Starside's Comet
Newsletter Communication for November 24, 2020
Starside Elementary
Our Starside Mission:
Through a collaborative learning community we will build a foundation upon which all students can develop essential academic and life skills.
Click HERE to visit our school website!
Email: SE@usd232.org
Website: se.usd232.org
Location: 35400 W 91st St, De Soto, KS, United States
Phone: 913-667-6270
Facebook: facebook.com/StarsideComets
Twitter: @StarsideComets
A Message From Principal Meyer
THANKFUL FOR YOU!!! LET ME COUNT THE WAYS...
Thank you to the thoughtful Bridge Church of KC for your outreach by providing hot chocolate and apple cider to warm the hearts and bellies of our teachers!
Thank you to the caring Reach Church of DeSoto for your outreach by providing several of our families in need with a nourishing Thanksgiving meal to enjoy!
Thank you to Mama Marney (Ms. Marney's mother) for her continued assistance with making copies, laminating, and catering to the needs of teachers and staff!
Thank you to our devoted teachers at Starside who are sacrificing a great deal of time and managing a great deal of stress to be present for their students every single day!
Thank you to all of our innovative ORL teachers who do not reside at Starside but love on our kids! You're doing amazing things as you take care of our precious Starside students in your virtual classes!
Thank you to all of our dedicated support staff at Starside! You are the silent but mighty leaders in our building who ensure our teachers and students are high-functioning!
Thank you to our amazing students for being remarkably resilient and hard-working this year! We are continuously impressed by the resolve of our students and their ability to follow safety protocol in order to keep everyone in our building healthy and safe!
Thank you to our kind Starside parents and guardians for your support and trust in our Starside Family during this exceptionally challenging time! We could not continue to thrive without your dedicated partnership!
It takes a village to raise a child and I am beyond thankful that you are a part of mine!
With Love,
Kris Meyer
Save the Date
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Break!
- Friday, December 11 - Spelling Bee
- Tuesday, December 22 - Winter Movie Parties
- Wednesday, December 23 through Monday, January 4 - Winter Break
- Tuesday, January 5 - Classes Resume
Nurse Tara's Notes
REPEATED INFORMATION
Do your part to keep Starside open!
We have collectively been in school for over two months and for students who attend school in-person, we've been full, in-person for over a month. Since the start of the 20-21 school year on September 8, USD 232 is not aware of any spreading of Covid-19 from students or staff while at school. Through the partnership of the Johnson County Health Department, we are closely monitoring people who are considered "close contacts" at school, and so far, none have been positive in the fourteen days of quarantine to follow.
Masks are working! We have the data to prove it! (Check out the link to the Covid-19 Dashboard, below!) Our students are doing a phenomenal job wearing their masks, socially distancing, and handwashing/sanitizing while at school. Our staff remains diligent when following safety protocol in their efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Students are learning, safely socializing, and demonstrating remarkable resilience during this pandemic!
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I plead with you to remain vigilant when it comes to public health and our ability to remain open to in-person learning this winter. The community spread of COVID-19 is evident within USD 232 schools as the number of individuals recommended for quarantine and isolation jumped by 150 students and 24 employees in just one week. Another growing concern is the district’s continued ability to staff teacher absences with substitute teachers.
If foregoing large family gatherings isn't an option for your Thanksgiving, please consider social distancing, mask-wearing, and eating outside. Get creative! Remember the days where schools were shut down and everyone was required to learn remotely? We don't want to be back there, so please do your part in the evenings and on weekends!
Please help us to ensure a "Happy Thanksgiving" doesn't equal a Covid-19 shutdown for Christmas!
Kris Meyer
Have you heard the one about treating your masks like your underwear?
Have you heard the one about treating your masks like your underwear? We know. A joke in poor taste. But seriously, it's one of the easiest comparisons to understand why our MASKS should be washed every day. There are dozens of memes circulating out there with this sentiment, but truly...masks need to be clean to be effective. PLEASE dig all of the used masks out of your child's backpack and wash them. They just might be hoarding their favorite one and changing into it when they're out of your sight in the morning. We all have favorites, but a clean mask every day is maybe even key! Thanks for helping to keep your child and their friends and teachers as safe as possible!
Check out the cool video from Principal Meyer as she talks to several Starside students about the importance of wearing masks!
Principal Meyer + Comet Kid Talks = Masks
Spark Information
No Spark: weeks of 11/23 (Thanksgiving), December 21, and December 28 (Winter Break).
Please contact Mrs. McKenzi Mispagel (mmispagel@usd232.org) or Mrs. Chris Wilhelm (cwilhelm@usd232.org) with any questions
Spelling Bee
20-21 Yearbooks are on Sale Now!
