Henry Happenings

Dear Henry Families,

As we approach winter break, I want to take a moment to wish you and your family a joyful holiday season. We are grateful for your continued partnership and support throughout the year, and for the trust you place in our school each day.

I hope the coming weeks provide time for rest, reflection, and special moments together. We look forward to welcoming our students back in the new year refreshed and ready to learn.

Wishing you a wonderful winter break and a happy, healthy New Year.

*Please also note, the next Henry Happenings will not occur until Sunday, January 4.*

Continue reading below for more information about: School Spirit Week, Preschool on Parade, Notes from the Nurse, Yearbook Information, PTO Trivia Night Info, Henry Harmonizers, Holiday Support, and More!

With Gratitude,

Dr. Jodi Oliver

Follow us!

Facebook: facebook.com/henryelementaryschool
Instagram: @pkwyhenrybulldogs

December 19 - Winter Entertainer Assembly

December 19- Half Day, 1:05 PM Dismissal

December 22-January 2: No School, Winter Break

Janurary 5- School Resumes

January 6 - Tab Top Collection Day

January 8 - 5th Grade West Middle Family Night, 6:30 PM

January 9 - PTO Ultimate Ninja Night, 6:30 PM

This fall, we are conducting a targeted review of our Security Department. As part of this process, we are gathering input from staff, parents, and middle and high school students.

Please take a moment to complete the survey by clicking on the link below. Your feedback is valuable.

Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade will have an opportunity to qualify for the Henry Elementary Spelling Bee. Henry will be using materials provided by the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The first step entails a classroom spelling bee. This will take place in the classroom the week of December 15th. Teachers will be choosing the date that works best for their classroom. The test will use words that are included in the Spelling Bee Study List, which was sent home with students on 12/5/25. Any words from the list may be used during the classroom bee. Based upon the results of the classroom bee, one student from each class will advance to the school bee.

The Henry Elementary Spelling Bee will take place on Friday, January 23rd. It will be an oral contest (not written). For students that do qualify, their families will receive more information about the bee before winter break.

If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Goyal at agoyal@parkwayschools.net.

Lack of sleep can cause: irritability, forgetfulness, difficulties with learning, and low motivation. It increases stress, anxiety, and depression.

Helpful Tips to go to Sleep:

-Set bedtime and wake-up times at the same time each day.

-Model good sleep behaviors for kids.

-Make sure kids are active during the day so they can fall asleep at night

-Keep bedrooms quiet, dark, and a comfortable temperature

-Avoid large meals and caffeine before bedtime

-Remove electronic devices from the bedroom

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

3-5 year olds need 10-13 hours

6-12 year olds need 9-12 hours

13-18 year olds need 8-10 hours

Each year in the yearbook, we feature a special throwback section for our fifth-grade class. Please help us by submitting two photos of your child (one from around Kindergarten and one from 5th grade) to be featured in the "Then and Now" section.

Please click HERE for more details and the instructions for uploading your pictures using this Google Form. These pictures are needed by Friday, January 30th!

Online orders will be available until March 20, 2026.

Henry Families & Staff…JOIN US!

Our “Henry Harmonizers” (our voluntary 5th Grade Choir that meets before school on Monday mornings) will be singing “God Bless America” at an Ambush game at the Family Arena! They will be performing on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3:50 p.m. This is always a fun, memorable event for our Henry families. If you want to come cheer on our 5th Grade Choir, and then enjoy a great game together, here are the details:

• Attached Flyer: I've attached a flyer for all of you to share out. It includes details about the event and a QR code that directs to the Henry Elementary ticket link. The more people that attend for our Henry community, the more fun we have!

OUR HENRY ELEMENTARY FLYER WITH QR CODE

• Ticket Link: Our ticket price (per person, including each singer - anyone over the age of 2) is $25.00. Here is our direct ticket link in case anyone has issues with the QR code:

26-1-24 Henry Harmonizers - St. Louis Ambush

Important Notes:

• Tell Mrs. Plesia: When you purchase your tickets, please send Mrs. Plesia a quick email to let me know your family is coming (so I can wave to you in our Henry section)!

• All performers and supporters (family, friends, teachers, etc.) must purchase their tickets through this specific link to ensure you receive the group rate and are seated together.

• The ticket link will close on 1/9/26, so we encourage everyone to secure their tickets early. Please note the clear bag policies when attending.

We’re excited to have the Henry Harmonizers perform at the game and look forward to a fantastic evening! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Mrs. Plesia

• Tuesday, February 3, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
• Virtual via Google Meet
• Parents and guardians of 2026-2027 preschoolers

Are you ready to take the next step in your child's educational journey? Join us for Preschool On Parade, a session specially designed for parents considering Parkway Early Childhood for their child's very first or next school experience outside the home! This online event offers a peek into our nurturing classroom environment, introduces our developmentally appropriate curriculum, and highlights how we guide young learners to discover, play, and grow. Learn about our full-day & half-day programs, district preschool locations, and enrollment process. We want you to feel completely confident and excited about this milestone in your child's life!

Registration is Required- Please click the button below.

We have two parents who have volunteered to lead Henry's Girls on the Run program this spring. They are looking for additional coaches. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Dr. Smith and he will connect you.

We have created a form for anyone with feedback or questions for the PTO. You can find this form on our website or you can use the following link: https://tinyurl.com/HenryPTOFeedback

Please allow time for certain requests or inquiries to be reviewed at our monthly board meetings. If a response is required, we will reply as soon as possible.

Please help us stock the lounge for the teachers/staff/administration. 2nd Grade is responsible for the month of December. Please see the Sign Up Genius at the link attached and sign up to bring items. You can drop off at the school office by the morning of Monday, December 15th. Thank you for being so thoughtful and generous for those taking care of our students.

We are excited to invite you to join the Henry community for a fantastic fundraiser night at Ultimate Ninjas! Mark your calendars for Friday, January 9th, from 6:30-7:30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for your students to have fun while supporting a great cause. Please take a look at the flyer below for more details, and don't forget to use the QR code on the flyer to register your student. (Once you are at the Ultimate Ninja Chesterfield site, create an account, and select Fundraiser Event, and select Henry Elementary PTO.) Ultimate Ninjas has generously offered to donate 40% back to the Henry PTO for all who sign up through the QR code.

Looking to treat a Henry teacher this holiday season? We've put together a list of our teachers' favorite things to make gift giving easy and personal! This is completely optional, but if you'd like to treat your teacher with something special, feel free to check it out by clicking the link below.

As a reminder, The Reader In Me takes a "prize break" during the month of December, but that does not mean you have to pause your reading! Cumulate your minutes and reminder to get them submitted with the January deadline!

Flyer provides information for our school families to share with their extended friends/family to encourage participation for Henry!

Did you know that families can recognize staff members with Bulldog Brags, just like we do for students? If you or your child notice a staff member demonstrating one of our Henry Core Values—Kind, Responsible, Persevere, or Inclusive—we invite you to share it using the button below.

Each staff member who receives a Bulldog Brag will be honored with a certificate and a special surprise. As part of our character education, it is important for students to see adults modeling these values every day—and to hear real examples of what they look like in action!

Email: joliver2@parkwayschools.net

Email: lsmith6@parkwayschools.net

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

Instagram: @pkwyhenrybulldogs