Monday Morning Memo

Thank you so much to April Bier, Tracey Weisenfels, and Kelly Groebl for their great work on the ABC Sale!  They garnered help from many volunteers, including Melissa Skeens and others from the church, but these ladies dedicated themselves to this project for a several weeks.  We sincerely appreciate your management of this community outreach project.

The Search Committee invites all parents to meet the remaining two finalists, Byron Lawson on October 21^st and Gray Smith on October 28^th. You will be able to meet them informally between 2:25 and 3:15 in the South Multipurpose Room. The sessions will allow an opportunity for open discussion with the finalists, and parents should feel free to come and go as their schedules allow.  We welcome Byron Lawson on campus today and tomorrow.

Tuesday is Picture Make-up and Retake day -- between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.  To have a retake, parents need to contact Ms. Shirley Laird and the first photo must be returned.  The retake or make-up picture will be the one used in the yearbook.

The First Grade Music Program will be this Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 9:00 a.m. in the north wing multipurpose room.  Come enjoy these darling performers, under the direction of Mrs. Haskamp, as they will bring a smile to your face and a song to your heart!

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held this week on Thursday and Friday.  Conferences are scheduled from 12:00 noon on Thursday, Oct. 24 until 8:00 p.m. and on Friday, Oct. 25 from 7:30 a.m. until noon.  Parents of middle school students are encouraged to bring their children with them to the conference.  Child care is available at no charge for St. Paul’s students during the parents’ conference time.  There will be a charge for those needing full day care, so please make arrangements in advance with Mrs. McDonald at kmcdonald@speds.org. 

We have had a few random cases of head lice in school and want to offer some advice in dealing with these pesky creatures from our nurse, Catherine Kuhls.  Please see the message here.

St. Paul's Book Fair is November 4-6.  On Monday, November 4, from 3:30-6:00, families can shop at the book fair.   On November 5 and 6, each student will visit the book fair with his or her class and have the opportunity to shop from a vast assortment of books supplied by The Reading Reptile.  Opportunities to help are available and much appreciated.  Please open this link to sign up:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F044DAEAD283-book

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014-15 school year.  Siblings and Church Member applicants will receive priority consideration if their applications are received by Friday, November 8^th.  Current students do NOT need to re-apply for the 2014-15 school year.  Re-enrollment agreements will be mailed for our current students in January.  If you have any questions about sibling application, please contact Jill McGee in the Admissions Office at 816-268-6542 or Jmcgee@speds.org. 

St. Paul’s is hosting “Exploring Kindergarten” on Thursday, November 14^th.   Teachers, Students, Administrators and two of our “new” Kindergarten parents will be on hand to discuss our kindergarten program and how it fits into the “big picture” of a St. Paul’s (and beyond) education.  If you know of families with Pre-school and/or Pre-K students who have not yet discovered St. Paul’s, please invite them to contact Jill McGee in the Admissions Office for an invitation to this event.  Current St. Paul’s Pre-K parents are also invited to this event.

Exploring Kindergarten

Thursday, November 14^th

8:45 (if interested in joining ECC Chapel)

Presentation will begin at 9:30am

Tours will be available following the presentation.

RSVP:  Jmcgee@speds.org   or 816-258-6542

Updates from the Community Learning Center!

     Just Finished

Love and Logic Module #1 was well attended and brought together parents interested in learning more about the four steps to responsibility and preparing children for the real world. A combination of video presentations, group discussions and anecdotal stories created an energized environment for learning.

The Community Builder at Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch in Liberty could not have been on a prettier day. The sunshine and gentle breeze made it a great setting for our St. Paul’s families to spend time with each other and their families gathering pumpkins, playing, riding the train, watching pig races, and much, much more. Thank you to all of the families who were able to attend! Come take a look at our bulletin boards in the ECC and main hallways for photos of this event.

     Coming Up

6PM Tuesday, November 12^th – Bully Nation Book Club

With the rise in bullying and the zero tolerance policies so many schools and districts are establishing, you may be asking yourself is there another option… Come and talk with other St. Paul’s parents, teachers, and administrators about the book Bully Nation by Dr. Susan Eva Porter. Copies of Bully Nation are available for check out through the front desk.

4PM Thursday, November 14^th – Love and Logic Module #2

Focus: Sharing control, opportunities for thinking and decision-making; empathy and consequences. $25 Come join us! Child care will be available through Karen McDonald.

