Prairie Point Express
Family Newsletter
January 15, 2021
School Address: 8101 NW Belvidere Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64152
School Hours: 8:15 am - 3:05 pm
School Phone: 816-359-4380
Principal: Dr. Danny Todtfeld
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Sarah McQuinn
Counselor: Mrs. Ally Swisher
Upcoming Dates
Friday, January 15
- End of 2nd quarter (1st semester) celebrations
Monday, January 18
- No school
Tuesday, January 19
- Beginning of 3rd quarter (2nd semester) - new placements start
- NWEA Winter Window Opens
Friday, January 22
- 2nd Quarter Report Cards Sent Home
Friday, January 29
- NWEA Winter Window Closes
Second Semester Starts Tuesday, January 19
Welcome to Second Semester!
Can you believe that we are already half-way through the school year? Prairie Point Staff is hard at work to begin the second semester on Tuesday, January 19.
To see welcoming comments from our staff, click here.
Specials Spotlight with Art Teacher, Ms. Pierick
Fourth grade water-colored their Chinese dragons this week. They learned that Chinese dragons are a symbol of good fortune in Chinese cultures. Chinese dragons are created from nine different animals. The students also learned how to create contrast when water-coloring their dragons. Many students used warm and cool colors to demonstrate the contrast in their artworks.
Friendship Party Information
Recess Reminders
The cold weather is upon us! Just a friendly reminder that students are expected to go out for recess each day. Appropriate clothing and shoes should be worn for outside activities. On days when the temperature and/or wind chill is above 20 degrees Fahrenheit and the playground is cleared of snow and ice, there will be outdoor recess.
Please put your child's name on their winter clothing (coats, gloves, hats, etc..). This will help us return your child's lost clothing to them quickly! Due to COVID-19, we will not let our Lost and Found closet fill up as much as we have in the past which means we will make more frequent donations to the Park Hill Clothing Center.
Attention Bus Riders - Accessing Your Parent Portal
Does your student ride the bus to and/or from school? FirstView is a parent application to check the status of your student's bus. Please see the below documents to download the app.
Updates from the District from 12-22-2020
CDC Guidelines
Recently, the CDC announced changes to its guidance for the length of quarantines for people who have no COVID-19 symptoms.
We are working with the Platte County and Kansas City health departments, who determined that we will use the 10-day option. This means that if someone has no symptoms, they may end their quarantine after 10 days, but they must wear their mask and monitor symptoms for the entire 14 days. Our local health departments decided not to use the CDC’s seven-day option, which would require a test. They said this is due to the high community prevalence and the additional strain on community testing.
We will start this new protocol in Park Hill with any direct exposures that occur on or after December 23.
Antigen Testing
Starting on January 4, we will start offering antigen testing to students who have COVID-19 symptoms. We already offer this to staff members. If a student has symptoms, their family may work with the school nurse to request and schedule a test. Consent forms are available on our website.
Vaccines
As COVID-19 vaccines start to become available, we will continue to monitor guidance from the CDC and work with our local health departments. If we find out anything that will impact our school community, we will notify you.
January Habit
January Curriculum Connections
Here are your Curriculum Connections for January!
ELA Curriculum Connection- January
K - 2 Students and Families: Saving Your Work on Seesaw
Register for the Spelling Bee
The Park Hill District spelling bee will be a two-part online assessment this year with the winner advancing directly to the Scripps National Spelling Bee held near Washington, DC., June 1 - 3. Awards will be presented to the top ten finishers.
All current Park Hill 5th-8th graders are eligible, but students must sign up by February 1st. For more information, and to register, please use the link below or visit the Park Hill website under “Family Resources”, “Spelling Bee”.
https://www.parkhill.k12.mo.us/family_resources/spelling_bee
Repeat: Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits
Even though meals are free this year, this form also helps us get needed funding for district services for students. And if you are signed up this year, you won't have a gap in services at the beginning of the next school year.
If you qualify for free or reduced-price meals, you are eligible for additional discounts on things like health care, college application fees, athletics, AP class fees, and fees for the SAT and ACT tests. For more information, click here.
Repeat: Do You Know A Park Hill Star?
The Park Hill Star recognition program was started in 2015 to celebrate support staff and teachers whose work is especially noteworthy.
The following is an overview of the Park Hill Star Program:
Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students.
That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher and a support employee.
REPEAT: E-Backpack (Electronic Fliers)
Currently in the E-Backpack:
- Fliers for Online Clubs hosted by Community Education
- Party Flier (Ordering Birthday Treats through Food Service)
- Yearbook Order Form
- Directory Invite to Families
Repeat: Technology Use at Home
Here are some general guidelines and best practices for laptop use at home.
Thank you for your support. If you have any technology issues or questions, please contact the Help Desk Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 816-359-5000.
Our 5 Pillars of Prevention
Please take some time to learn about Prairie Point's Health and Safety Precautions. Click here to access our matrix and other health information.
Prairie Point Mission
Our Vision
Prairie Point Elementary School provides all children with a safe, caring educational environment that focuses on high expectations and promotes lifelong learning.
Our Mission
To create a safe and caring student centered environment, to empower students to be independent learners, problem solver, and responsible citizens in the 21st Century.
At Prairie Point School, we value:
- Keeping the focus on the student
- Continuous learning and professional growth
- Warm, caring, open-minded environment
- High expectations for all students and adults
- Team work and collaboration
- Empathetic approach with our actions.