Prairie Point Express
Family Newsletter
March 11, 2021
School Address: 8101 NW Belvidere Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64152
School Hours: 8:15 am - 3:05 pm
School Phone: 816-359-4380
Principal: Dr. Danny Todtfeld
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Sarah McQuinn
Counselor: Mrs. Ally Swisher
Upcoming Dates
Monday, March 15
- Read A Thon Begins
Thursday, March 18
- DISTANCE LEARNING DAY - School will take place online - 9:00 AM - 3:40 PM
Thursday, March 25
- Read A Thon Ends
- End of 3rd Quarter
Friday, March 26
- No School for Students - Teacher Work Day
Monday, March 29 - Friday, April 2
- No School - Spring Break
Monday, April 5
- Summer School Enrollment opens via Infinite Campus Parent Portal
- Park Hill Online Academy Enrollment opens
Friday, April 9
- DISTANCE LEARNING DAY - School will take place online - 9:00 AM - 3:40 PM
- 3rd Quarter Grade Cards Available to Parents
Tuesday, April 13
- PTA Meeting - 6:30 pm - Via Zoom
PTA Read A Thon
Thank you for your pledges/donations for our Read A Thon! If you didn't get your pledge sheet turned in today we will still collect them on Monday. We appreciate your support!
Here is a look at how the Read A Thon will run:
Monday, March 15
- The first official day of the Read A Thon and March Madness Book Tournament!
- Turn in any late pledge sheets to the office
- Reading logs are sent home
Saturday, March 20 - Thursday, March 24
- Check out the PTA's Facebook Page for Read A Thon Facebook Bingo!
Thursday, March 24
- Please make sure that all reading logs have been turned in by the end of the day today. Emails will be sent out with the total # of minutes read within the next week. Thank you for supporting your PTA!
Updated Plans for Vaccination Days
In order to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to every Park Hill employee who wants it as soon as we can, with as little disruption as possible to our families, we have changed our plans for our vaccination days.
The Platte County Health Department will provide closed vaccination clinics just for Park Hill staff, administering the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, March 18 and the second dose on Friday, April 9.
We have all the details for both families and staff on our website, including a video explaining the information.
Park Hill Online Academy Enrollment
The enrollment window for the Park Hill Online Academy for the 2021-2022 school year is approaching:
- High school: March 15-26
- Middle school: April 5-16
- Elementary: April 5-16
For more information, please visit the district office webpage here. Please continue to check the Prairie Point Express for more information about how to sign up.
Countdown to Kindergarten
Children who turn five on or before July 31 are eligible for kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have a child who will start kindergarten in Park Hill this August, we have a checklist for you to prepare for blast-off. If you have a neighbor with an incoming kindergarten student, please share this information. Beginning April 5, you can enroll your child in your assigned school. After you enroll, mark your calendar for the Kindergarten Kickoff event on May 6. Remember, the first day of school is August 23. Please check out our district website for more details.
Specials Spotlight with Ms. Pierick
Special Spring Break Frozen Meal Opportunity
All district and area parents will have the opportunity to order bulk frozen meals that will provide 10 days of breakfast and lunch over Spring Break AT NO CHARGE. This special option is available for all students - in person, hybrid, and online - as well as non-school age and area children.
Please order based on the number of children/students in your household (0-18) at https://forms.gle/yq8DBeKQKsjnRxum7
Orders must be placed by 7:30 am on Tuesday, March 23.
Meal pick up is March 24th from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm at Park Hill Support Services Center, 9501 N Seymour, Kansas City, MO 64153.
Questions? 816-359-4090
PBIS Contests Coming Soon!
What is PBIS?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based three-tiered framework for improving and integrating all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day. It is a way to support everyone to create the kinds of schools where all students are successful. Prairie Point has been working all year to update our processes as we are becoming a PBIS School! We have started many aspects of PBIS this year and are looking forward to learning more.
Tell me more about these contests...
CONTEST DATES: Students, staff, and families may enter their drawings and pledges from April 9 - April 30. The winners will be announced on Friday, May 21st!
CONTEST #1: We are needing to redesign our SOAR Slips to PRIDE POINTS! After spring break, we will have a drawing/graphic design contest.
CONTEST #2: We are needing to come up with a new school pledge that incorporates our new school rules -
Proud Pioneers are Expected to:
Be Safe
Be Kind
Be Responsible
And Do Their Best Everyday!
Please continue to check the Express after spring break for where to submit your entries!
GOOD LUCK PIONEERS! HAPPY CREATING!
A Note from Mrs. Swisher
March School Counselor lessons will focus on Child Protection and Safety. Students will learn general ways to stay safe with a focus on safe and unsafe touches. If you would like to know more about these lessons, please contact Mrs. Swisher via phone or email, or view them on the Park Hill Counselor Curriculum webpage under Child Protection Units.
You can also use the code below to log into Secondstep.org and view the lesson materials.
· Kindergarten - SecondStep.org activation key CPUK FAMI LYGK
· 1st Grade - SecondStep.org activation key CPU1 FAMI LYG1
· 2nd Grade - SecondStep.org activation key CPU2 FAMI LYG2
· 3rd Grade - SecondStep.org activation key CPU3 FAMI LYG3
· 4th Grade - SecondStep.org Activation Key: CPU4 FAMI LYG4
· 5th Grade - SecondStep.org Activation Key: CPU5 FAMI LYG5
Free Eye Exams
Executive Functioning Skills
Tips and Tricks from Mrs. Baker - SPED Teacher at PPE
“Executive functioning (EF) skills are the abilities in our brain that help us complete everyday tasks. These skills include planning, organization, time management, metacognition, working memory, self-control, attention, flexibility, and perseverance. Sometimes, it’s helpful to think of executive functions like an air traffic controller in our brains. The EF center is assigning tasks to each of the different skills. For example, it tells us to focus and really listen while someone is talking (attention), while reminding us to get started when we have an assignment due at the end of class (task initiation). All of these skills work together to make sure we are working efficiently and effectively while completing daily tasks. Each skill plays an important role in helping to accomplish both daily responsibilities and long-term goals.”
