Hawks' Highlights

Greetings Highland Acres’ Families!

I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying our North Dakota summer. We are all excited at school to get things rolling this year and look forward to seeing you all soon. I am including some updates and information that may be helpful as you are making plans to send the kids back to school on Wednesday, August 21st. Our Open House will be held on Monday, August 19th from 5:30-6:30 (students are welcome to bring their school supplies)

August

19th - Open House 5:30-6:30

21st - 1st Day of School

September

2nd - No School - Labor Day

10th - Picture Day

23rd - No School - Staff Development

· New Staff Members: We have a few new staff members that we are welcoming this year:

o Mrs. Kendra Clark – Library Media Teacher

o Ms. Amber McGuire – Special Education Teacher

o Mr. Grayson Erling – 5th Grade Teacher

o Miss Madison Olson – School Psychologist

o Mrs. Wander Horner – EL Teacher

We will feature our new staff members in newsletters to come so you will get to know them.

· Class Assignments: You will receive an email on Friday, August 9th with your child’s classroom teacher assignment. Since we only have one teacher at each grade level this year, it won’t be too much of a surprise to you or the students.

o Kindergarten: Miss Ashley Jones

o First Grade: Mrs. Brittney Nash

o Second Grade: Mrs. Emily Flach

o Third Grade: Mrs. Alicia Fladeland

o Fourth Grade: Miss Brooke Pfaff

o Fifth Grade: Mr. Grayson Erling

· School Supplies: Please see the website that lists the supply items for each grade level -Click here

If any needs arise, we can assist.

· School Day: School starts at 8:30 and dismisses at 3:05. You may drop off students at 7:30 but no earlier! The door does not open until 7:30 and we do not have supervision before that time. Breakfast is served beginning at 7:45 until 8:15. Supervisors will take students outside between 8:00-8:10 depending on the weather until the bell rings at 8:30 indicating the start of school. Please also be cognizant of the 3:05 dismissal time so that all students are picked up, on the bus, or at ASP so staff can resume their duties. We know situations come up so please let the office know if you are delayed.

After School Program: We are now taking registrations for our After School Program. Click here to register for ASP . More information will be coming to those families that are participating.

· The BPS meal payment platform is a system called LINQ Connect. This system provides parents with more control over school lunch accounts while offering many convenient new features. Activity and library fees will continue to be processed with My Payments Plus. All families with students who eat school lunches must create an account for LINQ Connect. Balances from the old system will automatically be transferred over.

Registering is simple, just follow these steps:

1. REGISTER at linqconnect.com by clicking on the register button near the upper right-hand corner. Next, input your name, email address, and password. Choose your language and time zone and check the I agree to the Terms of Use box. Finally, click submit.
2. VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT by opening your email and clicking on the verification link sent to you from LINQ Connect. After doing so, please click the Back to LINQ Connect button in the email.
3. SIGN IN. You should be automatically signed in, but if not please click the login button in the upper right-hand corner.

To add students:

1. After logging into LINQ Connect, click the plus sign in the upper right-hand corner.
2. An “Add” menu will appear. Here, you will choose type, which will be student for student accounts. Next, type in “Bismarck Public Schools” for the district area.
3. Now you will be able to input your child’s first name, last name, and birthdate in order to add a student. Please note that the name must match what is in PowerSchool.

Adding Auto Pay

1. On your account homepage, click the Add Money to Account button.
2. You now have options to transfer balances or add auto pay.
3. Click Add Auto Pay and fill out your payment account information. The frequency option allows you to choose when payments will occur.

Download the new LINQ Connect app in the Google Play Store available now or visit LINQConnect.com to manage all your payments in one convenient location. An Apple Store version will be available soon. Within the LINQ Connect portal, you can set up one-time or recurring payments for your students’ meals, view previous transactions, set spending limits, transfer funds between students, set low-balance notifications, and more. It’s an easy way to manage meal payments without the hassle of sending cash.

Chrome Books: Each student will be assigned their own computer again this year. Teachers will let you know when/if they send them home for at home assignments or projects. Our Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Kendra Clark and our library assistant Mrs. Coley Ugland, work closely with each teacher and class on acceptable use of technology, reviewing how to use the technology safely.

Elementary Student and Parent Handbook: This is a good resource for parents, so I am including the link here.

Back Playground: I know this has been noticed by many of you that our back playground was removed this summer. It has reached the “end of life” as far as playgrounds go so that is why the district removed it. Once we find out what we can do with this space, PTO, parents, and school staff can do some brainstorming and planning. Stay tuned…