Heritage Newsletter
February 2024
Message from Mrs. Ryan
Dear Heritage Families,
Heritage teachers have been busy assessing their students to determine their rate of academic progress. We are looking forward to the opportunity to share those results with you during parent-teacher conference week, February 26-29. This is an important time where educators, students, and parents come together to celebrate the success and determine future academic goals for our students. Please sign up for a conference slot using this link:
https://www.schoolbookings.net/code/kf76v
It is our sincere desire to collaborate with your family when determining educational plans for your children. We know that when we work together to ensure that our students are growing academically, as well as socially and emotionally our Heritage students win! Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions regarding conferences.
Respectfully,
Laura Ryan
Conferences Week:
Conferences are scheduled for the week of Feb 26-Feb 29.
Please sign up for a conference slot using this link:
https://www.schoolbookings.net/code/kf76v
Remember to stop at the LOST & FOUND table to find any missing items. Whatever is left behind will be donated.
Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting –
If you have or know of an incoming kindergarten student for the 2024-2025 school year, please let mom and dad know that there is a parent meeting at Heritage on Thursday, February 8 at 6:00 in the media center. This parent meeting is to provide families with registration information and to share upcoming kindergarten events that you will want to be aware of.
Intruder Drill –
Our building will conduct our third intruder drill on Friday, February 23 at approximately 1:55 p.m. Prior to this drill, teachers will discuss the drill with students to describe, in age appropriate language, the drill and the purpose. The key talking points will be as follows:
-An intruder drill is similar to a fire drill or a tornado drill in that we practice to stay safe.
-Our first response when there is danger is to get out of the building, but if that is not possible our teacher will barricade the door and we will spread out staying away from the windows and the door.
-We will listen to the overhead speaker to hear Mrs. Ryan say where the intruder is. That will help my teacher decide if we should evacuate like a fire drill or stay in the room like a tornado drill.
- We will move quickly and quietly during the drill.
-Above all else, we will listen to our teachers as they tell us what to do.
During the drill, most students will exit the building, while others will practice a lockdown in their rooms. The drill will take approximately 5-10 minutes. If you have any questions in advance of this training, please do not hesitate to call. I am attaching a Google slide presentation that we will use to prepare our students for this drill. You are welcome to preview it and discuss this topic with your children at home.
Student Absences:
Is your student going to be late, absent or needing to leave during the day? You may notify Heritage Elementary by one of the following ways.
1. Emailing: he.office@ankenyschools.org
2. Call and leave a message at 515-965-9645
3. Absence Request Tool
The Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows you to report your student’s absence online with just a few clicks. This can be done using your desktop computer or the Parent Portal app on your mobile device. Entering an absence request is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:
- Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
- Select your child's profile.
- Navigate to the Absence Request section.
- Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
- Submit your request.
PE News:
Students have been doing an amazing job showing their leadership skills, moving and working together in class!
K-2 graders have been warming up to chasing and fleeing activities, promoting spatial awareness. They really enjoyed tug boat tag, which encourages them to cooperate with a partner while trying to stay away from the other tugboats. We are gearing up for some parachute play next week! This involves lots of cooperation in order for the parachute to be successful.
3-5 graders finished their hockey unit. They have participated in Hockey Pin Ball and Scooter Hockey, which focusing on aiming for a target while contacting a ball with a hockey stick. They will also begin roller-skating Jan. 29 for 4-5 weeks. If your child has a helmet, skates, or rollerblades they can bring them to PE class with your permission. However, I have skates, knee guards, wrist guards and helmets for all the students. If you have any, sometimes wearing longer socks helps a bit with the roller-skating rub too much on the skin.
Important Dates:
May 8th: 5th grade track meet at Northview with other south feeder schools. This is an all day event.
Mrs. Cogdill
Our school will have Friendship Parties on Friday, February 9th. As you are shopping for Valentine cards to be exchanged, would you consider purchasing an extra box or two as a donation for a family in need? If so, please send them to school and your child's teacher will get them to our School Social Worker, Mrs. Goode.
