EDW BRAVE BULLETIN

Cooking with your kids is more than just making a meal, it’s a chance to create memories, practice teamwork, and teach important skills like measuring, following directions, and being creative. Over the break, try making Easy Oreo Turkeys together! It’s a fun, hands-on activity that your little chefs will love and you can serve them for Thanksgiving!

Ingredients:

• 24 Oreos (any flavor, Regular or Double Stuffed)

• 120 candy corn pieces

• ½ cup dark chocolate melting wafers (melt in microwave, use to stick on candy corn, eyeballs and nose)

• 48 candy eyeballs

• Orange Reese’s Pieces, cut in half- for the nose

• Red cookie icing

How to Make Your Oreo Turkeys

1. Melt ½ cup dark chocolate wafers in the microwave on low or defrost, in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Let cool slightly.

2. Line a tray or board with parchment paper and separate the Oreos by twisting off the top

3. Work in small batches (4–6 cookies at a time): Dab a little melted chocolate near the top half (white filling side) of the cookies

4. Add the feathers: Arrange 5 candy corn pieces like a fan on each chocolate-dabbed cookie and press gently.

5. Sandwich with the remaining cookie halves to form the turkey’s body.

6. Decorate the face: Dab chocolate for eyes and press on candy eyeballs. Add a halved Reese’s Piece for the beak and pipe red icing for the wattle.

7. Refrigerate until chocolate sets. Enjoy your festive, adorable Oreo turkeys!

We’re excited to announce that Natalie’s Elf Shelf will be at Edwardsville Elementary right after Thanksgiving Break! Natalie's Elf Shelf is a special holiday shopping experience that allows students to choose small, affordable gifts for family members and loved ones. It’s a tradition designed to encourage giving, independence, and the joy of picking out something meaningful all on their own.

Students will be able to shop Monday, December 1st through Friday, December 5th, with shopping times scheduled by grade level: During these times, the shopping is for students only

• Dec 1, 8:00–9:30 AM: 3rd Grade

• Dec 2, 8:00–9:30 AM: 4th Grade

• Dec 3, 8:00–9:30 AM: Kindergarten & 5th Grade

• Dec 4, 8:00–9:30 AM: 2nd Grade

• Dec 5, 8:00–9:30 AM: 1st Grade

In addition to daytime shopping, our PTO has added one evening shopping opportunity on Wednesday, December 3rd from 6:00–8:00 PM, allowing families to shop together if they’d like.

Click on the link below to check out their website!

Capture those epic hair days, unforgettable field trips, and the many “I wasn’t ready!” moments of the year. 😄 Scan the QR code below to snag yours for just $15

👉 Online sales only! Yearbooks will be handed out at the end of the year—perfect for signing, doodling, and reminiscing!

The EDW Spirit Wear Store has officially landed and is open for business! If your closet has been feeling a little too quiet lately, it’s probably just begging for some fresh Braves gear. 😉 Let’s gear up and show that school spirit loud and proud!

🧡🖤 Scan the QR code, or click on the "Braves Spirit Wear" link below to place your order, and prepare to be the best-dressed Brave in town!

Hello Braves Families,

December is a wonderful time to highlight our counseling theme of Kindness. Throughout the month, students will learn small but meaningful ways to show kindness at school, at home, and in the community. We will talk about how kindness can be shown through our words, actions, and choices—even when it’s hard.

What We’re Learning in Counseling

This month, students will explore:

• What kindness looks like and sounds like

• Small acts of kindness that make a big difference

• How kindness spreads from one person to the next

• Showing kindness to ourselves, too

Each grade level will participate in a developmentally appropriate kindness activity, such as role-playing, kindness chains, classroom compliments, and reflection journals.

Book Recommendation of the Month

“Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson

A beautifully written story that teaches the powerful impact of our choices and how even small acts of kindness can change someone’s day. It encourages reflection, empathy, and noticing opportunities to be kinder.

December Kindness Challenge

Students are encouraged to complete at least one act of kindness each day. Acts may include:

• Helping a classmate

• Cleaning up without being asked

• Saying something encouraging

• Inviting someone to play

• Sharing materials

• Writing a kind note to a family member or teacher

Family Connection

You can support our theme at home by:

• Asking, “Who were you kind to today?”

