August

Whether your family has been part of Fairview for years or this is your very first school year with us, welcome! We are so excited to kick off another year of learning, growth, and connection together.

The beginning of a new school year is always filled with new possibilities: new classmates, new teachers, new friendships, and new opportunities are waiting just around the corner. Behind the scenes, our staff has spent the summer preparing classrooms, planning engaging learning experiences, and making sure everything is ready to welcome your child on the very first day of school. We truly cannot wait to fill our hallways with the laughter, curiosity, and excitement that make Fairview such a special place.

This edition of our newsletter is our biggest of the year because it contains nearly everything you'll need to prepare for a successful start to the 2026–2027 school year. Inside, you'll find information about registration, arrival and dismissal procedures, Meet the Teacher Night, PTA opportunities, important dates, and much more. We encourage you to bookmark this newsletter and refer back to it throughout the month of August.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. It is a privilege we never take for granted. We are honored to partner with your family and look forward to making this an incredible school year together.

See you soon!

-Tyler

Dr. Tyler Simmons
Principal

Fairview Elementary

If you have not already completed your child's annual registration, please do so as soon as possible. All families should have received registration instructions from Columbia Public Schools earlier this summer.

Here are a few important reminders:

• August 7 is the deadline to guarantee bus transportation on the first day of school. Families who register after that date may experience a delay in bus service while routes are finalized.
• Your registration is not considered complete until all required documents have been submitted, including items such as proof of residency, immunization records, and your child's birth certificate (if applicable).
• The online registration process itself is fairly quick. It took me about 15 minutes to register my 3 children! The most time consuming part was locating documents like immunization records and a recent utility bill, so gathering those ahead of time can save you time.

Please note: Teacher assignments will be shared during Meet the Teacher Night, but only for students whose registration has been fully completed. If your registration is still incomplete when you arrive, we will gladly help you finish the process before sharing your child's classroom assignment.

Need Help Prior to Meet the Teacher Night?

Our wonderful registrar, Wendy Sims, is happy to assist you!

📞 Phone: (573) 214-3590
📧 Email: WSims@cpsk12.org

Before reaching out, please try to locate your Guardian ID, which was emailed on or around July 14, 2026 by Walt McManus (CPSTechServices@cpsk12.org).

Other Helpful Info for Registration

• Log in to the CPS Families Portal using your CPS-issued Guardian ID and password. From there, click the Campus Parent icon to begin your annual update.
• During the annual update, you'll verify and update important information including emergency contacts, health information, permissions, lunch status, and transportation needs.
• Bus transportation is not automatic. Families who qualify for transportation must request bus service each year as part of the annual registration process before August 7th.
• Families applying for Free or Reduced Price Meals must complete a new application each school year. Applications are available online at www.myschoolapps.com.
• Need help? Visit the district's Families Portal FAQ for technical assistance or the How to Register page for step by step registration guidance. If you still have questions, please contact Wendy Sims at Fairview.

• Please visit the district’s landing page for Back-to-School information.
• School supplies lists can be found here.

We can’t wait to welcome our Fairview Falcons and their families back into the building for Meet the Teacher Night!

🗓 Thursday, August 20th
🕟 Drop in anytime between 4:30–6:00 PM (open house style)

Here’s what to expect:

• 🧑‍🏫 Meet your child’s teacher and drop off their school supplies in the classroom
  (Please note: Online registration must be completed before teacher assignments will be shared.)

• 🏫 Visit your child’s classroom, join our PTA, deposit money into your child's lunch account, etc.

• 💻 Get help with technology or Parent Portal access

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on August 20th!

Our new Fairview PTA leadership team is ready and excited to serve our school community this year!

• President: Jennifer Sykes: sykesj@health.missouri.edu
• Vice President: Molly Myers: myersmol1875@gmail.com
• Secretary: LeAnn Rehard: Leann.rehard@gmail.com
• Co-Treasurers: Kellen David: kellenburkett@gmail.com and Bridget Aldrich: bkdy96@gmail.com

Our PTA plays a tremendous role in making Fairview such a special place for students, staff, and families. From organizing community events like the Fairview Fever Festival and Falcon Friday to supporting teachers, funding special projects, and celebrating our students, so much of what makes Fairview unique happens because dedicated volunteers step up to help.

The truth is, these events don't just happen. They rely on parents and family members who are willing to serve behind the scenes, whether that's leading an event, joining a planning committee, or simply lending a hand for an hour or two.

If you're looking for a meaningful way to get involved and make a difference at Fairview, we'd love to have you! Check out the volunteer opportunities linked here. Please note: This document will continue to be updated throughout the school year as additional events and volunteer opportunities are finalized.

