Mustang Minutes
February 20, 2018
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February 20 - 23 = Book Fair
February 20 - 23 = Bring your Family to School Week
Bell Prairie Has Free WiFi!!!
Visiting BP after school hours?

Feel free to hook up to our free wi-fi!  Just click on  NKC After Hours Guest  in your wi-fi list and use the password  nkcguest  (all lowercase).
NKC Schools Safety & Security Measures
As we process the heart-wrenching news of a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, we lift up the students, staff and families who are dealing with this senseless tragedy. It is the top priority of North Kansas City Schools to provide a safe and secure learning environment for our students.
We are continually looking at new techniques and technology to protect students and staff. Some of the measures we currently have in place include:
Secured Entries : All visitors are screened through Visitor Management Systems which require office staff to communicate with visitors before they can enter a building.
Visitor Screenings : Anyone entering the building must provide identification. IDs are scanned and a background check is quickly conducted.
Cameras : Video recordings are continually produced from cameras located in the foyer, interior and exterior of all buildings.
Panic buttons : Panic buttons have been placed in every building. Once activated, automated lockdown messages are sent over the school’s intercom, phones, and walkie talkies. Text messages are sent to district personnel’s cell phones. Texts and emails are also sent to Gladstone PD, NKC PD, Pleasant Valley PD, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Security : Clay County School Resource Deputies (SRDs) are stationed at each high school and middle school. They also partner with neighboring elementary sites.
Threat Assessment : SRDs work with teachers and administrators on any potential threat to thoroughly investigate, conducting home visits and individual assessments.
Trauma Informed Care : Teachers and staff members receive training, fully integrating knowledge about trauma into all policies, procedures and practices.
Mental Health Specialist : Our partnership with Tri-County Mental Health Services allows students access to a mental health specialist during the school day. This unique program overcomes barriers such as transportation and cost so that every student and family in need, is served.
TIPS hotline : If you see something, say something. If you know something, tell someone.
Book Fair is Coming
to Bell Prairie
February 20-23

We invite you to visit our Scholastic Book Fair and experience a reading pawty .  Our Book Fair theme is  “Paws for Books” – Come. Stay. Read a Great Tale and we want you to do just that February 20-23.   We will be open every morning from 8:00 – 9:00 am. and will be open in the evening on February 20 th  4:30-6:30. That evening we will be having a Read With a Dog event from 5:30 – 6:30. There will be 4 trained dogs from the Pet Partners Organization available for your child to sit next to and read. As students arrive we will have them sign up for a 5-min. reading time with one of the dogs. It will be a great night for our BP students and our 4-legged guests .  So ,  let’s “paws” that week to visit the   book fair to find the “purr-fect” book to read, buy books to donate to your teacher’s classroom library, and enter to win prizes. 
Save the Date for Hoedown: 
Friday, May 4, 2018
We are looking for a few good donations!  

Are you a business owner or knows someone who owns a business and would be willing to donate an item or service to the Bell Prairie PTA? We are in need of donated items for our silent auction and raffle at the Hoedown. 

Please email the Bell Prairie PTA bellprairiepta@gmail.com  if you have a donation or know of a business contact. Thank you for supporting the PTA & our school! 
Calling All Runners
Mustang Running Club will start the week after spring break on Tuesday, March 27th and will run every Tuesday morning from 8:00 a.m. -8:50 a.m. through May 1st. This is for 3rd - 5th grade only and forms will be coming home in the near future. 
BOX TOPS NEEDED!!
It’s Box Tops submission time again! Gather your Box Tops and get them turned in before the end of February. Remember to check those expiration dates and help your class win a fun reward. Thank you for your help!
ATTENTION NEXT YEAR KINDERGARTENERS

If you have a student that is going to be 5 by 7/31/2018 and will be attending kindergarten, please contact Brenda McKenzie at  816-321-5020   to get your child’s name on the roster for Bell Prairie or Rising Hill depending on your address. Enrollment Packets will be ready mid- February. Completed enrollment forms, due by March 8 th .
 
Kindergarten Round-Up – March 29th 6:00 – 7:30  
Critical Attendance Procedures:
Absenteeism Procedures:
If your student will be absent or late for any reason, you must call the Attendance Line at 321-5022. Please feel free to leave a message at any hour if no one is available to answer the phone. You may also email Callie Shelton and Brenda McKenzie, if this is more convenient.

This is especially important in the cold months so we can verify the absent or late student is not still waiting or stranded at a bus stop in extremely cold conditions.
Procedure for Change in Transportation:
If you need to make a change in your child’s transportation at the end of day and you didn’t send a note in the morning with your child, please send an email to the following people. All emails must arrive before 2:00 PM.
PTA Meeting Details
The February PTA meeting was held on the 13th. See below for minutes from the meeting.
Interested in knowing what volunteer opportunities are needed throughout the year? Willing to send in supplies, give some time to an event, or provide food on a meal night for the teachers....Click the button below to email the volunteer coordinator and ask to join the database of volunteers!
Have pictures to be added to the 2017-2018 yearbook? Submit them by email to the bellprairieyb@gmail.com .
Upcoming Birthdays!!
Chelsea Fullington - February 21
Julia Duffy - February 25
Connie Powell - February 28
Toni Cherrito - February 28
Mallory Gooch - February 28
Bell Prairie PTA is Proudly Sponsored By:
Our sponsors deserve a special thank you for supporting our students and our school. Their donations allow the PTA to provide amazing resources to our students. Be sure to click on their logos below to learn more about these businesses.
SILVER SPONSORS:
BRONZE SPONSORS:


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PARTICIPATING SPONSORS:
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BUSINESS MEMBERS:
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  • Above and Beyond Plumbing
  • Adam & Marie Johnson
  • Dooley Brothers Tree
  • Grand Slam
  • Johnny Chain & Associates Real Estate
  • KC Computer Support
  • Monday's with McDaniels
  • Only Young Once
  • Young Living Essential Oils ~ Erin Gardner
If you know someone who is not receiving correspondence from the Bell Prairie PTA and would like to please have them email  mustangminutes@gmail.com . Also, if you no longer wish to receive these emails please click on the "safe unsubscribe" button at the bottom of this email.