11-1 Saturday, November 16^th – Unconventional Lunch and Learn – Communicating with your Child   The focus this year for our Lunch and Learn classes is Communicating with your Child(ren). This unconventional Lunch and Learn is actually designed for parents and children both. We will be offering parents time to ‘hang out’ one-on-one with your child before things get too crazy with the approaching holidays. We’re providing the turkey; work together with your child to make one of your family’s traditional side dishes to share with others while building memories.  Fun, hands-on projects and craft stations will be offered for quality child/parent interactions. This event is ideal for children ages 3-10.

Please register for any or all of these events with Mrs. van at Lvan@speds.org so we can provide adequate seating, materials, and/or food.

     Plan Ahead

4PM Thursday, January 9^th – Love and Logic  #3

6PM Thursday, January 16^th – Technology and your child seminar

12-1 Tuesday, January 28^th – Lunch and Learn – Communicating with your Child (Love Languages)

Recently some of our teachers and administrators participated in a webinar titled "Will Power: Grit, Self-Control, and Achievement." This webinar was hosted by Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and was purchased for teachers, administrators, and parents in our community who might be interested in this topic. If you would like to view this webinar please visit http://www.isacs.org/page/472128_Learning_Bridge_Webinar_Login.asp. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, select “10/9/13 Will Power: Grit, Self-Control & Achievement” and use the password humid. The webinar is one hour long, will be available until November 7, and provides information on what grit and self-control are and how these two variables affect achievement even more than intelligence or academic ability. Helping our students to develop grit and self control are two of the most important things we can do as their role models, educators, and parents. If you're interested in learning more about Mrs. Duckworth's research you can visit her website at https://sites.sas.upenn.edu/duckworth/pages/educators and even take a survey to see your personal grit score.

Congratulations to Becky Nash, fifth grade teacher, for completing the Kansas City Marathon this weekend in the time of four hours and 29 minutes!  Great job, Mrs. Nash!

Monday Morning Memo -- Tuesday version

We hope you had a safe, enjoyable three-day weekend!  On a personal note, I went to Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, AR on Saturday and was delighted to see a St. Paul’s sticker on a car in the parking lot there.  I looked for someone I knew but could not find our St. Paul’s family.  But this is another reason to make sure you have a St. Paul’s sticker for your car!  Ask any of us and we’ll get one for you.

Lower School Curriculum Night is this Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6:00.  Parents are asked to wait in the lobby until 6:00 p.m. before proceeding to the classrooms.  Teachers will be preparing for you, right up to the last minute!  Childcare is available for a small fee and can be arranged by contacting Karen McDonald at kcmdonald@speds.org.

This year, the Community Learning Center will be offering Becoming a Love and Logic Parent Curriculum the second Thursday of every month. Our first session will be on Thursday, September 12^th from  4:00-5:30 in the ECC commons. Love and Logic facilitators Cristi Williams’ and Lynnette Rempel’s Introduction to Love and Logic session will include: The Two Rules of Love and Logic, Delayed Consequences, Empathy, and Love and Logic One-Liners to Neutralize Arguing.

• Designed for families with children of all ages and will address topics including discipline, chores for all ages, tantrums, and much, much more

• Session dates include:  September 12^th, October 10^th, November 14^th, January 9^th,  February 13^th, March 13^th, April 10^th, and May 8^th.

• Session fees are $50 per family (includes all adults wishing to attend) or $25/person -- financial assistance is available for those who need it.

• Sign up for the introductory session and receive 50% off the next class you attend

• Sign up for all 8 sessions and get $50 off your total

• Contact Linda van Thullenar at the ECC office to sign up today! Lvan@speds.org

• Childcare is available through our Extended Care Program for a small fee

·        Sessions can stand alone so you can sign up for individual sessions, if you cannot commit to the whole program

• Look for additional information and fliers coming home soon

• Questions about the sessions or Love and Logic? Mrs. Williams can be reached at cwilliams@speds.org or 816-268-6534

We are pleased to, once again, be supporting the program and students of Cristo Rey High School and providing more assistance to our students by welcoming their students from the work study program to our school.  We have two returning students, Abel Mitiku and Andrew Yim.  Abel, a senior, will be assisting preschool in the mornings and physical education in the afternoons.  This is Abel’s third year at St. Paul’s.  Andrew, a sophomore, will be returning for his second year to assist the students of Ms. Stark’s second grade.  Carlos Ortiz, also a sophomore, is new to Mrs. Gouttierre’s second grade this year.  Marissa Harris and Erika Arizmendi, both freshmen, will be assisting the toddler teachers on Fridays.  Please help us welcome these students who have already jumped in to assist on their first days with us.

