Community Nest

A GREAT FIRST WEEK!

It was the end of OUR first week together and it has been amazing to hear the laughter and connection going on throughout the day in the different classrooms!

Dismissal was a HUGE SUCCESS! This is the first time in three years that we have gotten dismissal down to 10 MINUTES in the first week. OUR staff begin calling students out to vehicles at 3:45 and OUR last car rolled out at 3:55 on Friday! Thank you so much for trusting the process and being a part of the solution!

Please remember that we do ask that you NOT park in the side lot and walk up to pick up your child. If you are in a vehicle, please go through the car line. Also, if your child is walking home from school, please wait in the designated areas on the North Lawn and the South Lawn (closest to the cross walk). Staff will escort the students to you. Again, these procedures are in place because it gives us a bit more control of foot traffic and who is close to the building at dismissal. These procedures are in place for the safety and security of OUR students.Thank you for your understanding. Please check out the information you need to know below.

DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Kansas is now available for ALL Kansas Children birth to age 5. All children in Kansas are eligible to enroll and participate. Please click on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library logo below to enroll.

This program will provide a FREE BOOK each month for all registered children meaning the foundation could provide one free book for each month of your child's life from birth to 5. That is 60 books!

Please do not pass up this opportunity to instill the joy of books in your child's life!

Request for NEW FAMILY PICTURES

You will notice our FAMILY sign in the activity hallway when you are in the building. Each year, we ask new families to email one family picture to Dr. Springer at dspringer@usd458.org. Dr. Springer will place it on the Family Wall.

OUR FAMILIES are why we are here and we want to celebrate you. If you are not new to GRAY HAWK but you never turned in a picture, please do so.

Attendance Matters

IF you remember last week, I talked about how we are targeting attendance this year. While OUR attendance board in the lobby is still under construction, we are keeping the data and will report it each week as a way of tracking out data and helping to hold all of us accountable for our goal of 96% attendance (preferably higher) for the 23/24 school year.

I also wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciate everyone making a concerted effort to be here on time. We had VERY FEW tardies last week which also helps keep us on track. As a reminder, our doors open at 8:35 am. This is the time for our students to enter the building, pick up breakfast if they choose to, and get into their classroom. The bell rings at 8:45 am and teachers are beginning their community meetings every day AT this time. When a student is tardy, they are missing out on being a part of building their positive classroom community.

Thank you for making attendance a priority for OUR GRAY HAWKS!

What Kids Need Most by Dr. Gabor Mate

I have become intrigued by Dr. Gabor Mate's work lately. Dr. Mate is a physician dealing with trauma, adversity, stress, and child development and I shared this video last year. I like it so much, that I wanted to share it again. Please click on the picture below to check it out and share any feedback or thoughts you might have after viewing it here.

(If the video link is not appearing, please copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPGYMwnuihw&t=3s

PTO MUM Fundraiser

Mum Fundraiser is LIVE! Place your orders: https://grayhawkpto458.square.site/

Paper order forms will also be coming home with students soon. We encourage you to sell to family, friends and neighbors!

If you have any questions, please email us at grayhawkpto458@gmail.com or message us! Thank you for all of your support for OUR Gray Hawks!

GRAY HAWK & BOBCAT SPIRIT WEAR ORDERS

Please check out our store for the 23/24 school spirit wear orders. A QR code is being sent home with students but I wanted to have it in the Community Nest as well. Thank you for Morgan Brown for organizing these great designs.

THE DEADLINE TO ORDER IS AUGUST 31, 2023! Please get your order in as we are unable to take orders after the deadline.

23/24 SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR STORE