Thunderbird Weekly Newsletter
Be the Flame! Spark Positivity!
April 2024
Mrs. Arnold's 2nd Grade are Solar Eclipse Ready!
***Thunderbird Pride***
Weekly S.O.A.R. Winners
***Fine Arts Night***
1st Grade Musical
LEMONADE ANYONE??
You don't want to miss this sweet production put on by our very own 1 grade students!
BJF Fine Art's Night
Thursday, Apr 11, 2024, 05:30 PM
Bluejacket/Flint Elementary, West 49th Terrace, Shawnee, KS, USA
🎶Music Notes🎼🎵
Ukulele Has Its last Rehearsal This Week
6th Grade Dates to Remember!
6th Grade Parents/Guardians
April 11: Spring Music Concert/Fine Art's Night
May 15: 6th Grade Olympics @Hocker Grove
May 17: 6th Grade Spotlight @BJF 8:30a.m.
Attention 6th grade parents/ Atención padres de 6to grado
TDAP and Meningococcal vaccines are required before the start of 7th grade. Check your students backpack for a letter with more details.
Se requieren las vacunas TDAP y meningocócica antes del inicio del séptimo grado. Revise las mochilas de sus estudiantes para obtener una carta con más detalles.
***PreK & Kindergarten Roundup***
Spread the Word!
To all incoming PreK and Kinder students in the BJF attendance area: On Tuesday, April 16th we will host our annual PreK & Kinder Roundup. Bring your 24-25 PreK and/or Kinder student for an introduction to Kindergarten.
Parents you will receive lots of information related to your child's school experience.
We look forward to seeing you!
***BJF PTA***
Chat & Chew
Please turn in your Chat and Chew books from last session. Thank you!
Last Lunch Date For grades 2-6:
Friday, April 19***BJF Info***
April 8, 2024, Solar Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the United States. Classroom teachers across the Shawnee Mission School District are preparing lessons to help students understand what is happening during an eclipse, and individual schools may provide additional details regarding viewing activities for their particular school.
As always, student safety is our top concern. Looking directly at the sun without proper eyewear is unsafe. The only safe way to look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses”. Per NASA, homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. SMSD will provide all elementary students who view the eclipse as a classroom activity with eclipse glasses to wear during this event. Although there is no way to fully guarantee student safety during such a rare event, we will take precautionary measures including pre-education to make students aware of the risks involved in directly looking at the sun.
At no time should students or participants remove their eclipse glasses and look directly at the sun as it could cause permanent eye damage or other unknown effects. Students will be directed not to remove their eclipse glasses.Please reinforce this by speaking with your child about the importance of keeping their eclipse glasses on at all times during this event.
Your student should have come home with a form with information. Please send that form back if you plan to opt your student out of the viewing.
We are in need of a few parents per classroom to ensure the safety of our students during this time. If you are available to help supervise, please fill out the sign-up genius below.
Summer 2024 Opportunities
JumpStart to Learning
Who can participate? Students residing within school boundaries in the Shawnee Mission School District who are kindergarten eligible for the 2024-2025 school year.
What can students expect?
● A focus on reading and math skills through fun and engaging activities ● Snack provided on site
● Free supplies and tuition
What is required?
Parents must agree to the following:
-
● Student must be independent with toileting
-
● Ensure regular attendance of their child
-
● Call the attendance hotline in the morning to report an absence if child will not be able to attend
-
● Ensure that student will follow school rules and policies to allow for a safe, fun learning
environment
SMSD Summer Enrichment (flyer attached below)
PROGRAM DATES:
Week 1: June 10 - 14
Week 2: June 17 - 21 (No school June 19)
Week 3: June 24 - 28 (No classes July 1 - 5)
Week 4: July 8-12
Week 5: July 15-19
LOCATIONS & CONTACT INFORMATION:
-
● Summer Enrichment Program Site Westridge Middle School
9300 Nieman Road
Overland Park, KS 66214Office 913.993.9412 / Nurse 913.993.9416
Linda Long, Principal, lindalong@smsd.org
-
● Summer Programs Main Office & Satellite Classes
Vicky Kopp, Student Services Secretary, vickykopp@smsd.org
***BJF Staff Superstars***
Ms. Teed and her SLC team are patient, positive, and have created awesome relationships with their students to provide a safe and caring classroom environment.
Ms. Neaderhiser, our school psychologist, shines behind the scenes for our students at BJF! Even while supporting multiple buildings throughout Shawnee Mission, she always works hard to complete her tight deadlines and figures out the best way to support our students.
