Eagles Newsletter August7, 2023

Fall 2023

As part of the Osseo Area Schools operational plan and strategic direction, the district's communication team is working together with schools to help create improved communications between the district and its families and community members. Our new e-newsletters are more accessible and translatable, and they can be shared for easily in a variety of formats. We hope you enjoy catching up with the latest Elm Creek Elementary news in this new format.

Dear Elm Creek Families,

Welcome back to a new school year! I hope you had a fun, family-filled summer. I am looking forward to a successful learning year with your child(ren)!

Please join me in welcoming our new staff:

Angela Adelman-0.2 School Social Worker

Jina Boloor-0.4 School Psychologist

Tyler Danielson-0.5 Resource Teacher (and 0.5 at FO)

Kerri Dorn-6 hours/day Connect Paraprofessional

Jessica Ellingson-1.0 Behavior Intervention Teacher

Tammie Golio-2.5 hours/day Resource Paraprofessional

Daniel Gregory-1.0 Resource Teacher

Tori Helgeson-1.0 Connect Teacher

Michelle Humphrey-Student Services Coordinator

Miller Lamotte-0.4 Vocal Music Teacher

Erin Myhrer-0.5 English Language Learners Teacher

Tikkia Osborne-0.3 EC Special Education Building Coordinator

Nicole Roberts-6.0 hours/day Connect Paraprofessional

Meghan Ward-Third Grade Teacher

TBD-0.1 DAPE Teacher

TBD -6 hour/day 1:1 Kindergarten Special Education Paraprofessional

TBD-7 hours/day School Licensed Practical Nurse

I am committed to ensuring your child experiences a safe, challenging, and nurturing education at Elm Creek Elementary. I appreciate your partnership and support as together we create a strong learning environment for our students. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns throughout the year. I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer! I look forward to seeing you at Open House on Wednesday, August 30th from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Sincerely,

Beth Ness

Principal, Elm Creek Elementary

August 23 - New Family Orientation/Tour (for grades 1-5) at 3:00 p.m.

August 30 - Open House from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

September 5 - First Day of School

September 5 - Tears and Cheers for Kindergarten Families at 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. in Media Center

September 18 - 29 - APEX Fundraiser at Elm Creek

October 10, 12 & 17 - Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 10 & 12 - PTO Fall Book Fair

October 18 - Unity Day

October 26 - Picture Day

November 7 - No School for Students - Licensed Staff Workshop Day

November 16 - Picture Retake Day

November 23 & 24 - No School for Thanksgiving Holiday

December 1 - No School for Students - Mark Reporting Day

December 20 - January 1 - No School for Winter Break

You are invited to attend Elm Creek Open House on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. This is an exciting time for you and your child to meet your child’s teacher, visit the classroom and learn more about the Elm Creek community.

Classroom teachers will be sending an email prior to Open House to notify you of your child’s classroom placement. Please make sure you have an updated email on file in ParentVue. If you need assistance updating your email or accessing ParentVue please contact Staci in the office at 763-425-0577 or email joness@district279.org.

You can do the following at Open House:

· Visit the Nurse to discuss health concerns and to drop off medications, if needed.

· Visit the office for ParentVue and Edutrak Connect (formerly SmartSchoolK12) information, if needed.

· Visit the cashier to put money into your child’s lunch account or use the online Edutrak Connect.

· Visit the Kidstop Room, if interested (located in Room B-1).

· Visit the PTO team, they will be available to share information.

· Visit Community groups in the cafeteria.

· Bring school supplies to place in desk

All medication given at school will be dispensed by our nurse and must be in a prescription bottle with the written directions specified by the doctor. Minnesota law requires students be up to date with immunizations before the first day of school. Please notify the Nurse of any food allergies.

The Nurse position at Elm Creek has yet to be filled for the 2023-24 SY. Please contact CohnT@district279.org with medication/health concern questions.

Monday, August 23rd at 3:00 p.m.

