Hello Panther Families!

As we gear up for another exciting academic year, we want to extend a warm welcome to both our returning families and those who are joining us for the first time. We are thrilled to have you as part of our school community!

At Prairie Creek we are dedicated to providing your child with the best possible education and fostering an environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our passionate and experienced team of educators is prepared to guide, inspire, and challenge your children as they embark on this new journey of learning.

As you talk with your child every night about their school day, I want you to ask them, “What did you learn today?” versus asking them, “ What did you do today?”. There is quite a

difference in those two questions.

We value and appreciate your involvement in your child's education.

One of things I noticed during my first year as the principal here at Prairie Creek was how you supported our school in so many ways. It's clear to me how you value your child’s education and take an active role.

Like last year, there will be numerous occasions for you to get involved in school activities, committees, and events. Your support, whether through volunteering to help with events that our PTO plans, attending school functions, or participating in fundraising efforts, greatly contributes to the overall success of our school community.

Clear and open communication is a cornerstone of our Home/School partnership. We encourage you to reach out to your child's teachers, counselors, and administrators with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have throughout the year.

Regular updates about your child's progress and school activities will be shared through our school messenger emails, school website, monthly newsletters, and Facebook posts. Individual classrooms also have newsletters, emails, and posts that that would love for you

to read to stay up to date on the latest classroom happenings.

Please be sure to keep the school informed of any updated phone numbers or email addresses.

We are excited about the potential and possibilities that this school year holds. Together, we will nurture your child's growth, curiosity, and love for learning.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education.

Here's to a successful, inspiring, and fulfilling academic year ahead!

Warm regards,

Mr. Springer

Principal

Hello! We are off to an awesome start of our new year!

We’ve been singing, dancing, playing instruments, learning new belts on our recorders (4th and 5th ) and singing some great patriotic songs.

The third grade is getting ready to play recorders by learning about the recorder, its history, reading notes on the staff and so much more. Third grade parents will soon be receiving a note about ordering recorders for their child.

If any 4th or 5th grade students need a new recorder, I have new ones available to purchase for $7.00.

Prairie Creek Singers is off to a fantastic start with 47 members!

This choir is made up of 4th and 5th graders who love to sing!

We have our first performance on September 30th , 4:00 p.m. at the Amphitheater in Central Park for Greater Andover Days.

The kids are working hard and getting ready to pick their t-shirts for the new year.

My goal for each class I teach is that the students Sing, Move, Play Instruments, Listen to music by great composers or groups, read music and have FUN! That’s a lot to cover in 45 minutes but it is all so important.

I LOVE teaching your children.

PROGRAM DATES

Please mark your calendars with the following program dates.

The K-2 program will be on Thursday, February 8th , 7:00 p.m. at Andover Central HS auditorium.

The 3-5 program will be on Thursday, March 7th , 7:00 p.m. at Andover Central HS auditorium.

****SPECIAL NOTE**** The 3-5 program is the night right before Spring Break starts. I wanted to make sure you all knew in plenty of time. It was not my first choice for the program but the scheduling for all the schools on the south side, band, orchestra, choir and three elementary is not easy.

To be honest we elementary schools are guests at the high school and everyone else has priority over us. I’m just happy we get to use their facility.

I hope this gives you an idea of what your children are doing in music class. We have such fun!

Thank you for such great children to teach

Becky Routh

Hello from the Art Room!

I’m so excited to be back in the art room with all of our wonderful Prairie Creek students.

We are beginning the year learning about what respect looks like in the

art classroom; listening with our whole body; and the Elements of Art and Design.

Third, fourth, and fifth grades are beginning the year by creating a grade level

mural filled with line, shape, and color to be displayed at the Andover District Office.

These displays will be up for a short time for you to view, beginning on

Monday, September 11, until the end of the month.

Kindergarten, first, and second grades are also beginning the year creating with line, shape, and color.

Line, shape, and color are three elements of art and design.

We will learn about the rest of the elements of art and design throughout the

year (texture, value, space, form).

Here are some items I could use in the art room:

Clean cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream containers

Clean egg cartons

Craft/art materials you no longer need or want

Artfully,

Mrs. Clark

Thank you to everyone who supported the Welcome Back Staff Breakfast! It was wonderful!

T-shirt orders are complete and will be sent home when ready. If you missed this opportunity to order, we hope to reopen the store later in the fall!

Events coming up:

9/7 1st General PTO Meeting, 630pm, Prairie Creek Library

Childcare provided, everyone welcome

9/7 Pizza Hut Night, 4-8pm

Order Pizza Hut for dinner and support PCE

9/28 Picture Day

We are looking for 2-3 volunteers to help the kiddos

9/30 Greater Andover Days Parade - More details to come

We will be walking in the parade, which begins at 10am. Wear your Prairie

Creek gear and bring some candy to pass out along the route!

One of the easiest ways to support PTO can happen in just a few clicks!

Designate Prairie Creek Elementary PTO as your Amazon Smile Charity and on your Dillons Reward Card as the community partner. A portion of your purchases spent at these places will be directly donated back to PTO once you make PCE PTO as your selection. Click here for more info:

https://www.dillons.com/hc/help/faqs/community-rewards/general

https://smile.amazon.com/charity?orig=%2Fcharity%2Fselect

If you have any questions or comments we would love to hear them, our email is prairiecreekelementarypto@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you all and eagerly anticipate a fantastic 2022-2023 school year!

Your PTO Board: Lindsay Triplett, Kelci Engle, Kaitlyn Archibald, Miranda Vancilll, Becky Hesse, and Molly Tallman

We will be using Iseman Photography again this year.

Here is a note from them, regarding the purchasing process:

Parents and Students -

"Picture Day will be Thursday September 28.

You will receive a Pete Iseman Photography / Photoday flyer via email. The email has each student’s specific code with instructions on how to enter their own personal gallery. If you do not receive the email message, please check your spam folder or contact Pete Iseman directly at wichitaphoto@gmail.com to request your code. A master access code list is also available in the school office.

Similar to last year, Iseman is offering an AdvancePay credit opportunity to help save on your order. Anyone who purchases a credit through the Photoday app to be used on their eventual order will get free shipping and 10% discount on your order. If the credit is not used or partially used, it stays on your account and can be used at a later time.

For those that would prefer to access the image galleries on their computer browser they can click here and use the same access codes: MY.PHOTODAY.com"