Monday Morning Memo

What a glorious week of performances we enjoyed last week!  For those of us who experienced more than one performance, we could see the progression of skills, talent, and even willingness to be up there on the stage.  But some of our toddlers and preschoolers are already ready to take on the world!  Thank you so much for being the appreciative audience that encourages our students to take these risks and to thoroughly enjoy performing.  And thanks, too, to the talented teachers, Mrs. Haskamp, Mrs. Helm, and Mrs. Everly, who teach them the skills they need to share their joy and enthusiasm and talents with us.

Our final Christmas Program is this Thursday evening at 7:00 in the church.  Our sixth graders will be singing and our seventh and eighth grade acting class students will be performing a skit.  Come enjoy the evening with us!  The doors of the church will not be open until 6:00, so please don’t come earlier than that and have to endure the cold until it opens!

Congratulations to our Science Olympiads, who took second place out of 34 competing schools!

We are so proud of them and their sponsors, Mrs. Gruss and Mr. Stewart, for their hard work individually and as a team.  For more information and pictures, please click here:  http://spedsgruss.blogspot.com/

If you are planning to apply for tuition assistance for the 2014-2015 school year, the school is now accepting applications online, via FACTS Grant and Assessment (the company that processes our applications). There are some key differences in this year’s application process, so please read on for this important information:  New Deadline: Current families must complete an online application and submit all necessary supporting documentation to FACTS by December 31, 2013. This is approximately two weeks earlier than previous years, so please plan accordingly. Note that an application is not considered complete until all supporting documentation has been received by FACTS.

New website/login: FACTS has updated their site, including a new website address, so if you applied for assistance last year, you will need to create a new User ID and password in order to access the system this year. You will also have to enter your information (name, address, etc.) again—the updated platform unfortunately did not retain this from last year’s application.

More information, including the amount of assistance you could receive, is available here. If you have not applied for tuition assistance before, start here. To begin the tuition assistance process click here.  

Remember that your application must be completed by December 31, 2013.  If you do not meet the December 31^st deadline you will receive a full tuition re-enrollment contract for the 2014-2015 school year.

Our Annual Admissions Open House will be held on Saturday, January 11th from 10am-noon.  Please extend an invitation to anyone who might be interested in exploring a St. Paul's education for their children.  As you visit with friends and neighbors over the holidays, please remind them that we are currently accepting applications for the 2014-15 school year.  Anyone interested in scheduling an admissions tour or learning more about the Open House may contact Jill McGee in the Admissions Office at 816-268-6542 or Admissions@speds.org.  As a reminder:  Current families do NOT need to reapply for the 2014-15 school year.  Re-enrollment agreements will be mailed to our current families in late January of 2014.

News and Reminders from the Community Learning Center  The CLC (Community Learning Center) has offered several great events so far this year and we are pleased by the number of families taking advantage of the learning opportunities. There are many more events scheduled for the remainder of the school year and we hope you can join us. Click here to view our current calendar of events.

Still Shopping? St. Pauls Spirit wear makes a great gift!  Come by and check a few things off your list! Spirit wear items will be for sale on Friday, December 13th from 8-10 and 2-4 in the ECC commons.  Cuddle up with a St. Pauls blanket and come see the great new sweatshirts!

Monday Morning Memo

Results are in from our very successful Book Fair!  Many thanks to Susan Bell, Courtney Goddard-Hawkinson, Jessica Marien, and Vanessa Thorsten for their dedication, selection of volunteers to help and make goodies for the students, and hard work to set up and manage this special project for three days!  And thanks, too, to Mr. Nerstheimer, our Librarian, who also worked hard in helping these ladies and identifying the needs for the library.  There will be approximately $3,000 in money and books donated to the library, thanks to this great fundraiser. And a whole lot of happy children also got, or will get at Christmas, a wonderful new book to read.  Thanks to all!

Our first ever Lunch and Learn that took place this past Saturday.  Cristi Williams, Kevin Christensen, and Kathleen Wiedeman all helped provide this opportunity for our students and their families.  There was a delicious Thanksgiving meal, games, crafts, and even a Thanksgiving themed photo opp.  The next Lunch and Learns will be Tuesday, January 28 and Monday, March 3.  They will focus on love languages and tech free talking in the car, respectively.  Thanks to our leaders and participants!

