PSE Weekly Howl
Week of August 23rd!
Greetings from Stacey
We had a great few days to start off the school year. We want to thank our wonderful PTO for our staff t-shirts (still on their way) and staff meals to start the school year. We are so lucky to have such a great partnership in learning.
Thank you for your patience with the car loop. It will become faster I promise!
Also thanks to you, our parent community, for your continued and valued support and partnership. We are excited for our Zoom Back to School night next Thursday night to showcase some of the learning that will take place this year. Details are below.
We are excited for what is to come this year, but for now, we are sending home some tired kids for the weekend! I wish everyone a restful weekend; next week is a full week of learning and school!
Back to School Night (parent only event)
Back to School night is still a go for Thursday, August 26th. We will be hosting Back To School night via zoom this year. We will offer two sessions. The first session will be from 5:00-5:25, and the second will be from 5:30-5:55. You will receive a zoom link from your child's classroom teacher.
Literacy Update
In recent years, the Kansas State Department of Education and Blue Valley Schools have placed increased focus and emphasis on literacy for all students. Over the next few weeks, information on literacy will be shared through our newsletter in an effort to share with you a brief look at research on teaching students to read, our state and district’s approach to teaching reading, and new resources our teachers will utilize. This information will be shared through written communication as well as links to brief videos providing you a glimpse of literacy instruction. We hope you will watch for this information as your partnership in your child’s education is greatly appreciated.
New Resources
You may wonder why new resources were added for teaching students phonics and other essential components for reading. As we have learned more about a body of research known as the science of reading and how it informs teaching students to read, it became evident that resources with a sequential, explicit focus were needed to support the learning of all students. When considering resource options, a rigorous review process was conducted. It included input from our teachers and principals. In addition, we utilized guidance from our State Department of Education. As we implement these resources this year, we will utilize data from our universal screener in reading, Acadience, and these resources to inform our instruction for each student.
Attendance Procedures
If your child is going to be absent from school, please report the absence using one of the following ways:
- Call the absence line at (913) 239-7105
- Report the absence through your Absence Reporting ParentVue account
Arrival at PSE-PLEASE DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR in CAR LOOP!
Arrival → Doors open at 8:23 AM. Students arrive in a naturally staggered fashion anytime between 8:23 and 8:35, when class starts. Walkers will continue to use the front entrance. Bus riders will continue using the exterior door on the side of the gym. Car riders will continue entering using the front doors. As students enter the building they will go directly to their classroom.
Traffic Pattern for PSE
- Vehicles should follow the two-lane outer loop of the circle at the end of the outer loop both lanes will merge into one lane to turn back towards the school when approaching the curb for pickup.
- Pulling up as far as possible in the loading zone reduces the number of cars stuck on 143rd. Similar to last year, we will have staff directing the traffic flow for the beginning of the year to help you familiarize yourself with our traffic patterns. If every vehicle stops right by the front door/crosswalk to let out student(s), we will have a very inefficient and congested process. Please pull forward as far as you can before stopping and letting out your student.
- All students exiting vehicles need to do so on the curb/school side – do not open left-side vehicle doors, as there is exiting traffic in that area.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process.
Dismissal at PSE
Dismissal time will be staggered by a sequential order and in terms of which exit doors are used:
Car riders will remain in their classroom until they are called on the walkie, starting at 3:40 PM, when their car has arrived in the car loop. Car riders will leave out the front doors to the car loop. We will give you a car tag for you to place in your car.
- If you pick up your children on PSE property, we will radio your child out when we see you on the school grounds.
Y-Club students will be dismissed at 3:35 PM to go to the cafeteria, where Y-Club is held.
Walkers will be dismissed at 3:40 PM. They will exit the main entrance.
Bus riders will remain in their classroom until it is announced over the intercom that their bus has arrived in the bus lane. Bus riders will leave out the exterior side door in the gym.
Recess and Snack
Recess is returning to normal with all classes playing together. Masks will not be required.
Students will all have an opportunity to eat a snack during their school day. We plan for students to eat their snacks right before recess. We are hoping this will help reduce the exposure and risk for all students.
The decision on community snacks is due to our life-threatening allergy concerns. Community snacks are purchased communally by our families, who provide them for teachers. All community snacks must be pre-packaged this year; we will make sure it is on the nut safer list before the teacher's hands out the snack.
PSE PTO
Welcome back to school, Prairie Star families! Please consider joining the PTO using the link https://prairiestarpto.membershiptoolkit.com/home. Here you will find our school directory, PTO calendar, volunteer opportunities, spirit wear information, and lots more! In addition, join our PSE PTO Families private group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/PSEPTO.
