LEAD Innovation Studio

Website: https://lead.parkhill.k12.mo.us/
Location: 7201 North Line Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: 816-359-4130
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parkhillLEAD
Twitter: @ParkHillLEAD

• August 26: School Pictures at LEAD
  
• August 28: Jostens Sophomore Class Ring Meeting, 2:15 - 2:45
• August 28: LEAD NHS Chipotle Night, 5:00 - 9:00 PM
• September 2: Labor Day (No School)
• September 4: Jostens Class Ring Orders Due
• September 16: Parent Advisory Meeting, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Attendance: 816-359-4131

School Phone: 816-359-4130

School Fax: 816-359-4139

Counseling: 816-359-4132

Health Room: 816-359-4134

While our first week at LEAD has been filled with high engagement, team-building, and some amazing learning, you may have already heard your student express concern or frustration over something in Canvas.

Yep-- we've had a few bumps in the road and their frustration is probably merited. Believe it or not, parents and guardians, it's not just typical teenage complaining!

No worries. We're still figuring things out and making discoveries. Just yesterday, we held a productive Zoom meeting with reps from Canvas, and we think we already have a few things ironed out.

This is a very new and very big endeavor, and with such endeavors comes some hiccups and issues, but I know we'll get things streamlined soon. What Canvas does not impact, though, is the high level of quality instruction taking place in every classroom. I'm confident in that!

So if you've heard some grumblings, it's understandable. We were a bit spoiled by Summit, but we're making strides and becoming more efficient with Canvas each day.

We know parents are anxious to access Canvas so they can monitor their student's progress. As I said in our last newsletter, we are currently working with our technology department on the best way for parents to access student accounts. We can assure you that it will be coming very soon. Please be watching for updates on how to access your student's account. Thank you for your patience!

Grab some Chipotle at 8600 N Boardwalk Ave (Tiffany Springs area) from 5-9 pm on August 28th to help raise funds for LEAD NHS! Use code LLHJ6FT when ordering ahead, or show a copy of the ad below while ordering in the restaurant. Skip cooking dinner that night while helping raise funds for an amazing group of LEAD students!

Click here to nominate a LEAD staff member for a Park Hill Star Award.

The LEAD building DEIB council will be in its second year this year. One of our goals this year is to grow. We are looking for students, parents, guardians, staff members, and community members who are passionate about the work of inclusion and belonging. If you are interested in joining this council, please reach out to Dr. Laura Hartman at hartmanl@parkhill.k12.mo.us.

For more information on the Park Hill School District's work with Accession and Inclusion, please visit this site.

Eligible households may receive a one-time $120.00 benefit per eligible student. Families with children who meet the criteria will receive an EBT card by mail, or the benefit will be added to their existing EBT card.

Families can use the Missouri Sun Bucks Eligibility Navigator to see if they need to complete an application. Households who need to apply must submit the application online by August 31, 2024.

Criteria for automatic eligibility includes:

The household already participates in SNAP or Temporary Assistance; including extended eligible household members or the child is age 7-17 and in foster care, homeless , a migrant

or the child at tends a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and the household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals.

Please apply by 8/31/24. Apply HERE.

Please contact your school social worker if you have any questions.

We are happy to inform our parents that LEAD received recognition for our Tier One implementation this summer! We want to thank you for every donation you made to our school store. Our students love being rewarded for all of the amazing things they do.

Again, this year, we will be using the PBIS rewards app, and students can redeem their points during Community Time for a snack or other fun rewards. We have some free items in the store like earning a front parking space, being first in the lunch line, or walking our trail for a few minutes during community time are all free.

However, some of the things that will be in the store are not free. If you are willing to donate any of the following for our first quarter PBIS donation drive, we would be so appreciative. This would also allow students to get a snack before lunch time. Here are some things we would love to have in our store available for students to purchase with their points:

1. Granola bars
2. Individual cheese it crackers
3. Individual goldfish crackers
4. Fruit snacks
5. Rice Krispie Treats
6. Low sugar Gatorades
7. ICE sparkling drinks
8. Takis
9. (Anything a teen would like)

We will also have raffles running every few weeks. Things like games, sports equipment, gift cards, fun gel pens, etc. will be raffled. You can also donate raffle items. For the raffle, students will use their points to earn a raffle ticket for a chance to earn these prizes. You can bring donations to our front office with a sticky note that says “PBIS Donation.” If you have any questions about PBIS, feel free to contact Dr. Eisenmenger at eisenmengers@parkhill.k12.mo.us

If you know of a business that would like to help our endeavor or would rather give a monetary donation you can do so through this:

LEAD Positive Impact Grant

Click here for info from the land of the Trojans!

