Prairie Point Panther Press
Newsletter for Prairie Point Elementary School
Friday, September 22, 2017
Welcome to the Prairie Point Panther Press!
W.O.W. 2017
Join the Prairie Point Elementary School Community and participate in celebrating “Walk to School Month”!
Walk On Wednesdays
(W.O.W.)
Wednesdays in October!
October 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
Walk to school with your student on
Wednesdays in October!
Talk to your Friends & Neighbors and Create Your Own “Walking Bus” Route to School
Walking to school with your students:
Enhances the health of children and promotes healthy lifestyle choices!
Provides quality time together!
Improves air quality and the environment!
Creates safe routes to school for pedestrian traffic!
Come Join us for our W.O.W. Kick-Off Event
on October 4th on the Playground!
** No Pets Please **
4th Annual District Food Drive - Sept 18-26
Monday the 18th
What could be “Better Together” than….
PICKLES AND RELISH
Let’s “Relish” wearing your PJs to school!
Wear your pajamas and bring in pickles and relish!
Tuesday the 19th
What could be “Better Together” than….
KETCHUP AND MUSTARD
You “Must” remember your school spirit!
Wear red or yellow and bring in ketchup and mustard!
Wednesday the 20th
What could be “Better Together” than….
BLACK BEANS AND SALSA
You’ve “Bean” crazy!
Wear crazy socks and bring in dry black beans and salsa!
Thursday the 21st
What could be “Better Together” than….
MAC AND CHEESE
Smile and say “Cheese”
Wear your “Cheesiest “ outfit and bring in multipacks of mac and cheese!
Monday the 25th
What could be “Better Together” than….
PASTA AND SAUCE
“Sauce” up your do and wear crazy hair!
Wear crazy hair and bring in pasta and sauce!
Tuesday the 26th
What could be “Better Together” than….
DIAPERS AND WIPES
Let’s “WIPE” away hunger!
Wear orange and blue to support OHS and bring in diapers and wipes!
***Believe it or not but these items can be picked up at Aldi, The Dollar Tree, multipacks at Sams and Costco. No time to shop? Go online and use Amazon Prime!!***
Birthday Invitations
Dear Parents:
I would like to make you aware of a change in our Parent Student Information Guide. For many years our birthday celebration rules have read that children are not to distribute birthday invitations to home parties at school. I have amended that rule to read, “Party invitations can only be distributed at school if there is an invitation for every child in the class; otherwise, invitations should be mailed to the individual students. For safety and confidentiality reasons, the staff cannot give out home addresses or phone numbers of students.”
As with all procedures, rules and expectations, we are constantly reviewing and revising them to assure that they meet the needs of our students and our school. Our student population, at Prairie Point, looks a little different than it has in previous years. This shift started last year when we brought our kindergarten students back to Prairie Point and continued this year when we added five early childhood classrooms.
With this population change, I have had the opportunity to talk to some of the parents and teachers of our younger or new families. In listening to our families, I do realize how difficult it is to obtain addresses when you are new to a school or community. This can be heightened when children have late summer or fall birthdays and are still getting to know the children in the classroom or neighborhood. Because we have so many new families this year, I do not want to wait until next year to make this change.
I do realize that there have been instances where party invitations were sent back this year because of the old rule. I apologize for the inconvenience that might have caused. Moving forward, teachers will distribute party invitations, as long as all children in the class are invited. Please know that students will need to turn the invitations into their teachers, to assure that there is one for everyone. The teacher will then distribute the invitations. Please note that if there are not invitations for every child, all the invitations will be sent back.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Groves
Principal
Great Art Volunteers Needed
Great Art is in need of volunteers in many classrooms. If you are unfamiliar with Great Art, it is a wonderful program, presented to your children each month. A volunteer (usually a parent) comes into the classroom to discuss a piece of art and do a small project. The art that is discussed is provided to you along with materials to do the small project (materials are located in a cabinet at the school). When it is your month to present, you will receive an email asking you to contact your child’s teacher to request the Great Art binder to be sent home with your child and to arrange a time to present the art to the class. The binder is filled with ideas to present the art. (No prior art knowledge is required!) You may use the ideas that are in the binder or you may use your own ideas. The presentation and project should only take about 30 min.
