Bennett Peek of the Week
January 18th - January 21st
The Mission of Bennett Elementary School
Achieving excellence by educating and empowering all students to succeed.
POWERSCHOOL ATTENDANCE CONFUSION
TARDIES
- 7:57 am | Doors Open
- 8:12 am | Classes Start
Our first bell rings at 7:57 AM. This is the time when students are allowed to go to their lockers and inside their classrooms. Students must be in their classrooms by 8:12 AM. The time from 7:57 to 8:12 is important for organizing, preparing for the day and getting a breakfast if your child would like. It is important for all of our students to be on time…meaning in the classroom and ready to learn by 8:12 AM. Attendance line: (701) 446-4000
UPCOMING DATES
- There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 17, 2022.
- Mrs. Bollinger's classroom will be going to the Plains Art Museum on Tues, Jan. 18th. The bus will LEAVE Bennett at 8:45am and return by 11:30am.
- Mrs. Fosberg and Mrs. Greff's classrooms will be going to the Plains Art Museum on Wed., Jan. 19th. The bus will LEAVE Bennett at 8:45am and return by 11:30am.
- Friday, January 21. Students who were signed up for the Vaccination Clinic, the rescheduled date is now 1/21/22. Due date to sign up your students was December 15, 2021.
MID-MORNING BEVERAGE BREAK
SECOND SEMESTER -
Students K-5 will have a choice of 1% white milk. Second semester milk will begin on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 through Thursday, May 26, 2022. The cost will be $0.35 per day @ 87 days or $30.45 for the second semester. Payments can be made when logging into PowerSchool and selecting SchoolPay or by dropping a check off in the office. Please indicate your child's name on the memo line.
The USDA has issued a waiver to allow all students to receive free breakfast/lunch for the 2021.22 school year, however mid-morning beverage is NOT included in this waiver. Parent/guardians must still pay for mid-morning beverage unless they qualify for free/reduced meals through direct certification or by submitting a free/reduced application and meeting the requirements established by the USDA. We encourage all families to complete the free/reduced application after July 1, 2021 (we cannot accept applications for next school year prior to this date) for next school year. Free and Reduced Meal Application:
https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ApplicationScreen.aspx
Please see the message below regarding supply chain issues:
Dear Fargo Public Schools Families,
Supply chain issues for food, materials and supplies continues to impact food service providers nationwide, including school nutrition programs. Fargo Public Schools (FPS) has been and continues to be impacted. Currently, there is a nationwide shortage of half pint milk and juice cartons that we serve in our schools. The supply of milk itself is not of concern; however, there are only a few carton producers in the country who provide the cartons for school milk. Our milk vendor has informed us that while they are trying to secure the needed cartons, they may not be able to consistently supply us with our beverages in the half pint cartons.
FPS has plans in place to continue milk offerings at meals if carton packaging is no longer available. In the absence of individual cartons, students will have options for milk using jugs and disposable cups. This will require some modifications to existing meal service systems.
At elementary schools, FPS will be making changes to milk break options due to packaging shortages. Options offered for milk break will be limited to 1% white milk for second semester, which starts January 18. Students who signed up to receive juice or chocolate milk for second semester may ask for a refund or change their preference to 1% white milk. Directions for a refund or changes to your order will be provided in early January.
FPS students will continue to see fluctuating availability of some of their favorite options, including juice boxes and chocolate milk. However, FPS does not foresee the need to omit any food groups from meals offered.
It is our hope that supply chain issues are rectified as soon as possible, however there is no current estimated timeframe for resolutions. The Nutrition Services Department will continue to look into any solution possible to shortage issues.
Thank you for your understanding on this issue.
Have a great day,
Cindy Hogenson, Director
FPS Nutrition Services
Community Resources
School counselors and staff are available during the school day to assist students. After hours and during weekends and holiday breaks, families need to utilize community supports. If you are in need of assistance for yourself or someone else, please contact the following resources:
FirstLink: Dial 2-1-1
(24/7 hour help line for community resources and emotional support)
Suicide Lifeline (answered locally): 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Red River Regional Dispatch: 701-451-7660
If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 is open online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2022. Your child must be age 5 by July 31, 2022 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process:
STEP ONE: REGISTER ONLINE
Complete online registration forms at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration. For assistance, please contact your child’s school to schedule an appointment to complete in-person. Masks are required for all visitors.
STEP TWO: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school by August 25 to finalize registration.
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s immunization record with 5-year shots
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and current address for verification
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701.446.1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
If you need help in PowerSchool (Fargo Public Schools online registration software), please call 701.446.1006
Fargo Public Schools Accepting Nominations Beginning January 17 for Teacher, Administrator, and Support Staff of the Year Awards
Parents and community members are invited to nominate a Fargo Public Schools teacher, administrator, or support staff member they feel serves our students with excellence for consideration of a yearly recognition award. Online instructions, forms, and the application process can be found at: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/StaffRecognitionProgram.
