Henry Happenings
October 1, 2023
Principal Message
I hope you were out enjoying the amazing weather this weekend. It is hard to believe it is October!
Please look below to find more information on logging into Rycor which is needed to pay activity fees and for field trips. Also, look for info on the virtual mental health opportunity tomorrow evening and important information from our nurse, Mrs. Munch.
Here's to a great week!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jodi Oliver
Upcoming Dates
October 2 - 2nd Grade In-Class Music Performance @ 2:55 PM Ms. Brewer's Class
October 2 - Mental Health Night Virtual Webinar @ 6:30 PM
October 3 - Tab Top Collection Day
October 3 - Reader in Me Turn-In Deadline @ 9:30 AM
October 3 - 2nd Grade In-Class Music Performance @ 2:55 PM Ms. Fischer's Class
October 4 - Walk and Bike to School Day
October 4 - 2nd Grade In-Class Music Performance @ 2:55 PM Mr. Donohoo's Class
October 6 - Reader in Me Prize Distribution 9:05 AM
October 10 - PTO Restaurant Night at Culver's (Manchester) 5 PM
October 11 - 3rd Grade Field Trip to Zoo
October 12 - Early Release, 2:05 PM Dismissal at Henry
October 13 - No School (Fall Break)
October 16 - No School (Fall Break)
October 18 - Monday Library Classes Have Library Today
October 21 - PTO Trunk or Treat (Times TBD)
Kindergarten Parents
Screen4Success Virtual Mental Health Program Tomorrow 10/2
The Screen4Success Virtual Mental Health Program is tomorrow night, 10/2, from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a program called Screen4Success for parents to discuss drug and alcohol use with their kids. SAMHSA and a representative from The Alliance for Healthy Communities will present on the topic. See the flyer below for more information.
Directions for Using the Online Payment System for Field Trips
* Log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal (if you need assistance with this, please contact the help desk at 314-415-8181, option 2 or via email at ic-parenthelp@parkwayschools.net )
* Select "More"
* Select "Online Payments"
* If you have more than one student in Parkway, please select your student's name (tab next to where it says "Summary")
* You will then see all fees/fines assigned to your student. You may then add items to your cart and proceed to pay as preferred.
*Please complete the form, click “Submit.”
NOTE: If you are using an Apple product, please use either Chrome or Firefox when logging in to your account. Also, if you are using your mobile phone, please turn your phone to landscape mode so you can see the full screen properly.
A Note from Mrs. Goyal, Librarian
Hello Henry Families! Our Storybook Pumpkin Patch is back in the library. Teachers and students are going to be busy decorating pumpkins in the classroom of their favorite book characters. New this year- PTO will be auctioning off the decorated pumpkins at Trunk or Treat!
We need your help! If you would like to donate a pumpkin please sign up here on this sheet by typing your name next to the teacher you are donating to. Then, please purchase a pumpkin and send it in to Henry so they can decorate. Have questions? Please contact Mrs. Goyal at agoyal@parkwayschools.net.
Henry Elementary is welcoming author/illustrator Sarah Sax on Tuesday, October 17th. Sarah will be visiting grades 3-5 and will talk about her new graphic novel Picture Day, as well as her acclaimed book series Escape this Book. Sarah Sax is an illustrator and comic artist based in Portland, Maine. She studied illustration, animation, and storytelling at Hampshire College and has a background in arts education. Sarah cares deeply about how, why, and what people create, and she works to foster the creative spark in makers of all ages. You can visit Sarah online at SarahSax.me, and learn more about her books here.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Goyal at agoyal@parkwayschools.net. If you do NOT want your child to attend the author visit during school please email Mrs. Goyal to opt out.
BookBreak
Henry will be participating in a new virtual author visit service called BookBreak this year. With BookBreak our students will hear from bestselling authors and illustrators every month. Students may attend a live streaming or watch a recording at a later time.
Here is a list of the upcoming authors and illustrators:
September: Peter Reynolds (K-3), Kelly Yang (4-5)
October: Dan Santat (K-2), Kate DiCamillo (3-5)
November: Lauren Castillo (K-2), Jeff Gottesfeld (3-5)
December: Jon Klassen (K-1), Raul the Third (2-3), Tracey Baptiste (4-5)
January: Jeff Kinney (4th-5th)
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Mrs. Goyal.
