OB Weekly News 3_16

MARCH

16  Early Dismissal, 1:15 p.m.
Parent Teacher Conferences, 1:30-7:15 p.m.
17  NO SCHOOL- Conference Compensation Day
20-24 NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
28 After-School Classes begin
How To Raise an Adult Book Club, 7 p.m.
30  4th Gr. Trip to Jeff City, 7:30a.m-5:30p.m.
31  Quarterly Newsletter goes home
Announcements:

Class Lists

Don’t forget, teacher input letters are due on March 29! Details are below:

The staff and principal build the class lists together, in a series of meetings, considering each student’s achievement level, motivation level, special program needs, strengths/talents, and learning style. Our goal is a balanced classroom that will enable a teacher to meet the needs of all the students in the classroom. If you wish to provide input to the process, with your perspective of a child’s learning preferences and learning style, or previous school experiences, a letter or email to Mrs. Kirchgessner must be submitted no later than March 29. Input letters that request a specific teacher are not accepted and input based on a teacher’s reputation, or other parents’ opinions will not be considered, since each child’s learning profile and school adjustment is unique.

Your input will be taken into consideration when the final decision is made; however, it is not possible to honor specific input. Hopefully this explains how your input will be made a part of the process. As you can see from the many things considered when class lists are built, it is not a process done quickly. For this reason, it is not possible to honor parent input as the sole determiner of a classroom assignment. It is a thoughtful process that balances classrooms, considers the needs of all students, and provides a successful learning experience for each of them.

LECC Scholarship Available for 17-18SY
The Ladue Early Childhood Center is looking for families that have children who will be eligible for preschool, (3 by August 1) who live in the district and are low income and/or ELL families. They currently have 12 spots available for full and 1/2 day programs. Please contact Kerri Wetzel at kwetzel@ladueschools.net for more information on how to apply for reduced tuition enrollment.
Nurse News
The nurse is in need of girl's pants and new or gently used girl's underwear, sizes 7 or larger. If your daughter has outgrown any clothes that you would like to donate, it would be greatly appreciated!
Introducing the O.B. Morning Running Club!
At Old Bonhomme, we know the value of movement in the learning process. A healthy and moving body makes for a better learner. That’s why we are going to try out a morning running club! Beginning April 3, all students are invited to come for a run each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning from 8:25-8:45a.m. All participants must complete the Running Club contract which is available in the school office or at obpe-ladueschools.blogspot.com Questions? Ask Coach Jander.
Jump Rope for Heart
Please check your students' backpack TODAY for JRFH materials. We'll start jumping after Spring Break. O.B. has quite a tradition of giving record- setting donations to the American Heart Association. Let's do it again, O.B.! You can use this LINK to go straight to O.B.'s JRFH website to get started.

 Raising An Adult Book Study- Starting Tuesday, March 28

Would you agree that this parenting gig is hard? Would you like to join a book club to hear what an expert has to say and talk with other parents? Well, Old Bonhomme is hosting a book club on the National Best Selling book, How to Raise an Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims. Our meeting times will be Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. on the following dates: March 28, April 11, and May 2. On Tuesday, April 25, 7-8:30 p.m. Julie Lythcott-Haims, the author will speak at a LEF co-sponsored event at John Borroughs School. If you are interested in participating in the Old Bonhomme book study, RSVP by emailing school counselor, Hayley Arnold at harnold@ladueschools.net.
Courageous Conversations - Continuing April 6
Earlier in the year, at our OB Parent Town Hall Advisory meeting, a small group of teachers and parents decided to gather for informal conversations about race. On April 6, from 6:30-8p.m., we will continue our Courageous Conversations about race and invite you to join us. At this meeting we will discuss the PBS documentary The Talk - Race in America. It is a two-hour documentary about the increasingly necessary conversation taking place in homes and communities across the country between parents of color and their children, especially sons, about how to behave if they are ever stopped by the police. Click here to watch. Please RSVP by clicking here. If you have any questions, you can reach out to staff/parents Hayley Arnold, Patricia Brown, Leah Crawford, Kate Hellmann or Jessica Glunt.
Career Presentations - Can you present during the week of April 17?
Elementary is a time for children to be exposed to different career opportunities. We are looking for parents and/or grandparents to come in and present about their career. During the thirty-minute presentation, we would like for the following points to be addressed:

Describe your career.
What subjects you should be good at to have this career.
Some of the things you did as an elementary student that led you to this career.
What character traits are important to have in this career field.
Discuss what kind of training you received to be in this career.
Click here to sign up to present.
Innovation Celebration—Ladue Education Foundation’s Spring Event
The LEF's annual spring event takes a new direction this year with Innovation Celebration, an evening devoted to innovative approaches to STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
Save the date for April 28, 2017 at 7p.m. at the Danforth Plant Science Center for a hands-on evening of themed entertainment and surprises, featuring fabulous live auction items and a keynote conversation with entrepreneur Jim McKelvey, Ladue School District alumnus and co-founder of Square. Tickets available soon!

