September Family Messenger

Hello Blue Jay Families!

House Sorting and House Meetings

Our House sorting Friday was OUTSTANDING!! All new students chose a House and we celebrated them with hoots and cheers! More information will be shared each month as students participate in service learning, bonding, and competitions. Please have your child wear their House color again on 9/18. It will be our first House Breakfast and Lunch day of the year, as well as House Meeting, hosted by Amistad! Students can eat breakfast sitting at their House table and also during lunch. We are all super pumped about monthly meeting opportunities to learn more about each other and our House.

School Spirit Wear Store

We are holding a spirit wear store through Legacy. We will be sharing this information soon! There will be a variety of choices- House shirts and Blue Jay gear! Ordering spirit wear earns your Blue Jay 5 House points!

Progress Reports in Parent Portal

Please check Parent Portal on 9/25 for your Blue Jay's Progress Report. These are posted midway through each quarter. Teachers will send out reminders on class newsletters. If you have questions about your child's progress please do not hesitate to reach out to their teacher(s).

STAR Assessment Results, Family Reports, and Interventions

Fall STAR assessments have started! K/1 will take Early Literacy and Math. Grades 2-6 will take Reading and Math. If your child starts receiving a Tier 2 (in the classroom) or Tier 3 (pulled out by a Reading interventionist) Intervention, a letter will be sent home so you are aware. All students will bring home FastBridge Family Reports on 9/29.

Behavior Bootcamp

Our ROCK behavior bootcamp was a great success! I have attached our building wide expectations matrix below. Please review these with your child.

Student Leadership

Our student leaders will start applying for leadership jobs soon. 5th and 6th grade students are also getting a chance to apply for Jr. House Leader positions. We are super proud of their Blue Jay Pride and Leadership!

Student Data Portfolios

Each month, students in 1st-6th grades will bring home their Student Data Portfolio for one week. Kindergarten will bring theirs home once a quarter. This portfolio highlights their learning progression in reading, math, attendance, and essential skills. Students will use this time to reflect on their growth, celebrate achievements, and identify areas for improvement.

We encourage you to review the portfolio together, celebrate successes, and discuss goals for continued progress. Please be sure to return the portfolio within one week so we can update it with your child’s latest academic information. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s learning journey! This month, student data portfolios will come home on 9/30 and will need to be signed and returned NO LATER than 10/7.

Student Led Conferences-SAVE THE DATE!

Student-Led Conferences are 10/29 1:00-7:00

We are excited to once again host Student-Led Conferences in place of traditional parent-teacher conferences. During these meetings, your child will take the lead in sharing their academic progress, personal goals, and areas of growth. This format empowers students to take ownership of their learning, build confidence, and develop strong communication skills.

It is very important that your child attends the conference with you. Their voice is the heart of the conversation, and they will be the one walking you through their learning journey. Teachers will be present to support and guide the discussion, but the spotlight will be on your child as they share their achievements and next steps. We look forward to celebrating your child’s growth together! Teachers will send Sign Ups in Parent Square later this month!

Thank you for continuously supporting our school. This is year 8 as Building Principal at Marthasville and I continue to feel blessed to lead our school with love and pride. Every year gets better! We have a team of staff commited to creating a joyful atmosphere where all children are cared for and valued.

If you ever need help or have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out via email, call, Parent Square, or even FB messenger- I am here for you and I truly do appreciate your feedback and support.

We are better together! Have a spectacular September!

Most Caring,

Mrs. Kristen Daffron

Principal

Marthasville Elementary

ONE TEAM. ONE MISSION. INFINITE COMMITMENT.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

https://www.washington.k12.mo.us/49116_3

Picture Day

September 22nd is Fall Picture Day!

School: Marthasville Elementary
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Pre-Order Online: [www.WagnerPortraitGroup.com]www.WagnerPortraitGroup.com
Pre-Order Password: 7C2Z9X5Q
Direct link to embed: https://wagner.portraitpics.co/api/v2/keys/lookup/wagner?key=7C2Z9X5Q

Important Dates

SEPTEMBER

8/31-9/3- STAR Testing Closes 1st-6th

9/7- No School

9/8- After School Choir 3:00

9/9- Character Ed Assemblies

9/10- Philly's Dine to Donate

9/18- House Meeting

9/21- Kindergarten STAR Testing

9/22- Picture Day; After School Choir

9/25- Professional Development- No School for Students; Progress Reports Sent Out

9/28- Students in Tier 2/Tier 3 New Reading Intervention Cycle Begins

9/29- Reading Success Plans/ STAR Family Reports sent via Parent Square; PTG Meeting 5:00 Conference Room- Parents who attend earn 5 House points for their Blue Jays

9/30- Student Data Portfolios Go Home

Attendance

August 2026 Attendance

K-98.5%

1-99.6%

2-99.5%

3-97.6%

4-99.2%

5-99%

6-99.7%

Total-98.9% FANTASTIC WORK!

Overall Whole School Attendance since day 1-98.9%

Water Bottle Fillers Stations and Drinking Fountains

Water bottle fillers are available for students to fill up their own water bottles. Please send a labeled water bottle with your child each day. We do not have extra water bottles to give out.

Communication

Links for the district and school calendar can be found below. A calendar of events will be included in the monthly newsletter as well. Please refer to the main calendar throughout the year for more information.

https://washington.k12.mo.us/71649_2

PTG Fundraisers

Shakespeare's Pizza 9/30-10/20

Order Forms and Money Due 10/21

Our Goal is for each classroom to sell 15 Pizzas! Classrooms that reach the goal will earn 5 Points for each House!

The Top 3 Selling classes earn 5 extra House points, plus an extra recess!