• Modeling kind language and problem-solving

• Encouraging children to look for ways to help

• Starting a family kindness jar—add a marble each time someone is kind

Winter Break Reminder

As we head into the holiday season, encourage your child to rest, recharge, and continue spreading kindness at home and in the community.

Contact Me: johnsonja@usd204.net

P: 913-422-4036

November 24th-28th: Thanksgiving Break

December 1st: Classes Resume

December 1st - 5th: Natalie's Elf Shelf Store, shopping will be available to students only during the mornings of the 1st-5th, PTO is adding an additional evening on December 3rd to shop from 6-8pm. PTO will send out more information as the time gets closer.

December 2nd: Choir-Mayor Tree Lighting 6pm

December 3rd: Elf Shelf Store Shopping 6-8pm

December 4th: Choir Crown Center Field Trip

December 19th: No School

December 22nd - January 5th: Winter Break

January 6th: Classes Resume, 3rd Qt Begins

President: Theresa Wild

Secretary: Kim Lindsey

Treasurer: Ashley Shepard

Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Thomas

Event Coordinator: Kayla Jordan & Tiffany McCann

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

edwpto204@gmail.com

COMMUNICATION:

www.facebook.com/edwpto

Good news! Strawbridge has a NEW Code Lookup Tool which makes it easier than ever to order your child’s school pictures. Simply scan the QR code on the flyer and follow the directions to access your child’s picture gallery, no need for an access code!

👉 For security, you’ll just need your child’s last name and student ID number. To find your child's ID number you will need to login to Skyward- Click on the "Student Profile" tile-You will find the Student Number located at the top under Student Information.

If you have any questions or run into any trouble, our Customer Service team is happy to help through the Live Chat feature on www.strawbridge.net

To help dismissal run smoothly and safely, we ask families to follow our regular dismissal procedures. After the meeting, please exit the building while students return to their classrooms to gather belongings.

If your child is usually a bus rider but you’d like them to be a car rider that day, please call the office before 2:30 PM to let us know. This ensures they will be in the car rider line when dismissal begins at 3:40 PM.

✨ If you need to take your child with you directly after the Community Meeting:

• Report to your child’s classroom after the meeting and sign them out with their teacher.

• If you have more than one child, you must sign out each child in their own classroom. This ensures we know exactly where every student is. Dismissal can be hectic, and bus drivers and car rider staff need to know which students are where. If a student is missing, the school will be contacted to verify whether they were signed out early or simply didn’t make it to their line. The sign-out sheet is how we track this.

• Only one legal guardian should enter each classroom to avoid crowding. Other guests should wait outside or in the car.

• A legal guardian is a biological parent or someone who has provided legal documentation of guardianship. We cannot release students to emergency contacts without prior approval.

• If someone other than a legal guardian will sign out your child, you must call the office before 2:30 PM to give approval.

Teachers’ sign-out sheets list only legal guardians. If someone is not listed and no prior approval was given, your child will follow their normal dismissal routine.

To help families know the best way to get answers quickly and effectively, our school follows a communication matrix flow. This matrix outlines who to reach out to first with different types of questions or concerns, whether it’s about classroom learning, attendance, technology, or school-wide events.

The goal is to connect you directly with the person who can best support your child and provide accurate information right away. By following the communication flow, families experience fewer delays, staff can respond more efficiently, and everyone stays on the same page.

Good attendance is essential for student success. Please call or email (edwsec@usd204.net) between 8:00 AM–3:00 PM on the day of an absence (or send a note within one day of returning) for it to be excused.

👉 Please note: Excused absences have changed — students now have 14 excused absences for the entire school year. They do not reset at semester like before. After 14, a doctor’s note will be required.

• Tardy: Arrivals between 8:30–9:00 AM or leaving after 3:15 PM = tardy (5 tardies = 1 unexcused absence).

• Truancy: 3 consecutive unexcused days, 5 in a semester, or 7 in a year.

For early release, a parent/guardian must come to the office to sign the student out — students may not wait outside.

This year, we will continue to offer private dining for families who would like to have lunch with their child. However, the location has changed since our music room is now in the former private dining space. We have designated the Makerspace (right across from the office) as the new area for you and your child to enjoy lunch together.

Because the Makerspace is a dual-reservation room, used not only for private dining but also for district employees who may need to hold special meetings with families or staff—all private dining must now be reserved in advance. If the room is not available on your requested day, we’ll be happy to help you choose another day, or you are welcome to sign your child out for lunch and return in time for their next class.

