Kelly Newsletter

Dear Kelly Families~

We truly hope that everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday break. We are excited for a new

year and the sense of excitement and renewal brought with it. We continue to be so grateful for all the students, parents, and staff that make Kelly Elementary School a wonderful place to learn.

After our holiday break, our staff and students will enjoy reconnecting and will revisit our routines and expectations as we move into the New Year.

January will be a busy month at Kelly School. Our teachers will be reassessing all students

throughout the month. We use this assessment data to guide future instruction and provide

appropriate interventions as needed. We will continue to meet each early dismissal to review student data and collaborate with one another to meet each student's individual needs.

Enjoy the holidays!

Warm wishes~

Kelli Tannahill

Principal

January 2nd-Tuesday-School Resumes

January 15th-Monday-No School

January 17th-Wednesday-1:30 Dismissal

January 18th-PTO Meeting at 5:30pm

January 30th-Tuesday-Parent Event at 8:30am

January 31st-Wednesday-1:30 Dismissal

Please label all of your child's outerwear including coats, hats, mittens, scarfs, boots, snowbags, etc. Our lost and found is always overflowing with clothing that is missing its owner. The lost and found table is located in the front entrance of the school. Any unclaimed items are periodically donated to the thrift stores throughout the year.

Please send your child with outerwear that will keep them comfortable outside. Unless the temperature dips below 0 degrees students wait outside until 8:20am, go outside for recess and often go outside for PE.

If you are taking your child out of school early for any reason (i.e. vacation, activities, appointments) please let the office know ahead of time. Students aren't necessarily in the classroom so it helps us locate your child in a timely manner so the checkout process goes smooth. You will also need to come into the office and sign your child out.

If your child is absent or late, please call the attendance line by 8:30am. Communication between home and school ensures the safety of your child.

701-746-2269-attendance line

701-746-2265-school office

Families of 5th grade students,

The Grand Forks School District has established school boundary lines for the purpose of

creating geographically accessible schools with class sizes that fall within school board

guidelines. Each of our schools offers equitable learning opportunities and programs, committed

staff, and pride-filled environments.

Families may request a different school for their child other than their neighborhood school by

completing a Transfer Request Form. Approvals are contingent on “space available” for both

regular and special education programs. Student academic, attendance, and behavior records are

also reviewed. The majority of our schools are at enrollment capacity, and therefore, very few

requests are approved.

Families contemplating a transfer request must be able to provide daily transportation. Students

must be dropped off close to the start of the school day and be picked up at the end of the school

day (or end of an activity) to ensure student safety.

If you are considering a transfer request for next year, the completed form is due to the requested

middle school office by January 12, 2024. Forms are available at any middle school office.

You will be notified by mail in March whether your request is approved or denied.

Thank you for understanding our goals of maintaining appropriate class sizes and positive

environments in our schools.

Sincerely,

Catherine Gillach

Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education

School Cancellation and Postponement Procedures

• • School postponement and cancellation alternatives will be as follows:
    • Hold school as normal.
    • Open school but delay sending buses.
    • Delay the start time in all schools by two (2) hours based on each school’s start time
      • Elementary School: Start time is 8:25, so school starts at 10:25. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.
      • Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school starts at 10:40. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. No Zero Hour Classes.
      • High School: Start time is 8:00, so school starts at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
      • Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school starts at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
      • When school starts late, there will be no morning Early Childhood Special Education classes. Afternoon Early Childhood Special Education classes will be held.
      • Breakfast will not be served at any sites.
      • No before-school activities/athletics.
      • Students will not be marked tardy due to a late start.
    • No school in Grand Forks Public Schools (GFPS) all-day
    • No school for the Grand Forks Air Force Base School District students all-day
      • Decisions about the weather-related delayed opening or closing of air base schools may not always be consistent with those made for in-town schools. On those days when severe weather makes travel conditions so hazardous as to threaten the safety of staff members, opening delays or the closing of base schools will be given special consideration.
    • Hold remote learning.
    • Once school is in session, it will not be terminated until the regular closing time except in very severe situations. However, school buses may leave early.

  The decision to close or delay school will be made as early as possible. Announcements will be made on the GFPS webpage (www.gfschools.org), and GFPS social media (www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools; www.twitter.com/GFSchools). Announcements will also be made on local radio and TV stations.

