A Great First Week!
8/29/21
Thank You!
We had a great first week back to school. Thank you to all of our families for supporting our work at home by preparing your child for school. Thank you for your patience with arrival and dismissal as we work out some issues. We seemed to have it pretty well established by Friday.
I hope your child enjoyed being back at school this week as much as we enjoyed having them back. Our halls, classrooms, cafe, and playground were once again filled with children's laughter, smiles, and chatting. The kids are getting into their classroom routines and learning how to navigate school with our updated safety protocols.
Please reach out at any time to share any questions, concerns, or ideas. I am here to help and support you and your family. Thanks for all you do to help keep our students and staff safe.
Take Care-
Angeline
A Day
Krishna Janmashtami- click to learn more
Robinson Equity Group Meeting- 6:00-7:00 at the OLC
Tuesday
B Day
Wednesday
C Day
National IT Professional's Day- Thank you Mrs. Armstrong!
Wear a hat for Wacky Wednesday
Thursday
D Day
Friday
A Day
Wear your spirit wear- Robinson or KSD- or just wear red!
Wacky Wednesday will be the first Wednesday of the Month
Learning About Literacy
Thursday, Sept. 9 at 9:00 am
Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 12:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 6:00 pm
Mask Guidance per KSD
Use of Masks
All staff and students will be expected to wear masks throughout the day while indoors regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also required on all busses and other forms of public transportation. Social distancing or barriers will be utilized when masks cannot be worn (during snacks, meals, mask breaks). Masks will be optional outdoors.
Wearing masks while indoors will ensure we can keep the largest number of students in the classroom while maintaining a safe environment for students and staff. Gaiters, bandanas, and balaclavas are not acceptable.
Current CDC guidance states, "To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission." St. Louis County's numbers are currently in the “high” transmission range. You can view the CDC Data Tracker at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.
Social, Mental, and Emotional Health- a Goal within the KSD 5 Year Strategic Plan
An area that I'd like to highlight this month is the Goal Area of Social, Emotional, and Mental Health.
This week our staff read stories to children about the variety of emotions they may have been feeling about returning to school. It is important that we continue to teach into identifying emotions and then building toolkits of strategies with students to help them process their emotions.
Please watch the videos below with your child to see the stories again or for the first time.
Supporting Work-Life Balance for Robinson Staff
Design a program to discuss, assess, and improve social, mental, and emotional health for all staff.
While our district continues to work on this, at Robinson one step that we are taking is setting non-working hours for all of our staff members. I have asked all staff to set and share their non-working hours in their welcome letter to families. It is important for us to encourage and honor a work-life balance for our staff. We want them to be the very best that they can be for our children every day, and they can't do that if they are not taking care of themselves. Education is a stressful career and it is important that we prioritize our staff's mental health and support them in a variety of ways.
We are encouraging our staff to step away from work during certain hours of the evening and during the weekends. This will allow them to connect with their families, recharge their batteries, and be ready to face whatever comes their way at work each day. We have also worked with staff to reflect on what they need for self-care (proactive way to ensure regulation) and safety plans (reactive and what we do when dysregulated). We are helping our staff to develop a toolkit that is well rounded and prepares them for the challenges we may face.
Thank you for helping us to support our staff wellbeing.
Picture Day- September 8- Online orders only- no paper forms- we are going green
Robinson Elementary
Picture Day is: Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Wagner Portrait Group will be photographing students for portrait packages & school records.
NEW! ONLY ONLINE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
(Please do not bring checks, cash, or order forms to school as they will no longer be accepted.)
Online Pre-Order Password: 9A8P9S2
Can’t order online or have other questions? We are happy to help! 314-567-5900 or 1-800-444-7986
Morning arrival is 8:25-8:40 am.
Dismissal is 3:35-4:00 pm- Please do NOT start lining up until 3:20- when you pull into Robinson please form TWO lines right away
School Lunch Information
As shared last week, during the 2021-22 school year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending its funding for school meals through June 30, 2022, which means all Kirkwood students will continue to be eligible for free, healthy meals through the end of next school year. Meals (breakfast and lunch) are available at no cost to all students in Kirkwood School District. Students will be charged for a la carte items and snacks.
