Southeast Star
January 24, 2025
School Hours
Office Hours: 8a-5p
School Hours: 9:10a-4:10p
Arrival/Breakfast: 8:50-9:10a
**Please do not drop off students before 8:50a. Students eating breakfast should report to the cafeteria between 8:50-9:10a.
Dismissal: 4:10p
**We will begin helping students make it to their dismissal locations at 3:55p.
Contact Information
Address: 5704 NW Northwood Road, Kansas City, MO 64151
School Phone: 816-359-4360
Technology Support: 816-359-5000
Principal: Jason Pope Assistant Principal: Lynsey Peck
Counselor: Mandy Frayer Social Worker: Sidney Thomas
Office Staff: Dianna Kernel and Jordan Meals
Nurse: Cassie Grantham
Upcoming Dates
January 29th: Goodies with Guardian @SE Gym, 8:15a
February 4th: Battle of the Book Competition, 4:30p
February 6th: Mathletics Competition #3, 4:45p
February 7th: First Friday
February 7th: PTA Skate Night, 5:30-7:30p
Superstar Attendance
Research shows a direct relationship between school attendance, academic achievement and success in school. The state’s Missouri School Improvement Plan (MSIP6) expectation for public school attendance is 90% or above. We are striving to ensure that at least 90% of students are here at least 90% of the time.
See below for the percentage of students per grade that meet the goal of being at school 90% of the time during the week of January 21th-24th.
Kindergarten: 46 out of 77 or 60% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%.
1st Grade: 84 out of 106 or 79% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%.
2nd Grade: 65 out of 83 or 78% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%.
3rd Grade: 60 out of 85 or 71% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%.
4th Grade: 66 out of 96 or 69% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%.
5th Grade: 68 out of 89 or 76% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%.
School: 389 out of 536 or 73% of students have a rate of attendance that is at least 90%
Goodies with Guardians
One School, One Book
Last Friday at our assembly we kicked off One School, One Book. This year we are reading Frindle by Andrew Clements! The book was sent home with the oldest sibling of the family at Southeast. A paper calendar with chapter assignments, spirit days, and a QR code for pictures and read along was sent home with every student at Southeast! You will find which chapter to read each day beginning on Tuesday, January 21st on the calendar. Ideally, you will read the chapter on the assigned day as a family and discuss it. The following day, students will be given a trivia question about that chapter. All students who enter the correct answer will be entered into a drawing each day. At the end of each school day, we will draw a K-2 and a 3-5 student to receive a prize. The prizes were made possible through the generosity of our Southeast PTA. Please contact Jenny Johnson.
There is an electronic version of the calendar https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1I_PB4YXMJktmxc13RPLk0ccjmVcsdavCJ96NwnCjKiw/edit?usp=sharing.
The trivia questions by chapter and grade level are only being sent electronically. You will find them here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1krI6CRotoS16e4wxBhyeIvqUlcNfdo59jxafbhsmACs/edit?usp=sharing
UPADATED IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Valentines and Spring Parties
This year we are making two changes in our building related to Valentines Parties. The first change is that we are moving our spring parties away from February 14. This year, our spring parties will be on Friday, April 11th (Original plan was to have spring parties in March, but we had to change it as a district). In keeping with this change, we will not be exchanging valentines at Southeast. We understand that holidays are very important to our entire community. We will continue our practice of recognizing holidays at school without celebrating holidays. There are many opportunities for students to participate in holiday celebrations with their families, community groups or friends outside of school. While we are at school, we will focus on creating opportunities that all students will be able to enjoy without the need for students to opt out of activities. We thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
Inclement Weather Days
Everything you need to know about AMI days and snow days can be found on the Park Hill School District website below.
First Fridays
First Fridays are new this year at Southeast. On the First Friday of each month, the whole school pauses our normal schedule to work on some of our schoolwide goals. We also work to help each student feel a sense of belonging at Southeast. Each First Friday we have multiple whole school events:
Schoolwide Assembly- The whole school attends a morning assembly led by student leaders. We celebrate attendance, AVID and PBIS Leaders, and other schoolwide events.
