Henry Happenings

Dear Families,

As we approach the start of our Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) testing for students in grades 3–5, we want to partner with you to ensure your child feels confident and supported. Testing for our 3rd and 4th grade students will begin on April 27 and 5th grade the following week. It is completely normal for students to feel a bit nervous, and a healthy level of anticipation can actually help them stay focused and do their best.

Families play an important role in helping students feel prepared. You can support your child by keeping routines consistent, ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, and providing a healthy breakfast each morning. When talking with your child about testing, emphasize effort over outcomes, remind them that this is simply an opportunity to show what they have learned this year. Encouraging positive self-talk, such as “I can do this” or “I will try my best,” can also make a meaningful difference.

Most importantly, reassure your child that they are more than a test score. We are proud of their growth, hard work, and perseverance, and we are confident they will approach MAP testing with determination and resilience. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students succeed.

Continue reading below for more information about: Field Day Sign Volunteer Sign Up, Square One Art, Notes from the Library, Volunteer Breakfast Invite, PTO Picnic, and More!

With Gratitude,

Dr. Jodi Oliver

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Facebook: facebook.com/henryelementaryschool

Instagram: @pkwyhenrybulldogs

April 21- Reader in Me Minutes Due

April 21- Honors Orchestra, 8:00am

April 22- 2nd Grade Faust Park/Butterfly House Field Trip

April 22- Administrative Professional's Day

April 22- 1st Grade Music Concert, 6:30-7:30pm

April 24- Reader in Me Prize Distribution

April 25 & 26- All District Art Show, 12-4pm at Queeny Park

April 27- Volunteer Breakfast, 8:00am

April 27- PTO Meeting, 7:00pm

April 27-May 1- 3rd and 4th Grade MAP Testing

April 28- School Bus Driver Day

April 29- May 1- Talent Sharing in Music, Grades K, 1, 2, 3)

April 30- 4th and 5th Grade Strings Concert, 6:30pm

May 1- School Lunch Hero Day

May 1- School Principal's Day

We are so excited for our 2026 Field Day! We are looking for two volunteers for each station. This year we are offering AM shifts and PM shifts. Volunteers will be provided with a printout of station directions, and everything will be set up for you ahead of time. It's going to be a great day full of fun! Once you sign up, be on the lookout for an email from us with your arrival time and station details. Thank you for helping out! - Mrs. Howren & Mr. Pettus

Parkway is beginning a series of Community Conversations to help parents and residents better understand our budget pressures and to discuss how to create a sustainable future for our students.

These are important conversations. All parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to attend any or all of the Community Conversations. The second two will build upon the first two:

• March 25 – West High – 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• March 31 – South High – 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• April 27 – North High – 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• April 30 – Central High – 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Learn more at InvestedinParkway.net.

Exciting News for Bulldog Readers!

Thanks to the generosity of our PTO, Henry Elementary now has a School Library Plan with Novel Effect! This engaging app brings stories to life with music and sound effects that play as students read aloud, making reading even more immersive and fun.

Up to 30 students can use the app at a time, giving more of our readers the chance to experience books in a whole new way. We’re so grateful for this amazing addition to our library that helps spark a love of reading for every student!

Our library also features many books marked with a Novel Effect sticker, making it easy for students to spot stories that pair with the app for an enhanced, sound-filled reading experience.

To try out Novel Effect click here to get started.

Do you have a child that will be 5 before August 1 in 2026? If so, Kindergarten might be on the horizon for your child! Please click here for more information about Kindergarten registration!

Henry PTO will be hosting our last general meeting of this school year on Monday, April 27 at 7pm in the Henry library. The purpose of this meeting will be to vote on the new slate of PTO board members for the 2026-27 school year. This will be just a yes or no vote on the slate as a whole, because we did not have multiple nominations for any position.

President: Angie Phillion

Secretaries: Danielle Terranova & Alicia Goyal

Treasurer: Kari Roehr

Vice President of Communication & Technology: Shannon Piatchek

Vice Presidents of Community Events: Katie Regel & Jessica Banner

Vice President of Fundraising: Lauren Evans

Reading Logs for The Reader in Me are due by 9am on Tuesday, April 21st. You may use the following link to submit your readers' minutes.

Reminder: This is the final submission and prize distribution of the current school year. The program will resume in the 26-27 school year.

Square 1 Art sticker sheets should be coming home with your student. These forms have your art access code and how to order. This year they are offering free shipping on ALL orders placed by the April 28 fundraiser deadline. Support the school and celebrate your young artist by turning their creation into a keepsake! See what Square 1 Art has to offer at: https://www.square1art.com/

Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8) is coming up, and we’re ready to celebrate our incredible teachers in totally rad 90’s style! We’d love your help making this week extra special.

You can sign up to donate items here: [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F48AAA823A4FD0-63216718-teacher]

If dropping off a physical donation feels like too much, no worries—you can also Venmo your contribution to: https://account.venmo.com/u/henrypto2 and we'll do the shopping for you.

(Be sure to include the memo: Teacher Appreciation 2026). The deadline for all donations is Tuesday, April 28th.

Thanks for helping us show our teachers all the love—they deserve it big time!

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