Jaguar Update
Sunset Valley Elementary - August 12, 2022
We hope this newlsetter finds all of you well and excited for the start of the 2022-23 school year! As the summer winds down, excitement is already brewing here at Sunset Valley. Teachers and staff are busy preparing classrooms and making plans for your child’s success.
For those of you who are new to SVE, Mrs. Rachel Flood serves as our building Principal. Mrs. Amy Westacott is our Assistant Principal and she spends half of her time here at SVE, and the other half of her time serving as the Assistant Principal of Woodland Elementary. Our goal is to continue partnering with our SVE Community to help all of our students be successful. WE also want to build on our relationships with parents and families by embracing the opportunity to open our buildings back up after being restricted for the last couple of years. Please know that Mrs. Westacott and I both believe in the power of a strong school to home connection. We are here to help, answer questions, problem solve...anything! Please don't hesitate to reach out to us! We can't wait to see you!
Sincerely,
Rachel Flood, Principal
Amy Westacott, Asst Principal
BACK TO SCHOOL INFO
In order to best prepare for the upcoming school year, please take a moment to read through each section! There have been some changes to some of our procedures and protocols.
Meet Your Teacher- Monday, August 22rd from 4:00-6:00 PM.
- Please join us anytime between 4:00 and 6:00pm to meet the teacher and see your child's classroom!
- You may bring your child's school supplies to drop off in the classroom, if you'd like. Click here for the SVE school supply list.
- Specials (Art, Music, PE) will be available in their respective classrooms- should you want to meet/visit with them!
- PTA will have tables set up near the gym. Please stop by and sign up to be a member. There are lots of volunteer opportunities and the SVE students and staff appreciate all the support that our PTA provides.
- Feel free to come into the building and walk your child to class! We ask that you give quick hugs, take quick pics, and exit in a timely manner so that we can get our first day going!
- Kindergarten Parents: Tears & Cheers, Immediately following arrival & classroom drop off the first day. See info below.
- We will have extra staff available to assist any of our kiddos who may be struggling that first day.
Tears & Cheers for Kindergarten Parents: A quick, informal event for our Kindergarten parents to have a moment to commemorate their child starting Kindergarten! Some parents may have tears, some may have cheers...some parents may do both!
- This will be held in the library immediately after dropping your child off for their first day.
- We hope you'll take a moment to come grab a breakfast pastry and meet the other Kindergarten parents!
Transportation/Bus questions can be directed to 816-986-4BUS.
School Hours: Bell times are 9:10 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.
Arrival - both bus riders and car riders may begin entering the school at 8:55 AM.
If you arrive after the tardy bell rings at 9:10 AM, please plan to walk your child to the front doors to sign them in for the day.
Dismissal - car riders will start being dismissed at 3:55 PM and buses will leave SVE by 4:10 PM.
For those parents with Kindergarten car riders who may need additional help buckling/unbuckling while in the car rider line, please pull forward into a parking spot and assist your child there. The car rider line is VERY long and we back up onto Ranson Rd. so we try to avoid any delays. For safety reasons we also ask that all students enter the car on the passenger side. These are things that you might start practicing with your child(ren) now.
During the first week of school, as we get back into our routines, things may move a little slower. We thank you in advance for the grace and patience!
Breakfast/Lunch- For the past two years breakfast and lunch have been free for all students. That program has ended and students will be charged this year.
- Student breakfast will cost $1.80 and lunches are $2.80.
- If you would like to pay electronically, you can do that at MySchoolBucks
- If the cost of meals is a hardship for your family, apply for free or reduced cost lunches here. Remember, a new free/reduced application must be filed at the beginning of each school year.
Absences- If your child is going to be absent from school please contact Mrs. Kirkham, our attendance secretary at 816-986-4240.
Teacher assignments- These will be available on Friday, August 19th after 12:00pm, through your PowerSchool Parent Portal (where you completed enrollment).
COVID Protocol- If your child is COVID positive, please keep your child home for a minimum of 5 days. Please contact the office to let us know, so that we may support your child while away from school. Upon your child's return, the Health Department advises a mask be worn through Day 10 from onset of symptoms and/or date of positive test, whichever is earlier.
