The Compass Notes
August 13th, 2021
A Compass Note:
“A new school year means new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges. The slate is clean and anything can happen.”
In reflecting on this quote, a few words stand out; beginnings, adventures, friendships, and challenges. For some, "challenges" may stand out more than the other words listed when considering our current circumstances. However, the next sentence, "the slate is clean" implies that we have the ability to start fresh. In thinking about this, it is powerful to reflect and think that no matter what our opinions, beliefs, agreements, or disagreements are; we have the power to control our responses even though we may not have the power to control the circumstance(s).
With that in mind, we choose to make the most of this year, to love our students, to create memories, to make connections, and to work together to achieve a common goal of doing what is best for our kids!
We hope this newsletter finds you well. There is a lot of information provided in this edition of the Compass Notes in efforts to answer as many questions as possible and prepare our families the best we can for the start of a great year. See you soon Compass family!
In this edition of the Compass Notes:
- Pandemic Update
- Back to School Night & First Day of School
- Car Rider - Arrival/Dismissal Process
- School Lunch Information
- Teacher Reveal Update
- New Staff - Welcome Aboard!
- Communication of Student Absences
- Visitor Management System- Hall Pass
- Text Notifications
- After School Clubs
- Equity and Inclusion - Parent Advisory
- Dates To Know
- In Case You Missed It- Information from Previous Newsletter
- Useful Links
- Pirates R.O.C.K. Business Partners
Pandemic Update
On August 12, the Board of Education finalized the School Opening Plan for the start of the 2021-22 school year. At this time, face coverings will be required for all students, staff, and visitors ages 3 and older while indoors at Platte County School District buildings.
What this means:
- Face coverings will be required in all PCR-3 buildings starting August 13, 2021.
- Face coverings should be worn when entering our buildings and when moving about in buildings. When physical distancing can be maintained, persons are actively eating or drinking, or when physically exerting, face coverings may be removed.
- In general, people do not need to wear face coverings when outside, including recess for elementary students.
- Face coverings will continue to be required for all individuals on a school bus per federal order.
We will not be allowing visitors in to eat lunch with students at this time. Please view the district opening plan for visitors admitted into the building(s).
For more information and communication regarding our district's processes for opening this year, please click here.
Back to School Night Pictures
This year, we won't be able to host outside visitors on the first day of school due to the inability to adequately socially distance. We are encouraging families to follow what will be their typical morning transportation plans. Instead, please come to Back To School Night dressed for pseudo "First Day" pictures! We will have plenty of opportunities for pictures so come dressed to impress and ready to snap a few pictures!
Car Rider - Arrival and Dismissal Process
1-Please don't arrive at school prior to 8:20, preferably 8:25. This will help the back up of traffic waiting to start the opening of car doors in the morning. We will not start opening doors prior to 8:30 so you will be waiting if you arrive earlier.
2-If you arrive before 3:25 p.m. at dismissal, we will direct cars to enter our drive way and continue past the school and line up at the yield sign that is located on the drive exiting the school. We recommend that you not arrive before 3:25 p.m. Please reference the map below for car rider drop off and pick up.
3-We have spoken with the Platte City Police Department and they have asked that In the event that traffic does get backed up into the round-a-bout, please do not proceed into the round-a-bout until traffic progresses to the point that you will be able to make it fully back out of the round-a-bout. If the round-a-bout is clear, emergency vehicles will be able to make their way through. If the round-a-bout is blocked, this could cause a major issue for them. Please take turns as best you can when entering the round-a-bout when traffic is full and be aware of blocking the area.
To try and evenly spread out our flow of traffic for car dismissal we will implement the following rotation below. We are going to be using a tiered dismissal process. We understand that this may take a day or two to work through the process, but we feel that this can help to alleviate the backup of traffic on to Kentucky and into the roundabout.
To implement this rotation we are asking for the following:
- Families with car rider tags 1-35 arrive at Compass no earlier than 3:35 pm.
- Families with car rider tags 36-70 arrive at Compass no earlier than 3:40 pm.
- Families with car rider tags 71-105 arrive at Compass no earlier than 3:45 pm.
- Families with car rider tags numbered higher than 105 arrive at Compass no earlier than 3:50 pm.
We will rotate this schedule quarterly so that different numbers have the opportunity to arrive earlier. It is very important that we follow this schedule as arriving early will result in traffic becoming backed up onto Kentucky and into the roundabout. We do not release students to vehicles until 3:35 pm, so arriving too early simply creates a line of traffic that can not move because students are not being released yet.
There are two other processes that will help us in our efficiency while supporting the needs of our families. We have designated the lettered loading zones for families:
- Who need time to buckle their child in a car seat or need to get out of their vehicle to help their child.
- Whose child has not yet arrived at their number, but the car line is moving forward.