College and Career Readiness Clubs (CCR Clubs)- Students are placed in different clubs based on their interests. Teachers and school staff lead these clubs for 40 minutes.
Some of the clubs that kindergarten, first, and second grade students attend are business club, authors and illustrators club, design and building club, and Spanish club.
Some of the clubs that third, fourth, and fifth grade students attend are jewelry design club, shark tank club, debate club, mystery solvers club, and wilderness conservation club.
Family Groups- At the end of the day students meet in Family Groups. Each group is led by a staff member. Each group has students from each grade in it. Each family group works on relational capacity and teambuilding activities each month. The goal of family groups is to connect students of all ages and to help students develop a relationship with a staff member they might not have worked with previously. Family groups will stay together year after year, so your child will stay in the same family group as they get older.
Schoolwide Goal Lessons- We have three main initiatives that we focus on as a school. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), CRE (Culturally Responsive Education). Each First Friday we do lessons with students for each of these initiatives. For example, this month we will be working on the following lessons:
AVID- Goal setting
PBIS- Working on strategies to avoid defiance
CRE- Holidays around the world & Disability Awareness Month
College and Career Readiness Day
Dear Southeast Superstars Parents and Community Members,
We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for our Southeast Superstars – the College and Career Readiness Day on Friday, April 25, 2025.
Event Details:
Booth Setup: 9:20 AM - 9:50 AM (for 3rd - 5th grade)
Event Time: 9:55 AM - 12:25 PM (for 3rd - 5th grade)
Booth Setup: 12:40 PM - 1:00 PM (for K-2 grade)
Event Time: 1:00 PM - 3:35 PM (K-2nd grade)
We are reaching out to you with a special request: Would you be willing to participate by setting up a booth? You can choose to do either the morning session, the afternoon session, or you may do the whole day. Your insights and experiences can make a significant impact on our students' understanding of various career paths and educational journeys.
What's In It For You:
Support: We will assist with setup, teardown, and any necessary copies.
Engagement: Connect with our enthusiastic students and share your knowledge.
Community Building: Be a part of an event that strengthens our school community.
Your participation will contribute immensely to the success of this event, and we genuinely appreciate your consideration. Please let us know if you're available and interested by December 6, 2024. Please fill out this form with your information, and we will reach out to you.
Thank you for being an essential part of our Southeast Superstars family! We look forward to making College and Career Readiness Day a memorable and enriching experience for our students.
Best regards,
Southeast AVID Team
College & Career Readiness Club Help needed!
Mrs. Johnson is sponsoring the Creative Club for K-2 students! She has created an Invest now grant through the Park Hill Education Foundation. If you would like to help Mrs. Johnson acquire materials for her club, please scan the QR code. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Confidential Resource Checklist
Hi!
This is Ms. Thomas, Southeast School Social Worker.
I cannot believe that we are already finished with 1st quarter! I wanted to share another Confidential Resource Checklist with you all that way if your needs have changed since this form was sent home with your kiddo early this year, we can still partner to get you connected to the resources that you need. Fill out this form and I will send home more information regarding the resources that you request.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me by p: 816-359-5847 or e: thomassi@parkhill.k12.mo.us.
I look forward to supporting your family!
Sidney Thomas, LMSW
School Social Worker
Southeast Elementary
816-359-5847
Southeast School Counseling Website
January PTA Update
January Curriculum Connections
Check out the linked Curriculum Connections below to see what our Superstars will be working on in each subject area during the month of September! We want to share the learning topics at all of the grade levels so that you are familiar with what topics and content are taught this month!
Visiting, Volunteering, & Checking Out Students
You MUST bring your drivers license or ID EACH visit.
Volunteers: We welcome all volunteers into our schools and classrooms, with prior arrangements made with Southeast staff. All volunteers who work with our students need to complete background screening by Park Hill. Forms for the screening are available here. Volunteers must check in at the office and wear an ID sticker.
Early Student Check-Out: Anytime a student is checked-out, the adult checking the student out must present appropriate ID.
Field Trip Volunteering:
- Any volunteer who will be alone with students must have a full screening, which includes a criminal background check, a check of the child abuse and neglect registry, and a check of the sexual offender registry. Volunteers must complete the paperwork found here. Please submit all paperwork to Park Hill School District Central Office.
