Message From The Principal

Arrival Time

With the changing temperatures, we have fewer walkers to school each morning and quite a few more car riders.  This can lead to our drop off line getting backed up, which does present some safety concerns.  The following may alleviate unnecessary congestion and help keep our students safe:

·        If you are walking your students to the front entrance, please park in a parking stall to walk up.  Leaving your car in the drop off lane (both the right and left hand side) is causing a substantial back up in our drop off procedures.

·        Utilize either the right or left hand lane for dropping students off.  If you are using the left lane, please have students exit the left hand side of the vehicle.  If you are using the right lane, please have students exit the right hand side of the vehicle.

·        Please be patient in waiting your turn to drop off in the lanes, skipping ahead several cars and cutting in to the area is a safety concern for our students.

·        Students should be ready to exit the vehicle.  If they are still gathering their papers to put in their backpacks (I know this one from personal experience) then the drop off lane is not the place to organize.  Simply pull into a stall until they are ready to go.

Thanks very much for your help in these areas.  It takes all of us working together to welcome 317 students into the building each day.  I do appreciate our community’s help in trying to keep our children safe each and every morning!

Mr. McFarland

Book Fair and Breakfast with Santa

Book Fair/Breakfast with Santa

The Scholastic Book Fair will be in the library this week November 18^th - 23^rd until  4:00 pm except for Tuesday, November 19^th.  That will be a special Family Book Fair Night that will run until 7:00 PM.  Please come join us.

Chris Cakes will be serving “flying pancakes” on Saturday, November 23 from         8:30-11:30 am.  Santa Claus will also be there for a fun time!  This will be the last chance to buy from the book fair which will be open until 11:30 am.

Preschool Application for 2014-2015

 

ATTENTION!

APPLICATION PROCESS

2014 – 2015

EARLY CHILDHOOD FEE BASED PEER PROGRAM

APPLICATION REQUEST ONLY:

Starting Monday, January 6, 2014

The 1^ST DAY APPLICATIONS CAN BE PICKED UP

OR WILL BE EMAILED OUT IS:

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

To request the application forms please call:

Kim Russell,  913-780-7341

Or email:

krussellhlc@olatheschools.org

Veteran's Day Assembly

Veteran’s Day Assembly

Heritage had a special time to honor our Veterans on Monday, November 11^th.
 
Students who invited their Veterans for the event first served them cookies and lemonade in the library while watching a slide show of personal military photos.

The assembly began with the Color Guard from the Earl Collier American Legion Post presenting the colors and the second grade leading in the singing of our National
Anthem.  Then the 4^th and 5^th grade Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts guided us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.  During the assembly the second grade and Junior Falcon Choir sang some patriotic songs thanking our Veterans.  A few students read tributes they had written to all of the people who have served our country.

Mrs. Freund, one of our first grade teachers read a moving story of “The Little White Table” about the meaning of Veteran's Day.

We wanted to thank everyone who participated and also Mrs. Mulligan for creating the slide show, Mrs. Pat for serving cookies and lemonade, Mrs. Mitchell and the students who helped decorate, and Mrs. Owens who organized the whole event. 

But we especially want to thank the brave men and women of the United States Military.

 

Donuts for Dad

Donuts With Dads

It was worth getting up early Friday morning, November 8th for our dads to eat breakfast with their children.  Donuts With Dads was a huge success.  What a special way to raise money for our school and spend precious time with your children. 

Many thanks to Carrie Mullies who organized and worked the whole event.

Bountiful Harvest

Bountiful Harvest

 

Dear Heritage Parents,

  Heritage Elementary has a wonderful tradition that is called Bountiful Harvest.  This is your opportunity to make a difference in many families lives and teach your children the art of giving.  There are 13,000 low-income residents in Johnson County who look to Johnson County Christmas Bureau for assistance during the upcoming holiday season.  And we can help!

  Starting November 8, we are asking your children to bring canned foods, paper goods, toiletries, etc….. on the designated days attached to this note.  The drive will run through November 18.