Some important reminders for parents:

1.  If you need to leave something for your child (i.e. lunch, trapper, sports items, etc.), we ask that you leave the item at the front desk and the receptionist will notify the teacher.   This will help to keep disruptions in the classroom to a minimum.  
2.  Sign in at the front desk:  When visiting the school for chapel, classroom activities, volunteering, meetings…etc., all parents and visitors need to fill out and wear a visitor badge.
3.  Per school policy – Parents (or authorized adult) taking a child from school during school hours must check in at the front desk. School personnel will call the child from his/her classroom. We will not call the child from class until you have checked in at the front desk. Please allow yourself plenty of time to have your child get any necessary items from the teacher or locker before leaving campus.

The Presidential Service Awards acknowledge students who have offered many hours of voluntary service to our community.   Those receiving the awards for 2012-13 are:

Bronze – 50 – 74 hours of community service:

            Gage K, Abby L, Tatum R, Sawyer S, Philip C, Nina G, Lena B, Lena B, Katia H, Ethan L, and Andrew B

Silver –75 – 99 hours:

            Meghan L, Taylor L, Rian S, Mille N, Elsa Jane P, and Ella G

Gold –100 hours or more:

            Campbell R, Danny T, Grace C, Jade C, Will F

Congratulations and thank you to these students for their service to our community!

Did you see the article in the sports section of Sunday’s paper about one of our former students, gifted sculptor and current parent, Spencer Schubert? His sculpture, a statue of Coach Bill Snyder, was installed at K-State's new West Stadium Center last week. It is constructed of bronze and granite, stands 11.5 feet tall and weighs 1800 pounds. The dedication ceremony, attended by his friends and family and many others, was hot but thrilling, and the statue was well-received by fans and Coach Snyder and family. Congratulations to Spencer and his family!

Family Fun Fest is a special event for the students that the Parents’ Guild hosts each fall.  This year the fun begins on Friday, September 20th at 3:45 and goes until 6:30, weather permitting.  There will be food and treats galore as our eighth graders and their parents will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers and grilled sausages (all cooked by our wonderful 8th grade dads), chips, popcorn, cookies and drinks.  One of the highlights for the children is the Cake Walk for which we will need at least 75 cakes or other baked goods like cookies, brownies, pies or other fun sweets.  If you would be willing to bake for this event, please drop off your donation in the morning carpool line on Friday, September 20th.  Volunteers will collect in both lines.  We are so excited as we know the children will be for the new photo booth attraction!  Capture all the fun memories of this night with a cute picture to take home!  Other attractions include carnival games, carnival rides, hair painting and temporary tattoos. 

Tickets can be purchased on line in advance with a credit card (for which you will receive free bonus tickets) at     https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/FamilyFunFest2013/FamilyFunFestTicketSales/tabid/473229/Default.aspx   

until Wednesday, September 18th at 3:00 pm. 

Pre-purchased tickets and day of tickets sales can be picked up and/or purchased on Friday, September 20th from 8-10 am and 1-3 pm in the foyer of the main building to avoid standing in line at the field.  Tickets sales between these hours at school can be charged to your credit card.

Tickets being purchased on the field will have to be paid with by CASH or CHECK ONLY.  No school charges or credit cards will be permitted on the field.  Please note:  purchasing or picking up tickets on the field will result in standing in line.  Avoid the lines and purchase your tickets before 3:00 pm on September 20th!!

Get ready to Get Your Groove On ... The Buddy Run is coming.  The October 4th Buddy Run is quickly approaching.  Remember this is the Parents’ Guild's only fundraiser until the spring auction.  Families or companies donating at the Gold ($500), Silver ($250), or Bronze ($150) level make it possible for every St. Paul's student to receive a t-shirt to wear the day of the run.  Families or companies donating at any of these three levels will have their names on the back of the t-shirt.  Please help us make the 2013 Buddy Run a success by following this link to make a donation.  https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/BuddyRun2013/Registration/tabid/484794/Default.aspx  Thank you for your support.  Please note that the preschool through eighth grade students participate in the Buddy Run.  The toddler classes will have a special activity with their buddies on this day, but they will not attend the Buddy Run as a class.

Spin Pizza is assisting in our fundraising efforts all through the month of September by offering ten percent of purchases to support the run.  Just make a copy of the coupon found on this link and take it when you go.   http://www.speds.org/file/download/SPINSept2013_sm.pdf

Enrichment Classes begin the week of September 9^th~ there are still openings in a few classes so contact Karen McDonald to enroll!  Private music lessons begin the week of September 3^rd~ there are a few slots open for piano, violin, guitar, drums, flute, saxophone, clarinet, and voice! Contact Karen McDonald to get more details!

kmcdonald@speds.org

SPEDS Endowment