Grand Star Elementary

11/9 - 11/11 Tattoo-a-Teacher Holiday Wars

11/13 Color the School! Wear your favorite color loud and proud! (2nd Grade wear field trip shirts)

11/13 2nd Grade Field Trip

11/14 Fall Fest Craft Fair @ GSE 9:00am - 3:00pm

11/16 PTA Meeting @ 6pm

11/16 - 11/20 Scholastic Book Fair

11/17 Blazers Restaurant Day! (see information below)

11/19 Third Grade Musical

District Calendar

PTA Facebook

Sign Up to be a GSE Volunteer

Students who arrive after 8:20 a.m. should check in at the office and pick up a tardy slip to give to their teacher.

If your student’s dismissal plans change, please call the office at 913-856-3750. All changes, including car rider/walker status or who is picking up your student, must come directly from a parent or guardian.

If you email your student’s teacher about a dismissal change, please include our school secretaries: Amy Comstock: comstocka@usd231.com

Jessica Cortright: cortrightj@usd231.com

Every year, GSE teachers face off in a friendly holiday battle: Team Turkey believes Christmas decorations should wait until Thanksgiving, while Team Christmas is ready to decorate as soon as Halloween is over! This year, we’re letting students in on the fun by purchasing Thanksgiving or Christmas themed temporary tattoos for staff. Students can support their teacher’s team or stir up a little holiday trouble by choosing the opposite!

Each purchase benefits the GSE PTA, and the staff member with the most tattoos purchased for them wins a prize!

Scholastic Book Fair is November 16th through November 20

Book Fairs are a great way for kids to choose their favorite books and build their own personal libraries! There will be plenty of opportunities to shop:

• Before School: Daily from 8:00–8:20 a.m. in the library.

• Class Shopping: Students will have a chance to shop with their class.

• Family Night: Join us Thursday, November 19, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. to shop together!

Class Schedule & Volunteers
View your child’s class shopping time or sign up to help with the Book Fair.

Book Fair Information & eWallet
Visit our Book Fair website for more information or to add money to your child’s eWallet.

Questions?
Contact Mrs. Dodge at dodgej@usd231.com.

If there’s something going on that may be affecting your child’s school day, please reach out. I’m here to help, and staying connected allows us to support your child together!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever have questions, concerns, or need support. You can contact me by phone at 913-856-3775, by email at taylorle@usd231.com, or by text at 913-228-3010.

Each week, we share a summary of your student’s Second Step social-emotional learning (SEL) lesson, along with a simple way to practice the skill at home.

If your student is going to be absent please call 913-856-3799 and leave a detailed message with your name, your student's name, and the reason for the absence. You may also send an email to gseattendance@usd231.com.

Please write your child's name on coats, jackets, backpacks, lunch boxes, and other items! If you notice your student is missing an item, please encourage them to visit our Lost and Found, located right outside the gym by the cafeteria.

As we head into fall, please remember that the weather can be unpredictable. We encourage you to send a jacket or sweatshirt with your student and please label it with their name, grade, or initials.

GSE Lunch Schedule:

10:45am - 11:15am First Grade

11:15am - 11:45am Fourth Grade

11:45am - 12:15pm Kindergarten

12:15pm - 12:45pm Third Grade

12:45pm - 1:15pm Second Grade

Rock your Grand Star spirit in some cool new duds!

Click here to shop spirit wear from Simply Me Shirts & Transfers.

If you're reading this, congratulations! Be the first parent or guardian to email Ms. Jessica in the front office at cortrightj@usd231.com with the words "I found it!' and your student's name. Your student will receive a prize!

Click here to access the Harvesters Food Assistance Locator.

Looking for extra support? The Johnson County Emergency Assistance Guide includes local resources for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and more. Find support and resources here.

Laundry Love is a community program that helps families with the cost of doing laundry. During Laundry Love sessions at Legendary Laundry, up to 3 loads per individual or 5 loads per family are covered, and detergent is provided.

Behavior Checker is a free online resource from Johnson County Mental Health Center with practical strategies for common childhood behaviors. Simply choose a behavior or browse by category to find teaching strategies you can try at home.

From bedtime struggles and sibling conflict to tantrums, lying and more, Behavior Checker gives parents and caregivers another tool for navigating the everyday challenges of raising kids.

Explore Behavior Checker: jcmhc.behaviorchecker.org

Resources are also available in Spanish.

Kansas law requires children to use an appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt based on their age, size, and development.

The Gardner Police Department has several trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can help families make sure their child’s car seat is appropriate and properly installed.

📧 To schedule an appointment, please email: carseat@gardnerkansas.gov

A few minutes spent checking your child’s car seat can make a lifesaving difference. Buckle up correctly—every child, every ride!