Back to School Newsletter

This is our first district newsletter for the 2024-2025 school year! We know our community has a unique balance of families - all at different stages of settling into a new home, experiencing summer adventures, and, of course, planning for the upcoming school year. We want to support you by sharing information in one location so you can easily refer back when you are ready.

Hang tight, this one is going to be lengthy!

As a Kansas Public School District, we take pride in creating countless learning and engagement opportunities for our students. We strive to challenge critical thinking and problem solving while fostering creativity through learning. USD 207 is a continuously strong supporter of the Fort Leavenworth Community and we value the partnership and collaboration established with our students, parents, and community leaders.

Whether you are new to USD 207 or are returning, we know that this is a time of excitement and energy as we begin a new school year. As your family prepares for the first day, we are happy to support your individual needs. The first day of school for students is Tuesday, August 13, 2024!!

Hours of Operation - District Office

The USD 207 District Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

• USD 207 District Office: 913-651-7373
• Email Us

Hours of Operation - School Buildings

• Elementary Offices, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
• Junior High Office, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm

While our dedicated team continues to enjoy the remaining days of summer, we invite you to view our virtual tours by clicking the images below. Your family will have the opportunity to explore in-person during the scheduled 'Know Your School' events.

Be sure to check out our Elementary School Assignment By Street and Patton Bus or Walking By Street lists to see which elementary your child will attend and if bus transportation is available based on your address.

1 Patton Loop

Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027

913-651-7371

https://patton.usd207.org

Join the Patton administration team as they cover arrivals, dismissals, and other essential school and activity operations.

**Patton Junior High School will not be open for tours at this time.

Transportation schedules are currently in progress as routes are being adjusted and will be updated on the website as completed.

JULY 24, 2024 - 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM - ZONED SCHOOL BUILDING

• Elementary attendance is only required for those that need to turn in documentation not submitted prior and/or to speak with the nurse regarding individual student needs.

• Patton Junior High student attendance is required for course selection for grades 7-9.

JULY 25, 2025 - 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM - ZONED SCHOOL BUILDING

• Elementary attendance is only required for those that need to turn in documentation not submitted prior and/or to speak with the nurse regarding individual student needs.

• Patton Junior High student attendance is required for course selection for grades 7-9.

Parents may choose to complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) with their student at home via the link on the school's website OR by attending in person at your neighborhood elementary school. Please allow approximately one hour to complete.

The Kindergarten program will follow a half day schedule for the first eight school days to provide a successful introduction to the full day program. Students are assigned to either a morning or afternoon program from Tuesday, August 13th through Thursday, August 22nd.

During this time, teachers will work with small groups of students to introduce them to building/classroom routines and perform skills assessments. On Monday, August 26th, the full day program will begin.

AM Schedule: 8:00 - 11:10 AM

PM Schedule: 12:15 - 3:20 PM

Full Day Schedule: 8:00 AM - 3:20 PM

Arrival and dismissal procedures for the half day schedule will be available in classrooms on August 12, 2024 during the Elementary Know Your School events. For those eligible for busing, the mid-day times for drop-off and pick-up will be posted on our website under the Transportation tab.

*Kindergarteners will not be eating lunch at school until Monday, August 28, 2023.

Students and families do not need to do any preparation for English as a Second Language screenings. Students will be given a basic English screener that will determine their oral proficiency level. Students will be asked a variety of listening, reading, writing, and speaking questions on a computer. If your child doesn’t speak English, that is okay! The screening might be very short and will allow us to identify which students will need support as we begin the school year. If students are not here when the summer screening takes place, then the additional screening will occur during normal school hours when school is back in session.

Please ask your American sponsor to bring you and your school-age students to this English-Language screening. Screenings will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

*Please allow 30 minutes per child to complete.

Parents new to the district are invited to their zoned elementary to meet building administration teams as they cover arrivals, dismissals, and other pertinent information.

Transportation schedules are currently in progress as routes are being adjusted and will be updated on the website as completed.

• 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Patton Parent Know Your School
• 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Patton Student Orientation & Schedule Distribution (Additional details will be shared by the Patton Principal as the date approaches.)

• 1:00 - 3:30 PM: Elementary Parent Know Your School (Parents and students attend at zoned elementary. Students may bring supplies at this time.)

We are pleased to see families enjoying time outside and welcome the use of our playgrounds in the summer, after the school day, and on the weekends. Please remember that toy weapons of any kind are not allowed on school grounds, even when school is not in session. This includes water guns, nerf guns, toy swords, etc.

