Our students and our CHE team seem to be settling into the year. This week we are wrapping up our beginning of the year assessments and will be able to fully devote our time to making individual gains for our students and staff. We are invested in making sure that CHE is a safe environment focused on growth that holds our students and staff to the highest regard. That starts with you and the relationship you develop with our staff. Please feel free to reach out and let us know how we can help you and your family.

Reminder: We are making a small shift in communication. In order to reduce the content in this communication and allow translation of communication to languages other than English, we needed to shrink the character count of emails and this document. The PTO is going to be sending their own newsletter and updates. You should have received this earlier this week and it came directly from them. This is a change and will be an evolving process, but our goal is clear and consistent communication in all home languages.

We have demonstrated a need to address electric scooters and bicycles used by students coming to and from school. There have been many instances this year already where students around the vehicles are not safe, as well as the students riding them.

For the safety of all, we will implement the following:

• This mode of transportation is a family decision. The school is not responsible for the equipment when left at school or in the bike racks.
• Helmets and locks are highly encouraged.
• While on district property, the scooter or bike must be walked. This goes for the walking path behind the school, service road behind the school, and all CHE and PRMS property in front of the school.

School staff will do their best to support this during arrival and dismissal. We will be reminding students for two weeks and then start to contact families if there are concerns with individuals. If applicable, we appreciate you reviewing this with your student and supporting the safety of all at CHE.

Help us review and reinforce the expectations at CHE! This would be a great opportunity for you to have a conversation with your student and use the same resources we did during CHAMP CAMP, in the classroom, and on the announcements to talk about our expectations of all students.

This week we are featuring the lunchroom. Our lunchroom is a busy place -- cooking meals, serving meals, consuming meals, and getting to socialize outside of the classroom. All of that happens for our 600+ students every day. We want it to be the best environment possible, but that doesn't happen with out attention and effort. Our outstanding lunch staff does a great job, but they would also appreciate you reviewing the image and the linked video below. The videos are definitely a hit, so let's capitalize on the engagement and review what our staff did incorrectly and reinforce the great choices they did make!

As we begin the school year, we would like to remind you to review the updated Blue Valley Student Code of Conduct. It can be found on our www.bluevalleyk12.org under the “Student Quick Links” section at the bottom main home page. It can also be found on our school website home page.

Student Code of Conduct

Some September Celebrations & Observances:

• National Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 to October 15 celebrates the history, diverse cultures, and contributions of those with Hispanic and Latinx heritage.

• Hunger Action Month - dedicated to taking action to end hunger. The BV Food Pantry, located at Hilltop Conference Center, is available to all Blue Valley community members.

• Suicide Prevention Month - recognized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Raises awareness of mental health and resources available to discuss suicide prevention and seek help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.

• Labor Day - September 2 celebrates the achievements and contributions of workers to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

• Constitution Day - The United States commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Head on over to our spirit wear store here, order your gear and when PTO receives the items they will be delivered to your student's classroom.

• We have seen an increase in food arriving from paid delivery services during the school day (ex: Door Dash, Grub Hub, Uber Eats, etc.) or drop offs of outside food/drinks without adults staying to have lunch with their student.
• Food delivery services create a disruption to the learning environment and pose a potential security concern. A variety of doors have been utilized and most delivery service providers have been unfamiliar faces which are difficult to verify.
• We will not accept meals delivered by paid delivery services during the school day for students. These deliveries will be refused.
• If you want to bring outside food or drinks in for your student during lunch, you must stay to have lunch with them. Please only bring lunch for your student. Outside drinks are not allowed in the classroom as they may not meet our nut-safe priorities.

At Blue Valley Schools, student safety is our top priority. Our approach to safety blends proactive prevention, fostering strong adult-student relationships and maintaining robust physical security measures. Central to our strategy is understanding and addressing potential threats.

What Constitutes a Threat?

A threat includes any expression of intent to harm, whether spoken or written. Identifying and responding to these expressions is crucial to the safety of our school community.

The Role of Threat Assessments

Blue Valley’s comprehensive threat assessment process has two primary objectives:

• Preventing Violence: We work to intervene before potential threats escalate.

• Resolving Underlying Issues: By understanding the reasons behind a threat, we can resolve conflicts and provide necessary support.

Structured, Evidence-Based Approach

Blue Valley Schools follows the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), a nationally recognized, evidence-based program. This approach ensures that we not only prevent violence but also support individuals in need.

Since the fall of 2023, Blue Valley building leaders have been trained in and actively using this Threat Assessment approach. This consistent use of CSTAG has equipped leaders with a common vocabulary and protocol, enabling them to resolve situations more effectively when threats arise.

By staying committed to this structured and compassionate approach, Blue Valley Schools ensures that students and staff are supported, safe and able to focus on what truly matters–learning through extraordinary educational opportunities.

More information about Blue Valley’s threat assessment process is available on the district website.

Did you know? Families can select “Religious Holiday” as an option for a child’s absence in ParentVue, when applicable. This notation could be helpful to our school staff so they can plan accordingly for your student’s absence.

Please refrain from bringing your pets to the entrance of the school at arrival/dismissal. Please keep pets away from the front circle and no closer than the service road in the back. Some students are very allergic, and others are afraid of animals. Even the friendliest pets can get anxious around a large number of students. We appreciate your help and support with this request.

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