Shayne Stars Family Newsletter

We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Only one week left until Spring Break! This week brings many dress up days, guest readers, and fun with books for Read Across America Week! Also, please remember that Friday is a half day PreK pick up is 10:30, K-5 is 11:30.

Feb 28- March 6 - Book Fair Open

March 3-7 Read Across America Week & Dress Up

March 7- 1/2 day for students

March 8-14 Spring Break

April 14-25 TCAP for Grades 3-5

April 18- No School

This year, MNPS is offering free take home meals for students observing Ramadan. Please complete the following form if you would like to take home the meals. If you have more than one child, please make sure to include them. Please complete this form by Monday March 3. Thank you!

It is time to clean out the lost and found! Everything left on Friday will be donated. Our lost and found is overflowing with jackets, coats, water bottles, etc. If your child is missing something, please remind them to check the lost and found. We will be reminding students as well. As always, please make sure to put your child's name on their items. Thank you!!

This month's counseling focus:

1. Conflict Resolution
2. Test Taking Strategies

Our English Language Learners will begin taking ELPA starting February 3rd. Please reach out if you have any questions! More information in the translated flyers linked below.

Dr. Battle sent this message. We wanted to ensure you'd seen it. Please continue to reach out with any questions.

Dear MNPS Families, Staff, and Community:

Over the last several years, our MNPS community has faced profound challenges — from the pandemic to unexpected tragedies. The heartbreaking events at Antioch High School this past week have added to those burdens, leaving many of us navigating emotions like grief, uncertainty, fear, and anger. These feelings are a natural part of the healing process and require time, compassion, and understanding to address. While our community has always overcome adversity by showing care, strength, and generosity, we know it does not happen quickly.

In the wake of this tragedy, we are committed to supporting our students, staff, and families. At Antioch High School and across our district, we are taking decisive steps to provide emotional and mental health resources, ensure safety, and move forward together as a community.

Support for Emotional Well-Being
When students return to Antioch High School on Tuesday, the first week will not be a typical school week. Instead, it will focus on grief counseling, mental health support, restorative practices, and community-building activities to help students process their emotions and begin the path to healing. These resources will be available districtwide for any student or staff member in need.

Supporting the Antioch Community
Join us in showing solidarity and support for the Antioch High School community by wearing Antioch apparel or the school colors — Royal Blue and White — on Monday, January 27. Together, we can stand united in love and support for students, families, and staff as they begin the journey of healing.

Additionally, the Nashville School Violence Support & Healing Fund, activated by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, is providing critical resources for those affected by this tragedy. Donations to the fund will go directly toward supporting the Antioch High School community and addressing immediate and long-term needs.

To learn more or contribute, visit The Community Foundation's website.

Addressing Social Media Threats and Rumors
It’s not uncommon after a school tragedy to see a rise in social media threats and rumors. While some of these may be fueled by genuine fear or confusion, others stem from misguided attempts at humor or even malicious intent. Regardless of the source, the impact is harmful — disrupting learning, causing panic, and increasing anxiety.

We are working closely with our law enforcement partners at the Metro Nashville Police Department to investigate these threats thoroughly. Several individuals, including students, have already been identified and face serious legal and disciplinary consequences.

Families, we need your help in addressing this issue. Please have open conversations with your children about the seriousness of spreading threats or rumors, whether in person or online. Together, we can create a culture where safety is valued and harm is prevented.

Enhanced Safety Measures
Safety remains our highest priority. At Antioch High School, we are piloting a new Evolv weapons detection system that uses advanced technology to screen for prohibited items. This system, already in use at venues like Nissan Stadium, allows for faster and less intrusive entry while enhancing security. This initial pilot will give us data and information to inform future logistical and funding plans, with the support of the Board of Education, for additional security measures at other schools moving forward.

As we explore enhancements, we remain committed to implementing our existing safety measures and procedures with high fidelity. Our comprehensive school safety plans, developed in coordination with the police department, include training, drills, and safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to our buildings and to protect our students and staff.

In partnership with the Metro Nashville Police Department, we’ve ensured police presence at all schools, created new positions to support safety protocols, and invested in technologies such as shatter-resistant film, audio enhancement systems with emergency alerts, and upgraded security camera networks. These measures complement existing features designed to promote safety both during daily operations and in emergencies.

