Principal's Message 9.30.22

Principal's Message 9.30.22

NEW *Student "No School" Dates Next Week*

  • Wednesday, 10/5 ~ District Holiday
  • Thursday, 10/6 ~ Staff Development Day and Family Educator Conferences
  • Friday, 10/7 ~ Family Educator Conferences

NEW *Conferences* 

Conferences are approaching next week on Thursday, 10/6 and Friday, 10/7. All conferences are virtual unless you have contacted the teacher via email and made arrangements for an in-person conference. This must be done no later than the end of the school day on Tuesday, 10/4.

After scheduling a conference, you received an email from Meet the Teacher with a link for the conferences. This email was sent from the address [email protected] and will have the subject line “Your appointment for Prairie 2022 Fall Family Educator Conferences.” Please check your spam or junk mail folders if you do not remember getting this email. We have had several parents report this email going to those folders.

When you click on the link in that email, you will be asked to sign in to Meet the Teacher. Once signed in, follow these instructions:

  • Click on the green “Join Video Appointments” button
  • This will take you to a screen that allows you to check audio and video 
  • Click on the blue “Proceed to Video Call” button
  • Click on the blue “Start Appointment” button and wait for the teacher to join at the conference start time
  • The conference will automatically end when time runs out.
  • Click on the blue “Start Appointment” button for the next teacher if you have another appointment scheduled.

If you would like to invite another parent/guardian to the conference so that they can join from another device, follow these instructions:

  • Log in to Meet the Teacher
  • Go to “My Bookings”
  • Click on “Invite Parent/Guardian”

Meet the Teacher sign-up will close at 11:55 pm on Sunday, 10/2. After that, you must contact your child’s school office to schedule a conference or make a change to an existing conference.


NEW *Puma Pals Club 2022-2023 ~ Open to 1st-4th Graders*

Puma Pals club will be happening this year to help students build relationships with students outside of their classroom and grade level. We will have sessions available for twenty 1st-2nd graders and twenty 3rd-4th graders. We will play team-building games, have discussions, and get to know each other throughout the year. We will meet on Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 pm in Room 13 in the green pod.

If you are interested in signing up for Puma Pals please complete THIS FORM. Because we can only have a limited number of students participating, Miss Weil and Ms. McHugh will send an email confirming when the club has been filled. 

Please contact Ms. McHugh [email protected] or Miss Weil [email protected] with any questions.

  • 1st & 2nd Grade Dates: 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17
  • 3rd & 4th Grade Dates: 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26

NEW *Get your Costumes ready and SAVE THE DATE for Trunk-or-Treat*

On October 28th, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm our PTO is putting on an OUTSIDE family event brought to you by the Prairie PTO!  We are so excited about seeing our students, accompanied by an adult, trick-or-treating through the Prairie parking lot.

Stay tuned to the Prairie PTO Facebook page for more information about our Trunk-or-Treat event and how to register your Trunk, Mini-van, or Flatbed Truck! You do not need to register a vehicle to attend this family event.  We are so excited to see the creatively decorated trunks and the more decorated trunks we have the better!   

***This is an adult + child event.  This is not a drop-off event.***


NEW *PTO Party Volunteers Can Sign-up on MTK*

This year we will be utilizing the Membership Toolkit (MTK) to sign up "Day of Party" volunteers. Each classroom will have one room parent and two party helpers.  Room Parents will assign party helpers to bring a craft or play a game during the party.

Party volunteers will sign-up at least 30 days before the party. The sign-up will always go live on a Saturday at 9 am. Sign-up will be on a first come first serve basis. Once the two spots are filled, you may put your name on the waitlist. Should a volunteer have to back out, we will utilize the waitlist to fill the vacant spot.  After the sign-up, the Room Parent will reach out to the party helpers to assign responsibilities and give more information about the classroom parties.

