The Scoop!

While we continue to navigate the winter weather and embrace the flexility it forces upon us, I continue to be thankful for such a strong school community. It was great to see so many of that community coming in to collaborate with us on their student and the best ways to support everyone involved in their care. Thanks to those that could join us!

I also wanted to thank those that shifted plans, staff and community, to help us pull off Valentine's Day celebrations one day early. Our students look forward to these opportunities and we truly appreciate the support it takes from our PTO, staff, and volunteers.

Reminder, we will not have school on 2/14 and 2/17 due to conferences and our observation of President's Day. We look forward to having students back with us on 2/18!

Have a great long weekend!

-Cade

Your CHE PTO is excited to announce this year's community event coming up on Tuesday, February 25th at 6:30 pm.

Join us for an evening with our counseling staff to learn more about how they incorporate social/emotional learning strategies into the classroom and how these can be translated into the home setting.

We know that mental health is more important than ever. This is a great night to learn how CHE is supporting your students and how you can too!

Our lost and found seems to be overflowing! Help us find homes for the articles that have been left behind. We will hold all materials until 2/13. Until that time, we will need to clear out the lost and found. The remaining articles will be donated after that week.

Thanks to our amazing front office ladies -- we have visuals and a way to claim the pieces. Check out the link below!

Believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about Kindergarten enrollment for next school year! If you have a student who you think may be enrolling with us for next year, please add the information to the form below. We want to be able to communicate with all of our potential new Cheetah's!

2025-2026 CHE Incoming Kindergartner Info

• Download the FREE AHA Schools App for Apple or Android and click on “Register Now” then scroll down to join your school's team.

• Next, click on “send a text today” to easily reach friends & family!
• OR click HERE. and choose “Sign Up” to get started.

We have some BONUS incentives for our students this year:

• The more money your student raises, the more prizes they can earn along the way
• If your student’s class has 50% participation, their teacher will receive a $50 amazon gift card for the class
• If you student’s class has 3 people complete Finn’s Mission (watching a video to learn hands only CPR) their teacher will receive a $25 amazon gift card for the class
• If your student raises $100 or more, they will receive an extra recess & popsicle at the recess
• If the school raises $10,000 a lucky winner will get to silly string Coach Stubbs and/ or Mr. Chace
• If the school raises $15,000 a few brave staff members will get a pie in the face

Are you interested in providing your child with an immersive educational experience that broadens horizons, enhances cognitive skills and teaches second language skills? Would you like to learn more about Blue Valley’s Chinese Immersion program?

Prospective Chinese Immersion Family Information Session

🗓 5 p.m. Feb. 25

🖊 Register for the information session online

🔗 Zoom link provided upon registration

📹 Watch a video that provides a glimpse into Chinese Immersion classrooms

Online applications for the program will open Feb. 28 with a lottery system determining participation in the program. For more information about the immersion program, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/immersion.

Join friends for a great adult night out with live music, a silent auction, a wine and bourbon pull and more! Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support music and performing arts programs throughout the district, and YOU can be part of the fun! Check out our new location at Fiorella’s event space in OP for a great over-21 night out. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and YOU choose the “Best of Blue Valley” live band when the competition wraps up at 10 p.m. Bands are made up of BV parents, teachers and staff and funds provide significant funding for performing arts programs including band, orchestra, choir, theater, debate and competitive speaking. Get tickets today at Event Details.

Can’t make it to the event in person? No worries! Visit Silent Auction to start your bid on incredible auction packages and see what your school submitted. Check back frequently as more items are added to the offerings every week. The auction will close on Friday, February 21 at 8:45 p.m. and you do not have to be present to win!

You can also vote by donation for your favorite adult school-affiliated band, and the winner receives a $1,000 grant to their school of choice. The 2025 band names, order of performances and school representations are as follows:

• Young Medicine- Lakewood Elementary
• Modern Thieves- Mission Trail Elementary, Leawood Middle, Blue Valley North
• KC Prime- Leawood Elementary and Leawood Middle

Hope to see you Friday, February 21, 2025, as we Rock the Valley for BV Schools!

We've been discussing additional support for those in need with our PTO for the past few years. We are thrilled to relay that we can do our best to help with those needs. If you don't have funds to purchase coats, hats/gloves, shoes, clothing, food, book fair books, gifts, etc., our amazing PTO has established methods to possibly help fulfill those needs. We understand asking for help can be hard, so you can reach out to any of the contacts listed below and request assistance. Your identity, the need, or any other particulars will be confidential.

Cade Chace, Principal - ccchace@bluevalleyk12.org

Kelly Northup, Asst. Principal - knorthup@bluevalleyk12.org

Sara Maddox, Counselor - sfmaddox@bluevalleyk12.org

Denise Stutey, Social Work - dastutey@bluevalleyk12.org

Thank you to our outstanding community and PTO for the additional support!

• Black History Month - created to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and rich cultural heritages of African Americans. Black History Month highlights the triumphs and adversities that have helped shape the United States.

• World Hijab Day - February 1 - recognizes the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab. Inviting women of all identities to wear the hijab for one day, it promotes understanding of other cultures and personal freedoms of religious expression.

• Magha Puja Day - February 12 - an important Buddhist festival celebrating the gathering between Buddha and his first disciples. Some families will attend temple, meditate, listen to teachings, perform giving alms, and hold candlelight processions.

• The Lantern Festival - February 12 - the last night of Lunar New Year celebrations. Occurring on the first full moon of the lunar year, it serves as a symbol of unity and completeness. Some families will light colorful lanterns - some with riddles written on them, dance, and eat sweet rice balls or dumplings in soup.

• Maha Shivaratri - February 26 - a solemn Hindu festival that marks the “overcoming of darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. Some families will celebrate by chanting prayers to the god Shiva, fasting, and meditating on virtues of honesty, charity, and forgiveness.

We are thankful for the ongoing partnership and support we experience in our school community. Working together we ensure the best possible student experience allowing them to realize personal success. There are times, however, when issues arise which require our continued collaboration to resolve. Families may utilize the matrix linked on the district website to best address questions and concerns that may arise throughout the course of a school year. Finally, all staff and visitors should conduct their business free from intimidation, harassment, or bullying. The district’s Board of Education states expectations regarding civility within Policy 6341. Again, thank you for your partnership in helping to maintain a safe school community environment for all.

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all our schools. We are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of situations. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

12: Valentine's Day Class Celebrations

13: Staff Lunch from PTO

13-14: NO SCHOOL (Conferences)

17: NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)

20: Panera Spirit Night

25-27: Chat N Chew

25: Community Event with counselors

28: No school (Teacher Professional Collaboration)

March:

6: 2nd Grade Musical - 2:30pm and 6:30pm

7: Trivia Night

Email: CedarHillsElementary@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/che
Location: 9100 West 165th Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 9132393300
Twitter: @cedarhillselementary