Trail Talk Newsletter
February 2026
All Welcome and Encouraged to Attend!
February 10th | 6:00-7:00pm | Sue Wiley-Carter SFT Library
PTA Your Way! We don’t need perfect, we need present! With just two PTA meetings left this school year and a full calendar ahead, we hope you join us on the 10th to get updates, ask questions, and find a way to contribute now and in the future!
Tuesday February 10th is PTA night, we hope to see you there!
Join us for happy hour after the meeting to continue the conversation and comradery.
Become a member at the meeting or in advance here PTA member online (membership is not required to attend the meetings but it is required to be a voting member)
Looking for an easy way to include food at Bingo & Beats?
Order a charcuterie board delivered to the event from Social Bites— and 10% of your purchase will be donated back to the SFT PTA. Options include single, double, and group spreads. Check them out! Santa Fe Trail PTA Music BINGO Night
The Easiest (Free!) Kind Deed for a Teacher/Staff
If the world around you feels heavy right now, here's a simple, impactful way you can "be the light you wish to see in the world." Tell the PTA something nice about your child's teacher or another SFT staff member.
Using this short, 3-question form you can submit a nomination of any teacher or staff member for the Trailblazer of the Month Award.
Take a couple minutes to type a few complimentary comments--it doesn't have to be anything fancy or expertly written--and your input just might lead to your nominee being named the next Trailblazer of the Month!
Printable Breakfast and Lunch Menu!
Breakfast and Lunch menu (printable version): elemlunchmenu.pdf
February Lunch Visitor Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094AABAE22AB9-62065440-february
Details on SFT lunchroom visits can be found on the SFT website linked here:
https://santafetrail.smsd.org/families/lunchroom-information
Free/reduced lunch application, apply any time of year: SchoolCafé - SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOLS
Dear SFT Families,
Thanks for all you are doing to support our students and staff. We greatly appreciate that the PTA is planning to provide dinner on conference night. Evening conferences will take place on from 4:30-7:30 on Thursday, February 12th and then are scheduled from 8:00-3:30 on Friday, February 13th. Some families may have scheduled conference earlier in the week. Thank you for taking time to conference with your child’s teacher. By communicating and working together, we can assist your student to achieve their growth goals and acquire the skills that are a priority for their grade.
We recently celebrated The Kindness Challenge Week at SFT. The students did a great job of helping promote random acts of kindness both at school and home. I want to thank all parents who also participated in Kindness Week by doing one or more of the suggested activities; and I want to express a special thank you to the many parents and students who consistently lead by example when it comes to being kind and respectful to everyone. Hopefully, The Great Kindness Challenge will remind us all that it is fun to be kind to others and surprise them with a random act of generosity or kindness. I have reminded students many times that they will go further in life and will be more successful in a job if they develop habits of respect and kindness.
Let’s all commit to extending Kindness Week to Kindness Year, and then to practicing a lifetime of kindness!
Ms. Leiker
Panorama Survey Results (Grades 3-6)
Parent/Guardian Access to Fall Panorama Results:
Students whose parents/guardians provided consent during the registration process recently completed the Fall Panorama Social-Emotional Learning survey. This survey measures student’s perception of skills in the areas of grit, growth mindset, and self-management. Starting this month, parents/guardians will have the ability to access their student’s results in Skyward by following these steps:
1. Log into Family Access in Skyward
2. Choose your student(s)
3. Choose “Grade Cards and Academic Awards”
4. Choose Panorama Fall 2024
Thank you again for your ongoing support of our school, staff and students. For more information about the Panorama Social Emotional Learning Survey, including a look at all of the questions asked at each grade level, please visit this site.
Dates for your Calendar
February 12: Valentine’s Day Parties
AM Pre-K Party: 10:00-10:45 AM
PM Pre-K and K-6: 2:00-2:50 PM
February 12: Evening Conferences 4:30-7:30
February 13: No School, Conferences 8:00-3:30
February 16: No School - Presidents’ Day
March 3: Third Quarter Site Council Meeting 9:00
March 10: Variety Show 1:30 & 6:00
March 13: No School - Teacher Workday
March 16-20: No School - Spring Break
March 23: Beginning of 4th Quarter
Valentine’s Day
Students may bring valentines (without food in them) to school by Wednesday, February 14th for distribution. Please send enough for all students in the class. Valentines should NOT include candy or food. Trinkets such as pencils, tattoos, crazy straws, etc. are fine.
Valentine’s Day Parties are scheduled for Feb. 14th from 2:00-2:50. Morning Pre-K from 10:00-10:45 a.m.)
Room parents have been provided guidance and only room parents and parents that are assisting with the party should attend.
Three elementary parties per year may be celebrated with food, following specific guidelines:
o All foods brought to school for sharing at parties must be in labeled packaging by the manufacturer. (Exception of whole fruits/vegetables).
o All labeled food items must be checked by the classroom teacher or school nurse.
o No homemade food items should be provided to share at the parties.
o Teachers/staff members are responsible to follow all safety measures when providing food in the classroom, fieldtrips, parties, etc.
o No carbonated sodas or energy drinks will be provided to students.
