Reminder: Preschool screenings begin today! If you haven't yet registered your 3 or 4-year-old for a screening, we encourage you to do so. We aim to evaluate all potential students for the upcoming year. If you're still undecided about enrollment, we recommend signing up for a screening regardless.
Every year, we celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on the fourth Tuesday of April, which will be observed on April 23 in 2024. This day is dedicated to acknowledging the vital role that school bus drivers play in safely transporting our children. Whether it’s the daily trips to and from school, driving to various activities, or ensuring the teams make it to their sporting events on time, school bus drivers play a critical part in our education system. Today, we express our gratitude for their dedication and the care they provide to our most valuable assets throughout the school year.
We want to thank all of our drivers and subs who fill in when needed to transport out students safely where they need to go. Thank you goes to:
Penny Knapp
LaDawna Friesen
Gerald Wilson
Robin Bliss
Amy Beck
Bill McCary
Polly Douglas
Mike Branson
Ronni Monfort (bus sub)
Charlie Robinson (bus sub)
Happy Earth Day
Here are some fun facts about Earth Day:
Earth Day an international movement though it began in the United States, it became an international movement in 1990.
Earth Day is celebrated in almost every country in the world.
Every Earth Day has a theme.
While Earth Day is always on April 22, EarthDay.org creates a new theme each year. This year, the theme is Planet vs. Plastics, with a goal of reducing plastic consumption 60% by 2040.
According to earthday.org 1 billion people participate annually.
In 2020, the world celebrated Earth Day's 50th anniversary.
Organizers are trying to have the biggest Earth Day cleanup event in history in 2024.
Tens of millions of trees have been planted on Earth Day
Payments can conveniently be made online via your Skyward Account. If you have questions or need assistance please call 316-835-2641.
If you have a student that will be 3 or 4 by Aug 31 and are thinking about sending them to preschool next year call to schedule your screening. 316-835-2694.
Well deserved!
Bentley Primary School 2nd grade teacher, Misty Faudel, was honored today as USD 440’s 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee.
We appreciate all you do for the students and families!
Reminder No School tomorrow Friday March 29, 2024.
Check out how our staff is engaging in continuous improvement! #440PROUD #LEARN2GROW
The English Language Arts review team has been hard at work examining new reading PreK-12 curriculum resources. The team recommended Amplify CKLA & Amplify ELA for our PreK-5th grade levels and McGraw-Hill StudySync for 9th-12th grades to the Board of Education at Monday's meeting. *6th-8th grades currently have Amplify ELA.
If you are interested in viewing any of these materials, please contact our Director of Student Learning, Marcie Carr. She is available by email at mcarr@usd440.com or by phone at 316-835-2641 via the district office extension.
Resources will be available through April 7th, 2024.
Bet most everyone who is on Spring Break is feeling this today! ENJOY!!!
Enjoy a well-deserved break over Spring break! Take this time to relax, unwind, and rejuvenate. We wish you a wonderful break and look forward to seeing you return ready to finish the year strong. Happy Spring Break!
Driver's Ed enrollment forms can be picked up from both the HMS and HHS offices.
Whew February was a busy month even with the extra day we about forgot to wish all of our February Staff members a Happy Birthday. We hope you all had a fantastic birthday.
Ms. Shirley 2-2
Mrs.Jones 2-2
Coach Schutte 2-2
Ms.Gwaltney 2-3
Ms. Denise 2-5
Mrs.Aurora Farmer 2-8
Mrs.Hedges 2-9
Mr.Johnson 2-9
Mr.Regier 2-10
Ms. Rita 2-12
Mrs.Gundy 2-12
Ms. Tiffiani 2-15
Mrs.Hill 2-15
Ms. Mary 2-16
Mr.Bernal 2-24
Mrs.Pedruzzi 2-25
Preschool Screening will be held on
April 24, 4-8pm
April 25, 8am-4pm
April 26, 8am-12pm
May 17, 8am-12pm
Please call to schedule your appointment at Halstead Middle School 316-835-2694
(PREK is housed in the middle school)
Child MUST be completely potty trained and 3-4 years old by August 31, 2024.
We ask that you bring all documents required to the screening or have them uploaded to the New Student Enrollment (if you have a student currently in prek you do not have to fill out the new student enrollment you will fill out registration once it opens in July)
Today is World Compliment Day, a day dedicated to spreading joy and positivity. Let's take this opportunity to give a heartfelt compliment to someone at USD 440 who has made a positive impact on you or your children. A simple compliment can truly brighten someone's day.
NATIONAL LEAP DAY
A little information on Leap Day:
For a day that is celebrated only once every 4 years (with some mathematical exceptions we'll go over later) it sure seems to have a lot going on around it.
Leap year has devious explorers, beloved saints, partying boarder towns and proposal popping Irish ladies. And let's not forget all the birthdays babies. They do have some making up to do on the celebrating, you know!
Since the beginning of time, man has been improving the way we keep it. That applies to calendars as well. Early Egyptians had a leap year in their calendar. The early Roman calendar had entire leap month from time to time to keep the days in line with the astronomical year.
It was Julius Casaer and astronomer Sosigenes who revamped the Roman calendar giving it 12 months with equally (almost) distributed days and adding a leap day every 4 years.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII adjusted the calendar once again. Because the Earth revolves around the sun once every 365.2421 days, one leap day every 4 years is just slightly too much. Instead of shortening the leap day, the Gregorian calendar is designed such that leap days only happen every 4 years except years evenly divisible by 100 but not 400.
There was not a leap day in 1900 and there will not be one in 2100. So a baby born on February 29, 2096 will be in the 3rd grade on his 1st birthday!
And even this adjustment doesn't keep the days perfectly aligned with the seasons. Those humans who are still around in 10,000 years will have to address those issues. It's truly not a leap day concern.
We have two Preschool Transition days planned. If your child does not attend our preschool currently please contact us at 316-835-3000 to schedule your visit.
We want to congratulate Halstead-Bentley Schools Director of Food Service, Mrs. Lisa Morris, as she received recognition from the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas State Board of Education for completion of the Kansas Certificate in Child Nutrition Management. She was recognized for completing the required 120 hours of KSDE-approved Child Nutrition Management classes. We are proud to recognize her commitment and continued growth in her profession! Congratulations!
During National School Counseling Week, which is held from February 5th to 9th, 2024, the American Counseling Association (ACA) takes immense pride in acknowledging and honoring the invaluable contributions of school counselors throughout the country. These dedicated professionals play a vital role in problem-solving and ensuring the mental and emotional well-being of both students and parents.
School counselors possess a diverse range of responsibilities, including offering guidance on educational choices and providing crucial mental health support. Their ultimate objective is to foster the well-being and achievement of students. Leveraging their expertise as mental health professionals, school counselors strive to establish safe, positive, and trusting relationships with their students. USD440 expresses gratitude for their tireless efforts in supporting our students, and we deeply appreciate their dedication.
Early childhood education remains one of the strongest investments we can make in the long-term success of our students and the long-term economic strength of our communities.
Abigail Spanberger
