Southside Announcements
And Event Calendar for the Week of August 20, 2018
Weekly Reminders
- Friday, August 24th: Pastries with Parents and Guardians 7:30AM-8:15AM (see info below)
- All School Paperwork is due back!
Pastries With Parents and Guardians on Friday, August 24th!
Smart, Strong and Selfless: A Message from Principal Pfaff
Dear Families,
It has been so wonderful watching and learning about your child throughout these past eleven days of school. When I became the principal, one of my first goals was to ensure there was a vision that the parents, staff, and students of Southside could rally around each and every day. Our “Smart, Strong, Selfless” vision really pushes each of us - but most importantly your children - need to be the best people we can be both inside and outside of the classroom.
Not only is it my goal for our school to be “Smart, Strong, Selfless,” but I also want to create the safest and most productive learning environment possible. Doing so will require a few changes to how some things have been done prior, but I can assure you that it is solely with the goal of ensuring high levels of learning for every student we serve here at Southside. We want this building to be an oasis where students feel empowered to learn, grow, and maximize their potential without distraction and with their eyes firmly focused on the dreams they have for their future.
A few areas where we want to put our focus over the coming days includes:
➢ Carpool: Everyone is doing a fantastic job of pulling up to the cones both in the morning and in the afternoons, and we are getting increasingly more efficient with carpool each day. Again, thank you for being patient as we ensure all students are making their way to the correct place for dismissal. I do want to emphasize that every child needs to be dropped off in the carpool line, and if you would like to walk your child to the front doors, please be sure to park in our main parking lot avoiding the handicap spots unless you have the appropriate tag.. For your child’s safety, please do not pull into the parking lot and let your child out of the car by him/herself. Regardless of their maturity level, that creates a very risky situation for your child, other children, and the drivers.
➢ Walking Students Into the Building: I really enjoy having the opportunity to interact with each of you as you drop your children off at the front doors each morning. My husband actually makes a similar trek walking with my son every day at his school. We do ask, however, that you help us by - similar to carpool - transitioning the students to school at the front door. There are really two reasons for this. The primary reason is we want to help your child develop their own sense of independence and empowerment. While this can be a little uncomfortable at first - for parent and child - our teachers have their smiles ready and are waiting to greet your child each morning to help them get off to a great start! Should you have questions or concerns for the teachers, we absolutely want you to reach out to them, but the morning is typically not the best time. We want to make sure our teachers are able to ensure your conversations are both confidential and complete, and that is challenging as they have their attention split between you and the other students in the room.. Additionally, for safety reasons, on school days we need to sign all visitors in and out of the building which with 400+ kids can get quite hectic for our front desk staff at the start of each school day as there are many other things happening then for them then as well. And our teachers then also have to monitor the other adults in the building as well at the same time, which makes it more challenging for them to attend to their primary focus, the students.
➢ Meeting Your Child For Lunch: Parents, family members, etc. are certainly welcome to have lunch with your child! Again for safety reasons, when meeting your child for lunch, please sign in at the office and then meet his/her class at the cafeteria. Once lunch is over, please give your child a hug and/or kiss as he/she exits the cafeteria so that he/she can transition to the next planned lesson or activity with the classroom teacher.
Finally, be sure to check out the invitation on Smore for a “Meet and Greet” with myself, Kimberly Kinnison our Assistant Principal, and Dianne Lloyd, our School Counselor. We’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you, but look forward to meeting everyone else as well.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Shannon Pfaff
Principal
A Note to our Southside Families from James Powell
Dear Southside Families and Staff,
For those of you who do not know me, my name is James Powell. I am a lunchroom monitor here at Southside, as well as a bus driver for our school district. Recently, I was promoted to being a school bus driver trainer. This new position is a great opportunity for me to serve our district as I am very passionate about school bus safety.
However, this new position will lead me away from working in the cafeteria at Southside. My last day will be Friday, August 31st. It has been an honor to serve at the elementary school that I attended as a child. Many of the values I learned as a student at Southside have molded me into the person I am today. While this was a hard decision to make, it was what is in the best interest of our district as well as me personally. I do plan to volunteer on a weekly basis, as well as participate in the usual events at Southside. There will be no changes to my bus route either. I will still be apart of Southside and visible to students, staff, and parents. It just won't be in the cafeteria position. Please know that I have enjoyed working with the students here at Southside. They have a special place in my heart and I appreciate knowing every single one of them.
Please feel free to keep in contact with me. My district email is james.powell@shelby.kyschools.us.
Thank you for allowing these children to be apart of my life. They are a blessing to me.
Sincerely,
James Powell
Chrome Books are rolling out!
If you have questions about student usage, fees associated with the chrome book or general technology questions please call Southside at 502-633-4460.
The Square Cares 5K Community Event
On Saturday, August 25th from 8 AM to 12 PM, the businesses/organizations of Governor's Square will host a fall festival and 5k fun run to support our Shelby County FRYSCs! We would love for you to bring your family to this fun and free event located in the parking lot of Norton Children's Medical Associates in Governor's Square. We'll have games, free brunch served at 10 AM, a family fun run ($25 per person or $35 for an immediate family up to six members), a bounce house, and plenty of fun!
If you would like to financially support the FRYSCs, consider signing yourself and/or your family up to participate in the 5K! Two winners will receive a six-month membership to Anytime Fitness and a free teeth whitening from Dr. Coleman, both located in Governor's Square. You can learn more about this event at https://www.loveshelbyville.com/squarecares
We hope to see you there!
Beth Cathcart, Southside FRC
Southside Family Resource Center seeking to fill Advisory Council positions!
The Advisory Council meets on the last Friday of each month from 11:30AM-12:15PM. If you sit on the council attendance at the meetings is mandatory as outlined by the FRYSC State of KY Grant. This is a year long commitment however lunch is provided!
If you are interested in this opportunity please email or call Beth Cathcart, Southside FRC at: mailto:beth.cathcart@shelby.kyschools.us or 502-633-6082.
Tiger Trot and Tailgate @ Collins
- Check in for our students that would like to participate will start at 5:30PM. The Tiger Trot for our K-2nd students will start at 6:00PM and 3rd-5th graders will start after the completion of the K-2nd grade race.
- The K-2nd Graders can skip, jump, walk, run or hop for approximately 1/2 mile on the Collins Cross Country Course and the 3rd-5th Graders can skip, jump, walk, run or hop approximately 1 mile on the Collins Cross Country Course.
- After the Tiger Trot stay and tailgate in style at the Southside tents! Southside will be providing hot dogs and you bring your sides! At 7:00PM support the Titan Football Team as they take the field for their home game!
- Each student that wears a jersey will receive FREE admission to the football game. Adults and those students not wearing a jersey will need to purchase a ticket.
Registration for this event will be coming home with your student. If you would like to register online you may do so here: https://goo.gl/forms/Z7mj0GzNIgpnQVDD2
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL SCPS CAMPUSES ARE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND DRUG FREE.
Southside Volunteer Infomation
Thank you,
Beth Cathcart, Southside FRC @ mailto:beth.cathcart@shelby.kyschools.us
502-633-6082
Southside Save the Date!
August 24th: Pastries with Parents and Guardians 7:30AM-8:15AM
August 29th: Progress Reports Come Home
August 31st: Southside FRC Advisory Council 11:30AM
September 3rd: No School (Holiday)
September 5th: 5th Grade Field Trip to BizTown (school day)
September 7th: Tiger Trot and Tailgate @ Collins HS 5:30PM
September 10th-14th: Southside Book Fair
September 13th: Southside Picture Day
September 13th: SBDM @ 4:00PM