   This year we are also asking for gently used or new coats.  These can be sent to school anytime during Bountiful Harvest.

 This is a great way to show that “Heritage Has Heart!  

---------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD WITH YOUR CHILD FOR OUR ANNUAL BOUNTIFUL HARVEST FOOD DRIVE. 

Friday, November 8-Canned goods. 

Monday, November 11- Soaps, Detergent, laundry items

Tuesday, November 12-Staple items such as sugar, flour, salt, oil, shortening

Wednesday, November 13- Rice, pasta, macaroni, breakfast cereals

Thursday, November 14- Baby items such as diapers, wipes, baby food, bottles

Friday, November 15-Paper towels, TP, tissues, napkins

Monday, November 18- Personal items such as combs, brushes, toothpaste,

toothbrushes, shampoo etc. Please do not send travel sized items.

**We are also asking for new or gently used coats in adult & children’s sizes.**

 

Please don’t separate packaged items- thank you.

Message From The Principal

Homework

With the busy schedules we all have each and every day, it seems like it is harder and harder to find time to sit down with our children to complete their homework each night.  I would like to encourage you to establish a time each night as “homework” time.  This doesn’t have to be homework sent from school, but having a specific interval of time based on the age of your child provides them a consistent period to focus on some sort of learning.  Our district recommends about ten minutes per grade level, so 3^rd grade would be approximately 30 minutes a night.

If your child doesn’t happen to have homework one evening, reading a book, or playing a math game on the computer are a couple of examples of what students could do.  The idea is to provide them time to be engaged, even if they do not have homework, or the homework didn’t take up the entire “homework” time.  This not only provides a consistent time for our students, but it also may encourage them to not rush through the homework in an effort to just get done. 

We have tried this at our house, and there have been several bumps in trying to establish that consistent time.  We know it’s not going to be perfect (consistent schedules and kids don’t seem to mix - ha)!  We are just trying to develop some habits at an early age that will hopefully stay with them as they continue through school.

 

 

Important Safety Tips for Parents

As the days grow shorter and darker, now is an important time to remind your children about some general safety tips to make sure walks to and from school are safe and successful.

Always walk home using the same route

Never stop at a friend’s home without telling your parents first
 Walk straight home every day
 Always be aware of your surroundings
 
Always walk on sidewalks and stay out of people’s yards and driveways
 Try to walk home in groups of two or more
 Do not become distracted by play, use of cell phones, etc

Original Artworks Program

Original Artworks Program

The Original Artworks Program is currently running at Heritage until Friday,  November 8^th.

The program provides all students the opportunity to have the artwork they have created in class reproduced onto products such as magnets, tiles, note cards, mugs, mouse pads and many other items.  This is a great way for you to share their artwork with family and friends.

Now is the time to place your order.   If you are interested in ordering, please bring your completed order form and payment to school no later than Friday,        November 8^th.

If there are any questions, please call Mrs. Mitchell, Heritage Art Teacher,                 at 780-7490.

There is a new Original Artworks Program video that can be accessed via the following link by:  “control and click on the link”.

http://www.originalworks.com/art-fundraiser-video

It provides a fun and creative way to learn more about the program, products and processes.

Box Tops and Congratulations!

Box Tops for September

Mrs. Freund’s first grade class won the most Box Tops in September with 2,239!  They will have an ice cream party to celebrate.  Congratulations!
The school total for September was 7,723 valued at $772.30 for Heritage!  Thank you to everyone who collects box tops.

Congratulations!

Two Heritage teachers were nominated by their peers for outstanding teaching awards.

Mr. Kilber PE was nominated for the 2013-2014 Emporia State Master Teacher Award.

 

Mrs. Sundermeyer Kindergarten was the nomination winner for the 2013-2014 Kansas Teacher of the Year Award.

 

Fall Parades and Parties

Fall Costume Parades and Parties

October 31^st was a busy day at Heritage.  The parades for morning preschool and kindergarten were at 10:30 with parties following.  The rest of the school paraded at 2:30 and then partied at 2:45. 