We want to try and make this process efficient for all of our families and honor your time with a safe, simple, and effective process that will get our dismissal process completed while also respecting the need to minimize the traffic on Kentucky Ave. We sincerely appreciate your help with this process and if you have questions, please feel free to contact our office at 816-858-0172.
School Lunch and Free/Reduced Meal Information
While meal service for this upcoming school year is free of charge, applying for free and reduced meals still has several benefits for those who are eligible. Examples of additional benefits include qualifications for free food and supplies through the PCR-3 Treasure Chest (community support pantry that provides food, toiletries and clothing), and the opportunity for additional students support resources for schools.
We encourage you to consider applying for Free and Reduced Priced School Meals. All information is completely confidential (per federal law). You can receive more information and application materials by following this link.
-Dr. Jay Harris - PCR-3 Executive Director of Operations
Teacher Reveal Letters- August 11th
New Staff At Compass
Mindy Hellbusch- 1st Grade
Emily Anderson- Taught 3rd grade in 20/21, and is now teaching 1st grade.
Breanne Akers- Taught 1st grade in 20/21, and is now teaching 2nd grade.
Erica Newsome- Taught 1st grade in 20/21, and is now teaching 2nd grade.
Jodi Parrish- 3rd Grade
Samantha Brant- 3rd Grade
Cheri Bonsignore- Taught 4th grade in 20/21, and is now teaching 3rd grade.
Tori Farr- 4th Grade
Kelly Coldren- Library
Katie McCoy- Permanent Substitute
Natalie Zalmai- Lunch Monitor
Returning to our building from remote teaching in the 20/21 school year:
Holly Burkett- 1st Grade
Sarah Heiman- 2nd Grade
Staci Callaway- 3rd Grade
Danille Collins- Special Education
Communication of Student Absences
Visitor Management Systems - Hall Pass
We are using a video-monitored, secured entry into the main front entry doors that requires visitors to push a button to request access. Office staff can view the guest on a video screen prior to releasing the front doors to be opened.
This year we are continuing to use the visitor sign-in process called Hall Pass Visitor Management System helps us improve overall building safety/security. The system will:
- Conduct a limited background check against the national database of registered sex offenders
- Log in volunteers to track their hours
- Be used to document late arriving students
We want parents to be informed and prepared before coming to our school to visit or check a student out of the building. Whenever any non-student or non-District employee requests to enter any area of the building where students are accessible (anywhere beyond the front office) or requests to check-out a student, they will be asked to produce a government issued ID:
- State driver’s license
- State issued ID
- Passport card
- U.S. Military ID
- Permanent resident card
Even though we may have scanned your id in the past, we may need to scan it again this year. Please bring your id with you when you come into the school. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 858-0172.
Join PTA!!!
Text Notifications
The District uses text messaging and automated phone calls to notify parents of upcoming events and days off, school closings due to weather, and during emergency situations. Newly enrolled families will automatically receive an opt-in message from 67587. If you missed it, simply text “Yes” to 67587 to receive text messages.
After School Club Opportunities - Fall 2021
Wednesdays, Sept 15 - Oct 20 - 7:30 - 8:30 am - Library
4H Snack Attack Pack
Mondays, Sept 13 - Oct 25 (No class Oct. 11) - 3:50 pm - Stage Area
SoulStrong Yoga
Thursdays, Sept 16 - Oct 21 - 3:50 pm - Music Room
4H Technology Class
Tuesdays, Oct. 26 - Nov 30 - 3:50 pm - Compass Stage
Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan; Parent Advisory
The District has recently finalized its Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. This plan serves as a guidance document for the District, and outlines strategies designed to achieve the following goals:
- Goal 1 (Culture of Belonging): Develop and refine processes that ensure a culture of belonging as measured by survey results and participation data
- Goal 2 (Equity of Access): Develop and refine processes that ensure equitability and inclusion in all schools and school-based activities as measured by survey results, process fidelity, participation data, and performance data
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT. INFORMATION FROM OUR PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER.
Back to School Night- August 19th
At this time we are still planning for Back to School Night at Compass. Back to School Night is scheduled for the evening of August 19th. In order to have adequate parking for our families and enhance our ability to social distance, we would like families to stagger their attendance times based on our students’ last names. The schedule for Back to School Night will be:
Back to School Night Times:
- 5:00-5:45-Students with last names A-F
- 5:45-6:30-Students with last names G-M
- 6:30-7:15-Students with last names N-Z
We are hopeful this will continue to make parking on this night easier for our Compass families. The police department has asked that we please do not park on Kentucky Avenue. This is a no parking area and may result in a parking ticket. We don't want this to happen to anyone.
