Buzzin’ in the Hive

Graden Families, Thank you for your support during our busy month of testing in April. Our students showed great effort, attendance and perseverance. The week of May 7 –11, which the National PTA has designated as Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, provides us a formal opportunity to recognize all staff. The theme this year is Buzzin’ with Kindness. This is a time for honoring staff and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives. We are truly fortunate at Graden to have such a wonderful and caring staff. I encourage you to take time to write a personal note to your child’s teacher(s), thanking them for their dedication to your children. Thank you to Jill Kells, Marcy Blake, Julie Brookings, Cara Brooner and Amy Koons for organizing the school-wide events. We certainly feel appreciated! The annual science fair and book fair were a huge success, including over 100 students who found their voice through science. I know, too, that many of you were able to visit Sharpen the Saw Night and the Graden Art Show on Wednesday, April 18. Mrs. Kharatyan put together quite a display of student work. Graden is certainly full of talented artists. Don’t worry if you were not able to attend, the art work will be on display through mid-May. The silent auction and framed pieces yielded close to $1,500. Proceeds from the show will be used to purchase additional art supplies.

Thank you to Mr. Kevin Ringo, Mrs. Erin Hladik, and Mrs. Tara Garcia for organizing Pastries with Parents; hundreds of hornets were in attendance.

Mark your calendar for the many important end of the year events/celebrations: May 7 – May 11: Staff Appreciation Week May 10 - Early Release May 16 - 5th Grade Track Meet May 21 - 5th Grade Choir to South (AM) May 24 - Sharpen the Saw Day, K – 5, hotdog sack lunch, field events, inflatable, yearbook signing (formally known as field day) May 25 - Volunteer Appreciation and Leadership Assembly May 29 - 5th Grade Promotion, 1:30 pm in the gym

From the Principal...

M AY 2 018

May 30 - Talent Show from 9 – 11 am and dismissal for all students at 11:45 am June 4 – July 3, Summer School at Graden July 23 - Graden Golf Tournament Beginning of the year important dates: Monday, August 13 - Back to School Night, 5 – 7 pm Wednesday, August 15 - First Day of School Thank you to Mrs. Smith, Graden’s music teacher, and to Mrs. Katie Redburn, who are coordinating the Talent Show on behalf of the PTA. You are welcome to attend any or all of the many activities and celebrations planned for the end of the school year. You wouldn’t want to miss any of the fun!

As we move into the last weeks of school, I want to extend my sincere appreciation for your loyal support as we conclude our 80th academic year. We would like to thank you for attending all our events and for being an active participant in all our projects. Your support makes the difference! We are very fortunate to have such caring families, involved PTA, and students who are leaders each and every day. Have a wonderful summer, and don’t forget to seize the many opportunities to extend the knowledge gained in the classroom. We look forward to seeing our returning hornets back for the 2018-2019 academic year.

With hornet pride and appreciation,

Dr. LuAnn Halverstadt

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Staff Appreciation Week: May 7-11

“Buzzin’ with Kindness”

Monday: Capturing Kindness Each student will receive a kindness bracelet from PTA when they arrive. PTA will put on an assembly for

students and staff with a video, fun, and gift cards for each staff member.

Tuesday: Cheers to Kindness PJ day! (school-appropriate, please) All staff will receive special drinks from Sonic and enjoy treats in the

staff lounge.

Wednesday: Random Acts of Kindness Crazy hair day! (no color, please) Students may perform an act of kindness for teachers. Staff will receive

car washes from Jeremy Franklin Mitsubishi. THANK YOU to Jeremy Franklin Mitsubishi for the donation!

Thursday: Queso & Kindness Leadership shirts and crazy sock day! After early release, all staff will enjoy Rancho Grande snacks during

meetings.

Friday: Spread Kindness Like Confetti Hat day! All staff will enjoy lunch served by Cascone’s in the gym. THANK YOU to John Cascone for the donation!

If you did not pre-order a 2017-2018 Graden Elementary yearbook, a limited number will be available for sale on Field Day, May 24. $20, payable in cash or check to Graden PTA Supplies are limited, and availability is not guaranteed. First come, first serve. Thank you for your photo submissions—you help make our yearbook great! Please send any questions to Krissy Ringo at 2hart4moma6@gmail.com.

YEARBOOKS From the Graden Health Room:

All student medication must be picked up from the health room by an adult, prior to noon on

the last day of school.

Any medication left in the health room after 12:00pm on May 30, 2018 will be destroyed, unless your child is enrolled in summer school. This includes all inhalers, Epi-pens, cough drops, and prescription medications. A written notice will be sent home with those students who have medication stored in the health room. Please contact me with any questions or

concerns.

