The McKelvey Messenger
September 18, 2020
Looking Ahead
9/21-10/2 Parent/Teacher Conferences (late night 10/1)
9/22 Dairy Queen Fundraiser 4pm-8pm
9/23 Deadline to Complete Parent Survey for Virtual vs. In-Person Learning
9/24 Curbside Library Book Pick-up 4pm-6pm
9/24 PAMEE (Parents Advocating for Multicultural Excellence in Education) meeting 6pm-7:30pm
9/25 School Materials Refresh - books, art paper, etc. 8am-6pm
A Note from Your Principal
It was wonderful to see so many people in attendance at last night's PTO meeting. If you are new to the community like I am, I hope you got a taste of the heartfelt support and encouragement our PTO provides for teachers and administrators, as well as their dedication to pouring into the community for the sake of our students. It is truly amazing!
As we are nearing the halfway point of 1st quarter all distance learning, we continue to celebrate the hard work of McKelvey students, teachers, and families! We know this is difficult and not what school is meant to be, but we applaud your efforts to remain positive for the sake of your children. I truly believe the lessons we are teaching them about patience, flexibility, and resilience will carry them farther than we can even imagine.
Parent Survey: Yesterday you received the parent survey that will be critically important to our planning as we prepare for 2nd quarter. We are greatly encouraged by Parkway's Community Health Dashboard and the hope for returning to school in person. As I discussed at last night's PTO meeting, we encourage you to make your decision based on the most important factors of family health, your work and livelihood, and how well your children have personally adapted to virtual learning. How well are you able to juggle the demands of your children's day? Are your children actively engaging in all aspects of the day? Are they motivated to learn and doing their work? Regardless of your choice, teachers, counselors, and the entire school team will continue to support every child.
Preparing for Possible Transition: We realize it's difficult to hear about potential changes among teachers. It is difficult for our teachers, too. They are already devoted to your children, and that will not be lost in all of this! Whatever the results, we will adapt, adjust, and continue to seek silver linings. You may already be noticing ways teachers are building in time for students to interact with one another. Kindergarten added a virtual centers times, and some older classes have added time to socialize in breakout rooms or cross-teacher community circles. As first quarter continues, with the biggest technology challenges behind us, you will see added opportunities for students and teachers to get to know each other across the grade level. I can't wait to see the creative ways teachers make this happen for kids!
As you determine what is best for your family, there is a wealth of helpful information in the Plans for Second Quarter email to support you. If you have specific questions for me, please feel free to call or email any time. I wish you a relaxing weekend - it's going to be beautiful!
Kiara
#seeksilverlinings #mckproud
Counselors' Corner
Hi McKelvey families,
Here are some tips on helping your child be a successful online learner, including strategies for focus and motivation! Please reach out to your grade level counselor if we can help in any way.
Resources:
Emergency Resources:
911
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Behavioral Health Response Crisis Line: 1-800-811-4760
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery: 314-768-3201
Salvation Army: 211 (mortgage, utility bills, clothing, medication bills, etc.)
Have a joyful weekend!
McKelvey School Counselors
PTO Reminders!
Access the full PTO Newsletter HERE! Some important dates are listed below. *If you still have a Kindergarten yard sign, please return it during next week's supply refresh pick-up.
DQ(Takeout) Fundraiser - September 22th 4-8pm
Spritwear Online Orders Close - September 25th
PTO Virtual Scavenger Hunt - September 28th 6:30pm
Round 2 of McKelvey's Drive-Thru Library!
IMPORTANT: School Materials Refresh Next Friday September 25th from 8:00am-6:00pm
Playgrounds and Facilities are Still Closed
SAVE THE DATE!!!!
Tuesday, Sep 22, 2020, 04:00 PM
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO, USA
About Us
Email: klackey@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/mckelvey
Location: Maryland Heights, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 415-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckelveyelementaryschool
Twitter: @McKelveydragons