Greetings From The Grove

ALL DECEMBER LONG ~ DECEMBER TO REMEMBER SPIRIT DAYS (See calendar below)

Friday, Dec. 20th- End of 2nd Quarter ~ Early Release Day 9:10-1:40 (Dismissal starts at 1:30)

Monday, December 23rd-Monday, Jan 6th- Winter Break

Tuesday, Jan 7th- School Resumes

Wednesday, Jan 8th- Rescheduled Big Smiles Day at HGE (See info below)

Tuesday, Jan 14th- PTA Unit Meeting 6:00pm in the HGE Library

Monday, Jan 20th- NO SCHOOL ~ Martin Luther King Jr Day

Thursday, Jan 30th- Save the Date ~ Family Night Activity 5:30-6:30 ~ More info coming soon!

*Complete HGE and District calendars are linked near the end of the newsletter.

It is a district policy that students will have outdoor recess when the “feels like” temperature is above 20 degrees. Please make sure your student comes to school with appropriate winter gear that is labeled with their name. We have tons of jackets and hoodies in the lost and found. Feel free to stop by the front office if your child is missing items. Thank you!

The district is gauging interest from citizens in serving on a large committee that would shape how the district repurposes three campuses (Greenwood, Hazel Grove and Lee’s Summit elementaries) whose students would move to new locations should proposed 2025 bond plans be approved.

Our Goal: Identify instructional and operational district needs that can be addressed by repurposing up to three LSR7 properties.

Membership: The team will consist of approximately 50 members, including parents, staff, community members and district administrators.

Commitment: Members will participate in multiple in-person meetings starting on Jan. 29, 2025. Remainder of the schedule TBD.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of an initiative that will impact the future of our schools! Complete the interest form by Jan. 10, 2025, to be considered https://www.lsr7.org/.../6e38adf6-3d4d-41a1-a612.... #R7proud

Miss Allie has started a new tradition in the cafeteria here at Hazel Grove......MUSIC MONDAY! She would love to have students request songs and create playlists.

Want to hear your favorite song on Music Monday? Submit your song requests using the link below. Ms. Allie will create a playlist off of your requests!

https://forms.gle/vnVftuadfFQyfhKf7

We currently have a very limited amount of clothing in the health room for students who might spill something on their clothing or don’t make it to the bathroom soon enough. If you have any girls leggings/sweatpants or boys sweatpants in sizes 6, 8, and/or 10 that your student has outgrown, please either drop them off at the front office or you are welcome to send them with your student. Also if your student has been sent home in health room pants or a shirt, please launder them at your earliest convenience and send them back to the health room. Thank you!

The nomination form for Excellence in Teaching/Teacher of the Year Awards AND Support Professional of the Year is open.

Please note that this window is earlier than in past years. Our nomination window will remain open from Dec. 5, 2024 through Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 so that we can host our Excellence in Teacher/Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year reception on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Lee's Summit West ahead of spring break.

Big thanks to our partners at the Chamber of Commerce who support our Excellence in Teaching/Teacher of the Year program with us! As a reminder this is how the awards program works:

• Excellence in Teaching Awards: Given annually to twelve teachers, counselors or library media specialists etc (certificated staff) who embody overall dedication and excellence in LSR7.
• Teachers of Distinction Awards: Given annually to three former Excellence In Teaching recipients who have been nominated again.
• Support Professional Awards: Given annual to six staff members who are serving in a role that is not teacher-certificated or administrative.
• Excellence In Teaching or Teacher of Distinction recipients may choose to interview for LSR7's Teacher of the Year award, part of the state program.

Recall that for the past couple of years, our process has been all digital. All members of our school community - parents, students, staff etc. - are welcome to nominate. You can access our nomination form here and are welcome to share it.

Eligibility Reminders:

Teacher of the Year: Nominees must have worked as a certified teacher, library media specialist, instructional/curriculum specialist, counselor etc. for 5 years or more in the R-7 School District. Information about the EIT/TOY recognition programs and the selection process can be found here.

Support Professional of the Year: Nominees for Support Professional of the Year must have worked for LSR7 for at least a year and serve in a non-certificated role that is not on the administrator salary schedule. More information about the selection process can be found here.

We ask that you notify the office prior to 3:00 with any transportation changes for students that day. It is important that the front office is notified and not just the classroom teacher. If we do not hear from a parent about transportation changes, the student will go home by their normal mode of transportation (documented in PowerSchool and given to the teacher during Back to School Night).

Front office staff:

Email: mandy.trotter@lsr7.net and debraa.jenkins@lsr7.net

Phone: (816) 986-3310

Calling before 3:00 allows us to communicate these changes to the teacher, while also supporting the daily routines and processes that occur during this busy part of the day.

Student End of Day Checkout:

If there is a need to check students out early for an appointment, please call the school and arrive by 3:45 to call them out of class. If you arrive after 3:45 you will need to join the car rider line.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure the safety for all HGE Hawks during dismissal.

If you want to have lunch with your child please make sure to bring a state issued photo ID with you. No siblings are allowed to join and all lunches will be enjoyed in the hallway by the office. Parents have the option to purchase a school lunch in the cafeteria, if they wish. Please remember we do not accept any type of deliveries for students.

The USDA requires that we notify all parents of our meal charging policy which you can view by clicking on the link at the end of this section.

You may add money to your child's lunch account by sending cash/check to school or depositing money on line through My School Bucks app.

If it would be a benefit to your family, you're welcome to fill out a free and reduced lunch form by clicking HERE.

Students are also allowed to buy extras, which can drain a child's account VERY quickly!! You are welcome to put restrictions on you child's account such as "Only allowed one snack" or "Extras only on Fridays" or however often you allow. You may do this by contacting our cafeteria manager, Beth Kuiper via email @ beth.kuiper@lsr7.net. Please also include your child's teacher in this communication. *Students with a negative lunch account balance will not be allowed to charge snacks*

If your child runs out of lunch money you will receive an automated call from the district with a reminder. If the balance continues to grow Mrs. Kuiper will reach out, as will Mrs. Westacott or Mr. Prickett.

If you want to know your child's balance or what they are purchasing, you can view that on the My School Bucks app. I encourage you to register and keep track of purchases and balances.

HERE is the LSR7 Nutrition Services website.

HERE is the LSR7 Charging Policy

Office Phone: (816) 986-3310

Attendance Phone: (816) 986-3313

Principal: Dr. Amy Westacott
Assistant Principal: Mr. Jed Prickett

Email: amy.westacott@lsr7.net
Website: hge.lsr7.org
Location: 2001 Northwest Blue Parkway, Lee's Summit, MO, USA
Phone: 816 986 3310