Yearbook orders will take place online (paperless unless otherwise requested.) To order online, use the link and code provided below. If you prefer a paper order form, please email Maddie King (mking@usd232.org) or Danielle Hessong (dhessong@usd232.org) with your child’s name and teacher. We will get an order form for the teacher to send home with your student.
Important Note: Due to an increase in production cost, yearbooks are $14 and there is not an option to order a personalized book. If ordering via the paper order form, make checks payable to Starside!
To Order Online: www.inter-state.com/yearbook and enter code 53592X
Thanks!
Maddie King & Danielle Hessong
USD 232 Lost/Damaged Technology Policy
The following cost structure will apply when iPads are sent home with elementary students. If damage or loss occurs due to intentional acts or as the result of negligence in handling the device:
-1st Incident: No Fee;
-2nd Incident: $25.00;
-3rd Incident: $50.00 and
-4th and Subsequent Incidents: Actual cost of repair/replacement
The repair cost structure will reset annually for elementary students. In the event a device is stolen, a police report must be filed with local law enforcement and a copy of the report submitted to the school administration to prevent being charged the replacement cost of the device.
Accessories and parts that do not carry a warranty are charged at actual replacement cost.
Replacement cost for lost crayon (digital pencil for iPad):
-1st Incident: $25.00
-2nd and Subsequent Incidents: $50.00 (full replacement cost)
Replacement cost for lost/damaged charger:
-1st Incident: $11:00
-2nd and Subsequent Incidents: $22.00 (full replacement cost)
Car Loop Reminders:
Morning Arrival:
Be ready…As you enter the car loop students need to have:
- Backpack on!
- Mask on!
- Water bottle in hand!
- Promptly exit car on the sidewalk side of car!
Afternoon Dismissal:
Car Loop Numbers:
- Hanging from the rearview mirror of your vehicle
- Should remain displayed until your child is in the vehicle
- If you need another car loop number, please contact the office.
Colored Cones:
- Pull forward to fill the 6 spots designated with colored cones
- Do not leave the line or try to bypass the line.
Students:
- Must enter the vehicle from the right side (sidewalk side)
- Must remain behind the painted white line until all vehicles have come to a complete stop.
- Please remind your child to memorize and listen for their number.
Parents/Guardians:
- Remain in your vehicle.
- If you need to assist with seatbelts or other items, you should pull up to the designated spots beyond the colored cones.
Sending Treats to School
New! Parent/Guardian Procedures for 20-21
Attendance
Starside will be taking regular attendance. The Attendance Secretary calls families to check on students who have not notified the school of an absence.
OPTIONAL REMOTE parents need to report absences for any Zooms students will miss.
ON-SITE parents need to report absences:
- Any time your student is supposed to be at school.
- If your student is ill, PLEASE include all symptoms & if diagnosed with Flu, Strep, or Covid.
Lunches
You may not bring outside food into your child nor join him/her for lunch.
If your child forgets his/her lunch, he/she may get a free school lunch or you may bring a lunchbox with your students' name on it and drop it off at the school by ringing the doorbell to notify the office of the delivery and drop it off on the table in the foyer.
Visitors/Parent Volunteers
At this time, we will not be able to have visitors or parent volunteers. We miss you and look forward to seeing you soon. You may bring a forgotten item; however, you will not be allowed to enter past the foyer. Please ring the bell and we will let you in. Place the item, marked with your child's name on it, on the table in the foyer and we will get the item to your child.
Dropping off your child after the start of school:
- Submit the absence online or call/email the office to notify the school that your child will be late. Please let us know the reason for the tardy (appointment, headache, or just running late).
- You DO need to safely escort your elementary-aged child to the front door. Ring the bell and we will let only your child inside.
- If we have not heard from a parent/guardian the tardy will be marked as unexcused, so please do not forget to notify the office of the reason for the tardy.
Checking your child out of school early:
- Please call or email to notify the office and teacher ahead of time.
- Have an ID ready to show when picking up your child.
- Press the bell, show your ID, and let us know who you are checking out.
- We will let you inside where you may wait for your child in the foyer.
- We will locate your child and send him/her to you in the foyer.
We sincerely appreciate your patience and support during this time. If you have any questions, please call 913-667-6270 and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can!
Technology Help Desk
Please remember that the fastest way to start getting a solution to any technical issues is to contact our help desk. This is also available to all students.
Technology Help Desk
Get help with district technology
Students and Parents: You can reach our Help Desk by calling 816-382-4840.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Need to reach the Starside Office?
Be sure to add SE@usd232.org to your contacts list so we don't end up in your spam folder!
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FRONT OFFICE CONTACTS:
Principal
School Improvement Specialist
Lead Secretary (students records)
Building Secretary (attendance)
Counselor
Nurse