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Honors Chorus Performance: Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 pm (Crown Center)
Border Star Enrollment: Thursday, December 5, 6:30 am
PTA General Meeting: Thursday, December 5, 5:30 pm
Trivia Night Planning Meeting: Monday, December 9, 7:00 pm (Bier Station)
Fundraiser Pick-up: Wednesday, December 11, 3 to 6 pm
Winter Program: Wednesday, December 18
Yearbook Early Bird Deadline: December 31
Winter Break: Monday, December 23 through Monday, January 6
LEGO Printmaking workshop: February 1
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BORDER STAR ENROLLMENT 2020-21
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Online enrollment begins for Border Star (and other district schools) on Thursday, December 5 at 6:30 am. Our system is on a first come, first served basis for new students. Priority is given for siblings of already-enrolled students. P3's must reapply for P4. P4's that are of age (must be 5 by Aug 31, 2020) will auto-enroll in K. Current P3's that reapply are guaranteed a seat. However, these students must reapply by Feb 14 to be guaranteed a seat. All students will know if they have been accepted on March 2. All applications must be completed by Feb 14.
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While we’re in the mindset of thankfulness and beginning to think about holiday gift-giving, the PTA would like to encourage you to remember the fantastic teachers who help your children learn and grow each day. Room Parents can help you with gift ideas for your teachers if you choose to thank them in that way. But as we all know, being recognized for our efforts, especially in front of our bosses, goes a long way to making us feel valued and appreciated. This holiday season, the PTA would like to encourage parents to recognize the efforts and dedication of our teachers by sending notes (hand-written or emailed) to Mr. Rhyne and even our school board members to point out the great things our Border Star teachers are doing for our students.
If you choose to send an email, we recommend sending it to Mr. Rhyne and copying your teacher as well as your school board representative. If you send a hand-written letter, make a copy for your teacher, too!
Teachers’ emails can be found here: https://www.kcpublicschools.org/Page/837
(Unfortunately, the district hasn’t kept this list up-to-date, so if your teacher isn’t listed here and you need their email address, call the office or reach out to your room parent.)
Mr Rhyne’s email: brhyne@kcpublicschools.org
At-large school board members:
Other school board members’ contact info can be found here: https://www.kcpublicschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=4594
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In previous years, Border Star teachers have hosted Parent Education nights. These were generally 30 minute sessions in a classroom on a PTA meeting night. The meeting would be kept brief and the parent ed session would start at about 6:30 pm. The purpose was to introduce parents to some of the Montessori lessons and principles being taught to our children and to allow them to ask questions of the teachers about how lessons are given. If you would like to participate in a Parent Ed night, please send us an email at borderstarpta@gmail.com and let us know 1) the times that would work best for you (on the same night as an abbreviated PTA meeting, or a different time), and 2) the topics you’d be interested in learning about. Some examples might include how writing and penmanship are taught, what “carrying” and “borrowing” look like in Montessori math, examples of practical life lessons, conflict resolution in a Montessori classroom, or the computer programs our children are using and what the benefits are.
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It’s not too early to start thinking about how you can serve the PTA next school year. If you’re interested in holding an office or leading a committee next year, send an email to borderstartpta@gmail.com or talk to any of this year’s PTA officers. A formal nominating committee will be set up in the spring to identify candidates to place on the ballot, but it always helps to find interested people early. We have many committee positions that will be open. Whether your interests are in communication, health and wellness, sustainability and green initiatives, organizing volunteers, or anything else, we have a spot for you!
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It’s not too late to become a PTA member! It’s only $5 per person. It supports our school and gives you the opportunity to vote at PTA meetings. Being involved shows your kids the value and importance you place on their school community. We’ll submit our final membership to the state and pay our state dues at the end of the semester.
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The student-drawn entries for the yearbook cover have been hung in the school. There were 98 dragon drawings submitted this year! Students and staff will vote for their favorite by ballot this week, and the first and second place winners will be sent to Balfour next week in time to have a mock-up of the front and back covers.
ORDERING YEARBOOKS:
Get your yearbook now at $16, then January 1st it’s $18, and March 1st it’s $20 each.
tinyurl.com/border-star-yearbook-2019
(If the link doesn’t work, you can simply search for “Border Star” at balfour.com and follow the ordering process.)