Top Overall selling class earns a special surprise!

Dine to Donate-Philly's 9/10

Send your receipt to Mrs. Daffron by 9/18(either hard either a hard copy or a pic sent in Parent Square) to earn your Blue Jays 5 extra House points!

Counselor's Corner

September- RESPECT

Respect is seeing value in all people and things and treating them with care.

Essential Skills Alignment:

Professional Communication, Time Management, Organization

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Notes from Nurse Lindsay

Deciding whether your child is too sick for school can be tricky. We want our students in the classroom learning, but keeping our school community healthy requires teamwork!

Use this quick guide to decide when to keep your child home to rest and recover. When in doubt, call the office 636-231-2650.

Red Light: Keep Them Home

Please keep your child home and contact your healthcare provider if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

Fever: A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Children must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (like Tylenol or Motrin) before returning to school.
Vomiting or Diarrhea: Keep your child home if they have vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours. They should be eating a normal diet before returning.
Severe Cough or Breathing Trouble: A persistent, uncontrolled, or heavy cough, or any shortness of breath/wheezing.
Contagious Rash or Sores: Any unexplained rash accompanied by a fever, or oozing/crusted sores (such as impetigo) that cannot be covered.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Redness with thick white, yellow, or green drainage, swelling, or crusting. Must stay home until cleared by a doctor or on antibiotics for 24 hours.
Strep Throat: Children may return 24 hours after starting their prescribed antibiotics, provided they are fever-free.

Yellow Light: Proceed with Caution

Use your best judgment for these mild symptoms:

Mild Cold Symptoms: A slight runny nose or occasional dry cough is usually fine, provided the child has normal energy and no fever.
Mild Sore Throat: If there is no fever, swollen glands, or white spots, and they can swallow easily, they are generally okay to attend.
Ear Pain or Headaches: If mild and not accompanied by a fever, monitor closely. Reach out to your doctor if pain persists or worsens.

Green Light: Safe to Send to School

Your child is ready to return when:

They have been symptom- and fever-free for a full 24 hours without medication.
They have completed 24 hours of prescribed antibiotics (if applicable).
They have their typical energy back and can comfortably participate in normal classroom activities.

A Quick Note on Medication at Home

Please do not give your child fever-reducing medication in the morning to mask a fever and send them to school. Once the medication wears off midday, the fever will return, exposing classmates and requiring you to pick them up early.

Technology

The Technology Department will be reinstating fees for damaged or lost chargers and devices. SDOW highly recommends each Blue Jay have insurance.

Visitors and Volunteers

The Raptor system will be used for anyone entering our building to volunteer or visit. Anyone picking up or dropping off students only, do no need to be approved through Raptor, as they won't be entering the building past the safety vestibule doors. We also ask that visitors and volunteers only enter the building through the Main Entrance doors (top of the front parking lot).

Class Parties and Student Led Conferences

Dates for Halloween and Christmas class parties will be sent out later. Most teachers have a sign up sheet during Open House for party helpers.

Fall conferences are mandatory for all students. Sign Ups will be setup via Parent Square starting this month.

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26-27 STAFF ROSTER

Kindergarten-Jessica Monroig and Lauren Hassler

1st grade-Emma Lock

2nd Grade- Kaylee Ruether

3rd grade- Michelle Ming and Dani Kimminau

4th grade- Darcie Rogala and Tammy Buse

5th- Katelyn Cassin and Isabelle Boyce

6th grade- Katie Cosby

Art- Sarah Bayless

Library- Kayla Bartel and Addison Wiskur

Music- Jon Logan

PE- Sam Dougherty

STEM- Courtney West

Orchestra- Meghan Brueggemann

Language Arts Lab- Julie Meyer

Title 1- Cheryl Buhr

Special Education- Chelsey Moeckli and Jenn Jackson

Special Education Para- Lea Welter

Paraprofessional- Mary Glosemeyer

Occupational Therapy- Audrey Bales

Physical Therapy- Jess Hoemann

Speech/Language Pathologist-Alex Ready

Educational Diagnostician-Dana Vogel

Psychological Examiner-Michelle Linhardt

Kitchen- Alisha Hayden, YVonne Edinger, and Elizabeth Voss

Custodians-Day:TBD and Evening: Justin Seyer

Lunch Aides-Jenny Rhodes and Bob Pitucha

Counselor- Elise Collins

Nurse- Lindsay Rhode

SRO-Deputy Alexis Bergmann

Secretary- Cheryl Brueggemann

Principal- Kristen Daffron

PTG

PTG Meetings are held once a month at 5:00 (except January and May) in the conference room. We are always looking for new and fresh faces and ideas to support our school!

Here are the dates:

September 30

October 28

November 25

December- No Meeting

January 27

February 24

March 24

April 28

May-No Meeting

June/July-Planning meeting

Parent Square- PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE APP!

SDOW has a district-wide communication tool called Parent Square. Teachers will have their own group in Parent Square to communicate with families. Our goal is to have 100% of our families join Parent Square so they can stay in the loop with happenings and news from the classrooms. I have included steps below to get started with Parent Square. More information about Parent Square will be sent out soon!

ParentSquare makes it easy to register for ParentSquare from the app. Follow the steps below:

Open the ParentSquare App.
Enter your email or cell phone number.
Tap Continue.
Note: If your email or phone number is not recognized by ParentSquare, you can "Request Access" or call your school office and ask them to update your contact information.
Create your password and confirm your password.
Enter your registration code sent by Email or Text and tap Verify.
Note: If your registration link has expired, a new one will need to be sent to you. Please contact your school's admin and ask for a new link to be sent to you.

House Points Update

Altruismo-78

Amistad-65

Isibindi-142

Reveur-117