NEW enrolled families in grades 1 – 5 are invited to visit the school for a tour, meet Principal Ness and the office staff. You will also want to attend the Open House on August 30th to meet your teacher!

All families will complete back-to-school registration online through your ParentVUE account. The back to school registration is to verify that the information we have is accurate and up to date. This includes emergency contacts, family contact information, etc. This registration process does include your younger children, even though they are not enrolled in school.

Complete the required registration by logging into your ParentVIUE account. You will be prompted to complete the back to school registration. On-screen prompts will then walk you through the back-to-school registration process.

Access ParentVUE using the Family Access button on the top right of any district or school website.

Please complete this process early so there is no delay in you using your ParentVUE account to sign up for Conferences in September! Also, remember the photo denial does prohibit your child from being included in the school yearbook. Contact Staci in the school office if you have questions.

New for 2023-24, existing riders from 2022-23 will only need to declare changes to their needs. If your student currently rides the bus from a stop near your residence or a daycare site and will use that same location for transportation in 2023-24, no action is required, and your student will be routed from that same location.

If your student’s needs are changing, please email BusQuestions@District279.org to request a change form. Forms are student specific, please include each student requiring changes in your email correspondence.

Incoming Kindergarten students and students new to the district will receive transportation request forms the week of July 10 via email.

If the form does not indicate a bus is needed or a form is not received, students will not receive a bus assignment to start the 2023-24 school year.

To check transportation eligibility, click here.

If you need to request a change, please do so now.

Dates to note:

August 11 - Routes will freeze

August 24 - Final routes will be communicated via email and ParentVUE

September 18 - Route updates will occur

New real-time bus information through FirstView app

Osseo Area Schools families can check the status of their student’s bus — live — through a transportation app, called FirstView. The app monitors regular school bus routes in real-time. Best of all, it’s free for parents/caregivers and students to use.

While Osseo Schools buses have a tremendous on-time performance record, there are inclement weather and traffic delays that do occur. This app provides families the necessary information to know when their bus will arrive. Families can also see the anticipated length of any delay, an estimated arrival time and if a substitute is driving the route. Email, push and/or text notifications can inform families of such information instantly.

Click below for more information.

FIRSTVIEW BUS TRACKING APP

Beginning September 2023, all Minnesota K-12 students attending school in person will have one free breakfast and lunch available to them each academic school day due to the state’s recently passed Free School Meals for Kids bill. A la carte items outside of a complete meal will still incur a cost (milk will incur a cost unless taken as a part of a school meal).

Online meal account payments may be made by using Edutrak, formerly SmartSchoolK12. If you do not have a Edutrak/SmartSchoolK12 account, visit the district website https://district279h.cf.affinetysolutions.com/

for instructions on how to set up an account or contact the school office for assistance.

When sending lunch money to school please put your child’s name or lunch account number and room number on your check to avoid having the money credited to the wrong account. If you have more than one child at Elm Creek, you can write one check with a note as to how you would like the money divided.

The number of students we have in our school who qualify for Educational Benefits (formerly know as Free and Reduced lunches) determines a certain level of funding for our school. If you think you may qualify, please take the time to fill out an application. The on-line application is quick and easy.

Here are two ways to fill out an Educational Benefits Application:

1. Online through EduTrakConnect at www.district279.org/educational-benefits. This option will create a family account allowing online access to view student accounts.
2. Online at: https://bit.ly/3hWdk7Q. This option will bypass making a family account while still allowing completion of the application.

Why should I fill out the Educational Benefits Application if my child(ren) automatically qualify for free meals starting next school year?

Families who qualify may be eligible for a variety of other benefits. These include free or discounted prices for the following:

• Field trips
• Clubs, activities, and athletics
• Band instrument fees
• ACT, SAT, and AP fees
• Comcast internet for home
• Xcel Energy account assistance for electricity bills

Additionally, the state of Minnesota uses a school district’s percentage of qualifying students from applications completed and approved prior to October 1st each year to calculate each district’s funding level. School district funding impacts every student:

• Class sizes
• Number of support staff the district can hire to help scholars (counselors, social workers)
• Extra programming opportunities

Please fill out the Educational Benefits Application today to make sure your family can take advantage of these and other benefits!

