EDW BRAVE BULLETIN

With the help of our amazing EDW PTO, we are offering a variety of volunteer and mentorship opportunities through our Building Braves Volunteer/Mentorship Program. This initiative is designed to strengthen the partnership between home and school while giving parents and guardians meaningful ways to support our students and staff.

Participating is simple!

• Volunteers will work in the building, but not with students. Examples: Stapling worksheets, making copies, or cutting supplies. With the option to assist with school events, projects, and community activities.

• Mentors will work with students. Examples: being a lunch buddy, reading buddy, or math facts buddy. This is a great way to build positive, supportive relationships with students who may benefit from extra encouragement.

Those interested will be asked to complete a short, self-paced training. Mentors will also need to consent to a district funded background check, as student safety remains our top priority.

If you would like to get involved or learn more, please complete the Building Braves Interest Form. We would love to welcome you into this growing program and appreciate your partnership in making Edwardsville Elementary a wonderful place for all Braves!

We want to take a moment to address some of the feedback shared recently regarding our updated party procedures and overall school communication. We truly value our families, and we appreciate everyone who took the time to express their thoughts. Your voices matter to us, and we want our school community to feel informed, supported, and connected.

We completely understand that it can feel unsettling when you don’t know everything that happens during a school day. As parents and caregivers, wanting to stay informed is natural, and we respect that. Please know that our goal is never to keep information from you, but to communicate clearly and responsibly about the things that truly impact student safety, well-being, and learning.

There are certain situations where contacting families is absolutely essential. This includes important health notifications, safety concerns, or any significant incident that requires parent awareness. We will always follow district guidelines to make sure families receive timely, clear communication whenever it truly matters.

Outside of these circumstances, we may not always be able to share every detail due to student privacy laws or because the situation does not impact the broader student body. We ask for your trust that if something important affects your child, you will hear from us.

It’s also important for families to understand that administration and teachers can only address situations we are aware of. If something is happening with a student, socially, emotionally, or behaviorally, and it is not reported to staff, we are unable to step in, support the child, or communicate with families about it. Open communication between home and school is a partnership, and we are always here to listen and help when concerns are shared with us.

Police Presence at School

You will regularly see our School Resource Officer’s vehicle outside, this is part of their normal daily presence. Occasionally, you may notice additional police vehicles. More often than not, those visits are positive and routine: officers dropping off donations, stopping by to greet students, giving high-fives, walking the halls, or simply being a friendly presence in our building. These visits do not always indicate a safety issue, but rather reflect our strong community partnerships.

Our goal is, and always will be, a strong, trusting partnership between school and home. Thank you for being part of our Braves family and for continuing to support our school community.

Our adventurous 1st graders had a stellar time on their recent field trip to the Schlagle Library! ✨ They explored the magical world of moons, stars, and constellations, learning how the night sky is full of patterns, stories, and sparkling surprises. It was an out-of-this-world experience that left them excited to keep looking up! 🌙

Check out the proof below!

We would like to communicate an update regarding our classroom celebrations, and we want to do so with openness and care.

Our celebrations have always been special opportunities for students to enjoy time together and for families to be part of those moments. We are always looking for ways to perfect and ensure the safest and most positive environment for all children.

With this in mind, and to stay consistent with procedures already in place throughout the district, we will be moving to a new celebration model that focuses on student safety, staff support, and building-wide consistency.

Classroom celebrations will follow these guidelines:

• Each classroom may have two (2) adult volunteers at each celebration

• Teachers will select their volunteers using a method that best fits their classroom needs (interest surveys, rotation, etc.).

• Volunteer names will be shared with the office ahead of time to help with smooth check-in.

• Families who are not attending are still welcome to contribute by sending treats (following allergy guidelines), supplies, or activity ideas that support the celebration.

We understand these changes may feel different, and we truly appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Our goal is always to make school events safe, enjoyable, and memorable for students.

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

December 17th: Choir Sings @ Nursing Home 9:45am

December 18th: Community Meeting & Sing A Long- 2:30pm, Holiday Parties to follow after the Community Meeting(3pm)- Reminder that we will be following the new party procedures.

December 19th: No School

December 22nd - January 5th: Winter Break

January 6th: Classes Resume, 3rd Qt Begins, Braves Lead 3:30pm

January 12th: Dental Screenings

January 13th: Braves Lead 3:30pm

January 19th: No School

January 20th: Spring Pictures and Class Photo, Braves Lead 3:30pm

President: Theresa Wild

Secretary: Kim Lindsey

Treasurer: Ashley Shepard

Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Thomas

Event Coordinator: Kayla Jordan & Tiffany McCann

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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