Trail Talk

Valentine's kindness AND Chiefs spirit are in the air! Don't forget to "Train like a Chiefs Champ" on Thursday by wearing Chiefs gear or red! Let's go Kan-Zuh-City!

Stay connected with your Trailblazer Community in 2023 on Facebook and now Instagram!

February 8 Papa Johns (District-wide Event)

• 5665 W. 95th St. Overland Park
• Promo Code: KSS037
• Up to 25% of your purchase price will be donated to SFT!
• Order online at papajohns.com

February 15 Lion's Choice *New Participating Restaurant

• From 4-8 pm
• 10313 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park
• Present the flyer below

Nominations for the SFT PTA board for the 2023-24 school year are now open. Hooray! With several of the current board members reaching the end of their terms this spring, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteer leadership. It’s up to all of us to build a strong PTA board for next year, so let’s GOOOOOOOO!

The officer positions are:
•President
•VP of Membership and Classroom Programs
•VP of Student Programs and Family Events
•VP of Ways and Means
•Treasurer
•Secretary

Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination and self-nominations are quite welcome—encouraged, even. If you have questions about the responsibilities/time commitment/etc. of any of these roles, or to submit a nomination, please email sftptapresident@gmail.com

Nominations are due by March 1.

SFT Students may bring valentines (without food in them) to school by Tuesday, February 14 for distribution. Please send enough for all students in the class. Room parties are scheduled from 2:15 to 2:45 on Feb. 14. Room parents have been provided guidance and only room parents and parents that have signed up to assist with the party may attend.

As a reminder, here are the district's food guidelines for parties:

• All foods, except whole fruits/vegetables, must be in labeled packaging by the manufacturer.
• All labeled food items must be checked by the classroom teacher or school nurse.
• No homemade food items.
• No carbonated sodas or energy drinks.

SFT Families,

Thanks for all you are doing to support our students and staff. We look forward to seeing you at conferences on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 9-10. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have not signed up for a conference yet. Many have a Sign-Up Genius you can utilize to find available times.

We recently celebrated The Kindness Challenge Week at SFT. The students did a great job of helping promote random acts of kindness both at school and home. I want to thank all parents who also participated in Kindness Week by doing one or more of the suggested activities; and I want to express a special thank you to the many parents and students who

consistently lead by example when it comes to being kind and respectful to everyone. Hopefully, The Great Kindness Challenge reminded us all that it is actually fun to be kind to others and continue to surprise others with a random act of generosity or kindness. Let’s all commit to extending Kindness Week to Kindness Year, and then to practicing a lifetime

of kindness!

Educationally yours,

Ms. Leiker

Join us on Friday, February 17 to watch as the SMN Bison basketball teams take on nearby rival Shawnee Mission Northwest at home. Games are at various times throughout the evening, so come early and stay late to cheer on all the teams: freshmen, JV and varsity, both boys and girls. Girls varsity starts at 6:00; boys varsity starts at 7:30. Click here to check the full schedule.

The night will also include a recognition of Shawnee Mission North Hall of Fame athletes, as well as the crowning of the Northman of the Year. It will be a fun experience all around!

Children who wear either a Santa Fe Trail or Shawnee Mission North shirt will get in *free.* Adult admission is $7. Concessions are available for purchase. Joy, fun and masterful athleticism are included with the price of admission. Look for the SFT banner in the main gymnasium to sit with fellow SFT families.

SFT Family Game Night will take place in the gym from 6-8 pm on Feb. 24. Popcorn will be provided. BYO water bottle and we'll have a water bottle filling station.

We need your help to make Family Fun Night happen. Here's how you can chip in:

• Are you are interested in loaning a family/kid friendly game (the committee will take inventory of pieces and tag with name of each loaner)?
• Are you are interested in volunteering to help with the rules and play of the games?

If you said YES! Please contact Cassandra Cox at 913-486-5241 or cassandrabonanomi@gmail.com

The 2023 SFT Luau auction and party will be April 15, 2023 at the American Legion, 7500 W. 75th Street. Book your childcare now and spread the word! A ticket to this adults-only party will include catering from Hawaiian Bros and a night of live music from local artists "Band in a Box". Beverages, BINGO and auction items galore will also be available for purchase. More information on ticket sales coming soon!

The auction committee is still hard at work seeking donations out in the community, and we need the help of the rest of the SFT community. Do you own a business or have a connection to someone who does? Would you personally like to donate an item? Do you have a hobby/craft/skill that produces something that we could auction off? Do you know of a company that would like to be a corporate sponsor? Are you interested in hosting a children's or adult party that auction guests could "buy a ticket" to attend?

If you said yes to any of these questions, please contact auction chair Emily Beecher at polkadotte@gmail.com or (913)475-1978. We are asking for all donations to be in by March 15.

