Trailblazer Family Newsletter

BA Families,

Our students will begin spring assessments next week. Assessments will include the Kansas State Assessments for grades 3-6 and MAP (Reading and Math) and Acadience (Reading and Math) benchmark assessments for grades K-6. Your child's teacher will be communicating with you about your child's testing dates so absences can be avoided & appointments scheduled outside of these times if at all possible.

The results or data collected from the assessments help teachers identify individual student successes and deficiencies. The results guide our instructional planning to support the individual needs of our students. It is incredibly important that the results are our students' best effort or the data gathered is invalid. We utilize goal setting to allow for intrinsic motivation, but we also reward effort with extrinsic rewards.

Your child's teacher will be sharing with you the "effort checklist" (what it specifically looks like/actions the student makes during the assessment) so as a parent you can reinforce the importance of best effort with your child. Students will have a variety of "effort celebrations" they can earn (your child's teacher will share the possibilities with you). Please know that if your child doesn't exhibit effort during the testing sessions, they may not earn attending one or more of the effort celebrations. It is important to reiterate that these celebrations are a result of modeling effort NOT obtaining specific scores on the assessments. We appreciate your support at home by challenging your child to give their very best effort.

Mr. Horne

APRIL

8- Spring State Assessments Begin

9- 2nd Grade Library Field Trip to Folly Theater

10- 4th Grade Music Program at 5:30 pm

10- Skating Party at Skate City, 6-8 pm

14-18- StuCo Coin Wars

17- PreK & Kindergarten Kickoff at Broken Arrow, 6:00-7:30 pm

21- No School, Professional Learning

24- Kindergarten Field Trip to Ernie Miller Nature Center

28-May 2- BOGO Book Fair

28- PTA Meeting, 6:00 pm

29- 6th Gr Field Trip to Trailridge Middle School

30- 4th Gr Field Trip to Folly Theater

MAY

1- Cultural Arts Fair, 5:30-7:00 pm

8- 6th Grade Field Trip to School Day at the K

9- All School Photo- Wear Your Grade Level Color Below

13- Senior Cookie Reception for graduating BA Seniors, 3:30-4:40 pm

16- Field Day

22- Last Day for PreK

22- 6th Grade Graduation, 9 am in the Gym

22- 6th Grade Graduation Celebration, Swarner Park, 10 am-2 pm

23- Last Day for Grades K-6, Early Release- 12:30 Dismissal

Running Club, 7:50-8:05 am in the Gym

• Mon/Wed- Grades K-3
• Thurs/Fri- Grades 4-6
• No Club on Tuesdays

Good News Club

• Mondays, 3:10-4:00 pm in Rm 219
• Grades K-6
• Pre-Registration Required
• Meets every Monday that school is in session

Student Council

• Some Thursdays, 7:30-8:10 am
• Grades 4-6

Benefits Shawnee Mission South Speech & Debate. Open to all SMSD families.

Summer Enrichment enrollment is open! We have many of our popular classes back again this summer and several new classes will be offered. Enrollment is open starting February 6th in Skyward. The course catalogue and enrollment instructions can be found at the Website below:

https://www.smsd.org/academics/summer-programs/summer-enrichment

We are looking forward to seeing your student at another fun and exciting summer!

Linda Long

Principal

• Clothing for SMSD students & families: https://www.smac-pta.org/clothing-exchange
• Homelessness Resources
• Health Partnership Clinic
• Resource Request Form

The My Volunteer Pal (MVP) program is the volunteer program for all Shawnee Mission Schools. The program connects adult volunteers with students ages Pre-Kindergarten to age 18. All activities take place on school grounds during school hours with the exception of field trips.

If you would like to volunteer on a field trip with your child's class you must be MVP trained prior to the Field Trip.

• Click here for MVP Training dates/times.

Volunteer Pals are utilized for a variety of in-school activities including:

• Classroom or school volunteering
• Sharing career interests or special talents with students
• Tutoring
• Chaperones for Shawnee Mission School District approved field trips

Please visit this link for more info on how to become a MVP.

Click HERE for monthly updates and health information from Nurse Kay.

MENUS:

The school meals menus are on https://www.schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION. To log on, select View menus (as a guest). School Café also show allergen and nutritional information.

MEAL BENEFITS:

Did you know filling out the Free or Reduced Lunch Application helps with more than meals? Applying and qualifying can benefit families and students with reduced fees, transportation, broadband, and other discounts.

Families are encouraged to complete an application for meal benefits- free or reduced priced meals as part of the Online Verification. The link to the Child Nutrition Program Meal Benefit Application is available on Skyward or the online application is on School Cafe. Contact the Food Service Office by calling 913-993-9710 for questions on the meal benefit application.

LUNCH MONEY:

Need to add breakfast or lunch money to your student's account? Bring cash or check to the office - be sure to write your students name & class code on the envelope. Payment by card can be made online or by calling the Food Service Office at 913-993-9710.