The Eagle Soars
Sunflower Elementary - March 8, 2019
Things to Put on Your Calendar!
Monday, March 11 - Friday, March 15
Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
Friday, March 22
3rd Grade Wax Museum 9:45 am
PTO Family Movie Night 6:00-9:00 pm
View our online calendar (select individual events for more details):
Principally Speaking
As we “march” into the last few months of the year, I want to thank Sunflower parents and guardians for your level of engagement in our learning community. Beyond supporting our school through fundraising efforts, several adults actively volunteer their time by serving on our site council, PTO, and with our Eagle M.O.M.S. and Watch D.O.G.S. program. Others help with various grade level initiatives like music programs, Walk-a-Thon educational stations, Novel Navigators and Chat & Chew book clubs. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but does give an indication of the many roles parents and guardians assume within our community for the benefit of all students.
The last quarter can be a difficult one for students for a variety of reasons including state assessments, schedule changes, and shifting mindsets to summer vacation plans. Please encourage your child to stay positive, work hard, and to maintain daily attendance. If you or your child has a concern, it is important to voice it immediately with your child’s teacher so we can resolve any issues in a timely manner. In light of the changes made to the 2018-19 academic calendar and communicated earlier today by the district, information pertaining to Sunflower's end of year events will be communicated in the near future. The calendar change also impacts our kindergarten rodeo. Since school is now in session on April 22, our rodeo will be rescheduled. As soon as the details are finalized, we will share them with you.
The Sunflower learning community has a tremendous reputation, an innovative spirit, and a family first philosophy. I am proud to be a Sunflower staff member and parent.
Dr. Jason Jones
Principal
Student Transfer Process
A completed request will be required for any student who seeks to attend a school that is not within his or her primary geographic attendance boundary or for any student who does not live within the Gardner Edgerton School district boundaries. Each request needs to be made electronically via the Skyward Family Access website.
In order to process student Intra-District transfer and Non-Resident requests for SY 19-20 in a timely manner, the following timeline has been established:
Monday, March 4 - Intra-District transfer and Non-Resident request hyperlinks are accessible to the public.
Friday, March 29 - Last day for families to submit transfer requests.
Some extra reminders:
A separate request is required for EACH student.
Requests are considered on the basis of class sizes, future enrollments, and the student’s attendance, academic progress, and conduct.
The request is valid for one year only.
Students/families who are delinquent as it relates to paying FEES will not be approved for transfer until fees are paid.
If transfer is approved, transportation WILL NOT be provided by the district.
Approval, regardless of “Reason for Request”, is NOT guaranteed.
USD 231 reserves the right to cancel, revoke, or rescind approved requests at any time.
Lit Lab's Annual Unusual Reading Spot Contest
In the photos, students should be visibly reading a book – and we should clearly be able to see the book cover (see example below). The 10 winning images will be enlarged to 12”x16” for display in the LIT Lab during the 2019-2020 school year. Please take the photo in the highest resolution your camera will allow so that we may enlarge it for display in the library. Please note that cell phone photos will often not be a high enough resolution to print in an enlarged size. Submit all photos by March 29th!
Make sure to print out the Official Entry Form available below!
Happy Reading!
Last Time to Perform in Sunflower's Got Talent!
Sign-ups for Sunflower's Got Talent are currently being accepted in the office! The second quarter performances will take place on Friday, April 19 for grades K-4.
Kindergarten students should pick up a sign-up form from any of our specials teachers. Grades 1-4 students should pick up a sign-up form from the office.
Please remember...a parent signature is required to signify the talent to be displayed has been observed and deemed appropriate for school (including ALL lyrics).
Deadline for sign-ups is April 12.
Lit Lab Happenings
KDHE Influenza Exclusion Update
Effective May 2018, in accordance to K.A.R 28-1-6 an individual with a physician diagnosed case of influenza shall remain in home isolation for seven days following onset of symptoms or for the duration of illness if the individual is immune-compromised, except when seeking medical care.
For isolation purposes, a case of influenza is defined as a person who has tested positive for influenza via any testing method and is experiencing symptoms of influenza-like illness (fever of 100°F and a cough and/or sore throat). Persons with influenza who received this year's influenza vaccine and persons with influenza who receive antiviral treatment are not exempt from isolation requirements.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most healthy adults with influenza are infectious beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick; children and those with immunocompromising conditions may be infectious even longer.
Based upon the scientific information from the Centers for Disease regarding the infectious period for influenza, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is enforcing this policy as written. No exceptions will be made to the isolation requirements regardless of receiving this year's flu vaccine or antiviral treatment (including Tamiflu).
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Johnson County Health Department at 913-826-1200.
Kindergarten Athletes of the Month
Dear Parents:
I have a bulletin board dedicated to “Athletes of the Month” and want to add your child’s picture to it! I am asking that your Kindergartner bring in a picture of them being active, this can be them playing a sport, riding their bike or skateboard, it could even be them building a snowman or jumping rope. I just want to see kids up and moving! For the month of March, I just need pictures of Kindergartners. If you need to email it to me, that’s fine too! My email address is engemannc@usd231.com I can’t wait to receive your child’s photo! Each child will get their photo back at the end of their designated month.
Thanks so much,
Mrs. Engemann
(your child’s PE teacher)
KINDERGARTEN FAMILY FUN FITNESS NIGHT - MARCH 29
State Assessment Test Schedule
GEYCP and Young Rembrandts are Offering Art Camps During Spring Break
EXTENDED ORDERING DEADLINE FOR OUR YEARBOOK!!!
The yearbook will be available for pick up on Meet the Teacher Night in August. Those students who will have moved on to middle school or other schools, can pick up their orders in the office or we can mail out by request.
2 Easy Ways to Order:
- Click on the picture above or access your Skyward account via www.usd231.com to place an order using your debit/credit card.
- Download and print out an order form below. Return the completed form along with cash or check to the Sunflower office.
GEYCP Youth Experience Tennis for Ages 4-6
Energetic and dedicated teachers and coaches will work with participants on ways to have fun, develop specific motor and individual sport skills while stressing the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, paying attention, and playing hard.
Tennis - Wednesday Session
April 10th - May 2nd
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: TBA
More Information and Registration available by clicking here: http://www.teamsideline.com/sites/geycp/program/17340/Youth-Experience-Tennis-Spring-2018.
Sunflower Site Council Meetings 2018-2019
The Sunflower Site Council will be meeting at 6 pm in the library on the following dates: 9/11/18, 11/13/18, 2/28/19, 4/9/19.
All meetings are open to the public.
Kansas schools are required to establish site councils composed of the principal, teachers and other school personnel, parents, business representatives, and other community groups.
Site councils have a responsibility to provide advice and counsel in the following areas: evaluating district and school performance goals and objectives,
determining methods to meet those goals and objectives,
and other areas as requested by the board of education.
Remember, the work of the site council is advisory only;
it makes recommendations, not decisions.
Sunflower PTO
We invite everyone to join the Sunflower PTO Facebook page. By searching "Gardner Sunflower PTO" under Pages, you will be able to join the group and receive updated PTO information.