Once you have a reservation scheduled, you are still welcome to bring outside food if you choose.

For safety reasons, and to ensure we can properly monitor and accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions, friends are not permitted to join for lunch. This policy helps us maintain a safe and controlled environment for all students.

At the conclusion of lunch (and lots of hugs), your child will return to class with their teacher, and you will depart from the Makerspace. Before leaving the building, please stop by the office to sign out so we can keep our visitor log accurate.

We love celebrating birthdays at school, and we’re excited to welcome parents back to join in the fun! To keep learning on track, all birthdays celebrations will take place at the very end of the day. Store bought treats should be brought in by 3:10 PM or later. This ensures celebrations do not disrupt the school day. As always, you are also welcome to just send the treats in with your child.

📞 Planning Ahead: Please communicate with your child’s teacher or the front office before bringing treats, so we can be ready for visitors and adjust the end-of-day routine as needed.

🎈 Birthday Invitations: If you’d like to distribute invitations at school, please provide one for every student in the class. Otherwise, invitations should be shared outside of school.

For the safety and accountability of each student, only legal guardians are authorized to sign out a student from school. We cannot release a student to a grandparent, sibling, boyfriend, girlfriend, other family members, or friends without prior phone approval from a legal guardian.

Please note that even if someone is listed as an emergency contact in Skyward, they are not considered a legal guardian. We still require a call from the legal guardian before releasing a student to an emergency contact.

Legal guardians include biological parents listed on the birth certificate, foster or adoptive parents, or individuals with court documentation stating they are guardians. This policy is in effect every day, including during parties, celebrations, and assemblies.

Thank you for helping us ensure the safety of all our students!

As we navigate the changing seasons, We want to remind everyone of our recess guidelines and the importance of ensuring students come to school dressed appropriately for the weather.

• Winter Guidelines:

  • If the outside temperature or wind chill is 25-31 degrees, outdoor recess will be limited to 5-10 minutes.
  • If the temperature or wind chill is 24 degrees or below, recess will be held indoors.
  • Recess will also be held indoors during falling precipitation (snow, sleet, rain, etc.).

• Summer Guidelines:

  • Outdoor recess may take place as long as there is no heat index warning in effect.

We appreciate your help in preparing your child with weather-appropriate clothing, such as coats, hats, gloves, or lighter attire as needed for the season. These measures ensure all students can enjoy recess comfortably and safely.

To stay connected, we’re continuing to use Rooms, our two-way communication tool with teachers and staff. The best way to access Rooms is through the USD 204 app, available in the App Store and Google Play. Just search USD 204. You can also access Rooms via a web browser at https://id.thrillshare.com.

• New to the district? You should have received an invitation by text or email to set up your account. If not, submit an account request HERE.

• Returning families: Your login hasn’t changed. Use your email or phone number, or reset your password with “Forgot my password.” If you’re unable to log in or see issues, submit a support request HERE.

• Already have the app? Be sure you’re on the latest version—open your app store, search USD 204, and update if needed.

• Don’t see a class yet? Please be patient—teachers are in the process of publishing their Rooms, and classes will appear as they are set up.

What’s new this year?

SMS Notifications: Receive a text whenever a new message or announcement is sent, with a direct link to view it in your browser or the app. Learn how to set your notification preferences HERE.

• Upgraded Messaging: A single inbox now shows all your messages across all children, with the ability to read, reply, or start new conversations. See additional details HERE.
  

Check out this overview of the new experience or watch this short video to learn more.

Thank you for your patience as we work through any issues together—we’re excited for another great school year!

Administration / Counselor

Nancy Julo, Principal: julon@usd204.net

Scott Geary, Asst. Principal: gearys@usd204.net

Janai Johnson, Counselor: johnsonja@usd204.net

Front Office Staff:

Attendance & Transportation Email: EDWSec@usd204.net

Kelli Wille, Registrar/Secretary: willek@usd204.net

Kristin Rissler, Bookkeeper/Secretary: risslerk@usd204.net

Cherie Coffman, Nurse: coffmanc@usd204.net

(doors open at 8:15am for arrival, tardy bell will ring promptly at 8:30am)

Office #- 913-422-4036

Fax#- 913-298-5190

Transportation #- 913-441-2493