Nominations will be accepted online January 17 – 28, 2022.
The District will award the following this spring:
Teacher of the Year Award − awarded to a certified staff member
Administrator of the Year Award − awarded to a principal, assistant principal, director, or coordinator
Support Staff of the Year Award − awarded to an educational support staff member, custodial/maintenance department staff member, or nutrition services staff member
BGC January 2022 School Newsletter Content
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley (BGC) offers affordable and flexible youth development programs for before school, after school, and school out days for youth K-5th grades, and Teen Club after school and summer for teens 6th through 12th grade.
Visit our website at www.bgcrrv.org for more information.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley
Scheduling, Registration, & General Information
701-235-2147 | schedule@bgcrrv.org | www.bgcrrv.org
Bus Delay Notification Process
RE: Bus Route Adjustments if Valley Bus experiences a Bus Driver Shortage:
In the rare event that Valley Bus does not have enough staff to cover all the school bus routes for Fargo Public Schools, Valley Bus would implement a “delayed bus route plan” rather than canceling routes. This plan could be used in either a morning route or an afternoon route.
Delayed Bus Route Plan– The “delayed bus route plan” would have the drivers cover for the missing driver after they have completed their assigned route. This would cause the identified route to be delayed by 15 to 30 minutes. Families would be notified the day of the delay by email, text, and voice messaging. Morning route delay notifications will occur between 5:30-6:30 am and after-school delay notifications will occur by 1:00 pm if a driver shortage occurs. This means students may be standing at their bus stop for additional time or they may be returning home up to 30 minutes later than normal. Each route affected would cause a delay for both the elementary and secondary students riding that bus.
The Bus Delay message will only be sent to the affected route and it will say the following:
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###. Today, [Monday, October 9, 2021], your morning route will be 15-30 minutes later than normal. Your principal has been notified of your late arrival. “
Or
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###: Today, [Monday, October 20, 2021], your after-school route will arrive home 15-30 minutes later than normal. Students will be supervised at their home building until the bus is available.”
Since communication with families is based on what was entered into the FPS PowerSchool System, we asked that each family review their listed emails and cell phone numbers in the Parent PowerSchool Portal. Please update if needed by calling your child’s main office. This type of communication may be used for other situations that cause significant bussing delays.
Students will be excused in the morning if they arrive late to school due to the delayed busing. The buildings will implement a supervision plan for students if the after-school bus is delayed.
Please remember if you decide to drop your student off at their building more than 15 minutes before school the students will wait outside. Please make sure they have dressed appropriately for the weather.
Parents can check their child’s pick-up time using the “bus route by address” options on the FPS Website at https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/165.
Although the 2021-22 school year has been challenging, the transportation department and staff at Valley Bus are responding to these challenges and working hard to keep students safe. We thank families for their patience and trust as we navigate staffing challenges.
Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions.
Dr. Grosz & Mrs. Eidsness
Associate Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools
Two Testing Sites: Asymptomatic & Symptomatic or Special Needs/Sensory Needs Students
Fargo Public Schools is pleased to offer COVID-19 testing sites to its families as part of it’s testing program. FPS will test students and staff members who are deemed a close contact in the school setting in order for the individuals to remain in school. To remain in school, individuals who have been deemed an unmasked or unvaccinated close contact must submit to COVID-19 testing at least every other day, test negative, and remain symptom free.
The COVID testing program is now offering two testing locations. Please see information below. Testing registration with the ND Department of Health must be completed prior to tests being administered. Use the link posted below or snap a photo of the QR code above to register. An individual needs to register using the provided link or QR code upon their first time at the FPS testing site, regardless of the number of tests issued. Additionally, parent/guardian consent is required at the time of the test administration. Parents/guardians can provide consent using the FPS testing consent form in PowerSchool.
Testing Locations:
NEW!!! North High School:
Room 77, 801 North 17th Ave
Park on the south side and enter door 31
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
South High School:
Room C11, 1840 South 15th Avenue, Fargo
Park on the north side of the school and enter door 4
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Symptomatic Students and Children with Special Needs &/or Sensory Difficulties should continue to use the Fargo Cass Testing Site at: 3051 25th Street South, Fargo, Suite K, as the South High Location is not yet set up for this option. Remember to Pre-Register ND Dept. of Health COVID Testing Registration: https://testreg.nd.gov/?eventid=c7725ef9-2711-ec11-b6e6-001dd8308015 For Special Needs/ Sensory Needs students: The parents may then come in the FRONT door and notify testing staff that they will be pulling into the back. Please pull around to the back of the building, near the loading ramp and dumpster. Public Health Nurses will then go to them allowing the child can stay in their car. Staff cannot see out the back door, so you must notify them before pulling up to the back. ***This process is only for students with Special Needs/ Sensory Difficulties.***. All others should enter through the front door.
Bennett Elementary
Email: schafes@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Bennett
Location: 2000 58th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-4000
Twitter: @SchoolBennett