We are busy getting ready to welcome the students back to school on Tuesday, September 5th. Students should arrive at school by 8:40 a.m. to be in their classroom, ready to learn at 8:50 a.m. Students who are eating breakfast at school should arrive at 8:35 a.m. and enter through door 12.

Please set your child up for success by making a plan to be on time, every day. Classroom success and attendance are closely connected.

Please leave a message on the attendance line when your child is absent or going to be late.

Elm Creek Phone Numbers/Direct lines

Main Office -----------------------------------------763/425-0577

Attendance Line Reporting ..................763/315-7692

PreK - --------------------------------------------------763/315-7699

Cashier/Kitchen ----------------------------------763/315-7695

FAX ------------------------------------------------------763/315-7690

Kidstop Program ----------------------------------763/315-7353

Media Center ----------------------------------------763/315-7693

Nurse - --------------------------------------------------763/315-7696

The school supply list is posted on the EC website https://ec.district279.org/info-center/handbook

The school calendar and lunch menus can be found on the district website.

https://www.district279.org/info-center/calendars

https://ec.district279.org/services/nutrition-services

School information is communicated to all families through email and PeachJar. Watch the weekly PeachJar emails for school and community communication.

KINDERGARTEN - Door #14 - walkers & drop-offs & Door #13 - bussers

GRADES 1 & 2 - Grade level doors- walkers, bussers & drop-offs

GRADES 3 - 5 - Door #1 - walkers, bussers & drop-offs

Breakfast - Door #12

Students eating breakfast will enter Door 12 beginning at 8:35 a.m. Please do not drive into the bus lot to drop students off at the breakfast door. Please plan to park in the main parking lot and walk the sidewalk to door 12.

All student walkers & pickups exit through their grade level door for dismissal at 3:17 p.m.

We continue to make safety in the parking lot a priority at Elm Creek. We would like to remind you of the pathway painted between the center parking area for students to walk to the crosswalks. Cars will not be allowed to pull through the pathway to get to the line to exit the school parking lot. Please see map below.

The parking lot is a very congested area, and it is important that we keep student safety as our priority, even if it means a slower experience for the driver. Please stay patient and follow the procedures noted in the map below. Thank you for your patience and support!

WALKERS: Students are not to arrive before 8:40 a.m. There is no supervision prior to that time. Students will enter the building at 8:40 a.m. Students must cross with the patrols using designated walkways. There are no patrols on 99th Avenue by the path leading to school.

Bus: Schedules are mailed from the Transportation Department in late August. Please remember that students are only allowed to ride on their designated bus. Please review the bus safety information with your child prior to the start of school. Riding the school bus is a privilege.

CARS: Students are to be dropped off and picked up in the front parking lot only. Please do not enter the bus area. Children should enter and exit the vehicle using the curbside door. If you desire, you may park your vehicle in the parking lot, meet your child at their outside door, and escort them across the parking lot crosswalks. At no time should children be walking through the parking lot unescorted. This is extremely important for the safety of each child.

Maple Grove Police/Fire Department will ticket cars parked in the NO PARKING zones. Due to space limitations, cars must continue moving around the circle when dropping off or picking up.

Courtesy to pedestrians and busses is a top priority, providing safety to all.

Please yield to busses at the entrance to the school parking lot and let them in first.

Thank you!

Our community is being asked to reinvest in district schools to address critical school building needs,

This is considered to be Building a Better Future, Phase II. In addition to addressing critical school building needs, Phase II also expands on efforts already made in Phase I and continues strategic plan work. Priorities include:

• Secure learning environments with enhanced safety.
• Spaces for math, science and career programs, specialized learning services and growing student populations.
• Access to similar learning experiences at all district schools, including program opportunities, class sizes and space functionality.

Visit district279.org/BetterFuture for a list of proposed projects and Nov. 7 voting information.

LEARN MORE