Welcome to the Lion Pride!

Hello Lions! We’re all so excited to begin another school year here at Lewis and Clark Elementary School, but most of all, we’re excited to see all of you! We hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and have enjoyed the nice weather, time with family, and being outside with friends.

What I'm most excited about this year is continuing to get to know you and your families, seeing growth in every student, and fully embracing and supporting the the strong family we have here at Lewis and Clark! I look forward to chasing the adventure with the Lion Pride! Thank you for entrusting us with your Lion Cubs each and every day.

If there is anything I can help with as our Lion Cubs return to school this fall, please reach out to the office or email me at lhoheisel160@mygfschools.org. Take care, and we'll see you soon!

Mr. Hoheisel, principal
#EveryMoveCounts

Lewis and Clark has been undergoing an HVAC Upgrade throughout the summer. New boilers, ventilation systems, and chillers have been part of the upgrade. This means that we'll FINALLY have adequate heating, cooling, and ventilation systems within the lion's den!!! The chillers are on backorder, but the team has come up with a plan. A temporary chiller will be used until our units can be delivered and installed.

With this work, you'll also notice quite a bit of duct work throughout the hallways and classrooms. The physical building isn't what makes Lewis and Clark amazing, it's the people inside! When modifying the physical structure of a 70 year old building, it doesn't always look the prettiest, but the quality of air in our building is 100% worth it.

Thank you to all of the staff who prepared the building for the construction last May, the staff who have helped put our school back together, and Miss Jackie, Mr. Tom, and Mr. Kurtis for preparing the entire building in a very short, speedy timeline!

In order for our construction teams to work in a safe environment while also keeping others safe, no one is currently allowed in the building. For all questions, please call our school's office at 701-746-2285. If there's a need to come into the school, please call and speak with Miss Lindsay in the school office and we'll make a plan to touch base.
Thank you for understanding and helping keep our Lion Pride safe!

First Day of School: Tuesday, August 27th

• School day runs from 8:20-3:00

• 8:20 am = First Bell

• 8:25 am = Tardy Bell

• 3:00 pm = Dismissal Bell

• Breakfast runs from 7:40-8:20

EVERYONE SHOULD APPLY -- PLEASE!

• Lewis & Clark is a Title 1 school that receives government funding to support the academic advancement of our students. The amount of funding we receive is determined by the percentage of our students who qualify for free or reduced priced meals.
• In order to ensure that Lewis & Clark continues to receive Title 1 funding, I am asking all families, regardless of your income, to please take the time to fill out the application for free and reduced meals. The application will be sent home with your child and can also be found here: Link to Free & Reduced Priced Meals Information

• Every student at Lewis & Clark Elementary School needs to be registered in the PowerSchool Parent Portal for the upcoming year. If you did not complete this over the spring/summer you will need to do it immediately. Go to https://grand-forks.ps.state.nd.us/public/home.html. Enter your access ID and password and then click on the “Registration 2024-25” link.
• Most of you should have already received your access ID and password. If you have questions, please call the office at 701-746-2285.

• Classroom assignment letters will be shared by August 16th. In order to get that information, you must have your student registered in PowerSchool with your most up-to-date contact information.
• Our teams pride themselves on working collaboratively, giving students the opportunity to interact with other students and teachers throughout the school. If your child is not in the same class as their friends, it's okay! Students will have opportunities to collaborate, enjoy lunch, and play outside together throughout the school year.
• Scheduling classes is a complex task, so we ask that you do not request changes to your child's classroom teacher assignment. If any changes need to be made by the administration, we will contact you.

• Check this out for your student's school supply list.
• https://app.teacherlists.com/variation/zip/search

School Snacks:

• Some teachers schedule a snack time during the school day. You are not required to provide a snack for your child. However, if you do, please send snacks in accordance with the following Nutrition Standards outlined in the Grand Forks Public School District Wellness Policy.
  

  • Snacks should include a nutrition label

  • Sugar is not the first ingredient (Different names for sugar: brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, honey, fruit juice concentrate, high fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, lactose maltose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, syrup)

  • Candy is not allowed

  • All snacks are peanut and nut free

  • Any fruit or vegetable is allowable

  • Yogurt and cheese are allowable (with freezer pack to keep cool)

  • Plain water in any size is allowable

  • Snacks that contain or may contain peanuts or other nuts (for peanut and tree nut restricted schools), do not fall within the nutrition standards listed above, and/or do not have a nutrition label, will be sent home with your child.
    
    

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 Treats & Invitations:

• Due to food allergies, 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.

• Teachers will not assist in the distribution of birthday invitations in the event that a student would be left out. If the classroom teacher creates a classroom directory, please utilize that for sending invitations through the mail.

Special Dietary Needs Information
Special Dietary Needs Form

School Meal Charge Policy

Wellness Policy:

• 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 either student or parent.

• Students at Grand Forks Public Schools will be issued a student learning device. Kindergarten–2nd grade students will receive an iPad, while students in grades 3-12 will be issued a Chromebook.

• With these digital learning tools comes a variety of information for our families. Please carefully review the attachments for information on: the Acceptable Use Policy, Receiving, caring for, using, and returning the learning device,the Device Use Pledge, the Device Protection Plan (DPP), and Internet connectivity.

