It was a great SFT October! Thank you for supporting and cheering on our students Fun Run, skating the night away at Skate City, Trunk or Treating at Shawnee Mission North and a special shout out to the room parents who hosted amazing fall class parties. Check out the SFT Parade of Pumpkins! Great work Trailblazers! We are so thankful for our special SFT community!
This month's newsletter has all of the information to get you into the SFT holiday season by shopping at the bookfair, giving to the Student Council food drive, gathering with fellow SFT parents and guardians at the next PTA meeting and decorating for the holiday lights contest and tour.
We have also provided information for how you can get involved in 2025 PTA events. Speaking of 2025, an updated PTA printable calendar is now available at the end of the newsletter. Note: The Winter Sing Along and class parties will take place December 20.
Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and the SFT PTA Website!
The SFT book fair is now open in the library this week allowing time for browsing before and after school Monday - Thursday. Find a book your student is excited to read or stock up on gifts for the holidays, all while supporting the school library.
Your support makes a difference! Last year's book fairs raised over $6,000 in Scholastic dollars to purchase books for the SFT library. There is still time to volunteer, receive a book worth up to $10 for your time!
The book fair will be open:
- MORNINGS - Monday - Friday Nov. 8: 7:30 - 8:10 am
- AFTERNOONS - Monday - Thursday: 3:10 - 4:00 pm
- OPEN LATE - Wednesday evening until 7:00 pm
Alternative ways to shop:
- Can't make it in person or would like a grandparent or friend to participate?
- Jump online and shop, with orders delivered directly to your home.
- Online book fair is open from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12
- https://www.scholastic.com/bf/santafetrailelemschool
All are welcome! Please join us for the SFT PTA General Meeting Nov. 19 from 6-7 pm in the SFT Library. Learn about upcoming initiatives, volunteer opportunities, hear from Principal Leiker, and connect with other SFT parents, guardians and community members.
Our challenge to YOU, bring a friend or two and pack the library! All attendees are invited to socialize immediately following the meeting at The Other Place in Mission.
Election Day is Nov. 5! Take your students with you and get a voting workbook and future voter sticker! Educational resources are available at the Shawnee Mission Legislative Advocacy and Platform Page and Shawnee Mission Area Council Legislative Updates for information about important education issues. Visit the Johnson County Election Office for voting information.
We hope your student enjoyed participating in the Fun Run and that they love their SFT shirt! We are so proud of the students and the community for their enthusiastic participation and support. The SFT community generosity is overwhelming! The students reached above and beyond their 2024 Fun Run goal of $14K with donations exceeding $19,000! All donations will be put to excellent use in support of the students, teachers and school. The students earned a special inflatable recess. Shout out to the Fun Run Chairs Jill Hrabe and Dani Bloss and Committee for their excellent planning of the Fun Run.
Ruby Bridges is an American civil rights activist well known for being the first African American student to attend a whites-only elementary school in New Orleans on November 14, 1960.
SFT students can take part in the annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Join students across the country who are continuing the movement to end racism and unify our communities. Sign up and pledge your commitment.
- During the State of Kansas Special Legislative Session in June, SR 1703 recognized November 14, 2024, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
- For more information, visit their website: Ruby Bridges Foundation
Congratulations to the SFT PTA Reflections Contest participants and winners. SFT had many great entries, and we are proud to have so many creative students in our school. Students were able to convey this year's theme of "Accepting Imperfections," into their many art works.
Drumroll please! This year's school level winners are:
- Grace Beecher in Film Production.
- Scarlett Paradise in Visual Arts.
- Addy Jenkins in Literature.
The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the esteemed winner of the October 2024 Trailblazer of the Month Award: Mrs. Becca Nely!
As a longtime fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Nely is a fan-favorite among current and past students and their families. She is described as warm, attentive and patient and she is also adept at holding students to a character-building high standard. She has a way of making school enjoyable—even for students who struggle to enjoy school.
As one contributor said, “She builds great relationships with all students and partners with them to grow and develop. She is a team player and develops plans for each of her students to target maximum growth. We are very glad she is part of our SFT family.”
