Kelly Newsletter
November 2023
PRINCIPAL PRESS
Dear Kelly Families~
Thank you for attending our October conferences and our monthly family event. Our school is very fortunate to have parents that are eager to be involved and serve as partners in supporting our students. During the family event, our families were able to participate in a class meeting and learn about the difference between conflict and bullying. This is a challenging concept for our students to learn and it was great to have our parents involved in that conversation. That way, when conflicts do arise, we will be on the same page as we problem solve together.
UPCOMING EVENTS: We hope you can join us for Turkey Bingo on Tuesday, November 14th. More information will be coming from the PTO regarding this event. We need parent volunteers to make this event happen so please consider helping us to make this large event a success. Also, watch for information from the Kelly staff regarding "Gifts from the Heart." Our staff members donate a variety of prizes that often allow them to spend fun quality time with our student winners. Our November Family Event will be a RED (Read Every Day) event and will be held on Wednesday, November 29th @ 8:30. We look forward to reading with family members very soon!
Winter is here!! Please take the time to make sure your children have the winter gear necessary for recess. We ask that you label these items with the student's name. Our lost and found tables are continuously filled with items that are not labeled. The unclaimed items are eventually donated to local charities, some of which have hardly been worn. Gearing up for winter in North Dakota is not an easy task! Weather permitting, our students will go out for recess on a daily basis. Thanks for your support.
Wishing you all a fabulous November...
Kelli Tannahill
Principal
BREAKFAST DROP OFF IN THE NORTH PARKING LOT
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, November 1st-PTO Meeting@6:30 in library
Friday, November 10th-NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, November 14th-Turkey Bingo
Wednesday, November 15th-1:30 Dismissal
Tuesday, November 21st Real Good Cookie Pickup
Thursday, November23rd-NO SCHOOL
Friday, November 24th-NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, November 28th-Chorus Concert-6:00pm-Use Door 6
Wednesday, November 29th-Family Event-8:30am
WHAT HAPPENS AT KELLY SCHOOL ON EARLY RELEASE DAYS?
- What do we want all students to know and be able to do?
- How will we know if they learn it?
- How will we respond when some students do not learn?
- How will we extend the learning for students who are already proficient?
Our conversations start with question #1 (identifying a state standard-math, english language arts, social studies, science, etc) and then teachers discuss how they will teach and assess that standard. From there, we dig into data and monitor each student's progress. Teachers also meet on early release days to review the intervention plans for our students who are supported through MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support). Growth is monitored and intervention groups are reconfigured according to student need. We realize that early outs can be inconvenient for families, however, thanks for understanding that this time is tremendously valuable for our teachers. Curriculum is presented at the right pace for our students at Kelly so our students can reach their social, emotional, and academic potential. Thank you for supporting our Professional Learning Communities and MTSS at Kelly School.
LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY
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.
ABSENCES AND TARDIES
701-746-2269-attendance line
701-746-2265-school office
PARENT EVENTS
You are invited to attend a monthly Family Event. Some events you’ll be joining us in a class meeting and other months we will be participating in a Read Every Day
(RED) event. During the class meeting you’ll learn alongside your children as you have discussions and participate in activities. It is our hope that these events help to build the home/school connection and that you are able to use these skills at home and in other settings. Our RED events are a time for you and your child/children to read together for 20 minutes.
If you have more than one child at Kelly School, you may bring your children together into one classroom each month. Please try to alternate so each child is still able to participate with their class. It will be helpful to have a plan in place before the event begins so that we can begin on time. Below are the dates and times of this year’s monthly Family Events. We hope you can join us!
Wednesday, November 29th at 8:30am RED Event
Tuesday, January 30th at 8:30am Class Meeting
Tuesday, February 27th at 2:30pm RED Event
Wednesday, March 27th at 8:30am Class Meeting
Monday, April 29th at 2:30pm RED Event
ENCORE-EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAYS
A NOTE FROM THE NURSE
I want to let you know that I have been reviewing healthcare plans and medication orders for this school year. Having updated medical information is so important for our team at Kelly to keep our students safe. Please see the reminders below:
-All medication given in school needs an order.
-Adults must provide the medication to the school in a labeled bottle for prescribed medication and unopened bottle for over-the-counter medication.
-We need to be aware of inhalers that are in backpacks. An order to self-carry the inhaler is signed by the ordering provider and parent/guardian.
-Healthcare plans are renewed annually and provided to the health office.
-Keep the school updated on any changes in the health of your child.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Thank you for your support on this matter.
Wanda Rosenquist
Kelly Nurse
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
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
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.
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.
• 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.
LUNCHROOM INFORMATION
- The cost of student's lunch is $2.20, reduced is $0.00. The cost of student's breakfast is $1.20, reduced is $0.00.
- Please click on this link for the Fee and Reduced Lunch Application: https://www.gfschools.org/Page/8333
- IF YOU QUALIFIED FOR THIS PROGRAM IN THE PAST YOU WILL STILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE FORM FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR.
- You can check your child's lunch account balance and meal purchases or pay for your child's lunch by going to myschoolbucks.com. It's super easy and convenient.
- In accordance with the Grand Forks Public School Wellness Policy #6175 we strive to be superior in our nutrition standards. This means that no fast food or other restaurant food is allowed in the lunchroom for any student.
- Our district campuses are PEANUT & TREE NUT restricted. We have children in our building that have severe life threatening allergies to peanuts, nuts and products that have peanut or nut traces in them. Please check labels when packing school lunch or snacks for your child.
- If paying by check, please make the check payable to GFPS or Grand Forks Public Schools.
PAYING FEES ONLINE
We ask parents to pay for Chromebook cases, Device Protection (for both Chromebooks & iPads) 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.