Have a safe and happy summer,

Nurse Kris

morrisk@parkhill.k12.mo.us

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The following is a list of Graden Certified Staff for 2018-2019 academic year:

Please welcome the following new hornets: Shannon Smith, will join the 3rd grade team. Shannon comes to us with 9 years teaching experience. Shannon has been teaching in Jefferson City, and has extensive training with behavior supports. Maria Effinger, will join the 4th grade team. Maria comes to Graden from Houston, Texas, where she has been teaching 4th grade. Maria is originally from St. Louis and is a MU graduate. Dr. Lezlee Ivy, former Plaza Principal and former Graden 5th grade teacher, will be coming back to her Graden home, as she joins the 5th grade team.

Cari Cetola, is our new counselor. Cari is a recent graduate from UMKC, and she is thrilled to begin her counseling

career at Graden.

Grade Level / Department Teachers

Amy Baker Katy Bowser Johna Robeson Katie Van Slyke

Lisa Luebbert Sarah Mead Caitlin Teson Maggie Wright

Jennifer Koyn Courtney Mellema Sarah O’Brien Suzie Weber

Lauren Thorson Sara Borgmeyer Allison Burke Chris Hibbs Shannon Smith

Magan Rush Hunter Whitt Shelby Rushin Maria Effinger

Rochelle Ecton and Lezlee Ivy Brenda Vernon and Megan Brown

Regan Schultz, resource Cadence Bourne, resource Carrie Jo Fohl, resource Stephanie Walter, speech

Tara Garcia, Media Specialist Melany Smith, Music Chris Munsterman, PE Sara Kharatyan, Art

Heather Pappert

Cari Cetola

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SHHHHHHHH! IT’S A SECRET…. Parents, your kids don’t know yet, but the Read-a-Thon raised over $13,000 for Graden! This money will fund interest groups, assemblies, and library upgrades. During an assembly in May, Graden students will learn about their success as a school, classroom winners will be announced, and students will enjoy a special treat.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

April Habit Award Winners

Joel Phillips – Begin with the End in Mind Cayden Nelson – Think Win-Win Austin Love – Seek First to Understand then to be Understood Dylan Francis – Find Your Voice Noah Basri – Synergize Mable Noble – Be Proactive Harper Hoopes – Synergize Ace Xiong – Put First Things First Camille Sturm – Find Your Voice Dominic Garmendia – Be Proactive Viviana Leluga – Seek First to Understand then to be Understood

Seth Irving – Be Proactive Leo Wilmot – Put First Things First Colt Wenta – Be Proactive Nicolas Littlejohn – Be Proactive Brock Strong – Be Proactive Mira Sayed – Think Win-Win Ben Budd – Put First Things First Meredith Wheeler – Sharpen the Saw Tristan McManus – Think Win-Win Norah Zink – Seek First to Understand then to be Understood

MUSIC NEWS Kindergarteners worked on the “Blob Chorus” app in the Music Room—learning about matching pitches.

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Media Center

Parents, thank you so much for your support during our recent Scholastic Book Fair!!! I would like to add a special thank you to our parent and teacher volunteers. Your generous gift of time given to the fair for our children was deeply appreciated and was certainly one reason for the success of this fair. The book fair cash profit will continue to provide funds to meet the needs of our library including additional new books for our collections and supporting technology purchases. The fair also allowed each student in 16 classes reaching a Read-a Thon goal the opportunity to receive a free book from Scholastic Book Fairs. Teachers also received a free $5.00 book for your child’s classroom. Congratulations to everyone!!!

Please look for information coming to you soon about Summer Reading Programs in our area. Reading during

the summer provides more opportunities to read and to improve such a valuable skill. Students that read during the summer do not lose those gains made during the previous school year and build the foundation for success the following year.

Sonic’s High Five Club April Recognition

Reinforcing personal development and leadership - that is what Sonic's "High Five" Club is all about. The High Five Program was introduced in December 2012 to recognize personal devel-opment and leadership. Students who are selected each month will receive a certificate which they can redeem at the 63rd Street Sonic location in Parkville, Missouri. A "High Five" hand-

print with the child's name will be displayed on the wall inside Graden Elementary. At the end of each month, the High Five Hands are taken down and replaced with the High Five hands honoring students for the next month. The hands are then put up on a special bulletin board at Graden Elementary and remain up until the end of the school year.

Please join us in congratulating all of the members of the Sonic High Five Club! Great job students!

