Family News from the Nest

Email: roek@parkhill.k12.mo.us
Website: http://englishlanding.parkhill.k12.mo.us
Location: 6500 NW Klamm Dr, KCMO, MO, United States
Phone: 816-359-4370
Twitter: @EnglishLanding

Monday, February 15, 2016: President's Day! School is not in session!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016: English Landing SPIRIT Day

(Wear EL spirit wear or school colors: red, white, or blue)

Wednesday, February 17, 2016: Second Grade Music Program Dress Rehearsal: 2:30pm

Thursday, February 18, 2016: Second Grade Evening Music Program: 7:00pm (Gym)

• Students report to their second grade classroom 6:45pm to 7:00pm
  
• If families arrive before 6:45pm, second grade students should sit and wait with their family in the Gym. Thank you!

In last week's SMORE, inaccurate information was shared regarding the fourth grade teams that placed at the recent Mathletic Competition. Due to the seating arrangement of one fourth grade team, the team number written on the printed math packet and team number posted on the name tag did not correspond causing an error in identifying which fourth grade teams placed in this competition.

Tied for 2nd Place (13 points):

Team 412: Jake Bates, Austin Felton, and Paige Mazeitis

Team 414: Aidan Seymour, Jack Francis-Cummins, and Luke Waller

3rd Place Overall (10 points):

Team 411: Max Casey, Tory Abrahamson, and Brady O’Hara

Congratulations to our fourth grade mathletes!

Thank you! We had 477 students and their families attend Student-Led Conferences on Tuesday. If you were unable to attend this event, please contact your child's classroom teacher, so he or she can make arrangements for you.

Elementary Early Release Days provide additional professional development and collaboration time between buildings. Of the eight early release days that were added to the elementary calendar, four are district planned professional development/ collaboration and four are building based. These Early Release Day topics are planned based on input from teachers and need for more information or practice, such as the implementation of new district curriculum. All eight days continue to follow the same format: professional development time (new learning or practice) followed by collaboration time focused on the learning presented.

On Thursday, each grade level met at a different elementary school location throughout the district. At English Landing, we hosted 41 first grade teachers and practiced strategies to increase the feedback we provide to our student writers during the conferring portion of Writer's Workshop. At the beginning of the year, we focused our Early Release time on the structure of a mini-lesson which is another essential component of the Writer's Workshop model. We know that the mini-lesson is the most efficient use of teaching time. But, the conference is the most effective teaching time. Since English Landing hosted all of the first grade teachers in the district, we recruited some first grade student writers to help teachers practice these strategies during the professional development session.

The First Grade students who participated in this practice session of the training were: Mallory Crane, Reese Eisenmenger, Alex Gabrick, Eden Gilley, Elle Saunders, Christopher Titus, Anna Wallace, Katelyn Gimple, Evan Gimple, Charlotte Parsley, Jake Hensel, Maiah Osterhaus, and Darren Burneson.

We are preparing for the ninth annual English Landing Student and Staff Basketball Game on March 17, 2016. Right now grade level teachers are preparing a theme basket filled with donated items which will be raffled off on the night of the basketball game.

Each English Landing student will receive one FREE ticket for a chance to WIN the grade level theme basket of his/her choice. Students will be able to purchase additional basket tickets ($1.00). Basket Ticket Sales will begin on Monday, February 29, 2016.

The Grade Level Theme Baskets will be on display in the English Landing Front Lobby beginning on February 26, 2016 through March 17, 2016.

Kindergarten Theme Basket: Sporting KC and Soccer FUN!
First Grade Theme Basket: Star Wars!
Second Grade Theme Basket: Lego FUN!
Third Grade Theme Basket: Summer Time FUN!
Fourth Grade Theme Baskets: MU Basket and KU Basket
Fifth Grade Theme Basket Combination: Royals and Chiefs

If your family would like to make a donation to a grade level theme basket, please bring the donation to school before February 19, 2016.

Thank you for your assistance!

Second Grade

February 18, 2016 7:00pm "A Race to the Finish"

First Grade

March 10, 2016 7:00pm "Kitty Cat Capers"

Kindergarten

April 21, 2016 7:00pm "Goldie and the Three Bears"

English Landing PTA Unit Meetings

• February 29, 2016 (11:45am in Flex Classroom) CHANGE!
  
• May 2, 2016 (11:45am in Flex Classroom) CHANGE!