We will offer Extended Day Care on the following days during Christmas Break:

December 23, 26, 27, 30, January 2, 3, and 6.   A minimum number of children is required in order to offer care each day so please register by December 10^th.  If you have questions or need to register, please contact Karen McDonald at 816.268.6536 or Kmcdonald@speds.org.

Please note that there is no Extended Day Care during the Thanksgiving Break (November 27, 28, 29).

Our Thanksgiving Ingathering has already surpassed its first goal!  Over 10,000 items have already been donated to the pantry and much of it hauled over there by our industrious, strong and committed students!  What a delightful contribution we are able to make because of your generosity.  We will continue the drive through this Friday and sincerely appreciate your continued support.  One need highlighted by the pantry is personal hygiene items where even hotel sized shampoo and soap are greatly appreciated.  Here are the foci for this week but any contribution is welcome on any day:

Monday, Nov. 18:  Double points for personal hygiene items

Tuesday, Nov. 19:  Double points for dry bean, rice, pasta, crackers, Mac & Cheese, and dry meals such as Hamburger Helper

Wednesday, Nov. 20:  20 points for each multi-load bottle or box of laundry detergent

Thursday, Nov. 21:  Double points for disposable diapers sizes 3, 4, 5, and 6, and adult Depends  (we will count each diaper in the package)

Friday, Nov. 22:  Double points for cereal, beverages (coffee, tea, etc), and canned meals (beef stew, chili, spaghetti-os, etc.)

Friday is Spirit Day so show your school pride by wearing your St. Paul’s t-shirts and sweatshirts! 

If you are planning to apply for tuition assistance for the 2014-2015 school year, the school is now accepting applications online, via FACTS Grant and Assessment (the company that processes our applications). There are some key differences in this year’s application process, so please read on for this important information:  New Deadline: Current families must complete an online application and submit all necessary supporting documentation to FACTS by December 31, 2013. This is approximately two weeks earlier than previous years, so please plan accordingly. Note that an application is not considered complete until all supporting documentation (2012 tax return and W-2) has been received by FACTS.  New website/login: FACTS has updated their site, including a new website address, so if you applied for assistance last year, you will need to create a new User ID and password in order to access the system this year. You will also have to enter your information (name, address, etc.) again—the updated platform, unfortunately, did not retain this from last year’s application. More information, including the amount of assistance you could receive, is available here. To begin the tuition assistance process click here.  

Remember that your application must be completed by December 31, 2013.

Have you read Michelle Johnson’s latest blog?  Our Diversity Coordinator has published a blog that has resonated with many who have read it.  Check it out at:  http://spedsdiversitydialogue.blogspot.com/2013/11/when-i-was-kid-there-was-very-popular.html

Monday Morning Memo

From the Search Committee:  We are thrilled to announce that Andrew Myler has accepted our offer and is very honored and excited to serve as our next Head of School. After a very thorough national search to identify our next Head of School, the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of Andrew’s appointment. In the coming weeks, a transition committee will be formed to help Andrew and his wife, Landis, settle into St. Paul’s and Kansas City. Read more about Andrew in a letter from Board President, Dave Hall.

Rick Ackerly, author of The Genius in Every Child, will talk about his book tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 6:45 in our north wing multipurpose room.  We are sponsoring this event with Notre Dame de Sion and Oak Hill Day School -- inviting parents, teachers, and administrators to take advantage of Mr. Ackerly being in our area for this presentation.  We hope you’ll join us.  This was one of the summer reading options for faculty and they really felt it was a great book for teachers and parents.

Megan Helm, who will substitute for Mrs.Haskamp during her maternity leave, begins her work with us tomorrow.  She will be working with Mrs. Haskamp to learn the school, the schedule, the students, and the performances so she’ll be prepared to take over when Missy leaves.  By the way, Missy’s doctor has indicated that she should not return after the Thanksgiving break so she will begin her leave a little earlier than anticipated.  Ms. Helm, an experienced music teacher, will, with the great plans and advance work by Mrs. Haskamp, be ready to take charge!

The monthly Parents’ Guild meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the Garden Room of the church, this Wed., Nov. 13.  All parents are members of the Parents’ Guild and are invited to attend.