Clubs are an exciting way for students to get involved at LEAD.

On club days, students must be picked up by 4:30 or they will need to ride the bus home.

If your student participates in clubs, please mark your calendar for the following club dates:

Sept. 16

Oct. 7

Oct. 21

Nov. 4

Nov. 18

Dec. 9

Jan. 13

Jan. 27

Feb. 24

March 10

April 7

April 21

Our school day is from 8:10 AM to 2:58 PM. Our building will open at 7:15 for students who need to be dropped off early. Those students can study and socialize in our commons area, but are not allowed to be anywhere else inside (or outside) the school.

Our daily schedule is:

• 1st Block: 8:10 AM - 9:45 AM
• 2nd Block: 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
• Community Time (Mentor groups/ Self-directed learning time): 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• 3rd Block/Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:40 PM
• 4th Block: 1:40PM - 2:58PM

Important Information for NCC and NCAPS Families:

AM NCC students will return during Community Time. Mentors will do their best to schedule visits with mentees once they've returned from NCC. AM NCAPS students should arrive at LEAD at roughly 10:30, or during 2nd block.

PM NCC students who need transportation will need to catch their shuttle by 10:40, which means they will need to eat before that. In an effort to accommodate these students without forcing them to miss additional class time, they will be allowed to leave 2nd block, get their lunch, and return to 2nd block to eat during instruction (if necessary-- if they are completing self-directed learning, they can stay in the cafeteria to eat).

PM NCAPS students will leave during Community Time and will also be allowed to eat lunch before they go.

See the links below for the 2024-2025 school-year calendar.

• English: School-year calendar (PDF)
• Spanish: Calendario actualizado del ano escolar (PDF)
• Arabic: تقويم العام الدراسي (PDF)
• Amharic: ዓመተ ትምህርት (PDF)
• Somali: Kalaandarka Sanad Dugsiyeedka (PDF)

The Park Hill School District, values instructional time and student social and emotional health. In an effort to support the whole child and reduce distractions use of personal electronic devices will be limited and/or prohibited under certain circumstances. It is a privilege to bring personal electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, iPads, gaming devices, etc.) to school. At the high school level, the district cautions against allowing students to bring such items to school unless the student and parent/guardian have determined the device is necessary for before or after-school communication.

Personal electronic devices are not permitted to be used during instructional time. Students must place their personal electronic devices away in a pocket, backpack, locker, or other similar location to reduce the potential for distraction. Such devices must be turned off or placed on silent mode to avoid disrupting the learning environment. Staff may permit student to use personal electronic devices during non-active instructional time and students may elect to use personal electronic devices in the completion of assignments and/or tasks so long as such use is approved by the supervising staff member, does not district from the learning environment, or otherwise violate any district or school rules. Staff will not require students to use a personal electronic device for any purpose. If a student violates district policies, expectations, or school rules related to the use of a personal electronic devices, the student may be assigned disciplinary consequences as determined by a building administration, which may include a loss of the privilege to bring such devices to school for a period of time or indefinitely. When such issues occur parent/guardian may be required to pick up such items from the school’s front office.

Parents/Guardians who need to contact their student during the school day should contact the school’s front office. The school will be able to deliver a message to the student or call the student out of class so they can contact the parent in a manner that does not distract from the learning environment. If a student needs to contact a parent, they may do so in the front office or the counseling center. Students found to be using a personal electronic device in violation of district and school expectations will be subject to discipline even if they are using the device to communicate with a parent or guardian.

LEAD does not have a PTA; instead, we have a parent advisory committee that helps shape our school community. We appreciate support on special occasions for both students and staff, such as providing meals for parent teacher conferences and pancake breakfasts for students. We will be looking to partner with our advisory committee to plan other events and activities to allow families an opportunity to be involved in the LEAD community.

