Wilder Elementary School -September

Dear Families,

We are off to a fantastic start this school year! During these first weeks, our students have been focused on learning and practicing important routines, reconnecting with friends and teachers, and building positive relationships. They are also learning what it means to be safe, respectful, and responsible in all areas of the school. It’s exciting to see them growing as learners and community members! One thing we have heard from many of our students is how tired they are! Please ensure your child is getting at least 8 hours of sleep (even more for K-2 students)~ device free!

A special thank you to all the families who participated in our summer Math and Reading Challenge. We appreciate your support in keeping students engaged over the break. Students who returned their signed challenge sheets will be treated to a special lunch celebration this week as a reward for their hard work and dedication!

We also want to remind you of our upcoming Title 1 Family Meeting on September 25th at 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for us to share the academic progress that led Wilder to being removed from the Targeted Support Intervention list. We’ll also provide helpful tips on how you can continue to support your child's learning at home. We look forward to seeing you there!

We kindly ask for your continued support in helping your child achieve and grow by incorporating daily practice of math facts at home. This can range from counting for our Kindergarten students to mastering multiplication for those in grades 3-5. Additionally, reading regularly will help improve their fluency, whether it's improving the pace at which they read or recalling key information from texts. Your partnership in these small daily routines will make a big difference in your child’s academic progress!

We appreciate our families and so happy to have you back with us!

Leslie Bjelde

Principal

Important School Times

Last year, with your assistance, we we able to decrease chronic absenteeism by 3.9%, just shy of our 5% goal. Please continue to do your part to ensuring your child(ren) are at school on time and are only absent for illness related reasons.

• Breakfast: Served from 7:40-8:15 am -- Use Door #1

• First Bell: 8:20 am -- Use Door #4 (if not having breakfast at school)

• School Begins: 8:25 am

• Tardy Bell : 8:25 am

• School Dismissal Time: 3:00 pm -- Students will be dismissed through Door #4. It is important to be on time as our staff has meetings that begin by 3:10 pm.

Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Our students' safety as they arrive and dismiss from school is very important to us. Please note the following expectations to ensure that we are working together to keep kids safe at these busy times of day.

Due to security guidelines, families are asked to drop students off at the first set of doors in the morning and refrain from walking throughout the school. Teachers are not available to visit with before 8:20 am as they are preparing for the day. Please send a message via SeeSaw and they will respond during their prep time or afterschool.

Before School:

• Our doors open for breakfast at 7:40 am, please do not allow your child(ren) to exit the car until 7:40 am, especially in cold or rainy weather. The doors will not open until 7:40 am.
• If you arrive prior to 7:40 am, you must wait in your car on the street rather than block the driveway in the parking lot as this causes traffic to be backed up or delays staff from arriving on time.
• Students who do not eat breakfast at school will wait outside by Door #4 (south side of the building). Please wait until closer to 8:20 to drop these students off.
• When dropping off on the street, students must exit your vehicle from CURBSIDE ONLY. Please arrange carseats or other objects on the side that will allow your child to get out along the curbside.
• Students are not allowed to arrive early or play on the unsupervised playground. They will stand nicely in a line outside door #4. Drop off your child along North 4th St.

After School:

• Pick up your child along N. 4th Street. All students are dismissed through Door #4. Families are expected to promptly meet their children outside at dismissal time.

• If you or your child need to cross the street to return to your car, use the crosswalk. Staff will redirect you if you are crossing in the street as it is a city ordinance and should be followed for safety reasons. Please show kindness if you are given a reminder.
  
• When picking up along the street, students must enter your vehicle from CURBSIDE ONLY. Please arrange car seats or other objects on the side that will allow your child to get out along the curbside. Again, staff will provide a reminder to follow this guidance and offer solutions as it is for the safety of your child.

• In order for safe habits to be established, it is especially important that families help their children follow our pick up and drop off routines and procedures.

Absences and Tardies:

If your child is going to be late or absent from school, please inform the school office at 746-2320 before 8:25 am. Wilder attendance line is 701-746-2324. Communication between home and school ensures student safety. If the school does not hear from you, the office will call to make sure your child is safe.

If your child arrives after 8:25 am to school, a family member will need to walk the student in to sign them in. If you are taking your child out of school early for any reason, come to the office to sign them out. Please let your child's teacher know ahead of time if possible.

Daily attendance is very important. If your child is not in school, he/she is missing out on very important learning. Tardies and early pick ups also result in lost instruction.

As per school policy, household pets are not allowed on school property. If you have a pet with you, your child can meet you on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. Please ensure your child knows where the designated pick-up location will be.

GFPS does allow Pet Therapy in the school. To read more information about the program, click here: Pet Therapy

Please join us at our May meeting on September 10th from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm.

We will meet in the Library at Wilder with free pizza and childcare provided!

We look forward to seeing you there!

President: Whitney Miller

Vice President: Amanda Vingelen

Secretary: Sonja Brandt

Treasurer: Tim Prescott

Wilder Social Media: Cindy Prescott

PTO Members: All parents/guardians, teachers, and staff of Wilder Elementary

Contact: wilderelementarypto@gmail.com

**Like us on Facebook @ Wilder PTO

Snack Policy: Please Read Carefully as this policy will be enforced

Please Send a School Approved Snack to School Everyday:

1. Any fruit or vegetable (most preferred)

2. Cheese sticks/beef sticks (kept in child's cooler bag/lunch bag)

3. Yogurt (that follows policy below - sugar not being the first ingredient, kept cool in child's lunch bag)

4. Pretzels or crackers (in the original container as stated below and not made in a nut facility)

**Please note: fruit snacks, cookies, pop-tarts, or items without a label will not be allowed for snacks as they do not follow the policy below. Plus, some fruit snacks are made in peanut facilities.

