Buzzin’ in the Hive

Dear Graden Families, Once again, welcome back! The bustling playground, classrooms, halls and lunchroom are wonderful to see and hear. We missed you and judging by the happy faces, think you must have missed us too! Our school year is off to a very successful start-and I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your involvement. Each new school year brings opportunities; opportunities for academic growth but also opportunities for growth in all areas of development. Although children must be knowledgeable when they graduate, they must also be healthy, engaged, responsible, and caring people. The Leader in Me provides Graden with the vision and language to lead the school in a way that addresses all areas of development. As each child discovers and develops his/her unique gifts and talents, they are given opportunities to lead. As leaders, they become active, engaged partners in their own education and their self-confidence, responsibility, and initiative grows. The children quickly understand the benefits of different gifts and talents; they learn to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one another to be the best. I look forward to sharing these new opportunities with you. Together, we will watch each and every child grow throughout the year. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions: What time does school start? 8:20 am – students may be dropped off and enter the building, we also serve breakfast at this time 8:25 am – students are dismissed to their classrooms 8:40 am – school begins, students arriving AFTER 8:40 am are counted tardy Do students ever get released early from school? Yes, each month, beginning in September through the end of the year. Graden students will be dismissed at 1:30 pm on the following dates during the 17-18 academic year: Thursday, October 12th Thursday, February 8th Thursday, November 9th Thursday, March 8th Thursday, December 14th Thursday, April 12th Thursday, January 11th Thursday, May 10th When will the Terra Nova scores be sent home from last year? We anticipate those scores arriving within the next two weeks. We will send those home via the backpacks as soon as we receive those at Graden. When are Grandparent luncheons and classroom activities? Friday, September 22nd – 3rd grade grandparents

From the Principal...

S E P T E M B E R 2 017

Monday, September 25th – Kindergarten grandparents Tuesday, September 26th – 1st grade grandparents Wednesday, September 27th – 2nd grade grandparents Thursday, September 22nd – 4th & 5th grade grandparents Is there anything special we need to do if our grandparents want to attend? Yes, you will need to return the form that was sent home with your child, this reservation will enable us to accommodate the food requests of all our guests. What happens if my student loses their ID badge? We will reprint a badge for a student once, the 2nd time there will be a $5.00 fee per badge. It is very important that students bring their badges to and from school each day. We use badges for busing, lunches and to check out library books. We are anticipating an excellent year of academic and social growth. We share your dreams and high expectations. If you have questions or concerns please let us know immediately. We have an important year ahead of us. Our enthusiasm level is high and our commitment to your children is unwavering. September provides many opportunities for you to be involved at Graden Elementary. Join us for the many events that are occurring throughout the month. Please refer to the calendar included in this newsletter for specific dates and times. The Graden Facebook Page is up and running. Make sure to like our page at www.facebook.com/GradenElementarySchool. We will post pictures organized by month as well as special occasions and important school information. We will also share information through the Graden website and via daily email from the classroom teachers. In closing, remember there are so many ways to be involved. I hope you will consider joining us on a project, for a family night, a committee, in a classroom, or by phone or email. We are partners in this most important of jobs, educating our children. Please know that we welcome and need the involvement of each and every one of you. “It’s a great day to be a hornet” With hornet pride and appreciation, Dr. LuAnn Halverstadt, Principal

VOLUME 7 , ISSUE 2 PAGE 2

LEADERSHIP AND THE 8 HABITS Graden Elementary will continue to implement and integrate the 8 Habits. The habits emphasize personal responsibility and personal leadership. The habits are included in everything we do as a school. Students and staff use thinking tools to analyze progress and to improve instruction and student learning. Each habit is explicitly taught to students from kindergarten to 5th grade. Each month we recognize students who have demonstrated one of the 8 Habits at a luncheon in the cafeteria.

Talk with your child about how they are using the habits at school and how you can use these habits at home as a family. • Habit 1 - Be Proactive • Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind • Habit 3 - Put First Things First • Habit 4 - Think Win-Win • Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood • Habit 6 - Synergize- Together is Better • Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw – Balance feels Best • Habit 8 - Find Your Voice

SPIRIT WEAR Keep up that great school spirit, Hornets! New order forms with new design choices will be arriving in the office soon. The orders will be submitted at the end of each month, September through the end of March. Once the order has been placed, please allow approximately 2 weeks for shipping.

