TUE's Newsletter for the Week of September 28, 2026

Good Evening, Wildkittens!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and finding time to enjoy this beautiful fall weather!

We have an exciting and busy week ahead at TUE. First, our Scholastic Book Fair is here all week. Students will have an opportunity to visit the Book Fair during their library special. Families can also shop during our extended hours on Tuesday from 5:00-6:00 PM before Parent Math Night and during our Grandparents/Special Persons Night on Thursday from 6:00-7:30 PM. To make shopping easy, families can set up an eWallet for their child at: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/thomasulticanelemschool

On Tuesday from 6:00-7:30 PM, we will host our Greg Tang Parent Math Night. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn the strategies students are using in the classroom, gain confidence in supporting math learning at home, ask questions, and walk away with practical tips from a math expert. Best of all, dinner is on us!

We will wrap up the week with our Grandparents/Special Persons Night on Thursday from 6:00-7:30 PM. Students are invited to bring a grandparent or special person to TUE for an evening of fun activities, shopping at the Book Fair, and enjoying cookies provided by our amazing PTA. We are excited to open our doors and showcase the wonderful things happening at our school.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to seeing many of you this week and hope you have a fantastic week ahead!

·      September 28th-October 2nd – TUE’s Bookfair

·      September 29th – Family Math Night 6-7:30pm

·      October 1st – Special Persons Night 5:30-7pm

·      October 2nd – Custodian Appreciation Day

·      October 2nd – Attendance Awards

·      October 5th – No School-PD Day

·      October 7th – Walk to School Day

·      October 8th – Title I Parent Planning Meeting at 5:40pm

·      October 8th – PTA Meeting at 6pm in the Library

·      October 9th—Audiologist Appreciation Day

·      October 9th – BSHS Homecoming Parade 

·      October 12th – PTA’s Culver’s Night 5-8pm  

·      October 16th– Kindergarten Field Trip

·      October 16th- October 30th – TUE’s Butter Braid Fundraiser

·      October 20th– Trunk or Treat

·      October 28th– Fall Party Day!

·      October 28th & 29th – Parent/Teacher Conferences

·      October 29th & 30th– No School for Parent/Teacher Conferences

At TUE, we believe that every day and every minute of learning matters. While an occasional absence is unavoidable, regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. When students are in school consistently, they have more opportunities to learn, build relationships, develop confidence, and participate in the experiences that help them grow both academically and socially.

Research shows that students who are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year (about 18 days), are at a much greater risk of falling behind academically. In fact, children who are chronically absent in the early grades are significantly less likely to read at grade level by third grade, a milestone closely connected to future academic success and graduation rates. [ed.gov], [aap.org]

Attendance is about more than just being present. Every school day includes important instruction, classroom discussions, hands-on learning, collaborative activities, and opportunities to practice new skills. When students miss school, they miss experiences that cannot always be replicated through make-up work. Even arriving late or leaving early can cause students to miss critical lessons and learning opportunities.

School attendance also supports social and emotional growth. Students who attend regularly build stronger relationships with teachers and classmates, develop a sense of belonging, and stay connected to their school community. Research indicates that chronic absenteeism can lead to increased disengagement from learning and weaker connections to peers and caring adults. [ed.gov], [aap.org]

As families, there are simple ways to help:

At TUE, we are committed to partnering with families to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. Every lesson counts. Every minute matters. Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. 

It's a great day to be a Wildkitten!

Before the school day starts each day, please discuss with your child if he/she will eat breakfast and/or lunch at school. 

To add money to your child's meal account, visit www.schoolcafe.com. 

Breakfast and lunch are offered daily. 

If you think you might qualify for free or reduced meals, please complete the appropriate forms ASAP on www.schoolcafe.com. Each year, you have to apply to qualify for free or reduced. It does not roll over. 

 

Elementary Breakfast        $2.25

Elementary Lunch             $3.45

Milk Price                           $0.70

*Reduced Breakfast           $0.00 (must qualify)

*Reduced Lunch                $0.40 (must qualify)

            Fundraiser Starts:  Friday, October 16, 2026

            Fundraiser Ends:  Friday, October 30, 2026

            Scheduled delivery date for product pickup:  Wednesday, November 18, 2026

            Fundraiser Purpose: To support our teachers and students at TUE!!

We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all students. If you have any questions, please contact the school office. We look forward to seeing you at lunch!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As part of ongoing support for families, your child’s school is offering a series of classes for parents and guardians through a partnership with the Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST). These training sessions are designed to provide ways you can support your child’s developing academic and behavior skills, as well as increase consistency between home and school. We have one more training series! We would love for you to be a part of it. 

