EDW BRAVE BULLETIN

Dear EDW Community,

As we look ahead to the close of the 2025–2026 school year, I want to share with you that I will be concluding my time as principal of EDW at the end of this school year.

Serving this community has been an incredible honor. From the very beginning, you welcomed me with open arms and truly embraced me as one of your own. I am deeply grateful for the relationships built, the trust shared, and the sense of belonging that makes EDW such a special place.

I am incredibly proud of the hard work we have done together — students, staff, families, and community partners — to make EDW the very best it can be. The growth, resilience, and commitment to doing what is best for students has been inspiring to witness, and I have no doubt that this community will continue to grow, learn, and succeed in the years ahead.

While my role will be changing, my commitment to EDW remains strong. I plan to finish my time here giving everything I have, ensuring a smooth, thoughtful, and successful transition for whoever is blessed to step into the principal role next. Our students, staff, and families deserve nothing less.

Thank you for the care, collaboration, and heart you bring to EDW each day. This community will always hold a special place with me, and I look forward to cheering you on as your journey continues.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Huge thank you to everyone who came out Thursday night and braved the cold and the germs to support EDW! We had a full house, lots of laughs, great food, generous donations, and plenty of winners yelling “BINGO!”

A very special thank you to all of the families who donated items for our bingo baskets, you truly made the night possible and helped make it such a huge success!

We are so grateful to everyone who ate, played, donated, and supported our school. We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year!

Our Spelling Bee last week was a buzzing success! 🐝 After several impressive rounds and some seriously tricky words, Jack Peck spelled his way to victory and took home the top spot, with Savanna Kulick finishing as our runner-up. Congratulations to Jack, Savanna, and all of our brave spellers, we’re so proud of you!

All of our OWL students blasted off together for some out-of-this-world activities as part of their Battle of the Brains project! 🚀 They designed their very own Golden Record, just like the one traveling through space aboard Voyager 1 (now more than a light day away from Earth!). We also kicked off our next unit of study and even watched a live Falcon Dragon rocket launch. What an unforgettable day of learning!

Permission slips were sent home this week, they are due on Monday January 26th! This year, we are selling larger, $2 bars. Stay tuned for chocolate pick up date.

Sales run from February 6th through February 20th. All students wishing to participate must submit a permission slip. Please check your child's backpack for the permission slip, or you can click on the link below to fill out the digital permission slip form. For more details, click on the link below.

Our Lost & Found is officially overflowing and looking for its rightful owners! 🧤🧥
If your child has been missing a jacket, hoodie, lunchbox, or mystery item they swear they didn’t lose, it might be waiting here.
Lost & Found items will be available for pickup through Friday, January 30, 2026. After that, all unclaimed items will be donated. Please come take a peek before your belongings find a new home!

Have you heard our school is participating in One School, One Book?

Check your student’s backpack for your family’s copy of The Very, Very Far North. To ensure each family has one shared book, copies are sent home with the oldest sibling or students without siblings in our building.

Begin reading as a family over winter break and through February. Students and families will read the book together at home while celebrating and exploring the novel at school.

Click here to access chapter read alouds, chapter quizzes, a reading timeline, and more!

Beginning the week of January 19, 2026, District 204 will implement Centegix Visitor Management at all school buildings to strengthen campus security and improve visitor tracking.

How the System Works

-Office staff are available to assist you if you need help using the system

Soft roll-out: Weeks of January 5 & 12

With the help of our amazing EDW PTO, we are offering a variety of volunteer and mentorship opportunities through our Building Braves Volunteer/Mentorship Program. This initiative is designed to strengthen the partnership between home and school while giving parents and guardians meaningful ways to support our students and staff.

Participating is simple!

• Volunteers will work in the building, but not with students. Examples: Stapling worksheets, making copies, or cutting supplies. With the option to assist with school events, projects, and community activities.

• Mentors will work with students. Examples: being a lunch buddy, reading buddy, or math facts buddy. This is a great way to build positive, supportive relationships with students who may benefit from extra encouragement.

Those interested will be asked to complete a short, self-paced training. Mentors will also need to consent to a district funded background check, as student safety remains our top priority.

If you would like to get involved or learn more, please complete the Building Braves Interest Form. We would love to welcome you into this growing program and appreciate your partnership in making Edwardsville Elementary a wonderful place for all Braves!

We would like to communicate an update regarding our classroom celebrations, and we want to do so with openness and care.

Our celebrations have always been special opportunities for students to enjoy time together and for families to be part of those moments. We are always looking for ways to perfect and ensure the safest and most positive environment for all children.

With this in mind, and to stay consistent with procedures already in place throughout the district, we will be moving to a new celebration model that focuses on student safety, staff support, and building-wide consistency.

Classroom celebrations will follow these guidelines:

• Each classroom may have two (2) adult volunteers at each celebration

• Teachers will select their volunteers using a method that best fits their classroom needs (interest surveys, rotation, etc.).