Falcon Fridays are special opportunities for Fairview students, families, and staff to connect throughout the school year. On designated Fridays, students are invited to arrive a little early for an all school morning recess while families and staff members have time to visit and build relationships with one another.

Our first Falcon Friday of the year will take place on Friday, September 4, from 7:50 to 8:20 AM. PTA will provide coffee and grab and go breakfast items for adults to enjoy while they mingle. We hope you will join us for a fun and relaxed start to the day!

Our first PTA meeting is on Monday, September 14th and will begin at 5:30 PM in the library. Please join us, if you're able!

Would you like to connect with other Fairview families outside of the school day? Consider joining our optional Family Directory!

This is a great way to make it easier to coordinate playdates, birthday parties, or stay in touch with classmates’ families. You can choose to share as much or as little contact information as you’re comfortable with. If you opt-in, please be sure to submit a response for each of your children who attend Fairview.

✅ Participation is completely optional
📱 Here’s the link to sign up: Fairview Family Directory 2026-2027

We hope this helps strengthen connections within our amazing Fairview community!

The Fairview PTA plays an important role in supporting our students, staff, and school community — and we’d love for you to be part of it!

Your membership dues go directly toward supporting teachers and students, funding classroom needs, school events, and more.

📝 No time for meetings? No problem!
You’re welcome to join and support the PTA without attending meetings.

💙 Every membership strengthens our school. Join today and help make a difference!

It may only be August, but go ahead and mark your calendars for one of Fairview's favorite traditions! Our Fairview Fever Festival will take place on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 4:00–7:00 PM.

The Fairview Fever Festival is one of our favorite community events of the year and a tradition that our school takes great pride in. Families can look forward to carnival style games, prizes, bounce houses, a cake walk, a candy walk, delicious food, and so much more. Adults often look forward to our silent auction and raffle. Every year, our incredible team of volunteers finds new and creative ways to make the event even more memorable, and I can't wait to see what they have in store this year!

We hope to see everyone there this October!

One important note: We are currently looking for a volunteer to chair this year's Fairview Fever Festival. If you have a passion for planning events and helping bring our school community together, we would love to talk with you. If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to PTA President Jennifer Sykes or me. We'd be happy to answer any questions and help you get started.

This section is especially important this year as our recent boundary changes will welcome many new students and families to Fairview. Whether you're brand new to our school or simply need a refresher, the information below will help make your mornings smooth, safe, and stress free

We are excited to welcome students back to Fairview each morning! Our doors open at 8:00 AM, and students may arrive between 8:00 and 8:20 AM. Students should not arrive significantly earlier than 8:00 AM as we do not have supervision available at that time. Students arriving after 8:20 AM should report to the office for a tardy slip before heading to class. Breakfast will continue to be available for students during this time.

Students may enter the building through either the front main entrance or the back main entrance. Upon entering, students who are not eating breakfast should head directly to their classrooms. Students eating breakfast will report to the cafeteria before going to class.

Walkers & Bike Riders

Students are always welcome to walk or ride their bike to school. Bike racks are located near the southeast entrance by the Adventure Club doors. Please remember to send a bike lock so your child's bicycle can be securely locked during the school day. Students arriving on foot or by bicycle may enter through either the front main entrance or the back main entrance.

Note: E-bikes without pedals and electric scooters are not permitted on school grounds.

Parents Walking Students In

Parents are welcome to walk their child to their classroom during the first week of school. Beginning Monday, August 31, we ask that students walk to their classrooms independently. This helps build confidence and allows teachers to focus on welcoming students and beginning the school day.

If you need to speak with your child's teacher, please schedule a meeting in advance, as mornings are a busy time for welcoming students and preparing for instruction.

Car Rider Drop Off

Families dropping students off by car may use either the front circle drive or the Yorktown parking lot behind the building.

The Yorktown parking lot is a great option for families who would like to park and walk their child to the back doors. If you prefer to simply drop your child off and continue on your way, please do so carefully and be mindful of other vehicles and pedestrians in the parking lot. Because of the added supervision and more efficient traffic flow, we encourage families who plan to drop and go to use the front circle drive whenever possible.

***New for 2026-2027: If you choose to use the Yorktown parking lot, you MUST park in a parking spot because our busses will now be utilizing the curb to unload students.

The front circle drive is our busiest, yet most efficient arrival option for students arriving in a car each day. To help arrival run safely and efficiently, please remember to:

• Pull all the way forward before unloading your child. If you arrive before 8AM, please pull your vehicle forward as far as possible in the front circle.
• Stay in line and do not pass other vehicles.
• Remain in your vehicle while students exit.
• Whenever possible, have students exit from the passenger side of the vehicle.
• If approaching from the north on Fairview Road, please avoid making a left turn into the front circle drive between 8:00 and 8:20 AM.