March 10, 2016: Elementary Schools Dismiss at 1:30pm

April 14, 2016: Elementary Schools Dismiss at 1:30pm

May 12, 2016: Elementary Schools Dismiss at 1:30pm

As families begin to make plans for Take Your Child To Work Day (April 28, 2016), I want to make sure you have accurate information regarding a CHANGE in how student attendance will be documented on this day.

In the previous school years, a letter has been sent home with all Park Hill elementary students stating that they would be counted present at school if a signed form and Take Your Child to Work Day reflection activity was returned. This will not be the case beginning this year since following this former practice would violate the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines regarding student attendance.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education language regarding daily student attendance states: “Students must be in attendance in an instructional capacity under the direct supervision of a certificated employee of the district to be counted for attendance purposes.” Therefore, if students are absent, for part or all of the day, on Take Your Child To Work Day (Thursday, April 28th), they will be counted as absent for the time they are not in school.

In Park Hill at the elementary level, we do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. Therefore, when a student is absent, it is simply counted as an absence. At English Landing Elementary School, we do not recognize perfect (100%) attendance. We strive for student attendance to be at or above 95%.

I encourage you to make the decision that best meets the needs of your child/family when determining if your child will participate in Take Your Child To Work Day (April 28, 2016). Please let me know if you have any additional questions regarding attendance procedures for Take Your Child to Work Day (April 28, 2016).

Sincerely,

Dr. Kerry Roe

Park Hill Star Award

Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students.

That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher and a support employee.

Anyone can nominate an employee for this award by using the form below. It asks you to share how your nominee demonstrates our district values of continuous improvement, high expectations, integrity, visionary leadership and student focus. You can also share how your nominee supports the goals in our district’s strategic plan.

Please nominate a Park Hill Star today!

Park Hill Star nomination form

8:30 am First Bell Rings and Students Go To Grade Level Classroom

8:40am Tardy Bell Rings and School Officially Begins

3:30pm Evening Dismissal

Park Hill Parent/Student Handbook Reference:

Students may arrive at school up to 15 minutes (8:25 am) before the start of the

school day (8:40am).

We need your help! We have new faces on our English Landing team, so please help us by having your blue car rider sign with you when you are picking up your child during evening dismissal. If you do not have a blue car rider sign and would like one, please stop by the school office so we can make one for you.

In following Park Hill safety processes, if our English Landing office staff does not recognize a parent or guardian, a photo identification (example-driver's license) will be reviewed before your child is released to you.

Thank you for helping us provide a safe dismissal process.

We need your help!

Please call the English Landing Office at 359-4370 (Attendance Line-Press 2) or e-mail Mrs. Gadd at gaddb@parkhill.k12.mo.us when you know your child will not be attending school that day.

At 9:30am we will send parents/families a school messenger voice mail of students who are absent if we haven't received a prior notification from a parent. Thank you for your help!

We previously shared in the English Landing Back to School Family Newsletter the steps families need to take if you want your child to be included on the Image and Contact Information Opt Out List.

Park Hill Parent/Student Handbook Reference:

Throughout the school year, the Park Hill School District and/or English Landing might take pictures or video and release personal information about students for promotion.

Examples might include but are not limited to:

· A special event or program at a school might be covered by a newspaper or television station, resulting in student interviews and pictures.

· Award-winning students might have their names and photos published in a local newspaper, a school newsletter, the districts “First Hand” e-newsletter, the districts “Park Hill Connection” newsletter or on Park Hill TV-Channel 18.

· The district or school might post pictures of school activities on webpages and social media.

If you do not want your child’s image or information used, please contact the English Landing office at 359-4370 to complete a 2015-2016 Denial to Release Information Form.

District Vision

Building Successful Futures - Each Student - Every Day

English Landing Vision

Our vision is that all English Landing students will meet grade level expectations and demonstrate responsible citizenship.

English Landing Values

1. We will embrace a welcoming climate.

2. Safety will be a priority.

3. Students and staff will strive for excellence.

4. We will promote collaboration and community involvement.

5. Our school will model life skills.

6. Diverse cultures will be respected.

7. We will practice positive communication.

8. Our school will encourage leadership.

English Landing Strategic Focus Areas

Academic

Climate

Employee

English Landing School Improvement Priority Goals

• EL Students will report English Landing is Meeting their Needs increased from 89.5% to 94.7% during the 2014-2015 school year and will increase from 94.7% to 100% during the 2015-2016 school year. (Balanced Scorecard #17)
• EL Families will report English Landing is Meeting their Child’s Individual Needs increased from 80.9% to 84.9% during the 2014-2015 school year and will increase from 84.9% to 100% during the 2015-2016 school year. (Balanced Scorecard #19)