McKelvey

Dear Parent/Guardian;

Every year at this time, we take a close look at our student attendance rates and problem solve around how to help those with poor attendance and suffering grades. We recognize that children are out for many reasons, ranging from illness to extended family vacations. Unfortunately, whatever the reason, the outcome is always the same. We cannot properly educate your child if they are not present. In a recent problem solving meeting with staff members, the following question was posed to me, “Have you ever clearly told our parents that it is essential that their child is here all year in order to fully access the education we offer?” Whereas that seems obvious, upon reflection, I realized that I have not done that for the whole school. I have that conversation individually with parents often after it is too late and the child has missed many days of school.

Please know that we understand that “sick happens”. When children are running a fever over 100 or vomiting, they must stay home. However, if your child just has a minor common cold without fever over 100, they should be at school. We ask that when possible, family vacations and extended trips out of the country be scheduled during the summer or over holiday breaks.

A study commissioned by Attendance Works suggests that attendance in the early grades is critical to sustaining the school readiness skills that preschool or Head Start programs can help children to develop. This study conducted by Applied Survey Research examined the progress of 640 young California children in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties where research has consistently shown a strong correlation between a high score on their local school readiness assessment measure and third grade reading proficiency. Students who arrived at school academically ready to learn—but then missed 10 percent of their kindergarten and first grade years—scored , on average, 60 points below similar students with good attendance on third-grade reading tests. In math, the gap was nearly 100 points.

In summary, please do everything in your power as a parent to keep your child in school throughout the school year. This allows us to provide them with the best education possible.

Respectfully,

Dr. Kim Cohen

2017-2018 McKelvey Fall Calendar
Late Start - 1st Wednesday
Spirit Day - EVERY Wednesday

November

Wednesday, Nov 1, 2-Hour Late Start

Friday, Nov 3, Character Council 8:15am

Friday, Nov 3, End of trimester grading (K-8)

Monday, Nov 6, NO SCHOOL (Records/Professional Dev.)

Wednesday, Nov 8, Spirit Day

Thursday, Nov 9, Read, Right, Run - 8:00am

Thursday, Nov 9, 2nd Grade Vocal Concert 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Nov 10, Veteran’s Day Assembly-9:20 a.m.

Thursday, Nov 16, Fall Picture Retakes-only for those that were absent or returning their original picture packet.

Friday, Nov 17, Skate Night at Coachlite

Friday, Nov 17, Fun Fit Kids Begins 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Wed-Fri Nov 22-24, NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

December

Friday, Dec 1, Character Council 8:15am

Friday, Dec 1, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Wed., Dec 6, Orchestra Open House for the following:

• Mr. Beutel 1:00-1:30
  
• Mrs. Klumb 2:10-2:40
  
• Mrs. Potter 2:45-3:15
  
• Ms. Donnelly 3:15-3:45
  

Wednesday Dec 6, 2-Hour Late Start

Thursday, Dec 7, Orchestra Open House for the following:

• Ms. Picker 1:00-1:30
  
• Mrs. Petrofsky 1:30-2:00
  
• Mrs. Beckman 2:10-2:30
  
• Ms. McCaffrey 2:45-3:15
  
• Ms. Johnson 3:15-3:45
  

Friday, December 8, Orchestra Open House for the following:

• Ms. McCarty 1:00-1:30
  
• Mrs. Boul 1:40-2:10
  
• Ms. Reiss 2:10-2:40
  
• Mrs. Klos 3:15-3:45
  

Friday, Dec 8, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Tuesday, December 12, STEM Night 6:00-7:30

Wednesday, Dec 13, Spirit Day

Thursday, Dec 14, Read, Right, Run - 8:00am

Friday, Dec. 15, Skate Night at Coachlite

Friday, Dec 15, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Thursday Dec 21, Half Day Dismissal at 1:05(school sack lunches will be available for students purchasing lunch)

Dec 22-29, NO SCHOOL (WINTER BREAK)

January

Mon-Wed Jan 1-3, NO SCHOOL (WINTER BREAK)

Wednesday Jan 3, NO SCHOOL Records/Professional Dev.

Thursday Jan 4, SCHOOL RESUMES (Begin 2nd Trimester)

Friday, Jan 5, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Monday, Jan 8, Band Parent Info Night for 5th grade parents 7 p.m. Central Middle

Tuesday, Jan 9, Curriculum Night for 5th Grade at NE Middle- 6:30-7:30

Wednesday Jan 10, 2-Hour Late Start

Thursday, Jan 11, Read, Right, Run - 8:00am

Friday, Jan 12, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Mon, Jan 15, NO SCHOOL (Martin Luther King Day)

Wednesday, Jan 17, Spirit Day

Thursday, Jan 18, 5th Grade Graduation Parent Meeting - 5:45pm(This event is for parents wanting to help with our 5th grade celebration)

Thursday, Jan 18, PTO Mtg 6:30 p.m.

