The McKelvey Messenger
April 9 , 2021
Looking Ahead
4/12 - Distance Learning Day for In-person Learners
4/12 - Adventure Club Registration for 2021-22 Begins *see below
4/16 - Distance Learning Day for In-person Learners
4/18 - Last day for In-person or Virtual enrollment selection for 2021-22
A Note from Mrs. Lackey
We have some big celebrations this week and some important decisions ahead. Enjoy the articles and videos below and please reach out with any questions you have about your child's enrollment for 2021-22. We look forward to having the whole McKelvey family back together, masks on and hearts full!
Enjoy the weekend!
Kiara
#seeksilverlinings #mckproud
We Have So Much to Celebrate this Week!
Congratulations to Drew Meininger!
This Week's Famous Dragon
Kids' Heart Challenge Results
Our School Has Heart!
Through the American Heart Association and the Kids Heart Challenge, our McKelvey Dragons recently learned all about heart health and helped raise funds to protect all hearts – especially other kids’! Through fun activities, we discovered ways to take care of our hearts and brains while practicing kindness, gratitude and learning ways to de-stress. Plus, we even earned PE equipment for our school! Our school raised $10,925.61 for the AHA and our two top fundraisers were Aryansh T. (virtual) and Hannah C. (in-person). Thank you to all who participated in this awesome program!
#mckproud
Our Newest Baby Dragon
Enrollment is Open: Choose In Person or Virtual for 2021-22 School Year
- You received a district email on April 6 for each of your children in grades K-8.
- Your choice will be for the entire 2021-2022 school year.
- Enrollment closes on April 18.
- If you choose in-person learning, your child(ren) will be at McKelvey Elementary and have McKelvey teachers.
- In-person learning will return to its typical 5 days a week consistency.
- In-person learning is encouraged by district and school educators as the best option for young, developing learners.
- If you choose virtual learning, your child(ren) will attend Parkway's Virtual Campus, a stand alone, online school. They will have Parkway teachers and will be with students from a variety of Parkway schools.
- More information about Parkway Virtual Campus can be found by visiting THIS LINK.
If you have questions about the options, we are here to help. Please reach out to our main office at 314-415-6500. They will assist you and direct your call.
Nurse's Notes
Dear McKelvey Parents,
Parkway and McKelvey’s main goal continues to be the health and safety of our students. Parkway administrators are constantly following St. Louis County and CDC guidelines/recommendations and mitigating strategies in our school buildings to help prevent the spread of illnesses.
I want to share some data that shows the lack of spread of COVID-19 in the school setting. It reinforces the district’s emphasis on the importance of in-person learning for elementary students, especially those young learners in Kindergarten and 1st grade. Since October, Parkway has recorded 442 students who were COVID-19 positive. 56 of those students shared they contracted COVID-19 within Parkway. This is 12% of those that tested positive. Out of those students, 7% were in high school, 4% elementary and 1% in middle school.
To put this in perspective of students district wide:
- 17,338 current students
- 2.5% have tested positive throughout the district
- 0.32% state they contracted Covid19 within Parkway
While we have had to isolate and quarantine some students, staff, and families at McKelvey, there was no one who was found to have become positive from in school exposure at this time. It is also good to know that 70% of Parkway teachers and staff will have been vaccinated after the clinic this next Thursday and over 91% have indicated that they plan to be vaccinated when they are able to access the vaccine.
Statewide school district data page for Missouri
https://showmestrong.mo.gov/data/public-health/school-districts/
Parkway School District age 5-9 years
Covid19 cases since March 1, 2020 - 190
Covid19 cases last 14 days - 0
Parkway School District ages 10 - 14 years
Covid19 cases since March 1, 2020 - 307
Covid19 cases last 14 days - 1-10
These numbers include all school age students in Parkway’s boundaries, even those who do not attend Parkway School District from March 1, 2020.
Don’t hesitate to email or call with any questions, including after hours.
Jane Sinnott BSN, RN, NCSN
McKelvey School Nurse
314-415-6510
MAP Testing 2021
McKelvey will be administering the MAP test in grades 3-5 between April 27 and May 14. Our virtual students will be testing at McKelvey on May 3 and May 10. Important details will be sent this week.
Counselors' Corner
Hello, McKelvey Families!
Upcoming counseling lessons for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will cover the topic of test anxiety. Whether it’s the MAP test or other curriculum-based assessment, we find that many students experience some level of test anxiety and benefit from having some strategies in their toolbox. We will share some tips for parents in next week’s Messenger as well.
Please continue to contact us with questions and concerns by using the Counselor Connection Form. Some helpful resources are listed below.
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.)
Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Lescher, & Miss Kerlin
McKelvey School Counselors
Virtual Campus Parent Pointers
Connect to nature through technology
iNaturalist
Take photos of plants, fungi, and animals (or even evidence of animals such as tracks, nests, shells, or skulls) and iNaturalist can help you identify these organisms. You can also connect with other scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature. By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. iNaturalist is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. Thanks to the generous support of many organizations and individuals, it is FREE for anyone to use. iNaturalist is available on Google Play and Apple
Google Lens Similar to iNaturalist, Google Lens can identify plants and animals from a photo. You can also take a self-guided architecture tour with Google Lens. Just take a picture of a building or a landmark and you can learn more about it. If you have Google Lens, be sure to look out for the Google Lens icon with the photo. Google Lens work slightly differently between Android and Apple devices. What are you waiting for? Go out, explore, and learn more about the world around you today with technology.
Adventure Club Updates
Registration for the 2021-22 School Year - opens on Monday, April 12th. Click HERE for the flyer.
Adventure Club on Distance Learning Days - As you may know, all-day Adventure Club is available for in person learners on Distance Learning Days. Grab a spot for one or all of them by calling Adventure Club 636-891-6644. 7:00am-5:30pm (April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24)
Added Essential Care Day - April 16th has been added as an Essential Care Day available to currently enrolled students. Please call Lori Altese with questions at 314-415-6520.
Summer School 2021
For complete information about Parkway's Summer offerings for 2021, please visit the complete summer school site. Jumpstart to Kindergarten and Welcome to Middle School, Parkway's transition programming, will be held August 2-6, 2021 with registration beginning on May 1.
Family Resource Section
ATTENDANCE LINE: 314-415-6525
*report child's name, teacher, and reason for absence
CALENDARS:
Parkway 2020-2021 Academic Calendar (rev. 8/19)
K-12 In-Person Second Semester Calendar (Parkway)
Virtual ABCD Specials Rotation
In-Person ABCD Specials Rotation
HEALTH:
What to do if... Quarantine Guidance for Families
TECHNOLOGY:
Parkway's Video Resource Library
Getting Started with Chromebooks (Youtube)
More Tips and Tricks for your Chromebook (Youtube)
Welcome to Your Chromebook (Doc)
Chromebook Registration & Insurance (recommended for grades 3-11)
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