Kelly Newsletter

February is here and hopefully the upcoming month will bring a bit of a warm-up along with it! This school year has truly gone by so quickly. It's hard to believe we will soon be heading into the final trimester of the school year!

Since the holiday break students and staff have been busy completing our winter assessments and are preparing for upcoming parent/teacher/student conferences. You should have received information regarding scheduling conferences. We will be utilizing Sign-up Genius again as our conference scheduling tool. Conferences will be held on Tuesday, February 11th from 4:00-7:00pm, Thursday, February 13th from 4:00-7:00pm, Friday, February 14th from 8:00am-4:00pm. We look forward to seeing you all to share the academic, social, and emotional growth of your child(ren). It's always exciting to share the successes that our students experience. Thanks in advance to our PTO for providing a meal and treats for our teachers during conference week. It is very much appreciated and enjoyed by all!

During our next early out afternoon which is coming up on February 18th, our classroom teachers and specialists will be reviewing all of our winter assessment data and reviewing our current intervention plans. We will also be reviewing the standards that will be assessed on the second trimester report card in preparation for their distribution on March 7th.

Please review the information below for upcoming school events. February is looking to be a busy month at Kelly School. As always, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our school office @ 701-746-2265.

Sincerely,

Kelli Tannahill

Dear Grand Forks Public Schools Families:

Due to a notable increase in illness (influenza is currently considered ‘widespread’) across both our

school and community, both our district and Grand Forks Public Health (GFPH) would like to remind

you of our policy regarding sick students. A student who is sick will not be able to perform well in

school and is also likely to spread illness to other people. Therefore, although school attendance is

of primary importance, we encourage you to keep your student home when they have any of the symptoms listed below:

If you have any questions regarding your student’s symptoms, please reach out to your healthcare

provider. You may find additional information about respiratory disease activity and other related

information about prevention strategies at immunizegf.org.

Sincerely,

Sherri Motherwell, GFPS Nurse Manager

Shawn McBride, GFPH Epidemiologist

February 7th-17th-Kelly School Book Fair

Monday, February 10th-PTO Meeting in the Kelly Library at 5:30pm

Tuesday, February 11th-Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Thursday, February 13th-Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Friday, February 14th-Parent/Teacher Conferences 8:00am-4:00pm

Monday, February 17th-No School

Tuesday, February 18th-Popolino's Pizza Fundraiser Night

Wednesday, February 19th-1:30 Dismissal

Thursday, February 20th-Parent RED Event at 8:30am

Wednesday, March 5th-1:30 Dismissal

Friday, March 7th-Report Cards Emailed Home

March 10th-14th-No School

March 17th-21st-ArtWise Show at Columbia Mall

Tuesday, March 18th-PTO Meeting in Kelly Library at 5:30pm

Tuesday, March 18th-Popolino's Pizza Fundraiser Night

Tuesday, March 25th-Parent RED Event at 2:30pm

On Thursday, April 10th from 3:30-5:30pm you and your child are invited to Kelly School for Kindergarten Registration. You will complete paperwork, meet the Kindergarten teachers, check out the Kelly Cougar Spirit Wear and get a tour of the school.

Please take a few minutes to complete our online Pre-Registration form using this link https://form.jotform.com/gfschools/KRegistration2025 or the QR Code on the flyer below. This will allow us to capture information so we can begin your student’s enrollment now and cut down your waiting time at school that day.

Children who will reach the age of five before August 1, 2025 are eligible to enter kindergarten.

If you have updated contact information since the start of the school year, please let the office know. This includes phone numbers, emails, place of employment and emergency contacts. With the inclement weather season upon is, it is important that we have this information for possible school closings or late starts.

Our Kelly School PTO is looking for new friendly faces. The PTO meetings are in the Kelly School library.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Childcare is provided. Meeting dates are:

February 10th at 5:30pm

March 18th at 5:30pm

April 14th at 5:30pm

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. All students' outerwear should be labeled with their name. Please make sure your child has a coat, snowpants, boots, a hat, and mittens.

• 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.