If you are interested in presenting, or have questions, please contact Candace Kelty at candacek1@comcast.net.
2017 Panther Fitness Challenge PACKETS DUE!
Everyone Moving Together
Put on your new grade level shirt! On September 29th, Prairie Point panthers will be moving and working together at the Panther Fitness Challenge. This event will take place outside at Prairie Point Elementary during the school day. The students will participate by grade level in the beginning of the day followed with an all school assembly in the gym. Everything is better together! Your child will be requesting family and friends (no door to door solicitation) to sponsor them for their physical efforts and to help keep Prairie Point great! Our goal is to raise an average of $50/student. This is the only fundraiser benefitting our school.
100% of the proceeds go back to Prairie Point!
September 29th - Wear Grade Level Shirts - Panther Fitness Challenge and Assembly
Prizes for Everyone!!
· Turn in your packet and receive a token and your name entered in the raffle!! Your name will be entered in the raffle an additional time for every $50 raised.
· Everyone receives a prize the day of the event for participating!
· Multiple raffle drawings! Many great prizes! (1/student)
Top fundraiser - Chromebook
2nd highest fundraiser - Beats Headphones
3rd highest fundraiser - Fitbit
4th highest fundraiser - Tiny Projector
5th highest fundraiser - Amazon gift card
6th highest fundraiser - Amazon gift card
Any questions, please contact Sarah Eggers at Seggers8@sbcglobal.net.
Room Parent Coordinators still needed
Attention Parents and Guardians,
There is still time to sign up for room parties. Signups are open until Sunday night. Visit prairiepointhso.org and click on the room parties tab to sign up.
We are also looking for room parent coordinators for the Dhuse, Kulovitz, Gbur, and Ricken classes. If interested in becoming the head room parent for these classrooms or for more information, please contact Ruth Frey at Dozygit@gmail.com. Thank you!
Father-Son Game Night
Please Join us for a fun-filled night of games and food as we enjoy some sports games, Wii Mario Kart and other activities. Boys may bring any “father Figure” who they want to share this special night with.
When: Friday, October 6, from 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Prairie Point Gym
Cost: $ 10 per family (includes hot dog, chips, drink)
Reserve your spot as soon as possible. Click on the following link for access to the form for the event, http://www.prairiepointhso.org/forms/.
Home & School Calendar
September
26-Culver's Night - 5th grade teachers serve
29-Panther Fitness Challenge
October
5-Home and School meeting 7pm
6-Father and Son Game Night, 6:30-8:30
10 & 11-Tuesday Night Dinner - Rosati's
11-Health and Wellness (K & 1st 6:45-7:45)
17-Family Fun Night (Bingo/Book fair/Costume contest)
24-Culver’s night
31-Halloween Room Parties
A.C.E. Engineering Club
OHS Athletic Rummage Sale Friday, Sept 22
Fall Cheer Youth Camp
PushCoin - New Lunch & School Fee Payment Procedures
Free and Reduced Lunch Information
Health Requirements Kindergarten, 2nd & 5th
Kindergarten :
Completed physical exam/immunizations
Eye exam
Dental Exam
2nd Grade:
Dental exam
6th Grade:
Completed physical exam
Proof of one dose of Tdap
Completed 3 shot series of Hepatitis B
One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine given on or after 11th birthday
Dental exam
News from the Nurse's Office
Noted on the District 308 website: http://www.sd308.org/Page/17756
When should my student stay home from school?
Your child is too ill to go to school if he/she has any of the following symptoms:
· Vomiting and/or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
· Shortness of breath or wheezing (not controlled with an inhaler if they have asthma)
· A cough that interrupts his/her normal activity or wakes them, or other family members at night.
· An undiagnosed rash unless cleared by a physician’s note
· Drainage from the eye
· Severe sore throat
· Fever- If your child has a temperature of 100° (or higher) in the past 24 hours they cannot attend school. Children are to be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication, before returning to school.
· A contagious illness that is treated with antibiotics, such as strep throat or pink eye, and has not been taking the antibiotics for a full 24 hours before returning to school.
Aramark Positions Available
For details visit
http://www.sd308.org/Page/8234 or call Kate Kloet at 630-636-4611.