Our First Few Days

I love the first few days of school!!!  Everyone is so excited to get back and be together.  Classes spent a lot of time getting to know each other through the use of Kagan engagement structures, which are used consistently throughout the school year for content learning and community building.  Together, teachers and students shared information about themselves, shared their goals for the school year, developed classroom norms, and simply had lots of fun.  

Next week on Wednesday and Thursday we will be NWEA MAP testing.  Research shows that we are at our best in the morning hours and, therefore, all testing sessions begin at 8:30 am.  Please help your child get to bed early and have a good breakfast.  Thank you for your help.

 Back-to-School Bash

Our PTO is hosting a Back-to-School Bash again this school year and it will be on Friday, Sept. 6th from 6pm-8pm.  This FREE admittance event is a lot of fun for the kids and it gives parents the opportunity to connect with other families in our Prairie School community.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase.  To help the PTO in anticipating the number of attendees, please complete THIS RSVP form today.  

Emergency Drills

All schools are required to hold fire/evacuation, severe weather, and lockdown drills.  We recognize some of the content could potentially be frightening for students if not handled properly and are extremely cautious and developmentally appropriate in our delivery.  Our teachers are attentive to our students' emotions throughout their instruction prior to the drills and during drills, are able to access support if needed, and would alert parents if their child seemed scared or under stress.  I am unable to provide specific dates of the actual drills to parents, as drills are meant to be at times where the population is unaware and we respond without knowing exactly when it will happen. This is important for us, as adults, and our students, to help us learn to respond without knowing all of the specifics, just as in an emergency.  Please know, lockdown drills and fire drills are common around this time of year (fall-ish) and going through the year. Severe weather drills are more often in the winter/spring. Your child's teacher will let you know when there has been any instruction or a drill. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Assigned Bus Seats

All students who ride the bus have assigned bus seats.  Bus tags were distributed to students on Thursday and are affixed to backpacks.  Teachers reviewed the assigned seats and staff assisted getting students into their correct seats on the bus.  Students are to sit in their assigned seats at all times.   

Jump into Books Club (Grades 1-2)

This club will introduce students to all genres of literacy to encourage a love of reading. Literacy targets, Kagan structures, and Thinking Maps will be incorporated to engage students in meaningful discussions about books. 

**Students who participate 50% or more will receive a certificate of participation

• • Maximum enrollment is 20 students and others will be added to a waiting list.

  • Meet on Mondays starting September 9, from 3-3:45 pm

  • Sponsor: Ms. Smith 

**Sign-up form will be included in the Principal's Message on, Friday, August 23, 2019.

STEAM Club (Grades 3-5)

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, or Math? If so, STEAM Club is the place for you! Each week we will dig into one or more of these topics through experiments, building tasks, and more! This club is open to all interested 3rd-5th graders.

Sponsors: Ms. Cotter & Ms. Smith

**Sign-up form will be included in the Principal's Message on, Friday, August 23, 2019.

**Students who participate 50% or more will receive a certificate of participation

Visitor’s Badges

Parents, please make sure that your driver’s license has been scanned for a visitor’s badge in our Raptor System.  This will reduce your wait time in line when we have large events occurring during the school day. You can check to make sure your driver’s license has been scanned any time you come into the office, for example, when you’re dropping off lunch or picking up your child for an appointment.  

CHOIR CLUB - SEEKING MEMBERS FOR THE 19-20 SCHOOL YEAR

Attention all 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders!  Do you like to sing in music class? Choir is an extracurricular club that will meet on Fridays from 7:30-8:15am.  If you are interested in signing up for choir, sign-up will begin at 4:00pm next Friday, August 23rd. The link to the sign-up form can be found on Miss McShane’s website or the Principal’s Message.

Choir can only have 80 members and you will receive an email from Miss McShane shortly after the club is filled.  This club fills quickly! If you have any questions, please email Miss McShane or Miss Heuer and they will be happy to help you!

WORLD MUSIC CLUB - SEEKING MEMBERS FOR THE 19-20 SCHOOL YEAR

Attention all 5th graders! Do you love learning songs in different languages, from different cultures, or different countries in music class? This club will be filled with songs to sing, cultural dances, and pieces to play on instruments! Miss McShane has a lot of material, but also wants you to contribute and share your culture with the group! This extracurricular club will meet on Mondays from 3:00-3:45pm. If you are interested in signing up for world music club, sign-up will begin at 4:00pm next Friday, August 23rd. The link to the sign-up form can be found on Miss McShane’s website or the Principal’s Message.

World music club can only take 20 members and you will receive an email from Miss McShane shortly after the club is filled. If you have any questions, please email Miss McShane and she will be happy to help you!

Grade Level Concert Dates for this School Year

2nd Grade: Thursday, February 13th

4th Grade: Tuesday, March 10th

5th grade: Thursday, January 30th

Choir & World Music Club:  Thursday, May 14th

Talent Show: Friday, December 6th; 6:00pm & 7:30pm

Prairie Puma Leadership Council 19-20

Attention 4th and 5th graders!

Join us for a PPLC information meeting on September 5th after school from 3:00-3:30pm. We will be meeting in Ms. Heuer’s room (red pod, room 6). Please bring a note from your family regarding how you will get home at 3:30pm. Parent pick-up will be on the Kingsbridge circle by the art/music doors. 

If you are interested in being a student leader this year, you must attend this meeting. You will receive information on the application process and different leadership opportunities that will happen throughout the year.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Heuer, Ms. McShane, or Mrs. Yutakis

We hope to see you there!

2019 TALENT SHOW - AUDITION SIGN-UP

Attention all Prairie students!  Do you have a special talent you would like to share? Prairie School has a talent show every year! The talent show will be on Friday, December 6th. Auditions will be held in October this year!

Sign-ups begin on Friday, August 30th and will run for a week! The form will be in the Principal’s Message!

Please read the specific information below:

• All students are welcome to sign-up for an audition.

• Each performance needs to be 2 minutes or less. (No exceptions)

• Students can only be in one act.

• If you are performing with a group, only one parent should sign up the group! Please coordinate this!

• Results will be sent out by November 11th.

Here are pictures of what the form will look like for sign-ups so you can gather all the information needed:

Repeat Information

Curriculum Night Schedule