April Calendar
Week of April 8:
April 8: All School Solar Eclipse Viewing
April 10: 5th Grade field trip to Starbase
April 11: Fine Art's Night 5:30-7:30pm @BJF
April 12: No School -Teacher Professional Learning Day
Week of April 15:
April 15: No School
April 16: Incoming (24-25) PreK and Kindergarten ONLY Roundup 6-7:30pm @BJF
Week of April 22:
April 22: Earth Day
April 24: 5th Grade field trip to Starbase
April 25: 4th Grade field trip to Shawnee Indian Mission
School Day Info:
School Hours: 8:10 - 3:10
- Students may enter the building at 7:55a.m.
- The tardy bell rings at 8:10a.m.
*Breakfast begins at 7:45a.m. Students should enter through the back doors (#11). If arriving after 8:00, your student should enter through the front main doors.
Attendance Matters!
Attendance is an important life skill that has a significant impact on student success:
- For elementary students missing 10% of school (approximately 2 days per month), it can impact their ability to stay on grade level in reading and math.
- For middle and high school students, absenteeism can have a significant impact on student achievement and can be a n early indicator of students not graduating from high school.
- On average, BJF students miss fewer than 10 days per school year.
Attendance Line
Attendance line: 913-993-2088
Thank you!
-Linda Blume, Clerical Aide
***Family/Student Services***
North Fest
SMN Pep Club is hosting North Fest on April 24 from 5:30 to 8:00pm. This event was created so our future Bison and their families could join us in a celebration of our community.
There will be food trucks, outdoor games, and a neon-themed pep assembly in our field house. Please add the attached poster to your next building newsletter and share with your teachers and staff members. One-of-a-kind commemorative neon t-shirts in youth and adult sizes are available through the QR code on the poster or through this link: North Fest Neon Shirt.
Starbase Summer Camp
Registration Begins: March 19, 2024 Download Enrollment form at:
Email Enrollment forms to:
Homework Help
On Wednesdays and Thursdays from January 17 - April 25, 2024 at 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Central Resource Library (9875 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212) offers Homework Help specifically focused on literacy support for grades 2-5. Students are encouraged to bring specific homework assignments from school, such as book reports, writing projects, vocabulary, spelling, science or social studies. More info...
2024-2025 Pre-K/Kindergarten Enrollment
As of January 8, 2024 online enrollment for Pre-K and Kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year is now open.
Help spread the word to any families who will have an incoming preK and/or Kinder student.
SMAC PTA Clothing Exchange
The Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA Clothing Exchange offers gently
used clothing and shoes from infant to adult sizes. The Exchange is a free service
open to those who live within the SMSD boundaries. All are welcome. If school
offices are closed, the Clothing Exchange is closed. www.smsd.org
El intercambio de ropa de la PTA del Consejo del Área de la Misión de Shawnee
ofrece ropa y zapatos usados con cuidado, desde tallas para bebés hasta adultos.
Exchange es un servicio gratuito abierto a quienes viven dentro de los límites de
SMSD. Todos son bienvenidos. Si el edificio de la escuela está cerrado, el
intercambio de ropa está cerrado. www.smsd.org
***Read Across SMSD***
Read Across America
Let's read and grow together with 12 months of recommended books and authors that promote diversity and inclusion.
Books of the Month: Discover the Power of Poetry
Elementary: How to Write a Poem
Middle School: Moonwalking
Young Adult: Abuela, Don't Forget Me
April is also.....
Arab American Heritage Month: Learn more with this booklist from Social Justice Books.
National Poetry Month
Fill your National Poetry Month with our Read Across America Great Poetry to Read Aloud booklist.
School Library Month
Want students to love the library? Check out these tips.
Reading Without Walls Month
Challenge students to read about a character who is unlike them.
APR 2: International Children’s Book Day; Find outstanding international children’s books here.
APR 7-13: National Library Week
Find more information about this celebration of libraries from the American Library Association.
APR 22: Earth Day
Use our Earth Day Read Across America booklist to inspire awareness and appreciation of the natural world.
APR 30: El Día de los Niños, El Día de los Libros Celebrate Día with resources and booklists from Colorín Colorado.
Celebrate a nation of diverse readers with these recommended books, authors, and teaching resources.
***Food Services***
***SMSD Calendar***
Bluejacket-Flint Elementary School
Attendance Line: 913-993-2088
Attendance Clerk: Linda Blume
Email: tashahoward@smsd.org
Website: https://bluejacketflint.smsd.org/
Location: 11615 West 49th Terrace, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/151527849471491/
Twitter: @BThunderbirds