Book Fair Hours:
Friday Feb 23 3:00-4:00
Monday Feb 26 4:00-5:30
Monday Feb 26 5:30-7:00
Tuesday Feb 27 3:30-5:30
Tuesday Feb 27 5:30-7:30
Upcoming Dates:
Friday, Feb 2 – Kindergarten Registration Opens Online
Monday, Feb 5 – No School for Teacher Development Day
Thursday, February 8 – Parent Meeting in Media Center for Incoming Kindergarten Parents
Friday, February 9 - Friendship Party
Tuesday, Feb 13 – Fire Drill
Friday, Feb 23 - Intruder Drill
Friday, Feb 24 – Report Cards Go Home in Backpacks
Monday, Feb 26- Thursday, Feb 29 – Parent Teacher Conference Week
Friday, March 8 – No School
Monday, March 11 – Friday, March 15 – Spring Break – No School
Leader in Me:
This month in our Leader in Me curriculum, the students are learning all about how to lead others. They are thinking through how we deliver quality results and build relationships and character. Students reflect on how their character affects their relationships with others, and how the work they create sends a message to those around them.
Information to know:
Spring Picture Day: Picture Day is coming on Monday, February 19th.
Early release: A valid ID is REQUIRED when picking up a student that is leaving school for an appointment or other activities.
Time to arrive at school- Doors open at 7:30am.
Bus Pass - There's a $6.00 fee to replace a lost bus pass.
Heritage Elementary is on Facebook - Please find and like our Heritage Elementary Facebook page. We post pictures and school happenings on this site on a weekly basis.
News from the PTO:
-February 7th: PTO Meeting 6:00-7:00pm - Heritage Library
-February 26th & 27th: PTO will be taking Yearbook and Bundt Cake orders during conferences. Stop at our table! Our Bundt Cake Fundraiser will run from 2/26-3/11
-February 29th: Yearbook orders due! Get your copy now at: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A00000000
Stay Connected:
Facebook: facebook.com/AnkenyHeritagePTO
Website: heritageankenypto.com
Email: ankenyheritagepto@gmail.com
VIP! My Impact Page:
Cold and Flu Season:
Cold Weather Guidelines:
Inclement Weather:
Cold weather and school cancellations are a reality in Iowa. If the decision is made to cancel
school due to inclement weather, you will be notified in a number of ways. We will use our
automated phone messaging system to send a message via text, we will send an email using
our Blackboard messaging system, we will post a message to our district Facebook page, and
we will notify the local news stations who will post it on their live school closing listings.
ACSD People of the Year Awards:
Students, parents, and community members are invited to participate in the nomination process for the ACSD People of the Year awards, an event that recognizes outstanding contributions to our educational community.
Nomination forms open on February 1st for the following awards:
Education Professional of the Year Nomination Form
Support Staff Member of the Year Nomination Form
Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form
Your nominations will help us recognize and celebrate the outstanding people that make our school district a great place to be! Please take a moment to consider individuals who have made a positive impact and submit your nominations by March 1, 2024.
The 2024 AHSDT Winter Clinic will be held on Friday, February 9th from 6:00-7:30pm at Southview Middle School. Check in will be from 5:30-6:00pm on February 9th, and the clinic will start promptly at 6:00pm. At the clinic, dancers will be learning a short dance routine that they will then get to perform on the court with the AHSDT dancers at halftime of the February 12th varsity boys basketball game. The basketball game is scheduled to start at 7:45pm which would put halftime at about 8:15 or 8:30pm.
All students currently in kindergarten through 8th grade are welcome. The price for this year's winter clinic will be $45 per dancer (this includes a t-shirt and free admission for the dancer into the varsity boys basketball game on February 12th).
Link to Register:
https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?id=260722
Please help spread the word to your friends and dance families! Thank you again for your support of AHSDT! Please email Coach Courtney (courtney.dankert@ankenyschools.org) if you have any questions.
Heritage Elementary
Email: he.office@ankenyschools.org
Website: https://heritage.ankenyschools.org/
Location: 301 Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, IA, USA
Phone: 515-963-9645