Henry Happenings

Dear Henry Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Meet the Teacher Night! We are excited to welcome our students back for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 25. If you have any last minute questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at 314-415-6350 on Monday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM so we can assist you.

We know this Henry Happenings includes A LOT of information, so it was sent early! Please take the time to read through it all to be prepared for the first day and weeks of school. Normally, weekly newsletters (Henry Happenings) are sent on Sunday evening.

Arrival and First-Day Procedures

We are so excited to welcome our Henry students back to school! To keep everyone safe, parents will need to say goodbye to their children at the front entrance, bus stop, or in the car drop-off line. While we cannot allow parent access to the building during arrival, we invite families to enjoy a special photo opportunity in front of the school and walk their child to the front door for a final hug or high-five. Our caring Henry staff will be ready to greet students and, if needed, walk them to their classrooms during the first week.

To help students feel confident and secure, we encourage families to practice their normal arrival routine starting on the first day. This consistency makes the rest of the week smoother for both arrival and dismissal.

Lunch Visitors

We know how special it is to share a lunch with your child at school. To help students settle into their routines and feel comfortable in the cafeteria, we will begin lunch visits after Labor Day (Sept. 7). At that time, parents are warmly welcomed to join their child for lunch after checking in at the office with a valid ID. For safety reasons, lunch visitors must be listed as one of the student’s emergency contacts in Infinite Campus.

Please make sure to read below if you are dropping students off or picking students up from school. Our process for arrival and dismissal is specific. Please know how to access our driveway so that everyone can stay safe.

We appreciate your partnership in helping us create a safe, welcoming, and smooth start to the school year!

We encourage all students to bring a refillable water bottle to school. It is often hot the first week of school!

Continue reading below for more information about: Arrival and Dismissal Routines, Henry School Handbook, Notes from the Nurse, Bus Stop Information, and More!

It is going to be a great first week!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jodi Oliver

Follow us!

Facebook: facebook.com/henryelementaryschool

Instagram: @pkwyhenrybulldogs

August 25 - First Day of School

September 7 - No School - Labor Day

September 10 - Curriculum Night Grades 1-5 and Special Area, 4:30-7:30pm

September 11 - PTO Welcome Back Picnic @ Logan Park Pavillion, 6:00-7:30pm

Bus Stop Information:

• Families eligible for Parkway bus transportation received an email with details, including their designated bus stop location and pickup/drop-off times.
  
  
• Please note that bus stops and times may be adjusted during the first few weeks of school as transportation finalizes routes and accommodates family needs. We will notify families of any changes.
  
  
• The Special School District of St. Louis County will share bus route details for students receiving special education bus services.

• Students utilizing VICC transportation will receive communication from their office about transportation.

Email the Parkway transportation office at transportation@parkwayschools.net for questions or additional information.

Kindergarten Bus Safety Video: This message is designed for kindergarteners, but the tips are important for all bus riders. Please click here to view the bus safety video with your child.

Reminder for Parents of Kindergarten Students: Kindergarten students (unless riding with an older sibling) must be met at the bus stop by an adult. If an adult is not at the bus stop when the bus arrives to drop off your child, your child will be brought back to the school office.

Bus Procedures and Safety: Please review these bus rules with your child.

1. Be at the bus stop early.

2. Respect the bus driver and listen to instructions.

3. Take your seat right away after boarding the bus.

4. Stay seated at all times.

5. Always get on and off the bus at your bus stop.

6. Leave the bus carefully using the handrail.

7. Keep your head, arms, legs and hands inside the bus.

8. Look both ways before crossing the road.

9. Wait for the bus in a safe place away from the road.

10. Keep away from the bus if you drop or forget something.

11. No eating or drinking on the school bus.

12. Do not ride the bus if you feel ill/sick /have a fever.

13. Specific seats may be assigned by the bus driver or administrator.

In collaboration with the Ballwin Police Department, to keep our car drop-off & pick-up lane safe and the traffic moving on Henry Ave, please follow the route through the neighborhood as outlined below. Please help us keep the non-school traffic moving on Henry Avenue by following this right turn only plan and NOT making a left turn from Henry Ave into the school lot. Please only enter the Henry lot AFTER you have been on Guenevere.