Our staff will be outside each morning to greet students, assist with traffic flow, and help ensure everyone gets into the building safely. We appreciate your patience and partnership as we work together to make each morning safe, smooth, and welcoming for every child.

Please help us avoid unnecessary congestion on Fairview Road during morning drop-off. Your cooperation keeps everyone safe and on time!

✅ Do:

• Continue straight to the roundabout at Fairview & Rollins if the circle is full.

• Re-enter the circle by heading south on Fairview to pull in safely.

• Unload quickly and carefully to keep cars moving.

❌ Don’t:

• Stop northbound traffic by waiting to turn left into the circle when it’s full.

• Block the flow of cars already unloading in the front circle.

Thank you for helping us make morning drop-off safe, smooth, and efficient for all Fairview families!

Beginning on Monday, August 31st, students should walk themselves to their classroom unaccompanied during arrival time. Families are more than welcome to walk their child to one of our exterior doors, say goodbye, and watch their student enter the building. We will have staff members and Safety Patrol members strategically placed throughout the building to make sure that all students safely arrive at their final destinations.

Student dismissal begins each afternoon at 3:20 PM. To help ensure a safe and efficient dismissal, please make every effort to keep your child's dismissal routine consistent. If your child's dismissal plan changes, please notify both the office and your child's teacher before 2:00 PM whenever possible.

Front Circle Parent Pick Up

Families using our Front Circle Parent Pick Up will remain in their vehicles while Fairview staff safely load students directly into the family vehicle. To help dismissal run smoothly, please remember to:

• Display your dismissal card in your windshield as you enter the circle drive.
• Pull all the way forward before stopping.
• Remain in your vehicle at all times.
• Stay in line and do not pass other vehicles.
• Whenever possible, have students enter from the passenger side of the vehicle.

If your child needs assistance buckling their seat belt or getting situated in a car seat, please pull forward to the end of the circle drive or into a nearby parking space before assisting them. This helps keep the car line moving for everyone.

Please do not begin lining up in the circle drive before 3:00 PM. If the line extends onto Fairview Road, please pull as far to the right as possible so traffic can continue to flow safely. If traffic reaches the Rollins Road roundabout, please be careful not to block the intersection.

Blacktop Parent Pick Up

Families who prefer to park and walk to meet their child should use our Blacktop Parent Pick Up procedure.

Students will wait with Fairview staff at their designated dismissal door (see picture below) until a parent or guardian arrives. To ensure every student is released safely, please have your dismissal card ready to show the supervising staff member. If you have children in multiple grade levels, simply present your card at each designated pickup location.

***Important change for 2026–2027: Families using our Blacktop Parent Pick Up must park in a designated parking space before walking to retrieve their child. Parking along the curb will no longer be permitted, as our buses will now load students from the curbside in the Yorktown parking lot where many families have parked in the past. Keeping the curb clear will allow buses to safely load and unload students while improving traffic flow for everyone. We know this is a significant change from previous years, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as everyone adjusts to our new dismissal procedures.

Safety Reminders

Because buses will now be loading in the Yorktown parking lot, please help us keep everyone safe by following these expectations:

• Always park in a designated parking space or, if you prefer, along Yorktown Drive.
• When walking to or from your vehicle, always walk behind the buses. Never walk in front of a bus or between two buses.
• When buses are pulling into or leaving the parking lot, all traffic must stop. Please do not enter the lot, exit the lot, or drive around moving buses until they have completely cleared the area.

If you would like to avoid the busiest area of the Yorktown parking lot, we encourage you to park along Yorktown Drive and walk the short distance to pick up your child.

Every family will receive dismissal cards during Meet the Teacher Night. Please keep these cards in your vehicle or another convenient location, as they help us verify that students are released to the appropriate adult each afternoon.

Walkers & Bike Riders

Students who walk or ride their bike home will be dismissed through the Blacktop with staff supervision. Students riding their bikes should retrieve them from the bike racks located near the southeast entrance (Adventure Club doors) before leaving campus.

For student safety, we ask that families discuss safe walking and biking expectations with their child, including using sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible. Students riding bicycles should always wear a properly fitted helmet.

Bus Riders

Students riding the bus will be escorted by Fairview staff to the gym before being dismissed to their buses. Staff members supervise students throughout the dismissal process and escort each bus to its loading area to ensure students board safely.

Adventure Club

Students attending Adventure Club will be dismissed directly to the cafeteria, where Adventure Club staff will greet them and begin afternoon programming. Families picking up from Adventure Club should park in the Fairview Park or Kindergarten parking lots and use the Adventure Club entrance located at the southwest doors.

A Note About the First Week

The first few days of school are always our busiest, especially this year as we welcome many new Fairview families because of the recent boundary changes. We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and partnership as everyone learns the new routines. By the second week of school, our procedures typically become much faster and more efficient.

