North Star News

Parent Edition - August 11th, 2024

Hello Families - We are excited to welcome your child(ren) in one week. The halls and walls are starting to feel like a school again. Classrooms are getting set up, desks are being arranged and fresh bulletin board paper is being put up. We understand that the start of school can mean that some are worried about what's to come... especially for our new families. I can assure you that we have a dedicated team of educators that are eager to greet your child(ren) with a warm and welcoming smile. Ross truly is a great place and has become my second home. Our motto this year is One CommUNITY. It truly takes all of us to collaboratively work together to ensure all children are successful. I will never forget when I was talking with a parent a few years ago and she said, "Mr. Cohee... it takes a village to raise our children." I have never forgotten that conversation as she was absolutely right. We are so excited to have you part of our village! Have a wonderful week and we will see your child(ren) on August 19th!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is the first day of school?

A: The first day of school is August 19th.

Q: What are the school hours?

A: Doors open at 8:45. However, instruction begins promptly at 9:05. Therefore, it is highly suggested you have your child(ren) at school NO LATER than 9:00. If your child(ren) plan(s) to eat breakfast at school... we suggest you have your child(ren) at school NO LATER than 8:50.

Q: Can I walk my child(ren) to their classroom on the first day?

A: Due to safety, we will not be allowing families to walk their child(ren) into the classroom. We know that this can be hard on many family members... especially for our new families to Ross. We promise that we will get your child into school and in their classrooms safely.

Q: What if I am late dropping off my child(ren)?

A: If late... please do not drop off your child and have them enter on their own. We ask that you walk with your child(ren) to the main entrance and sign them in. We will no longer have staff available to sign students in.

Q: When will my child(ren) know who their teacher is?

A: On Aug. 14th, teacher placements will be available to view on Infinite Campus.

Q: What do I do if I cannot find my child's teacher?

A: No worries as we have a team that can help you. CLICK HERE for additional help.

Q: When will my child(ren) be able to meet their teacher and drop items off?

A: We will have our Meet the Teacher event on Aug. 15th from 3pm - 5pm.

Q: How do I found out what supplies I need to provide for school?

A: Each grade level has put together a list of supplies for you. CLICK HERE to view.

Q: How do I put money on my child(rens) breakfast/lunch account?

A: Visit: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Page/3045 to learn more about this process.

Q: Does Parkway School District offer Free and Reduced Breakfast/Lunch?

A: YES! Please visit: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Page/1675 to complete this form.

Q: How do I become a volunteer at Ross?

A: Visit: https://www.parkwayschools.net/volunteers to learn more about being a volunteer? We'd love to have you join us!

Q: How do I find out where my child(rens) bus stop is?

A: Visit: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Page/1935. Assignments will be shared at a later date by the Parkway School District Transportation Department.

Q: How can I get involved in the PTO?

A: Our amazing PTO is always looking for volunteer's. You can learn more by visiting: https://sites.google.com/parkwayschools.net/rosspto

Q: If my child is a car rider, what does that look like?

A: There will be more information sent to families about our arrival and dismissal procedures. We do require that car riders have placards hanging in the window of the car.

Q: What if I want to sign my child out early?

A: You can certainly do that. Just sign them out in our main lobby. Due to safety, we can ONLY release your child(ren) to those that are listed in Infinite Campus. Therefore, be sure that this is updated.

Q: Does Ross use social media?

A: Absolutely! We are very active on Facebook and Instragram. Look for the Ross star logo.

Q: Can I have lunch with my child?

A: Absolutely. Just let the office know in advance so we can make sure we have a space available for you.

Q: How can I celebrate my child(rens) birthday?

A: Due to district policy and for the safety of our leaders with allergies, families are not able to send in treats or cupcakes to share with the class.

Q: How often will the North Star News be shared with families?

A: I will communicate with families weekly. The newsletter will be share on Sunday's. Each newsletter will have updates, important information about Ross and any upcoming events.

For more information, please visit Parkway Back to School Guide for Parents or visit Ross Elementary School Website.

Q: Is there before and after school care?

A: There is a fee based program called Adventure Club. It is wonderful program that takes place at Ross with a dynamite team to care for your child(ren) before and after school.

