The Timberwolf Times
Manchester Park Elementary
ONE...Team, Vision, and Goal
SOUPer Bowl Week Results!
I am so proud of our community for all of your generosity during our MP Community Service Club Canned Food Drive!
We wanted to share the results of how much has been brought in from the past two weeks:
- 410 boxes of macaroni and cheese
- 442 cans of vegetables
- 223 boxes of cereal
- 275 boxes of granola
- 410 cans of fruit and applesauce
- 1,988 pounds of soup (let’s just call it a ton)
Nurse News
There are two attachments that I encourage all of you to please take a look at. As explained in each, due to the pandemic this year and health safety concerns, we will not be doing large vision and hearing screenings this year but rather will need to do individual screenings. Our normal health screening schedule is to check vision in the “even” years – Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grade. Unfortunately due to the abrupt end of the 2019-2020 school year, I was not able to complete all of the vision screenings last school year. So the vision screening “opt in” letter is for all grades Kindergarten through 5th grade this year. We did have a general school hearing screening in October of the 2019-2020 school year, so the hearing screening “opt in” letter is only for students in Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 5th grade. Any student in grades K-5 who has an IEP / 504 or who is new to the Olathe District has either already had or will be having both a vision and hearing screen done. Please read the attachments and return the “opt in” letter if you child/children are in the screening grade and you are wanting their vision / hearing checked.
Just a few reminders for ALL:
· Reporting an illness – please remember to report what symptoms your child is experiencing when calling your child in sick to the office. To help decrease the risk of exposure to not only the coronavirus but to other communicable illnesses, it is extremely important to know the symptoms as well as any diagnosis of a communicable illness. It takes a team to keep all of our students, staff and Manchester Park families healthy and safe.
· Kindergarten parents – I am still needing completed immunization records and physicals from some of you!
Due to confidentiality regulations, we are not able to share communicable illnesses on a classroom by classroom basis. Thus I will be sharing any illness updates with you in Mr. Bohon’s weekly parent newsletter when I have illnesses that are important for you to be aware of. Please understand that in most situations, this will not be widespread illnesses throughout the school but more likely only a few cases. However, should there be a large outbreak of a communicable illness such as influenza or the coronavirus, which would warrant more information, additional communication will be shared. Common communicable illnesses such as colds will not be included in the report.
Please remember to let me know if your child/children are diagnosed with any communicable illness.
Communicable illnesses affecting our students and/or staff this last week (2/1/2021 – 2/4/2021):
· Strep throat
If an individual (student or staff) member at Manchester Park is diagnosed/tests positive for COVID-19, Mr. Bohon and I will be investigating each case to determine exposure risk to the rest of the staff and students of Manchester Park. This takes time as we will be looking at the individual’s movement in our school during the infectious period prior to the onset of symptoms or positive testing. Olathe Public School staff are working closely with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment to identify any individuals in our school who may have been exposed.
So far this week (2/1 – 2/4/2021), we have not had any student or staff member test positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately we do know that COVID-19 is affecting some of our Manchester Park families. We hope you are all feeling better soon.
Thanks everyone for helping to keep all of us healthy and safe.
Counselor Corner
Hey Timberwolves! Also, if you haven't filled out the survey yet, this is your final call https://forms.gle/Q6KKZDDjm3RMKAAh8. We have some exciting things in the Counseling world. We have a Counselor-in-training with us this semester from MNU. William Wilson will be here two days a week to meet the requirements of his program. He received his BS in Psychology, just got a puppy named Rusty, and he likes playing the guitar.
This week is National School Counseling Week! This is a time for us to share what we do as School Counselors. Follow me on Twitter at @CounselorCasi or #NSCW2021 to learn more about School Counseling, our counseling program at MP, and for resources. Also, check out this visual about what School Counselors do.
Valentines Day Parties
Due to Parent-Teacher Conferences, our Valentines Day parties will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10th. Thank you to our PTO for organizing the snacks and activities for our students! Students are able to bring valentines if they wish. Please look for more direction from your child's teacher.
2021-2022 Kindergarten Roundup
Due to COVID restrictions, this year will look a little different than previous years. This will be a time to bring in any documentation (see the link below for what is needed) and also fill out the enrollment forms. Unfortunately, there will not be any activities for incoming K students or tours of the school/kindergarten classrooms. If your child comes with you, we ask that they stay with you at the table as you are filling out the paperwork. Our hope is that we will be able to provide students an opportunity to come and tour the school at another time prior to August.
We will be having incoming 2021-2022 kindergarten parents sign up for times this year. Please click on the link that is provided and find a time that is convenient for you.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0545ABAC2FA2F94-kindergarten
We look forward to meeting all of you in the coming months and welcoming our new Timberwolves to Manchester Park!
Spanish Dual Immersion Program
Manchester Park is one of two elementary schools that has the Spanish Dual Immersion Program. Students that are entering kindergarten in the 2021-2022 school year will have the opportunity to apply online to determine placement.
Interested...or know someone that is?
Click here for more information and to apply online:
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
PTO News
Major Saver - Thank you!
