Sycamore Hills Cougars
Every Cougar GROWS, CONNECTS, and COUNTS!
A Note from Dr. Drinkard
Sycamore Hills Families,
It's hard to believe that May is here! This month brings many events that bring closure to an amazing school year, including field trips, the school picnic, field day, the talent show, and yearbook signing. Check the calendar below for specific dates and times. While these events bring a lot of joy and excitement to our entire school community, they can also bring about worries for students
about the end of the school year and changes as they progress to the next grade, as well as unexpected behaviors for students of all ages. We do our best to provide consistency for all of our students every day, as well as assurance that while some changes in life are inevitable, there are many things that will not change. We appreciate your help in providing the same consistency and reassurances at home, as well. Together, we can help our Cougars have a successful and enjoyable end to this wonderful school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Drinkard, principal
MAP Testing
Our third, fourth, and fifth graders are finishing up MAP testing in the first week of May. Their focus and effort have been impressive! Thank you for your help with getting our students prepared each day so they can give their best.
Cougar Calendar
Wednesday, May 1st - Cougar Dinner, Culver's
Thursday, May 2nd - Big Smiles Mobile Dentists
Thursday, May 2nd - 3rd Grade trip to Thomas Hart Benton Home
Thursday, May 2nd - 2nd Grade trip to the Kansas City Zoo
Tuesday, May 6th, to Friday, May 10th - Staff Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 8th - 5th Grade Fun Day
Wednesday, May 8th - 5th Grade Awards - 3:30pm
Thursday, May 9th - 3rd Grade trip to the Kansas City Zoo
Thursday, May 9th - 4th Grade trip to the Kansas City Zoo
Friday, May 10th - PTA End of Year Picnic/Carnival, 5:30-7:30pm, Sign Up to Help
Tuesday, May 14th, to Friday, May 17th - BOGO Book Fair, Sign Up to Help
Thursday, May 16th - Pre-K Graduation, 6:00pm
Tuesday, May 21st - Field Day
Thursday, May 23rd - School Talent Show
Friday, May 24th - Yearbook Signing
Friday, May 24th - Last day of School
Wednesday, May 29th, to Friday, June 28th - Summer Success
Lunch Menu
Upcoming Events
School-Based Therapy
DID YOU KNOW? School-based therapy is available to your student at Sycamore Hills Elementary. For the past year, we have partnered with Burrell Youth Services. Burrell works directly with students here at school. The ISD recognizes that our children face numerous challenges in everyday life, which if left untreated, can lead to mental health challenges. Although the need is high for mental health services for kids, the waiting lists for outpatient therapy are long. Through our partnership with Burrell, the barriers of waitlists and transportation to appointments can be alleviated. Additionally, Burrell works directly with Medicaid and private insurance. Please contact Mandee Holeyfield, FSL (mandee_holeyfield@isdschools.org) or Ellen Reesman, school counselor (ellen_reesman@isdschools.org) if you have any questions or are interested in a referral.
Attendance Challenge
All students with 95% attendance or better will go into a drawing for this Nintendo Switch!
Check out our attendance challenge below!
Donate to Help our School!
Donate to the Sycamore Hills Benevolence Fund
Donate to the Sycamore Hills Activities Fund
Homework
K - Sounds and Numbers
1st - Reading Folders; Word List
2nd - 80 minutes reading per week
3rd - 100 minutes reading per week
4th - 125 minutes reading per week
5th - 150 minutes reading per week
Dismissal, Car Rider Line, and Walkers
Dismissal
If you need to change your child’s normal way of dismissing, please notify our office before 3:00pm so we have time to communicate changes to teachers.
If you need to pick up your child during the day, please do so before 4:00pm. After 4:00pm, we ask that you go through the car rider line and do not go to the office. Our office is very busy at that time.
Car Riders
If you plan to drop off or pick up your child through the car rider line, please refer to the guidelines and map in the Car Riders and Dismissal Procedures document. This document contains information that applies to all Pre-Kindergarten through 5th-grade students.
There are many moving parts to our dismissal practices, and we thank you for your patience in the beginning of the year as new families adapt to these processes. We expect the Car Rider Line to move slowly at first, but speed up as the year goes. The line will move much faster if everyone honors the posted “Right Turn Only” and “No Left Turn” signs as they turn onto 39th Street.
Walkers
We will release walkers from three designated areas depending on which way they walk home. Please review this document regarding parent pick-up areas for walkers.
Breakfast and Lunch
Pricing for Student Breakfasts and Lunches
Student breakfast - full price $1.80
Student breakfast - reduced price $0.30
Student lunch - full price $2.85
Student lunch - reduced price $0.40
You can use myschoolbucks.com to put money in your child’s account for breakfasts and lunches.
We encourage all families to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch application, which can be found on the district website, isdschools.org.
If sending a lunch from home, please remember that soda/pop is not allowed in the school cafeteria.
If you would like to come to school to eat lunch with your child, please call our office at 816.521.5465 to reserve a day and time. We have limited space, and this is a popular activity for our families.
While we welcome families to come to school to eat lunch with their own children, we cannot allow families to eat lunch with children who are not their own, such as friends of their children.
Community Partners
Family Literacy and Math Choice Boards
Volunteer Opportunities
You can find more information here: https://www.isdschools.org/visiting-volunteering-in-the-isd/
From our Family-School Liaison
Hello Sycamore HIlls Cougars!
If you do not know me, I am Mrs. Mandee (Mandee Holeyfield). I am the building Family School Liaison or FSL My role at school is to help families overcome obstacles in their lives. Services may include Case Management, Referral for Employment, Counseling, Medical Services, and Community Resources. It may also include Food Stability, Clothing resources, and school communication and involvement. Please contact me at school if you have any questions or need services.
Sycamore Hills is also a very giving place, many families like to make donations. If you have lightly used clothing or would like to donate meals or hygiene items please send them in to school.
Bullying Policy S-185-S
Hazel Health
Independence School District has partnered with Hazel Health to offer same day Urgent Care visits with a pediatric provider at school or at home.
On-demand health services are provided using telehealth in the nurse’s office or at your home if your student is sent home sick. These visits address many challenges with urgent care, including:
Medical treatment: Conditions like stomach aches, headaches, sprained ankles, asthma concerns, head lice, rashes and many other conditions that often interfere with your child’s learning
Medication: Prescriptions are written for you to pick up at the pharmacy or over-the-counter medication is provided at school when appropriate
Coordination: Hazel providers work with the school nurse and/or your family physician to help your child return to school safely and get the care they need quickly
This is an optional service that carries no cost to families.
Parents, in order to help students, we need your help! Please complete the following so we know your family’s preferences.
Visit my.hazel.co/isdschools to learn more about Hazel Health.
While on the website, complete the consent form to ensure your child has access to care when it is needed OR opt-out if you would prefer not to use this service.
Family Literacy Information and Activities
Parent Literacy Flier
Links
Our Priorities
Every Cougar Grows
- foster student growth through data-driven responses to students’ needs
- improve our practices through continuous collaboration
Every Cougar Connects
- support students’ social, emotional, academic, and behavioral needs
- make Sycamore Hills a safe place to work and learn for all members of the school community
Every Cougar Counts
- maximize the school experience for all members of the school community
- celebrate our staff and students
Sycamore Hills Elementary School
Email: kevin_drinkard@isdschools.org
Website: isdschools.org
Location: 15208 East 39th Street South, Independence, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 521-5465