Panther Newsletter

When driving through our parking lot, please use caution and slow down. We don't want anyone to get hurt in the parking lot! Arrival and dismissal times can get very busy. It's important to watch for pedestrians, walk in the yellow walking lane, and cross at the crosswalk. Please DO NOT exit out the "Entrance Only" entrance.

3rd, 4th and 5th graders did an awesome job with their MCA testing! 5th graders will complete testing by taking the science portion on April 30th and May 1st. Great job, Panthers!

May 8: Bus Evacuation Drills

May 9: All school BBQ

May 22: Multicultural Night

May 26: No School - Memorial Day

May 30: Kindergarten celebration

June 5: 5th grade graduation

Our multicultural celebration will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:00-7:00 pm. We look forward to hosting you for a night of celebrating our cultures through food, dance, activity, and learning! This event has been very popular in the past and we're excited to be able to do it again. Everyone is welcome!

Click here for more information: https://griefclubmn.org/summer-programming/

Kidstop Summer program and Kidstop School Year 2024-25 registration is open online at osseo.ce.eleyo.com

Kidstop is a choice-based, high quality and enriching school-age care experience for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Whether your child craves challenge and adventure, connection and friendships, or just wants to chill, Kidstop offers engaging opportunities as unique as your child. Kidstop is open from 6:30 a.m. until school start time and from school end time until 6 p.m.

Summer Kidstop is for students entering kindergarten through fifth grade starting Fall 2024. Summer Kidstop programming is open from June 13 -Aug. 16. For more information about contracts, registration and tuition view the Summer Kidstop brochure on the Kidstop website.

Locations:

• Basswood Elementary School
• Oak View Elementary School
• Woodland Elementary School

Kidstop School Year 2024-25 is for students entering kindergarten through fifth grade starting in Fall 2024. School Year Kidstop programming is open from Sept. 3 -June 6. For more information about contract options, non-school days, locations, registration and tuition view the Kidstop School Year 2024-25 brochure on the Kidstop website.

Please read the information below regarding free family advocate services offered by Northwest Family Resource Collaborative.

We are seeing an increase in Norovirus at Palmer Lake. Osseo Area Schools is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all our students, staff, community, and visitors.

Ensure Sick individuals are sent home from school

Individuals who have a fever of greater than 100.4 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea or are not well enough to participate in learning while at Osseo sites will be sent home. These individuals may return when they have had no episodes of diarrhea, vomiting or fever for 24 hours without the use of medications and are well enough to participate in learning.

If your student becomes too ill to remain in school, school personnel will attempt to notify you immediately. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for the proper care and transportation of your child. In the event we are unable to reach you your designated emergency contacts will be called. Emergency contacts can be added in ParentVue or by completing an emergency form and submitting it to your child’s school.

Ensure sick individuals stay home when not feeling well

Staff, students, and families will be informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of many potential infectious diseases as listed on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website. Individuals with symptoms, even when mild, should remain home until they are well enough to be in the learning environment to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. For those at increased risk of complications, individuals should reach out to a healthcare provider, even when symptoms are mild, for consultation.

These symptoms include but are not limited to; consistent cough, fever over 100.4 degrees, difficulty or trouble breathing, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, excessive fatigue, severe headache, nasal congestion, or severe runny nose.

Individuals who test positive for any infectious disease such as: COVID-19, Influenza or RSV, should:

• Notify their child’s school or childcare

• Follow exclusion periods from schools which can be found on the district website under Communicable Diseases.

All staff and students who are ill should remain out and return to sites when their symptoms are improved, and they are well enough to attend. Staff should follow their sick leave procedure as is laid out in their contract and families should call the attendance line

School nurse:

Tammy Bauer, RN

BauerT@district279.org

763-549-2401

The purpose of this charitable outreach program is to provide free care to low-income children in need. Thousands of dental professionals volunteer their time to this program because they understand the pain and embarrassment many children experience due to untreated dental problems. Since the program’s inception in Minnesota in 2003, 86,000 children have received free care through Give Kids a Smile.

Click here to learn more or find a clinic.

Please make sure the only beverage your student has at school is a bottle of water. Beverages like hot chocolate, lemonade and soda easily spill in lockers (and on floors!) and leave a sticky mess.