To review the daily menus, please visit our Food Services website.
Even though breakfast and lunch are being provided free of charge for all students, the National Free and Reduced Lunch program provides more than just meals for students who qualify.
Did you know that school districts receive money each year for every form that is filled out by an eligible family? This educational funding helps us provide meals, lower the cost of activities and reduce fees for students who qualify. Filling out a form also could result in additional financial assistance for your family.
In KSD, those benefits include:
50% reduction in student technology fees
50% reduction in middle school and high school annual activity fee
50% reduction in bus pass fee
KHS students qualify for testing and college application fee waivers
To complete the Free and Reduced-Price meal form, please download an application and return it by any of the following methods:
Download, complete and email to: shanon.orelup@kirkwoodschools.org
Mail to: Shanon Orelup KSD, 11289 Manchester Rd, Kirkwood MO 63122
If you need a hard copy for the Free/Reduced lunch application, please send an e-mail to: Shanon.Orelup@kirkwoodschools.org requesting one and include your mailing address. A hard copy will be mailed to you.
We need your help! Help PTO with the Greetree Parade
Please reach out to let us know you can help! Email us at robinsonpto@kirkwoodschools.org
The parade kicks off at 10 am at KHS- www.kirkwoodmo.org
Covid Dashboard
Some reminders:
Please see our following "Student Symptom Decision Tree" to use as a guide on screening for potential COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
Also, our quarantine protocol infograph outlines scenarios for student contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.
Robinson Equity Group
Please join the Robinson Equity Group this year as we gather to advocate for inclusion and acceptance by establishing a brave space that produces authentic conversations about race, equity, privilege, and oppression. Our welcoming meeting will be THIS Monday 8/30 from 6:30-7:30 in the Outdoor Learning Center (OLC). We would love to see you there! If you can't make it this month, we have monthly meetings scheduled for the rest of the year: Email robinsonequity@gmail.com for more information.
Aug 30 600-7:00 Welcome
Sept 20 7-8:30 CRT discussion
Oct 22 7-9 Pushout Film Screening
Nov 1 6:30-8
Dec 10 7:00 - ? Holiday Celebration/Social Event
Jan 18 6:30-8
Feb 15 6:30-8
Mar 10 7-8:30
Apr 7 6:30-8
May 6 7:00 - ? End of Year Celebration/Closeout!
As well as some show/podcast nights:
Currently Scheduled Podcast/Show nights:
Sept 9 6-7 “High on the Hog” Episodes 1 & 2
Nov 15 7-8 “High on the Hog” Episodes 3 & 4
We will be adding dates for a kids' book club, a support group, and an adult book club as well
Cheri Nienhaus: dewdrop519@yahoo.com or April Curtis: kidscando@yahoo.com
Join us for the School Challenge
What Is The School Challenge?
The School Challenge is an arm of our Kirkwood Greentree Rotary Ramble specifically designed for elementary and middle school kids. Each Kirkwood-area middle and elementary school competes to register the most runners (who run at a reduced price). The middle and elementary schools with the most runners registered will receive $500. We present the $500 checks at the Kirkwood Rotary Club luncheon where we honor the teachers of the year.
Elementary Schoolers
Elementary school aged children in grades K-5 run in the Fun Run starting at 8:30 am, and pay only $10 pre-registered. The route is just under a mile. Each student receives a t-shirt, and if they complete the course, they will also receive a medal.
Parents may run the course with their child for free, but many parents choose to cheer from the sidewalk along Geyer Road and meet their child at the finish line.
Registation
Please use the one of the hyperlinks below of your choice to pre-registration. Pre-registration closes on Friday, September 10, 5pm, 2021.
Packet pick-up
If you pre-registered you may pick-up your race packet, bib & t-shirt beginning at 2pm on Thursday, September 9th at 2pm and again on Friday, September 10th from 9am to 3pm at:
Kirkwood Dental Station
200 S. Kirkwood Road, Ste 90
Kirkwood, MO 63122
More Information About The Races
If your child is an elementary schooler, please read the Fun Run information page.
To register and pay fees please click this link; https://register.chronotrack.com/r/61520
Thanks to all of the wonderful Rotary Ramble Sponsors
Repeated Information Below
Bus Information
If you have not yet received your child's bus information, and can't access it on the app, please call the office on Monday morning and we will help you with your child's information.
