School Hours:
School begins at 8:35 am and ends at 3:50 pm. If children arrive after 8:45 am, parents must accompany the child to the office for a tardy slip.
Attendance:
Please send a note the following day if your child is absent. A staff member will call your home if your child misses three consecutive days without notification. Students must report to the office accompanied by a parent for a tardy slip when they arrive at school after 8:45 am.
Breakfast and Lunch:
The Kansas City, Missouri School District serves nutritious meals each day, including breakfast, to students. Please click the menu on the right side of the page to determine what meals are being served at your child’s school.
- Elementary school breakfasts are $1 (.30 cents reduced). Adult breakfasts are $2.50.
- Elementary school lunches cost $1.80 (.30 cents reduced). Adult lunches are $3.25.
For students to receive free or-reduced price school lunches, an application must be filled out and returned to the District’s Food Services Department. Applications are also available at all District schools, Kansas City public libraries and the District’s Board of Education Building, 1211 McGee in Downtown Kansas City. After applications have been reviewed, families will be notified of their eligibility for free or reduced-price lunches.
Families that receive food stamps or temporary assistance for their children may be eligible for free meals. For more information, contact your child’s school.
Children may also bring a lunch to school and purchase milk for 25 cents or juice for 30 cents. Please be sure lunch boxes, thermoses, etc. are clearly labeled with the child’s name and room number. Refrigerators are not available to store lunches, nor are facilities available to heat lunches. In addition, many teachers ask parents to bring snacks for the classroom. Check with your child’s teacher about the snack schedule and/or policy.
Change of Clothing:
Young children occasionally have accidents at school. Parents of Children’s House students should provide one or two changes of weather-appropriate clothing. All articles of clothing should be clearly marked with the child’s name and room number.
Classroom Observation:
Border Star’s “open door” policy encourages parents and friends to visit the school at any time. Simply sign-in in the office and follow the rules of classroom observation that are available from the school secretary.You will be expected to sit quietly and observe the children doing their work, without interrupting them. This is not a time to have a conversation with the teacher. To make the most of your visit, you are encouraged to check with your child’s teacher to make an appointment to observe the classroom activities and/or have a discussion about your child.
Counselor:
Border Star’s counselor is available to serve our children and families. A student can request to see the counselor alone or with friends, or a teacher can refer a student to the counselor. Families can also request a meeting with a counselor by calling the school office.
Dress Code:
Students should wear comfortable and appropriate clothing. Clothes that cause a distraction from the learning process will not be allowed. Appropriate clothing is at the discretion of the principal. All Border Star students must adhere to the district’s uniform guidelines.
Library:
All Border Star students are encouraged to check out materials from the Border Star library, but can only do so if a parent or guardian signs and assumes responsibility for the materials checked out. Library materials must be returned in 7 days, with certain exceptions.
Lost and Found:
Lost and found items are kept in the hooks in the hallway outside the cafeteria. Periodically the items are sorted, washed, and donated to charities, so check the lost and found frequently.
Medication:
Occasionally is it necessary for medication to be given to a child by a school employee during the school day. If your child needs medication, you need to send to school a medication form filled out by a physician and yourself. Medication forms are available in the office.
Messages:
If you have an urgent message for your child or your child’s teacher, call the school office at 418-5150.
Name Tags:
All Children’s House students (ages 3, 4 and Kindergarten) should arrive at school with nametags enclosed in zip-lock bags pinned to the back of their shirts. The classroom teachers will attach the nametags again before the children leave the room to return home. The nametag baggie is also used to send home school information and can be used to send lunch money or other information to school with your child.
Nap Policy:
Though not required, Children’s House students may take a half-hour nap after lunch. A large towel or small blanket for napping may be sent from home.
Mailboxes:
Staff, SAC and PTA mailboxes are located on the south side of the school office.
Newsletter:
The Border Star PTA publishes the Border Star News on the first Wednesday of each month during the school year. Watch for it to come home in your child’s “Wednesday Folder” and stay informed on school happenings and upcoming events.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Membership:
PTA membership is encouraged for all Border Star families. An individual membership is only $5.00 per person for the school year, and shows your support for public education and parent involvement in your child’s school. The PTA usually meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Being a PTA member does not obligate you to attend meetings or participate in events. Business memberships are also available for $25.00.
Parent/Teacher Conferences:
Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for all students for the first and third quarters. However, you may make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher or the principal any time throughout the school year by calling the school office at 418-5150 or by contacting the teacher directly. Teacher conferences are an essential component of successful schools. Border Star is proud to have one of the highest participation rates in the district.
Parking:
Parents can park in the parking lot, but not in the fire lane or alongside the school or fence. When dropping off children, drive in the north driveway and turn right after the fence ends. Drive around the parked cars on your left and pull alongside the building facing east and drop your child there. Here is a map of the parking lot. A staff member will help your child exit the car. Always watch for children in your path.
Report Cards:
The school year is divided into four grading periods. Your child’s report card is a progress report that will indicate the progress he or she is making in the major areas of the Montessori curriculum.
School Advisory Committee (SAC)
SAC is an advisory committee comprised of parents, teachers and the principal. This committee provides a monthly forum for parents to discuss issues pertaining to school operation, curriculum, student achievement, etc., and provides input into these matters. Membership is not required and all interested parents are welcome to attend.Contact the SAC Chair if you have questions or want more information about SAC.
School Supplies:
The list of required items varies between the grades, and the teachers. Feel free to ask the teacher during the year if additional supplies are needed, such as tissues, hand soap, baggies, etc.
Toys from Home:
Students should not bring toys to school because they distract children from learning. This includes Legos, CD players, action figures, trading cards, and electronic games.
Transportation:
If you need to make changes with bus transportation, please notify the school office at 418-5150 or call the Kansas City, Missouri School District at 418-8825. Allow two weeks for route changes. If your child will not be riding the bus for three consecutive days, please call Durham School Services and Leasing, the bus company, at 921-2800. Otherwise, your student may be dropped from the route, and you will need to reapply for transportation. Transportation is NOT provided for Before and After School Care.
Uniform Guidelines:
All students at Border Star must adhere to the uniform policy as outlined below: tan or khaki or navy blue pants, skirts/skorts, jumpers or shorts (no denim is allowed). White or navy blue short or long-sleeved shirt with a collar, or turtleneck. White or navy blue sweater or sweatshirt. No logos, pictures, flowers or other designs are permitted on the clothing, unless it is the school logo.
Visitors:
All visitors to school are asked to sign-in in the office upon arrival, and receive a visitor button. If parents wish to pick up students early, they must get an early release form from the office.
Wednesday Folders:
Each child brings home a folder every Wednesday. These folders are a primary form of communication between the school and the parents, and contain class work from students, information from the principal, teacher and/or PTA. Folders should be signed and returned to the teacher on Thursday.