DROP-OFF LOOP

From BOTH DIRECTIONS on Henry Ave:

1. Turn onto Clayworth Dr.

2. Left on Ruthwood Dr.

3. Left on Guenevere Dr.

4. Right on Henry Ave.

5. Right into Henry Elem

6. Proceed to the Rear of the School

Right Turns Only for Entering the School Drive! Please enter the school drive only from Northbound Henry Ave (going toward Clayton Rd) AFTER you have LOOPED THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD and are exiting the neighborhood from Guenevere. THE LINE BEGINS ON GUENEVERE.

DO NOT TURN DIRECTLY ONTO GUENEVERE

If you turn directly on Guenevere, you will have to make a U-Turn to enter the line. This causes a major safety issue for those children walking to school. It also upsets our neighbors when cars turn around in their driveways. Please help us be safe and good neighbors by entering Guenevere only by using the route through the neighborhood. When waiting in line, please be considerate of neighbors needing to enter or exit their driveways.

FROM GLENMEADOW DR OR SPRING MEADOWS DR

If you are coming from Glenmeadow Dr or Spring Meadows Dr, please turn Right onto Henry Avenue and loop back to make a right turn into the Henry drive.

SAFETY REMINDERS

For safety, please do not use cell phones in the pick-up line where students are loading. Students should always load on the passenger side of the vehicle in order to avoid walking between cars. When exiting the lot after picking up your child, please be aware of a crosswalk in between the parked buses that people use when entering the parking lot. Do not exceed 10 mph in the parking lot.

PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF LANE

Please refer to the map below for the loading/unloading zones, waiting zones, and exit path.

Please refer to the maps above!

• See the map through the neighborhood and follow this route before attempting to turn into the Henry lot so we avoid traffic back-ups on Henry Ave.

• You will circle around the upper playground blacktop and stick to the perimeter of the blacktop.

• Always pull forward as much as possible. Please drive all the way to the stop sign past Door 4 to ensure the maximum number of cars can load and unload at one time. This helps us keep the line moving efficiently!

Drop-Off:

• The back drop-off doors will be open from 8:50 - 9:05 a.m. Once the doors close, you will need to bring your child to the front of the building, park, and walk them to the door. Please do NOT drop off your child if the doors are closed because the doors lock and they will not be able to get in.

• Students do not need to wait for a staff member to open the car door. Once the cars have stopped moving, students may exit through the passenger side of the vehicle. Adults will assist younger students as quickly as possible, but to keep the line moving, please practice with your child unbuckling and opening the car door independently.

Pick-Up:

• Please have a car sign hanging from your rearview mirror.

• New families will receive a rearview mirror tag at Meet the Teacher or it will be sent home with your child on the first day of school.

• If you do not yet have a sign, please be prepared to show photo identification and ensure that anyone picking up your child is listed as a guardian or emergency contact in your child’s Infinite Campus profile. This is our safety procedure all year long and everyone having a sign helps the line move faster.

Safety Reminders:

• Students can ONLY unload/load from the passenger side IN the specified ZONE.

• Drivers side doors should ALWAYS stay closed.

• Do not pull up in front of the building to drop off your child during arrival/dismissal. This is an important safety procedure due to the unloading of the buses in the front area. Please remember that due to the size of the buses, the drivers have limited visibility. Never walk between buses because they can roll back which can cause a serious accident.

• For safety and so that full attention is given as students walk to their cars, we ask that cell phones are NOT used in the pick-up line.

• When driving by the parked buses please be aware of the crosswalk that people will use to cross into the parking lot. Please take caution in this area and stop to allow for crossing pedestrians.