Thank you! We know there is a lot of information here, especially for families who are new to Fairview. These procedures have been carefully designed with one goal in mind: keeping every child safe while making arrival and dismissal as smooth and efficient as possible. Thank you for partnering with us as we kick off another great school year.

Our Adventure Club doorbell is located next to the southwest exterior doors. You'll need to park at the Fairview Park or Kindergarten lots and walk to this set of doors to drop off or collect your child(ren).

The Raptor Visitor Management System allows schools to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools. Upon entering a district building, visitors will be required to present a valid-government issued ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork. The visitor management process will only be used during school hours.

Thank you for your cooperation on keeping our campuses safe.

For more information on the Raptor Visitor Management System, please visit their website.

Fairview will make breakfast and lunch available to all students everyday. Free and reduced meals are available to families who qualify, but you must submit an online application or you may print a paper version. Enrollment in this program does not rollover year to year; a new application is required every year.

For everyone else, meal prices are as follows:

• Breakfast- $2.25

• Lunch- $3.20

• Additional milk or juice: $0.75

Parents/Guardians are allowed to periodically eat lunch with their child. If you desire to join your child for lunch, you must ring the front door bell and check-in at the main office. You’ll be escorted to the cafeteria where you’ll be seated with your child and their classmates for lunch. You are welcome to purchase a school meal for yourself or you may bring a meal of your own. Please only bring food for your child and yourself.

Like last school year, EEE students will attend class at Field Elementary on Mondays. The first day of EEE for Fairview students is Monday, August 31st. Please be sure to plan accordingly.

Last school year, Fairview partnered with Booster for our very first Fun Run, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our families, we raised more than $28,000 to improve our playground!

I'm excited to share that the first phase of those improvements is already complete. Our students are now enjoying a brand new gaga ball pit complete with artificial turf surfacing, which will provide years of fun for current and future Falcons.

But we're not finished yet! Over the coming months, we'll continue working with our PTA, a committee of Fairview staff members, and Columbia Public Schools to select and install one or two additional pieces of playground equipment later this school year.

Thank you for your generosity and continued support of Fairview. Every pledge and donation is helping us create an even better place for our students to learn, play, and grow.

Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Montana Loesing, one of our incredible 2nd grade teachers, on being named a Brightspeed Classroom Champion!

This summer, Brightspeed partnered with the University of Missouri to recognize educators across Missouri who go above and beyond to inspire, encourage, and support their students. Mrs. Loesing was selected as one of this year's Classroom Champions and was surprised by Mizzou running back Jamal Roberts with the exciting news!

As part of the award, Mrs. Loesing received a $2,000 classroom shopping spree, exclusive Mizzou experiences, and additional resources that will directly benefit her students.

Those of us who have the privilege of working alongside Montana know this recognition is incredibly well deserved. She pours her heart into her students every single day, creates a joyful and engaging classroom, and is always looking for ways to provide the very best learning experiences for children.

Congratulations, Mrs. Loesing! Fairview is incredibly proud of you, and we can't wait to see the impact these new classroom resources have on your students this year.

If your child will be absent for the day, please call and report their absence or email jhouston@cpsk12.org. If we do not hear from you, we will call to check on their wellbeing.

All CPS schools use these codes to help track absences:

• PN (Parent Notified): This code will be used when a parent contacts us to let us know their child will be absent or when Mrs. Houston reaches out and the parent confirms they were aware of the absence. Please note: PN is considered an Unexcused absence, even if we’ve been notified.

• Truancy: If we are not contacted by a parent about an absence, it will be marked as Truancy. This will also trigger an automated robocall.

• M (Medical): This code is used when a student is sent home by the school nurse or misses school for a doctor’s appointment. Please make sure to send a doctor’s note so we can mark the absence correctly.

Keeping open communication about absences helps us support your child’s success in school. Thank you!

• Thursday, 8/20: Meet the Teacher Night, 4:30-6:00 (open-house style)
• Tuesday, 8/25: First Day of School for all students
• Friday, 9/4: Falcon Friday (all-school morning recess from 7:50 AM- 8:20 AM. Families are welcome!)
• Monday, 9/7: Labor Day, NO SCHOOL
• Monday, 9/14: 1st PTA Meeting, 5:30 PM
• Tuesday, 9/22: School Picture Day
• Friday, 9/25: Falcon Friday (all-school morning recess from 7:50 AM- 8:20 AM. Families are welcome!)
• Wednesday, 9/30: Early Release @ 12:50 for Teacher Collaboration
• Friday, 10/9: Fairview Fever Festival

Email: jhouston@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/16
Location: 909 South Fairview Road, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: 573-214-3590
Facebook: Follow us here!
Twitter: @FVEFalcons