April Newsletter

Dear Charger Families,

We will begin our second and third grade state assessments this month. We will also complete our K-3 Spring Fastbridge Assessment starting on April 28th. This can be a stressful time for our students. Here are some tips to help ease their minds:

Testing Schedule for 3rd Grade

📌 Mathematics – April 8th & April 9th (Morning)
📌 English Language Arts – April 15th & April 16th (Morning)

Testing Schedule for 2nd Grade (Pilot Assessment)

📌 Mathematics – April 4th (Morning)
📌 English Language Arts – April 3rd (Morning)

• Reassure your child that he or she does not have to answer all the questions correctly to pass. It is not expected that students answer every question correctly. There is always room for error. Knowing that they do not have to be perfect will help eliminate some of the stress that comes with testing.
• Tell your child to attempt to answer all of the questions and not to leave any blank. There is no penalty for guessing and students can get partial credit on the open-ended items. Teach them to eliminate ones that they know are wrong first because it gives them a higher chance of getting the correct answer if they are forced to guess.
• Remind your child that the test is important. It sounds simple, but most children will put forth their best effort when they know it is important to their parents.
• Ensure that your child gets a decent night's sleep and a good breakfast before taking the test. These are essential to how your child performs. You want them to be at their best. Failing to get a good night's rest or good breakfast can cause them to lose focus quickly.
• Make the morning of the test a pleasant one. Try to do extra things that make them laugh, smile and relax.
• Get your child to school on time the day of the test. Give yourself extra time to get to school that morning.
• Encourage your child to stay focused on the test, even if other students finish early. It is human nature to want to speed up when others around you are already finished. Teach your child to start strong, stay focused in the middle, and finish just as strong as you started.

As part of our ongoing efforts to support student success, we are working to reduce chronic absenteeism as a building-wide goal. Research shows that students who miss 10% or more of school days—whether excused or unexcused—are at a higher risk of falling behind academically.

To help increase awareness, families with quarterly attendance below 90% will receive a notification letter outlining the number of days their student has been absent. Please note that this is simply an informational letter and does not indicate truancy. Our goal is to keep families informed and work together to support consistent attendance, which plays a key role in student learning and success.

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students stay engaged and on track. If you have any questions or need support regarding attendance, please feel free to reach out. For additional information regarding our attendance policy please review the following information from our Overbrook student handbook.

April 1st: Talent Show Sign Up by this date

April 4th: No School for Kindergarten Only due to Kindergarten Round-Up

1st Grade Field Trip to Science City

April 7th: 3rd Grade State Assessment Kick Off Celebration @ 6pm

Talent Show Auditions

April 10th: 2nd Grade Music Concert @ 6:00pm & 3rd Grade Music Concert @ 7:00pm

• Students can arrive 20 minutes early to meet with teacher.

• Students are encouraged to dress nice with slacks or dresses (and shorts or tights underneath dresses for girls).

• Parents may pick their child up after the concert in the cafeteria and/or large gym we will make an announcement based on availability

April 18th: NO SCHOOL

April 21st: NO SCHOOL

April 25th: Kindergarten Field Trip to Topeka Zoo & Discovery Center

Second Grade Field Trip to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

Mark your calendars for Monday, April 7th, at 6 PM, and bring your child for a fun-filled evening as we celebrate the upcoming state assessments with SITE Council and Title!

This exciting event will help students feel confident and prepared. They’ll review important testing tips and tricks, while teachers share valuable strategies to support success at home.

Then, get ready for some friendly competition! We’ll be inviting parent-student teams to participate in a variety of games—competition style—with PRIZES for the winners!

This is a fantastic opportunity to encourage and celebrate your child while making state test prep fun. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming 2nd and 3rd Grade Spring Concerts on April 10th! Below are the important details:

• 2nd Grade: Arrive at 5:40 PM and meet your teachers in the SFTHS Library. The concert will begin at 6:00 PM.

• 3rd Grade: Arrive at 6:40 PM and meet your teachers in the SFTHS Library. The concert will begin at 7:00 PM.

Please continue to check for notifications from the school regarding reminders and attire for the event. We look forward to a wonderful evening of music and celebration!

K Parents Only: There will be no school for kindergarten students on April 4, 2025.

This allows the incoming preschoolers who will be kindergarten students in the 2024-2025 to experience kindergarten round-up! All other students (1st - 3rd) will have school that day as regularly scheduled.

Does your child have a talent they would like to share with their teachers and classmates? Please speak with them at home regarding talent show signups. We had a phenomenal turn out last year and would love to continue this tradition.

The Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding educators who exemplify excellence in elementary and secondary classrooms across the state. This program builds a network of exceptional teachers who are leaders in improving schools, student performance, and the teaching profession.

Recently, USD 434 had the honor of hosting Ms. Mallory Koger's cohort as they toured our district to learn more about our programs, staff, and students. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our schools, showcase our strengths, and highlight the incredible work happening in our classrooms.

A special thank you to Ms. Koger for her dedication as a Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee and for sharing our district with her cohort. We appreciate all of her hard work and leadership this year!