CLUBS AT GRADEN ELEMENTARY We have a lot of extracurricular opportunities so that our Hornets can practice “sharpening their saw.” If there is a school-sponsored club for your child’s grade, you should have received a club packet in their backpack the last week in August. Space is limited, so make sure you return permission slips ASAP. Note: Park Hill Community Education will be offering after-school classes. Specific information for these clubs will be sent home on a separate flyer. There is a fee associated with the Park Hill Community Education classes.

CLOTHING CLOSET The Park Hill School District’s Clothing Closet helps Park Hill families in need. All this is possible through volunteers and donations. If you are interested in volunteering to help at the Clothing Closet, please email April Kruse at aprilmkruse@yahoo.com.

Donations of socks and underwear are currently being accepted in the bin by the main entrance at Graden. There is also a drop box with tax deduction forms at the Clothes Center, 8009 N. Adkins, by the Gerner Family Early Education Center.

Library Update

SUPER HERO FAMILY READING EVENT Kindergarten and first grade families, plan to attend the Super Hero Family Reading Event October 17, 2017, in the gym 5:30-7:00. Students may dress as their favorite super hero as they celebrate reading and meet some of the heroes who support us in our community, such as our firemen or police officers. Our “community heroes” and some of our Park Hill South students will be there as guest readers or as guides for other literacy activities. Also, Laura Detrick from Mid-Continent will be there so students may apply for a library card. Students will listen to stories, complete a literacy activity with their family, and have the opportunity to win prizes—a free book, a coupon for a mini-pizza at Stone Canyon Pizza, or a pumpkin! Just for coming to the event, each student’s name will be placed on the Superhero Reading Bulletin Board, counting as one list of books for the Super Hero Reading Program. Don’t miss the fun!

SUMMER READING PROGRAM Parents, remember to have your child return summer reading logs, Mid-Continent Library Reading Certificates, or simply a note from you that your child has read or listened to at least 8 books this summer to the library. Your child will receive a reading certificate from our library and a coupon from Stone Canyon Pizza. Please return no later than Friday September 15th, 2017.

QUESTIONS AND VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! Want to be a volunteer in our library or have any questions about our library program? Please contact Linda Whisman, Graden Elementary Librarian. Also, don’t forget to check out the Graden Media Center webpage on our school website for additional media center information and links.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Whisman. 816-359-5847 whismanl@parkhill.k12.mo.us

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Just a reminder for all students that Gym Shoes (tennis shoes) are required for participation in Physical Education class at Graden Elementary. Gym shoes must meet the following requirements:

They must have laces or Velcro straps

They do not have to be brand new tennis shoes

Gym shoes should fit the students’ feet properly

Students cannot share gym shoes

Students can wear their gym shoes in class

Students will not be allowed to participate in Physical Edu-cation Class if they are wearing the following foot wear: dress shoes, sandals, boots, shoes with heels, flip flops, or slip on shoes. Thank you very much for your cooperation. It is very important that students have this requirement for their safety during physical activity. If you have any ques-tions please feel free to contact Mr. Munsterman. Kindergarten students in Physical Education classes recently participated in Locomotor Movement and Spatial Awareness activities. During this time students practiced different movements while safely moving throughout the gym.

Art Room Update

If your students are new to Graden this year, please make sure you sign up for Artsonia. Artsonia is an online art gal-lery. Student artwork is photographed and uploaded regularly so you can share with friends and family. Student art-work is only visible if parents create an account and give permission. There is also an Artsonia gift shop wherein you can purchase items with your child’s artwork printed on them, such as ornaments, t-shirts, sketchbooks, mugs, etc. These make great gifts and Artsonia gives 20% of proceeds back to the art room at Graden. Look for an Artsonia slip sent home with your student. Kindergarten families received these on Back to School Night. If you would like to volunteer to photograph student artwork for Artsonia, please e-mail me at kharatyans@parkhill.k12.mo.us to join the e-mail list. I e-mail a sign-up out every week or so. You must be available during school hours. I will provide a tablet to photograph the work, and no artistic skills are necessary. The upload app is very easy to use! The Graden Art Show will be held on Wednesday, April 18th from 5:30 to 7pm at Graden. ALL students will have a piece of artwork framed and on display in the gym during the Art Show. These frames will be for sale for $25 (cash or check only) each if you would like to purchase them. Artwork will be returned a few weeks after the Art Show. A col-laborative art project from each class will be up for auction at the Art Show as well. This silent auction is a fundraiser for the art room. The Park Hill District Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, May 5th and Sunday, May 6th at Park Hill High School. Stu-dents who have work selected for this event will be notified in the spring. Please look for a rubric glued to the back of student artwork when it comes home. This rubric explains our scoring sys-tem, our curricular goals, and an explanation of the project.

