PHEASANT POINT ELEMENTARY FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARCH 2016

Phone: (636) 379-0173 Fax: (636) 980-3650 Website: www.fz.k12.mo.us

Dr. Bernard J. DuBray

Superintendent

Dr. Greg Cicotte

Principal

Mrs. Kris Chapman

Assistant Principal

Dear Parents,

Can it be that we are already to the point of the school year when we are planning for the next? It is the time of year

when Pheasant Point begins the class placement process for the 2016-17 school year. I feel that the system is one of the most im-

portant practices we have in place for the achievement of our students. Placement decisions require hours of discussion with each

team of educators that includes: teachers (classroom, special education, remedial reading, art, music, and P.E.) along with the

nurse, counselor, and administrators. We take this responsibility very seriously, as we serve as advocates for each and every stu-

dent. Pheasant Point teachers know their students and colleagues well. They are aware of the chemistry required to make a posi-

tive learning environment. Because of that, their input is invaluable, and therefore a major consideration in making class lists.

As the parent/caregiver, you know pertinent information about your child that will contribute to the most ideal placement.

Included with this newsletter is our “Parent Input Form” (optional) for you to complete. This is the structure that we have estab-

lished at Pheasant Point to get your feedback about your children. Please do not consider it as a means for requesting a particular

teacher for the upcoming school year. Completing the “Parent Input Form” is certainly not required. It is an instrument for you as

parents to share knowledge and information about your children. Your insight is valuable and an important factor during this pro-

cess. This form will be read mainly by the current classroom teacher, the receiving teacher, Mrs. Chapman, and me.

When creating balanced classes, the professionals of our school take into consideration many specific factors. We work

together to create heterogeneous lists by bearing in mind the varying achievement levels of the students, gender ratio, social needs,

learning styles, cultural diversity, individual personalities, behavior strengths & growth areas, leadership skills, friends and liked

peers, health considerations, Individual Education Plan (IEP) needs, and teaching styles of each teacher. As you can see from this

list, creating a classroom of students who will be a supportive community of learners is a formidable task. This process requires a

great deal of thought and hours of discussions for 510 individual students at Pheasant Point.

We begin this process early because I believe in being proactive when making decisions as significant as class placement.

By doing this we can collect data, create lists, and have time to revisit them throughout the remainder of the school year. Mrs.

Chapman and I are in the classrooms on a consistent basis, and we are aware of the individual styles and strengths of the teachers.

This guides us in our decisions about the assignment of teachers. As you do as parents, we work for the best interests of the chil-

dren.

If you are interested, please return the attached “Parent Input Form” to your child’s teacher no later than Thurs-

day, March 31st. Please note: Forms received after that date are simply too late to be of impact on our work! Rest assured that

the staff understands the importance of giving their personal best to the development of our class lists for the 2016-17 school year.

Thank you for putting your trust in the professionals of this community. We strive to make decisions that will foster high achieve-

ment and create an environment conducive for learning.

In the best interest of our children,

Greg Cicotte, Principal

NEW FACES AT PHEASANT POINT We would like to welcome the students listed below who enrolled in the month of February.

We are glad you are here! Brianna Enlow Jordan Enlow Daniel Ganiyu Oyin Ganiyu

Lee Wynkoop Makaila Surgener

Fort Zumwalt School District has two items on the April 5 ballot: The election of two Board of Education members from a field of four candidates and Proposition K. Prop K is a tax levy increase of 48 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. It is the same proposition presented in 2015, which fell 267 votes short of the simple majority needed to pass. In the year since, the needs of Fort Zumwalt School District have not changed. Deficit spending has continued so stu-dent achievement can keep pace with neighboring districts. Our 98.6 on the Annual Performance Report (our grade from the state) tied Francis Howell at the top of St. Charles County. A closer look shows widening gaps. FZSD students grades 6-12 lead the county in many areas. Students K-5 rank behind Francis Howell and Wentzville. Elementary students in those districts have support and resources Fort Zumwalt students do not. FZSD teachers' salaries average the lowest in the county, at $52,000. Seventy-three percent (73%) of our teachers have advanced degrees. Last year, for the first time in recent memory, teachers cited sal-ary as their reason for leaving Fort Zumwalt. Prop K would increase real estate taxes about $91 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation. It would create $10 million in revenues, allowing Fort Zumwalt to balance the budget; improve salaries to be more competitive; and provide resources for students to maintain high achievement. Technology teachers at each of our 16 elementary schools would introduce skills needed as young students advance to the rigor of middle school and high school in an environment that requires proper computer skills to collaborate on assignments, complete assignments and compete as college and ca-

reer ready graduates.

Interventionists would be added at each elementary school to work with students in small groups or 1-on-1 on specific skills. Teacher support in the form of Instructional Coaches would also be put in place at every elementary school. These master teachers provide a resource for faculty that helps analyze student understanding of a specific skill and introduce multiple teaching techniques for faculty to take back to the classroom. At the secondary level, the 1-to-1 initiative would be expanded beyond high school English classrooms to other subjects and be introduced to the middle schools.

