PRE Newsletter

January 13, 2023

Important Dates

January 16 No School--MLK Jr. Day

January 17 PTO Restaurant Fundraiser (see flyer below)

January 18 Chess Club Session 2 @ 8:00 AM

January 20 PTO Bingo Night (see flyer below)

January 25 Chess Club Session 1 @ 8:00 AM

January 26 Skate Party

January 31 Deadline to Order PRE Spiritwear

February 1 Chess Club Session 2

February 7 Community Service Event (more information coming soon!)

February 8 Chess Club Session 1

February 15 Half day with dismissal @ 12:10 PM, NO CHESS CLUB

February 15-16 Parent/Teacher Conferences

February 16-17 No School Due to Parent/Teacher Conferences

February 20 No School Presidents' Day

February 22 Chess Club Session 2

February 23 2nd Grade Music Program @ 6:30 PM

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place February 15th-16th, 2023. Conferences are in person. If you are unable to attend your student's conference in person, please contact their classroom teacher via email. Sign ups will close 48 hours before conferences start to minimize last minute changes for the teacher. Contact the school office if you have any questions 913-667-1800.


The following link is for conference sign-ups: Spring Conference Signups


If you have questions, please reach out. We look forward to discussing your child’s progress with you.

Making a Difference Award

Please join us in congratulating Christina Russell, a gifted facilitator for USD 232, for being recognized as the USD 232 Making a Difference Award winner for the month December.


A fellow staff member, who valued her recent efforts in working proactively with the community to improve the gifted educational program, nominated her for this award and shared this in their submission:

“Chrissy coordinated an academic triathlon for all students identified as gifted in a three-district area. Her work in putting this on was tireless, and the students who benefitted were paired with those they didn't know and on their same cognitive level -- so it was challenging! Even high school students throughout the USD232 district identified as gifted, who chose to, participated as judges and worked to promote student engagement.”


Congrats Chrissy!!


The USD 232 Education Foundation is currently accepting nominations for the Making a Difference Award for the month of January. Submit your nomination of any USD 232 staff member today! > https://bit.ly/USD232MAD

USD 232 Preschool Enrollment for the 2023-2024 School Year!

USD 232 offers high quality preschool programs for children, ages 3 to 5, that are not yet kindergarten eligible. All programs are half-day, hold low student to adult ratios and use research-based curriculums tied to the Kansas Early Learning Standards. Preschool programs are located in the NEW Cedar Trails Exploration Center at the corner of Mize Blvd & 83rd St., next to Mill Creek Middle School. Grant funded (FREE) preschool spots are available for students who qualify. Transportation (busing) will also be available for grant funded spots and special education services (as determined by IEP team).


Preschool Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year begins on February 13, 2023. On that date, an online application will be available on the USD 232 Early Childhood website at https://www.usd232.org/Page/9209. Paper applications are also available within Cedar Trails Exploration Center (Lenexa, KS) and Starside Elementary (De Soto, KS) offices. All applications must be submitted to the Cedar Trails Office by March 3, 2023 at 4pm, to be considered within the first round of enrollment.


For more information, please visit https://www.usd232.org/Page/8960

Contact the Cedar Trails Office at 913-667-1820 with questions.

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Community Service

A HUGE THANKS to the community service leadership students (Ethan Bauer, Bryn Brueggemann, Isabel Carroll, Ella Repp, Wyatt Crowe, Harper Wichmann, Ryleigh Bonewitz, Addi Fulps, Genevieve Sams, Bennett Gower, Ella Schwarz) for organizing the first half of the year with some really impactful work in our community! We have served the following organizations so far: KC Pet Project, Sunflower House, and Shawnee Community Services


We are looking forward to the activities they will be planning for us in Feb, March, and April as well.


On Monday January 16th we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. We encourage families to find a way to serve together. It can be as simple as a helping a neighbor or cleaning a park.


Here are a few sites to help you find a way to give back in your community.