A Note from the Music Room I want to thank all of the families that purchased “shout outs” at the programs last year. I was able to buy a new xylophone for our music room! It

was a win/win!

Program dates for this year are:

October 5th – 3rd grade

November 2nd – 4th grade

December 5 – 5th grade

January 25 – 2nd grade

February 22 – K

March 13 – 1st grade Fifth grade choir will start on September 26th. If your child needs a permission slip, have them stop by the music room for a copy. Thank you! Mrs. Smith

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What’s the Buzz from Our School Counselor?

I am excited to announce a new component to Graden’s counseling program this school year. First and foremost, I want to announce to families that I was married on July 1st of this summer and went from being Emily Hauck to Emily Smith. In an effort to help students not be confused with having two Mrs. Smith’s at Graden, I am asking staff, parents, and students call me “Mrs. S.” instead of Mrs. Smith. Of course, it is okay with me if staff, students, and families continue to refer to me as Ms. Hauck or call me Mrs. Smith. Secondly, I am ecstatic about Graden’s school-wide kindness initiative this year. The challenge is based on the book and soon-to-be movie: Wonder. Last school year, I wrote the author of Wonder, R.J. Palacio and asked if Graden could become a “Certified Kind School” sponsored by Lionsgate films, Penguin House and Random House publishing. We got the approval over the summer! So what does this mean for your student and each classroom at Graden? It means that we are challenging students and adults to be kinder than necessary. Each classroom has a kindness jar in their room that they are working on filling with blue orbeez. For every act of kindness, an orbeez ball will be dropped in the class kindness jar. The first class to fill their jar K-1st and 2nd-5th grades will win a classroom celebration. The first grade-level will earn an extra recess. Becoming a Certified Kind School is an anti-bullying program that promotes Kindness and empowers students to be upstanders. Once all jars are full we will take a school-wide picture showing our full kindness jars and write about the kind acts we have done as a school to the “Certified Kind” program. We will be one of the first schools EVER to embark on this journey! Additionally, in December, we are hoping to invite the entire school to join staff in viewing the movie Wonder (more information to come). The movie viewing will be voluntary on most likely the first Saturday of December, 2017. If you have not read the book Wonder or seen the movie trailer, I would encourage you to check it out. The chapter book is appropriate for 3rd graders and beyond. There is a picture book “We’re All Wonders” that has a similar message appropriate for all grade levels. We are super excited about this Kindness project at Graden and cannot wait to fill each and every jar with acts of kindness. Once every jar is full at Graden, we will have done 7,600 acts of kindness. I If you have any questions about this new initiative or would like to touch base regarding your student, my new contact information is: Emily Smith (Hauck), LCSW School Counselor, Graden Elementary School SmithEm@parkhill.k12.mo.us (816)359-6916

FREE Dental Program!

Welcome back Graden Hornets! I am so excited to share a great opportunity that will be taking place here at Graden in just a few weeks! The Miles of Smiles Portable Dental Program will be offered at Graden Elementary school September 12th through September 26th. Miles of Smiles is a full-service dental program that provides FREE dental care to children of the Northland. This FREE service is made available through private donations and Missouri Medicaid funding. If your child par-ticipates in the program, his or her dental care will be provided on site, in the school, by a Missouri licensed dentist. If you are interested in participating please contact me, your School Social Worker, Bonnie Maloney. My information can be found at the bottom. You can also complete this application online by visiting the website, WWW.MILESOFSMILESINC.ORG. On the website click the online patient registration button and you will be directed to the form. Once completed, it will be emailed directly to Miles of Smiles. If you have Medicaid, please include the necessary information. This service is provided completely FREE to your child, as long as you meet the income guidelines. Once the dentist has left the school district, Miles of Smiles are still your dentist. You can call their office and schedule an appointment any time. If you have any questions and/or would like to participate in Miles of Smiles, again please contact me, your School Social Worker, Bonnie Maloney! Bonnie Maloney 816-359-6799 MaloneyB@parkhill.k12.mo.us

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Nurse News Healthy habits equal healthy kids: Washing Hands This simple habit of washing hands can keep your child and family free from sickness. It’s amazing to see so many students not washing their hands properly or not at all! The biggest mistake student’s make is not washing their entire

hands using friction.

