Shawnee Heights Elementary Scoop
Weekly Update (April 14, 2022)
What's Coming at SHES!
Friday, April 15th
- No school for students or staff
Monday, April 18th
- No school for students; Staff PD day
- Kindergarten visits 9:00-10:15 am (formerly Round-up) Please contact the office 357-5400 for more information if you have a kindergarten students for 2022-2023.
- USD 450 Board of Education meeting in district auditorium & via Youtube. SHES Site Council will present.
Wednesday, April 20th
- KS State Assessments (Math) all students grades 3rd-6th
- Kindergarten visits 5-7:15 pm (formerly Round-up) Please contact the office 357-5400 for more information if you have a kindergarten students for 2022-2023.
Thursday, April 21st
- KS State Assessments (Math) all students grades 3rd-6th
Saturday, April 23rd
- SHES Family Fun Night 2-6 pm hosted by SHES PTO
Class placement requests for 2022-2023 school year
As we plan for next school year, there are many considerations that influence classroom placement. Each classroom decision is measured carefully as we attempt to form balanced classrooms and the best placement for each student. As a parent, you are welcome to request a teacher or placement for your student based on his/her needs. These requests can include separating or keeping your student(s) together in the same classroom. In order for a request to be considered, it must be linked to an educational reason. Written requests for 2022-2023 will be accepted through Friday, May 20th and can be sent to the office or emailed to Rebecca Hummer, Principal hummerr@usd450.net
Good Reads for Tough Stuff
Did you know parents and caregivers can check out from our school library too? We have a small (but growing) collection of parent-guided picture books and parent resources available. Please email me, Katie Flott, SHES Librarian, with any requests flottk@usd450.net They can be sent home with your child or left in the office for pick up. Feel free to search our School Library Catalog at https://destiny.usd450.net Topics in the parent-guided collection include dealing with loss of a loved one, mental illness, incarceration of a family member, body privacy and development, and more. If you have any book suggestions for additions to this collection that you have found helpful in guiding your child through tough times, please reach out!
SHES PTO nominations 2022-2023
Get on board and join SHES PTO for 2022-2023! Many of our positions expire at the end of the year, so we need new leaders to take over!
Open positions:
President – As the President you are the “leader of the pack.” We are looking for a creative problem-solver who excels at delegating and keep us on task instead of chatting about our kids or the latest episode of This Is Us. A sense of humor is a huge plus and if you’re able to say “NO” without provoking a tantrum, even better. If you’re ready to be called up to the big leagues and play a substantial role in supporting our school, we want to hear from you!
Vice-President – As the Vice President you are the designated “partner in crime.” If you’re interested in being more involved in PTO but you’re not sure you want to jump straight to the top, then the VP has your name written all over it! You’ll learn all the behind-the-scenes intel and be part of the important decision making. With your can-do attitude, you’ll help the president GET THINGS DONE! You’re kind of like a superhero’s sidekick, but the costume is optional.
Secretary – As the secretary you are the detail-oriented group know-it-all. Be honest, you are the one in your friend group that actually filled out the pages in your kids’ baby books…at the right time. If you’re the type of person that documents everything, from your kids’ first steps to everything you ate yesterday, this is the role for you! You’ll get to put your stellar record-keeping skills to good use as the SHES PTO Secretary. You must have above average listening and computer skills – and extra credit if you have a degree in Googling.
Treasurer – AKA our nerdy number cruncher. We’ve got big plans to raise money and fund important projects for SHES, so we need someone who likes to count every penny to help us do it! If you secretly love to categorize expenses and create spreadsheets with pretty, color-coded charts, this totally voluntary job is for you! Extra credit if your spouse gives you a hard time for how often you log into your banking app to check your finances.
Site Council Representative – If you love repping your team and taking meticulous notes while attending additional meetings, this is just for you! The site council rep is the detail-orientedPTO cheerleader that keeps us on top of all things SHES. The ideal person is a mover and groover that secretly loved giving book reports in grade school.
**Volunteers - Are you a people person who isn’t afraid to strike up a conversation with a stranger? Even if you aren’t, we’re looking for volunteers to help with PTO programs and events. If you’re enthusiastic and understanding of parents’ many time constraints, raise your hand and helpus do even more great things for our school!
**There is no mandatory volunteer time for any of our elected/appointed positions or volunteers. We welcome all who are interested in connecting and helping at your child’s school. Do as much or as little as you can.
If you know of a superstar that would be perfect for any of these positions, please send your nomination to one (yep, just send to one of them) of the three Nomination Committee members. Please include the nominee’s name, email, phone, and position in which you are nominating.
Denise Lawson – lawsonfamily12@gmail.com
Alice Walker – alice.walker11@gmail.com
Amanda Orcutt – AgentAmandaO@gmail.com
Below are some dates you’ll want to put on your chalkboard wall calendar:
+ Nominations open - April 11th
+ Nominations close - April 25th
+ Final ballot proposed to PTO - (at meeting) May 3rd
+ Electronic ballot will be sent out via email - May 6th
+ Voting closes - May 13th
If you have any questions, please contact thunderboltpto@gmail.com and thank you for considering how you can serve our school next school year!
State Assessments for grades 3rd-6th
SHES students will take state assessments in April as outlined on the schedule provided below. Thank you for ensuring your student(s) are at school each day and scheduling appointments (if possible) outside of these testing days/times.
There is no need to study for state assessments. We ask that students 1) Get good sleep. 2) Give good effort. 3) Take your time to read each question and select a response. 4) Demonstrate excellent citizenship in the classroom to allow all students the best testing environment possible.
State assessments are scored on a 1 to 4 scale.
- 1 – A student at Level 1 shows a limited ability to understand and use the skills and knowledge needed for postsecondary success.
- 2 – A student at Level 2 shows a basic ability to understand and use the skills and knowledge needed for postsecondary success.
- 3 – A student at Level 3 shows an effective ability to understand and use the skills and knowledge needed for postsecondary success.
- 4 – A student at Level 4 shows an excellent ability to understand and use the skills and knowledge needed for postsecondary success.
Student scores are typically available in early May after the testing window closes on April 29th. Student score reports will be sent home via backpack mail at a time communicated to parents.
For more detailed information about KS Assessment Program (KAP) can be found here: https://ksassessments.org/for-families
Send in Your Soap Bottles!
The next time you empty a bottle of soap, shampoo, or laundry detergent, don't throw it out! SHES is helping collect soap bottles for a local business that will sanitize, refill, and resell them to reduce plastic waste. Each classroom will have a collection area throughout the month of April.
The Topeka Growers Group is collecting soap bottles of all sorts: hand soap, dish soap, shampoo, body wash, and laundry detergent. Please make sure bottles are in good condition and are empty and rinsed out before bringing them in.
The bottles will be filled with a variety of types and scents of non-toxic soap produced by a company in Springfield, Missouri. It will be available for sale later this spring at www.topekagrowersgroup.com
Thanks for your help bringing this zero-waste option to Topeka!