A Note from Nurse Munch
1) Vision Screenings will be going on over the next several weeks for grades K, 3 and 5, new students and students receiving special education services. If the vision screening indicates further evaluation by an eye doctor is needed, parents will be notified via a parent letter and/or phone call.
2) Save the Date! The Visiting Nurses Association will be at Henry Elementary on October 18th to administer flu immunizations. Parental permission and insurance information is required for students to receive this immunization. Further information will be available closer to the date. We will not be able to do parent immunizations this year. Please see forms below.
3) Give Kids a Smile is a program that provides free dental care to children who have Medicaid or qualify for Free and Reduced lunch. The clinic is held on the campus of SLU and the dates are November 3-4. If you are interested in participating in this program, please email Mrs. Munch at lmunch@parkwayschools.net.
Early Pick-Ups and Dismissal Changes
- If your child needs to leave early, please arrive before 3:40 pm to pick them up. We ask you to help us with this as we have to ensure the safety of all students during dismissal time.
- If at any time during the school year your child will be going home a different way than normal (e.g., parent picking up instead of the bus, walking instead of car pick-up, going home with a friend, etc.), please send a note or email to your child’s teacher and the main office (cschenck@parkwayschools.net).
- If there is a last-minute change of your child's dismissal plan, call the main office (314-415-6350) by 2:30 p.m. Notifying the school of a dismissal change after 2:30 creates confusion among the many staff members who assist with dismissing your child safely. You may also email your child’s teacher, but the only way to guarantee receipt of the message is to call the main office, as your child’s teacher is focused on student instruction.
Birthday Invitation Practices
We have had some questions about our practices regarding birthday invitations recently. Please see this information which can also be found in our school handbook.
It is our practice to follow our core values and be inclusive as we help families celebrate student birthdays and other special events. Therefore, if parents request the school's help with distributing party invitations, the invitations must be distributed to all students in the classroom or all students of the same gender identification. For events that do not include the entire class or gender, invitation distribution is the responsibility of the parent using the PTO's Buzz Book or other forms of communication outside of school.
PTO Updates
Reader in Me Logs Due Tuesday, October 3rd
The Reader in Me first log due date is Tuesday, October 3rd. Logs should be submitted no later than 9am. Please make sure your student’s name is on the log. Logs without names cannot be counted. Completed logs can be turned in to the designated baskets in the grade level project areas at school. Extra logs can be found here. Please contact katekaragiannis@sbcglobal.net with any questions.
September PTO Newsletter
Reminder From PTO: Room Parents still needed for Fall and Spring Classroom Parties
We have a few spots that still need to be filled for room parents! Can we get volunteers to sign up to be a room parent for Bogert (1st), Kirchhoff (1st), Shoop (1st), Fischer (2nd), and Simon (4th)?
If you can help, please sign up here.
We also need party volunteers to help on the day of the fall party in Simon (4th) and Lois (5th)!
If you can help, please sign up here.
Thanks for your help filling the remaining spots and thanks to all who have signed up to help with our Fall and Spring parties! These classroom parties would not be possible without your help!
Questions? Email Kim Torrence at kimachappell@yahoo.com.
Hassle Free Fundraiser!
Visitor and Volunteer Information
A Parkway volunteer is an individual who has an opportunity to be alone with a student.
A Parkway visitor is an individual in a school for a limited period of time who does not have the opportunity to be alone with a student.
Parkway Volunteers must go through the background check process outlined below.
Parkway Visitors do not need to go through the background check process.
Per Missouri Statute 168.133, those who wish to volunteer must complete a fingerprint
background check through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI. The cost for the
background check is $41.75 and is the responsibility of the volunteer. Please reach out if you
need assistance. The background check will remain current as long as a volunteer stays active.
If a year passes, the volunteer will need to complete and pay for another background check.
Volunteers may complete the App Garden/TransAct (Parkway volunteer tracking software) now. Use this link to start App Garden/TransAct Application. It can take volunteers anywhere from 4-6 weeks to be approved so please do not delay if you plan to assist in the coming months.
Henry Elementary School
Email: joliver2@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Domain/15
Location: 700 Henry Avenue, Ballwin, MO, USA
Phone: 314-415-6350
Facebook: facebook.com/henryelementaryschool
Twitter: @BulldogsHenry