Cougar Update

Cougar Families,

What a wonderful first semester! I am proud that we've made it this far into the school year and I am looking forward to a strong finish. Our students are amazing and so are our parents and guardians.

As we approach our winter break, I wanted to take a moment to wish all of our wonderful families a safe and joyful holiday season. This time of year provides a wonderful opportunity for family bonding and creating lasting memories together. I know our students will spend time on games and other electronics but hopefully some of the time could be used reading their favorite book.

Screen Time Management:

While electronics and video games can be entertaining, I encourage families to establish healthy boundaries for screen time during the break. Consider setting specific "tech-free" times for family activities and maintaining regular sleep schedules.

Remember that this break is not just a pause from academics - it's an opportunity to strengthen family bonds and create memories that will last a lifetime. When we return to school, we love hearing about the special moments our students share with their families.

Family Time Ideas:

• Create a family reading hour where everyone picks their favorite book and shares a quiet hour together
• Start a holiday baking tradition - involve children in measuring ingredients to reinforce math skills while having fun
• Plan a family game night tournament with board games or card games that encourage strategic thinking
• Work on a puzzle together as a family - set it up on a table where family members can add pieces whenever they have a few minutes
• Take advantage of local winter activities and holiday events in our community

• Create a family time capsule or scrapbook documenting your favorite memories from 2024

Whatever our families decide to do just know that we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a wonderful new year of learning and growth.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Smith

Principal

As we continue to work toward improving our school social work program, we ask that stakeholders complete this survey. Survey results are confidential, and responses will be used to create program goals for the upcoming year. Please complete the survey by December 20, 2024.

The purpose of the survey is twofold:

1. To gather perception data about the role of the school social worker within the school building

2. To gather perception data regarding each social worker’s visibility, responsiveness, and availability

Our school collected 317 pounds of food to donate to Harvester’s!!! 29 students and 3 adults donated 2 hours each of time in the sorting room. We divided into 2 groups to sort and package onions and apples to be distributed to food pantries around the Kansas City area.

Thank you to our school community for making this donation and service to our KC community possible!

Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Guinn

NJHS sponsors

Eye Care for Kids Vision Van will be Congress screening kids’ vision and getting them FREE glasses (if you qualify). In order for your child to be screened, the attached application needs to be filled out and sent back with your student. Or you can fill out the link to register online: https://practisforms.com/milesofsmilesinc/forms/icare4kids-form

This is an amazing opportunity for students to be screened at school and get free glasses if needed.

Please reach out to Congress Social Worker, Morgan Boeth with any questions or concerns.

Thanks!

Morgan Boeth

Congress Middle School

Our employees are the reason we are so successful here at Congress Middle School and the Park Hill School District, and the Park Hill School District would like to recognize us for all we do for our students.

The Park Hill Star award is awarded monthly to any staff member in the school district. Anyone can nominate an employee for this award by using the form below. In addition, please send a note of encouragement to our Congress Staff, letting them know you care.

Sometimes, negative comments are made directly to our staff members or posted on social media. We want to change that narrative! We want the positive vibes to outweigh the negative vibes. Please vote for one of our staff members or send a kind note to staff members for the entire month of December.

Winter months are upon us, and we've already experienced the first snow of the season. Below you will find links to our Alternative Modes of Instruction (AMI) schedules for teams. As we prepare our students for high school, we expect them to take responsibility for their learning. It may seem like they need help navigating different websites and learning platforms, but they always shine once given the opportunity. Some may take longer than others, but they all find a way. Our Congress kids are true ROCKSTARS!

Parents, keep an eye out for a special surprise from your child’s school! 📚✨ Kids will be bringing home FREE skating passes to enjoy during the holiday break, thanks to their amazing teachers! 🎄🛼

This gift is a perfect way for your kids to stay active, have fun, and make great memories during the holidays. Be sure to check out River Roll's special holiday skating times – plenty of opportunities to roll into some festive fun!

Stay tuned for updates and schedules on their website or social media. We want everyone to enjoy this opportunity with your family at River Roll Skate Center! ❤️🎅

#FreeSkatingPass #HolidayFun #FamilyTime #StayActive #RiverRollSkateCenter

We will frequently use our social media to send out reminders about important events and to share important information. Please like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for updates.

We created Sprigeo so people would feel safer at school. When a person really needs help or there is a safety threat at school we hope you will step up and send in a report. Sending in a false report makes it harder for your school to help the people who really need it. If necessary you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can find out more about Sprigeo and the School District Safety Evaluation at Sprigeo.com. Thanks for using Sprigeo!

If you feel unsafe or know someone who feels unsafe, please report it here. After you fill out the form below, Sprigeo sends an email to a school administrator with all of the details from your report. You can also download one of our apps from the Apple Store or the Android Marketplace to submit a report.

Please report:

• Safety threats, bullying, harassment or intimidation at school
• Safety threats, bullying, harassment or intimidation outside of school
• Cyberbullying; Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
• Fights, drugs, alcohol or weapons at school
• Friends who talk about hurting themselves