At Back to School Night your child will be able to visit his/her classroom and meet his/her teacher for the upcoming school year. This is also a great time for families to drop off your child’s school supplies. If you have ordered your supplies online, they will be in your child’s classroom at Back to School Night.
You will also be able to deposit lunch money into your child’s account, join PTA, sign up for Y-Club, drop off medicine with the nurse, and browse various community vendors that will be here. We can’t wait to see your child and family as we get the new school year underway!
Proof of Residency and Re-Enrollment
Current and new students must complete an Affidavit of In District Residency form AND provide one of the following documents. (Note: Documents provided in person must be original documents.) We wanted to remind our families of this as proof of residency must be submitted prior to Wednesday, August 11th in order to receive your teacher reveal letter for your child(ren).
Document provided for verification must:
- Include parent(s)/guardian(s) name(s) and current address.
- Be dated April 1, 2021 or later, but also dated within 30 days of date of verification. For example, if the document is provided on July 25, 2021, it must be dated June 25, 2021 or later. As further clarification, a new student enrolling on November 1, 2021, must provide an acceptable residency verification document dated no earlier than October 1, 2021.
Acceptable Documentation:
- Utility bill (electric, gas, sewer, or water). No final or disconnect notices accepted.
- Current residential lease agreement signed by resident/parent & landlord.
- Residential housing contract (purchase).
If you have multiple students in the District, only one proof of residency is required for the entire family.
For questions about proof of residency, please visit our District Website.
You can provide proof of residency this week at Compass during the following business hours:
Monday through Friday from 8 am - 3 pm.
Please contact our office at 816-858-0172 with any questions.
Re-Enrollment-
If you have not done so already, make sure you complete the online registration to re-enroll your current Compass student for the 2021-22 school year. Please log onto Parent Portal and complete the required forms. Click here for a step-by-step guide with screenshots. It is important to complete these as soon as possible as we are preparing our classes for next year. Teacher assignments will not be released without this registration process completed.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our office at (816) 858-0172.
**Your child will not receive a 2021-22 teacher assignment until this is completed.**
Immunization Compliance
School Hours of Operation
Here are some tidbits of important information about Compass Elementary:
Our SUMMER office hours (beginning on 8/2/21-8/13/21) are 7:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Regular school day office hours run from 8:15 am - 4:30 pm.
- Students can enter the building: 8:30 a.m.
- Official start of school-8:50 a.m.
- Dismissal-Car Riders, Walkers and Y-Club-3:33 p.m.
- Dismissal-Bus Riders-3:50 p.m.
- Two hour early release days-Dismissal starts exactly two hours earlier from above times.
2 Hour Early Dismissal Information (Once a month.)
There is one Wednesday every month when we dismiss two hours early for district staff meetings. During a 2 hour early dismissal, car riders and walkers will be dismissed at 1:33 p.m. Bus riders are dismissed at 1:50 p.m.
If you are picking your child up as a car rider, please do not arrive prior to 1:20 p.m.
School Supply Lists
Y-Club- Before and After School Care at Compass
YMCA Y-Club enrollment is underway for the new school year!
The Before and After School Program available to families in the Platte County R-3 School District is Y Club. With Y Club before and after school, children in kindergarten through 5th grade will enjoy and benefit from homework enrichment, physical activity, and small and large group activities with a focus on building community and youth voice and leadership. Full-time and part-time Y Club is available at Compass, along with Y Club on days when school is out of session for inclement weather, seasonal breaks, and other days off (enrollment permitting). Operating hours are each weekday from 6:30 a.m. until school begins, and again after school until 6:00 p.m.
Spots are limited so please complete the 21-22 Y Club Enrollment Form at KansasCityYMCA.org/Yclub to secure your spot.
If you have any questions about the Y Club program, please contact YMCA at (913) 345-9622.
School Messenger
The District, as well as Compass Elementary, uses text messaging and automated phone calls to notify parents of upcoming events and days off, school closings due to weather, and emergency situations.
Newly enrolled families will automatically receive an opt-in message from 67587. If you missed it, simply text "Yes" to 67587 to receive these text messages.
Thank You to Our Compass Elementary Pirates R.O.C.K. Business Partners!
Compass Elementary School
Email: archerk@platteco.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.plattecountyschooldistrict.com/site/Default.aspx?PageID=15
Location: 401 Kentucky Avenue, Platte City, MO, USA
Phone: 816-858-0172
Facebook: Facebook.com/CompassElementarySchool
Twitter: @CompassElemPCR3
Dates to know:
Thursday, August 19th: Back to School Night - 5:00-7:15 pm
(Last Names A-F: 5-5:45 p.m., G-M: 5:45-6:30 p.m., N-Z: 6:30-7:15 p.m.)
Tuesday, August 24th: First Day of School
Monday, September 6th: No School- Labor Day