MILL CREEK PTA NEWSLETTER
13951 W 79th St
Lenexa, KS 66215
Office: 913-993-3700
Fax: 913-993-3799
PTA email:
PTA website:
PTA Facebook:
**PTA Meeting March 7th**
Please join us Tuesday, March 7th, at7pm in the Mill Creek Library for our next PTA meeting. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Heath Sigg, Principal of Trailridge Middle School. Please come and hear information that Mr. Sigg will have for you about your student transitioning into middle school. He will also be able to answer any questions that you may have about Trailridge Middle School
We will also discuss money spend down ideas and have a vote on moving some money in the budget for a new laptop computer for the Mill Creek PTA Treasurer.
Please come and support the PTA!
Thank you,
Michelle Evans
Upcoming PTA Events
March2nd: 1st and 2nd grade Music Program 7pm, Mill Creek gymnasium
March 7th: Mill Creek Community PTA meeting 7pm, Mill Creek Library **guest speaker Mr. Sigg from Trailridge Middle School**
March 10-17th: NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
March 24th: Preschool Pals 4pm, Mill Creek Cafeteria
March 27th: Mill Creek Volunteers at SMSD Clothing Exchange 8:30-11am
March 27th: All School Skating Party 6-8pm, Skate City, 10440 Mastin St, Overland Park
March 30th: Super Chat with Dr. HInson6:30-7:30pm, Westridge Middle School
April 3-7th: Spring Book Fairschool hours, Mill Creek Library
April4th: T.A.K.E. Defense, 5-8th grade girls, self-defense training6:30-8:30pm, Mill Creek
April 6th: MC Open House 6:30pm, PTA meeting/gymnasium
YearbookUpdates
Yearbook photos needed ASAP
We need classroom/field trip photos that might be currently residing on your phone or camera memory card.
As of now, we only have first and fourth grade photos. If you have kindergarten, second, third, fifth or sixth grade photos please upload them.
We are also looking for more skating party, class party, back-to-school and carnival party photos. Band, orchestra, choir, spelling bee, geography bee, PTA Citizenship and Reflections contest -- we'd love those photos, too. In addition, if you have any photos of the science labs that have been taking place this year, those would be a great addition.
Don't wait, take 10 minutes and pleaseupload those photos now.
How To Upload:(and yes, you have to do this from a computer, not your phone.)
1. Go to
2. Enter the login code: 09141C
3. Create a category for your pictures. Label the grade and teacher.
4. Click “Browse” and select your photos.
5. When you are done selecting the pictures
click “Upload Files”.
If you have questions, just email me at
Thanks so much.
Becky Tate
**6th Grade families, please turn in the form for your student to have an ad in the yearbook by Friday, MARCH 10th. Please see the form below.
**Yearbook orders were due last week. Only a handful of extra yearbooks were ordered. These will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please email to order.
PTA Spirit Awards
Have you worked with a teacher, staff member, parent, or PTA member that you think should be recognized for being VERY supportive of Mill Creek School and the PTA??? Write up a little reason of why you think they should be recognized and email it to .
PTA Executive Board will review all nominations and award all at the April Open House meeting.
PTA Lifetime Award Nomination
This is the highest honor that a PTA can bestow. Thus, it is a particularly significant way to honor those in our school and community who have demonstrated a concern and caring for children and youth. Please think of someone who has given outstanding service to our children at Mill Creek. Some ideas may include a teacher, staff member, parent or even a police officer. Please nominate anyone who you feel has given their all for our students (and who hasn't earned the award in the past- please inquire for list).
Do you have someone that you feel deserves a National PTA Lifetime Award?
Please fill out the attached document and turn into the office PTA mailbox by Thursday, March 9 (day before we release for Spring Break). You may also email all entries to Executive Board at .
PTA Reflections Results
Congratulations to the following students for earning an Award of Excellence from the Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA Reflections competition.
• Delia Twaddell in Visual Art for a piece titled "Turning the Page"
• Sophia Delaney in Photography for a photo titled "Life is Like a Piece of Chocolate"
* Ella Fosburg in film for a video titled "My Story"
These students were recognized along with all the other SMAC Reflections winners at the February 27 Shawnee Mission School Board Meeting. In addition, their work moved on to the Kansas State PTA Reflections competition.
Sophie's photo earned an Award of Merit and Ella received an Award of Excellence in the State PTA Reflections competition. State winners will be recognized at aKansas State PTA Awards Ceremony for Reflections and Citizenship on April 28.
Kansas State PTA Reflections Award of Excellence winners advance to compete in the National PTA Reflections Contest. National winners are notified in May. Good luck to Ella as her entry moves to the National PTA competition.
A district awards video is being loaded onto the SMAC website. a moment and check out the video and get ready to enter in next year's Reflections contest. The theme has not yet been announced, but when it is announced, we will share it in the newsletter.
Mill Creek FROG (Father/Relative/Other Guy) Dance
Girl Scout Troop 955 (5th Grade) would like to invite all Mill Creek girls and their father/relative/other guy to a Girl Scout sponsored dance on Friday, April 21st, 7-8:30 in the Mill Creek gym. Look for fliers to come home in your daughters’ backpack. This event is hosted by the Girls Scouts and not the PTA.
