Kickapoo announcements Aug. 16 - 20, 2021

Hello Kickapoo families!

We hope everyone had a wonderful summer. Welcome back to our returning students and families and welcome to all of our newest families and students. We are excited for the 21 - 22 school year to start on Monday, Aug. 23rd at 7:30 a.m.!

I will send these announcements via email and Canvas each weekend. These announcements include several important items. However, they are not all inclusive. Please remember to check our social media and website for the most up to date information about clubs, athletics, and other important announcements.

Stay connected with Kickapoo in the following ways:

Facebook - Kickapoo High School

Twitter - @KickapooChiefs

Instagram - @KickapooHighSchool

Website - kickapoochiefs.org

You can find our Daily Announcements on our website and linked HERE. Please check these frequently as they are updated daily.

* Morning Drop off and Afternoon Pick up - Please do NOT use the Jefferson Avenue entrance as we expect to have 18 busses unloading each morning between 7 and 7:30 and 18 busses picking up between 2 and 2:45 each day.

Drop off and pick up should take place on the north and east side of the building. Please see this picture for the best routes to take. 

Blue is FOR PARENTS dropping students off or picking them up. 

Please be patient, flexible, and patient as we want to ensure the safety of our student drivers as well. Thank you!

* Student Parking Permits - Will go on sale Monday, Aug. 16th in the Financial Office. They are $35, cash or check, and may be purchased between the hours of 7 - 3. Closed for lunch from 12:30 - 1:30. You need your driver's license number, make, model, color, and license plate number as well. 

Assigned parking and hang tags will take place after school starts. 

Do NOT park in STAFF, VISITOR, OR HANDICAPPED SPOTS.

* Open House - Thursday, Aug. 19 from 4 - 6 p.m. This is a come and go event for students and families to tour the school. This is not parent teacher conferences.

Masks REQUIRED. 

* Student Class Schedules - are live on eSchool. 

* Counseling Corner - Check this link for all things from the Counselors. 

* Class of 2022 (Seniors) Immunizations: If your child will be a senior this year (21 - 22), according to Missouri state law, in order to attend school ONLINE OR IN-PERSON, they must have documentation of a meningococcal vaccine after their 16th birthday. Please turn those in to our nurses THIS WEEK. If you have questions please contact our nurses at 523-8500.

* Required & Recommended Immunization Clinics - In preparation for the first day of school on Aug. 23, Springfield Public Schools has arranged several clinics to help students obtain important immunizations to stay healthy.

Required Immunizations

In Missouri, there are several immunizations students are required to have before they start school. View a list of immunizations required by Missouri. Students may obtain these immunizations at four upcoming clinics at SPS schools. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 523-1632 or 523-1630.

Clinics for Required Immunizations

Date	Time	Location
Friday, Aug. 13	9 a.m. – noon	Hillcrest High School, 3319 N. Grant Ave.
Friday, Aug. 13	1-5 p.m.	Glendale High School, 2727 S. Ingram Mill Road
Wednesday, Aug. 18	9 a.m. – noon	Kickapoo High School, 3710 S. Jefferson Ave.
Wednesday, Aug. 18	1-5 p.m.	Parkview High School, 516 W. Meadowmere St.

 

Recommended Vaccine

Springfield Public Schools also encourages students ages 12 and over to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccination is not required, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the event of exposure to COVID-19, if a student is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and does not exhibit symptoms, he or she will not have to quarantine. 

In conjunction with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, SPS is offering the free COVID-19 vaccine clinics at these schools for students aged 12 and older with parental consent, parents, and staff:

Clinics for Recommended COVID-19 Vaccine

Date	Time	Location
Monday, Aug. 16	2-4 p.m.	Parkview High School, Room 180, 516 W. Meadowmere St.
Wednesday, Aug. 18	5:30-7 p.m.	Westport K-8, 415 S. Golden Ave.
Wednesday, Aug. 18	6-7:30 p.m.	Hickory Hills K-8, 4650 E. State Highway YY
Friday, Aug. 20	7:30-9 a.m.	Bowerman Elementary,2148 N. Douglas Ave.
Friday, Aug. 20	10 a.m. – noon	Weaver Elementary, 1461 N. Douglas Ave.
Saturday, Aug. 21	10 a.m. – noon	Central High School Commons, 423 E. Central St.

 

Visit vaccine417.com for a complete list of COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Springfield.

If you have additional questions about vaccines to keep your child healthy, please consult with your school nurse.

Thank you. 

* Kickapoo Chiefs masks for sale for $5 in the Financial office.

*  2021-2022 School Calendar: The calendar was approved by the SPS Board of Education with the first day of school to be Aug. 23, 2021 and the last day to be May 27, 2022.

* Class of 2022 Graduation will be Friday, May 13, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. at JQH Arena.

