Prairie Creek Panther Post

We have officially entered May, and it is always one of the most exciting and busy months at Prairie Creek!

We kick things off with Staff Appreciation Week (May 4–8)—a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and spoil our incredible teachers and staff. Thank you in advance for your support in helping make this week special; please check out the SignUp Genius for ways to contribute treats and fun surprises, along with links to staff “favorite things.” We kindly ask that items be sent in by Monday morning if possible.

Signup Genius

Staff Favorites

We will continue the celebration with a staff breakfast on May 13, where Mrs. Seibel will provide burritos and welcomes any additional breakfast items to share. You may bring items for the May 13 breakfast on May 12 or by 8:00 AM on May 13. Signup Here

Our 5th graders have several exciting events ahead, including their visit to ACMS on May 5 at 1:00 PM, as well as an informational night for incoming 6th grade families at ACMS on May 6 from 5:30–6:30 PM (presentation begins in the gym). They will also attend Razzle Dazzle at ACHS on May 6 at 12:45 PM. Don’t forget our final PTO meeting of the year on May 5 at 6:00 PM, and we will wrap up the week with our last Clubs Day on May 8.

Finally, We need your feedback about our Title One School. If you could take a minute to fill out the survey below we would appreciate it!

Thank you for helping us make this a joyful and memorable end to the school year!

May 2026

Character Word: Self Direct

🍎 Week of May 4 – May 8
- - All Week: Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week 🎉
  - Tuesday, May 5
  - Wednesday, May 6
  - Friday, May 8

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing parents, students, and staff for making Principal’s Day so special. I truly loved all of the thoughtful cards the students created, and the special book from 3rd grade meant so much to me. The thumbprint picture is something I will treasure, and the smiles and hugs throughout the day were the best gift of all. You are the reason Prairie Creek is such a wonderful place to be each day. I am so grateful for each and every one of our families and feel lucky to serve this incredible community.

As a Title I school, Prairie Creek Elementary receives federal funding that allows us to provide additional supports for our students and staff. Each year, we are required to gather feedback from families to help ensure these funds are being used in ways that best support student success. Through our Title I funding, we are able to provide additional teacher aides in classrooms, and beginning next year we will also have a Title I Interventionist who will support students with behavior, math, and reading. These funds also allow us to provide professional learning for teachers, including sending staff to phonics training, and offering additional support in strategies such as Capturing Kids’ Hearts and Kagan cooperative learning. Title I funding also helps us host family engagement events, such as our Open House, Art Show, and Literacy Night, which give families opportunities to connect with their child’s learning. Your voice is very important to us, so please take a moment to complete the brief survey below and let us know if you feel these supports benefit our students and school community.

Survey Here

Prairie Creek Singers will meet Tuesday.

Can you believe we’re already at the finish line? It feels like we just opened our first books of the year! To help us get our library ready for the summer break, please take note of the following deadlines and details:

📚All library books are due back by Friday, May 8th. Now is the perfect time to peek under beds, check the back seats of cars, and rummage through those corners. We want to make sure every book finds its way back to its home on our shelves!

🔍Lost Items & Assessments

We understand that sometimes life happens and a book might go missing. Here is how we will handle it:

Lost Status: Any book not returned will be marked as "lost" and fees will be assessed.
Assessments: Fees will be assessed for any items that are permanently lost or damaged.
The "Grace" Window: Don't panic quite yet! I will talk with the students about any missing books, and provide a short grace period after the 8th to allow for last-minute returns before I begin sending out notices.

Please note that any outstanding library fines not settled by the end of the school year will be added to PowerSchool.

Thank you all so much for a wonderful year!

Mrs. McMains

Library Website:

https://sites.google.com/usd385.org/prairie-creek-library/home

During Counselor time over the next two weeks Kindergarten through Fifth grade students will be doing an end of the year autograph activity to wrap up the 25-26 school year! It’s hard to imagine we’re already at this point! What a great school year it’s been!

Teacher (and all staff) Appreciation Week is here - next Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8th! Lets spoil the Prairie Creek staff! Attached is a sign up genius to help us create some yumminess and fun each day! We appreciate any support given!! Please have all items to school by Monday morning, if possible! There is also a link to the teachers favorite things in the sign up genius description. Thank you!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C094FAFA82AA4F85...

May 2026

Character Word-Self-Direct

Week of May 11 – May 15
- Monday, May 11
- Tuesday, May 12
- Wednesday, May 13
- Thursday, May 14
- Friday, May 15
🏁 Week of May 18 – May 22
- Monday, May 18
- Tuesday, May 19
- Wednesday, May 20
- Thursday, May 21
- Friday, May 22
Week of May 25 – May 29
- Monday, May 25
- Tuesday, May 26

Arrival and Dismissal

School Hours: 8:45-3:45 (All Day Kindergarten – Fifth Grade)

Doors Open at 8:35. Dismissal begins at 3:45.

8:35 - 11:50 (A.M. Pre-K and Early Childhood)

12:30 - 3:45 (P.M. Pre-K and Early Childhood)

Arrival - The doors will remain locked until our first bell at 8:35 A.M. If you are in the Car Rider Line, children may NOT exit your vehicle, until the doors open. If you need to walk your child to class, or visit the office, you must enter the North Side of the building, and check-in through the Office. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. This is a District Wide Mandate, and it will be followed, as it ensures the safety of our staff and our students.

Late Arrivals after 8:45 A.M. - The school day starts at 8:45 A.M. Promptly at 8:45 A.M. Bell, the East and West Exterior Doors will be locked. If your child arrives late, please drop your child off at the front of the building which faces the YMCA. Students will be checked in, lunch order taken, and students will be given a tardy slip to enter their classroom.

Dismissal - All Prairie Creek KG - 5th Grade families will be given a Car Rider Number. This number MUST be displayed in order for your child to be released to you in the Car Rider Line. Please have your Card Rider Sign clear and visible in your windshield. If there is no Car Rider Sign, the parent/guardian will be asked to go to the Office to pick up their student(s). This is for the safety and well-being of our staff and students, and there will be no exceptions. While in the Car Rider Line, it is important that you pull up as far as possible to allow us to dismiss students smoothly and quickly. Parents are NOT allowed to park and walk up to get their students. This creates an unsafe situation and will not be allowed. Please watch your speed and attention while in the Car Rider area, as there are many students exiting their cars and/or walking home.

Car Rider Pickup and Dropoff for PreK & Early Childhood is on the East Side of the Building, next to the YMCA Turf Fields. Parents will enter from YMCA Drive.

Car Rider Pickup and Dropoff for Kindergarten - 5th Grade is on the West Side of the Building. The line will form on the road in front of the Farha Center. Parents should NOT try to drive south on Yorktown, and attempt to make a left hand turn into the Parking Lot!

Week of May 4th Week of May 4th

📆 Our Schedule This Week 📆 Our Schedule This Week

Thank you from Mrs. Seibel 💛🖤 Thank you from Mrs. Seibel 💛🖤

Title One Survey Title One Survey

A Note From Music A Note From Music

A Note From the Library 📚 A Note From the Library 📚

Counselors Corner🎒 Counselors Corner🎒

A Note From PTO 🏫 A Note From PTO 🏫

A Note from our Nurse 👩🏻‍⚕️ A Note from our Nurse 👩🏻‍⚕️

🍕 Weekly Lunch Menu 🍕 Weekly Lunch Menu

🙌 TAKE A LOOK INSIDE PCES 🙌 TAKE A LOOK INSIDE PCES

💡Reminders 💡Reminders

📆Upcoming Dates this Month 📆Upcoming Dates this Month

Arrival and Dismissal