Wednesday Word
October 28th, 2020
From The Principal
As we prepare to move into hybrid there are a few items I want to share with you about the start of our hybrid model.
1. Class Placement and Day Designation: We will be sending communication to you by this Friday regarding your A day/B day designation. We will also communicate to those families who are changing learning models and who their new teacher will be (example-hybrid to distance or vice versa).
2. First Two Days of Hybrid: The first two days, Monday and Tuesday (Nov 9 and 10), in order for our staff to focus on safety, routines and procedures with our in building students the first two days, the only live lessons for those days will be specials and library, if you have it. Teachers will make sure students at home have work to complete asynchronously.
3. Kindergarten Staggered Start Time: We will stagger our start time so we have more staff helping with kindergarten the first two days (Nov 9 and 10). Kindergarten drop off will start at 9am that day. This will also allow for parents to walk their children to the kindergarten entry door.
4. Extreme Circumstances: In the event that we do not have enough staff or subs to safely operate a classroom, grade level or the school we could make the decision to go remote for the day or longer depending upon the circumstance. This would be an absolute last resort, but I do want families to be aware that it is a possibility. We would communicate to families affected as soon as possible.
I will be sending more specific information about how arrival and dismissal will run next week so be on the lookout for that.
As always it is an honor to serve as the Principal of Sunflower Elementary.
From The Office
No School
Just a reminder that school will not be in session this upcoming Friday, October 30th or next week November 5th & 6th
Dismissal
Make sure you have your car tag for dismissal purposes. If you cannot find, misplaced or need extra car tags, please contact Miss.Zee in the front office at zellesha.whitley@usd497.org or 785-832-5870! Anyone that will be picking a student will be required to have a car tag.
Click the link below to see the updated 2020-2021 Calendar for School Families.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held virtually next week November 4th and 5th. Click the Sign-Up Genius link below to schedule a time with your students teacher
Snacks For Teachers During Fall Conferences
It's conference time and we like to support our teachers each year with yummy things to eat while they are busy meeting with families throughout the day. This year things look a little different and everything will have to be either prepackaged or wrapped individually. Please use the following link to sign up and then drop your donations off at the front desk at Sunflower during school hours between now and next Wednesday, Nov. 4th. Thank you for your help and your donations!
Attendance During Hybrid
We are excited to partner with you as our students transition to learning in the hybrid or distance model. We have been planning and preparing to ensure student(s) receive a high-quality and appropriately-rigorous educational experience during this time. We appreciate your patience and want you to know that your feedback will continue to be important to us throughout the remainder of the year.
We also want to inform you that the truancy provisions outlined in Kansas Statutes are still applicable. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) will accept students’ in-person learning, or a daily check-in for students learning remotely for attendance purposes.
Lawrence Public Schools encourages students enrolled in the Hybrid model to attend in person on their assigned A or B designated days and to log into "live" lesson opportunities with their teacher(s) according to their daily school/class schedule on remote days to satisfy attendance requirements.
Students enrolled in the Distance Year Long model should log in every day to “live” lesson opportunities with their teacher(s) according to their daily class schedule to satisfy attendance requirements.
If students do not attend in person, or log in to at least one "live" lesson opportunity with their teacher(s), daily, staff will reach out to the student and determine how best to remove any barriers and support them in engaging in their respective learning model. If there are technical barriers, the district may be able to assist. If, after a thorough investigation, it is apparent that the student is truant, then the principal may commence the attendance verification process for truancy.
We are here to support your family. Please let us know if you have any questions, or if we can help in any way.
From The Library Newsletter
From The Counselor
Rev City Church is partnering with Sunflower Elementary in our upcoming Thanksgiving
Outreach! Last year Rev City was able to give out over 200 Thanksgiving dinners to families in
need in the Lawrence area.
As a church, they will be sending out small groups to drive to the recipients' homes on
Saturday, November 21 from 2 - 4 PM and deliver the meals (frozen turkey, sides, dessert
fixings, etc.). Those making deliveries will be required to wear a face mask or covering along
with gloves to ensure a healthy and safe delivery. The meals will also be packaged by those
taking the same health and safety precautions. Please note: since this is a Christian faith
organization, the teams will extend an offer for prayer to the families in a socially distanced
manner. Any families that are referred will receive a phone call from Rev City Church before the delivery date to confirm their desire for a meal and ensure that Rev City has the correct address for drop-off.
If you are interested in this program, please contact Julie Heatwole, Sunflower’s school counselor, by Friday, November 6. Email: jheatwol@usd497.org Phone: #785-330-4860
From PTO
HOORAY! The Book Fair is just ONE WEEK away!
The Sunflower ONLINE Book Fair will be LIVE Wednesday, November 4th.
This gives you an opportunity to shop for some of your favorites as well as discovering Authors, new series and more!
Books are EXCELLENT gift ideas!!! Be sure to share the Book Fair link with friends and family!!
The ONLINE Book Fair link below will be LIVE to shop Wednesday, November 4th through Tuesday, November 17th!
Mark your calendar!
HAPPY READING SUNFLOWER FAMILIES!
SIGN UP LINK
Box Tops for PTO
PTO is looking for a volunteer to head up the Box Top Committee. This is an easy volunteer opportunity that can be done on your own time. Please email sunflowerelementarypto@gmail.com if you have questions or are interested in helping.
5th Grade Recognition
Parents Volunteers are needed for this years 5th grade recognition. Please click the link below to sign up!
Sign Up Link
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c49adac2ba4fb6-5thgrade3
Sunflower Spirit Wear
On Sale Now!
Please visit the following website to order your
Sunflower Elementary School Gear!
https://www.sidelineinkstore.com/sunflower-elem
Check out the website for color and style options - ORDERS DUE BY NOVEMBER 13TH
Questions - Contact Hilary Nauholz (hilaryandtrent@sunflower.com)
Upcoming Events
- 30- No School
November Calendar
- 4-17- Scholastic Virtual Book Fair
- 4-5- (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
- 5- No School
- 6- No School
- 9-Hybrid Model Begins
- 10-Site Council @ 6pm
- 10- PTO Meeting @ 7pm
- 25-27-No School (Fall Break)
- 30- School Resumes
Sunflower Elementary
Email: melissa.blevins@usd497.org
Website: https://www.usd497.org/sunflower
Location: 2521 Inverness Drive, Lawrence, KS, USA
Phone: 785-832-5870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunflowerElementaryLawrenceKS/?rf=143171452380768