The safety of our students, staff, and families is a priority. Multiple layers of security are currently in place through the District, including a few initiatives highlighted below.

Visitor Aware

Visitor Aware is a visitor and volunteer management system utilized to increase the accountability of individuals granted access to our buildings. Visitors and volunteers will be screened prior to entry by scanning a valid driver’s license (military IDs are not accepted by the software). If approved, a visitor or volunteer badge will print. These badges must be visible at all times while in our buildings.

Centegix

The Centegix CrisisAlert system is an internal support for student and staff safety. Each staff member is assigned an individual alert badge that communicates with beacons located throughout our facilities when activated. CrisisAlert then notifies key personnel with clear and critical information necessary to promptly respond to emergencies.

Ballistic Film

A ballistic film has been installed on all ground level-accessible windows/doors and all school building vestibules/entryways. The film functions to mitigate hazards from shattered glass and delay intruder attempts.

Our teams have been hard at work over the summer improving sidewalks for our walkers and bike riders! Fort Leavenworth DES has shared key information regarding bicycle and walker safety on the installation. Please share with your family to help us maintain safety in our community. Awareness is key!

The bullets in bold are important reminders based on DES observations and are applicable to children and adults.:

• No bicycling is allowed on Grant Ave, through the National Cemetery, or within the Golf Course
• Bicycles must be walked across crosswalks

• Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks in either direction – must yield to pedestrians

• Bike riders on sidewalks must announce when passing pedestrians – verbally or with a bell/horn

• Bike riders in the roadway are required to travel with the direction of traffic

• Note: Riding bikes side by side on the street and on the sidewalk makes it difficult for pedestrians and drivers.

• PPE Required: Headlight (white), taillight (red), with reflective gear on torso (during darkness), and approved helmet

Policy References

The Fort Leavenworth Safety Office provided the following references that support bicycle and walker safety.

• Fort Leavenworth Command Policy Memo: Individual runners/walkers must run/walk on sidewalks when available. If no sidewalk exists, the road shoulder may be used. Running/walking in the street will be the last resort.

• CAC & FTLVN Reg 190-5 - Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision

We appreciate your support!

One of our first District-Wide Events is the Annual Freedom Walk, which will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Freedom Walks began in 2005 by the Pentagon as a way to celebrate freedoms, commemorate lives lost on 9/11, and honor service members and first responders. It continues to be of great importance to recognize the heroes we are surrounded by each day in the district, the community, the state, and the country.

Families and community members are encouraged to attend!

A USD 207 Freedom Walk 2024 shirt design will be included in our Fall Spirit Stores. All USD 207 students will attend the Freedom Walk, but are not required to wear the Freedom Walk Shirt. (Due to product lead time and printing, no orders will be accepted after the online stores close on August 23rd.)

2024 Fall Spirit Wear Stores are open!

Each building has their own store front that will be open through August 23rd. For a timely arrival, production begins immediately following and no additional orders are accepted. We appreciate your understanding!

• Spirit Wear Stores close on Thursday, August 23rd, at 11:59 pm. Upon closure of stores, no additional orders will be accepted to ensure timely product arrivals.
• Please indicate the student's name in the payment screen's 'Customer Information' section.
  
• Both adult and youth sizing is available (toddler sizes available in Freedom Walk shirt only), please review each selection to verify accuracy prior to submitting orders.
• Orders are custom printed based on customer selections, therefore, may not be returned or exchanged. Please carefully review shirt styles/sizing during selection.
• Shipping is free when 'pick up from school' is selected. Customers also have the option to ship directly to an address for an additional fee.
• Orders will ship out approximately two weeks after the store has closed.
• In the event stock is unavailable, products may be substituted with similar items.

***Spirit Wear purchases are optional. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to purchase spirit wear for your family! Another store is projected to open in the Spring for those that missed out or haven't joined our community yet.

USD 207 provides special education services in the least restrictive environment, to the maximum extent appropriate, based on a student's individual needs. In Kansas, gifted services are provided through Special Education and, therefore, follow Special Education eligibility processes and procedures.

To better serve you and your family, we ask that you contact the District Office to begin communicating your child's needs for the upcoming school year.

Special Services Department

913-758-6044

Our food service staff is dedicated to providing healthy food with safety measures for both staff and students alike. We are committed to ensuring a great breakfast and lunch experience for your children. We offer a strong variety of comfort and recognizable foods in our menu that are not only nutritious, but will appeal to and help educate your child about the importance of making nutritious choices. Please take the time to read about our food service program, meal prices, and more.

Keep an eye out for our Fall picnics!!