Your Feedback Needed
Reminder: No Nuts in Foods
Staff Favorite Things
Welcome back to SCHOOL!
It's Buzz Book time, please click on this link to have your information included in the Buzz Book. The Buzz Book is an online directory completed by families with their contact information. It's a great way to connect to other families within Robinson. If you have a kindergartener, you may want to wait until classes have been finalized.
Remember, if you DO NOT want your information to be public, simply ignore and do not include your information in this online form. This information will be publicly published.
We will include a link to the 2021-2022 Buzz Book starting on September 5th.
If you wish for your child(ren) to participate in the program, please complete the online form. Only one form is needed for all the school-aged children in your family, but please include information for each child on the form. This information is kept confidential between KSD N.O.W. and your child’s school. Once your child is signed up, they will receive boxes of food each month of the school year or until you no longer wish to participate.
KSD N.O.W. operates with a first come, first served model. If your form is received after the capacity has been reached, you will be placed on a waitlist. If you have any questions or need a paper form, please contact program coordinator Emilie Lytton at ksdnow@kirkwoodschools.org.
All inquiries will remain confidential. Thank you.
If you have unmet food needs for your family, including older children, babies, or toddlers, please contact KirkCare at 314-965-0406 or dial 2-1-1 for referrals to food banks and social services in your area.
In order to receive support through KSD N.O.W. for the 2021- 2022 school year, please complete the online registration at https://www.kirkwoodschools.org/KSDNOWRegistration.
ALL FAMILIES MUST COMPLETE THIS FORM TO PARTICIPATE IN KSD N.O.W. Students who currently participate will not automatically be reenrolled.
Click the pdf below to learn more about our Title 1 Status
PTO Staff Appreciation Committee
Staff Appreciation Opportunity
Word in the building is the staff LOVE coffee (I mean, who doesn't?!). K cups are a big hit. Let's help them start this year off caffeinated!
If you're willing and able, please send in variety packs of K cups, teas included too!
Send with your child, drop off in the office, or bring in to Open House Night next week!!
Check out the Parent Academy Online for Tech Support
https://www.kirkwoodschools.org/Page/9538
how to navigate Schoology as a parent is here:
how to modify Notifications in Schoology:
ParentSchoologyInteractive.key
NotificationsSchoology_Parents.key
21-22 iPad information
Students will not be taking iPads home this year unless they are needed for a specific project. If a student were to be quarantined, the student would take it home or the parent would come to school to get it.
The Kirkwood School District uses My School Bucks for iPad insurance fees, and activity fees, as well as the iPad user agreement.
If you currently have a My School Bucks account, you can log in and access the school store at the top of the page.
If you do not have a My School Bucks account, you may create a free account. You will need each student’s identification number to create accounts.
To pay for iPad insurance and activity fees through your MySchoolBucks.com account:
- Log in to MySchoolBucks.com or create a free account.
- Click School Store at the top of the page and select Browse All Items
- Choose the Store Item and add it to your cart
- Check out!
You can also download the MySchoolBucks" app to set up an account and make payments.
Please reach out to our technology specialist, Shelley Armstrong with any questions.
2021-2022 Robinson Family Handbook
Please check out the 2021-2022 Robinson Family Handbook. In this handbook you will find arrival and dismissal information, breakfast and lunch procedures, visitor information and much more. If you don't have time to read the full document- you can watch this short clip of the Handbook Highlights (5 minutes). Thank you for your attention to this important document!
Free & Reduced Lunch Information
Although meals will be free to all children again this year; filling out and qualifying for free/reduced meals has the additional benefit of extending reduced costs for iPad/computer insurance and exam costs. In addition, because we are a Title I building based on the number of students qualifying for this program we as a building get additional funding. Currently we use this funding to provide a second counselor and Literacy Coach as well as additional programs and supplies for students. We will be providing these forms in paper copies at Open House and you may complete them ahead of time via this link: https://www.kirkwoodschools.org/Page/843
If you need confidential assistance with this process, please reach out to Mrs. Tonya Ampey-Elong, on school social worker.
Thanks!