Attention 6th Grade Parents
Please begin to gather photos from Kindergarten through this year. The photos will be used in the photo montage at the sixth grade graduation. Planning is underway for the graduation and festivities. Look for more details including ways to support the planning and events soon. Questions, contact Rachelle Hesterlee, .
Legislative Update
House K-12 Education Budget has been working several education funding formula bills in committee. SMAC-PTA testified in favor of Senator Kelly / Representative Rooker HB 2270. It is by far the best, in SMAC-PTA's opinion, but will take some additional work to better align with PTA recommendations, and SMSD legislative platform & guiding principles for school finance reform. Reminder, the block grant formula expires July 1st. The Senate doesn't have a bill ready to work at this point.
The bipartisan tax bill passed by the House and Senate was vetoed by the Governor. The veto was overridden by the House, but fell 3 votes short of passing the Senate. Back to the drawing board.
Legislators are having town halls, coffees, and other opportunities for citizen engagement. They represent you, and want to hear from you!
Don't miss the final SuperChats of the school year, Thursday March 30 - 6:30-7:30pm at Westridge Middle School.
These are a great opportunity to seek district information and have your questions answered!
In addition to Mill Creek PTA, please follow SMAC-PTA and Kansas State PTA on Facebook for updates, and action alerts when input on education policy is needed in Topeka. Also follow @MillCreekLxPTA, @SMAC_PTA, @KsPTALeg on Twitter for timely information!
Two groups have formed in Shawnee Mission to pick up and fill in some education advocacy roles that are outside of PTA's area of focus.Check out Education 1st Shawnee Mission and SMSD Watchdogs for more information (not to be confused with the great WatchDOGS program). Also, follow Game On for Kansas Schools for articles and information on education policy affecting all Kansas Schools
Thanks for the opportunity to serve Mill Creek!
Devin Wilson
PTA Legislative
913-484-6743 (m)
twitter @ksucats96
Chat and Chew
There are a few Chat and Chew sessions remaining in April. Please see the attached sign up to assist with this event at school.
Cultural Arts
Monday, April 3rd, there will be an assembly parents are invited to attend. The artist is Brandon Draper/drum safari. The first session is for grades K-3 from 12:30-1:25 featuring Samba Walk, South American music and movement. The second session is for grades 4-6 from 1:30-2:25 featuring break dance and dubstep, electronic music and movement.
T.A.K.E. Defense Training
This event on April 4th from 6:30-8:30 is for 5th-8th Grade Girls along with the adult women in their lives(Moms,Sisters,Aunts,Grandmothers,Teachers). The training will be held in Mill Creek, but specific location will be determined closer to the event. It's all about your education, safety and peace of mind. T.A.K.E. Defense Training provides girls and women of all ages with unique reality-based, hands-on self-defense training. Such training provides safety awareness that everyone needs and deserves. This is a FREE event, but donations can be made to the TAKE Defense foundation! TAKE Defense
Staff Appreciation
Thank you to the Staff Appreciation Committee members for providing delicious treats for the February event. The staff loved the hot chocolate bar and all of the fabulous chocolate items that went along with it! We thank you for your continued support of the Mill Creek staff! Amy Niemann and Stephanie Yau - Staff Appreciation Committee
PTA LIFETIME AWARD NOMINATION
This is the highest honor that a PTA can bestow. Thus, it is a particularly significant way to honor those in our school and community who have demonstrated a concern and caring for children and youth. Please think of someone who has given outstanding service to our children at Mill Creek. Some ideas may include a teacher, staff member, parent or even a police officer. Please nominate anyone who you feel has given their all for our students (and who hasn't earned the award in the past- please inquire for list).
NOMINEE NAME______
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON WHY YOU CHOSE TO NOMINATE THIS PERSON:
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
YOUR NAME (OPTIONAL) ______
Please return this form to a PTA executive board member or to the school office during school hours.
6TH GRADE FAREWELL ADS
Parents, what better way to honor your graduating 6th grader than with a lovely message of well wishes for them in the yearbook?
Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 10, 2017
6TH GRADE FAREWELL AD OPTIONS (check one):
•1/8 of a page-$20.00
•1/4 of a page-$30.00
•1/2 of a page-$50.00
Student Name:______Teacher:______
Write farewell message you want displayed in yearbook below (please print):
______
Would you like to include a picture with your ad (check one)?
•Yes, please use my 6th grader’s yearbook picture
•Yes, but please use my own photo that I will email (*see instructions below)
•No thank you
*if using your own photo, please send digital copy of photo to with your child’s name in the subject line. Sorry, we can only accept digital copies of photos for ads. If you need help scanning a photo, please contact us via email.
Submit signed and completed form with payment to school office no later than March 10, 2017. Due to print deadlines, we cannot guarantee late submissions will be included.
Parent’s signature:______Date:______
We accept cash (exact amount only) or check. Make checks payable to Mill Creek PTA.