  GFPS will be using our automated calling system to call staff and families if school is delayed or canceled due to severe weather conditions. Typically, this automated call will occur to staff between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and families between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.

  Parents/Guardians may always exercise their right to keep students home or pick them up early during stormy conditions.

  GFPS has two days (approx. 12 hours of instruction) built into the school calendar for storm-related delays/cancellations. If a full-day cancellation leads to a third storm day during this school year, GFPS will transition to remote learning. More information will be provided by GFPS and your student's school at that time.

  If an emergency should develop during the time school is in session, students will be cared for in school until the storm has subsided.

  • If buses are sent home early, all buses will be sent.
  • We will communicate the departure time.
  • The lead time needed for the procedure is approximately one (1) hour.
  • If conditions are dangerous, bus drivers must use common sense in discharging students that must walk a considerable distance. If possible, use the radio and contact the base station. Have parents/guardians meet the bus or be on the lookout for their students. If the driver cannot contact parents/guardians and conditions are dangerous, do not let students off the bus but return to school and notify the principal. Schools that have bus students must have a written procedure for caring for students in the event they must be kept overnight at school.

  
  

Arrival/Dismissal:

We ask that students be dropped off between 8:15-8:20am at their designated door. As a reminder, there is no morning supervision on the playground. If your child arrives early and does not attend breakfast, he/she will be unsupervised until 7:55am. Entryways will be supervised by paraprofessionals from 7:55-8:20.

At the end of each school day, older siblings will meet their younger siblings at their classrooms and will exit the building together at the youngest sibling's door. Teachers will walk their classes to their assigned doors at 3:00 for dismissal.

Students riding the bus or childcare vans will be dismissed through Door #1.

ASSIGNED DOORS:

Door 1: All Kindergarten

Door 2: Cebula, Miller, Restad, Klingler

Door 4: All 3rd Grade, Kossan, Sorensen

Door 5: Aubol, Pederson

Door 11: All 5th Grade

Door 13: All 1st Grade

Student Absence: If your child is absent or late, please call the attendance line by 8:30am.

701-746-2269-attendance line

701-746-2265-school office

Telephone Calls: Calls do not ring into the classroom during school hours to minimize interruptions. Messages for students can be left on the teacher’s voicemail.

Peanut/Tree Nut Restricted: When sending a snack or packing a lunch, please remember to check labels to make sure it does not contain or have any traces of peanuts/nuts. We have students with severe peanut allergies in our building.

Birthday Snacks: Due to the increase of students who have severe food allergies and the higher levels of severity, we no longer celebrate student birthdays with a “birthday snack” in our schools. Parents are welcome to find other non-food items to send to school if they wish. Please discuss with your child’s classroom teacher for ideas or preferences.

Arrival:

The first bell rings at 8:20 am. School begins at 8:25 am. Breakfast is offered 7:40-8:15 am. All students coming to breakfast must use Door 16.

Dismissal: The safety of our students is a top priority for us at Kelly School. As per district policy, schools will have parents meet their child(ren) at a designated location outside the school at dismissal time.

• Teachers will bring their students to a location outside the school at their classroom’s assigned door. Students will meet their parent or person picking them up at a prearranged meeting place near the assigned dismissal door.

• Older siblings meet youngest sibling at youngest sibling’s assigned door.

• Bus/Daycare van students will walk through the school to Door #1 to board their bus or van.

Nothing is more important than the safety of our students. For those of you returning to Kelly School, you are aware that the congestion in our parking lots at arrival and dismissal time can be a source of frustration.

We are asking all families to review and follow the traffic flow procedures outlined in the maps below. They have been designed to ensure the safety of all and to expedite the arrival and dismissal process.

NOTE: TRAFFIC ONLY FLOWS ONE DIRECTION IN THE NORTH PARKING LOT. Please adhere to following this traffic flow pattern at all times. Traffic should only flow into the north lot from Oak or 29th and out onto Cherry Street before, after, and during the school day. The same traffic pattern must be also be followed on early dismissal days as well. Please do not exit the north parking lot onto Oak Street. This slows down traffic by causing congestion and puts our students who walk across the parking lot at risk.