The Eagle Soars
Back to School - August 2018 - Sunflower Elementary
About Us
Email: jacobsc@usd231.com
Website: www.usd231.com/se
Location: 775 North Center Street, Gardner, KS, USA
Phone: 913-856-3700
Counting Down
We wanted to get another newsletter sent out to everyone with some initial important information about back to school events and what to expect the first couple of days (car line info, dismissal times, etc.).
So, welcome back Eagles!!! It's going to be great!
Welcome from Dr. Jones
Dear Students and Families,
I hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful summer. I trust you are relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year! As I begin my second year at Sunflower, I want you to know how honored I am to serve as your principal. I am committed to ensuring students experience meaningful and personal growth every day. For those students and families who are new, I am delighted you are joining our learning community! Our teachers and staff are caring, innovative, and always learning something new for the benefit of our students. We are a collaborative and driven group of educators who strive to provide a nurturing environment in which students can develop their academic and social/emotional capacities.
Sincerely,
Jason Jones, Ed.D.
Principal
BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS IN AUGUST
August 13 Kindergarten Parent Night 6:00 pm - The kindergarten teachers will host a special meeting for all kindergarten parents. Childcare will be provided.
August 13 Preschool Parent Night 6:00 pm - The preschool teachers will host a special meeting for all preschool parents. Childcare will be provided.
August 14 First Day of School for Grades K-4 - Early Dismissal at 11:25 am (no lunch served). It's Aloha Day - wear bright colors, Hawaiian shirts, grass skirt, etc.
August 15 First Day of School for Preschool - Full Day for Grades K-4
August 30 Watch D.O.G.S. & Eagle M.O.M.S. Kickoff 6:00 pm - Come have supper and find out how Dads of Great Students can spend time at school and become positive role models for the Sunflower students. Something new will also be introduced!
Welcome To Our New Staff Members!
We are thrilled with the level of expertise our new staff members are bringing to complement the talents of our existing staff. Join us in welcoming the following individuals to the Sunflower family:
Kindergarten - Kristine Culbertson
Second Grade - Katlyn Nemitz
Third Grade - Lauren Ridley
Fourth Grade - Ryan Root
Music - Ben Wray
Life Skills Para - Jessica Klamm
Some of our current staff members have new assignments and/or responsibilities:
Interrelated Resource Special Education - Jessica Malter (Full-time)
Library Media Specialist - Julie Rains
Physical Education - Crystal Engemann
First Grade - Kristy Winter
Second Grade - Cheryl Holtgraver
Second Grade - Christi Claycamp
Office Assistant - Christine Jacobs
Preschool Para - Andrea Kleinsorge (Full-time)
Sunflower PTO
We invite everyone to join the Sunflower PTO Facebook page. By searching "Gardner Sunflower PTO" under Pages, you will be able to join the group and receive updated PTO information.
Drop Off and Pickup...Intimidating?
Our car line can be intimidating. If you follow these simple rules, it's a breeze!
At Meet the Teacher Night, you will receive a sign with your child's name on it. When you pick up your child in the car line, please hang this sign up on your rear view mirror. Even if your current after school plan is for your child to walk home or ride the bus or go to JCPRD, please take your sign home. There might be a day when you will need to pick up your child in the car line.
Please take a look at the document link below for more detailed drop off and pickup instructions!
In Case Of An Absence...
SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR...
Please use our new online absence reporting link to report all school absences by 9:00am for EACH day your student will be absent. There is an icon on our website at http://www.usd231.com/se for our new online absence reporting link.You can also call in student absences to the absentee line at 913-856-3749.
If your student is going to be late to school for any reason, please make sure and let our office know ahead of time (if possible).
EARLY CHECKOUT...
Students will not be called out of class until a parent is present to sign them out. Please plan ahead for appointments, as we would like to minimize missed class time.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST...
If you notify your student's teacher of an absence, please also let the office know. Everybody's lives are crazy and busy...everybody's human...everybody can forget to forward an email on to the appropriate person. So, if you send an email to your student's teacher about an absence, please "cc" Christine (jacobsc@usd231.com) and Janet (mcconvillej@usd231.com). That way, at least one of us gets the email and gets it taken care of right away. Thank you!!
SCHOOL SAFETY
If you need to drop off something for your student, for example, their lunch, there will be a table available for parents to drop it off each time as well. Just make sure to notify the front office who the item(s) are for.
Click here for a quick video if you aren't familiar with the procedures or if you want a refresher!
What's for Lunch (and Breakfast)?
Click here for our lunch schedule and lunch menus. There's also an app that you can download for your phone called "Nutrislice" where you can pull up the breakfast and lunch menus.
Click here for our District Nutrition Services webpage where you can catch up on the latest special events, order classroom catering, apply for free & reduced lunches, and see the lunch prices for the 18-19 school year.
To pay for lunches, you can either pay online via Skyward (the same way you paid for the $70 Instruction Material fee when you enrolled) or bring cash or check into the school office.
Young Rembrandts Art Classes
Sunflower Site Council Meetings 2018-2019
The Sunflower Site Council will be meeting at 6 pm in the library on the following dates: 9/11/18, 11/13/18, 2/5/19, 4/9/19.
All meetings are open to the public.
Kansas schools are required to establish site councils composed of the principal, teachers and other school personnel, parents, business representatives, and other community groups.
Site councils have a responsibility to provide advice and counsel in the following areas: evaluating district and school performance goals and objectives, determining methods to meet those goals and objectives, and other areas as requested by the board of education.
Remember, the work of the site council is advisory only; it makes recommendations, not decisions.