Dragon News

McKelvey Primary Families,

Learn more about Prop P below!

PTO shared some dates below, so be sure to mark your calendars!

As always, please reach out if you need anything.

Dr. Christina Brown

McKelvey Primary is our Kindergarten and 1st Grade Elementary School that is located at

12657 Fee Fee Road, St. Louis, MO 63146.

Mark you calendars!

More information to come about these specific dates!

October 16: Half Day of School (Dismissal begins at 1:00)

October 21: Wear Orange for Unity Day (flyer below)

October 26-30: McKelvey Primary BookFair

Monday, October 26— McKelvey Dine Out Night at Qdoba at Page Ave. and Ball Ave.
October 19th-Nov 6th: Parent/Teacher Conference Window (classroom teachers will schedule these at a later date)

October 30: Dress Up Day (wear hats, costumes, or dress like a book character)

*Kids should be able to take clothing on and off on their own. No masks, face paint, or weapons. Please wear athletic shoes*

November 2: No School, Fall Break

November 3: No School, Staff Professional Development

It is important to us that each of our families feel connected to their child's school. We are always looking for ways to improve that connection in order to provide an optimal learning experience for our students and our families.

Please fill out the VERY brief, anonymous, 2-question survey so that we can continuously improve:

HERE is the link or you can fill out the form below.

McKelvey PTO’s October Dine-Out night will be on Monday, October 26th from 4-8pm at Qdoba (11500 Page Service Road—at the intersection of Page and Ball).

McK PTO will receive 25% of sales using the QR code on this flyer or with the code QDOBAGIVES when ordering online. The flyer must be shown or the code must be entered in order for us to receive the 25%.

We hope you’ll join us for this easy way to take care of dinner and support McKelvey PTO!

The cost of operating schools is rising faster than funding, creating a projected $75 million shortfall over the next 10 years. Prop P on the November 3 ballot would provide stable funding for Parkway teachers, classrooms, safety, and student support.

Join Superintendent Dr. Melissa Schneider and Chief Financial Officer Carrie Nunn for a Parkway Community Webinar to learn about Proposition P: why it’s on the ballot, and what passage or failure would mean for Parkway schools and our community.

When: Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m.

Livestream the webinar at https://pkwy.info/community-livestream. Can’t make it live? A recording of the presentation will be available.

Get the facts about Prop P at www.parkwayschools.net/Prop-P

• Attracting and retaining teachers and staff

• Safety and security

• Classroom resources

• Student programs and services

• Long-term financial stability

Did you know that before placing Proposition P on the November ballot, Parkway reduced spending by $15.4 million?

The reductions impacted every school and department budget, professional development expenses, and other operating costs. Further reductions would increasingly impact students, teachers, programs, and services. and classrooms.

Learn more about Prop P on the November 3 ballot: www.parkwayschools.net/Prop-P

At school, we are continually helping students build important social, emotional, and behavioral skills that support their success in the classroom and beyond. Social stories are short, simple stories designed to help children understand and practice specific skills.

When children hear consistent messages and use similar language across both home and school, it helps them better understand, remember, and apply the skills they are practicing.

Our Shared Goal

To give children the tools, language, and practice they need to grow. Home and school are strongest when we work together.

Thank you for partnering with us!

A free four-part program designed for families with K-8 graders to bring parents and guardians closer to their adolescents through education and understanding.

There are 3 remaining events, one in the North area. Check out the document below for more information!

What We Are Learning

Our second literacy unit, Character Matters, focuses on how characters’ actions, choices, and responses help us understand who they are. Students will read a variety of stories and think about characters’ traits, feelings, motivations, and how they respond to challenges. Through reading, writing, and discussion, students will explore how the choices characters make can affect themselves and others and consider what we can learn from their experiences.

Try this at Home

• Notice character traits everywhere! While reading a book or watching a show together, ask, “What kind of person is this character? What did they do that makes you think that?” Talk about how characters’ choices affect other people.

• Practice the power of “not yet.” When something feels hard—zipping a coat, reading a word, building something, tying a shoe—resist the urge to jump in right away. Give your child time to try, make mistakes, and try another way. A little productive struggle builds independence and confidence.

• Build an October routine. As mornings get darker and schedules get busy, let your child take ownership of one part of getting ready. They might check the weather and choose a jacket, pack their backpack, fill their water bottle, or put everything they need by the door the night before.

Did You Know?

Children are still developing the brain systems that help them manage big feelings, frustration, and impulses. Self-regulation develops through co-regulation. Children borrow calm from the adults around them before they can consistently create it for themselves.

• When your child is overwhelmed, connect before you correct. A calm voice, getting close, and acknowledging the feeling can help their brain settle.

• Keep your words short when emotions are big. A dysregulated brain has a harder time processing lots of language.

• Wait to problem-solve or talk about what happened until your child is calm. That's when their brain is better able to listen, reflect, and learn.

• Your calm doesn't mean the behavior is okay. You can hold a boundary while helping your child regulate: “It's okay to be angry. It's not okay to hit. I'm here to help you.”

• Every time children experience big feelings and successfully move through them with support, they are building the skills they'll eventually use on their own.

McKelvey Primary Family Handbook

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Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/domain/2773
Location: 12657 Fee Fee Road, St. Louis, MO 63146, USA
Phone: 314-415-5000