Starside's Comet
Newsletter Communication for August 19, 2022
Starside Elementary
Our Starside Mission:
Through a collaborative learning community we will build a foundation upon which all students can develop essential academic and life skills.
Click HERE to visit our school website!
Email: SE@usd232.org
Website: se.usd232.org
Location: 35400 W 91st St, De Soto, KS, United States
Phone: 913-667-6270
Facebook: facebook.com/StarsideComets
Twitter: @StarsideComets
Save the Date
September
- 5 - No School - Labor Day - District Closed
- 6 - PTA Meeting Starside Cafe 6 PM followed by Room Parent Meeting and Social Event 7 PM
- 7 - School Pictures
- 21 - Two-Hour Delayed Start for all K-12 Students
- 28 - Half Day-Conferences 4:45-8:15 PM
- 29 - NO SCHOOL - Conferences 10:00-8:00 PM
- 30 - No School - Staff & Students - Offices Closed
A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNSELOR
Dear Starside Parents/Guardians,
Starside would like to continue the tradition of recognizing students for their community service efforts. Community service hours should be tallied from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Attached you will find a form for tracking service hours. All service hours are due no later than Wednesday, April 5th this school year.
Students who achieve between 10 and 25 hours will be recognized with a Starside Community Service certificate. Students who earn 26 hours will receive a bronze pin and certificate from the President’s Volunteer Service Award organization. Students who achieve 50 hours will receive a silver pin, and the gold pin is awarded for 75 hours.
The definition of service under the President’s Volunteer Service Award program includes any activity that has a significant impact on meeting the needs of the community. Services that are paid for or carried out for a family member do not count towards service hours. Some examples of services include helping with community organizations, school-based programs, scouting service or any effort to help others.
Students are responsible for keeping track of all of their community service hours including hours completed at Starside such as Comet Guard. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at Starside at 667-6270 ext. 2196 or e-mail me at mmispagel@usd232.org. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
McKenzi Mispagel
Starside School Counselor
It's time to enroll in Comet Choir!
It's time to enroll in Comet Choir! Choir is an optional activity for 4th and 5th graders. Use the links below to learn more about choir and to sign up. Email Mrs. Pradhan at mpradhan@usd232.org if you have any questions!
Choir sign-up: https://forms.gle/oEgHMAZVYogxfCxx8
PTA
Mark your calendars and plan on joining us for our general meeting on September 6 at 6pm in the Starside Cafeteria! Following the general meeting at 7pm we will have the Room Parent meeting and social event!
Lunchroom Changes
Dear Parent/Guardian:
School meals for the 2022-2023 school year will revert back to standard pricing. Meals for all students will no longer be free of charge because Congress did not extend federal waivers.
Free/Reduced Meals
Only students/families who qualify financially will be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals for the 2022-2023 school year.
Families may complete an Application for Free or Reduced Price School Meals online at skyward.usd232.org or by completing a paper copy.
If a family has already received communication that their child(ren) qualify for free or reduced price meals, a Consent for Disclosure/Waiver must be completed in order to receive a reduction in school fees or transportation.
School Meals Pricing
For all other students, meals will be charged at the following rates.
· Breakfast = $1.55 elementary; $1.65 middle and high school;
· Lunch = $2.85 elementary; $2.90 middle school; $3.00 high school;
· Reduced price = $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will school meals be free of charge for ALL students in school year (SY) 2022-23?
A: No. Congress did not extend school meal waivers. Students who do not qualify for free meals will be charged for each meal they take during the school year.
Q: How can families apply for free or reduced price meal benefits for SY 2022-23?
A: Households can qualify for free and reduced price meals by completing an Application for Free or Reduced Price Meals. Applications can be found online, at your child’s school, or at the USD 232 Administrative Offices. Please visit our website for more details about completing the free or reduced price application.
Q: Is there a way for households to apply online for free and reduced price meal benefits?
A: Yes. An online application is available at skyward.usd232.org. Please visit our website for more details about completing the application online.
Q: When can my household complete an application for free and reduced price meals?
A: Applications for free and reduced-price meals will be available beginning July 6, 2022.
Q: When will households start being charged for meals?
A: Beginning SY 2022-2023, students who do not qualify for free meals will be charged for each meal they take.
If you have any questions and/or concerns, please reach out to the Student Nutrition Department at 913-667-6200 or nutrition@usd232.org.
Current Lunch and Breakfast Menu can be found here:
Now Taking Cafe Reservations
I am very happy to announce that we will have a visitor's table for parents who would like to come and have lunch with their child this year. We do have limited space with this new arrangement so lunch visits will be by reservation. Please use the Sign-Up Genius link in this newsletter. The link will also be posted to our school web page.
Lunch visits should be a special time to spend between you and your child. Classmates will not be allowed to sit at the visitor table. Visits should be limited to allow as many parents in the community to participate as possible. There will be two available "visitor spots" per lunch period per day starting after Labor Day. When you arrive for lunch at your scheduled time, please sign in at the office and we'll give you a visitor's sticker. When you leave, please sign-out.
I'm looking forward to having you dine with us once again!
Sincerely,
Principal Hicks
Click here to make your reservation:
FIRST STUDENT NOW HIRING!
SE Community Information
Construction News
Work is progressing on the K-10 bridge improvement projects and updates to related closures are as follows:
- The westbound K-10 to Lexington Ave. exit ramp will close today, Thursday, August 4 at noon, and remain closed for the duration of the project (expected completion: mid-December).
- Northbound and southbound Lexington Ave. at K-10 will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, August 5 to 5 a.m. Monday, August 8 for demolition of the existing WB K-10 bridge deck over Lexington Ave.
Eastbound and westbound K-10 traffic remains reduced to one lane in each direction through the project corridor, with work occurring from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
These bridge improvements are a part of the KDOT Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE) to invest in the future and critical infrastructure in Kansas and are expected to be completed in mid-December.
The overall project corridor spans from Evening Star Rd. to just west of the K-10/K-7 interchange, with eight work locations. In addition to westbound K-10 at Lexington Ave. bridge, work will take place on the following westbound K-10 bridges: Evening Star Rd., Sunflower Rd., Kill Creek, Camp Creek and Cedar Creek; and the following eastbound K-10 bridges: Cedar Creek Rd. and Cedar Creek Pkwy. (shown on map below).
Please be aware that reduced work zone speed limits, lane closures, lane changes and traffic control (barricades, cones, signage, etc.) will be in place for the duration of the project and adjusted as construction progresses. Those traveling through the project corridor should stay alert and be prepared for slowing or stopped traffic. Please be courteous and cooperate with other motorists to merge safely.
KDOT looks forward to improving K-10 for the continued safety of the traveling public. Your patience during the construction process is appreciated.
Thank you,
Delaney
You are receiving this email as a stakeholder within the construction corridor; a sign-up form to share with others interested in receiving email updates is also available online here http://bit.ly/k10bridges (on the project website, click on “stay connected” on the left-hand side).
REPEATED INFORMATION
Contacts: Front Office
Be sure to add SE@usd232.org to your contacts list so we don't end up in your spam folder!
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Making A Difference
USD 232 Parents As Teachers
Clickable Links:
Virtual Tour of Starside with Principal Hicks
232 Families.