Knight News
Grand Forks Central High School - February 1, 2021
Important Dates
February 11th - Virtual Family/Teacher Conferences - 4:00 - 7:00 PM
February 16th - Virtual Family/Teacher Conferences - 4:00 - 7:00 PM
February 18th-20th - James & the Giant Peach - 7:00 PM
February 24th - Early Release at 1:00 PM - PLC Day
March 1 - Boy's & Girl's Track season begins
March 2 - Baseball season begins
Family/Teacher Conferences
FACE-TO-FACE LEARNERS
Face-to-face learners will have family/teacher conferences on Thursday, Feb. 11th or Tuesday, Feb. 16th from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Conferences will be virtual using the Zoom platform. Sign up information will be emailed to families approximately a week prior.
REMOTE LEARNERS
Remote Learners will have family/teacher conferences on Thursday, Mar. 4th or Tuesday, Mar. 9th from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Mentor-teachers will contact families directly to schedule conference sessions. They will use the same format as they did this fall and meetings will be held virtually using Zoom.
Stay In School Program: New Guidelines
Mr. Jon Strandell
Principal
Dear Parents(s)/Guardian(s),
There is a positive correlation between regular attendance and academic success. The Stay in School Program is a collaborative effort between school, family, and community which supports students and families in meeting the expectations of school attendance, through face-to-face or distance learning. As part of the program, all attendance records are reviewed on a regular basis. School staff will work with parent(s)/guardian(s) throughout the tiers of the Stay in School Program.
The following revisions have been made to our current Stay In School program:
- Monitoring attendance for all grade levels – Kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Emailing Stay In School letters starting on Day 90 of this academic school year vs. sending letters in the mail.
- Establishing a Community Stay In School Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from GF County Social Services, GF Police Department (SRO), Grand Forks Public Schools, Juvenile Court, Lutheran Social Services, Northeast Human Service Center, State’s Attorney Office, and The Village.
- Diversion Hearings will take the place of Community Attendance Meetings, which will be held at the Mark Sanford Education Center with the Elementary or Secondary Associate Superintendent.
The Stay In School brochure can be found at https://www.gfschools.org/Page/9299. The brochure provides an explanation of how Grand Forks Public Schools monitors chronic absenteeism with the Stay In School Program. Chronic absenteeism is defined by the Department of Education as any student (K-12) who has missed at least 10 percent of school days in a school year for any reason excluding medical and/or school-related functions.
Poor attendance is frequently the first sign that a student is on the road to school difficulty and possibly dropping out. Each day a student misses school results in gaps in their education, an education that is ever more necessary in our constantly changing society. When a student is chronically absent, they miss receiving the consistent instruction they need to build on basic skills or missed opportunities for interventions, reteaching, and enrichment.
We understand that this year has been extremely difficult for all of us. We want you to be aware that, first and foremost, the safety for our students is our number one priority. We welcome all conversations regarding school attendance, the Stay In School Program, or any potential barriers that you are experiencing. We would also encourage you to make sure you are signed up to receive notifications via Powerschool regarding attendance. Directions: open your child’s Powerschool account - click on Email Notifications, which is located on the left side of your screen - check Detail Report of Attendance - add your email address - change frequency to daily - click submit.
It is important for you and the school staff to work together to achieve school attendance expectations. Please contact your student’s school to discuss the next steps in this process if you receive an email regarding school attendance.
Sincerely,
Mr. Jody Thompson
Associate Superintendent
Ms. Catherine Gillach
Assistant Superintendent
Summer School Registration Is Now Open
The registration for the 2021 Summer School Session is now open. Students may register with the assistance of their counselor or by clicking on the following link. Summer School 2021 Registration Packet. Please contact Mike Wilber at mwilber310@mygfschools.org if you have any questions.
Updated Fan Attendance Guidelines
The following serves as updated guidance regarding fan attendance at GFPS athletic contests beginning on February 1.
Fan Attendance at TICKETED Basketball, Wrestling, and Hockey Games:
Fans will no longer be issued vouchers or wristbands for attendance at events in the main gymnasiums or arenas. Attendance in these venues will be capped at the following totals:
- GFC and RR Main Gyms: 500 fans
- Purpur Arena: 1,200 fans
- Eagles Arena: 400 fans
Fan Attendance at NON-TICKETED Basketball Games:
For smaller capacities gymnasiums (the small gyms at GFC and RR and the main Middle School gyms), six fans per participant will be allowed.
Fan Attendance at Swimming and Gymnastics Events:
- Until further notice, no fans are allowed at swimming events.