Car Rider and Bus Rider Routes Pictured Below
Important Dates
Monday, August 22 - 4:00-6:00 PM Meet Your Teacher Night
Tuesday, August 23 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Friday, August 26 - 10:10 AM Late Start Friday (Every Friday of the School Year)
Thursday, September 1 - 5:00-7:00 PM PTA Back To School Picnic
Monday, September 5 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Thursday, September 8 - Papa John's Pizza Night
Friday, September 9- MAP Scores & Information go home with 4th & 5th graders
Monday, September 12 - School Picture Day
Monday, September 26 - 5:00-8:00 PM PTA Johnny's Fundraiser
*Complete SVE and District calendars are linked near the end of the newsletter.
SAFETY FIRST for our JAGUAR FAMILY
"Oops Cart": There will be a cart outside of the front doors for parents to drop off any forgotten items from home. ie: water bottles, lunches, assignments, etc. There will be post it notes and pens for you to label your child's name and teacher on the item you're leaving for them. We hope this actually helps save you a little time too!
Requesting Access to Enter: Please push the button on our buzzer box to alert the office staff that you're requesting entry. Either Mrs. Booker or Mrs. Kirkham will come over the intercom to greet you before unlocking the doors. Thank you in advance for the grace, should you be asked the reason for your visit or who you're here to see. *All visitors will be required to enter through the front office and push the button to request access. We realize it may not feel the most welcoming to have to buzz for entry or share the reason for your visit, but please know that we are so thrilled to have parents and visitors back in the building! At the same time, we are committed to being diligent and consistent with these practices, for the sake of your child(ren) and our entire Jaguar Family.
Visitors other than Parents/Guardians: If you have a family member/guest coming for lunch or to pick up your child, please prepare them and share our new procedures. If we don't recognize someone, we will inquire about their name, ask for proof of ID, and potentially take a moment to verify through PowerSchool/parent contact.
Entry/Exit: All visitors will enter and then exit through the front office. Visitors will sign in, wear a visitor's badge, and sign out in the office before leaving. We appreciate everyone being consistent with this so that we can ensure all visitors are accounted for, particularly in an emergency situation.
Propped Door Alerts: The district has implemented a system that will send an alert for any door that has been propped open longer than a pre-determined period of time. This is just one more way that we are increasing our own awareness to ensure that our building is properly locked.
2022-23 LUNCH INFORMATION
On Tuesday, September 6th (as per the student handbook, lunch visitors are discouraged the first two weeks of school), we are open for lunch visitors again! If you plan on joining your child for lunch, please arrive a few minutes before their scheduled lunch time so we can notify the teacher to send your child to the office at lunch time. You and your child will enjoy lunch in the office conference room.
The waivers that allowed all students to receive free breakfast and lunches the past two years have ended. Please apply now, to ensure you qualify for Free or Reduced meals when school begins.
Only one application per household is needed.
Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to complete the free and reduced meals application online. This can be completed on a computer, tablet, chrome book or cell phone. The application is available at the following link: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Parents/guardians will be responsible for any breakfast and lunch charges incurred prior to being notified of the results of the application.
If you have any questions, contact Penny Ripley at the Nutrition Office 816-986-2204 or penny.ripley@lsr7.net
Come Join Our PTA! Information Below
GIVE US A FOLLOW!
Instagram & Facebook @sunsetvalleyjaguars
MUSIC CLASS with Mrs. Freeborn
Follow on Instagram @SVEMusicRoom
ART CLASS with Mrs. Wadel
Follow on Instagram @sunsetvalleyart
Sunset Valley Elementary
School Hours: 9:10 am – 4:10 pm
Office Phone: (816) 986-4240
Attendance Phone: (816) 986-4243
Principal: Mrs. Rachel Flood
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Amy Westacott
Email: rachel.flood@lsr7.net
Website: https://sve.lsr7.org/
Location: 1850 Southeast Ranson Road, Lee's Summit, MO, USA
Phone: (816)986-4240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SVELSR7/
Twitter: @svelsr7