- Any volunteer that plans to attend a field trip with students must have a full screening completed which includes the above information.
- If you completed a background check with Park Hill before March 2020, you must do it again, because the earlier screening process did not include the criminal background check.
- If you completed the full screening last year, you will NOT need to do it again.
- All volunteers must read and agree to the rules in our policy and procedure, and each volunteer will sign in and reaffirm the rules each time they arrive at a school to volunteer.
- The district will receive updates if a volunteer’s screening status changes. Someone’s volunteer status can change at any time.
- The district must pay a fee of $42.75 for each background check, as required by the state. If you would like to donate to help defray this expense, please enclose a check made out to the Park Hill School District for this amount with your screening form. This donation is not required.
The screening process can take up to two weeks or longer, depending on the time of year. Please be aware of this when submitting your application in anticipation of volunteering for specific events.
Cell Phones, Smart Watches & Other Electronic Devices
Personal electronic devices are not permitted to be used during the school day. Students must place their personal electronic devices in the designated location established by the classroom teacher and/or school administration. Such devices must be turned off or placed on silent mode to avoid disrupting the learning environment.
Students will be asked to turn off these devices and stow them in their backpacks upon entry to the school and through the school day. Thank you for your support with maintaining our educational environment.
Kid Guard Insurance
Parents can purchase additional insurance protection for accidents that may occur during school classes and while students are away from school, at home, during weekends and vacation periods, including the summer months. For information regarding this optional coverage, visit www.kidguardinsurance.com for additional benefit and on-line enrollment information.
Park Hill PTA Clothing Center
The PTA Clothing Center serves all Park Hill School District students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and the PTA asks you to bring some proof that you are enrolled in a Park Hill school. This could be a student ID, bus pass, dated letter from a principal or social worker, class schedule or enrollment form.
Donations are welcome at the Clothing Center. Please make sure your donations are clean, in good condition and bagged in kitchen-sized bags that the volunteers can lift.
2024-2025 Park Hill PTA Clothing Center Shopping Dates
- August 20th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- September 3rd and 17th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- October 1st and 15th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- November 5th and 19th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- December 3rd and 17th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- January 7th and 21st: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- February 4th and 18th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- March 4th and 18th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- April 1st and 15th: 10am-12pm and 5pm-7pm
- May 6th: 4pm-6pm
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, there is tremendous need for 988 services in Missouri.
988 is the three-digit number to call (multiple languages), text or chat (English only) that connects people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, where compassionate, accessible care and support are available for anyone experiencing mental health–related distress. The chat feature is available through the Lifeline’s website. People can use 988 if they are having thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Principal/Dad Jokes
How do snowmen get around? By riding an “icicle”!
Why was the snowman looking through the carrots? He was picking his nose!
Approved Birthday Treats
Students may bring a birthday treat or favor to school to share with their classmates, as long as they come from our list of treats that contain none of the eight (8) major allergens - milk, wheat, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish.
Thank you for understanding that all classroom treats must come from this list, because we do not have the staff capacity to check for allergens that could threaten the health of some students.
Please bring birthday treats ahead of time (two hours after the start of school, at the latest).
Park Hill Perspectives
Park Hill Star Award Nomination
Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students. That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher, and a support employee. Nominations from families are so meaningful to our staff!
We will keep this link within the helpful links section of this newsletter throughout the school year for your easy-access.
Helpful Links
Southeast Communication
You will find several ways to stay up to date on school activities on the Southeast website , Facebook, and newsletters from your child’s teacher. You will also occasionally get an automated email or voicemail message sent to you, by the school, with important information and reminders. We know two-way communication is best, so please feel free to call or email with any questions you may have regarding your child’s education.
Dr. Jason Pope
Principal
(816)359-6707
Mrs. Lynsey Peck
Assistant Principal
(816)359-5737
Website: https://southeast.parkhill.k12.mo.us/
Location: 5704 Northwest Northwood Road, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816)359-4360
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Southeast-Elementary-School-Park-Hill-School-District-390510981515939/

