Combs Family Newsletter

As we wrap up October, we want to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween, and extend warm wishes to those celebrating Día de los Muertos, All Saints Day, or other cultural festivities this week. We have some important updates to share, including Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, Tuesday, and all day Wednesday. We’re striving for 100% participation, so please be sure to schedule a time to connect with your child’s teacher. No school for students will take place from Wednesday through Tuesday, with classes resuming on Wednesday, November 6th. Additionally, join us for the district's Dudes, Dads, & Donuts event at McCluer North High School, consider signing up a veteran to be honored at our Veterans Day assembly (now allowing one escort per veteran), and support the canned food drive led by district social workers. Be sure to check out our "Did You Know" section on hidden dangers in some popular video games.

Let’s make it a great week ahead!

• Mon 10/28 - Wed 10/30 - Parent Teacher Conferences
• Mon 10/28 - Bookmobile
• Wed 10/30 - Tue 11/5 - Fall Break NO SCHOOL
• Mon 11/4 - Bobo's Order Pickup
• Mon 11/11 - Veterans Day Reception and Assembly
• Wed 11/13 - 3rd Grade Music Field Trip
• Wed 11/27 - Fri 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL
• Fri 12/6 - Make Up Picture Day
• Tue 12/10 - Combs Winter Solstice Fine Arts Night (at STEAM@MSB)
• Tue 12/17 - Combs Change Team Meeting
• Fri 12/20 - Half Day
• Mon 12/23 - Fri 1/3 - Winter Break NO SCHOOL

If you haven’t yet scheduled a conference time, we’d love for you to do so! Our goal is to meet with each and every family, and your child’s teacher is eager to connect with you. Conference times are available on Monday and Tuesday evenings, as well as during the day on Wednesday, with options to fit your schedule. Please reach out soon to reserve your spot, as slots are filling up fast, and walk-ins may experience a wait or, if times are fully booked, may need to reschedule for another day.

4th & 5th Grade families, please sign up with your homeroom teacher only. During your time slot, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with each content area teacher.

The district is excited to announce that our annual Dudes, Dads, and Donuts event is back! Join us for a morning of fun, food, and fellowship on November 16th from 8:30 AM to 12 noon at McCluer North High School (705 Waterford Drive, Florissant MO).

This year's theme is "Leading with Love", and we can't wait to celebrate the positive impact of fathers and male figures in our students' lives.

Please RSVP with this form by November 8th so that we can ensure we have enough refreshments for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you there!

We’re excited to celebrate our Combs family veterans, but we need your help to make it a truly memorable event! If you have a family member who has served in the U.S. military, please sign up to have them honored at our Veterans Day assembly on November 11th. This special event will begin with a reception for veterans at 9:00 a.m., followed by a recognition ceremony. To allow for more participation, each veteran may bring one escort to the assembly.

Even if your family’s veteran cannot attend, we invite you to submit their photo to be included in our commemorative slideshow. Let’s make this a day to remember and honor those who have served!

Many online games popular with kids, like Roblox, can expose young players to hidden dangers, even if they seem child-friendly on the surface. Recently, several parents have shared concerns about risks they hadn’t realized, such as online predators, gang recruitment, bullying, and other inappropriate behaviors that can occur within these platforms.

If your child is active in online games, we encourage frequent and consistent monitoring of their activity to help ensure their safety. Checking in regularly and staying aware of who they’re interacting with—even in games—can go a long way in keeping your child’s online experiences positive and secure.

Here’s a list of helpful pointers for parents to monitor and safeguard their child’s online gaming experience:

• Keep Communication Open: Regularly talk with your child about who they’re playing with and encourage them to come to you if they encounter anything uncomfortable or suspicious.
• Use Privacy Settings: Review and enable privacy settings on gaming accounts to limit who can message or connect with your child.
• Monitor Chat Features: Some games have in-game chat options; check these settings to restrict who can contact your child or disable chat if possible.
• Set Time Limits: Establish time limits for gaming to encourage balance and reduce extended exposure to potential risks.
• Stay Involved: Sit with your child periodically while they play to observe gameplay and interactions, which can also help you understand the game’s environment.
• Research Each Game: Look up the games your child plays to learn about any potential risks and find safety tips specific to that game.
• Consider Parental Control Software: Many apps and tools allow you to monitor and restrict access to online content, including gaming platforms.
• Encourage Friend-Only Play: Remind your child to play only with real-life friends they know and trust.

These practices can help create a safer online gaming experience, giving both you and your child peace of mind while they play.

The Social Workers team will partner with CKMS for their third Annual Winter Wonderland event, open to all families in the district this holiday season!

We are asking each school to participate in a Canned Food Drive to support families throughout our community. To make it fun and engaging, the school that collects the most canned goods will win a trophy and, most importantly, bragging rights! The Canned goods drive runs until November 15, 2024.

Here are some **suggested items** to collect:
- Canned corn
- Green beans
- Yams
- Jellied cranberry sauce
- Cream of chicken, mushroom, and celery soups
- Spaghetti sauce
- Baked beans

Please participate, and let's make a huge impact together!

Have a safe and happy Halloween!