T-Bird Times

Website: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/IVE
Location: 11600 Knox Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913.239.6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVEThunderbirds/
Twitter: @IVEThunderbirds

Reminder: April 11 is a K-5 non-student attendance day for teacher collaboration time. During this time, elementary educators will be in their buildings and classrooms working on positive supports for students and collaboration around math instruction.

This time is vital to ensuring the best possible preparation for our elementary students and supporting student learning outcomes.

School will be back in session on April 14.

Incoming kindergarten families who have registered for the 2025-26 should have received an email to sign up for a Kindergarten Kickoff session. We will have one session at 8:30 and one at 10:00 on Friday, April 11th. We ask that parents attend an informational session while their child is at Kindergarten Kickoff.

If you did not receive an email, please contact the IVE office at 913-239-6400.

Hello. I am writing to share an exciting and heartfelt opportunity to make a profound difference in the life of my child, Lincoln. Lincoln is a 9 year old boy and has been dealing with a rare type of epilepsy called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome for years. It is a medication resistant form of epilepsy and after careful consideration and research, we believe that a service dog would provide the essential support and companionship needed to improve his daily life and overall well-being.

A service dog can offer Lincoln much-needed assistance by alerting us to seizures, retrieving medications, and bringing a phone to call 911. More importantly, a service dog can offer emotional support and help Lincoln develop confidence and regain his independence.

Our total cost for a trained service dog, including training, equipment, and medical care, is $20,000. Unfortunately, this cost is beyond our current means, especially as I am a single mom with no income other than my job, which I miss often due to Lincoln’s medical conditions. That’s why we are reaching out to you and our community for help.

We are asking for your support in raising funds to make this dream a reality. A dream that will provide our family with hope, something we haven’t had for a very long time.

Any donation, large or small, will bring us one step closer to providing Lincoln with the life-changing gift of a service dog.

Warm regards,

Lora & Lincoln Pearson

Half of all sales go directly to Lincoln for his dog. The store for fundraising will open Thursday, 4/3 @ 5pm and close on Monday, 4/6 @ 5pm.

• National Arab American Heritage Month -recognizes the achievements and contributions of Arab Americans to society, culture, and American history.

• Deaf History Month - celebrates the history, culture, and accomplishments of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

• Day of Silence - April 11 - a national, student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies take a vow of silence to protest the silencing and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.

• Passover - evening of April 12-20 - a Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Some families will observe the holiday with a special meal, called a Seder, eating foods of symbolic significance and reciting traditional prayers.

• Holy Week and Easter Sunday - April 13-20 - includes the Christian holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Some families will attend church services to commemorate the week leading to the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

Spirit Night – Thursday, April 10th, 4-8 PM
Join us at Leon's Original Pizza (College & Antioch, by QT) for a delicious way to support IVE!

Golf Tournament – April 18th
Join us for a great day on the course at Oak Country Golf Course in De Soto, KS! Spread the word to friends and family—we’d love to see you there!

• Entry Fee: $100 per player
• Check-in: 8:30 AM | Start Time: 9:00 AM
• Includes: Player gift bag, breakfast, lunch, and all beverages on the course
• Silent Auction: Featuring sports memorabilia
• 
  

Spring Fling – April 25th, 6-8 PM
A schoolwide favorite event with auction items, games, food trucks, and more! Stay tuned for details!

Thank You for Supporting Cultural Arts! Thank you to everyone who came out to support and volunteer their time for Cultural Arts! We couldn’t have done it without you. A huge shout out to Britney Kennedy, who worked tirelessly to bring it all together—we truly appreciate all your hard work!

Interested in Being a Part of the PTA?
Join us on April 9th at 6 PM to learn more about what we do and see what position you might be interested in. We’d love to have you!

For more information about these events or anything else, feel free to email us at bluevalleyive.pta@gmail.com.