UPLOADING PHOTOGRAPHS:
Want your child(ren) to be seen throughout the yearbook? Download the app and directly upload your photographs. Enter project number: 025067 to get connected to this year’s yearbook.
iOS: itunes.apple.com/us/app/balfour-image-share/id940654327
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swuploader.balfour&hl=en
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Thank you to all who participated in the PTA's Fall Fundraiser! With your help we earned over $5,000 for the PTA through cookie dough and catalog sales, on-line sales, and monetary donations. This money goes towards supporting field trips, classroom supplies, teacher education, the prairie and garden, and more. All orders will be delivered and available for pick up at the school on Wednesday, December 11 from 3-6 pm. If you have any questions or need to schedule a different time, please contact Kris Neuhauser at 816-217-1122 or kristinneuhauser@gmail.com.
Here's a fun opportunity to spend time with Border Star parents, create art to take home with you, and support the PTA at the same time: Print League KC is sponsoring an adults-only Lego Press Workshop evening on Feb. 1, 2020 with all proceeds benefiting Border Star PTA. Click here for more information and to sign up. There are only 20 seats available in this workshop, so don't delay, but Print League has other workshops for adults and kids, so check those out, too!
Dragon Night, Border Star PTA's adults-only evening of trivia and silent auction fun, is coming back next semester! Keep your eyes open for date, location, and times coming soon. Our first event planning meeting will be Monday, December 9 at 7pm at Bier Station, 120 E Gregory Blvd. If you're interested in helping a little or a lot, come to the meeting or contact Kris Neuhauser at 816-217-1122 or kristinneuhauser@gmail.com.
If you're doing holiday shopping at Amazon, make sure to use Amazon Smile instead of plain old boring Amazon. Go to www. smile.amazon.com and select "PTA Missouri Congress Border Star Montessori PTA". A percentage of all of your purchases will benefit Border Star!
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At the end of this week, we’ll be taking any remaining items in the Uniform Closet to Garfield Elementary. Our librarian, Ms. Parker, also works in that school and they have a need for uniforms for their students. If you want to grab something from the closet, it’s generally set out by the LINC sign-out desk after school. Office staff can also give you access during the day. And we’ll have it out during our PTA meeting on Thursday. We will continue to take donations to the closet throughout the year. As our supply grows, we will periodically donate to other schools in the district. We are also expecting donations of winter hats and gloves, which we will keep through the winter months. These will be made accessible to the students and teachers, so items can be picked up on the way to recess as needed.
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Last year, every class sent home a Wednesday folder with students, which included a weekly “Principal’s Page,” information from the classroom teacher, and information from the PTA and other groups about upcoming events. Mr. Rhyne does not plan to send home weekly newsletters this year (in part to save paper), so teachers can now send home information as they see fit. So parents, check back packs everyday—not just Wednesdays! The PTA will occasionally send home paper flyers for our events, but we will also try to cut back on printing. Look for these other means of communication throughout the year:
- PTA bulletin board (outside of Rm 003 by the back door near the playground)—we will post a calendar, which will be updated monthly, as well as flyers for upcoming events
- Flyers—we will still hang flyers and posters for events around the school. When you walk by, snap a picture of it with your smart phone so you can always have the info handy.
- Phone blasts—Mr Rhyne likes using the phone blast system. We will send important PTA info through him on that system as well.
- PTA website—In the past, this site has been used primarily as a landing page for memberships, special spirit wear purchases, and donations. But we’re going to try to keep it updated with important event info this year as well.
- PTA meetings—Attending meetings will be the best way to get the inside scoop on school happenings.
- These PTA emails—Don’t worry, we won’t flood your inbox. But we’ll try to get the most import stuff out this way.
- Facebook parent page — This closed (and unofficial) Facebook group is open to all parents to discuss school and community issues, ask questions, and build community. You'll need to provide a child's teacher's name to join.
- Email - You can always just email us at borderstarpta@gmail.com
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You are receiving this because you were either on our distribution list last year or have joined the PTA or the PTA’s New Parent Communications list this year. If you no longer wish to see these emails, please unsubscribe.
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