Yearbook Orders - Deadline is February 19th!
Please feel free to visit the link below to order your child's yearbook for 2020-2021.
http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01094144
Once you have ordered your yearbook online, please make sure that you save the receipt.
Crossing Guard Help Needed!
Sign up to be a crossing guard and help protect MP children as they walk to and from school every day. Seniors welcome! Must be 18 years or older to apply. Work a BRIEF AM and PM shift and earn $25 a day! Limited availability accepted!
Contact Area Supervisor Dean Jenkins at 913-731-7362 for more information.
Snacks/Birthday Treat Reminder
Snacks - We understand that some of our younger students will have lunch at different times than they are used to and might need a snack to hold them over. All snacks need to be an individually wrapped/bagged snack or fresh fruit/veggie and brought from home (no sharing). Teachers will decide when this will take place.
Birthday Treats - Bringing birthday treats is and always has been optional and a family decision. We know that it is also an enjoyable experience for children. Due to our circumstances, birthday treats need to be individually wrapped items and store bought (not homemade). To clarify “individually wrapped” means that the item has been wrapped either at the manufacturer or at the store where proper food handling procedures are followed.
Please do not purchase boxes of donuts, cupcakes, cookie cakes, etc. and take them home and then put them in individual baggies as does not count as “individually wrapped”. We know this is a tough restriction for some and school birthday celebrations are just not the same this year but just trying to minimize risk of exposure and spread of COVID this year.
We also highly encourage non-edible birthday treats for the class – erasers, pencils, etc. Students will not be able to deliver to other teachers, only distributed to the classmates.
Upcoming Calendar
Monday, February 8th- C Day
*Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, February 9th - D Day
*Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, February 10th - E Day
*Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, February 11th- No School
*Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, February 12th - No School
Monday, February 15th - No School
*President's Day
Upcoming Events in 3rd Quarter
February 12 - No School
February 15 - President's Day - No School
February 25 - Kindergarten Round Up - No Kindergarten Classes
March 12 - End of Quarter 3
March 15-19 - Spring Break
March 22 - Professional Development Day - No School
Snow Day Reminder
It is important to plan for the chance of inclement winter weather this winter. This year, there will be two potential options should inclement weather require us to cancel in-person learning:
1. All Elementary students (whether remote or in person) will spend their morning in a virtual learning format from 8 a.m. to 11:15. This means that they will log into a Zoom with their teacher and will be assigned work and activities to complete. The length of the Zoom will vary by teacher and grade level.
***At Manchester Park, your child's teacher will provide you with a schedule and zoom link for this day. You will also receive an email on this day from myself or the one of the specialists with a zoom link for specials time on these days. Specials will occur from 9:30 - 10:00 on snow days for all MP students.
2. Traditional Snow Day for All Levels: In the event of extreme weather conditions, the district may call an inclement weather (snow day) with no school for students. Students would not be required to log into remote learning on this day.
Please note that there will be more interaction between student and teacher as we have done in the past on a "remote" day. You classroom teacher will provide you with a schedule if we have a day where "in person" classes are canceled.
Attendance will be taken.
If school is canceled or a remote learning day is called due to snow or bad weather, the information will be available in the following formats:
• Blackboard notification to parents and staff via text and email information
on file
• Local television and radio stations
• District website — http://www.olatheschools.org
• Push notification via district mobile app – go to your phone’s app store and
search “Olathe Public Schools”
• Facebook — go to "Olathe Public Schools"
• Twitter — @olatheschools
• Instagram - @olatheschoolsks
A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES
• Students should bring home their device each day in case of an inclement
weather remote learning day.
• Student attendance will be taken on remote learning days.
• Both remote and in-person students will follow the half day schedule.
Absences
Reminder
If your child is out, please make sure to contact the office the morning of the absence. Sometimes, teachers might not be able to check their emails throughout the day and therefore it is not communicated with the office.
Parents often inquire about “assignments” for students before or during an absence. If a child has been absent due to illness, instruction on the objectives covered should exist prior to any assignments being completed independently at home. Therefore, it might not be possible for assignments to be sent home in advance of a scheduled absence. Students are allowed a minimum of the same number of days they are absent for illness to make up any missed assignments. Teachers will work with parents in special circumstances that require extended absences due to illness.
ID’s at the Main Entrance
Reminder
Due to district protocol, all visitors must present a photo ID to the camera at the front door. Whether you have been here multiple times over many years or new to our school family, please plan on having your ID out and ready to show the camera.
All visitors must sign in at the front office. This will be the same at arrival, throughout the day, or dismissal.
Thank you for keeping our children safe!
Ways to stay "In the Know"
**Read the school wide emails like this and any classroom news from the teacher
**Subscribe to the PTO website: https://manchesterparkpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
**Follow the PTO on Facebook and myself on twitter @MP_Principal.
**Download the Olathe Schools App
Contact Us!
Website: http://www.olatheschools.org/manchesterpark
Location: 9810 Prairie Creek Rd. Lenexa, KS. 66220
Phone: 913-780-7540
Twitter: @MP_Principal