Spelling Bee
Congratulations to Corinne Hill who won the spelling bee at SFT on December 15th. We are very proud of all the students who participated in the bee this year. Thanks to Ms. Gooch for arranging the bee.
Update Emergency Contacts
All families are encouraged to review and update their emergency contact information in the Skyward Student Information System. Parents/guardians should contact the school office if there are any changes or updates. It is a best practice to have more than one contact listed in the event of an emergency.
Arrival
In the last few weeks there has been an increase in the number of students coming in after the 8:10 a.m. bell. With the cold weather here, it takes longer to get jackets, mittens, hats, and scarves on and get out the door on time. It also means that more parents are dropping their students off instead of having them walk to school so the traffic lines are longer at the school. Please plan on leaving a few minutes earlier to make sure your student are dressed appropriately for the cold weather and in their seat ready to learn at the 8:10 a.m. bell. Thank you!
Cold Weather Recess Reminder
Please make sure children are dressed warm enough for recess each day. The following policy is used when there will be no outdoor recess:
-The temperature is 15 degrees or below
-The wind chill index is 0 degrees or below
-There is falling moisture
This does not preclude individual teachers from taking their class out for a few minutes of fresh air. All students are expected to participate in recess unless they stay in because of teacher or parent request. If parents want their child to stay in at recess, a note should be sent to the child’s teacher indicating their desire. If a child is to be kept in for more than three consecutive days, a note from the child’s doctor is requested. The district health office feels that “Generally if a child is too sick to go outside for recess, the child is too sick to be in school.” A written doctor’s request for indoor recess will always be honored.
Label Outerwear
Families, please label your student’s outdoor items so they can be returned if they are lost at school. This includes coats, jackets, hoodies, hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens.
From Nurse Clark
We are seeing the usual illness for this time of year at SFT. When calling in for your student(s) please let us know specific symptoms (vomiting, fever, cough, etc.) or positive testing (strep, Flu, COVID, etc.). This helps give us a better picture of any increase in illness trends in our school. Also, remember to keep your student home when they are ill and keep them home for exclusionary illness. These are SMSD guidelines for student illness https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/health-services/illness .
As the snow melts outside, there is an increase in students that need a full change of clothes. If your student comes home in clothing from school, please wash and return as soon as possible so those clothes are available for other students that may need them.
Please feel free to contact me in the clinic anytime with questions.
Nurse Clark 35002
Save the Date!
Note: This list is PTA sponsored events and not a full list of everything happening at the school.
Feb 10– PTA Meeting
Feb 11– WCW at WingStand in Mission
Feb 12– Evening Conferences
Feb 13– No school
Feb 16– No school
Feb 24– Skate Party Shawnee 6:00-8:00pm
March 7– Spring Fundraiser, Bingo & Beats at The Mission Theatre 6:00-10:00pm
March 9-12– Spring Book Fair
March 10– SFT Variety Show 1:30pm and 6:00pm
March 11– WCW at Raising Canes
March 13– No School
March 16-20– Spring Break
April 15– WCW at Andy's Frozen Custard
April 24– School Carnival 5:30-8:30pm
May 5– Skate Party Shawnee 6:00-8:00pm
SFT All School Calendar: https://santafetrail.smsd.org/calendar/calendar_388.ics
SMSD District Calendar: https://santafetrail.smsd.org/calendar/calendar_348.ics
PTA Website: Home - Santa Fe Trail PTA Website
Clothing Exchange Info - New TEEN shopping dates!
The Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA Clothing Exchange offers gently used clothing and shoes from infant to adult sizes. The Exchange is a free service open to those who live within the SMSD boundaries is open on select days. All are welcome to shop on designated days. Donations are accepted 24/7 just place items in the bin outside!
Click on the above for Shopping Dates, Underwear & Socks Program Information, Donation and for info to volunteer.
Located at the Shawnee Mission School District Early Childhood Education Center
6701 W. 83rd St | Overland Park, KS 66204
Entrance in the back - Door #7
Bring your Photo I.D.
Help SFT PTA earn cashback donations by shopping brands and restaurants you love. It's simple!
With Givebacks, when you shop and dine at participating stores and restaurants, those merchants automatically donate a percentage to the cause of your choice.
HOW IT WORKS? READ ABOUT IT HERE Givebacks - How Shop to Give works
To make sure you're all set up to give, register for a Givebacks account and securely link your credit card. Then, select Santa Fe Trail as the cause of your choice. https://www.givebacks.com/join/sft
Questions, Comments, Ideas? Connect with SFT PTA!
Email: sftptapresident@gmail.com
Location: 7100 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, USA
Facebook: SFT Trailblazer Connection | Facebook
Website: www.sftpta.org