Make sure your children are wash-ing their fingertips, thumbs, palms, back sides of hands and wrists. Take an op-portunity this month to watch your chil-dren secretly and see if they pass this

healthy habit test!

In good health, Nurse Kris 816-359-4344 MorrisK@parkhill. k12.mo.us

RECESS Please familiarize yourself with district policies on outdoor time. We spend time outdoors for recess every day that the temperature (heat index or wind chill) is above 20° and below 100° as long as there is no precipitation. We do our best to keep the children comfortable during recess. We are lucky that we have many trees on our playground to provide us with shade when the weather is warm. When the weather is inclem-ent, we spend recess in classrooms or in the cafeteria when it is available. We could use some things for indoor recess, espe-cially for the lower grades, such as puppets; FP Little People farm, airport, zoo, etc.; and Lego, Duplo, or Mega blocks. If you have these things at home and are thinking of letting them go, please consider donating them to recess. You can drop them off at the front office. Thank you so much!

Sonic’s High Five Club August Recognition

Reinforcing personal development and leadership - that is what Sonic's "High Five" Club is all about. The High Five Program was introduced in December 2012 to recognize personal devel-opment and leadership. Students who are selected each month will receive a certificate which they can redeem at the 63rd Street Sonic location in Parkville, Missouri. A "High Five" hand-print with the child's name will be displayed on the wall inside Graden Elementary. At the end of each month, the High Five Hands are taken down and replaced with the High Five hands honoring students for the next month. The hands

are then put up on a special bulletin board at Graden Elementary and remain up until the end of the school year.

Please join us in congratulating all of the members of the Sonic High Five Club! Great job students!

1st Grade Lily Miquelon Willa Morrissey Madi Rouse Gavin Steitz

Kindergarten Chloe Heim Nicole Marlow Liberty Page Brooklyn Sanders

2nd Grade Grace Blackburn Sophie Drake Miariana Nieto Berklee Sanders Jax Slupianek

3rd Grade Vivian McGuire Sydney Musgrave Brayden Reynolds Zane Shields

4th Grade Chris Adkins Colt Hallquiet Micah Jones Leah Steitz

5th Grade Darius Jones Bella Knittig Tucher Vaupell Meredith Wheeler

MEET YOUR SUPERINTENDENT! The date for the September PTA Meeting has changed. We will now meet in the Graden Library on September 5 at 6:30. Dr. Cowherd—Park Hill School District Superintendent—will be present to speak about the new elementary and middle schools. Childcare will be available through the Park Hill A+ Program. If you need childcare during the September 5 meet-ing, please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A094FABA62BA75-september

It’s Time Again for … Box Tops Competition! Box tops will be collected on the last Wednesday of each month. Prizes will be awarded when classes reach 500, 1000, and 1500 box tops. When Graden reaches our school goal of 25,000 box tops—Coach will be getting a pie in the face! Be on the lookout for more information during National Box Tops Week (September 24-30).

1 5th Grade Bridges – Southeast 4 LABOR DAY – NO SCHOOL 5 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges – English Landing & Southeast 5 PTA Meeting: Dr. Cowherd District Update – Library, 6:30-8:30 7 PTA Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser 7 Student Lighthouse – Library, 3:30- 4:30 8 5th Grade Bridges – Southeast 11 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30-5:00

11 Young Rembrandt’s – Art Room, 3:30 -4:30 12 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges – English Landing & Southeast 13 Bricks 4 Kidz – Library, 3:30-4:45 14 Watch D.O.G.S. Donuts With Dad (A-M), Gym, 7:30am-8:30am 15 Watch D.O.G.S. Donuts with Dad (N- Z), Gym, 7:30am-8:30am 15 5th Grade Bridges – Southeast 15 Chess Club – Library, 3:30-5:15 18 Parent Lighthouse Meeting – Confer ence Room, 8:45-10:00am 18 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30-5:00