Mrs. Nely’s ability to acknowledge, appreciate and affirm a student’s full, well-rounded self is valued by many, including this nominator: “Mrs. Nely created an incredible year for our daughter. Her early education in child psychology has created an approach to working with her students that recognizes them as their whole selves. She seeks to understand each student as an individual and incorporates their personal style in her teaching approach. She is patient, kind, and keeps an incredible focus on ensuring the curriculum is absorbed deeply by the student. She outlines clear expectations and holds individual students accountable to those expectations. SFT is lucky to have a teacher as special as Mrs. Nely!”
Another nominator, who is a teacher herself and is familiar with the energy and creativity it takes to be a great educator, had this to say: “Mrs. Nely has been both of my sons' fourth grade teachers. She is passionate about teaching, she communicates well with parents and is dedicated to the SFT community. My youngest son hasn't always enjoyed school, and this year, in fourth grade, he loves it! He comes home every day, excited to tell me what he's learned. He is shining this year, and I can't help but attribute some of the success to Mrs. Nely. She taught my older son online during Covid. It was an incredibly stressful time for all involved, but she kept her composure and made sure my child was still learning, despite not being able to go to school physically. She is not only tough and resilient, but also kind and loving towards her students. Thank you, Mrs. Nely!”
This is Mrs. Nely’s 9th year as a fourth-grade teacher at Santa Fe Trail and she previously taught the same grade at Apache Elementary, making this her 13th year in the Shawnee Mission School District. In addition to masterfully fulfilling her duties in the classroom, she also supports students’ budding leadership skills as the co-sponsor of Student Council, and she is part of the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) coalition. The last few years, she also has provided a summertime learning program for small groups of students in her own driveway. As residents of Santa Fe Trail's catchment area themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Nely have a daughter, now a sophomore at Shawnee Mission North, who is a Santa Fe Trail alumna; their son, a graduate of SMN, was a teacher education mentee at SFT in the second- and fourth-grade classrooms during his senior year.
Congratulations, Mrs. Becca Nely, our October 2024 Santa Fe Trail Trailblazer of the Month! Mrs. Nely was presented with a certificate, flowers and the privilege of parking in the new Trailblazer of the Month parking spot in the upper SFT parking lot. We are so grateful for all she does for the Santa Fe Trail community!
To nominate another SFT rockstar for the Trailblazer of the Month Award, click here for the nomination form.
SFT Families,
I cannot believe we are over a quarter of the way through the school year. If you have issues accessing your student’s grade card in Skyward, please talk to Ms. Jones in the office. Thank
you to everyone who made the time to come to school, talk on the phone, or join a WebEx meeting online to conference with your child’s teacher(s). We appreciate you joining us to work as a team to support your child on their learning journey. Thank you to the PTA for providing a great dinner for staff who worked with students all day and then conferenced all evening on Oct. 17. Please remember that staff members are available to talk or meet with you at any time, not just during these scheduled conferences.
Educationally yours,
Mrs. Leiker
Recess Guidelines
All students are expected to participate in recess. Generally, if a child is too sick to go outside for recess, the child is too sick to be in school. There may be occasional exceptions to this rule, but it is a reasonable guideline. A written doctor's request for indoor recess will always be honored. There will not be outdoor recess when:
- The temperature is 15 degrees F. (-13 C.) or below.
- The wind chill index is 0 (-18 C.) or below.
- There is significant falling moisture.
Clothing Reminder
Please send students with coats/jackets when the wind chill is below 40 degrees and put student names on outdoor wear. Labeling hats, gloves, scarves, hoodies/jackets, and coats makes it easier to get them to students if they are found somewhere. Unlabeled lost items are placed on the lost & found table in the front entry.
For safety reasons, we ask that each child wear gym shoes during physical education classes. No flips flops, slides, platform shoes, sandals or shoes that do not fit snugly to the foot are to be worn to school. This rule is in place as a safety precaution for your children. Students need appropriate footwear for recess each day.
