Highcroft Hotline

At Highcroft, we help learners grow in a safe, caring community where ALL are valued and supported to become leaders.

November

• 25: Hearing Screening for Kdg, 3rd & 5th graders and new students
• 26: Adopt-A-Family unwrapped gifts due
• November 27 - December 1: No School, Thanksgiving

December

• 3: 4th Grade MOSAICS Field Trip to The Grandel Theatre, 9:00 am - 11:30 am
• 4: 3rd Grade Strings Open House, Ms. Fortmann, 10:20 am
• 4: 3rd Grade Strings Open House, Ms. Galanti, 10:50 am
• 5: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Busch Stadium, 9:15 am - 1:00 pm
• 11: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 pm, 471 N. Woods Mill Road
• 12: All Read, 3:25 pm - 3:45 pm
• 12: PSO Meeting, 7:00 pm
• 16: 5th Grade Field Trip to JA Biztown, 9:15 am - 2:00 pm
• 17: Country Western Day
• 20: Winter Parties, 9:45 am - 10:30 am
• 20: Half Day AM, school dismisses at 1:05 pm
• Dec 21, 2019 - Jan 5, 2020: Winter Break

Greetings,

I thoroughly enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. In our family, it is a time when we come together with a focus on gratitude. We gather together around an amazing meal and celebrate the people in our lives and the good fortunes we have experienced. I cherish this holiday because of the love which fills our gathering location, the laughter that takes over the conversations, and the memories shared of those who no longer sit at the table. There is so much for which to be thankful!

I asked some of our students what they are thankful for and the following is what they shared:

• "My dad because he takes good care of me." MP
• "I am thankful for my family and friends and fruits and vegetables." ZL
• "I am thankful for my life." EB
• "Mashed Potatoes! My mom, dad, and brother." WK
• "Family, food, clothes, and shelter." CK
• "I am thankful for a good school." MW

In this season of thanksgiving, I wish you the comfort of family and friends. The opportunity to serve our students, staff, and families is among the many wonderful experiences in my life for which I am grateful. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your break.

In partnership,

Cartelia Lucas

Principal

clucas@parkwayschools.net

Ms. Yelton, Reading Intervention Specialist

This month’s topic: Fluency

Fluent reading sounds like you are talking to a friend. Not only are you reading each word correctly, it sounds smooth and expressive with correct phrasing at a good rate or speed (not too fast and not too slow).

Some good ways to improve fluency are:

· Record yourself reading, then listen to see if you sound like you are talking to a friend or if you sound more like a robot.

· Print this large list of phrases for your level (to the store, I’m on my way, It’s over there, etc.) https://www.d57.org/Downloads/frys_sight_word_phrases.pdf and practice reading them smoothly and with expression.

· Practice fluent reading by reading and rereading books that are just right for you (not too hard and not too easy).

· Practice and perform a play or reader’s theatre piece.

“The reader's theater strategy blends students' desire to perform with their need for oral reading practice. Reader's Theater offers an entertaining and engaging means of improving fluency and enhancing comprehension”

(Source: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/readers-theater-giving-students-reason-read-aloud).

There are lots of reader’s theater scripts on the Scholastic website at: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/search-results/?text=reader%27s%20theatre&filters=&prefilter=&search=1

Mrs. Stilts, Librarian

Parents will soon have access to a new online payment system, a convenient way to view and pay selected school fees, without the hassle of writing a check or paying with cash. The new online payment system is accessible through Infinite Campus. Learn more.

The new online payment system will allow you to:

• View and pay school fees including activities fees, field trips, parking passes, school clothing, athletic fees, etc. This does not include lunch balance payments, which will still be processed through MySchoolBucks.
• Make one payment for all your children at the same time.
• View payment history.
• View and complete selected school forms.
• Pay on a computer or from your mobile device.

There is a 2.5 percent convenience fee for credit card use. There is a 10-cent fee for ACH payments (echecks) and funds will come directly out of checking or savings account.

There are no new accounts to create and you access the online payment system through Infinite Campus. Log in, go to ‘More’ and then click ‘Online Payments’.

For questions, please email: schoolpayments@parkwayschools.net.

Email: clucas@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Domain/16
Location: 15380 Highcroft Drive, Chesterfield, MO, USA
Phone: 314-415-6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighcroftRidge/
Twitter: @HighcroftRidge