Exploring Kindergarten will be the theme of a visit and talk from teachers and administrators this Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. in the ECC Commons.  Parents interested in our school for the first time and parents of our own pre-kindergarten students are invited to come see and hear what kindergarten at St. Paul’s is like.  We hope you’ll join us!

Speaking of pre-kindergarten, they’ll be showing off their talents for parents and guests this Friday, Nov. 15 at 9:00 a.m. in the north wing multipurpose room.  You’ll see everything from shy, reluctant performers to those who are ready for the big stage in NYC – and you’ll enjoy all of them!  Mrs. Haskamp is the teacher who brings out the musical talents of these youngsters.

Hear ye! Hear ye!  The great King Arthur Feast will take place in the middle school commons castle this Friday, Nov. 15 at 12:15.  Sixth graders in full regalia will share their knowledge of this period of time and dine at the castle table.  Sir van Thullenar will preside – or should we call him King?

Our Thanksgiving Ingathering of non-perishable food and toiletries begins this week with friendly competition among the grades to bring in enough supplies to stock the church’s pantry for a couple of months.   The Student Council and its sponsors – Mrs. Willets and Mr. Nerstheimer – provide the labor and keep the statistics for each grade.  Please follow the link to find out more about how your family can enter the competition or just bring the contribution that you would like to donate to this worthy cause, if you are moved to do so.  This is a great opportunity to share our bounty with those less fortunate.

If you are planning to apply for tuition assistance for the 2014-2015 school year, the school is now accepting applications online, via FACTS Grant and Assessment (the company that processes our applications). There are some key differences in this year’s application process, so please read on for this important information:  New Deadline: Current families must complete an online application and submit all necessary supporting documentation to FACTS by December 31, 2013. This is approximately two weeks earlier than previous years, so please plan accordingly. Note that an application is not considered complete until all supporting documentation (2012 tax return and W-2) has been received by FACTS.  New website/login: FACTS has updated their site, including a new website address, so if you applied for assistance last year, you will need to create a new User ID and password in order to access the system this year. You will also have to enter your information (name, address, etc.) again—the updated platform, unfortunately, did not retain this from last year’s application. More information, including the amount of assistance you could receive, is available here. To begin the tuition assistance process click here.  

Remember that your application must be completed by December 31, 2013.

Congratulations to our Science Olympiad students and their leaders, Mrs. Gruss and Mr. Stewart!  Here’s the message from Mrs. Gruss:

What a great way to spend a Saturday, doing Science!!  The St. Paul's Science Olympiad Team took second place out of twenty-one teams at our first practice tournament this past Saturday at Shawnee Mission South. Thanks to all these students for their excellent behavior and work ethic this past Saturday:  Gage K., Julia K., Ethan L., Colin M., Alec B., Liv D., Elsa Jane P., Anna Louise S., Oliver C., Nina G., Layne S., Zach T., Roy W., Daisy B., Carol Ann G., Catherine H., Jensen P., Adam K., John R., Ben S., Grace C., Connor T., Caroline R., Caroline S., Kendall I.,    Mille N., Sydney H., Zach J., Natalie K., and Will P.

Individual Placing:

Zach J, First Place - Dynamic Planet

Kendall I & Daisy B. First Place – Entomology

Caroline R. & Ethan L. First Place - Sounds of Music

Caroline S. First Place - Rotor Egg Drop

Zach T. & Will P. Second Place - Simple Machines

Caroline R. & Roy W. Third Place – Heredity

Caroline S. & Natalie K Third Place - Rocks & Minerals

Ethan L. Connor T. & Zach T. Third Place - Experimental Design

Connor T. & Natalie K. Third Place - Planetary Science

Layne S. Fourth Place - Water Quality

Zach T & Will P. Fourth Place - Metric Mastery

Caroline S. & Jensen P. Fifth Place – Helicopter

We are very proud of the work of all of the students and the leadership of Mrs. Gruss and Mr. Stewart!

Monday Morning Memo

Welcome back!  I hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Christmas break! 

Our fiftieth anniversary celebrations begin this Sunday at the 10:30 service.  Since our school began in the church in September of 1963, we are beginning our celebrations with a church service.  Father Stan Runnels has chosen to have the service in our new multipurpose room.  As always, but especially for this new beginning, we hope members of the school community will join us for this special event.

