What's up Wednesday

9/25/2024

Here is what you need to know about picture day...

• Picture day is October 1
• All students will have their picture taken on picture day, during school hours
• 7-10 days after picture day, all families will receive an email with your student's photo gallery from Kemmetmueller
• All orders will be placed online - no envelopes, no paper order forms, no cash/check
• Photos will be delivered directly to your home!
• Picture retake day will be on Wednesday, October 30
• If you have questions about pictures, please visit https://www.k-photography.com/find-my-photo

The window for scheduling conferences will open at 4:30pm tomorrow, Thursday, September 26 and will close on Sunday, October 6.

Scheduling will be done using ParentVUE. Instructions on how to schedule your child(rens) conferences can be found here: Conference Scheduling Instructions

If you do not yet have a ParentVUE account activated, you may activate it now via this link: ParentVue Activation Instructions

Conference Dates and Times

Tuesday, October 8th 8:00am - 9:00am and 4:30pm - 7:30pm

Thursday, October 10th 4:30pm - 8:30pm

Monday, October 14th 4:30pm - 8:30pm

Fall Conferences are “Listening Conferences” For Teachers, Grades 2-5

We will have been in school for about 5 weeks when conferences begin. Therefore, we don’t use fall conferences as a “reporting conference”. Teachers in grades 2-5 will spend minimal or no time sharing about student academic performance as it’s too early in the school year to give an accurate picture of how our scholars are performing. Rather, we use fall conferences for 2 purposes:

• Teacher, parent and children can work together to determine a good independent reading goal for at home.
• Teachers will ask parents questions to help build a relationship and better understand our families hopes and desires for their child(ren) for this school year. This, hopefully, will help us better understand the needs/desires of our families for their child(ren)’s education. Teachers will send these questions to parents ahead of time so that they can prepare for them. Please watch for this information from your child’s teacher.

Kindergarten/1st Grade Conferences: this is more of a reporting about how each child is adjusting to being a student. This can include some of their academic and social/emotional adjustments. Kindergarten teachers may also ask questions to better learn about each child.

Scholastic Book Fair is Coming!

The book fair will be open in the Media Center during conferences as well as some additional times during the school day (students only).

Book Fair Hours:

Tuesday, October 8: 8:00-9:30am; 3:30-7:30pm

Thursday, October 10: 3:00pm-8:30pm

Friday, October 11: 9am-10:00am

Monday, October 14: 3:00pm-8:30pm

Tuesday, October 15: 9:00am-10:30am

The hours are subject to change if we don't have volunteers! Please consider signing up for a shift to keep the book fair open! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA9A92DA0FC1-51725985-fall

Questions on the book fair? Contact Taryn tarynkuebelbeck@gmail.com

Today, each family will be receiving an application for Educational Benefits. We are asking that each family complete the form.

There are 3 easy ways to fill out an Educational Benefits Application:

1. Complete the paper form being sent home today and return it to school
2. Online at: https://bit.ly/3hWdk7Q. This option will bypass making a family account while still allowing completion of the application
   
3. Scan the QR code to the right

This bunny was found after the Fun Run. He is looking for his owner. If he belongs to you, please come claim him in the school office.

We have seen instances this year of students using smart devices (phones or watches) to call their parents when they are not feeling well and asking to be picked up.

Please note, per the student handbook (pg 18): Use of cell phones and other electronic devices is allowed during school hours, for educational purposes only, at the direction of a staff member… Students should not use their personal devices during the instructional day unless for academic purposes. In addition, the Cedar Island expectation matrix states that all personal electronics should be stored in backpacks/lockers.

For the safety of all students and staff at Cedar Island, students feeling ill must be evaluated by the building nurse prior to leaving during the school day. If the student does not meet illness exclusion criteria (for details, see www.district279.org/departments/health-services) they will be encouraged to stay at school.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Becky Christensen, RN-BSN, PHN

Licensed School Nurse

As we settle into routines, it's important to point out some reminders for those who drop-off or pick-up their students from school....

• Doors open at 9:20am. Students should not be dropped off prior to 9:15 as there is not adult supervision until that time.
• Pick-up begins at 3:55. All students must be picked up by 4:05pm.
• When in the parking loop, DO NOT EXIT YOUR VEHICLE! This poses a danger to you and others. Please stay in your vehicle and have your child exit the passenger side. If they are unable to do so, please park in a spot and walk your child to the front entryway.
• ALL vehicles MUST use the north lot with the loop to pick up their students. The south parking lot is for busses only!

Thank you for helping make this as smooth as possible each day!

Over the next several months, elementary and middle school attendance boundaries will be reviewed to determine needed changes. These adjustments will reassign the elementary and/or middle school some households are zoned to attend. Our community’s support of Building a Better Future in 2023 is helping to minimize the extent of the changes.

There will be multiple ways for staff, students, parents/caregivers and community members to be involved throughout this process. The first opportunity is to share what considerations should be adhered to during the review via this ThoughtExchange: https://bit.ly/47gO6ZN. Please note any responses you provide are anonymous and can be completed within minutes.

Information will continue to be shared on the district website, district279.org.

#BetterFuture

If your child will be absent from school, there are 4 ways you can report the absence....

1. Email your child's name, teacher's name, dates and reason for the absence to CIAttendance@district279.org
2. Text the CI Attendance line in your TalkingPoints app. Be sure to include your child's name, teacher's name, dates and reason for the absence.
3. Login to ParentVUE and submit it in the attendance section.
4. Call the school at 763-425-5855 and follow the prompts.

If you will be picking your child up from school early, there is no need to call the office. Simply arrive at the school and let the office know who you are picking up. We will call the classroom at that time to release your student. Be sure to allow enough time before appointments for this process. We will not have students waiting in the office for your arrival.

• October 1 - Picture Day
  
• October 8 - Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00am - 9:00am and 4:30pm - 7:30pm
• October 8 - Book Fair Begins
• October 10 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30pm - 8:30pm
• October 11 - Pajama Day
• October 14 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30pm - 8:30pm
• October 16 - Blue Team Popcorn Party (In school)
• October 17 - No School MEA
• October 18 - No School MEA