* Nutrition Services Information -

Dear Springfield Public School Families,  On behalf of Springfield Public Schools Dining, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome your child to the 2021-2022 school year!  We want to share some great news that will affect all students:  In April 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service extended the program that will provide free meals for all students, regardless of income, for the 2021-2022 school year.  We are thrilled to continue to safely serve students delicious, fresh and nutritious meals at no charge, and we are equally excited to re-introduce our favorite programs to deliver fun, exciting and tasty experiences to students throughout the coming year: ·    Global Flavors menu promotions, highlighting recipes inspired by Hawaiian, Italian, Indian, East Asian and Thai cuisines. First up: Our Hawaiian Chicken Rice Bowl – yum! ·    Special events celebrating national food days and seasonal flavors. We love highlighting fresh produce on our menus, and events like National Peach Month and Fall Fest are ideal opportunities for showcasing the freshest flavors of the season. ·    Our Feed Your Potential 365 program www.fyp365.com offering delicious recipes, nutrition news and health insights to help support wellness at school and at home. ·    New adventures with our mascot, Ace, providing a fun approach to building healthy habits that reinforce good nutrition and exercise Check out our daily menus at sps.nutrislice.com and stay up to date on the latest news on Springfield Public Schools Facebook page and sps.org. Even though meals are free this year, please fill out the application for Free and Reduced meal benefits here. The 2021-2022 application only takes a few minutes to complete. For every student that qualifies for free or reduced priced meals, Springfield Public Schools receives federal and state funds that can be used for: ·    Additional teachers and instructional support, especially for students struggling in math and reading. ·    Support for students in the areas of attendance, behavior, science, technology, engineering, and math instruction. ·    Parent involvement activities in school. ·    Professional learning for staff, which helps improve instruction and increase student achievement. If we can assist in any way please contact our team at 417-523-1100. We can’t wait to serve your child!  Best wishes for a successful 2021-2022 school year, Kim Keller SPS Nutrition Services Director

* Return to School SPS Plan -  Dear employee, parent or guardian: We are looking forward to welcoming students and staff Aug. 23 for the first day of school. Their health and wellness is our priority and we will continue to follow protocols that have proven to limit the spread of COVID-19. As we begin the 2021-2022 school year, we are celebrating that students will be learning in person, in the classroom five days a week. We are taking every measure to ensure that they are able to continue attending school in person because that is what’s best for the majority of our students and families. Effective COVID-19 safety protocols that will be practiced again this year include: ·    Masks must be worn by all students in grades pre-K through 12 and by all staff. ·    Physical distancing will be encouraged whenever possible. ·    There will be a heightened focus on cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities. ·    Parents should monitor students daily for COVID-19 symptoms.  ·    Students and staff exhibiting symptoms must stay home until symptoms resolve and/or they are cleared by a medical provider to return. View our complete plan for a safe return to in-person instruction for more information. Families can also protect against the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. SPS encourages everyone aged 12 and older to get vaccinated immediately. If students are fully vaccinated and are not symptomatic, they will not have to quarantine in the event of exposure to COVID-19.  The COVID-19 vaccine is free and readily available at community vaccine clinics. Visit vaccine417.com for a listing of upcoming vaccine clinics. As the school year progresses, we will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our community, and, in consultation with appropriate public health agencies, evaluate the need for masking. If conditions improve and the masking requirement is modified, an announcement will be made at that time.  Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together to keep students and staff safe and healthy. * Kickapoo Handbook <-- click link.   * Chromebook repair process - We have created a form for students to request a Chromebook so they can get theirs repaired.  It is located in the Tribe Talk course in Canvas. Please direct students to the link and have them complete the form. We will contact the students to come to the library to pick up or exchange their Chromebook. If they are unable to complete the form, please have a classmate or teacher complete the form for the student. Let us know if you have any questions. * Chromebooks - Students should bring a charged Chromebook to school each day. We are limited on the number of loaners we have and first priority goes to students needing repairs. Thank you.

* CANVAS HELP - Need help accessing and checking online learning with your student??? Click here for a list of resources from SPS. You can also click here for a guide for “how-to” items for parents. Please be sure to reach out with questions as we navigate online learning.

* Reminders:

• Any students needing WiFi can request a Kajeet hotspot through our library.
• Kickapoo will open our doors at 7 a.m. and first block begins at 7:30 a.m. every day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday. 
• Wednesday is late start for students so staff may participate in professional learning. Classes begin at 8 a.m. ALL BUSSES WILL RUN AT NORMAL TIMES.
• All students must report directly to first block when they arrive before school. 
• Classes end at 2:30 p.m. every day.
• All students should leave school/campus by 3 p.m. unless directly supervised by a teacher, coach, or sponsor.
• Face masks must be worn at all times and may not contain inappropriate images, messages, etc.
• Students should take home Chromebooks every day.
• Deliveries to school - Parents/guardians may deliver food and other items to school. We ask that you label and leave them on the table. Due to limited travel students may not be able to come immediately to pick them up. Please communicate with your student to let them know items have been dropped off for them. 
• NO food deliveries from outside vendors. Thank you for helping to limit the exposures our secretaries and staff encounter.
• Visitors and Volunteers are limited to only those providing educational supports.
• ID badges and dress code - ALL students must have an ID every day. Follow all dress code expectations.
• ALL students will receive a NEW ID & Lanyard on the first day of school. IF they do not please have your student request one from a teacher.

Again, the items I have listed above are NOT all inclusive.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I will respond as soon as possible.

Thank you again for your patience, grace, and flexibility during this time. 

Take care and #GoChiefs!

Dr. Bill Powers

Principal

Kickapoo High School