KENNEDY ELEMENTARY

Main Office: 651-480-7221

Nurse: 651-480-7224

Kids' Campus: 651-480-7257

Hastings Bus Company: 651-437-1888

Kennedy Elementary Website

Elementary Handbook

District Calendars

OCTOBER

10 - Tech Levy Presentation prior to PTA meeting at 6:30 pm - Kennedy Media Center

10 - Hastings Fire Station Open House 7-9 pm

16 - Evening Conferences - Elementary Only

16 - Book Fair in Media Center 4-7:40 pm

17 - Evening Conferences - All grades

17 - Book Fair in Media Center 4-7:40 pm

18 - NO SCHOOL - Conferences - All grades

18 - Book Fair in Media Center from 8 am - 12 pm

19 & 20 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Association Days

25 - Picture Retakes

NOVEMBER

23 & 24 - NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

27 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development

8:50 am: School begins

3:25 pm: Dismissal for all students

This month, our schoolwide theme is skills for learning: listening, focusing attention, using self-talk to stay on-task, and being assertive when asking for help with a learning task. In our morning announcements and school assembly, we’ll be reminding students of these skills, which help students be successful learners.

Second Step lessons teach skills for learning. You’ll be receiving Home Links describing why these skills are important and including fun activities to do with your child to practice them. We hope you enjoy them!

Please ask your child’s teacher if you’d like more suggestions about supporting skills for learning at home.

Elementary conferences are scheduled in the evening of Monday, October 16th and Tuesday, October 17th and during the morning of Wednesday, October 18th.

Visit this link for more information and to sign up

Dear Parents and Families,

Our Scholastic book fair will be held in the Media Center during conferences.

Monday, October 16th from 4:00 - 7:30 pm

Tuesday, October 17th from 4:00 - 7:30 pm

Wednesday, October 18th from 8:00 am - 11:30 am

Volunteers needed!! Please sign up here to help at the book fair.

Remember, every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!).

Shop our Online Store: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/kennedyelementaryschool36 from October 13th - 26th

Kennedy Elementary School Picture Day with Cahill Studios is on:

How to Order?

All galleries will be delivered to parents via email 2-5 business days after picture day.

If you need/want to order with cash or a check, there are paper order forms available at the school. All paper order forms come with your students' school headshot and the standard gray background. All paper order forms must be given to the photographer on Picture Day. If you would like to purchase any additional poses or backgrounds, you will have to place your order online when links are sent out.

Cahill Studios will be sending you a picture day reminder before picture day from the following email address: no-reply@imagequix.com so keep a lookout!

View their 100+ FREE background options on their website so you can best coordinate your students' outfit! Don't forget to dress head to toe and get your haircuts done!

www.cahillphotostudio.com

Don't like your first day photos?
Wait to purchase photos, and your child can have their picture taken on Retake Day: Wednesday, October 25th.

Please note.. The email with your link to order may go to your junk, spam, or promotions folder. It is a secure link and it will allow access to your student's gallery. If you don't get an email within 5 business days after picture day, please reach out to Cahill Studio's customer service team.

Email: service@cahillphotostudio.com
Office Number: 715-268-9363
Toll-Free Number: 866-229-0135

This year we are conducting routine vision and hearing screenings for Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grade students. If you want to opt your child out of this health screening, contact the health office (651-480-7224 kmeier@isd200.org) by October 27th. Screenings will be completed during the school day in early November. You will be notified (phone call and email) if your child has any concerns with vision or hearing after the screenings are completed.

A HUGE thank you for all the support toward our annual Fun Run Fundraiser! What an amazing Kennedy Cougar Community!!

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

• October 10th - Tech Levy Information Session with Dr. Tammy Champa at 6:30 pm followed by our monthly meeting at 7:00 pm where we will approve the proposed budget.
• Watch for news about how we will be celebrating our Fun Run Fundraiser success with Students!

Check out the PTA Website for more information: https://www.kennedycougarpta.org/home

Hello Kennedy Families!

I am excited to announce that 4th graders will have the opportunity to sign up for Cougar Choir. Cougar Choir is a free program that will meet Tuesday mornings from 8:00 am to 8:30 in the music classroom, starting Tuesday, October 3rd at 8:00 am. Choir begins before bus arrival, and families will need to provide alternative transportation. Students will still be able to get breakfast after choir. We do have an attendance policy in place to make sure students are prepared for performances. All permission slips must be signed by both parent and/or guardian and the student. I can’t wait to see you there!

Emma Auby

eauby@isd200.org

Kennedy Music

Thank You Hastings Bus Company for teaching us about bus safety! We appreciate YOU! They have developed lessons plans that correlate with the bus safety curriculum classroom teachers cover each fall.

Big thank you to the Hastings Fire Department for spending the morning sharing about fire safety!

Don't forget to check out their Open House on Tuesday, October 10th from 7-9 pm at the fire department located at 115 W 5th Street.

Learn parts of an apple tree and what an orchard is.

As the weather begins to cool, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for playing outside. Students spend twenty minutes outside for noon recess.

When the temperatures start to dip into the 40’s and 50’s, we do require students to wear a light jacket or sweatshirt outside. When winter arrives, winter clothing will be required.

Just a reminder that if your child is having a birthday party and wants to invite their friends from school, we are not able to give out names, phone numbers or addresses of the students. While we know it is exciting for children to have a birthday party and invite their school friends, we ask that you not send invitations to school with them to pass out. It can cause hurt feelings for those students who did not get invited to the party.