The PTO has lots of open board positions this year, and we’d love for families new and old to get involved! Check out the list on the website and reach out to Christine Bowen christinea_22@yahoo.com or Lindsay Osterhaus osterhaus10@gmail.com with any questions. https://prairiestarpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/72014
Your board was hard at work over the summer with our Green Thumb committee cleaning up the school landscape, our Teacher Appreciation committee welcoming back our amazing PSE staff with a coffee/donut truck as well as a catered lunch, and of course our Website guru getting everything up and running for us to kick off the year. Thank you to all our volunteers! We look forward to another exciting year at Prairie Star Elementary
Helpful Information
Bus Information
If you wish for your child to be a bus rider, please visit the bus website to sign them up:
You can also sign up for text messaging for alerts for your student's bus.
Lunch Information
Lunch menus can be found online here: Lunch menus.
You can also download the Nutrislice app for easy access to daily/weekly menus.
YMCA
As a service to our Blue Valley Families, the YMCA offers before and after-school Y-Club programming at each Blue Valley Elementary School. Please enroll now to reserve your students a spot in this program. More information can be found in the attached letter or online.
Nut Safer Information
Blue Valley School’s Nut Safer Guidelines will be implemented throughout the school year for daily snacks.
· Classroom snacks must be from the Nut Safer list.
· Nut Safer seating is available in the café during lunch
The complete list of Nut Safer foods and BV Guidelines can be found here: Nut Safer Guidelines
Launching Canvas 2021
Attn BV families! Need a refresher on @CanvasLMS, our learning management system for grades K-12, or looking to set up a new account? We’ve got you covered! Check out how to access or set up your Canvas Observer account as a parent or review this Canvas Parent/Guardian Orientation. Remember, Canvas courses won’t appear until teachers publish them after the school year has started.
ClassLink Update:
Welcome back! The Blue Valley School District will now be utilizing ClassLink as our single sign-on website for students and staff to access many of their online school resources. It includes links to online textbooks, websites, and apps. It is also a password locker for these resources. Lastly, ClassLink allows students and teachers to access their cloud storage drives and school network drives from anywhere in the world. Students can access ClassLink by clicking here.
Key takeaways:
ClassLink will be available for all K-12 teachers and students.
Video guides and resources can be accessed on the Student HUB.
Students access all of their textbook resources through ClassLink or Canvas utilizing either the ClassLink App, a ClassLink Password Locker, or an LTI in Canvas.
Support Trouble with your specific textbook/resource reach out to your teacher for help. Training and Resources Student/Family Training Videos are found in the Student HUB Things to Note There are three options for how to access your textbook and curricular resources. ClassLink App: Resources utilizing a ClassLink App can be accessed directly from ClassLink. Teachers may use a direct link in Canvas to have students access resources that utilize the ClassLink App. ClassLink Password Locker: For resources utilizing a ClassLink Password Locker, students will need to add their login information ONE TIME in ClassLink and will then be able to click on the app to be directed to the resource. Canvas LTI: Resources that utilize a LTI in Canvas may not be available in ClassLink. Students should access these resources directly from Canvas. ClassLink App + Canvas LTI: Though there are three options for how to access our textbook and curricular resources please note there are some resources that can be accessed through both a ClassLink App and a Canvas LTI.
PSE PTO Fundraiser Nights
September 22 - Chipotle
October 28 - Papa John's
December 8 - Panera
Apply to join our BV support team and make a difference in your community
The Blue Valley School District is actively seeking applications for new members of our support team:
- Paraeducators: starting rates from $13.68 - 14.65/hr. depending on the position.
- Custodians: starting rates from $14.16 - $15.69/ hr. depending on the position.
- Food Service: starting rates from $12.77 - $15.16/hr. depending on position.
- Grounds Crew: starting rates at $15.69/hr.
These positions offer flexible schedules, benefits, and retirement plans. Applicants actively employed by September 1, 2021, in these positions will also receive up to a $700 bonus.
If you are looking to make a positive impact in your community and in the lives of our children, we encourage you to apply for one of these support opportunities in the district, or share this information with someone you think would be a good fit to join our team. For more information and to apply for school-level openings, visit the Blue Valley employment website.
Important Dates:
AUGUST
26-Back to School Night (PARENTS ONLY)
SEPTEMBER
2-PTO Board Meeting- 8:30 am
6-No School
7-Professional Learning Day-No school for students
9-Justice Grove Picnic
13-Picture Day
17-Wolf Walk-PSE specialist will help run
21/22-Book Fair
29/30-Parent-Teacher Conferences-