The Scoop!

We've had another busy week making memories and taking steps forward together! Our staff has embraced the fun challenge of rewarding our students for their work in raising funds for Glow Night -- photo evidence below! The 5th grade was able to get over to PRMS and experience some of the offerings that they will have next school year. To wrap it all up, we've really seem some progress in the construction project this week. There is a photo of that below, also. While we've always got a lot going on, we continue to intentionally curate relationships and cherish our time together!

Please check out the celebration week for the Super Bowl below!

As a reminder, conference time is right around the corner! Our conferences are being held on February 10th, 11th, and 13th. Specific times and modes are listed below. You will be able to sign up for conferences on the 1/24 and the window will close on 2/4. Families are invited to sign up for a time to meet with our teachers during conference hours. Please check your the newsletter sent by your classroom teacher and use ParentVue to schedule a conference to discuss your student’s progress. We value your partnership in the education of your child.

2/10 - Monday from 4:00 - 7:30 In person at Cedar Hills

2/11 - Tuesday from 4:00 - 7:30 Zoom only

2/13 - Thursday from 8:20 - 4:00 In person at Cedar Hills

As always, please reach out and let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

-Cade

On July 1, 2023, the Every Child Can Read Act went into effect in Kansas. The intent of this legislation was to address literacy initiatives with a target of ensuring students reach grade level benchmarks by third grade. In Blue Valley, we prioritize partnership with families in conjunction with high quality, evidence-based instruction rooted in the science of reading. This has been and remains a large area of focus for professional learning. Rather than limit conversations about reading progress to 3rd grade, it is our practice to do so at each grade level. KSDE has provided a summary of this Act which can be found here. Our teachers look forward to talking with you about your child during Parent-Teacher conferences.

Believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about Kindergarten enrollment for next school year! If you have a student who you think may be enrolling with us for next year, please add the information to the form below. We want to be able to communicate with all of our potential new Cheetah's!

2025-2026 CHE Incoming Kindergartner Info

Are you interested in providing your child with an immersive educational experience that broadens horizons, enhances cognitive skills and teaches second language skills? Would you like to learn more about Blue Valley’s Chinese Immersion program?

Prospective Chinese Immersion Family Information Session

🗓 5 p.m. Feb. 25

🖊 Register for the information session online

🔗 Zoom link provided upon registration

📹 Watch a video that provides a glimpse into Chinese Immersion classrooms

Online applications for the program will open Feb. 28 with a lottery system determining participation in the program. For more information about the immersion program, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/immersion.

Have you ever wondered how to monitor your child’s usage on their Blue Valley device? We have parent tools that allow you to receive notifications to ensure your child is using their device safely. School staff members monitor these devices during the school day and intervene, when necessary. However, parents can receive alerts if concerns arise when students use devices after school hours–including weekends and school breaks. Check out the Securly Home Parent Portal App here.

Our lost and found seems to be overflowing! Help us find homes for the articles that have been left behind. We will hold all materials until 2/13. Until that time, we will need to clear out the lost and found. The remaining articles will be donated after that week.

Thanks to our amazing front office ladies -- we have visuals and a way to claim the pieces. Check out the link below!

Arrival:

• Our doors open for students to enter at 8:25 am each morning.
• Students will enter through the front carline door or back recess door until the beginning bell at 8:40, and travel directly to their classroom.
• Students should not arrive before 8:25 as teachers will not be on duty beforehand to supervise our children.

Breakfast:

• Students who eat breakfast will go directly to the cafeteria to eat at 8:25 and this service is open until 8:45 or 9:00ish depending on bussing.

Dismissal:

• At 3:30, the carline riders will start being dismissed from their rooms and walkers will be dismissed to leave the building at a later time.

Carline (Arrival):

• Cars will enter the carline by coming westbound on 165th street (see traffic map) and have their assigned number displayed for staff.
• We ask that parents remain in their car for the entirety of the drop-off process. It makes for a smooth, fast, and safe arrival.
• Cars should pull all the way up to the end of the circle loop to allow for maximum amount of cars in the loop to let children out of vehicles.
• Please do not drop off and leave your students before 8:25.

Carline (Dismissal):

• Cars will enter the carline by coming westbound on 165th street (see traffic map) and wind through the PRMS car loop starting after 3:10. Please do not bypass that part of the carline. Your car will not be called (and your student will not know to come out) as it will be missed by the car callers. Please note: No left turn into the Cedar Hills parking lot on 165th.
• Please do not walk up to the front loop or wait in the parent wait zone with your car tag - we are unable to call car numbers from the front loop. If your student is listed as a car rider with his/her teacher, please stay in the carline so we can communicate your number to the classrooms. Your student will not be dismissed as a walker and will not know to come out unless you are in your car in the carline.
• Please stay in your car unless there is an emergency.