- At this time, attendance at gymnastics events is limited to two fans per participant.
The following links are available for viewing live streams of applicable contests:
GFC Basketball and Wrestling: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/grand-forks-central-high-school-grand-forks-nd
RR Basketball and Wrestling: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/grand-forks-red-river-high-school-grand-forks-nd
Purpur and Eagles Arena Hockey: https://iconhockeycam.com
Boys’ Swimming: https://www.youtube.com/c/GFCActivities
All attendees must wear masks completely and correctly for the duration of the event, and social distancing must be kept between groups.
Media members wishing to cover athletic events must give prior notice to the school, must wear a mask, and must adhere to social distancing guidelines.
We will continue to monitor the guidance and directives from the NDDoH, Grand Forks Public Health, and the NDHSAA to update our guidelines as necessary.
2020-2021 Yearbook
If you would like to order a 2020-2021 GFC yearbook, go to this website: https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=55338
The cost is $55 or $60 if you want it personalized with a name on the cover. Senior pictures and senior baby pictures are due by May 1st and can be emailed at any time before that to: centralyearbooks@mygfschools.org
Senior Parents:
2021 Graduation Information
The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021 is scheduled for Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
Prior to graduation, there are a number of items that need to be completed. The following is a checklist of all obligations that must be met by each student before a diploma will be presented.
- All course work, tests, and detention time must be completed before Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
- All independent study, online and correspondence course work must be completed by Friday, May 14, 2021.
- A “Senior Survey” will be sent out in early May. This must be completed by Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Early graduates will be notified about the procedure to use in completing the survey.
- All bills must be paid (media center, athletic equipment, lab equipment, book damages, etc…) by Friday, May 14, 2021.
- The final day of classes for seniors will be Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
- Graduation practice is tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. All graduating seniors must attend the practice session.
- Caps and gowns were ordered in November and will be distributed from the Principal’s Office on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
- Senior pictures for the yearbook are due by May 1st and can be turned in at any time before that date to Mr. Berglund or can be e-mailed to: centralyearbook@mygfschools.org.
- If a student desires to receive a diploma without going through the graduation ceremony; he/she may do so by notifying Mr. Strandell prior to Friday, May 14, 2021.
- All students who participate in the commencement ceremony are expected to dress in an appropriate manner. The cap, gown, tassel, and shoes are all required. No other personal additions will be allowed other than school-issued stoles of honor without prior permission from administration.
Only students who have completed their graduation requirements will participate in the graduation ceremony. The list of students who will be participating in the ceremony will be finalized on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
Parents Lead: Your Influence
Parents Have a Significant Influence in Their Children’s Decisions to Experiment with Alcohol and Other Drugs
One of the most influential factors during a child’s adolescence is maintaining a strong, open relationship with a parent/guardian. When parent(s)/guardian(s) create supportive and nurturing environments, children make better decisions. Though it may not always seem like it, children really hear these concerns, which is why it’s important that parent(s)/guardian(s) discuss the risks of using alcohol and other drugs. How do you start these conversations? Visit www.parentslead.org for information and resources.
Collegebound Seniors!
Many colleges are offering scholarships this year not based on ACT scores, but rather GPA, high school and community involvement, and demonstration of strong character traits. There are some scholarships based on first generation status, which is defined by not having a parent with a 4-year degree. Please check with your parents! If they have two-year degrees, you still qualify as a 1st generation college student.
Some colleges will use your freshman admission application to enter your name automatically in scholarship pools. HOWEVER, there are some scholarship applications that you need to submit separately from your admissions application. Deadlines for some of these scholarships is February 1. Deadlines for returning students may be later, so please look carefully for freshman deadlines. Please check your colleges’ webpage for more info. I advise calling colleges and asking to speak to an admission counselor to describe your particular situation. Remember that many colleges use the “first-applied, first-awarded” procedure.
Check the GFC counseling page for a listing of scholarships as well. Start on GFC homepage; under about our school, drop down to Counseling Program & Career Center; click current scholarship listing. Please contact Ms. Loftus with questions.
ZAPS Test Prep Information
Administration
Dr. Gabe Dahl - Associate Principal A-K
Mr. Mike Wilber - Associate Principal L-Z
Mr. Aaron La Deaux - Activities Director
Contact Us:
Main Office : 701-746-2375
Attendance Line: 701-746-2482
Main Office Hours 7:00 AM-4:15 PM
School Doors Open at 7:30 AM
Location:
115 N. 4th Street
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Follow us on Twitter: @GFC_Activities
Follow us on Instagram: gfc_activites
GFPS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools/