games too, if you'd like!
Hope to see everyone there!!
SMSD Athletic Activities
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.