The Eagle Soars
Sunflower Elementary - October 4, 2019
What's Coming Up?
Monday, October 7 - Chipotle Dining Night
Thursday, October 10 - Preschool Field Trip
Friday, September 11 - Sunflower's Got Talent
View our online calendar (select individual events for more details):
Principally Speaking
Sunflower Elementary has developed and continues to refine a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for reading, mathematics, behavior, and social/emotional learning. MTSS is an umbrella term describing an implementation framework to ensure all students are provided high-quality instruction and the necessary supports when they are not succeeding as expected with core instruction provided solely by grade level teachers. In simple terms, MTSS is a structure. It is not a curriculum or a single intervention. Instead, it is a framework incorporating a variety of supports to meet students where they are based on screening and classroom data.
At Sunflower, we are using a “walk-to-intervention” instructional delivery model. Our master schedule includes designated times for students across grade levels to receive the instructional support appropriate to their demonstrated need. At Sunflower we reference these academic blocks as Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM) and What I Need (WIN) times. TEAM time for reading and math occur at specific times within our reading and math programming. WIN time for reading typically occurs during science and social studies 2-3 times per week. Intervention for both blocks occur in small groups either within or outside a student’s physical classroom. These groups are facilitated by teachers and support staff. We use the term “walk-to-intervention” to describe these blocks of time because all students receive direct instruction for specific skills or are participating in extension projects to deepen and enhance a grade level’s core instruction. Teachers routinely review student data and make adjustments to student groupings and instructional targets.
Communication between grade level teachers and families is paramount to student success. Teachers update families on the progress of their respective student throughout the year. Students not progressing as expected may be referred to the Student Improvement Team (SIT) for additional problem solving with families and to develop appropriate intervention supports. Questions regarding MTSS, SIT, or student progress in general can be directed to your child’s classroom teacher at any time.
Finally, parent/teacher conferences are quickly approaching. Please remember October 15th is a designated early release day. Preschool will not be in session and grades K-4 will release at 1:00 p.m. following lunch. Teachers will spend the afternoon of the 15th and the mornings of the 16th & 17th preparing for conferences and planning as grade level teams. School is not in session October 16th and 17th because these days are dedicated to conferencing with parents and guardians. We look forward to collaborating with 100% of our families. This event is a great opportunity to increase communication between school and home, inform parents/guardians of your child’s progress, and develop learning goals to guide your child throughout the year.
Dr. Jason Jones
Principal
Girls on the run schedule for next week!
nurse's notes
Parents,
It’s getting close to flu season. If your child is needing any medication besides Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Tums, a doctor’s order will need to be provided per district policy. Even if it is something over the counter like Claritin. A parent or designated adult must bring the medication and doctors note into the Health Room. Your student may not bring in any medication.
Also weather is changing, with rain, snow and a lot of wetness in the future. If you would be so inclined to provide an extra change of clothes if you think your child would need it, that would be greatly appreciated. The school has limited amounts of clothes and sizes. Also, as it gets colder please make sure they bring a jacket or coat for recess time.
Three quick tips to help your child stay healthy:
--BREAKFAST. Please feed your child breakfast. If your student does not have time to eat breakfast in the morning or does not feel like eating breakfast, please provide them with something they can eat in the car, on the bus, or at school if needed. The school cafeteria also provides several menu options for breakfast every morning.
--WASH HANDS. Soap and water. Before and after eating. After the bathroom. After sneezing. After coughing. Should they put their hands in their nose or mouth, after that too! Get those germs off and let’s stay healthy!
--SLEEP. Make sure they get rest. It is hard for them to function and keep up with their immune system when they have not slept well.
Please feel free to call or email Brittany Zimmerman, the school nurse, if you have any questions or concerns.
913-856-3719
zimmermanb@usd231.com
SLIME THE PRINCIPAL
our very own harlem globetrotters!
chipotle dining night on Monday!
Conference Mealtime!
Hey Sunflower Families-
It's that time of year again! Conferences!
Our beloved Sunflower teachers work long hard hours during conferences preparing for the next quarter and making sure they have ample time to share your student's growth and collaborate with you on how to help them become the best versions of themselves. Let's show them our love and appreciation by making sure they have a warm, yummy dinner available Wednesday October 16th when they work from 8 am to 8 pm, as well as delicious snacks and caffeinated beverages to grab throughout the long day. :)
Please have your items to the Sunflower Office no later than 10 am on Wednesday.
Please label your croc pot and/or dishes. They will be available for pick up by noon on Thursday at school.
If you are using a croc pot, please use a PLASTIC LINER for easy clean up. :)
Building Blazers Day Camp - October 18
Registration includes FREE admission to the Blazer Football game and post game light show performed by the GEHS band.
body venture sign up genius (repeat)
Many of you may remember back in 2017, we hosted BODY Venture, a traveling exhibit from the Kansas State Department of Education. This unique program designed to encourage students to make healthy choices consists of a 45-foot by 50-foot walk-through exhibit representing the human body. http://bodyventure.org/BVMenus/Home_BV.html. It was an amazing day for Sunflower students...one that many of them still talk about!
Your expertise is needed at Sunflower Elementary School as we prepare for BODY Venture once again! Mrs. Engemann has reserved it for us on Tuesday, October 29!!
Please consider one of the following ways you can get involved:
Monday, October 28 from 3:45 – 6:45 pm, we need 12-15 adults to set up the exhibit in our gymnasium.
Tuesday, October 29: We need station presenters at each of the 13 stations. A script will be provided. The only requirement is enthusiasm for working with students! You can volunteer for ½ day or a full day. Please specify the times that you CAN be here on the Sign Up Genius.
Tuesday, October 29: Beginning around 1:45 pm, we need 12-15 adults to help with “take down,” in order to load the Body Venture truck and send it on its way to another school.
Please consider getting involved in this fun, educational experience. Just click on the link below to access our Sign Up Genius.
CHANGES TO LUNCH SCHEDULE (repeat)
Tuesday, October 15th is a designated early release day. Students will be dismissed from school at 1 pm.
Due to our early release at 1:00 pm, we have made adjustments to our lunch schedules to ensure all students are fed prior to dismissal. We will not be able to accommodate any guests for lunch on October 15. The cafeteria will be full to the brim during each of the lunch periods.
Thank you for your understanding!
Something to look forward to (repeat)
#ZEROREASONSWHY (repeat)
Zero Reasons Why is a campaign started by the six superintendents in Johnson County to promote mental health education and suicide prevention. The community in Johnson County is coming together to remove the reasons why suicide would be an option for any teen. The Zero Reasons Why website holds more information if you would like to take a look.
All USD231 students in grades 5-12 were given t-shirts as a symbol to support this campaign and meet the needs of our students.
The shirts are now available to the public by accessing our online store. There are two ways to access the online store:
Go to www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/tqjtmewfpG OR go to www.bsnteamsports.com and enter the access code: tqjtmewfpG (Case Sensitive) in the upper right corner.
Orders are accepted through October 11 and will be delivered to USD231 District Office. You will be notified when your order is ready to pick up.
**Money raised will go towards USD231 student programming with Zero Reasons Why.
Site Council
The Sunflower Site Council will be meeting at 6 pm in the library on the following dates: 9/17/19, 11/12/19, 2/11/20, 4/14/20.
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.