The McKelvey Messenger
April 2 , 2021
Looking Ahead
4/5 - NO SCHOOL Grading Day PK-12
4/6 - In-person or Virtual selection for 2021-22 opens (*look for district email)
4/8 - All School Cardinal Spirit Day
A Note from Mrs. Lackey
It was a wonderful and busy return from Spring Break as students jumped right back into learning and the daily routines of school! I am excited for a productive and positive 4th quarter ahead, and I continue to be greatly encouraged by the growing number of vaccinations provided to staff and the broader community. There is great hope for a return to normalcy next school year. To that end, this week's Messenger addresses many of the questions and concerns (or even confusion) we are hearing within our school community regarding next school year. As always, our number one priority is children. And I am fully confident that all of us will work together to make decisions in their best interest. We are grateful for the strong community in our school, and we are here to support you in any way we can. Please reach out with any questions.
Enjoy the beautiful warm weather this weekend!
Kiara
#seeksilverlinings #mckproud
Cardinal Spirit Day on Thursday 4/8
Important Enrollment Information for the 2021-22 School Year
- You will select in-person or virtual learning.
- Your decision will be for the entire 2021-2022 school year (August-June).
- Enrollment opens on April 6 and closes on April 18.
- All families need to make a selection for each child.
- If you choose in-person learning, your child(ren) will attend McKelvey Elementary and have McKelvey teachers.
- In-person learning will return to its typical 5 days a week consistency.
- In-person learning is encouraged by district and school educators as the best option for young, developing learners.
- In person learners have been kept safe by the mitigation strategies and procedures in place this year.
- If you choose virtual learning, your child(ren) will attend Parkway's Virtual Campus, a stand alone school/program. They will have Parkway teachers and will be with students from a variety of Parkway schools.
- If you choose Virtual Campus, you are giving up your connection to your home school for the 2021-22 school year.
- More information about Parkway Virtual Campus can be found by visiting THIS LINK.
- A Zoom webinar dedicated to learning more about Parkway Virtual Campus will be held on April 8th at 6:00pm. You can register for the webinar HERE.
The entire McKelvey staff has great hope for a brighter 2021-22 school year. In the meantime, we are all here to support you in making an informed decision about what is best for your child. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher, counselor, or any member of our administrative team if you have specific questions.
McKelvey Primary - Past and Future
We realized at this week's Zoom Q & A for incoming Kindergarten families, that brand new families may not even be aware that McKelvey Elementary was supposed to be a "two-buildings-but-one-school" campus in the 2020-21 school year. However, everything changed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the worldwide pandemic. Here is a brief timeline and facts about McKelvey Primary:
- McKelvey Primary, located at the corner of Fee Fee and Bennington Roads, was built in response to high enrollment and overcrowding at the main building on McKelvey Road.
- It was projected to open in August of 2020 for Kindergarten only, then Kindergarten and 1st grade in 2021.
- There were significant delays in construction due to COVID-19.
- The building was not complete when many learners returned in person in October 2020.
- However, McKelvey's low in-person enrollment at the time allowed all grades (K-5) to remain in one building.
- Construction was completed in January 2021.
- Final plans for the opening of McKelvey Primary and which grade levels will use the new building (K only vs. K & 1) will depend on the number of McKelvey students returning in person for the 2021-22 school year.
- If McKelvey needs both buildings, it will use both buildings.
To address a current concern in the community:
- McKelvey Primary was shared as a possible location for Parkway's Virtual Campus, a stand alone school in 2021-22. HOWEVER...
- If in-person enrollment for McKelvey determines the need for both buildings, the district would look for other areas of low in-person enrollment.
- No decisions have been made, nor are they being made until after final enrollment numbers are in (after all families have made their enrollment selections).
Kindergarten Q & A
Counselors' Corner
Parents/Guardians,
Next week, your child(ren) will have the opportunity to attend a “Safe Touch” presentation. More information is provided in the links below. If you do NOT wish for your child to attend the presentation, please email Jenn Lescher at jlescher@parkwayschools.net.
Additionally, we would like to tell you about a community resource called Sweet Celebrations. Sweet Celebrations is a local organization that provides birthday supplies/celebrations for children experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. Please email Jenn Lescher at jlescher@parkwayschools.net for more information. Your child’s birthday does not have to fall between now and the end of the school year to qualify.
Please continue to contact us with questions and concerns by using the Counselor Connection Form.
Have a great long weekend!
Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Lescher, & Miss Kerlin
McKelvey School Counselors
Nurse's Notes
The time is quickly approaching where families will be making decisions for next year's learning options - virtual or in-person. I want to reassure you that Parkway has many safeguards in place for in-person learning. Our main goal is always the health and safety of our students and staff. We need our children back in our buildings! Please do not hesitate to call or email me with any questions or concerns regarding the health and safety of your children.
I am including an article from a Washington University study that shows the lack of transmission of COVID in the school setting. In this study, while students and staff were quarantined due to possible exposure, it was found not to be spread further in the schools. Those quarantined did not end up getting the virus. Researchers identified no outbreaks in any of the 57 participating schools. “Schools can operate safely during a pandemic when prevention strategies are followed,” said Dr. Jason Newland, a Washington University professor of pediatrics and one of the researchers who worked on the study.
Please click here for entire article.
If you have any health updates or questions, I will be checking my email daily, so please email me at : jsinnott@parkwayschools.net
Adventure Club Available on Distance Learning Days
As you may know, all-day Adventure Club is available for in person learners on Distance Learning Days. Grab a spot for one or all of them by calling Adventure Club 636-891-6644.
7:00am-5:30pm (April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24)
Summer School 2021
For complete information about Parkway's Summer offerings for 2021, please visit the complete summer school site. Jumpstart to Kindergarten and Welcome to Middle School, Parkway's transition programming, will be held August 2-6, 2021 with registration beginning on May 1.
Family Resource Section
ATTENDANCE LINE: 314-415-6525
*report child's name, teacher, and reason for absence
CALENDARS:
Parkway 2020-2021 Academic Calendar (rev. 8/19)
K-12 In-Person Second Semester Calendar (Parkway)
Virtual ABCD Specials Rotation
In-Person ABCD Specials Rotation
HEALTH:
What to do if... Quarantine Guidance for Families
TECHNOLOGY:
Parkway's Video Resource Library
Getting Started with Chromebooks (Youtube)
More Tips and Tricks for your Chromebook (Youtube)
Welcome to Your Chromebook (Doc)
Chromebook Registration & Insurance (recommended for grades 3-11)
About Us
Email: klackey@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/mckelvey
Location: Maryland Heights, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 415-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckelveyelementaryschool
Twitter: @McKelveydragons