We believe that relationships are critical to maintaining a safe school environment. By fostering strong connections with students, staff, and families, we create a culture of trust where concerns can be addressed proactively. We also encourage everyone in our school communities to remember: if you see something, say something. Open communication and vigilance are essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in our schools.

What You Can Do to Help
Parents and guardians, your partnership is essential during this time. Here’s how you can support your child and our efforts:

• Talk to your children about their feelings and experiences.
• Review with them what they bring to school to ensure compliance with safety measures.
• Encourage them to speak up if they see or hear something concerning.
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Looking Ahead
The events of this week have deeply shaken our community, but they have also reminded us of the resilience, strength, and compassion that define us. While healing will take time, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide safe, supportive, and enriching learning environments for every student.

Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time. Your continued support and collaboration make a difference as we navigate this together.

With love and gratitude,

Dr. Adrienne Battle
Superintendent, Metro Nashville Public Schools

Shayne Elementary is a Promising Scholars site again this summer! Please follow the link below to learn more.

It's happening!! We are starting a STAR store for students to buy prizes with STAR bucks that they earn for House points, attendance, and above and beyond behavior. Families, you can support this by making sure your child is at school everyday- on time and ready to learn! The STAR Store opens on the last Friday of every month.

Here's a brief overview of how your child earns STAR bucks:

• House Points:
• Most amount of points: 15 STAR bucks
• 2nd most points: 10 STAR bucks
• 3rd most points: 5 STAR bucks
• 4th most: 0 STAR bucks
• Attendance: every Friday afternoon, students who have been at school ALL week, earn 5 STAR bucks.
• Above and Beyond: all staff have extra STAR bucks to give out to students going above and beyond. Ex: cleaning up something that isn't theirs, standing up for a peer when someone else is being mean, helping a friend, etc.

As we welcome this cooler weather, please make sure to put your child's name in their jackets, coats, and sweatshirts. Outerwear with a name is much easier to return to the owner. Thank you!

We are so fortunate that Tusculum Church of Christ allows us to do walkers in their pavilion every day. Please make sure your children are supervised and safe once they are released to you at dismissal. Unfortunately, we have noticed many students coming back onto school property after being dismissed. They are climbing trees, picking up large sticks, running around, and yelling while we are in the middle of dismissal. It can be very distracting to students still dismissing and has caused many staff members to worry about the safety of the students that have already been dismissed as walkers. We want to make sure everyone is safe and that all of our students are dismissed in an orderly fashion. Please be mindful that dismissal is still going on until 3:15pm. Thank you!

Some information went home with your students about the Backpack Program, which offers free weekend meals and snacks for children in families who may find it difficult to have enough food. You can sign up your students at the link below, or contact shaynebackpack@gmail.com for more information.

https://forms.gle/DcqgWezCSgHzDZTw6

Read the Shayne Star pledge with your child! Here are some discussion questions to talk more about what the pledge means:

• What does 'character' mean? How do we show good character?
• What are some ways people can be different? What are some ways people can be the same?
• What does kindness look like, sound like, and feel like?
• How can you be kind at school? at home?
• If you hear someone being unkind, what can you do?

We are looking for speakers to come discuss their careers and career paths with our upper grade students! So far we have an author and a Sounds baseball player scheduled. We would LOVE more families and community members to come speak to our students about their career. This helps inspire students and keep them motivated towards a successful future where the possibilities are endless! If you are interested, please email brenleigh.oswanski@mnps.org

We are currently meeting all of our attendance goals!!! Woo!!! Thank you for setting your child up for success by arriving on time and staying the entire day. Remember, if your child has to be out- please send an excuse note. This does not erase the absence, but it does excuse it. Unexcused absences can lead to truancy petitions.

Make sure to track your child's attendance, so it doesn't get away from you. How many days has your child missed so far this year? If your child misses 10% or more of days we have been in school, then they are considered chronically absent. How can you fix this? Keep coming to school and send in excuse notes for the dates your child has already missed.

If you need help getting your child to school, please reach out. We would love to help you!

