Eagle Heights Elementary
April 5, 2021
Proud of Eagle!
It is hard to believe that it is already April! To say this has been a challenging year for everyone would be a huge understatement, but we have made it through together! I shared the following clip with staff and I wanted to share it with you. It is from one of my favorite movies, The Mighty Ducks! There are several simple lines from this speech that make me think of our EHE family and how we have pulled together this year.
"They fly in a perfect formation! Beautiful!"
"Pretty awesome the way they all stick together!"
"The other animals are afraid because they know if they mess with one duck, they gotta deal with the whole flock!"
"I'd be proud to fly with any one of you!"
I appreciate all of the support and positive comments from you as we continue to work together to help all of our students feel safe and supported!
Kiindly,
Mrs. Slack
PTO Update
We are looking to have another awesome year for the 2021-2022 school year and we need some amazing people to make this happen! The open PTO officer positions are listed below!
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT-MEMBERSHIPS
SECRETARY
If you are interested in helping serve in one of these positions, please email our PTO at
Map Testing Update
We will be completing state MAP testing from April 26-May 7. This will include all of our 3rd-6th graders.
We are also collecting donations for a prize raffle that will be held at the end of testing. Students that follow testing expectations will be given a ticket to put into a raffle box for a prize they would like to win. We have had a bike donated as one of our grand prizes! If you are able to donate an item for the raffle, please sign up on the document linked here.
Please make sure that your student is here on time these days, getting plenty of rest, and eating breakfast so that he/she can perform her/his best!
Parent Input
Summer School Information
Warrior Families,
The Smithville School District provides an innovative opportunity beginning June 2 and ending July 2. After taking a summer off due to COVID-19, we’re so excited to once again begin the enrollment process for the Warriors Explore summer program. Warriors Explore will be offered to students who will enter kindergarten through eighth grade in the fall of 2021. Our teams of teachers have worked together to develop interdisciplinary units that we believe will pique the interest of all of the students that choose to attend. We strongly encourage you to consider this amazing program.
Please read on to learn about the specifics of our program including the courses offered at each grade level, locations, dates and times. If you have any questions, contact Casey Kuska, Summer School Principal, at 816-532-4566 or kuskac@smithville.k12.mo.us or Ashley Doll, Summer School Principal, at 816-532-0589 Or dolla@smithville.k12.mo.us or Michelle Kratofil, Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services, at 532-0406 or kratofim@smithville.k12.mo.us.
The registration deadline is April 30.
NWEA Testing
K-2 will take the math and ELA sessions.
3-6 will take the reading session only.
You will receive results from this test with your student's final report card.
Behavior Concerns
Current Projections for Next Year
First Grade: 74
Second Grade: 66
Third Grade: 63
Fourth Grade: 48
Fifth Grade: 61
Sixth Grade: 65
We will have two preschool classrooms in the new wing for next year. These are the preschools that were approved by the board. We will continue to have our one early childhood preschool. If you are interested in information regarding our new preschool program, please contact our central office at (816)532-0406.
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Art: Ms. Aeschliman
Happy Spring, Eagle Heights families!
In art, for the fourth quarter we are focusing on the Studio Habits of Mind: a) Understanding Art Worlds and b) Engage & Persist. I am highlighting a few visual artists this quarter that are current and a few from the past as well. Hopefully your students will share some of them with you as we progress through the fourth quarter. We are also hitting upon Engage and Persist which is finding personally meaningful projects and sticking to them.
As I write this Kindergarten has been learning about primary and secondary colors. I introduced them to the artist, Wayne Thiebaud, who turned 100 last year! We mixed our primary colors together to create secondaries and will make some lollipop artwork inspired by Thiebaud's many food paintings.
We are influenced by the seasons and first and second grade have been making some seasonal pieces of art (bunnies, eggs, flowers, etc). Third grade has had the option of making a 3D paper face using paper sculpture techniques. Fourth was presented with styrofoam printing using markers and damp paper. Fifth grade had the option to create clay cupcakes after we returned to school from spring break so those are currently sitting and drying in the kiln room before they are ready to fire. I’ve also introduced them to gelli plate printing. Sixth grade has been working on paper bead making. So as you can see, the art room is a busy place!
