Prairie Point Express
Family Newsletter
October 8, 2021
School Address: 8101 NW Belvidere Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64152
School Hours: 8:15 am - 3:05 pm
School Phone: 816-359-4380
Principal: Dr. Danny Todtfeld
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Sarah McQuinn
Counselor: Mrs. Ally Swisher
School Social Worker: Miss Marla Anderson
Upcoming Dates
Monday, October 18th: David Kilpatrick Parent Night - 6:00 - 7:30 pm - Park Hill South
Thursday, October 21st: End of First Quarter - Fall Parties - 1:30 pm
Friday, October 22nd: No School for Students
Friday, October 29th: First Quarter Grade Cards Available at 4:00 pm via Infinite Campus
Wednesday, November 3rd: Parent-Teacher Conferences - 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Thursday, November 4th: No School for Students - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 12:00 - 8:00 pm
Friday, November 5th: No School for Students
Bus Safety Drills
October is AAC Awareness Month
It was developed to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the right and access to communication. It was developed in 1992 out of the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Person with Severe Disabilities.
CBS News did a spotlight on Autism - Please check it out here
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/dan-bergmann-on-his-autism-and-a-breakthrough-lesson/
Specials Spotlight: PE with Mr. Downey
In October, the 5th grade has been working on their lower body strength and preparing for Fitness Gram Physical Fitness Testing in November. The students have been working on their lower body strength by playing a game called Mario Kart and also playing Scooter Dodgeball.
Both games involve working on the following objectives:
- I can be respectful, use fair play and teamwork while participating in Mario Kart and Scooter Dodgeball.
Mario Kart involves pushing a partner on a scooter around a circular track where they receive two stacking cups per lap. If the group hits a banana peel (bowling pin) along the way, they have to go to an exercise mat and roll dice. Whatever they roll, they have to do that number of burpees.
The students can purchase banana peels to set along the race track for 6 stacking cups. They also can purchase a turtle shell (one dodgeball) for 12 cups, to try and hit their classmates and wreck them. If this occurs, the partners that were hit must stop and go to the exercise mat.
The students may also purchase a Star Kart (roller racer) that makes them invisible. The team (partners) that has the most stacking cups at the end of the class wins.
Mr. Downey has been very impressed with how hard the kids have worked during Mario Kart, and how great a job they have done with safety while playing the game. One of the rules involves turning their karts upside down on the infield whenever they wreck, and the students have done an incredible job of thinking about their classmates and staying safe.
Some of the learning goals are as follows:
- Students will demonstrate motor skills using manipulatives.
- Students will participate in organized games with small groups and partners.
- Students will demonstrate proper techniques for a variety of fundamental skills.
The other activity we have done is called Scooter Dodgeball. The rules are similar to regular dodgeball, but the students must push themselves around the playing area on a scooter. The team that has the most number of players in, and also has shot the most dodgeballs into a five-gallon bucket, wins the game. This game also works on their lower body strength. The students have worked very hard at playing fair and following the rules, and they have also worked on keeping their voice levels correct.
Picture Day Questions?
The Importance of Read Alouds
Please click here for our October newsletter on the importance of read alouds!
October 21st - Fall Parties
Fall Parties
In an effort to continue working toward an inclusive school community, we will not be wearing costumes.
Thursday, Oct 21, 2021, 01:30 PM
Prairie Point Elementary School, Northwest Belvidere Parkway, Kansas City, MO, USA
Family Learning Night with David Kilpatrick
Who: David Kilpatrick
When: October 18, 2021 from 6:00-7:30
Where: Park Hill South Auditorium 4500 River Park Dr. Riverside, MO 64150
Why: This is a Title 1 parent engagement activity to support the parent/school connection in the area of reading research and dyslexia
- Research and Dyslexia
- What works and what doesn't
- Helping your child, nuts and bolts
- Free resources to support your child's learning at home
- Q&A with author, researcher, and school psychologist, Dr. David Kilpatrick
SIGN UP HERE! Click the link to RSVP so enough materials are prepared.
*Our goal is to share this important information with parents and guardians and we do not want child care to be a barrier. While children are welcome to attend, this is not an interactive child friendly session. This session is designed to support parents and provide the most current research on reading development.
David A. Kilpatrick, PhD is a professor of psychology for the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is a New York State certified school psychologist with 28 years experience in schools. He has been teaching courses in learning disabilities and educational psychology since 1994. David is a reading researcher and the author of two books on reading, Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties, and Equipped for Reading Success, and is a co-editor of a third, Reading Development and Difficulties: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice. Dave is also an associate editor of The Reading League Journal.
October Curriculum Connections
Here are your Curriculum Connections for October!
October 2021 ELA Curriculum Connection
Menus for October
October Counselor Connections
Healthy Kids Running Series
Birthday Treats Update
New Birthday Treat Guidelines · Stickers · Erasers · Pencils · Crazy straws · Blow Pops · Juice boxes · Popcorn · Smarties · Dum Dum lollipops · Jelly Belly · Nerds · Ring Pops · Skittles · Sour Patch Kids · Starburst · Swedish Fish · Life Saver Gummies
Because of food and labor shortages, our Nutrition Services department can no longer provide birthday treats after Friday, Sept. 17.
If you already ordered treats, we will be able to fill orders that were scheduled to go out this week.
We apologize for the inconvenience, but we must cancel any birthday treat orders that were scheduled to go out on Monday, Sept. 20 or later. If you need a refund, please let us know by calling the Nutrition Services department at 816-359-4090.
Approved Birthday Treats:
We will start allowing families to send birthday treats if they want to do so, as long as they come from our list of treats that contain none of the major allergens.
Thank you for understanding that all classroom treats must come from this list, because we do not have the staff capacity to check for allergens that could threaten the health of some students.
Please bring birthday treats ahead of time (two hours after the start of school, at the latest).
Ian's Rainbow Flu Foundation
Park Hill Education Foundation Fun Run
Join us for the first annual
Park Hill Education Foundation Fun Run
Become a sponsor by investing $100 in our district. Sponsorship includes
your logo/name on the back of every race participant’s t-shirt.
Register here to become a sponsor!
Proceeds from the Fun Run will benefit the
educational programs the Foundation supports.
Visit our website www.parkhillfoundation.org
School Supply Lists
Do You Know A Park Hill Star?
The Park Hill Star recognition program was started in 2015 to celebrate support staff and teachers whose work is especially noteworthy.
The following is an overview of the Park Hill Star Program:
Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students.
That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher and a support employee.
Prairie Point Communication
Of course, we know that two-way communication is best. Please feel free to call or email with any questions you have regarding your child's education.
Dr. Danny Todtfeld
Principal
816-359-6512
Mrs. Sarah McQuinn
Assistant Principal
816-359-6895
Prairie Point Mission
Our Vision
Prairie Point Elementary School provides all children with a safe, caring educational environment that focuses on high expectations and promotes lifelong learning.
Our Mission
To create a safe and caring student centered environment, to empower students to be independent learners, problem solver, and responsible citizens in the 21st Century.
At Prairie Point School, we value:
- Keeping the focus on the student
- Continuous learning and professional growth
- Warm, caring, open-minded environment
- High expectations for all students and adults
- Team work and collaboration
- Empathetic approach with our actions.