We love hearing from our parents and families! If you have a question, concern, comment, or feedback, please reach out to your child's teacher first. If a situation needs further attention, it will be elevated to admin or other relevant staff members.

• have your child practice saying their first and last name as well as their teacher's name
• somewhere inside or on the outside of your child's backpack- please write their name, grade, and teacher's name.

We've had some younger students get off the bus and not be able to tell us their name, grade, or teacher name - doing the above two things will help us a lot in getting them where they need to go quickly. Thank you!

• While we love having families in the building, we will say goodbye to families at the door during drop off. Students will walk either by themselves or accompanied by a staff member to their classrooms. This is for the safety of all of our students and staff members.
• Doors close at 8:05am- everyone who arrives after that will need to walk their child into the office and sign them in as late
• Dismissal begins around 2:45/2:50pm. Please stay in your car and follow Shayne staff directions during pick up. Our goal is to get everyone home safely! To do this, we have strict protocols and procedures.
• Please send all transportation changes via email or message. All transportation changes must be communicated before 2:00pm. If you have sent a transportation change and have not received confirmation, please call the office to ensure we have seen it. We cannot follow student reported transportation changes.
• Tardies and early dismissal count against attendance - please limit the amount of late arrivals and early dismissals. We want your child here for the entire day! That way they benefit from our community building time every morning along with academic instruction.

• Thank you for following all directions and making sure all of our students are safe during arrival and dismissal!
• You MUST have your blue car rider card. If not, be prepared to park and come in to show ID. We do not make exceptions. We want to make sure that only approved adults pick up students. If you do not have ID on you, you will be required to go home and get it.
• Please have your child practice getting in and out of the car quickly. We have a lot of cars to get through the line.
• Reminder that all students must be picked up by 3:15pm.

Walkers park at Tusculum Church of Christ and have their student meet them there. This is a great alternative to waiting in the car rider line! Our students' safety is our number one priority. Please make sure to be cautious and follow all staff directions.

• You must park and walk your child to the pavilion
• Please drive slowly and carefully during arrival and dismissal
• You must have your walker card. If not, be prepared to park and come in to show ID. We do not make exceptions. We want to make sure that only approved adults pick up students. If you do not have ID on you, you will be required to go home and get it.

We are excited to continue the House System at Shayne. This year we will have four houses: Integrity, Courage, Harmony, and Inspiration. Students earn House points by following expectations throughout the school, having 100% class attendance, bringing back 100% of homework, etc. We will have House celebrations frequently throughout the year. Ask your child what house they are in!

The guiding principles for dress code are appropriate and comfortable! We love and support every child's uniqueness and expression. We also recognize that school is a place of learning, which comes with a level of respect and appropriateness. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some specifics to guide clothing choice:

• Shirt and shorts must meet in the middle
• Wear appropriate shoes on PE days
• Shirts should be appropriate - limited writing and graphics- no violent content (images, words, references, etc.)
• Jeans are okay!
• Kids are moving around all day- something to help reflect on clothing choice is to say "Reach up high and touch the sky, reach down low and touch your toes - if anything shows, go change your clothes!'
• Shayne shirts encouraged :)

Facebook: Shayne Elementary PTA

https://shayne.ch2v.com/

Instagram - @shaynepta

Email - shaynepta@gmail.com
How to join - https://shaynepta.givebacks.com/store

Below is the published District Calendar for the year. Please use this to guide your vacations, doctors appointments, and other times when your child might miss school. While there are many instances where absences are excused, they still count against your child's total absences for the year.

• Satisfactory Attendance: 95% or missing 7-8 days total- including excused and unexcused
• Chronic Absenteeism: 90% or missing 17-18 days total- including excused and unexcused
• 5-Day Truancy Letters- generated every time a student has 5 unexcused absences- they are sent at 5, 10, 15, etc.

Tips:

• Schedule appointments outside of school hours, on days we are out of school, or at the beginning or end of the school day
• Schedule family trips on school holidays
• Send in an excuse note when your child misses school
• Ensure your child washes hands, eats a balanced diet, sleeps well in order to stay healthy
• Always reach out to your child's teacher if you have any attendance questions! We are here to help :)