Dismissal/Parent Pick Up

**New families will get hangtags available at Meet the Teacher Night. If you are a returning family and did not keep yours please call the office for a replacement!**

HANGTAGS AND FAMILY NUMBERS

Each family will have a hangtag with its family number. The hangtag and/or family number allow the Henry staff to quickly confirm that an authorized individual is picking up each child.

• For car pick-up, please display your hangtag by hanging it from the rearview mirror.

• For parent-led walkers and bikers, please hold your hangtag and show it to the Henry staff member at the dismissal door.

If the person picking up the child does not have a hangtag or does not know the family number, photo identification will be required. Not having your hangtag will slow down the dismissal process. If you need a new hangtag or need your family number changed, please contact the school office and a new tag will be made for you. Please know that the hangtags are only used during regular dismissal. When children are signed out early, the adult must present photo identification.

The safety of children walking to school is very important. Please show your child the route you wish him/her to take before school starts. Also, please review with your child the necessity of using the designated crosswalks near the school and also to follow the instructions of our crossing guard. Children should always be aware of any strangers who approach them and should let a responsible adult know immediately if anything unusual occurs. They should also remember not to approach anyone in a car who may stop to ask them questions.

The school crosswalks are supervised from 8:50 a.m. to 9:05. Students should leave home at a time when they will reach the crosswalks when they are supervised.

Students riding bicycles to school should park their bikes at one of the two bike stands in front of the building and secure their bikes using a lock. Per St. Louis County ordinance, bicycle riders under the age of 16 are required to wear a helmet.

PARENT-LED WALKERS & BIKERS

Parents are asked to wait outside the building when waiting for those students who are walking. When walker dismissal begins, please walk down to the main entrance and show your hangtag with your family number to the school staff.

INDEPENDENT WALKERS & BIKERS

If your child will be walking or biking home without an adult (or siblings middle school-age or older), please email permission for your child to be released independently. Please send emails to your child’s teacher and to Kellie Steko at ksteko1@parkwayschools.net.

If at any time during the school year, your child will be going home a different way than normal (e.g., parent picking up instead of the bus, walking instead of car pick-up, going home with a friend, etc.), please send a note to your child’s teacher.

Children being picked up by someone other than their parents are to also bring a note and get a pickup pass. Notes from the parents of both children will be needed if a child is going to another student’s home.

If you are calling in with a last-minute change of transportation, please call the main office by 2:30 p.m. at 314-415-6350.

We've missed our Henry Bulldogs and are so excited a new school year is just around the corner! As you start to gather your school supplies, don't forget to include any medications that your child will need at school. Please remember, all medications must be in the original packaging with the prescription label if appropriate and accompanied by a permission form signed by parents and their physician. The necessary forms can be found at this link. I will be available on August 14 or after for medication drop. The office will be open from 8-3 each day. Other times can be arranged as needed.

If your child had any changes to their health over the summer, or if you would like to discuss any particular concerns please email me at jbaker4@parkwayschools.net I will also be available by phone starting August 14th. My phone number is 314-415-6360.

Finally, Missouri law requires that students are up to date on immunizations before attending school. If your child is missing immunizations, you should have been notified over the last several weeks. Immunizations can be obtained at most pediatrician's offices and the St. Louis County Health Department. Appointments become harder to find as August approaches, so don't delay!

• Ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information for school and district communication by updating your Family Profile before August 25.
  
  
• Update your Family Profile via Infinite Campus or the Infinite Campus Parent mobile app.
  
  
• More details about the Family Profile.

The Henry School Calendar has been updated for the 2026-2027 school year with school-wide events and information (as much as can be planned at this time).

• Please click here to access a printable district calendar that includes days off school and early release days.

• You can access the school calendar by visiting our website (click here).

• Explore the different options for depositing funds into your student's breakfast and lunch account.
  