• Volunteer names will be shared with the office ahead of time to help with smooth check-in.

• Families who are not attending are still welcome to contribute by sending treats (following allergy guidelines), supplies, or activity ideas that support the celebration.

We understand these changes may feel different, and we truly appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Our goal is always to make school events safe, enjoyable, and memorable for students.

Capture those epic hair days, unforgettable field trips, and the many “I wasn’t ready!” moments of the year. 😄 Scan the QR code below to snag yours for just $15

👉 Online sales only! Yearbooks will be handed out at the end of the year—perfect for signing, doodling, and reminiscing!

The EDW Spirit Wear Store has officially landed and is open for business! If your closet has been feeling a little too quiet lately, it’s probably just begging for some fresh Braves gear. 😉 Let’s gear up and show that school spirit loud and proud!

🧡🖤 Scan the QR code, or click on the "Braves Spirit Wear" link below to place your order, and prepare to be the best-dressed Brave in town!

Hello Braves Families,
January is a great time to focus on our counseling theme of Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution. As students return from winter break, we will help them practice skills to work through challenges, manage disagreements, and make positive choices with peers. Students will learn that conflicts are a normal part of life—and that there are safe, respectful ways to solve them.

📘What We’re Learning in Counseling This month, students will explore:

Identifying problems and naming their feelings
Calming strategies before responding to conflict
Using words to solve problems instead of actions
Listening to others’ perspectives
Finding fair solutions and compromises

📚Book Recommendation of the Month, “Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson

A powerful story that shows how misunderstandings can turn into friendships through communication and problem solving. This book encourages empathy, perspective-taking, and peaceful conflict resolution.

🧩January Problem-Solving Challenge, Students are encouraged to practice problem-solving skills throughout the month by:

Using words to explain how they feel
Taking a break to calm down before responding
Asking for help when needed
Listening to a peer’s side of the story
Trying a compromise or a fair solution

🌟Family Connection, You can support our theme at home by:

Asking, “How did you solve a problem today?”
Modeling calm problem-solving during disagreements
Practicing “I feel” statements
Encouraging children to think of more than one solution

⛄January Reset

The new year is a wonderful opportunity for a fresh start. Together, we will work on building skills that help students feel confident, safe, and successful when challenges arise—both in and out of the classroom.

Contact Me: johnsonja@usd204.net

P: 913-422-4036

January 26th: PTO Candy Sales Permission Slip Due, 4th Grade Field Trip-Topeka Capitol

January 27th: Braves Lead 3:30pm

January 30th: Community Meeting 3:05pm

February 3rd: Braves Lead 3:30pm

February 10th: Braves Lead 3:30pm

February 13th: Valentines Day Party- New party rules apply

February 16th: No School

President: Vacant

Secretary: Vacant

Treasurer: Ashley Shepard

Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Thomas

Event Coordinator: Tiffany McCann

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

edwpto204@gmail.com

COMMUNICATION:

www.facebook.com/edwpto

To help dismissal run smoothly and safely, we ask families to follow our regular dismissal procedures. After the meeting, please exit the building while students return to their classrooms to gather belongings.

If your child is usually a bus rider but you’d like them to be a car rider that day, please call the office before 2:30 PM to let us know. This ensures they will be in the car rider line when dismissal begins at 3:40 PM.

✨ If you need to take your child with you directly after the Community Meeting:

• Report to your child’s classroom after the meeting and sign them out with their teacher.

• If you have more than one child, you must sign out each child in their own classroom. This ensures we know exactly where every student is. Dismissal can be hectic, and bus drivers and car rider staff need to know which students are where. If a student is missing, the school will be contacted to verify whether they were signed out early or simply didn’t make it to their line. The sign-out sheet is how we track this.

• Only one legal guardian should enter each classroom to avoid crowding. Other guests should wait outside or in the car.

• A legal guardian is a biological parent or someone who has provided legal documentation of guardianship. We cannot release students to emergency contacts without prior approval.

• If someone other than a legal guardian will sign out your child, you must call the office before 2:30 PM to give approval.

Teachers’ sign-out sheets list only legal guardians. If someone is not listed and no prior approval was given, your child will follow their normal dismissal routine.

To help families know the best way to get answers quickly and effectively, our school follows a communication matrix flow. This matrix outlines who to reach out to first with different types of questions or concerns, whether it’s about classroom learning, attendance, technology, or school-wide events.

The goal is to connect you directly with the person who can best support your child and provide accurate information right away. By following the communication flow, families experience fewer delays, staff can respond more efficiently, and everyone stays on the same page.

Good attendance is essential for student success. Please call or email (edwsec@usd204.net) between 8:00 AM–3:00 PM on the day of an absence (or send a note within one day of returning) for it to be excused.

👉 Please note: Excused absences have changed — students now have 14 excused absences for the entire school year. They do not reset at semester like before. After 14, a doctor’s note will be required.

• Tardy: Arrivals between 8:30–9:00 AM or leaving after 3:15 PM = tardy (5 tardies = 1 unexcused absence).

