Shining Star News
December 14-18
Hoit's Highlights
One Star Family,
Traditionally the final week before winter break is full of fun holiday activities for all to enjoy! We have had a few full weeks of holiday events and I hope you are enjoying these memories live and online through our social media accounts.
I appreciate everything our STUCO and One Star Families have done to partner together and make it a special time for our students. Our 2nd quarter coat drive and Family Engagement was a huge success and we appreciate everyone’s generosity providing coats and winter accessories to star sisters and brothers in need. We hope you too enjoyed “Gaming & GIving” with your child. Please click here to access our One Star Family Gallery and enjoy browsing!
Testing
We are off to a great start with our winter Reading and Math MAP and DIBELS Assessments and will complete those the final week before break. Thank you for continuing to encourage your student to give their best effort, take their time, and review their work so that the data we review give us the best indication of how each student is progressing. Again, teachers and specialists will review progress when we return from the winter break and make adjustments to interventions and classroom instruction based on those data points. Thank you for making sure your student is at school on time and well rested to help us achieve the best results.
December 18th & Pre-K No School & K-6 Dismissal
There is no school for Pre-K students on Friday, December 18th. For students in grades K-6 this is an early release day, releasing at 12:30. Thank you for making arrangements for your child. Please note this is a schedule change from the calendar published in August.
2nd Quarter Grade Cards
Families may access 2nd Quarter Grade Cards on Skyward Family Access Friday, January 8th.
In closing, I cannot tell you enough how fortunate I feel to have the One Star Family and community to work with everyday. I have enjoyed learning all the great things Rising Star has to offer our students and building relationships with many staff, students, and families along the way. Thank you for all your support as I learn the ins and outs of our learning community and enthusiasm and understanding for change as we work together to commit to on-going improvement. We have so much to be thankful for and I hope you know it is my pleasure to serve your child everyday.
I apologize I was unable to enjoy the Choir caroling at the Lenexa Tree Lighting but I was enjoying my little girl sing in her own holiday performance. I am including a link to share my personal joy with you. I hope she brings a smile to your face. Introducing Presley Hoit!
Have a safe, fun and memorable winter break with your child. Please make the most of your time and make room for quality time; I promise to do the same!
Rising Ahead:
Check out Star Social Media for timely pictures & school news (see links at bottom of Smore)
Tuesday, January 5th (Students Return from Winter Break)
Thursday, January 7th (Skate Party at Skate City, 6:00-8:00)
Friday, January 8th 2nd quarter grade cards go home (available on Family Access in Skyward)
As Always, Today is a Great Day to Shine Bright!
Three Claps,
Mrs. Hoit
Kindergarten News!!
We have been busy studying about the country of Mexico in Kindergarten! We hope you can join us in our classrooms on Wed., Dec. 16th at 10:00 AM for our Fiesta! Have a wonderful Winter Break.
Lost & Found
Staff Appreciation Day
PTA is trying something new for the holidays! We will be throwing the staff a Staff Appreciation Ugly Sweater Party!
- When: Friday, Dec 18 (half day)
- Send appetizers/treats the morning of December 18, no later than 11am if possible, please, so the staff can enjoy after all the kids leave. Please click on the link below to pick an appetizer or dessert to bring!
- (This is replacing the holiday cookie exchange that we have done in the past).
Friday, Dec 18, 2015, 07:30 AM
Rising Star Elementary School, Candlelight Lane, Lenexa, KS, United States
Chocolate Bar Fundraiser
The chocolate bar fundraiser has ended. If your child still owes chocolate bar money, please return it to the office as soon as possible & make sure it is labeled with your child's name. We are hoping to distribute prizes before the holiday break & the GameKart will be here on the afternoon of December 15th for the kids who sold at least 2 boxes. Thank you to all your support for this new fundraiser for our school!
This 5th grader wants to code as a job when she grows up!
A "Thank You"
Did you know?!
Rising Star earns money with gift card purchases.
Scrip gift cards are the same gift cards you can purchase from the retailer. With over 300 of the country’s biggest brands, including grocery and department stores, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and home improvement stores, Rising Star's Scrip Program has something to appeal to every family.
We order Gift Cards at a discount, and you pay face value for their gift cards. That difference is an instant rebate for our school, and your families don’t have to purchase anything they don’t need. You can but directly from our Scrip Coordinator Carolyn or go online:
HOW TO SCRIP
1. Go to www.shopwithscrip.com and click “create an account”
2. Complete the Family Registration
3. Enter Rising Star’s Enrollment Code: 4ALCABFA17561
Questions?
Contact:
Carolyn Raper-Hortua
913-526-9088
Star Dads
Star Dads is a school based father involvement program that works to support education and safety. It includes Dads of Great Students which are fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer at the child’s school each year.
Our goal at Rising Star is to provide an opportunity for Dads to volunteer to help support the team at Rising Star and learn more about what happens during their child’s day at school. Your day typically gets started before school by helping assist the 6th grade safety patrol with drop off. Once school starts, Dads get the opportunity to work with their child in the classroom. They attend specials like gym, art, music or even the library and then finish off the morning by having lunch with their student. After lunch, Dads can even go out on the playground during recess to help monitor it.
Research has shown that children whose fathers are highly involved in school activities perform at a much higher academic level than those whose fathers are not involved. Students benefit from seeing fathers involved at the school because it reinforces their father’s value of education.
We look forward to seeing you at Rising Star this year.
Are You a Member of the PTA?
Join PTA for just $7 per person or $12 for couples in the same household! And don't worry, by joining you are not committing to meetings and volunteering all the time. You are free to choose what you attend and volunteer for!
What does your $7 do? $3.50 goes tot he State PTA. The rest is used to help our kids! Last year our budget called for $8,000 for school field trips! We put on Family Fun nights and 2 class parties per year! And those are just a small amount of the awesome things our PTA does! So please join and help us continue to be able to fund these awesome items!
Forms are available in the office or email Ellen Sandelin ellenmarie2013@gmail.com
or Jen Hight jhight503@gmail.com.