The district has adopted a wellness policy. We are still celebrating student birthdays; we are just not doing so with birthday treats. We ask that students not bring any treats in honor of their birthday.

What is the Minnesota Free School Meals Program?

The Minnesota Free School Meals Program provides state reimbursement to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program so that students can have one breakfast and one lunch at no cost at school.

Can the meals be picked up or brought home like we did during the pandemic?

No. Congregate meal service is required in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Meals may not be taken off campus, sent home, delivered, or picked up by parents or others.

Do I still need to complete the Application for Educational Benefits?

Families need to complete the Application for Educational Benefits. Applications for Educational Benefits determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and support. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits, such as:

• WIC Benefits
• Metro Transit Assistance Program
• FCC Affordable Connectivity Program/Reduced price internet programs
• Some summer camps, athletics programs, and child cares offer scholarships or discounts

What is included in the MN Free School Meals Program?

The student must choose at least three items to be counted as a reimbursable meal at breakfast. The student must choose a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable as part of their breakfast. At lunch, the student must choose at least three components to be counted as a reimbursable meal. The student must choose a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable as part of their lunch.

What is NOT included in the MN Free School Meals Program?

Single-item purchases and non-reimbursable meals are not free. Some examples include: a carton of milk, snack items, a second entrée, a second breakfast, or a second lunch, meals that do not meet the minimum requirements, and meals served to teachers, staff, and other adults.

The price for breakfast and lunch meals will be $0 for all sites.

Fill out the Form! The Application for Education Benefits helps determine how much education funding your school will receive. Complete an application for your student for the school year 2023-24.

• Students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Parents should complete an Application for Education Benefits.
• Only meals that meet the requirements are reimbursed. Students that want additional or single items will be charged for those items.
• The 2023-24 Free and Reduced Meal Application will be available online this summer on the district website under Food Service, and a paper application has been mailed out to families.

For more information, please call Andrea Seleski 651-480-7050 or Brittney Hirschauer 651-480-7126

Illness and Keeping your Child Home

A student should not come to school (and may be sent home from school) if they have or have had:

• a fever of 100 degrees F or more in the past 24 hours

• vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours

• an undiagnosed skin rash

Reporting Absences

If your student will not be at school, please call and report the reason for their absence at 651-480-7220. If your student is ill, please report their symptoms and/or any diagnosed communicable condition like chicken pox, strep throat, cough and fever, influenza, or pink eye. It is recommended that you follow the MDH and CDC exclusion guidelines for communicable diseases.

Immunizations
In order to attend school, students must show that they're in compliance with Minnesota School Immunization Requirements (see the Minnesota Department of Health Link below for more Information). Hastings School's immunization policy states that students who are not up to date on their immunizations will not be allowed to start school until they provide the school with documentation that they have received the required immunizations.
Parents/guardians may check their student's immunization status by logging on to the parent portal in Infinite Campus. To see the immunization records, click on the HEALTH tab. If your student's immunization status says "current for grade" in ALL immunizations required by law, then the student is up to date and ready for the start of school. If your student is not current, they will need to get the required immunizations to attend the first day of school. Yearly physicals with their healthcare provider are strongly encouraged for students to have optimal health.

Parents/guardians may choose to decline immunizations for their students by filing a legal exemption with the school. Student Immunization Form

If you have further questions, please reach out to your building nurse.

Your child's safety is of prime importance to us. There are a few procedure guidelines that help us maintain a secured building and limit the number of distractions to our classrooms. Our building is designed to have a single entry point during the school day. Please keep the following in mind:

• Always check in at the office whenever you are at school.
  
• We have a new secure entrance, please ring the doorbell and state your reason for visiting.
• When delivering things for your child (ex. snow gear), please drop them off at the office. We will deliver articles or call your child down to the office.
  
• When picking up your child early from school, please do so by signing them out at the office. The office personnel will contact your child’s teacher to dismiss them and meet you in the office.

Please bring your driver's license with you when you are checking out your student.

Dismissal Time: 3:25 is the dismissal time for all students. Students being picked up by car will be dismissed from the back horseshoe drive. Be sure to get your car/student number from the office. Walkers and bus students will use the front door. The curved drive at the front of the building is reserved for buses.

Afternoon car pick-up procedures: Dismissal begins at 3:25 and takes a total of about 10 minutes. The line moves quickly beginning at the 3:25 dismissal bell.

· If you are picking your child up at the end of the day, you will need to stop at the school office to get a number to display in your vehicle window. Students will have a matching number attached to their backpack.

· Form a single line of traffic entering from Tyler Street, through the north parking lot, around to the back of the building.

· PLEASE STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE. Students will be assisted to the vehicles.

· Please move your car up as soon as the car in front of you moves forward.

· Make sure your car number is visible. The numbers may be attached to the passenger side visor so it can conveniently be flipped down or on the front passenger window. The numbers are not visible if they are on the dash.

If the Hastings Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather conditions, the Kids Campus Program will also be closed. If school is delayed two hours in opening, Kids Campus will be open at the regular time (6:30 am).

If school closes two hours early, then Kids Campus sites will close two hours early

(4:00 pm). Parents will be called and notified by Kids Campus staff to pick up their child.

Please pick up your child by 4:00 pm or authorize someone else to pick up your child by that time. Please listen to the radio and TV for school closing announcements.