  
• Apply/reapply for free and reduced-price meals (families approved for free/reduced meals in 2025-2026 will retain that status for the first 30 days of the new school year, but must reapply).
  
  
• View the digital menus by school.

Parkway school counselors are dedicated to providing a comprehensive program that supports students in their academic, personal, social/emotional, and career development. They play a vital role in fostering a positive school climate and ensuring that students feel safe.

Counselors collaborate with students, families, staff, and community members to offer a comprehensive counseling program. They proactively identify and address students' needs, responding to those needs on a daily basis. Our school counselors loop with their grade levels each year to build deep and trusting connections with the students.

Henry is so excited to welcome author Lindsay Currie on Tuesday, September 8th. Lindsay is a Missouri author who has a new book coming out called The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society. The book is the first in a new mystery series for middle grade readers that centers around one of my favorite places - bookstores! Lindsay will be sharing this book, and lots about her writing process, with the audience. We would like to thank Left Bank Books, a bookstore in the Central West End, for providing the opportunity to bring Lindsay to Henry. If your family would like to purchase an autographed copy of Lindsay's book, ordering information will be coming soon.

Lindsay will be presenting to grades 4-5 in the cafeteria. If you have any questions, or do not want your child to attend the visit, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Goyal at agoyal@parkwayschools.net.

Henry did not have a lot of construction or work done this summer as we hosted many, many summer programs including Parkway Summer School, Parkway/Rockwood Summer Link, and Parkway/Rockwood Camps. It's been a busy summer filled with kids and cleaning!

There are several things that have happened!

• Our library is getting real doors! These doors will be solid and on both sides and entry points to the library. This will allow for the students and staff in the library to have the ablility to safely be secured in the event of a lockdown. They are currently still in progress and under construction as the work started after summer school and camps were over.
• We are patiently awaiting the delivery of new furniture in two of our second grade classrooms thanks to the money we raised during the Read-A-Thon last school year. It will be arriving after the first day of school, but in the first two weeks of September!
• Additions of some short term parking in the front of the school.
• Our PTO beautification volunteers have been busy sprucing up some of our outdoor spaces!

Summer is the best time to read! Henry Library has a summer reading program for all our Henry Readers (students in 1-5th grades for 2026-2027). A packet of information went home on Field Day! If you need more information you will be able to find it on the Henry Library Website.

Henry families- welcome back!

It is the role of the PTO to help enrich the experience of all Henry students, to support teachers and staff, and to connect Henry families. Your participation in fundraisers helps fulfill needs our teachers may have, provide classroom enhancements, and supply extra services for our students. We are excited to kick off our Henry Hustle fundraiser this fall. Our community events aim to be free or low cost, and provide an opportunity for socialization and connection between families outside of school.

As parents and guardians, you are automatically members of our PTO and we encourage you to help as you are able with your time, talent, and treasury. We appreciate the support many of you have given throughout the years.

The link below will take you to the PTO website where you can find the calendar of events, general meeting dates, and ways that you can help- including volunteer opportunities. Be on the lookout for PTO news in the weekly Henry Happenings and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s going to be a great year!

Your 2026-2027 Henry PTO Board:

President: Angie Phillion

VP of Fundraising: Lauren Evans

VPs of Community Events: Jessica Banner & Katie Regel

VP of Communication: Shannon Piatchek

Treasurer: Kari Roehr

Secretaries: Alicia Goyal & Danielle Terranova

Link to: https://henry.parkwayschools.net/families/pto

Carrie Howell, our beautification expert, has been working hard at sprucing up the front of the school before the first day! It looks fantastic, we are so grateful for the job she is doing, and we can't wait for you to see it. Also, check out the generous donation from the Howell Family in painting the posts in the back lot! They bring so much joy!

Email: joliver2@parkwayschools.net

Email: aspellicy@parkwayschools.net

Website: https://henry.parkwayschools.net/

Instagram: @pkwyhenrybulldogs