  • Halloween Party sign-up will open on Saturday, October 1st at 9 am
    • Party held on October 31st, 2:00 - 2:45 pm
  • Winter Party sign-up will open on Saturday, November 19th at 9 am
    • Party held on Thursday, December 22nd, 2:00 - 2:45 pm
  • Valentine’s Party sign-up will open Saturday, January 14th at 9 am
    • Party held on Tuesday, February 14th, 1:00 -1:45 pm

NEW *Halloween Costumes* 

Our Halloween festivities will be here before we know it.  We look forward to students dressing in their Halloween costumes for our Halloween Parade and classroom parties on Monday, Oct. 31st.  Please help us with the following costume guidelines.  Students will change into their costumes after their lunch period at school.  Please ensure that your child can get their costume on with no or minimal help.  

Costumes must be appropriate for school.  If costumes are not school-appropriate the student will be asked to remove their costume.  If you have any questions about your child's costume, the classroom can teacher can help to answer them.

  • Please no masks, blood, super scary stuff, general iciness, or weapons
  • Please no cigars or cigarette items
  • Please no bare tummies
  • Please keep hair coloring and make-up simple

***All costume changes will occur at school, not at home.***


REPEAT *Attendance Visibility in TeacherEase*

District 96 is helping to support families by giving easier access to attendance information for elementary students. Below are three steps that will show you how to access student attendance information at primary and elementary schools in District 96.

TeacherEase Attendance Program - Screen cap 1

 

TeacherEase Attendance Program - Screen cap 2

 

TeacherEase Attendance Program - Screen cap 3


REPEAT *Band and Orchestra Reminder*

Band and orchestra lessons are well on their way.  If your 4th or 5th-grade child is in band or orchestra, it is important that they are prepared for the lesson, including having their instrument.  Thanks for your support.


REPEAT  *Culture Crew is Coming*

Within Culture Crew, we will learn about, share, and celebrate the many cultures embedded into our Prairie community. Join Mrs. Desai and Ms. Elfering on Wednesday afternoons to share traditions, listen to music, and create crafts. We will meet in the library from 3:05 to 4:05 beginning October 5th through May 3rd! 

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].  Please use this form to sign up. The last day to register is September 30th.


REPEAT *Family Educator Conferences*

Fall Family/Educator Conferences are right around the corner. The conference dates are Thursday, October 6th from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM and Friday, October 7th from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

We will be using Meet the Teacher as an electronic sign-up for conferences. A School Messenger email will be sent to families on Monday, September 19th at 6:00 PM with a link to sign up for conferences.

Conferences will be held virtually using Meet the Teacher’s video conferencing platform unless parents request an in-person conference using the instructions below. After you have scheduled your conferences, you will receive an email from Meet the Teacher with a link you will use to access the video conferences.

Elementary parents will have the option to sign up with the classroom teacher as well as specials teachers and any related service providers their children see.

If you are unable to schedule a conference with a specific teacher, please remember that conferences are not the only time to communicate with teachers. Please feel free to reach out any time.

REQUESTING AN IN-PERSON CONFERENCE

If you want to have an in-person conference with the teachers, you must notify the teachers via email by the end of the day on Tuesday, October 4th.


REPEAT *Classroom Parties*

As always, we are looking forward to celebrating at holiday classroom parties with our students. Parties will continue to be food free. All classroom food must be checked through our nurse and it is not feasible for our building nurse to manage this, along with the day-to-day responsibilities to ensure student safety and wellness. Students will enjoy crafts and games to celebrate the festivities.


REPEAT *Student Birthdays*

Teachers recognize student birthdays. Although it is not necessary, families may choose to send something for the class. We do not, however, allow food to be passed out in classrooms or sent home with children. Appropriate non-food items are allowed, such as a pencil or stickers. Please keep the age of our children in mind for the appropriateness and safety of the item.


REPEAT *Dogs on Campus*

As a general rule, dogs are not allowed on the school campus or grounds during school hours when children are present. The exception would be any time the assistance of a dog is required by a person’s disability. In all other cases, written permission must be obtained from the building principal before a dog is allowed on school grounds.