Kindergarten Isabelle Collop Oakley Fernandez Brendan Hladik Wyatt Quinn

1st Grade Mallory Brookings Kobe Hallauer Harper Hoopes Miles Jacobson

2nd Grade Henry Blackwelder Jameson Cockrill Kai Lauber Aubreigh Ostling Olivia Zeyer

3rd Grade Eva Estrada Hayden Higgins Brady Rouse Tristan Simons

4th Grade Henry Collop Quentin Kimmel Ethan Schultz Andrew Walker

5th Grade Kaitlyn Bolt Tyler Davis Enzue Tang Ahban Westleigh

Physical

Education

Graden Field Day It’s that time of year again – our Field Day is coming up very quickly! Our K-5 all day Field Day will be May 24th, rain makeup date is May 25th! Students should wear shorts and tennis shoes for Field Day. Please send sunscreen, water bottle, and a hat with your child. Students will have the option to bring a sack lunch from home or choose a special Field Day option from the cafeteria. Fifth Grade Track Meet All fifth grade students will travel to the Park Hill School District Stadium Complex located at Park Hill High School for the District-Wide Track and Field Day. The meet will be held on May 16th rain makeup date is May 17th. Students will need to bring a sack lunch from home along with a water bottle. Students will not be permitted to leave the premises for lunch.

The buses will depart from Graden at 9:00am and

return by 2:00pm.

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Parents, your support of Graden PTA makes a real positive impact on your child’s education. In the month of April alone, PTA dollars were able to fund:

—Interest groups on early release day

Yes, that is a skunk in the school. Animals are just one example of the many, many interest group options available to Graden students.

—An assembly on early release day Kansas City Disc Dogs visited Graden and wowed the students with their stunts.

—Field Trips First Grade visited Deanna Rose Farmstead, and Kindergarten went to Science City.

Your support

helps make

Graden great.

Thank you!

1 5th Grade Choir – Music Room, 7:45am 1 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges 1 Let Me Run – Trail, 3:45 2 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30 3 3rd Grade Field Trip – Kauffman Stadium 3 Student Lighthouse – Library, 3:30 4 5th Grade Bridges 4 Chess Club – Library, 3:30 4 Let Me Run – Trail, 3:45

7 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30 8 5th Grade Choir – Music Room, 7:45am 8 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges 8 Let Me Run – Trail, 3:45 9 Talent Show Previews – Cafeteria, 9:00am 9 2nd Grade Field Trip – The Coterie Theater 9 Girls on the Run – Trail, 3:30 10 EARLY RELEASE DAY – 1:30 11 5th Grade Bridges 11 Let Me Run – Trail, 3:45 15 5th Grade Choir – Music Room, 7:45am 15 2nd & 4th Grade Bridges 15 Let Me Run – Trail, 3:45 16 5th Grade Track Meet – Park Hill High School, 9:00am

May Calendar of Events

16 4Hs Trip to Harvesters – Harvesters, 6:00pm 17 5th Grade Track Meet Makeup Date – Park Hill High School, 9:00am 18 5th Grade Bridges 21 5th Grade Choir Concert Practice – PHHS Auditorium, 7:30am 21 5th Grade Choir Concert – PHHS Auditorium, 6:30pm 22 5th Grade Choir – Music Room, 7:45am 24 Sharpen the Saw Day (Field Day) 25 Makeup Sharpen the Saw Day 25 4th Quarter Leadership Assembly – Gym 9:15am 28 MEMORIAL DAY – NO SCHOOL

29 5th Grade Promotion Practice, 9:00am 29 Spanish Club Makeup – Library, 3:30 30 Graden Talent Show – Gym, 9:00 30 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – 11:45AM DISMISSAL

Support Graden All Year Round! Amazon Smile: Go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7173170 and 0.5% of your purchases comes to Graden PTA. Scrips: Your everyday shopping can help fund programs at Graden. www.ShopWithScrip.com. And save those Box Tops!

THANK YOU AGAIN FROM GRADEN PTA

Graden PTA would like to thank everyone who donated time, money, and other items throughout the school year! We had a very successful year and hope you will consider

joining us again — or for the first time — next school year.

If you have questions or suggestions for PTA, or you would like to get more involved, please email PTA President Erin Hladik at hladikfab5@gmail.com, or Vice President Jolayne Gorman at

jolayne.gorman@gmail.com. Many hands make light work! We have lots of work and can always use more hands!

Our first PTA meeting of the 2018-2019 school year will be Tuesday, August 14 @ 6:30pm in the Library.

Everyone is welcome!

Stay up to date with all PTA events and information by visiting: https://graden.parkhill.k12.mo.us/parent_resources/pta

or: https//www.facebook.com/gradenelempta/

Graden at a Glance

Summer school starts on June 4!

Submit your enrollment by May 11, and let’s keep learning!

The Buzz from Last Month...

Have a wonderful summer, hornets! See you soon!

Pastries with Parents was a sweet success!

RAINBOW RUNNERS brightened up the track at the 4Hs and Student Lighthouse Color Run in support of JDRF. The PTA ice cream social made for a delicious ending to the evening!

Heads up! Watch DOGS Father-Son DodgeBall was a huge hit!

1st

2nd

3rd