To learn more, please visit tinyurl.com/ZumwaltPropK.

Proposition K is on the April 5 ballot

Wednesday, March 2nd is Missouri

School Principal’s Day.

We are very fortunate to have two wonderful

administrators. Please take some time during the week of March 2nd to let Dr. Cicotte and Mrs. Chapman

know how much you appreciate them and all they do for Pheasant Point.

Spring Break

School will be closed from

Monday, March 21 through

Monday, March 28, 2016.

Classes will resume Tuesday,

March 29.

Kindergarten

Registration for the

2016-2017

School Year is

Thursday,

March 3, 2016

from

7:30 am—7:00 pm

Book Fair News

Our annual Book Fair will be the week of

March 7 through March 10.

Evening Book Fair Sales 4:00-6:30 pm

Family Night/Book Fair Evening Sales 5:00-8:00 pm

Do you have cabin fever???

Come join in on the fun at the

Pheasant Point Elementary PTO

Spring Fundraiser

Mouse Races/Silent Auction/Raffle March 5, 2016

PFEM Banquet Hall

115 McMenamy Road, St. Peters, MO 63376

If you are interested, tickets are still available.

Contact Mollie at 636-346-5004 or

Amy at 696-276-2063

GYOT Golf Tournament Winghaven Country Club

March 28, 2016

Information is available on the Fort

Zumwalt School District website @

www.fz.k12.mo.us

Go to Quick Links and click

FZ Education Foundation

YMCA Kids Night Out…

March 12

6:30—9:30 pm

Looking for some quiet time? If so, mark

your calendar for an enjoyable evening for

yourself and a fun time for your children.

LOST & FOUND We have many personal items,

such as jewelry, glasses, sets of keys and other miscellaneous items found in the

parking lot that fell out of vehicles as the children were dropped off.

Please check with the office. We also have many coats, hats, gloves in our lost & found located by the playground/recess

doors.

Visiting Classrooms/

Teachers

In order to protect

instructional time, only

parents with scheduled

appointments will be allowed

to go to the classrooms,

8:45am - 4:00pm.

Thank you for your

cooperation!

2

Entering or Visiting PPE

During school hours when you ring to

enter the building you will be asked

your name, student’s name and the

reason you are here. Please know that

our office staff will check the monitor

prior to opening the door to make

sure that we are not allowing anyone

in who does not have business here.

We are also asking for your help in

keeping our students safe. You can

do this by not holding the door open

for anyone and not trying to enter the

building by following someone else in.

Once you enter the building you need

to proceed to the main office and

show I.D.

Birthday Party

Invitations

You may send in your child’s birthday invitations for the teacher

to pass out. You must have an invitation for each child in the

class in order for us to hand them out at school. An exception to this would be if you are having an all girl or an all boy birthday party. In that case, we would ask that

you send in an invitation for every girl or every boy in the class.

Student Absences

Regular school attendance is vital to the academic

success of your child. It is also habit forming and

builds a lifelong pattern.

When your child is going to be absent, it is

imperative that you contact the school office at

379-0173.

Please leave a message if there is no answer.

Students that do not ride the bus should arrive at school between

8:40-9:00 am. Please do not drop off students before 8:40, as there

will be no supervision for them.

If a student is late (anytime after the 9:00 a.m. bell), an adult must

sign them in at the office.

If you have made any changes to your child’s emergency or

transportation information, please share that information with

the office. For your child’s safety, please make sure we have the

most current information.

Science Fair Information

Our Science Fair begins the week of April 4th.

All projects must be at school

by 9:00am on Monday, April 4th

Family View Night is April 12th

from 6:00-7:00pm

FAMILY TRIVIA NIGHT

Friday, April 15 @ 6:30 pm

Watch for information coming soon

Camp Candy Sales for 5th Grade Camp

March 30 through May 4

Our camp week will be Sunday, September 18 through Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Camp Cuivre. The cost of camp is $220.00 per student. In order to assist with the cost of camp, we are offering a candy fundraiser from March 30 through May 4. Candy money needs to be turned in by May 4th. Candy is available for pick up in the office beginning March 30th. We appreciate your support of our current 4th grade students as they sell candy to earn their way to camp! Please keep in mind that this is a voluntary program and students are not required to go to camp. Arrangements will be made for those 5th grade students attending school that week.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

AT DISMISSAL TIME

When there is an weather situation which

detains our buses, the Director of

Transportation will send a message to all

parents through School Messenger.

We will not release students if there is a

thunderstorm or tornado warning at

dismissal time. As parents ourselves, we

understand the feeling when there is

an emergency situation and your child is

not with you. Please know that we will

do everything within our power to keep

your child safe during the warning period.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would

not come to sign your student out during a

severe weather situation, if at all possible.

A follow up message from School Messen-

ger will be sent by Pheasant Point Elemen-

tary School when all buses have left the

campus.