MLK Day celebrations, service events around Kansas City 2023 | The Kansas City Star

Volunteer on MLK Day at the Y | Kansas City YMCA

#MLK Day of Service Building Homes for Emerging Adults Aging Out of Foster Care - Lawrence, KS | VolunteerMatch

Volunteer Opportunities - Harvesters

Bingo Night

Bingo Night is back!! Come join us Friday, January 20th from 6-8 PM for a fun night of bingo games, prizes, and pizza! Attendance is FREE. Pizza and drinks will be available for purchase.


Please RSVP for PRE PTO's FREE BINGO NIGHT. By RSVPing you'll help us get a better count for pizza, drinks, and prizes. Thank you!

Pizza will be $1.00 per slice

Pop will be $1.00 per can

Water will be 50¢ per bottle

RSVP Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4DAFA828AA8-20231

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BINGO NIGHT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Please sign up to help at Prairie Ridge PTO Bingo Night on Friday, January 20th. We are looking for help with set-up, during the event and clean up.


We also need a lot of goodies. Equal opportunity sweets... store-bought or homemade are great! PEANUT/NUT FREE cookies, brownies and bars. Disposable containers are preferred. Please label anything you'd like back and deliver to PRE by Friday, January 20th at 4:30 PM.


Volunteer Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4dafa828aa8-2023#/

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Kindergarten Round-up

It is time for us to start preparing for our incoming 2023-24 kindergarten students. Kindergarten Round-up is scheduled for March 2 at 6:00 PM. If you will have a child starting kindergarten next year, or if you know of a neighbor or friend who has a child who will be attending, please fill out this form so that we can prepare for round-up.


Kindergarten Roundup Information Sign Up

PRE Spiritwear

Show your Prairie Ridge Cougar Pride! Our 2023 Spirit Wear is on sale now. The online store makes it convenient to shop: https://prewinterstore.itemorder.com/shop/home/ The deadline to order is January 31st.
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First Student Is Hiring!

First Student (school bussing) is hiring! Please view this link (https://www.usd232.org/Page/4947) that will take you to the district website with additional information. Pay is $20.50/hr.
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Golden Spoon Winners

Congratulations to our award winning classes for showing great lunchroom behavior!


K-Peterson

1-Allison

2-Vaughan

3-Mulder

4-Sudac

5-Vest

Double Diamond

The Double Diamond Award is given out every Friday to two classes (one K-2 and one 3-5) that have exemplified specific expectations during their specials classes. Specials teachers have explained what students need to do in order to earn this award.


•Listen AND follow teacher directions

•Only talking during appropriate times

•Use an inside voice when working

•Show RESPECT to everyone and to property

•Enter and Exit the classroom appropriately

•Give YOUR personal best effort during class


Mrs. Goodman's 1st grade class and Ms. Maybell's 5th grade class won the Double Diamond Award this week. Congratulations!!!

Students of the Week

Congratulations to our students of the week! Signs will be distributed next week. If you do not have a yard sign by Friday evening, please let us know! Signs will be picked up the following week.


Linley Beggs

Camila Fuentes

Crew Depperschmidt

Addison Clyne

Josie Brown

Ellie Tavis

Maya Svitak

Maci Devine

William Sollars

Aniston O'Donnell

Maren Gower

Amelia Easter

Klaus Stephensen

Stueve Bullard

Hadley Prater

Lyla Janak

Parker Krier

Ben Hoover

Alex Lloyd

Austin Taylor

Eve Sams

Santana Dickerson

Harrison McWilliams

Cleanest Classroom Golden Broom Winners

The Lead Custodian and his team observe cleanliness throughout the week in classrooms and adjoining restrooms. There is one winning classroom at each grade level.


K- Robertson rm303

1st- Allison rm405

2nd- Vaughan rm401

3rd- Grayson rm604

4th- Sudac rm605

5th- Vest rm702


Congratulations!

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Electronic Flyer

Interested in clinics/camps/extra-curricular activities? Check out our electronic flyer web page!