We hope your family is having an enjoyable and safe summer break! Our first day of school (Wednesday, August 17th) is quickly approaching, so we’re reaching out with important dates and details about our year together. Additional dates are included on the 2022-2023 school calendar.
Team Teaching
Next year AFIA is implementing a team teaching model. Team teaching is when two or more certified teachers work together to plan, deliver and evaluate learning. Implementation of team teaching is significantly associated with increased student outcomes and we’re excited about the many ways team teaching will allow teachers to meet your child’s academic, social and emotional needs.
Class Lists
We enjoyed connecting with families at our June Playground Playdate. Our next family event is Back to School Night on Thursday, August 11th. (details below)
Families are notified of their child’s teacher for the upcoming year with a personal phone call from one of the teachers. Teachers will be contacting families on August 8th and 9th to introduce themselves.
Bell Times
- Our instructional day begins at 8:10AM and ends at 3:10PM.
- Car riders who eat breakfast at school should arrive between 7:45-7:50AM.
- If your child does not eat breakfast at school, they must be in their classrooms by 8:10AM.
- This article has some helpful suggestions for slowly transitioning your child back to their school year schedule.
- Teachers plan learning for every minute that students are in class, so it’s important that students arrive on time and stay for the entirety of the day. When possible, we encourage families to schedule appointments during professional development days in order to minimize missed instruction as we know that school attendance has a significant impact on students’ long term academic success.
Registration
If you have not completed your registration, it is very important that you do so as soon as possible. After this Sunday, July 31st, our system will not send text updates to families who haven’t completed registration in Infinite Campus. Additionally, students cannot be assigned to a class list until registration is complete.
Back to School Night (Thursday, August 11th from 5:30-7PM)
We are excited for the return of Back to School Night as this will be our first one since before the pandemic! Please plan to join us on Thursday, August 11th from 5:30-7PM to visit your child’s classroom, meet their teachers and drop off school supplies. This is also a great opportunity to connect with other families. We hope to see you there!
Bus Information
Bus route information will be distributed at Back to School Night. If you are unable to attend Back to School Night, you can contact the school on/after Friday, August 12th to receive your child’s pick-up location and time. Please note that if you have not completed your registration by Friday, August 5th, we cannot guarantee that your child will be routed to a bus by the first day of school.
Community Eligibility Provision
Academy for Integrated Arts is participating in a Free Breakfast and Lunch Program for the 2022- 2023 school year. This is alternatively referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision. All students enrolled at AFIA may participate in the breakfast/lunch program at no charge. Household applications for free and reduced priced meals will not be collected.
Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing breakfast/lunch to all children at no charge, we can create a better learning environment for our students.
The school breakfast and lunch that we serve follows U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. The Free Breakfast and Lunch Program cannot succeed without your support. Please encourage your children to participate in the school meal programs.
All meals are served to all students at no charge.
Masks
At this time, masks are optional for all students, staff and visitors. We understand that some in our school community may prefer to wear masks and we support this decision. We continue to monitor transmission data and recognize that we may need to reimplement masking if there is an increase in cases in the community or school.
In order to keep our school community safe, we do require that students stay home when they are ill. A student may not return to school until they are symptom-free for 24 hours without medication and/or receives clearance to return to school from a qualified medical professional.
School Supplies & Dress Code
The school supply list and dress code information was sent via text blast last week. As a reminder, we do not wear uniforms. You can find school supply lists and dress code information here.
Below is a partial list of upcoming community events that provide free resources, such as backpacks and school supplies. For more events, visit Back To School KCMO at https://www.facebook.com/groups/754104569073522.
Please also know that Mrs. Daniels, AFIA’s social worker, is available throughout the year to help connect your family with community resources. You can reach her at jenessa.daniels@afiakc.org or (816) 444-1720.
Back to School Community Events
Saturday, July 30th (10:00AM – 1:00PM)
Abundant Life
112 W 23rd St S, Independence, MO
FREE: Groceries, underwear, socks, school supplies, hygiene products, gently used clothing
Food assistance available at the Music & Arts Institute: 1010 S Pearl St. Independence, MO
Saturday, August 6th (10:00AM – 1:00PM)
First Baptist Church of Northern Heights
6311 NW Waukomis Dr. Kansas City, MO 64151
FREE: School supplies, games & give-aways, and lunch for kids
Saturday, August 6th (10:00AM – 1:00PM)
Peace Baptist Church
2300 Chestnut Kansas City, MO 64127
FREE: Information and resources from local community partners, activities for kids, backpacks, school supplies, food, and door prizes.
Sunday, August 7th (1:00PM – 6:00PM)
The Jones House Back 2 School Bash
@ Swope Park Bandstand Kansas City, MO
August 8th – 13th
Kingdom Kutz Back To School Bash
10505 Blueridge Blvd Kansas City, MO 64138
Get a haircut and receive a backpack and school supplies.
Contact 816-966-2221 for more information.
Saturday, August 13th (9:00AM – 10:00AM)
River’s Edge Fellowship Church
5010 Blue Ridge Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64133
Drive up and receive a backpack filled with supplies.
Sunday, August 14th @ 3:00PM
Liberation Church
7001 N Locust St Gladstone, MO 64118
FREE: Backpacks, school supplies, food & drinks.
RSVP via website www.liberationchurch.us
Saturday, August 27th (10:00AM – 4:00PM)
The City House
14300 E 40 Hwy Kansas City, MO 64136
Back to school supply giveaway and pop up shop – school supplies, vendors, games, concessions, music, and raffles.
For more information call 816-873-1467