• This online portal can be used to purchase chromebook cases, device protection plans, and Chromebook cases. Check out this link for more information www.myschoolbucks.com.

ENCORE will be offered at Lewis and Clark Elementary School. This program operates 3:00pm-5:30pm. On days that school is in session (there are a few days occasionally that we are closed due to staffing). Registration is required, including re-registration if enrolled last year. Registration will be online at: https://forms.gle/GfuUqCNfsGnuG1odA

About ENCORE:

• This is an academic-based program,

• We are mandated to provide two hours a day of academic, regardless of grade level,

• Not all spots are guaranteed,

• Some locations may have a waiting list due to space and staffing
  
  

Daily Schedule (each school does change):

• 3-4 p.m: Homework assistance (Monday-Thursday)

• 3-4 p.m: Academic clubs (Friday)

• 4-4:15 p.m: Snack/Socialization

• 4:00-5:00 p.m: Theme-based enrichment activities aligned to standards

• 5:00-5:30 p.m: Free time

ENCORE Early Dismissal Program
We will also continue to offer The Early Dismissal Program at Lewis and Clark Elementary School. This program operates from 1:30-3 p.m. on 1:30 p.m. early dismissal Wednesdays for the 2024-2025 school year. This free program is being offered in cooperation with Grand Forks Public Schools. Registration is required, including re-registration if enrolled last year. Registration options will be either online.

• Early Out Club provides participants with organized and active after-school activities, arts and crafts, and various STEM activities.

• All students enrolled in ENCORE will report to ENCORE at 3 p.m. All other students not registered for ENCORE must to be picked up no later than 3 p.m.

Morning Options:

• Breakfast: 7:40-8:20 (door #1 or #4)
• Waiting Outside: supervision will be provided at 8:00 am for students waiting outside their assigned arrival doors.
  
  

Breakfast:

• Students eating breakfast may arrive no earlier than 7:40 AM and can enter through the main entrance, Door #1 (if walking or biking) or if you will be dropping your children off in a vehicle, please use our drive-through lane and drop them off at Door #4 in the parking lot.

• Door #2 will be utilized by staff only. When families use this door, it often causes congestion in the parking lot. So please pull all the way forward using the drive through lanes and use door #4 for breakfast.
  
  

• If your child will not be eating breakfast at school, plan to arrive as close to 8:20 as possible and wait by door #1. We will have designated spaces for students to line up when the bell rings.

Dismissal Doors:

• Door 1: Carsen, Muus, Storbakken, Gierszewski & Lovelace
• Door 5: Fick, Mattice, Ellingson, Eriksmoen, & Hagadorn

Parking Options:

• Our parking lot has two lanes of traffic. Lane 1, closest to the building on the right, is for drop off and pick up only. The left lane, Lane 2, is a lane for continuous drive-through traffic; vehicles in Lane 2 are not allowed to stop.

• In order to ensure traffic flows safely in all lanes, PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE. If you wish to exit your vehicle, you will need to park at Elks Pool. Safety is always our first priority.

• Families CANNOT pull up and stop by our main entrance on 13th Avenue South to drop off or pick up students. Stopping on 13th Avenue South blocks the crosswalk, causes congestion, and puts our students in danger. If you choose to park on 13th, you must park on the south side of the street, remain in your vehicle, and have your child utilize the crosswalk.

• If you would like to drive through our parking lot to pick up your child, please plan to use our pick-up lane along the north wing of the building. School staff will be on hand to assist our students to safely get into their cars at the end of each school day.

• Please call the office at 701.746.2285 or buzz at door #1 (flagpole).
  
• In the office, please sign your child out and check the box if they will be returning for the day.
  
• When arriving late, you will sign your child in and the office will provide your student with a late slip to give to their teacher, as well as may be marked tardy (dependent on the reason for being late).
  
• When informing a teacher about an absence, please also check in with the office to ensure your child is coded correctly in PowerSchool.
• Attendance Line: 701.746.2287 or Main Office 701.746.2285

Lewis and Clark's school social worker and counselor are here to support and be a resource for any and all families at any time during the school year.

• School Social Worker: Miss Claire Glines (cglines180@mygfschools.org)
• School Counselor: Miss Angie Byzewski (abyzewski050@mygfschools.org)

The Lewis and Clark PTO is excited to welcome you to another school year! All parents and caregivers are invited to be part of the PTO. We meet monthly, we organize fun events for our school community, and we raise money and fund requests to support all sorts of things for our teachers and students.

Do you have any questions, ideas, or ways to support our Lion Pride? Please contact your PTO Co-Chairs.

We look forward to another great year!

August:

• 26th - Lewis & Clark Open House @ 3:30 - 5:30 PM
• 27th - First Day of School
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September:

• 2nd - Labor Day (No School)
• 12th - McTeacher's Fundraiser at McDonalds @ 5:00 - 7:00 PM
• 17th - Caulfield Picture Day @ 8:00 - 10:30 AM
• 18th - Early Release @ 1:30 PM
• 25th - 3rd Grade Bike Rodeo @ 1:00 - 3:00 PM
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