The Ladue School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs or activities. Inquiries related to the district’s employment practices may be directed to Ken Rossics, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Inquiries related to district student programs may be directed to Dr. Derrick Wallace, Director of Student Services. Both administrators can be reached at Ladue Schools Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road, Saint Louis, MO 63124; 314-994-7080. 

OB Weekly News 3_10

MARCH

13. 13  Deadline for After-School Class sign-ups
    
14. 14  Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4-8 p.m.
    
15. 15  Walk in the Park (during PE)
    Dine Out Night- Five Guys, 3-8 p.m.
    
16. 16  Early Dismissal, 1:15 p.m.
    Parent Teacher Conferences, 1:30-7:15 p.m.
    
17. 17  NO SCHOOL- Conference Compensation Day
18. 20-24 NO SCHOOL- Spring Break 
19. 28 After-School Classes begin
20. How To Raise an Adult Book Club, 7 p.m. 
21. 30 4th Gr. Trip to Jeff City, 7:30a.m-5:30p.m.

Announcements:
After-School Class Registrations Due
Don’t forget to turn in your child’s registration for After-School Classes by Monday, 3/13. Classes are filling up quickly! Any questions, contact Allison Brose at allison.brose@hotmail.com
Class Lists
Later this Spring we will begin working on class lists and teacher assignments. We anticipate four sections each in all grade levels except for a fifth section of second grade. Staff decisions have not yet been finalized so teachers may be changing grade levels.
The staff and principal build the class lists together, in a series of meetings, considering each student’s achievement level, motivation level, special program needs, strengths/talents, and learning style. Our goal is a balanced classroom that will enable a teacher to meet the needs of all the students in the classroom. If you wish to provide input to the process with your perspective of a child’s learning preferences and learning style, or previous school experiences a letter or email to Mrs. Kirchgessner must be submitted no later than March 29. Input letters that request a specific teacher are not accepted and input based on a teacher’s reputation, or other parents’ opinions will not be considered since each child’s learning profile and school adjustment is unique.

If you choose to provide input, send your letter to the office before March 29. Your input will be taken into consideration when the final decision is made; however, it is not possible to honor specific input. Hopefully this explains how your input will be made a part of the process. As you can see from the many things considered when class lists are built, it is not a process done quickly. For this reason, it is not possible to honor parent input as the sole determiner of a classroom assignment. It is a thoughtful process that balances classrooms, considers the needs of all students, and provides a successful learning experience for each of them.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Check your calendar for the time and date of your parent-teacher conference next week! We look forward to sharing with you about your child’s progress and goals for next quarter. As part of their contract, teachers are required to be at school for two evenings of conferences. The goal is that parents will have one of the two evenings available to schedule their conference, and teachers will receive a day of compensation for the two evenings. Due to the negotiated contract time, all parents should plan to schedule their conference within this time frame with their child’s teacher. All of the special teachers (Art, Music, PE, Spanish, Library, Learning Lab, Gifted, Counselor, ELL and Mrs. Kirchgessner) are also available, so feel free to stop by or email us for a time to meet with you. See you soon!
LECC Scholarship Available for 17-18SY
The Ladue Early Childhood Center is looking for families that have children who will be eligible for preschool (3 by August 1) who live in the district and are low income and/or ELL families. They currently have 12 spots available for full and 1/2 day programs. Please contact Kerri Wetzel at kwetzel@ladueschools.net for more information on how to apply for reduced tuition enrollment.

Raising An Adult Book Study -Starting Tuesday, March 28
Would you agree that this parenting gig is hard? Would you like to join a book club to hear what an expert has to say and talk with other parents? Well, Old Bonhomme is hosting a book club on the National Best Selling book, How to Raise an Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims. Our meeting times will be Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. on the following dates: March 28, April 11, and May 2. On Tuesday, April 25, 7-8:30 p.m. Julie Lythcott-Haims, the author will speak at a LEF co-sponsored event at John Borroughs School. If you are interested in participating in the Old Bonhomme book study, RSVP by emailing school counselor, Hayley Arnold at harnold@ladueschools.net.
Courageous Conversations - Continuing April 6
Earlier in the year, at our OB Parent Town Hall Advisory meeting, a small group of teachers and parents decided to gather for informal conversations about race. On April 6, from 6:30-8p.m., we will continue our Courageous Conversations about race and invite you to join us. At this meeting we will discuss the PBS documentary The Talk - Race in America. It is a two-hour documentary about the increasingly necessary conversation taking place in homes and communities across the country between parents of color and their children, especially sons, about how to behave if they are ever stopped by the police. Click here to watch. Please RSVP by clicking here. If you have any questions, you can reach out to staff/parents Hayley Arnold, Patricia Brown, Leah Crawford, Kate Hellmann or Jessica Glunt.
Career Presentations - Can you present during the week of April 17?
Elementary is a time for children to be exposed to different career opportunities. We are looking for parents and/or grandparents to come in and present about their career. During the thirty-minute presentation, we would like for the following points to be addressed:
Describe your career

