Wednesday Word
October 6th, 2021
From the Principal
We rescheduled our Site Council meeting for next Tuesday, Oct. 12 from 6:00-7:00pm. There is still time if you are interested in joining us. I have linked the agenda below. The link to the meeting is on the agenda.
The end of the quarter is next Thursday, Oct. 14th. It is hard to believe we have been in school or about nine weeks already! That means it is parent teacher conference time and the links to sign up for a conference with your classroom teacher is below. Our goal is 100% attendance among all our families. We cannot wait to see you!
I also want to shout out families who are doing a great job with safety and efficiency with our dismissal. I asked for help with this and you have responded! Thank you!
We would also like to celebrate that our Marathon Club has come back stronger than ever with 60 students signed up and participating!
Our AVID implementation continues to permeate throughout our school community. Check out the display Miss Brown's 1st grade scholars (picture below) created as they learned about each word in AVID and what it means to them. We put the "I" in AVID. AVID stands for Achievement Via Individual Determination or as the scholars say, moving up through my own hard work! It's a mindset, it's a philosophy, it's strategic and intentional. This is AVID! We are AVID!
As always it is an honor to serve as the principal of Sunflower Elementary.
Melissa Blevins
From the Nurse
HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS
Lawrence Public Schools conducts Hearing and Vision Screenings mandated by the state of Kansas. To ensure all students can access curriculum and instruction, the district screens students' Hearing and Distance Vision for concerns that may require further follow-up. The district conducts mass hearing/vision screenings at the schools for students K-12. In some grades, not all students participate in the screenings. COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS: All staff and students involved in Hearing and Vision screenings will wear masks and follow USD 497 COVID prevention and safety measures.
Parents/Guardians who DO NOT want their children to participate in hearing and vision screenings during the 2021-2022 school year, must complete an opt-out request form for EACH STUDENT by 8 a.m. the day before the hearing and vision screening is scheduled to be conducted at your child's school. If completing a paper form, the paper form must be received by 8:00 a.m. the day before screening by the School Nurse or Health Office Attendant.
If you want your child's hearing and vision screening to be completed, DO NOT COMPLETE THE OPT-OUT REQUEST FORM. The district will automatically conduct the screenings in accordance with its protocols for hearing and vision.
Sunflower Hearing and Vision screens are scheduled for October 8th.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Respectfully,
Lawrence Public Schools Nurses, Nursing Facilitator, and Audiologist
Staff Member of the Month
The Staff Recognition Committee is excited to announce our first opportunity this year to recognize one classified and certified staff member who represent the "BEST" the Sunflower staff has to offer. This year, we are wanting to incorporate the entire Sunflower community in the nomination process, including staff, students, and parents/guardians. Please consider nominating a staff member that you feel sets a great example for others to follow. Each month, we will recognize one classified (including paraeducators, interventionists, office, custodial, food service, lunchroom, library assistant) and one certified (grade-level, special education, specials, nurse, learning coach, library) staff member. Forms can be found at the following links:
October Classified Staff Member of the Month Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/ie3gN6XqmoiMeWrb8
October Certified Staff Member of the Month Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/Q1kPhiVdTNwAT4rp6
From the Librarian
From the Counselor
What is bullying?
The answer to this question can sometimes be very confusing. The 3 main pieces of a behavior that is considered to be bullying behavior includes: usually (but not always) repeated, intentionally aggressive or unwanted behaviors, and there is a real or perceived imbalance of power. Here are a few links to help with defining what bullying is and how to help our scholars deal with bullying situations:
https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/what-is-bullying
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bullies
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/bullying-prevention-tips-teachers-parents-anne-obrien
Kansas Department of Education's Information regarding bullying prevention:
Please remember that you and your scholars may always reach out to any of our school staff to report any bullying concerns by contacting us via email &/or phone anytime. Scholars may also write a note sharing their concerns and place this in Julie Heatwole's mailbox, which is located just outside the counselor's office next to her door (See picture below). This is a locked mailbox, so all notes/letters stay confidential. You may contact the school counselor, Julie Heatwole, at jheatwol@usd497.org or #785-330-4860 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for being a part of our Sunflower Family!!
Just Food Thanksgiving Sign Up
And Holiday Assistance through Salvation Army for gifts! See below...
Little Firebird Soccer Clinic
Crunch for a Cause Dine Out Night
From Sunflower PTO:
Save the date and support our 5th Graders! Taco John’s Eat and Earn Wednesday 10/13!
$1 PJ Day on Thursday 10/14, optional $1 donation in support of PTO.
Monday 10/18 at 5:30pm is our next Landscape Clean-Up! Volunteers appreciated!
The Scholastic Book Fair is back! Mark your calendars for 10/18-10/21! Details to follow.
**Follow our Sunflower PTO Facebook page. We post a lot of information and events on our page.
https://www.facebook.com/Sunflower-Elementary-PTO-532741010145883/
Marathon Club
You can still register your scholars for Marathon Club! Click the link below to register.
To participate - please fill out the google form:
https://forms.gle/SUgRYZgzWi8JNVG78
Remember, you can reach us for questions at our email address: sunflowermarathonclub@gmail.com
HyVee Receipts
Sign Up Genius - Teacher Conference Meals
PTO always provides food for our busy teachers and staff during Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please click on the link below to help us supply food for them!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4AADA929A0FD0-sunflower2
Important Dates
10/8 - Hearing and Vision Screenings
10/13 - Eat and Earn @ Taco John's benefitting the 5th Grade recognition committee
10/14 - $1 PJ Day
10/14 - End of 1st Quarter
10/15 - No School - Teacher Conference Prep.
10/18 - 10/21 - PTO Book Fair
10/18 - Landscape Clean Up Day
10/20 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7pm
10/21 - No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
10/22 - No School
10/25 - No School
10/27 - K-1 Schaake's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip
11/9 - Picture Retakes
11/24 - 11/26 - Fall Break