Thank you to all of the parents who helped make this such a fun day for our students. J

Learnscape Ribbon Cutting

The new Learnscape was officially dedicated Wednesday, October 23rd by Hollis and Miller, the company that donated the entire project. The whole school watched as Hercules, the school mascot, helped cut the ribbon.

Many thanks to Hollis and Miller for the beautiful new space to learn outdoors.

 

October 16, 2013

Principal’s Message

Morning Math
You may have heard your child or a staff member use the term morning math in conversation.  This has been a new initiative our classroom teachers have implemented this year.  It takes place first thing in the morning (thus the cleverly named morning math) for all students K through 5.  Our goal is to meet the needs of our students through small group instruction, independent, or partnered work. 

Each day, during a regular math lesson, students are taught specific concepts.  After the lesson, some students have an understanding of the concept while others may need more time or assistance.  Our morning math time addresses the needs of all learners.  For those students who may need more time or assistance, they might be working in a small group with the teacher, or practicing the concept on an app using an iPad.  For those students that already understand the concept, they may need to have their learning extended in a small group with the teacher, or work on creating projects with a group that deepens their understanding.  These are just a few examples of strategies our teachers are using. 

With our morning math approach, we are trying to meet the needs of all our learners by adding time and assistance. This differentiated learning is providing students different avenues for making sense of the content, making the learning personal.  Last Friday, our teachers had the opportunity to share what they are doing in the classroom to reach each student, fostering a climate for collaboration among our staff.  We saw and heard wonderful ideas that all our grade levels are implementing.  We will continue to move forward with this initiative throughout the year, improving on an already established framework for learning.  Our students have done a wonderful job adapting to the change in procedure, and we’ll continue to look for ways to guide our students to grow as learners.

                                                                                                Scott McFarland

             

Dig It!
5^th Grade Music Program

The 5^th grader performed the music program “Dig It” on October 8^th.  The songs taught some history of ancient times through clever words and actions.  There was even a fun cameo appearance by Ms. Debbi!  Great job, Mrs. Owen and 5^th grade!

 

Bullying/Leadership Assembly

Youth Mover, Brandon Lee White, delivered  a high-energy, entertaining, and effective program for our students on October 7th.  As a professional ballroom dance instructor and motivational youth speaker, Brandon incorporated "teamwork, courage, character,        self-discipline, exercise, and anti-bullying."  The students loved participating and learning that they each can make a difference.

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23
3:00 pm

WHILE OUR STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY OUR CLASSROOM, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF LEARNSCAPE:

WELCOME
REMARKS BY JOHN
QUOTES FROM STUDENTS
SCHOOL SONG
RIBBON CUTTING

Heritage will have a "Garden Moving Day" at the end of October to move the bushes from Gabriel's Garden to the Learnscape.  Students, staff and volunteers will spend the day working together.  All gardeners are more than welcome to come plant with us.  More information will be coming home soon.

 

THANK YOU!

We wanted to thank Carrie Mullies, Victoria White and Angela Ward for making Picture Day run so smoothly. They gave up their morning to help us out. 

A big thank you also to all of the parents who have helped with Movie Plex nights and Cotton Candy Fridays.  These are fun money makers for Heritage that help pay for Field Trips. J

Additional Links

Be sure to check out the new links to Nurse Joy and Mr. Kilber’s Blogs.

 

Red Ribbon Week Oct. 22^nd -25^th 

A Healthy Me is Drug-Free!

