Kelly Newsletter

Dear Kelly Families~

February is almost here and hopefully the upcoming month will continue to bring warm weather 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. We encourage all students to attend their conference with their parents. Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 15th from 4:00-7:00pm, Friday, February 16th from 8:00am-4:00pm and on Tuesday, February 20th from 4:00-7:00pm. Just a reminder that there is no school for elementary students on Friday, February 16th and there is no school for all students on Monday, February 19th. Make sure to stop in the library for the Kelly School Book Fair while you're here for conferences. 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!

More information regarding scheduling conferences will be coming soon. We will be utilizing Sign-up Genius again as our conference scheduling tool. 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.

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.

Warm wishes~

LuAnn Schmidt

Associate Principal

February 12th-February 21st-Book Fair

Thursday, February 15th-P/T Conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Friday, February 16th-No School for Elementary Students Only

Friday, February 16th-P/T Conferences 8:00am-4:00pm

Monday, February 19th--No School

Tuesday, February 20th-P/T Conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Tuesday, February 27th-Family Event (RED) at 2:30pm

Wednesday, February 28th-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.

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

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.