Piper Prairie Friday Parent Blast
September 3, 2021
Important Dates in September!
- Monday, September 6 ~ NO SCHOOL! / Labor Day!
- Friday, September 10 ~ CHIEFS RED FRIDAY! Home Opener against the Cleveland Browns!
- Monday, September 13 ~ USD203 Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, CTE Building
- September 13 - 17 ~ Spirit Week! Stay Tuned!
- Friday, September 17 ~ Piper High School Homecoming Game against Leavenworth High School! Go, Pirates!
- Wednesday, September 22 ~ First Day of Autumn!
- Thursday, September 23 ~ Kindergarten Apple Day!
- Friday, September 24 ~ NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS! Teacher professional development day!
Counselor's Corner!
Daneen Kelsey and Morgan Crusoe are your two school counselors here at Piper Prairie Elementary School!
We go into classrooms to teach lessons about feelings, friends, problem-solving, character traits, and more. Please visit our Piper Prairie Elementary Counseling Page for additional information and support!
Our lessons complement those taught by the classroom teachers.
For the first lesson in all classes, we are learning our reviewing about the Zones of Regulation: we are in the red zone when we are angry, aggressive, out of control; in the yellow zone when we are worried, frustrated, excited, anxious; in the blue zone when we are sad, sick, tired, moving slowly; and in the green zone when we are calm, happy, good to go, and ready to learn!
Sometimes, we feel big feelings – but we learned that all feelings we have are normal and okay, none are wrong or bad. Yes, some feelings make us feel bad but the feelings themselves are not wrong. While many of those feelings feel YUCK, when we find ourselves in the red, yellow, or blue zone, it’s our job to use our tools to get ourselves back to the green zone.
Our mantra: Don’t stay stuck in the yuck! Use your tools to BOUNCE BACK to the GREEN
Zone!
We believe kids can better understand why they have the feelings they have and make the
choices they make if they know how their brain works! So in first and second grades, we are
also learning about our hippocampus (memory center), amygdala (feelings center), and pre-
frontal cortex (choices center)!
(Ask your kids to show you with their hand what their brain looks like in the green zone!)
Finally, I want to invite any fathers or father-figures to be part of our Watch DOG program, which is returning after a year off for Covid. This is a national program that encourages dads,
grandpas, uncles, brothers, friends, or any other male role model to come volunteer in our
school for a few hours or for a full day!
Here is more information about the program: About: Dads Of Great Students
Here is where you can request more information Prairie Watch DOG interest sign-up
If you send your contact information, it does not require you to sign up! It simply means we will send you a detailed description of how it will work in our building and if you are interested, help you schools a day that works for you.
If you need to reach us, here is our email addresses:
Daneen Kelsey, dkelsey@piperschools.us
Morgan Crusoe, mcrusoe@piperschools.us
Piper PTA
Click to read the PTA Newsletter! A wonderful organization that supports our Piper Schools!
Piper Spirit Wear Link:
https://piperpirates.itemorder.com/sale
Fall Raffle Fundraiser Link:
https://app.memberhub.gives/piperpta
Car Wash Fundraiser Link:
https://piperpta203.memberhub.com/store/items/475795
Any questions can be directed to the PTA members. Please reach out to: piperpta203@gmail.com
News From Nurse Chelsea
Parents, please make sure your students are up to date on their vaccinations, especially incoming Kindergarten students. If they have an appointment scheduled please let me know as soon as possible. All new students, including Kindergarten, should have a physical and current immunization record on file.
If your child will be taking medication at school or has an inhaler please have a consent signed and bring the medication in the original bottle when dropping it off. Medication consent
The following link will give information about frequently asked questions involving COVID-19 and returning to school. COVID-19 Info
If someone in the household is positive for COVID-19 please keep your student home and contact me. I’m looking forward to a great school year!
Chelsea Fletchall, RN, BSN
Piper Prairie School Nurse
(913) 721-1243
How will the district's new mask mandate affect adult visitors to our building?
How will the district's new mask mandate affect adult visitors to the building?
* All visitors to the building must wear a mask at all times while inside the building or outside if around our students.
* Parents and visitors will still be allowed in the building for volunteer work or class parties. Only parents/guardians who have signed up to work parties with their child's teacher will be permitted into the building on party days. (This is not due to the mask policy but a reminder of our schools' party policy.)
* Since lunch time is a "no mask" time due to eating and drinking, there will be no visitors allowed during lunch.
* If the district policy changes as variants change in our community, we will alter visitation policies as necessary. We will always keep you informed if things change.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we do everything we can to keep our kids and community safe.
Piper Prairie Communication Matrix!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICE!
Important Information From the Office...
- Official School Hours are 8:35 am - 3:40 pm
- Students may enter the building @ 8:20 am
- Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:35 am to avoid a tardy slip. We will start dismissal at 3:40 pm.
- Students arriving after 9:15 am will be counted as 1/2 day absent.
- Students leaving before 3:35 pm will be counted as 1/2 day absent.
- Tardy Policy: 5 Tardies = 1 unexcused absence
- All transportation changes MUST be made by 2:30 pm on the day the change is requested to ensure that the teacher is notified in time and your child arrives home safely.
- Student Early Dismissal Day transportation changes MUST be made by 10:30 am on the day the change is requested to ensure that the teacher is notified in time and your child arrives home safely.
- Students Arriving Late: If your child has an appointment of any kind that causes them to arrive late to school, please call the office. Please have a doctor's note for the absence to be excused.
- Students Leaving Early: If your child has an appointment of any kind that causes them to leave early from school, please call the office when you arrive. After you arrive, we will call your child to the office.
- Child Absence: Please call and let the office know if your child is absent or late coming to school. Our office will call and verify that your child is safely at home if you have not received notification. The office number is: 913-721-1243
Piper Prairie Dismissal Procedure
Birthday Treats
Store-bought treats may also be brought up to the office. Please make sure to reach out to your child's teacher to set up a time.