   

October 22^nd -        Spirit Day “I’m Too Bright for Drugs!”  (wear bright colors)

October 23^rd-         Spirit Day “Team Up Against Drugs!” (wear team jersey)

October 24^th-         Spirit Day “Sock-it to Drugs” (wear crazy socks)

October 25^th-          Spirit Day- Wear Red

 

Updates 10.21.13-11.02.13

10/18	NO School
10/21	Professional Day  No Students
10/22	Regional Math Wings Havencroft 3:45-5:00 M
10/22	PTC Meeting 6:30-7:30 PM Library
10/23	Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Outdoor Classroom 3:00 PM
10/25	AM Kdg/AM PK Firestation 8:30-10:15 AM
10/25	PM Kdg/PM PK Firestation 1:05-2:45 PM
10/25	Movie Plex 4:00-6:00 PM
10/25	Watch D.O.G. Poker Night Library  6:30-9:00 PM
10/28	CSI Mrs. Mulligan's Room 3:45-4:30 PM
10/29	District Math Wings ONHS 3:45-5:00 PM
10/29	Engineering Club Mrs. Lovell 3:45-4:40 PM
10/31	AM Kdg/AM PK Fall Parade 10:30, Parties 10:45
10/31	PM Kdg/PM PK-5th Fall Parade 2:30, Parties 2:45
11/1	5th Grade to Science City 8:30-2:30
11/1	Cotton Candy Friday  $1 a Bag  3:40
11/2	Daylight Savings Time Ends (Fall Back 1 Hour)

Halloween Costume Reminder

The students and staff at Heritage will be celebrating Halloween on Thursday, October 31st.  Morning Preschool and Kindergarten will have their parade at 10:30 and their parties at 10:45. The rest of the school will have their parade at 2:30 and their parties at 2:45.

Please remember that parental guidance is strongly suggested in the selection of costumes for this school activity.  Students should not wear extremely violent or provocative costumes or bring weapons, guns or other materials that could cause bodily injury. Your support of this request will assist us in providing a safe and enjoyable activity for everyone

 

Jared Coone’s 15^th Annual Pumpkin Run

What a perfect morning for a run!  Forty-two Heritage Harriers participated in the 15^th Annual Jared Coone’s Pumpkin Run October 5^th at 8:00 am.  The 5K started and ended at Black Bob Elementary.

There were  3,583 runners and walkers this year, which is a record number of participants.  The Jared Coone’s committee so appreciates your continuing support of this community event which is held in loving memory of Jared and Jayne Coones.  Jared was 10 years old when he passed away on October 5, 1998 after his courageous battle with leukemia.  Jared’s mom, Jayne, passed away on December 17, 2006 after a difficult fight with breast cancer. The Jared Coones Memorial 5K Pumpkin Run/Walk celebrates their lives and raises funds for local organizations that provide support for cancer care and research, including The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The mission of the Jared Coone’s Run is:

• To honor the lives of Jared and Jayne Coones
• To create an event that celebrates family and community
• To raise funds for research and organizations that support cancer patients and their families

Thank you to all of the runners and walkers, plus our awesome volunteers, and all the families and friends who joined us in Harriers and the Jared Coone’s Pumpkin Run this year!

 

Message from the Principal

Community support is vital to the well-being of any school.  We are fortunate to have such a supportive community at Heritage.  Specifically, I’d like to recognize and thank two groups. First, I’d like to recognize our PTO (formerly known as PTC).  We recently had a PTO General meeting to discuss what our newly restructured PTO does to support Heritage.  During that time, our board shared how money is raised and how money is spent.  They also shared the mission of the organization.  We have a strong group of parents on our board who have great ideas!  I want to thank the many parents that were available to make the meeting and I want to encourage all of our parents to attend the next general meeting on January 31^st at 5:30 pm.  Our PTO has updated their webpage with a lot of good information.  Please visit their website at http://www.heritageptc.com/.  Or you can find the link from the Heritage website under parent information.

Secondly, I’d like to recognize another group offering support to our building, our Watch D.O.G. dads.  We had a huge turn out on Tuesday with a Watch D.O.G.'s Pizza Kick-Off.   We had many dads able to sign-up for a day to spend at Heritage as a Watch D.O.G. dad.  If this is something a dad, grandfather, uncle, or close family friend would like to be a part of, please go to the Heritage website and look under parent info.  There, you will find a calendar to see what days are available, along with some general information about the program.  If you’d like to be added to our calendar, please email me your info and a day that works for you.

Mr. McFarland