September Calendar of Events

18 Young Rembrandt’s – Art Room, 3:30 -4:30 19 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges – English Landing & Southeast 20 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30-5:00 20 Bricks 4 Kidz – Library, 3:30-4:45 22 5th Grade Bridges – Southeast 22 3rd Grade Grandparent Luncheon – Café & Classrooms, 12:15 22 Chess Club – Library, 3:30-5:15 22 PTA Carnival – Blacktop & Play ground, 5:30-7:00pm 25 Kindergarten Grandparent Luncheon – Café & Classrooms, 10:40am 25 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30-5:00

25 Young Rembrandt’s – Art Room, 3:30 -4:30 26 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges – English Landing & Southeast 26 1st Grade Grandparent Luncheon – Café & Classrooms, 11:15 27 2nd Grade Grandparent Luncheon – Café & Classrooms, 11:35 27 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30-5:00 27 Bricks 4 Kidz – Library, 3:30-4:45 28 4th & 5th Grade Grandparent Luncheons – Café & Classrooms, 11:55 & 12:35 29 NO SCHOOL

September PTA Events

Tuesday, September 5 — PTA Meeting with Dr. Cowherd at Graden Library, 6:30pm Thursday, September 7 — Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser

Thursday, September 14 — Watch D.O.G.S. Donuts With Dad (A-M) from 7:30-8:30 am at Graden.

Friday, September 15 — Watch D.O.G.S. Donuts With Dad (N-Z) from 7:30-8:30am at Graden

Friday, September 22 — Graden Carnival from 5:30-7:30 at Graden.

Stay up to date with all PTA events and information by visiting: https://graden.parkhill.k12.mo.us/parent_resources/pta

or: https//www.facebook.com/gradenelempta/

Get Your Buzz Book Today It’s only $5 to join Graden PTA. Even better, your membership includes a free Buzz Book! The Buzz Book is

Graden’s student directory and will also be available for purchase. The directory is perfect for finding parent contact information for playdates, sleepovers, and birthday parties.

All proceeds stay at Graden to support our students. Look for order forms coming home soon, or join the PTA today!

Graden at a Glance Step Right Up… It’s Carnival Time!

Graden PTA Carnival is Friday, September 22 from 5:30-7:30. This fun event cannot happen with-out valuable volunteer support from our Graden Parents. A signup gen-ius will be circulated later this month. Thank you for your support! Look for Pre-Order tickets for great food, amazing games, inflatable obstacle course, dunk tank, silent auction and so much more!!!

Remember to use AmazonSmile when you shop online.

0.5% of your purchases comes to Graden PTA to support your school: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-

7173170

The Buzz from Last Month...

A TOTALLY COOL ECLIPSE!

Mrs. Bowser’s kindergarten class is ready for an epic eclipse

The future’s so bright for Mrs. Teson’s 1st grade class

Ms. Rush’s 4th grade class was knocked over by nature

Mrs. Hibbs, Mrs. Garcia, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Thorson show the students how it’s done

The 4th grade teachers can’t contain their excitement

Mrs. Garcia’s 3rd grade class studied up before heading outside to witness science that was outta this world

It’s Carnival Time! The annual Graden carnival is just around the corner.

The PTA invites you to join us September 22nd for

exciting games, an inflatable obstacle course, silent

auction, dunk tank, carnival food, face painters and

much more!

Date: Friday, September 22nd

Time: 5:30-7:30

Location: Graden’s back lot and playground

We’d like to thank our local sponsors who’ve made this event possible.

Pride Martial Arts

The Redburn Family

Braces by Billings

KC Grout Works

Berry Family Dentistry

And many more!

Presale tickets are now available. These packages are 20% discount off event prices. Get yours now!

Please complete the bottom portion of this page and return with payment to your child’s classroom

teacher by September 15th. Make checks payable to Graden Elementary PTA. Your tickets will be sent

home on September 20th.

Description Price Quantity Amount Due

Nachos, Cotton Candy, Water, and 8 Game Tickets $8.00

Nachos with Chili, Cotton Candy, Water, and 8 Game Tickets $9.00

Corn Dog with Fries, Cotton Candy, Water, and 8 Game Tickets $9.00

Chili Cheese Fries, Cotton Candy, Water, and 8 Game Tickets $8.00

Total Due

Student Name____________________________________________________________________________

Grade__________ Teacher_______________________________ Total Paid__________________________

For internal use. Initials ________Cash __________Check ________________Amount_____________ Date Received______________