GFPS Policy

We recognize the important role of parents/guardians and school staff in educating our students about healthy lifestyles. Due to an increased number of students with 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. For example, a book, game, or school supplies may be donated to your child's classroom.

Some teachers schedule a snack time during the school day. You are not required to provide a snack for your child. However, if you do, please send snacks in accordance with the following Nutrition Standards outlined in the Grand Forks Public School District Wellness Policy.

• Snacks should include a nutrition label
• *Sugar is not the first ingredient
• Candy is not allowed
• All snacks are peanut and tree nut free
• Any fruit or vegetable is allowable
• Yogurt and cheese are allowable (with freezer pack to keep cool)
• Plain water in any size is allowable
• Individual snacks requested by your child's teacher must come to school in the original packaging that includes a nutrition label. Snacks that contain or may contain peanuts or other nuts and/or do not have a nutrition label or do not fall within the nutrition standards listed above, will be sent home with your child.

** Different names for sugar include such names as brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, honey, fruit juice concentrate, high fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, lactose maltose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, or syrup, to name a few.

Please take note of these important upcoming dates!

September

Monday, September 2nd - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday

Wednesday, September 18th - Early Release at 1:30pm

Wednesday, September 18th- Flu shot clinic AM (more information to come)

Monday, September 23rd - School Picture Day

Wednesday, September 25th- Title 1 Family Meeting

1. *All families welcome
2. *Learn about our students achievement level in reading and math

Friday, September 27th - RED Event at 2:30pm

October

Wednesday, October 2nd - Early Release at 1:30pm

Thursday, October 3rd - PT Conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Friday, October 4th - PT Conferences 8-4pm (No School)

Tuesday, October 8th - PT Conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Tuesday, October 15th - PTO Meeting at 5:30pm (Wilder Library)

Wednesday, October 16th - Early Release at 1:30pm

Friday, October 18th - No School (Admin Convention)

Friday, October 25th - RED Event at 2:30pm

November

Wednesday, November 6th - Early Release at 1:30pm

Thursday, November 7th - Veterans Program at 10:20

Monday, November 11th - NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day)

Thursday, November 14th - Turkey Bingo at 5:30PM

Friday, November 15th - End of 1st Trimester

Wednesday, November 20th - Early Release at 1:30pm

Friday, November 22nd - RED Event at 2:30PM

Wednesday, November 27th - NO School (Thanksgiving)

Thursday, November 28th - NO School (Thanksgiving)

Friday, November 29th - NO School (Thanksgiving)

Grand Forks Public Schools has determined a number of early release days to allow for teacher collaboration time. Wilder Elementary School is committed to providing the instruction and support needed for all students to achieve high levels of academic success. This collaboration schedule and what we do during this valuable time is vital to that commitment.

On early release Wednesdays, students who are walking home or being picked up will dismiss from Door #4 promptly at 1:30 pm. Please plan accordingly.

• September 18
• October 2, 16
• November 6, 20
• December 4,18
• January 15, 29
• February 19
• March 5,
• April 9, 30
• May 14th

Students enrolled in ENCORE's Early Out Club will report to their designated attendance location at Wilder at 1:30 pm. Early Out Club will dismiss at 3:00 pm. Parents (of children not also enrolled in Encore) are to come to Door #1 (parking lot door) and sign their child out.

Please watch for information regarding intramurals in the near future.

Buckle Up! Should your child still have a booster seat? Read below!

Stay at Home if Sick

Tuesday September 17, 2024

Morning hours

We encourage all students to wear their Blue Zones Project Grand Forks t-shirts, or any blue shirt, on Wednesdays to show your participation and support for Wellness Wednesday at school. Wellness Wednesday is in support of Blue Zones Project, a well-being initiative that has partnered with Wilder Elementary School to further enhance the health and happiness of all students. Wearing blue connects us, promotes conversation around healthful topics, and shows our commitment to living longer, better in Grand Forks.

Please download the PDF for access to the Blue Zones Project Bingo card to participate and earn a free t-shirt!

1. Anyone who is not a regular staff member, volunteer, or student of the school will be deemed a "visitor;"

2. Visitors to the school during the designated school day must report to the administrative office upon arrival. Visitors are required to sign in and out of the building using the Visitor Management System, or as otherwise directed, and to wear a visitor identification name tag at all times while in the school or on school grounds.

3. Visitors attending school functions that are open to the public, such as parent-teacher meetings,

conferences, school programs, assemblies, graduations, and athletic events, are not required to register.

4. All families should wait in the office when picking up or dropping their child(ren) off at school.

North Dakota Century Code requires fire, tornado, and other emergency drills, including an unannounced lockdown. Wilder will hold four fire drills during the year.

Lockdown Information: Wilder practices Lockdown drills two times a year. During a lockdown, no one is allowed in/out of the building. At times, Lockdowns may be called for medical reasons. If a real lockdown occurs, families will be notified via email.

Email: jhouser060@mygfschools.org
Website: https://www.gfschools.org/Domain/1087
Location: 1009 North 3rd Street
Phone: (701) 746-2320

Attendance line (701) 746-2324