What subjects you have to be good at to have this career
Some of the things you did as an elementary student that led you to this career
What character traits are important to have in this career field
Discuss what kind of training you received to be in this career
Click here to sign up to present.
Leaving School During the School Day
Per the district student handbook, if a parent wishes to pick up a child from school during school hours, the parent should come to the office and sign the child out of school. A note or email to the classroom teacher on the morning of an early pick up is also requested. If the child is to be picked up by an adult other than the parent, the office must be notified and given that adult’s name. The adult picking up the child will be required to provide a photo I.D. at the time of pick up and will need to sign the child out in the office. Children may not wait outside the school for arrival of the parent or other designee. Please note: If a child needs to be picked up right before school dismisses, please do so at least twenty minutes prior to regular dismissal time to avoid bus arrival and traffic congestion.
Update on Tardies
Due to the construction issues and the resulting tardies we dealt with first semester in Olivette, Old Bonhomme has been given permission from the district to adjust the way we are sending tardy notification letters to parents. For the remainder of this year we will only be sending excessive tardy letters to parents if a student has ten or more tardies since January. Attendance, including tardies, will continue to be reported to parents on the report cards. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kirchgessner.

The Ladue School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs or activities. Inquiries related to the district’s employment practices may be directed to Ken Rossics, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Inquiries related to district student programs may be directed to Dr. Derrick Wallace, Director of Student Services. Both administrators can be reached at Ladue Schools Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road, Saint Louis, MO 63124; 314-994-7080. 

OB Weekly News 3_3

MARCH

3  Early Dismissal, 1:15 Records Day
   Quarter 3 ends
7  Kdg. Performance, 7 p.m.
14 Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4-8 p.m.
15 Walk in the Park (during PE)
   Dine Out Night- Five Guys, 3-8 p.m.
16 Early Dismissal, 1:15 p.m.
   Parent Teacher Conferences, 1:30-7:15 p.m.
17 NO SCHOOL- Conference Compensation Day
20-24 NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
28 How To Raise an Adult Book Club, 7 p.m. 
30 4th Gr. Trip to Jeff City, 7-5:30 p.m.

Announcements:

Lid Collection
Mrs. Roth is collecting any plastic lids. Please send all lids to the art studio!!!
Reserved Parking Spaces
Parents, please be respectful of the Reserved Parking Spaces in the front of the school, as this is an auction item that was paid for or also earned by the staff of the week. Thanks for being considerate.
Student Drop-Off Safety
Parents, if you choose to use the front circle to drop off your student when the buses have pulled away, we ask that you not let them out in the middle of the driveway (sidewalk side only) and also that you do not park in this lane (including top of the circle near the street). If they are not able to exit the vehicle on their own you will need to use the Upper Blacktop only for drop-off, as this hinders the flow of traffic and is also a safety hazard as other cars are pulling away. Thank you for your help in keeping our students safe.

Thank you
Thank you to Betsy Kerner, Marissa Rosen, Jill Settler, and the 3rd grade Social Committee for an awesome event on Tuesday. Everyone had a great time!
How to Raise An Adult Book Study
Would you agree that this parenting gig is hard? Would you like to join a book club to hear what an expert has to say and to talk with other parents about it? Well, Old Bonhomme is hosting a book club on the National Best Selling book How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims. Read this New York Times article about the book to gain insight on what the book is about.
Our meeting times will be Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. on the following dates: March 28, April 11, and May 2. If you are interested in participating in the Old Bonhomme book study, RSVP by emailing the school counselor, Hayley Arnold at harnold@ladueschools.net.

The Ladue School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs or activities. Inquiries related to the district’s employment practices may be directed to Ken Rossics, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Inquiries related to district student programs may be directed to Dr. Derrick Wallace, Director of Student Services. Both administrators can be reached at Ladue Schools Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road, Saint Louis, MO 63124; 314-994-7080.