Kelly Newsletter

Dear Kelly Families~

We truly hope that everyone had 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.

Students and staff are reconnecting this week and revisiting 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.

Wishing you happiness and good health in 2023!

LuAnn Schmidt

Associate PrincipalI

Tuesday, January 3rd-School Resumes

Monday, January 16th-No School

Wednesday, January 18th-1:30 Dismissal

Friday, January 20th-Family RED Event-8:30am

Thursday, January 26th-Chorus Concert-6:00pm

Monday, February 6th-Family Event Class Meeting-2:30

Wednesday, February 8th-1:30 Dismissal

Thursday, February 16th-No School

Friday, February 17th-No School

Monday, February 20th-PTO Meeting -5:15pm

Wednesday, February 22-1:30 Dismissal

If your child is going to be late or absent from school, please inform the school office at 746-2265 before 8:30 am. Communication between home and school ensures student safety.

If your child arrives late for school please walk them directly into the office and sign them in.

If you are taking your child out of school early for any reason, come to the office to sign them out. Please let your child's teacher and the office know ahead of time if possible.

• PLEASE DO NOT SEND MEDICATION WITH A STUDENT OR LET A STUDENT KEEP MEDICATON IN HIS/HER BACKPACK.
• If your student needs any medication given at school, a Medication Authorization Form must be filled out and signed by appropriate people. This is required for all medications including inhalers and over the counter medications..
• Medications must be in their original containers.
• Additional GFPS Medical Information and Forms: https://www.gfschools.org/P

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/Nut Free School: When sending a snack or packing a lunch, please remember to check labels to make sure it does not contain or have traces of peanuts/nuts.

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.

Parents are now welcome to join their child for lunch! Here are a few things to remember:

• Please call the office or let your child's teacher know what you would like to eat for lunch before 8:30am. It is important to have an accurate lunch count.
• Please show up as close as possible to the time your child eats lunch.
• Adult lunch costs $3.50. Cash is the only form of payment. Please have exact change.
• No outside restaurant food is allowed in the lunchroom
  

10:50-11:15

Aubol (4), Cebula (4), Pederson (4), Miller (4)

10:55-11:20

Dawes (1), Dunnigan (1)

11:25-11:50

Johnson (K), Tretter (K), Sandvik (1), Wosick (1)

11:30-11:55

Abrahamson (3), Hemsing (3)

12:00-12:25

Neppl (3), Johnson (5), Meza (5)

12:05-12:30

Foy (K), Keitzman (K), Sween (3)

12:35-1:00

Klingler (2), Kossan (2), Sorensen (2)

12:40-1:05

Restad (2), Kruger (5), Loe (5)

• 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 would start at 10:25. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.

• Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school would start at 10:40. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. No Zero Hour Classes.

• High School: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.

• Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school would start 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 will be 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 to 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 would be provided by GFPS and your student's school at that time.

If an emergency situation 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.

Updated 9/2022

We ask parents to pay for Chromebook cases, Device Protection and intramurals online through MySchoolBucks. This will help minimize the amount of cash/check deposits being handled throughout the day.

Create your free account today and never worry about having to send cash/checks to school with your student again. Visit myschoolbucks.com or download the app today to get started.

How do I enroll?

• Go to www.myschoolbucks.com and click enroll now.
• Create an account for yourself and your children. You will need to know your student’s district ID number, date of birth, school and grade.
• Provide credit or debit card information.

Why should I sign up for this service?

• You can view your child’s cafeteria purchases.
• You can sign up for free e-mail notifications when the lunch account is low in funds.
• You may prepay their lunch account without sending money to school.
• My SchoolBucks will charge a $2.49 service fee when adding money to a lunch account.

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 30, 2023. Forms are available at any middle school office. You will be notified by mail in March / April 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

Influential Factors

One of the most influential factors during a child’s adolescence is maintaining a strong, open relationship with a parent/guardian. When we each create supportive and nurturing environments, children make better decisions. Though it may not always seem like it, children hear concerns, which is why it’s important that parents/guardians discuss the risks of using alcohol and other drugs. How do you start the conversation? Visit www.parentslead.org.

Setting a Pattern of Rules and Consequences

Kids are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs if their parents have established a
pattern of setting clear rules and consequences for breaking those rules. This applies to no-use
rules about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs — as well as bedtimes and homework. Have clear
expectations for behavior, monitor your child, and implement appropriate consequences. In
setting these rules, be sure you discuss your rules and expectations in advance and follow
through with the consequences you’ve set.

Don’t forget to acknowledge times when your child follows the rules! Parents who have a warm
relationship with their children while maintaining rules for behavior are teaching their children
self-discipline. Parents who have rules that are too harsh or no rules at all are more likely to
have children who are at greater risk for drug-taking behavior.

For more information and resources, visit www.parentslead.org.