In the latest Blue Valley Schools’ BV Unmuted podcast episode, Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan discusses the upcoming Kansas Legislative session and the district’s five priority positions with Board of Education members Gina Knapp and Jan Kessinger and Chief Financial Officer Jeremy McFadden.

🎙️ To listen to the podcast episode, visit www.bit.ly/BVPriorities.

If you haven't heard, Saturday, February 1st is the LAST day to order yearbooks! If you have not ordered one, be sure to do so before the deadline to ensure your student will receive one!! If you are unsure if you have already placed an order, please check your account information and purchase history on the PTO website.

Also, thank you to all who have uploaded photos to the yearbook albums so far this year, but we are in desperate need of some more photos of special events!

We are specifically needing photos from:

- Glow Night

- Every grade level candid photos

- Every grade level social

- Book fair

- Family picnic

And did you know uploading photos is easier then ever? Simply log in to the yearbook page here, and you can upload straight from your phone's camera roll! Easy as that!

Thank you all for making our yearbook special this year!

Join friends for a great adult night out with live music, a silent auction, a wine and bourbon pull and more! Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support music and performing arts programs throughout the district, and YOU can be part of the fun! Check out our new location at Fiorella’s event space in OP for a great over-21 night out. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and YOU choose the “Best of Blue Valley” live band when the competition wraps up at 10 p.m. Bands are made up of BV parents, teachers and staff and funds provide significant funding for performing arts programs including band, orchestra, choir, theater, debate and competitive speaking. Get tickets today at Event Details.

Can’t make it to the event in person? No worries! Visit Silent Auction to start your bid on incredible auction packages and see what your school submitted. Check back frequently as more items are added to the offerings every week. The auction will close on Friday, February 21 at 8:45 p.m. and you do not have to be present to win!

You can also vote by donation for your favorite adult school-affiliated band, and the winner receives a $1,000 grant to their school of choice. The 2025 band names, order of performances and school representations are as follows:

• Young Medicine- Lakewood Elementary
• Modern Thieves- Mission Trail Elementary, Leawood Middle, Blue Valley North
• KC Prime- Leawood Elementary and Leawood Middle

Hope to see you Friday, February 21, 2025, as we Rock the Valley for BV Schools!

We've been discussing additional support for those in need with our PTO for the past few years. We are thrilled to relay that we can do our best to help with those needs. If you don't have funds to purchase coats, hats/gloves, shoes, clothing, food, book fair books, gifts, etc., our amazing PTO has established methods to possibly help fulfill those needs. We understand asking for help can be hard, so you can reach out to any of the contacts listed below and request assistance. Your identity, the need, or any other particulars will be confidential.

Cade Chace, Principal - ccchace@bluevalleyk12.org

Kelly Northup, Asst. Principal - knorthup@bluevalleyk12.org

Sara Maddox, Counselor - sfmaddox@bluevalleyk12.org

Denise Stutey, Social Work - dastutey@bluevalleyk12.org

Thank you to our outstanding community and PTO for the additional support!

• Black History Month - created to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and rich cultural heritages of African Americans. Black History Month highlights the triumphs and adversities that have helped shape the United States.

• World Hijab Day - February 1 - recognizes the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab. Inviting women of all identities to wear the hijab for one day, it promotes understanding of other cultures and personal freedoms of religious expression.

• Magha Puja Day - February 12 - an important Buddhist festival celebrating the gathering between Buddha and his first disciples. Some families will attend temple, meditate, listen to teachings, perform giving alms, and hold candlelight processions.

• The Lantern Festival - February 12 - the last night of Lunar New Year celebrations. Occurring on the first full moon of the lunar year, it serves as a symbol of unity and completeness. Some families will light colorful lanterns - some with riddles written on them, dance, and eat sweet rice balls or dumplings in soup.

• Maha Shivaratri - February 26 - a solemn Hindu festival that marks the “overcoming of darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. Some families will celebrate by chanting prayers to the god Shiva, fasting, and meditating on virtues of honesty, charity, and forgiveness.

We are thankful for the ongoing partnership and support we experience in our school community. Working together we ensure the best possible student experience allowing them to realize personal success. There are times, however, when issues arise which require our continued collaboration to resolve. Families may utilize the matrix linked on the district website to best address questions and concerns that may arise throughout the course of a school year. Finally, all staff and visitors should conduct their business free from intimidation, harassment, or bullying. The district’s Board of Education states expectations regarding civility within Policy 6341. Again, thank you for your partnership in helping to maintain a safe school community environment for all.

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all our schools. We are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of situations. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

February 4th: Pizza Hut Spirit Night, Cares Event 3:45pm in the Library

February 12th: Valentine's Day Class Celebrations

February 17th: NO SCHOOL - President's Day

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