Click here to learn more!

We are looking to expand our partnership with local businesses. Partnership could include:

• prize donations for Family bingo
• monetary donation for field trips, guess speakers, family events, supplies, etc
• volunteering with students or preparing classroom materials
• donation of meals for teachers during conference nights
• donation of treats, meals, etc for Teacher Appreciation Week

If you have a connection with a local business who might want to sponsor Palmer Lake, please reach out to:

Sarah Schmidt @ schmidtsarah@district279.org or 763-561-1930 OR

Jen Zipf @ zipfj@district279.org or 763-561-1930

As in previous years, some teachers will have snack time during the day and others will not. New this year, any class that has snack time will have community-provided snack only; no individual snacks from home. Teachers may ask families for snack donations for the whole class. Candy, cookies, chips and soda are not allowed. Watch for communication from your child's teacher at the beginning of the year.

We suggest that cell phones and other non-district devices not be brought to Palmer Lake. If brought to school, cell phones and SmartWatches should not be seen or heard in the school building, or when outside. Staff will collect cell phones at the beginning of the day, lock them in a secure place, and return them at dismissal time.

If a staff member sees or hears a phone or SmartWatch, it may be taken from the student. The first time a phone or SmartWatch is taken, parents will be notified and the device will be returned at the end of the school day. Any occurrences after that, parents will be notified and an adult will need to come pick up the device. If it becomes a chronic concern, PL staff will work with the student and parents to make a plan. Any device brought to school is the responsibility of the student. Palmer Lake will not be involved if a cell phone, SmartWatch or non-district device is lost or stolen.

If a parent ever needs to send a message to their child(ren) during the school day, please call the office and we will communicate the message to your student. Thank you in advance for partnering with us to ensure students are focused on their learning rather than distracted by their device.

Our #1 job is to ensure the safety of everyone at Palmer Lake. If your child will be picked up by a parent or other adult at dismissal, please follow the Parent Pick Up expectations.

• Students will be dismissed for pick up at 3:15pm. Please be on time and ensure students are picked up by 3:30pm at the absolute latest.
• Drive slowly and pay attention!
• Cross at the cross walk. Wait for the adult to signal it is your turn to cross.
• Handicap parking spaces are only for drivers who have a valid handicap permit. The permit MUST be easily visible each time you park there.
• Parents are encouraged to pick up their student(s) at the fence along the sidewalk in front of the building. You may also park and meet your child near the cross walk.
• Follow the expectations on the Parent Drop Off/Pick Up map (below and linked). Drivers who do not follow the expectations create unsafe situations and/or back up traffic.
  

The arrival bell rings at 8:35am. Students may line up outside of the front doors beginning at 8:30am. There is not supervision before 8:30am, so that is the earliest students should arrive. Students who arrive to school after 8:50am are considered tardy and the student(s) will need to check in at the office to receive a pass.

Dismissal of students who are walkers or parent pick up is at 3:15pm. Students who ride a bus are dismissed at approximately 3:20pm.

AM VPK: 8:35am-11:20am

PM VPK: 12:50pm-3:20pm

It is very important that we have accurate information for all students, especially phone numbers for parents and emergency contacts. Please take a few minutes before school starts to update Back to School Forms. They are available online through ParentVue.

Unfamiliar with ParentVue? Please click the link to get started: https://mn-oas-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login_Parent.aspx?regenerateSessionId=True

Safety is our number one priority. ANY person wishing to enter Palmer Lake will be expected to wait in the vestibule and speak with office staff via doorbell camera and microphone. Please have your ID ready for office staff to scan. Forgotten items (lunch boxes, instruments, etc.) can be left on the table in the vestibule for a more efficient drop off. Again, ANY person wishing to enter Palmer Lake will be expected to wait in the vestibule and speak with office staff via doorbell camera and microphone.

If you would like to speak with an administrator or teacher, you are strongly encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment.

https://pl.district279.org/

Transportation Office: 763-391-7244
BusQuestions@district279.org

Office hours-

School in Session: 6:00am-5:00pm
Non-Student Days: 6:00am-4:30pm

https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/OsseoISDElementarySchools