Open House for Prospective Families will occur this Saturday from 10 – 12.  If you know families who are interested in attending St. Paul’s, please encourage them to come.  Thanks in advance to the students, faculty, and parents who will be in attendance to meet, greet, and show off our school!

Parents’ Guild meets this Wednesday at 8:30 in the Garden Room of the church.  Please know that all families are part of the Parents’ Guild and invited to attend the meetings.

If you are planning on applying for tuition assistance for the 2013-2014 school year:

·        Applications will be accepted November 1 – January 15. Priority will be given to applications that are completed (including supporting documentation) by January 15.

·        The application process begins online, at www.factstuitionaid.com.

·        After completing the online portion of the application, you will need to mail or fax in all required supporting documentation.

St. Paul’s will try to answer questions regarding the online application process, but, since this is not our program, may be unable to do so. If you need assistance with the online application, help is available from FACTS via telephone (866-315-9262) or email (info@factstuitionaid.com) Monday – Thursday, 10:00 – 7:00; and Friday, 10:00 – 5:00.

Just a few reminders about our snow day calling procedures:

-         We will call you through our One Call Now system that notifies you at the phone number(s) you have requested.  If you did not hear from us on the Thursday morning before our Christmas break, please contact Linda van Thullenar to make sure she has your correct information.

-         We will post the information on the TV news services but this often takes time, due to the high volume of schools with which they are dealing.  You should receive your One Call Now call first – if their system is working correctly for us!

-         There will be a message on our school phone system.  This is the least effective way of getting our message, as there is only one line on which the message is contained and often many people calling into that number.

-         We will try to get the message to you as early as possible but often road conditions, weather predictions, and decisions by other schools and school systems make this happen later than we would like.

-         If we have school and you feel the roads in your area are too dangerous for you to travel, stay home and let us know.  We do not want you to take risks and the road conditions vary greatly in different neighborhoods.

-         We do NOT contact people on snowy days if we ARE having school. 

We will be having a tornado drill this week to test our new procedures.  It was brought to our attention at a coffee that we should take another look at our tornado procedures and refuge locations and, sure enough, the recommendations have changed.  It is now recommended that all of us get down to the first floor.  We have informed the teachers, created new refuge location floor plan maps with routes to follow, and will practice this week.

In spite of the break, we have a lot of people experiencing the symptoms of the flu and upper respiratory infections.  To reiterate our policy on working to prevent the spread of these illnesses, here is what our nurse has advised and what is stated in our policy handbook.

We are making every effort to minimize the number of illnesses at St. Paul’s this winter and we ask that parents help us in our efforts by considering the following guidelines before sending their children to school.

·         Sick children need to be home until they are well for a 24 hour length of time.

·         “Sick” is a fever of greater than 100 degrees (student must be fever free without the aid of fever reducing medicine for 24 hours). 

• “Sick” is continuing to have a persistent cough even with cough medicine.
• “Sick” is vomiting and/or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
• “Sick” is a sore throat that doesn't go away with over-the-counter pain medication.

This flu season is already a very active one and we can significantly impact the spreading of germs by frequent hand washing and containing the spread of illness by staying home when not feeling well.  If there are any questions that our nurse, Mrs. Kuhls, can answer, please don’t hesitate to contact her by phone (816-268-6548 or e-mail at ckuhls@speds.org.  Thank you for your efforts to keep our community healthy. 

Former Kansas City Royal and Hall of Fame member George Brett spoke to the St. Paul’s Middle School on the afternoon of Dec. 12.  This was arranged by Mr. Kurt as part of his ongoing Hall of Fame project this year.  Mr. Brett spoke about his baseball career and his growth and development as a young athlete growing up in California.  He delivered a great message about academics and the importance of reading, studying hard and practicing hard.  He also stressed the importance of listening to parents, teachers and coaches and taking their comments as instruction for growth and not mere criticism.  A student Q & A session followed and Mr. Brett engaged the students with many funny and interesting stories about his long career in baseball and his love for Kansas City.  Seventh grader Carol-Ann Gibbs opened the assembly with a video/power point presentation of Mr. Brett.