Dear Kennedy Elementary School Parent/Guardian:

We are thrilled to be kicking off another great year of learning, creating friendships, and developing a supportive school community. As we partner together, students will remain at the heart of all we do!

The first day of school for Grades 1-4 is Tuesday, September 6. Kindergarten student’s first full day is Wednesday, September 7 as they have orientation on Tuesday, September 6.

• Please note: Kindergarten Orientation Information for September 6th will be emailed home by Friday, August 26.

HOMEROOM TEACHER ASSIGNMENT

Assignments will be available at 4:15 pm on Thursday, August 25 by logging into Infinite Campus Portal (go to Documents, then select homeroom assignment). Call 651-480-7220 or email mhavard@isd200.org if you need to set up a portal account.

SCHOOL DAY

School begins at 8:50 am and students should arrive at school from 8:30 am to 8:45 am to be ready for the start of the learning day at 8:50 am. 3:25 pm is the dismissal time for all students.

OPEN HOUSE

The Open House for all grades will be held on Wednesday, August 31st from 4:30-6:30 pm.

Kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms will be open during the Open House. Please feel free to find the classroom, put supplies away, and informally meet the teacher.

To help limit the amount of parking congestion, please follow the suggested schedule below. If you need to come at the other time, please feel free to do so.

• 4:30-5:15 Families with last names beginning with A-L can drop off materials and meet with the teacher.
• 5:30-6:20 Families with last names beginning with M-Z can drop off materials and meet with the teacher.

Other items during open house:

• Parents can get car pick up numbers from the office (new numbers are assigned each year)
• Visit with the nurse to bring in any medications or paperwork needed
• Stop by the office to scan your driver's license into our Raptor System. This system is used for school visitors and early student releases during the school day

BACK-TO-SCHOOL ANNUAL UPDATES

Hastings Public Schools is pleased to provide families with an easy way to sign annual forms and review and update household contact information for the 2022-23 school year through their Campus Parent Portal Account. The process will take approximately 5-20 minutes depending on the number of children. All families must complete this update between August 14, 2022 and September 15, 2022.

Families will be asked to review and update parent/guardian contact information and non-household emergency contacts. Families will also be asked to review and agree to their school's student handbook, the Student Device User Agreement & Responsible Use of Technology Agreement, and a COVID Daily Symptoms Check Agreement. Information will also be included on the Optional Student Device Protection Plan. Once you complete the Annual Update process, be sure to go to the district ePay system if you wish to purchase the protection plan. Although the Online Update process will provide some information on the plan, you must go to the iPay system to complete the purchase. (Link: https://hastings.epaytrak.com/).

One parent or guardian from the primary household will be required to provide information for your children. Parents/Guardians from a secondary household will be able to update their own contact information.

After logging into your Parent Portal Account, click More and Back-To-School Annual Updates to begin.

TO PURCHASE THE OPTIONAL STUDENT DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN CLICK HERE (AND THEN SELECT MISCELLANOUS AND STUDENT DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN).

BACK TO SCHOOL ANNUAL UPDATES: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

FALL PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE SCHEDULING

We will be using an online scheduling system to schedule Parent/Teacher Conferences. This information will be sent out in September. Parents will be able to sign-up for one 20 minute conference per child.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

The Kennedy Supply List is available at Target, Walmart, etc. and is available on the school website.

• Hastings Family Service is accepting donations of school supplies for distribution. Donations of school supplies, new socks, underwear and backpacks may be brought to the HFS or placed in the labeled bins at various businesses. If you are in need of school supplies, please make an appointment by calling 651-437-7134. Distribution dates are August 23-25 and 30-31.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Kyle Latch, Principal

John F. Kennedy Elementary

klatch@isd200.org

651-480-7221

Transportation routing information is available in the Campus Portal by clicking “More” and then “Bus Information.” Please remember to check routing information again closer to the start of the school year as minor adjustments may be made. If your pickup or dropoff location is not accurate, please contact the office.

Just a reminder that the district had an opt-out of transportation for students in grades K-8 and an opt-in for transportation for students in grades 9-12. This information has been updated in the Campus Portal. If your information is not accurately reflected, please email jseubert@isd200.org.

The walking distance for elementary students is a .75 mile radius from the school and a 1.75 mile radius for secondary students. Detailed maps of the walking areas are available on the district’s website.

Effective September 2022, the federal government lunch guidelines changed and families will need to fill out a free and reduced meal form to receive free breakfast and lunch meal benefits for their children. Those families who do not qualify will need to pay for school meals. The price for meals will be:

Breakfast

Kindergarten students are FREE
Grades 1-12: $1.50

Lunch

Grades K-4: $2.85
Grades 5-8: $3.00
Grades 9-12: $3.15

Extra Milk or Milk Only $0.50

Reduced Pay Breakfast and Lunch Prices: All grade levels are FREE

If you filled out an application in 2021-2022, your current benefits will remain until October 18, 2022. Then, you will need to submit a new application to have benefits continue for the 2022-2023 school year. The 2022-23 Free and Reduced Meal Application will be available online this summer on the district website under Food Service and will be mailed out to families.

For more information, please call Andrea Seleski 651-480-7050, Kim Sill 651-480-7127 or Brittney Hirschauer 651-480-7126

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.

Click the photo below for more information.