Martin Messenger

February 3, 2025

Robert M Martin Elementary

Robert Martin Elementary is a safe, friendly community, where learning is unique and fun; creating success for everyone!

Email: albrighs@usd385.org
Website: https://martin.usd385.org/
Location: 2342 North 159th Street East, Wichita, KS, USA
Phone: 316-218-4720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertMMartinElementary

Dates to Remember.....

Upcoming Events...

February 3 - 7 - National School Counselor Appreciation Week

February 3 - Health Office completing Student Dental Screenings

February 3 - Science and Engineering Club 4:00 - 5:00 pm

February 3 - RME Running Club 4:00 - 4:45 pm

February 4 - Art Park - Science Club 3:45 - 4:45 pm

February 4 - Science and Engineering Club 4:00 - 5:00 pm

February 4 - PTO Meeting 6:00 - 7:00pm at Rio Grill and Cantina

February 5 - Martin Art Club 3:45-4:45 pm

February 6 - Martin Art Club 3:45-4:45 pm

February 6 - 4th and 5th Grade Music Concerts at AHS 6:00 - 8:00 pm

February 10 - Science and Engineering Club 4:00 - 5:00 pm

February 10 - RME Running Club 4:00 - 4:45 pm

February 10 - Board of Education Meeting 6:30 pm

February 11 - Art Park - Science Club 3:45 - 4:45 pm

February 11 - Science and Engineering Club 4:00 - 5:00 pm

February 12 - Martin Art Club 3:45-4:45 pm

February 13 - Kindergarten - Hoofer's Class (only) Valentine's Party 12:15 - 1:15 pm

February 13 - Martin Art Club 3:45-4:45 pm

February 13 - RME STUCTO Meeting 3:45-4:15 pm

February 14 - All Grades - Valentine's Parties - see schedule below

Looking Ahead...

February 17 - No School - Professional Learning Day for Staff

February 18 - Art Park - Science Club 3:45 - 4:45 pm

February 19 - Martin Art Club 3:45-4:45 pm

February 20 - Martin Art Club 3:45-4:45 pm

February 24 - RME Running Club 4:00 - 4:45 pm

February 25 - PTO Spirit Night at Gambino's in Andover 4:00 - 8:30 pm

February 25 - Art Park - Science Club 3:45 - 4:45 pm

February 27 - RME STUCO Meeting 3:45-4:15 pm

February 27 - Parent - Teacher Conferences / Celebrations of Learning 4:15 - 8:15 pm

From the Health Office Staff -- Student Dental Screenings -- Feb 3rd

FREE DENTAL SCREENINGS

There will be free dental visual screenings available for students (visual inspection only - no x-rays or office visits).

Our Dental Screenings will be on February 3rd this year, If you chose to not have your student participate in dental screening, you will need to contact the health office and fill out a form requesting to opt out. If you choose to Opt out of screening, and your student is seen regularly by a Dentist, please have your Dentist complete a Dental screening card and turn into the health office. Print, complete and return the Dental Opt Out Form to the Health office. The front office or health office also has copies. Let us know if you would like one sent home with your student.

Reminder of Protocol for Student Absences

If your student is going to be absent please call the office at 316-218-4720 or email us at eggerp@usd385.org and/or wilcoxc@usd385.org so they are marked accordingly in PowerSchool. If the office does not hear from a parent/guardian your student will be marked Absent / Unexcused.

Early Learning Program Application Available - January 22nd

Spread the word! Applications for the 2025-26 school year at Andover Early Learning have opened as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. These half-day classes for children ages 3 and 4 are designed to create a firm foundation to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

Pre-Enrollment for the 2025-2026 School Year

Parents/Guardians should have received the Pre-Enrollment for 2025-26 form electronically via email, Friday, January 17th. (Those that didn't complete it were sent the form again on January 24th, 29th, and 31st and February 3rd). Please complete this form for all of your current students that are kindergarten through 5th grade by February 7th. If you do not receive the email(s)/form please contact the school office.

This information is important to the district so that decisions can be made regarding staffing for next year and the open enrollment for out of district students.

The pre-enrollment form is NOT your child's final registration. Online registration for all students will be done in July 2025. The district will send out an email when online registration opens.

Please be sure to complete this form if you have a child that will be starting kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year. We will send out more information regarding Kindergarten Round-Up and Kindergarten Visitation days later this spring.

If you have neighbors that do not currently have children attending Martin or have a child starting kindergarten for 2025-26, please have them contact the school office. We are currently gathering information from any new families as well.

Out of District Applications Available

The 2025-26 application for out-of-district students is now available online. Under state law, applications will be available through June 15, 2025, with notifications made to students about acceptance or denial by July 15. Please note that children/dependents of staff members do not have to complete this form.

RME 2025 Spelling Bee Results

The annual Robert Martin Elementary Spelling bee took place on Friday, January 24, 2025. The 2025 winner is Sutton Hey, a fifth-grade student from Mrs. Karber’s classroom and our runner-up is, Ojas Rao, a fifth grader from the classroom of Mrs. O’Donnell. There were twenty-four contestants

in this year’s bee. Other contestants included:

3rd Grade – Elise K., Dylan G., Ella J., Gwyn A., Levi M., Beau J., Jack M., and Skylar L.

4th Grade – Kylie G., Ben J., Clancy B., Caroline S., Leah G., Jacob T., Declan H. and Canon C.

5th Grade – Eiva D., Griffin C., Tristan G., Logan W., Ava L., and Lily B.

Mr. Brett White pronounced the words to the students with Mrs. Brandy Gaddis and Mrs. Jennifer Williams, serving in the role of judges for the bee. Sutton will be representing Martin Elementary at the Butler County spelling bee on February 7, 2025, at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. Congratulations to all of the spellers for a successful spelling bee!

Car Rider Arrival & Dismissal Reminders

As the weather changes (cold, snow, ice, etc.) and our car rider volume increases, we wanted to do a quick reminder of our arrival and dismissal procedures.

The south doors will open for students at 8:25 am and close promptly at 8:44 am. If you are pulling into the parking lot at 8:43 am or later, please pull around to the front of the building. The cone may be put out earlier than 8:44 am, but students may still enter the building up to 8:44 am when the doors will close. On inclement weather days, we have been allowing students to come into the south doors until around 8:47 when staff members are available. If the cone is out and no adults are at the south doors after 8:43, please pull around to the front doors. If you know you are running late, please come to the front of the building to have your student check-in through the office.

We need your help to help keep our line running smoothly.

*Please do NOT park in the adjoining (south) lot and have your child walk across the crosswalk, as this poses a safety risk. This applies to dismissal as well. Please do not say that your child is a "walker" and then walk them to the parking lot. This slows down our process and affects all of our students and teachers.

*Please stay in your car during arrival and dismissal to keep the line moving.

*Please pull up to the first drop-off spot; if each "first" car does this, we can drop off 9-11 families at a time! Students can be dropped off and get out of cars at any of the numbered spots.

Notes from PTO/Reminders for a peaceful and safe neighborhood:

*Please make sure you are following the arrival procedures of going to the back of the line on Keystone Parkway. Please do not turn left into the school from Keystone Parkway off of 159th St.

*If your children are walking home, please remind them to look before crossing streets and cross only at intersections. Some parents have seen students running out into the street between houses; please review these procedures with your students in order to keep everyone safe.

It takes all of our families working together to make this run as smoothly as possible! We know that the dismissal line is long, so pack your patience and follow our procedures to help everyone out! Thank you for your help!