Henry Happenings

As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your support and involvement in our school community. This time of year is a special one, filled with opportunities to reflect on the joy and togetherness we share.

I hope each of you enjoys a well-deserved break, surrounded by family, friends, and moments of peace and happiness. May this holiday season bring warmth and joy to your home, and may the new year ahead be filled with health, happiness, and success.

Thank you for being an integral part of our school family. I look forward to another wonderful year of learning and growth together!

On cold weather days, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately to go outside for recess. We will go outside until the weather is at 20 degrees temperature only or 20 degrees including the wind chill. Also, it is very helpful if your child's name is written on the tags of hats, gloves, etc. We are able to get everything back to the rightful owner quickly when there is a label!

Just a few reminders for those participating in parent drop off/pick up. Please remember adults should stay in their cars at all times and children should exit the car on the right. If you need to buckle or put children in car seats, please move forward to the space near the dumpster to get out of the car and complete this task. Please convey this message to any of the grown ups that may be picking up your child. It's important to follow these procedures for the safety of all.

Make sure to keep reading below for more information on: Henry Action News, Nurse Notes, Henry Harmonizers at Ambush Game, PTO updates, and more!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jodi Oliver

December 16 - Spirit Week Crazy Shoe Day

December 17 - Spirit Week Dress Like a Teacher AND Anything But a Backpack Day

December 18 - Spirit Week Twin Day (Twin with Another Student or Staff Member)

December 19 - Spirit Week Festive Attire Day

December 20 - Spirit Week PJ and Stuffed Animal Day

December 20 - Half Day, Dismissal at Henry 1:05 PM

December 23 through January 3 - No School (Winter Break)

January 6 - School Resumes

January 6 - Dreambox Challenge Begins

January 6 - Kindergarten Registration Opens

January 7 - PTO Tab Top Collection

January 15 - PTO Papa Johns Night

January 16 - Half Day, Dismissal at Henry 1:05 PM

January 17 - No School (Records Day)

January 20 - No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 28 - Reader in Me Online Submission Deadline

January 29 - Early Release, Dismissal at Henry 2:05 PM

January 30 - PTO Meeting 7 PM

January 31 - Reader in Me Prize Distribution

Our “Henry Harmonizers” (our voluntary 5th grade choir that meets before school on Monday mornings) will be singing “God Bless America” at an Ambush game at the Family Arena! They will be performing on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM. This is always a fun, memorable event for our Henry families. If you want to come cheer on our choir, and then enjoy a great game, here are the details:

Please see the pictured flyer for details about the event and a QR code that directs to the Henry Elementary ticket link. The more people that attend for our Henry community, the more fun we have!

Our ticket price (per person, including each singer - anyone over the age of 2) is $25.75. Here is our direct ticket link in case anyone has issues with the QR code.

Important Notes:

• All performers and supporters (family, friends, teachers, etc.) must purchase their tickets through this specific link to ensure you receive the group rate and are seated together.
• The ticket link will close 2–3 days before the game, so we encourage everyone to secure their tickets early. Please note the clear bag policies when attending.
• When you purchase your tickets, please send Mrs. Plesia a quick email to let me know your family is coming.

We’re excited to have the Henry Harmonizers perform at the game and look forward to a fantastic evening!

Students interested in participating in the Missouri National Education Association Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. contest should please read below for more information on how to enter.

The theme this year is "Youth for Change: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Students are asked to reflect on “Dr. King's vision of equality, justice, and peace and how you can contribute to advancing his vision and promoting a more just and peaceful future.”

Students in grades K-2 and 3-5 can compete with a written essay with a poster. Please see the flyer below for submission requirements. Click here to access the 2025 Contest Materials and Entry Form.

All entries should be turned in to Mrs. Herrmann by Wednesday, January 15th.

• Oral Health Fund
• Emergency Room or Urgent Care: What is the Difference?
• Decorate Safely
• Grandparent Cafe

As we continue to focus on providing the best educational experience for all of our students, we want to take a moment to highlight the critical role that consistent school attendance plays in your child’s academic success.

Why Attendance Matters: Regular school attendance is essential for your child’s learning and overall development. Every day in the classroom contributes to building knowledge, skills, and relationships that are vital for academic progress. Missing school—even for one day—can lead to gaps in learning, which can accumulate over time. By ensuring that your child attends school regularly, you're helping them stay on track, stay engaged, and feel connected to their learning community.

How We Track and Communicate Attendance: To help monitor and encourage regular attendance, we send home attendance letters each month to students with an atttendance percentange less than 93%. These letters outline your child’s attendance record for the month and include any absences or tardies. Please know this communication is an expectation from the Parkway School District.

A Partnership in Attendance: We understand that life can sometimes interfere with attendance, whether it’s due to illness, family matters, or other challenges. If your child is struggling with attendance for any reason, we encourage you to contact us so we can offer support and find solutions together. We’re here to partner with you to ensure that your child’s educational experience remains strong and consistent.

Having trouble connecting to the Buzz Book and other information via the helpful red buttons at the bottom of this newsletter? At the top of the email, please click "View in browser". This will make the red buttons at the bottom of the newsletter clickable again.

You can also access the links here while SMORE works to update this feature.

• Bulldog Brags for Teachers/Staff, Click Here to Nominate!
• Buzz Book (Password Henry2024)
• Henry School Handbook
• Henry Staff Directory
• How to Volunteer at Henry
• Update Your Family Profile

Make sure to check out the December PTO Newsletter to learn more about events in January, upcoming stock the lounge information and more!

Thank you to those that have donated. We do still have a few slots left to fill. Some of our Henry families could use a little help this holiday season. Sign up using this link. Help to donate $25 gift cards for the counselors to deliver to Henry families in need. Send the donated gift cards into the school office marked for Mrs. Herrmann by Monday, December 16th.

Does your teacher go above and beyond for their students? Are they deserving of some extra help in the classroom? Consider nominating your Henry teacher for a chance to win $500 from Tools for Teachers using this link.

The giving season is right around the corner and while it's not expected or required, we know families often want to do a little something extra for their child's teacher. If you're wondering what they might enjoy, check out this updated staff wishlist for ideas and inspiration gathered by the Henry Teacher Appreciation Committee.

Email: joliver2@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Domain/15
Location: 700 Henry Avenue, Ballwin, MO, USA
Phone: 314-415-6350
Facebook: facebook.com/henryelementaryschool
Instagram: @pkwyhenrybulldogs