Do you love outdoor decorating for the holidays? Now is your time to shine. Start preparing for the SFT Holiday Lights Contest and Tour now! To add your home to the tour and to enter the contest watch for a Sign-up Genius coming out soon! The winning home will receive the famous traveling Clark Griswold Inflatable Decoration to proudly display. Questions? Contact Amy Mendez.
Medication Policy Reminder
Only FDA approved prescription and Over the Counter (OTC) medications are allowed to be administered by school personnel. OTC medications may only be given per package label dosing instructions unless prescribed by a physician.
- Prescription medication brought to school must be in the original container with a current prescription label on the bottle including the students name, physicians name, date, medication name, dosage, and time to be given.
- Annual physician orders are required for administration of all prescription medications or all off label OTC medications.
- SMSD nurses do not accept medications from plastic baggies, etc.
- All prescription medications, including inhalers, epinephrine, emergency seizure medication, diabetic medication, and topical medications must be sent to school with the current prescription label attached or a current order from the prescribing physician.
- If you have questions, you may refer to the SMSD website.
Illnesses Continue to Make Their Rounds: Reminders on When to Stay Home
Please remember that if your student has a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, they MUST have 24 hours without medication and symptoms before returning to school.
- Please review the SMSD Illness Policy for more information.
- A physician diagnosed flu illness requires exclusion for 5 days from onset of illness. If fever persists for more than 5 days, student must stay home until fever free for 24 hours.
- Covid-19 and RSV illnesses require exclusion until both of these are true: symptoms are getting better and fever free for 24 hours without medication. If Covid, it is recommended that they mask for 5 days once they return to school.
- Pink eye requires exclusion until prescribed therapy is implemented for 24 hours if it is bacterial infection.
- Strep throat requires exclusion for 24 hours following initiation of medication and fever free.
- Even if a student does not have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, they may still not be well enough to attend school. If your student will not be able to actively participate in class due to fatigue, coughing or another ailment, consider keeping them home to rest.
I want to send out a thank you to those parents that donated snacks and clothing! Your donations are always appreciated! If you have questions regarding health-related issues, please feel to contact me in the office. Kelly Clark, RN 913-993-5002 or kellyclark@smsd.org
If you're looking for a fun, easy way to appreciate teachers and staff, help PTA stock the
Teacher and Staff Snack Cart located in the front office.
Check out this Sign-Up Genius!
Contact Amanda Connell, SFT PTA Staff/Teacher Appreciation Chair
The SFT Spring Carnival will take place April 25, and we need your help SFT! Do you have something you loved about last year? Anything you'd like to change? Now is the time to get involved to ensure this amazing event is a success. We will be holding a kickoff planning meeting the week before Thanksgiving. We are always looking for committee members to make this student favorite event a success! Please reach out to Jennifer Harms or 505-670-1944 to get involved today!
2024
Nov. 4 - 7 --> Book Fair in the library
Nov. 4 -8 --> Student Council Food Drive & Spirit Week
Nov. 9 --> Community Cares Support: Foggi Ice Cream 1-10 pm
Nov. 11 --> Picture Retakes
Nov. 14 --> Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Nov. 15 --> V.I.P. Dance Shawnee Mission North
Nov. 19 --> PTA General Meeting 6-7 pm in the library
Nov. 25 --> No School: Teacher Professional Learning
Nov. 26 --> No School: Teacher Contact Flex Day
Nov. 27 - 29 --> No School: Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 10 --> Skate Party
Dec. 12 --> Choir & Strings Concert
Dec. 13 --> Family Fun Night in the gym
Dec. 20 --> Winter Sing Along and Class Parties
Feb. 11 --> PTA General Meeting 6-7 pm
Mar. 8 --> SFT Spring Movie Trivia Fundraiser
Apr. 15 --> PTA General Meeting 6-7 pm
Apr. 25 --> SFT Carnival
Connect with SFT PTA!
Email: sftptapresident@gmail.com
Location: 7100 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, USA
Facebook: SFT Trailblazer Connection | Facebook
Website: www.sftpta.org