• Truancy: 3 consecutive unexcused days, 5 in a semester, or 7 in a year.

For early release, a parent/guardian must come to the office to sign the student out — students may not wait outside.

This year, we will continue to offer private dining for families who would like to have lunch with their child. However, the location has changed since our music room is now in the former private dining space. We have designated the Makerspace (right across from the office) as the new area for you and your child to enjoy lunch together.

Because the Makerspace is a dual-reservation room, used not only for private dining but also for district employees who may need to hold special meetings with families or staff—all private dining must now be reserved in advance. If the room is not available on your requested day, we’ll be happy to help you choose another day, or you are welcome to sign your child out for lunch and return in time for their next class.

Once you have a reservation scheduled, you are still welcome to bring outside food if you choose.

For safety reasons, and to ensure we can properly monitor and accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions, friends are not permitted to join for lunch. This policy helps us maintain a safe and controlled environment for all students.

At the conclusion of lunch (and lots of hugs), your child will return to class with their teacher, and you will depart from the Makerspace. Before leaving the building, please stop by the office to sign out so we can keep our visitor log accurate.

We love celebrating birthdays at school, and we’re excited to welcome parents back to join in the fun! To keep learning on track, all birthdays celebrations will take place at the very end of the day. Store bought treats should be brought in by 3:10 PM or later. This ensures celebrations do not disrupt the school day. As always, you are also welcome to just send the treats in with your child.

📞 Planning Ahead: Please communicate with your child’s teacher or the front office before bringing treats, so we can be ready for visitors and adjust the end-of-day routine as needed.

🎈 Birthday Invitations: If you’d like to distribute invitations at school, please provide one for every student in the class. Otherwise, invitations should be shared outside of school.

For the safety and accountability of each student, only legal guardians are authorized to sign out a student from school. We cannot release a student to a grandparent, sibling, boyfriend, girlfriend, other family members, or friends without prior phone approval from a legal guardian.

Please note that even if someone is listed as an emergency contact in Skyward, they are not considered a legal guardian. We still require a call from the legal guardian before releasing a student to an emergency contact.

Legal guardians include biological parents listed on the birth certificate, foster or adoptive parents, or individuals with court documentation stating they are guardians. This policy is in effect every day, including during parties, celebrations, and assemblies.

Thank you for helping us ensure the safety of all our students!

As we navigate the changing seasons, We want to remind everyone of our recess guidelines and the importance of ensuring students come to school dressed appropriately for the weather.

• Winter Guidelines:

  • If the outside temperature or wind chill is 25-31 degrees, outdoor recess will be limited to 5-10 minutes.
  • If the temperature or wind chill is 24 degrees or below, recess will be held indoors.
  • Recess will also be held indoors during falling precipitation (snow, sleet, rain, etc.).

• Summer Guidelines:

  • Outdoor recess may take place as long as there is no heat index warning in effect.

We appreciate your help in preparing your child with weather-appropriate clothing, such as coats, hats, gloves, or lighter attire as needed for the season. These measures ensure all students can enjoy recess comfortably and safely.

To stay connected, we’re continuing to use Rooms, our two-way communication tool with teachers and staff. The best way to access Rooms is through the USD 204 app, available in the App Store and Google Play. Just search USD 204. You can also access Rooms via a web browser at https://id.thrillshare.com.

• New to the district? You should have received an invitation by text or email to set up your account. If not, submit an account request HERE.

• Returning families: Your login hasn’t changed. Use your email or phone number, or reset your password with “Forgot my password.” If you’re unable to log in or see issues, submit a support request HERE.

• Already have the app? Be sure you’re on the latest version—open your app store, search USD 204, and update if needed.

• Don’t see a class yet? Please be patient—teachers are in the process of publishing their Rooms, and classes will appear as they are set up.

What’s new this year?

SMS Notifications: Receive a text whenever a new message or announcement is sent, with a direct link to view it in your browser or the app. Learn how to set your notification preferences HERE.

• Upgraded Messaging: A single inbox now shows all your messages across all children, with the ability to read, reply, or start new conversations. See additional details HERE.
  

Check out this overview of the new experience or watch this short video to learn more.

Thank you for your patience as we work through any issues together—we’re excited for another great school year!

Administration / Counselor

Nancy Julo, Principal: julon@usd204.net

Scott Geary, Asst. Principal: gearys@usd204.net

Janai Johnson, Counselor: johnsonja@usd204.net

Front Office Staff:

Attendance & Transportation Email: EDWSec@usd204.net

Kelli Wille, Registrar/Secretary: willek@usd204.net

Kristin Rissler, Bookkeeper/Secretary: risslerk@usd204.net

Cherie Coffman, Nurse: coffmanc@usd204.net

(doors open at 8:15am for arrival, tardy bell will ring promptly at 8:30am)

Office #- 913-422-4036

Fax#- 913-298-5190

Transportation #- 913-441-2493