If you feel you may benefit or qualify for free or reduced meals, please view the parent letter and complete the application packet linked below. If you prefer to complete the form online, you may do so at USD 207 Online Child Nutrition Application.

*Applications completed last year will no longer be valid past September 26, 2024. A new form will need to be submitted.

The application is a confidential document. We ask that paper applications are returned in an envelope, marked "Attention: Melissa Hurley" to the school office or the USD 207 Board of Education.

Completed paper applications may also be mailed to:

USD 207 Melissa Hurley, FSD

207 Education Way

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027-1416

mhurley@usd207.org

Students have the option to purchase "Ala Carte" items available during meals. Please remember, these additional items may only be purchased if students have a zero or positive balance on their lunch accounts.

Food Service Payments can be completed through Skyward Family Access AND RevTrak.

Skyward Food Service payments through RevTrak has an auto-replenishment option for parents! You can enable recurring payments when your child's food account balance falls below an amount of your choosing. Follow the steps below to get started.

The Technology Department is committed to providing effective technology tools to support student learning. Our ongoing objective is to improve student learning, productivity, and engagement by providing all students ubiquitous access to an individualized digital learning environment within the classroom.

Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade have access to an iPad and students in 2nd through 9th grade use Chromebooks. We recognize that when digital devices are at home, there may be issues.

Our top three problem-solving tips include:

1. Shut down and restart the device.
2. Check for software updates.
3. Submit a Parent Trouble Ticket.

The Technology Department encourages parents and families to Like Us on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter. These platforms are a great way to see what is happening at USD 207.

We are fortunate to operate and maintain our own fleet of buses for meeting the needs of our students. Our goal is to transport all students in a safe, friendly and timely manner. We welcome your questions and concerns about student transportation.

The newest version of our student software has been installed on every bus, making Bus Compass now functional. The three LHS buses also have this system, along with any 9th grader going to LHS in the afternoon for activities.

Following onsite enrollment, households eligible for bus transportation will receive a Transportation Enrollment Form through Skyward Family Access. Forms need to be completed by AUGUST 5, 2024 for route finalization. Routes will be posted on our website prior to the first day of school.

To check transportation eligibility, please review School Assignments by Street/Patton Junior High Bus or Walking by Street for the 2024-2025 SY.

*All students will need to use their bus fobs.

Transportation Office Hours

Summer: Monday thru Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

School Year: Monday thru Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

913-758-6023

Messages may be left during non-working hours.

Fort Leavenworth residents are zoned to attend Leavenworth High School for grades 10-12. Fort Leavenworth USD 207 provides transportation to Leavenworth High School (LHS) at no additional cost for resident students enrolled in grades 10-12.

Leavenworth USD 453

Leavenworth High School

2012 10th Avenue

Leavenworth, KS 66048

913-684-1550

contactus@lvpioneers.org

Patton 9th grade students that have confirmed participation in LHS Athletics/Activities submit a completed LHS Athletics/Activities Transportation Form to the Patton Junior High School office.

• If participating in JROTC, students will be transported using the LHS AM bus routes. A bus will not be available to transport students from Patton to LHS.
• If LHS is in session on a USD 207 non-school day, JROTC students will still ride the LHS AM bus and then be transported to Patton following class. The athletic bus will run as usual.
• When LHS is not in session, transportation is not available.

Fort Leavenworth residents are zoned to attend Patton Junior High for 9th grade. Fort Leavenworth USD 207 provides transportation to 9th grade resident students attending Leavenworth High School (LHS) out-of-district at an additional cost of $275/semester or $550/year. Fees for 9th graders attending Leavenworth High School are payable online via RevTrak.

LHS students in grade 9 submit a completed Leavenworth High School (LHS) Transportation Enrollment Form to the Board of Education Office at 207 Education Way, Fort Leavenworth.

The Fort Leavenworth School District (USD 207) partners with Leavenworth/Fort Leavenworth Parents as Teachers (PAT), a free parent education program. This program offers information, support, and encouragement to parents with the goal of fostering optimal child development during early years of life. Residents of the Leavenworth (USD 453) or Fort Leavenworth (USD 207) School Districts who are pregnant or have a child under 3 years of age are eligible for enrollment.

Services include:

• Personal visits
• Group connections
• Playgroups
• Screenings
• Links with community resources

If interested in participation, send your name, address, phone number, email, and child(rens) name and date of birth to: kicia.wagner@usd453.org or call (913) 684-1450.

Office Hours

7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Monday through Friday (School Year)

Summer hours are limited.