T-Bird Times
August 12, 2022
Indian Valley Elementary
Website: https://district.bluevalleyk12.org/schools/elementary/ive/Pages/home.aspx
Location: 11600 Knox Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913 239 6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVEThunderbirds/
Twitter: @IVEThunderbirds
Upcoming Events
Elementary Start and End Time
8:25 Doors open for all students
8:40 School starts; students need to be in classrooms prior to this time
3:45 Dismissal
Classroom Teacher
We will have class lists posted on classroom doors during Backpack Night.
Backpack Night
Please join us on Monday, August 15th from 5:00-6:30 for Backpack Night! Bring your school supplies to leave in classrooms, meet your teacher and enjoy a frozen treat in the cafeteria provided by the PTA. Classrooms will be open from 5:00-6:00.
This is the time to take pictures with teachers and any other yearly pictures!
Back to School Events: Building Visitors and Safety/Security
We are so excited to see all of our school community back on campus soon. Back to School events are just around the corner and we would like to share our plans for welcoming everyone back and keeping everyone safe and secure.
Backpack Night - Monday, August 15
Backpack Night on Monday, August 15 from 5:00-6:30. This is the event where you will have the opportunity to walk your child into the school, see their classroom, meet their teacher, take pictures, and see our wonderful new learning spaces. This is not a required event, but it will be a great opportunity for adults to enter the building with their child.
First Day of School (Grades 1-5) - Wednesday, August 17
After thoughtful conversations around safety in response to National school violence, on the first day of school Wednesday, August 17th, all elementary schools in Blue Valley will follow our normal safety procedures at arrival time and only let students into the building at arrival. Feel free to come to campus and plan a goodbye, hug, and/or first day photo with your child on our front lawn before wishing them well on their first day. Thank you for understanding the importance of secure, controlled access during arrival.
Kindergarten Orientation - Wednesday, August 17
Kindergarten families will receive a separate email with instructions for the Kindergarten Orientation sessions on this day. We will have a specific safety plan for Kindergarten guests during these sessions.
General Reminder for Visitors During the School Day:
We will welcome visitors into our buildings this year and would like to share a general reminder that all elementary schools in the district utilize the buzz-in entry system for visitors during the school day. Visitors will need to come to the front of the school. At the front entrance, visitors will press the buzzer, show a government issued photo identification, and state the purpose for their visit each time they visit the school. We ask that guests do not hold the door open for another visitor once you have been buzzed-in. Instead, allow the door to close for each visitor to go through the procedures. Thank you for your support of our safety procedures.
Lunchroom Visitors
We will start visits to the lunchroom after Labor Day, on Wednesday, September 7th. We will take the first weeks of school to learn and practice lunchroom routines and procedures. Thank you for understanding and waiting to enjoy lunch with your child until then!
Lunch menus can be found online here: Lunch menus
You can also download the Nutrislice app for easy access for daily/weekly menus.
School Supplies
Reminder of Birthday Celebrations at IVE
We are taking a food-free approach to birthday celebrations at IVE again this year! This has been our practice for several years. We have found that our kids have plenty of sweet treats in their lives, and we have had an increase in the number of food allergies in our community. Therefore, we will find other ways to celebrate each student’s birthday.
School Birthday Celebration Rituals:
Name and birthday will be announced on Studio 83
An in-person morning visit by the student Birthday Crew to the birthday student’s classroom to give a sticker and a pencil
Classroom privileges unique to each class, chosen by the birthday student. Some possible examples include:
Special chair in the classroom
Extra recess time for the class
Special class game
Birthday hat, button, or sash
Bus Information
You can also sign up for text messaging for alerts for your student's bus.
Launching Canvas for Families
Attendance Reporting and Notifications
Families can expect automated attendance messages by email, phone, and text if a child is absent and their absence has not already been reported by a parent/guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to report an absence or reply to the automated email or phone message.
What is the purpose of attendance notifications?
We realize that students may occasionally need to miss school for planned absences, illnesses, and appointments. However, when a student does not arrive at school or unexpectedly misses a portion of the school day, we are concerned and want to make sure you are aware that your child is absent.
How can I get push notifications?
Families who would also like a push notification can download the ParentVUE app and manage their notifications. If a child has an unreported absence when a teacher submits attendance, then a push notification will immediately be sent to the parent/guardian's mobile device.
Interested in push notifications? Simply download the ParentVUE app (iTunes app store or Google Play), enable push notifications in device settings and select attendance notifications through in-app settings. Once the app is downloaded, these instructions will help you complete the set-up.
PTA News
Upcoming Events
Monday, August 15
Backpack Night, 5:00-6:30 (frozen treat in the cafeteria)
Tuesday, August 30
Freddy's Restaurant Night, 5:00-9:00pm
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