Q: Is there a Parkway School District Calendar?

A: Yes. You can find the calenar HERE.

Dates to Remember

August 14th: Class Lists will be shared on Infinite Campus

August 15th: Ross Meet the Teacher from 3pm - 5pm

August 19th: First Day of School!

August 29th: Ross Open House/Curriculum Night at 6pm

September 2nd: Labor Day - No School

September 18th: PTO Meeting at 6pm (Child care provided)

Parent/Student Handbook

Please take some time to carefull review our Parent/Student Handbook. In this handbook, you will find helpful information in regards to various policies involving discipline, cell phone usage, clothing, etc. There will also be information in regards to lunch times, start/end times, safety drills and so much more.

IMPORTANT - Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival: (Please refer to the MAP on the 2nd page)

Car and bus riders will be greeted by an assigned staff member at 8:45.
ALL STUDENTS will enter through the main entrance (Door 1). This is a change this year.
We encourage families to have their children at school no later that 9:00 as instruction begins promptly at 9:05.

Dismissal: (Please refer to the MAP on the 2nd page)

The school day does not officially end until 4:00 pm. We will begin dismissal at 3:55 for our K learners in order to give them a head start. At 3:55, Kindergarten, Adventure Club and Bus 101 will be dismissed. Walkers and Car Riders will be dismissed at 3:57.
Our K Bus riders will be escorted to the buses at 3:55 pm.
All other students will be dismissed to the buses at 3:58.
Teachers will line up Bus Riders in the classroom and wait for grade levels to be called to the bus lane.
School buses will load in the back (by our playground) and designated teachers will drop off all bus rider students to the Bus Lane.
Parents picking up students for carpool will be using the upper lane (closest to Ross). Cars will pull up to the first orange cone marked. We will double park the cars. Once cars are parked and turned off, designated staff members will walk with the students down the center lane, starting at the front of the car line and ending at the back. We will continue to require that all families have the hanging Family Name Card in their dashboard for safety reasons. See below for a detailed map.
NEW THIS YEAR: Parents that designate their child as a walker will continue to pick up their child in front of the school (a staff member is assigned to that area to help supervise). Parents can also greet their students in the Yellow Zone shown on the map. PLEASE do not greet your student by the parking lot exit as this is a very busy intersection with busses entering and exiting our lot.

If a parent is changing a child’s dismissal plan, a phone call must be made before 3:30 pm. Thank you for your help with this!

How is your child getting home?

The safety of all students is our #1 priority. Therefore, it is important that we know how your child is getting home each day. However, it is especially important to know how your child is getting home on the first day of school. Therefore, we ask that you COMPLETE THIS DOCUMENT and bring it to Meet Your Teacher event on Aug. 15th OR bring the completed form to school on the first day. If you do not have a printer at home and need a copy, we have copies available in our main office.

Attendnace Matters!

A special note from Ms. Soto

Dear Parkway Families,

Welcome to the start of the 2024-2025 school year! It brings me great joy to continue serving as your Special Education Administrator across Hanna Woods, Highcroft Ridge, and Ross Elementary School communities. As I begin my 20th year with Parkway School District, I am filled with excitement to welcome our students back to classrooms, ready to embark on enriching learning adventures.

Your child’s IEP case manager will be your primary contact for any questions or information

regarding their education. We strive to respond to all parent inquiries within 48 hours during regular

working hours, ensuring a prompt and supportive communication channel.

In my role, I am dedicated to collaborating with and leading our school teams to empower students of all abilities to reach their fullest potential. While I visit each building weekly, my office is located

centrally at Highcroft Ridge Elementary. Please feel free to reach out to me via email at

ejsoto@ssdmo.org. Call or text me at (314)989-8386.

Here's to another fantastic school year of leading and learning together!

In Partnership,

Emily J. Soto

Emily J. Soto, Ed.S

Important information from our AMAZING PTO

Fundraiser Items

Help support your PTO, Teachers, student teams, or whoever you need to help raise funds by getting them a custom item! Up to 50% of every sale will go back to the organizational group that we've set up the fundraiser with!

squirrelbraincustoms.com