 

These classes are designed to:

·      Create consistency between school and home

·      Provide language for adults to use when redirecting children

·      Share ways to problem solve to increase your child’s success

·      Increase generosity and kindness in your children

·      Bring a sense of calm to your home

Please join us for any or all three sessions!

These virtual classes are provided free of charge, however, we do ask that you please register through our website on or before Tuesday, September 15th. Instructions for registration are on the page below.

 

We are excited to offer this opportunity to you!

 

Sincerely,

Marty Huitt, Director

Behavior Intervention Support Team/Cornerstones of Care

8150 Wornall Rd

Kansas City, MO 64114

@MartyHuitt

 

 

 

To register for this class:

1.    Go to http://BIST.org

2.    Click Log In on the home screen.

3.    If you already created a username by previously enrolling in a BIST class, just log in on this screen.

4.    If you have never registered for a BIST class, enter your information (Name, Email, and a Password). This will register you on the website, but not for the class.

5.    At the top of the page, use the dropdown menu called “Classes.” Click “Training Calendar.”

6.    Select the class you wish to attend (Parenting with BIST). Click “Register” under your preferred class.

7.    Fill out the required questions and click “Register.”

8.    On the checkout screen, complete the billing details even though this is a free class.

9.    Click “Place Order.” The Order Details page is your confirmation of registration.

10. You will receive an email containing the Zoom link for the training sessions on Wednesday, September 16th. 

a.    If you have not received an email containing the Zoom link by noon on September 16th, please contact our office at bist@cornerstonesofcare.org for assistance.

·      School hours are 8:25am – 3:30pm. Doors open at 8:25am. Please do not send/drop off your student any sooner since there is not any supervision until then. The earliest that you can drop off your student(s) is 8:25am. If you need to drop off your students earlier contact our Prime Time to get your child enrolled.

·      Water bottles: We highly encourage you to send your child with a water bottle filled with WATER only, every day. We have water filling stations to refill their water bottles as needed. Juice and colored liquids will be reserved for lunch time only.

·      Headphones: Headphones are not on the school supply list, but if you would like for your child to have his/her own set of headphones exclusively for his/her own use, please feel free to send them on the first day of school. 

·      Food Delivery: We cannot deliver food orders sent to students at our school (ex. Door Dash, Grub Hub, etc). So please do not order them and send them to school unless they are addressed to Mrs. Brownsberger. This includes bringing up food to be dropped off.

·      Birthday Treats: If you would like to provide treats for your child’s birthday, this must be pre-arranged with your child’s teacher at least 24 hours in advance. Also, all treats must be store-bought, individual (not whole cakes), and packaged.

·      Volunteer/Background Check Information:  Each year we need an updated background check if you plan on volunteering up at school. The Blue Springs School District uses DataSource to enhance and strengthen our current background screening process for Volunteer Guests. It is FREE, SECURE, and SIMPLE to register. Please visit: https://bssd.quickapp.pro to fill out an application. Once there you will see all Blue Springs School District schools will be listed. Click on the building in which you are planning to volunteer. (If you have students attending multiple buildings, you will only need to complete one application. After completing the application, please contact the Building School Resource Officer for the school you applied at and let them know you have students at additional locations). Volunteer applications MUST be submitted at least five (5) days before the event for which you are volunteering. After submission, please wait for an email from DataSource. The email will let you know whether you have been approved or denied.

·      Cell Phone and Smart Watches: We’ve noticed an increase in the number of students wearing smart watches to school. The watches and any personal electronic devices (PEDs), such as cell phones, can quickly become a distraction in the school environment. These devices are prohibited during the school day or any school-sponsored activity. Please take a few moments to review the policies related to PEDs.

 

·      Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) The possession and use of a student or parent/legal guardian owned personal electronic device is a privilege, not a right. The district may revoke this privilege at any time at its sole discretion. Please note that the district is not responsible for lost or stolen PEDs, whether in student or district possession, or any damage to the PED, its programs, or its contents.

PEDs may be brought to school but must be stored or carried out of sight in an off or silent mode and shall not be used by students during the school day or while being transported by a district vehicle.

Additionally, PEDs may not be used to capture or share sound, video, document, or photo images at any time or anywhere during the school day or while being transported in a district vehicle (school bus) without the prior approval of administrators or staff.

·      PTA…Be sure to join PTA! The PTA consists of parents and teachers working together to support and best serve all students, the needs of Thoams Ultican Elementary and our community. PTA is a team effort and we would love to have your involvement anytime! We also have business memberships available as well. To sign up, click on this link Thomas Ultican Elementary - PTA Information

·      3rd-5th Grade Devices…We are working on distributing student devices this week.