Friday, January 19, McKelvey Trivia Night at St. John Bosco 7:00 (Doors open at 6:00)

Friday, Jan 19, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Friday, Jan. 19, Skate Night at Coachlite

Monday, Jan 22, All-District Elem Vocal Concert Rehearsal @ SWMS

Tuesday, Jan 23, Kdg Registration

Friday, Jan 26, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

February

Thu-Fri, Feb 1, Kindergarten Three Piggy Opera in Library

• 9:30am Furjes

• 1am Hardebeck

• 2pm Graves

Friday, Feb 2, Character Council 8:15am

Friday, Feb 2, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Sat, Feb 3, All-District Elem Vocal Concert 7 p.m. @ Purser Center

Friday, Feb 2, Kindergarten Three Piggy Opera-Library

• 9:30am Nichols

• 11am Campbell

• 2pm Jehling

Monday, Feb 5, Ability Awareness Day

Wednesday Feb 7, 2-Hour Late Start

Thursday, Feb 8, Read, Right, Run - 8:00am

Friday, Feb 9, Skate Night at Coachlite

Friday, Feb 9, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Saturday, Feb 10, 4th Gr Strings Day Concert, 1:45 & 3:45 @ West High

Wednesday, Feb 13, Spirit Day

Thursday, Feb 15, Class Party 2:40-3:40

Friday Feb 16, NO SCHOOL (Records/Professional Dev)

Mon, Feb 19, NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)

Friday, Feb 23, Fun Fit Kids 8:00-8:50 a.m. (if enrolled)

Feb 26-Mar 2, Conference Week (Official Night 28th)

M-F, Feb 26-Mar 2, Reading Week

Fun Fit Kids club is a before school program designed to help encourage our students to be active. We have tried to design the club to incorporate fun activities to encourage fitness outside of the normal school day. Our goal with this club is to teach our students new and exciting ways that they can stay healthy and to promote lifelong health. Activities will include such things as agility exercises, as well as running and walking. The club will run Friday mornings at 8 am and is limited to the first forty registrants. We are very excited about this opportunity to promote fun fit kids.

During the week of October 18th-25th your student participated in a classroom lesson based around being a good digital citizen. Digital citizenship is a concept which helps teachers and parents to understand what student technology users should know to use technology appropriately. Digital citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students for a society full of technology. Digital citizenship is the norms of appropriate, responsible technology use. McKelvey students focused on digital citizenship during library & P.E. lessons as well. After each classroom finished their lesson, and a family activity and tips page was sent home so you have the terms and language being used at school.

December 12th from 6-7:30 p.m. will be our first annual STEM night at McKelvey. We will have presentations on how to do an exemplary science fair project as well as many exhibits from Monsanto, Boeing, and Pfizer to name a few. Let's get excited about science!! More information will follow at a later date.

Meal prices for 2017-2018 are as follows:

Student Full Pay Breakfast $2.35

Student Reduced Breakfast $0.30

Adult Full Pay Breakfast $2.60

Student Lunch $3.10

Student Reduced Lunch $0.40

Adult Lunch $3.35

Milk/Juice will also remain at $0.50.

Did you know you might be able to qualify for the Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch Program? Furthermore, the percentage of students qualified allows for additional staffing at McKelvey. The income requirements vary greatly and depending on your household size, you can make $53,243 annually and still be eligible. To find out if your family is eligible, please take a moment to complete the application. The application can be found online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications. It is important to note that you and your children, or other household members, do not have to be U.S citizens to apply for free and reduced price meals. In completing this application, once again it is important to note that this assists McKelvey School in supporting our students with additional staffing such as extra classroom teachers, reading teachers, etc.

If you have any further questions or need assistance in filling out an application, please call McKelvey Elementary. We will be glad to assist!

In order to help protect the health and safety of our students with life-threatening food allergies and to contribute to the health and academic success of all students, the Parkway School District has adopted new district-wide Food Safety Expectations. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, all schools will promote these best practice guidelines.

Classrooms should be food-free whenever possible. Consumption of food in the classroom is strongly discouraged due to allergy and sanitation concerns.

Students may continue to bring a snack for their own consumption, especially students with an individual health plan. Students are encouraged to bring healthy snacks to promote health and wellness. Parents may be advised to send in snacks without a particular allergen, if needed, to prevent cross-contamination, which could

impact safety for food allergic students. Careful cleaning of surfaces with soap and water after consumption of food is essential. Food may not be brought from home for sharing class-wide.

The school nurse will be informed and consulted to identify students with known food allergies. Teachers will make alternative lesson or curricular plans if students with known food allergies could be adversely impacted.

Find safe and inclusive ways to celebrate without food. To maintain healthy learners, the safest celebrations occur without food. Birthday celebrations at school and holiday celebrations at school will not include food. Schools are encouraged to be creative in celebrating without food. This was a issue during our fall parties and cannot be an issue during our spring parties. To clarify, there is not to be any food during school celebrations including take-home goodie bags. Any food brought in will be disposed of.

You shop and Amazon supports our students!

What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support McKelvey Elementary School every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to McKelvey Elementary School PTO.

Why is this important? Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to McKelvey Elementary School PTO whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.

How do I shop AmazonSmile? To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. You use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile.

How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile? On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to select McKelvey School PTO to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation to our school’s PTO. You can also use this link directly to select McKelvey- https://smile.amazon.com/ch/43-1553914

Do you have friends and family that use Amazon? Please pass our information along and ask them to add our organization!

It might not seem like a lot, but every little bit adds up!

Follow us on Instagram @ mckelveyelementary

Dr. Kim Cohen: 314-415-6501

Mrs. Jessica Karll: 314-415-6503

Attendance: 314-415-6525

Nurse: 314-415-6510

Parkway Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net

Be sure and sign up for the Parkway School District app from the Parkway website to receive important Parkway School District information

PARENT HELP for Infinite Campus and Elementary Progress Reports:

Email: ic-parenthelp@parkwayschools.net

Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Domain/18
Location: 1751 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO, United States
Phone: 314-415-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckelveyelementaryschool/
Twitter: @McKelveydragons

We the students of McKelvey Elementary School are learners leading the way. We promise to care for all and be respectful to each other. We take responsibility for our actions and are self-motivated at all times.

We are the dragons!