LUNCH ACCOUNTS

Please remember to check your email for the lunch account reminder letters. This is an easy way to help keep your child’s lunch account current. Please contact Mrs. Sullivan with any questions or concerns you may have. The Fort Zumwalt School District participates in the National School Lunch & Breakfast Program. Children from families whose current income has either temporarily or permanently fallen below certain Federal guidelines can qualify for free and reduced price meals. The identity of these children is completely confidential and the district goes to great lengths to keep these children anonymous from their peers. Parents should consider taking advantage of this valuable program should their current financial circumstances warrant participa-tion. Applications are available from the school office.

Pheasant Point

Elementary

congratulates

Mrs. Theresa Latore,

Educator of the Year

And

Mrs. Carrie Diehl,

Support Staff Employee

of the Year

Great Job!

Information Rack

The rack at the

entrance of our school

is where you can find

district approved

flyers that may be of

interest to you. Please feel

free to pick up any of this

information.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2016-2017

SCHOOL YEAR

Our Kindergarten Registration Day is on March 3rd. If you are

aware of any friends, family or neighbors who need to enroll their

children, please ask them to contact the school office as soon as

possible at 636-379-0173. It is vital to have the most accurate

number of students who will be attending in order to properly

staff our building. Thank you!

FORT ZUMWALT SAFE LINE

The Fort Zumwalt School District provides a Safe-line to assist our families & students in reporting the following: ▪ Situations involving the safety of students or staff ▪ Threats of violence ▪ Sexual harassment ▪ Abuse (physical or sexual) ▪ Crisis situations such as death or health issues ▪ Suspected drug/alcohol use or distribution The “safeline” is manned by a district Crisis Counselor between the hours of 7 am—6 pm and may be utilized by anyone needing to share urgent information. Voicemail will receive calls and calls will be returned when warranted. Please utilize this for the reporting of vital information only. Routine school questions should be directed to the school building phones during their regularly scheduled office hours.

SAFELINE PHONE NUMBER: 314-941-0331

Attention:

Kindergarten Parents

Please make sure that your child has an entire change of clothing in their book bags.

The clinic doesn’t have enough extra clothing items when the children have an

accident.

FORT ZUMWALT WEB SITE

The Fort Zumwalt web site is a wealth of information! Many of the questions you have may be answered by visiting our site at: www.fz.k12.mo.us/pages/FortZumwaltSD

Items of interest to everyone are listed on the main page (school calendars for this year & next, lunch men-us, etc.) You will also find links to each individual school.

PPE’s website: www.ppe.fz.k12.mo.us

Check It Out at fz.k12.mo.us

Under Parents and Students, pull down to “What Every Parent Should Know.” Find links and

information to help you talk with your child about:

Being safe around strangers.

Preventing child abductions.

DARE and more.

The Fort Zumwalt School District is currently hiring

paraprofessionals, 12-month secretaries and part-time cooks.

Qualified candidates can click the link below to complete out

our online application.

The Fort Zumwalt School District is currently hiring part-time

cook helpers. Position offers flexible hours during the school

day.

Click here: https://fortzumwalt.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

Fort Zumwalt R-ll School District—TalentEd Recruit & Hire

Apply online for K-12 Jobs in Fort Zumwalt R-ll School District

FORTZUMWALT.TEDK12.COM

Calendar of Events

APRIL

4-8 Science Fair Week

5 PTO Planning Meeting 4:15-5:15

5 Voting/Election Day

8 5th Grade Field Trip

12 Science Fair Viewing Night 6-7pm

13 3rd Grade Field Trip

14 Early Release @ 1:30 pm

14 Papa Johns Night

15 Midpoint 4th Qtr.

15 PTO Family Trivia Night @ 6:30 pm

20 Skate Night @ Great Skate 6:00-8:00 pm

22 Progress Reports distributed

22 Grandparent’s Day/ 1st Grade

23 Regional Science Fair @ Francis Howell North

26 Fine Arts Fair @ PPE/6:30pm

28 D.A.R.E. Graduation @ WHS 7:00 pm

30 GYOT 5K Run @ North High School

MARCH

3 Kindergarten Registration 7:30am-7:00pm

4 End of Third Quarter 5 PTO Mouse Races Fundraiser (Doors Open 6:30 PM)

7 7-10 Book Fair Week

8 Evening Book Fair Sales 4-6:30 pm

10 Family Night/ Book Fair Sales 5-8:00 pm

10 Early Release @ 1:30 pm

10 Papa Johns Night

12 YMCA Kids Night Out 6:30-9:30

15 Report Cards distributed

18 2nd Grade Musical @ WHS (7:00 pm)

19 Electronic Recycling Event @ DMS (9-1:00 pm)

21-28 No School-Spring Break

28 GYOT Golf Tournament

29 Classes Resume

30 Camp Candy Sales Begin (4th Graders)

31 Parent Input Forms DUE