Please help spread the word that Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enrollment is beginning soon! Enrollment opens online at 8 a.m. on Friday, February 10, 2023. Families will be able to complete applications and reserve their spots. Those without technology access are encouraged to contact their area school for Kindergarten. Pre-K families are encouraged to contact the Early Childhood office. Opportunities will be scheduled in the coming weeks for students and families to connect with school staff and learn more about the school experience.

Jen Fescoe has come to SFT after spending the last eight years at Horizons High School teaching PE and Health. Jen also teaches Summer School PE and eschool Fitness for Life and Health. The four years prior to Horizons she even subbed for the PE teacher here at SFT!

After graduating from Pittsburg State University, she worked in the Olathe School District for 3 years before earning her master’s degree in Sports Administration/Sports Marketing from the University Of Kansas. She worked in Professional Sports for 12 years (NC State, Charlotte Bobcats, St. Louis Blues, Royals). Her favorite job was working for the KC Royals, not only because of her love of baseball, but because she met her husband Bob Fescoe while

working there (Fescoe in the Morning 6-10 am on 610 sports radio). With hectic schedules, she decided to return to teaching so they could start a family. Delaney is 13 and Caydee is 12. Both girls attended school at Oak Park Carpenter in SM, and now attend California Trail Middle School in Olathe. Her daughters are involved in both sports and music too. Jen would love to come watch your kiddos too (just email her their schedules).

Jen loves ALL sports, and college basketball is her favorite (ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK), but she also LOVES music, singing, playing the piano, and working out. Jen just completed her 2nd marathon (NYC) on Nov. 6. Jen raised money for Pencils of Promise, an organization that builds schools in third world countries.

Working with other KC non-profits is a passion of Jen’s (Shadow Buddies, BMA Foundation, Variety KC, Fox 4 Love Fund). Jen is a founding Board Member for Noah’s Bandage Project and also a mentor for the “C You in the Major Leagues Foundation” (Dayton Moore’s Foundation). Meetings are every Wednesday night with 20 mentees/20 mentors from the greater KC area. We have several mentees from the SM School District.

Jen is thrilled to be back in the elementary ranks, to be a part of the SFT community, and to explore having FUN through FITNESS!

Our spring book fair is coming soon! Mark your calendars for March 6-9 to shop in-person and help support our school library: proceeds from the book fair help Ms. Wiley-Carter stock the library with much-needed books and resources. This event is a great place to buy birthday-party gifts or fun rewards for your student's good behavior or educational books to keep your child's mind sharp over the summer!

Be on the lookout for more information, including a Signup Genius with opportunities to volunteer.

Kansas is in session! The following topics need your advocacy!

• General Education Funding
• Special Education Funding
• Voucher Bills

Review SMSD's Legislative Advocacy and Platform

Mark your calendar for the 2023 SFT Carnival: Friday, May 5, in the evening. The carnival is always a fan favorite, enjoyed by children and adults alike, but we need lots of volunteers to plan it and pull it off. If you want to be involved in making this year's carnival one to remember, please sign up to volunteer. The planning committee is forming now and we need folks to serve on the committee, fill (many, many) volunteer slots on the night of the event, help with set-up and tear-down, and more. We are also looking to fill the vacancy of event co-chair. (Half of the co-chair duo is already committed; we just need a second half of the duo to share the event leadership duties.)

If you want to be involved (or can be talked into it!), please contact co-chair Shae Paradise for details: 913-575-7505 or Shaestark@gmail.com.

If you know of an SFT teacher or staff member who deserves a high-five for a job well done, the SMSD All Star Award form is available for nominating exemplary personnel throughout the school year and nominations are reviewed monthly. The nomination form is short and sweet: fill out this form.

Laney was presented an Award of Excellence in the National PTA Reflections competition for her music composition at the January 23 board meeting. We are so proud of you!

See the full story here!

Feb. 8 --> WCW Papa Johns

Feb. 9 --> Evening Conferences 4:30-7:30

Feb. 10 --> No School, Conferences 8:00-3:30

Feb. 14 --> Valentine's Parties 2:15-2:45

Feb. 15 --> WCW Lion's Choice

Feb. 17 --> SFT Night at SMN

Feb. 20 --> No School, President's Day

Feb. 24 --> SFT Family Fun Night

Mar. 1 --> PTA Nominations Due

Mar. 6-9 --> Book Fair

Mar. 8 --> Variety Show

Mar. 10 --> No School, Teacher Workday

Mar. 13-17 --> No School, Spring Break

Mar. 20 --> Beginning of 4th Quarter

Apr. 15 --> Spring Auction

Apr. 20 --> Kindergarten Roundup

May 5 --> SFT Carnival

Email: sftptapresident@gmail.com
Website: www.sftpta.com
Location: 7100 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/371636722923691/