Like any other skill, executive functioning skills need to be taught explicitly and practiced. Here are some great websites to visit:
Task initiation- https://www.thepathway2success.com/interventions-for-executive-functioning-challenges-task-initiation/
Staying on task- https://www.pbisworld.com/tier-1/interventions-by-behavior/off-task-non-disruptive/
Attention/focus in lessons-https://www.thepathway2success.com/interventions-for-executive-functioning-challenges-attention/
Reminders from Nurse Fennelly
If your child wakes up not feeling well, please do not send them on the bus or drop them at school until you speak with our school nurse, Terri Fennelly. You can reach the front office by calling 359-4380. Nurse Terri's direct line is 359-4384.
Remember, all members of our Park Hill family will follow these guidelines to screen for symptoms of COVID-19, and must stay home if ill. A list of symptoms to screen for can be found below.
- Fever
- Cough
- Rash
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Lack of appetite
- Loss of taste or smell
Sophie's Run
Sophie’s Run will happen this year! This will be our 11th year!
We hope you will consider joining us.
The race will be on May 8th at Lake Waukomis or you may choose to participate virtually!
Here is the link to Register for the race. This year’s shirt is a beautiful purple, register to get one!
Here’s a little background information on Sophie’s Run.
The Edwards family and the board of directors put on this run each year in memory of their daughter, Sophie Edwards. Sophie needed a communication device because she could only communicate through her eyes. The family finally found an eye-gaze computer that Sophie could operate, but it took months to locate the sources to fund the $17,000 device. The device arrived in the mail just after Sophie's funeral.
The goal of Sophie’s Run is to never see a child wait to communicate. The event funds devices for our assistive technology library and individual students. Since communication doesn't stop when children leave school, the Edwards family hopes to assist families who want a device to create seamless communication from home to school and back again.
The Park Hill community is lucky to have such an organization willing to contribute to changing lives in the district. The support for this run and what it provides is crucial to giving every student a voice. Over the last 10 years, the need for assistive technology among our student population has skyrocketed. With your ongoing support, hundreds of devices have been made available to students who otherwise would not have been able to afford them. Please consider joining us for a day of fun and putting together a team.
Over 100 students have benefited from Sophie’s Run and this isn’t possible with your generous participation and donations, we do thank you!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter; Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis
Thank you from the Sophie’s Run Board
Rebecca Hart
Tara Wineinger
Elisa Parker
Kristen Ponce
Janet Culver
Colleen Manly
Jessica Rueda
Alyssa Edward
Jim and Theresa Edwards
Summer School Is Coming!
We are excited to announce that Prairie Point will be hosting summer school! We look forward to spending a month together this summer. At this time, Summer School will be completely in-person.
- Dates: June 7 - July 2, 2021 (Monday-Friday)
- Location: Prairie Point Elementary (includes Hawthorn Elementary)
- Times: 8:40am-3:40pm
- Enrollment: Enroll via Infinite Campus, April 5-May 7
PTA Mystery Reader
You have the opportunity to be a Mystery Reader for your child's classroom! Please use this Sign Up Genius to choose a date in February or March to be a Mystery Reader via Zoom.
Once you sign up, each teacher will reach out to you directly for 5 clues about yourself as well as what book you'd like to read. The kids will love guessing all week long who they think the Mystery Reader will be!
Thanks in advance for your time and for promoting our home-school connection.
-Prairie Point PTA
March Curriculum Connections
Here are your Curriculum Connections for March!
ELA-March
Math-March
Social Studies/Science- March
Birthday Treat Reminders
March Habit
Repeat: Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits
Even though meals are free this year, this form also helps us get needed funding for district services for students. And if you are signed up this year, you won't have a gap in services at the beginning of the next school year.
If you qualify for free or reduced-price meals, you are eligible for additional discounts on things like health care, college application fees, athletics, AP class fees, and fees for the SAT and ACT tests. For more information, click here.
Repeat: Do You Know A Park Hill Star?
The Park Hill Star recognition program was started in 2015 to celebrate support staff and teachers whose work is especially noteworthy.
The following is an overview of the Park Hill Star Program:
Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students.
That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher and a support employee.
REPEAT: E-Backpack (Electronic Fliers)
Currently in the E-Backpack:
- Fliers for Online Clubs hosted by Community Education
- Party Flier (Ordering Birthday Treats through Food Service)
- Yearbook Order Form
- Directory Invite to Families
Repeat: Technology Use at Home
Here are some general guidelines and best practices for laptop use at home.
Thank you for your support. If you have any technology issues or questions, please contact the Help Desk Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 816-359-5000.
Our 5 Pillars of Prevention
Please take some time to learn about Prairie Point's Health and Safety Precautions. Click here to access our matrix and other health information.
Prairie Point Mission
Our Vision
Prairie Point Elementary School provides all children with a safe, caring educational environment that focuses on high expectations and promotes lifelong learning.
Our Mission
To create a safe and caring student centered environment, to empower students to be independent learners, problem solver, and responsible citizens in the 21st Century.
At Prairie Point School, we value:
- Keeping the focus on the student
- Continuous learning and professional growth
- Warm, caring, open-minded environment
- High expectations for all students and adults
- Team work and collaboration
- Empathetic approach with our actions.