Remember to check out your students' Artsonia account for the latest upload of their creations in art! If you haven’t seen anything lately, check with them on what they are making and tell them you are waiting to see what they do next! Mother’s Day is next month, so you may want to consider ordering an item for a mother or grandmother! Thanks for your support and keep on creating!
Sincerely,
Miss Aeschliman
EHE K-6 Art Educator
Music: Mr. Venner
Kindergarten will be playing percussion instruments and READING music this month. First grade through sixth will be learning about the history of the drum set and everyone will get a chance to play. Fifth and sixth grade will be attending a Zoom Call between country music singer and songwriter Tyler Farr and Eagle Heights. The students have compiled a list of questions for him about songwriting, performing and the music business. We are currently working to schedule the call with Tyler so that all classes in fifth and sixth grade can link in. We will also play some ukulele and drum circles in the upper grades later this month.
Counseling: Mrs. Downey
Today’s parents have many resources to help them prepare to raise a child, but there’s one book that doesn’t yet exist: What to Expect when you’re (Tech)xpecting! The truth is, we are the first generation of parents pondering questions like “How much screen time is too much? How should I feel about Fortnite? When do I get my child a phone? How should I prepare them for social media?” Visit westartnow.org to find helpful tips to help your family find balance.
Library: Mrs. Bennaka
Thank you EHE families for supporting our Book Fair! All of our students have been so respectful and kind while shopping! I am so lucky to work in this community and with your students.
In the coming weeks, we will be focusing on some Earth Day projects along with finishing up our library stations, which has included learning to sew in grades 3-6. The library is continuing to be a busy place where I hope all students and staff feel welcome. We are continuing to improve our library by adding new book titles, gadgets, and different tools that meet all students' needs. Also in the coming weeks, we are adding the feature to pay for lost or damaged books online. More info on that to come.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Bennaka.
Physical Education: Mr. Parker
K-1st grade students have continued to build on their locomotor movement skills through different activities. Students have learned new games, exercises and are continuing to get stronger. Students have been working on station rotations and are reviewing some of the skills that they have learned earlier in the school year.
2nd- 6th grade students have learned two new games recently that involve throwing and rolling. The first game that students played and learned was called “Sink the Ship”. This game has multiple components and involves students throwing, blocking, and using their lower body muscles to ride scooters. The next game that students are learning is called “Roller Ball”. This game involves rolling a ball, trying to score on a goal, and using their bodies to block the ball from entering the goal area.
Thinking Ahead
Field Day Dates:
May 24th:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade: 9:30-11:30
3rd & 4th Grade: 12:30- 2:30
May 25th:
5th & 6th Grade: 9:30-11:30
Tug of War Tournament: After Lunch
Innovations: Mrs. Thompson
It’s so hard to believe spring is here and the last quarter of the school year is upon us! My first year at Eagle Heights has been a blast. It has been so fun watching your students design, create, explore, and grow.
This last quarter will be filled with programming and design. Most grade levels are working on programming or robotics in one way or another. Even kindergarteners will get a chance to program robots before the year is over. Fifth graders will be wrapping up their programming Olympics and jumping into their 3D printing unit. The fourth-grade classes are taking part in a battlebots competition in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, the weather cooperates and we can have our competition outside!
I want to continue to thank you for the donations that roll in. Anything that you are recycling and you think could be reused in a cardboard or plastic design project, feel free to send in with your student. As always, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter with #ehecreates.
Upcoming Dates
Apr. 6: National Librarian Day
Apr. 7: Late Start Wednesday: 8:50 am
Apr. 13: Incoming Kindergarten Virtual Family Night:
(Video will be emailed to all of our incoming families)
Apr. 14: Late Start Wednesday: 8:50 am
Apr. 21: Late Start Wednesday: 8:50 am
Apr. 21: Administrative Professionals Day: Mrs. Griggs and Mrs. Phipps
Apr. 26-May 7: 3-6 MAP Grade Level Testing
Apr 26: Virtual PTO: 6:30 PM
Apr. 28: Late Start Wednesday: 8:50 am
Apr. 30: FLY DAY
May 1: National Principal Day
May 3: Cafeteria Appreciation Day
May 3-7: National Teacher Appreciation Week
Eagle Heights Elementary
Email: slackre@smithville.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.smithvilleschooldistrict.net/Domain/696
Location: 18801 Eagle Parkway, Smithville, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 532-5959
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EHESWarriors/
Twitter: @EHESwarriors