Our advisory committee will meet on the following nights from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the LEAD commons or virtually, as indicated below:

9/16: LEAD

10/21: Virtual

11/18: LEAD

1/27: LEAD

2/25: Virtual

4/21: LEAD

5/19: Virtual

The A+ Scholarship Program was created as a part of the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 as an incentive for improving Missouri’s high schools. The primary goal of the A+ Scholarship Program is to ensure that all students who graduate from Missouri high schools are well prepared to pursue advanced education and/or employment.

The A+ Scholarship Program is designed to accomplish that imperative. “The A+ Scholarship Program will mobilize an intensive partnership among high schools, community colleges, students, teachers, parents, labor, businesses, and communities to give these students the motivation, skills, and knowledge to graduate from high school. It will create an innovative and well-designed path from high school to high skill, high wage jobs.”

Students that complete A+ are eligible for 2-years tuition* at any MO vocational/technical school or community college. Many MO 4-year universities offer scholarships based on A+ criteria as well.

LEAD works closely with both home high schools to support students wishing to participate in the A+ program. You can learn more about the A+ program at your home high school: Park Hill High School and Park Hill South High School.

If you have questions about A+, please contact Dr. Hartman (816-359-5875,

hartmanl@parkhill.k12.mo.us).

If any of the following courses are on your student's schedule for the upcoming school year, your student has the opportunity to earn dual credit. Dual Credit courses allow students to earn high school credit and college credit at the same time. We partner with Metropolitan Community College for our dual credit offerings. Students must meet certain requirements to qualify for the college credit and complete the Intent to Enroll form each semester if they wish to receive dual credit. See below for more information.

What courses this year at LEAD are dual credit?

College Algebra

Comp & Read

AP Psychology

Spanish III and Spanish IV

Child Growth and Development

AP United States History

AP Biology

AP Environmental Science (Tentative)

What are the requirements for dual credit qualification?

This varies by your student's grade level. Sophomores need a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.0+ and a qualifying Accuplacer or ACT score. Juniors and Seniors can use their unweighted GPA of 2.5+ to qualify. Other GPA requirements listed in the chart below.

To take the Accuplacer exam, please follow the steps below:

• Students must have an MCC ID to test.
• Go to http://www.mcckc.edu/apply and APPLY in order to get an MCC ID
• Must have a valid photo ID. Testing is offered on a walk in basis on Monday, Thursday, and Friday until 4:30 and Tuesday and Wednesday until 7pm. No appointment is needed. The entire test takes 2-3 hours to complete.
• The MATH section takes about 90 minutes to complete. Please allow the appropriate amount of time for the test.

The testing center is located at:

Learning Resources Building (room 174)

2601 NE Barry Road

Kansas City, MO 64156

Please visit the attendance page on LEAD's website for information on student absences.

If you have questions about our attendance policies or procedures, please contact Adelaide Wills (816-359-4131, willsa@parkhill.k12.mo.us).

PARKING: Students may purchase a LEAD parking pass after completing the Vehicle Registration Form and providing proof of insurance, valid driver's license, and Missouri registration. Parking passes are $30 and may be purchased online through Infinite Campus, or by cash or check in the LEAD office.

TRANSPORTATION: Students who will not be using district transportation need to complete this form and bring to the LEAD office: Opt-out Form - District Transportation.

Students who will be riding with another student for district sponsored events/activities need to complete this form and return to the LEAD office: Ride With or Transport Another Student.

Families who need alternate transportation should complete this form: Park Hill Alternate Transportation Request 2024-2025 School Year.

If you have questions about parking or transportation, please reach out to Teresa Graham (816-359-6165, grahamt@parkhill.k12.mo.us).

Free and Reduced applications will be available after August 1, 2023. We encourage families to complete and submit an application for free and reduced price meals to see if you might qualify. See information about meal charges on the menus and nutrition homepage. A new application must be completed each school year. Online applications are available through the SchoolCafe portal and is the most efficient way to submit an application.

For more information, please click here.

We will frequently use social media to send out reminders about important events and to share information about the great things going on in our school. If you haven’t already done so, please like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for updates.