Homecroft Elementary School
Info & Updates
February 10, 2021
We hope you are enjoying the week! This is our first full week back. HUH?!? We have PreK-5 all together, in-person, and it's the first "full" week with everyone in back!
We are overjoyed to have our students back and we hope your family is just as excited about it as we are. We have a number of families continuing in Distance Learning and regardless of learning model, we hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe.
This week has been going smoothly. There are a few items we ask that you remember and help us with:
- Our building opens at 7:30 AM. Buses unload and those at parent drop-off may begin coming inside at that time. We do not have the staff in place prior to 7:30 to supervise students. Thank you for not dropping off students before this time.
- The parent drop-off and pick-up line can be slow and congested. Thank you for your patience as we are doing the best with can given space, logistics, and items beyond our control. The bus alley is closed in the AM until the buses are gone. We have been waiving cars in toward the main entry for drop-off to help with the lower lot congestion in the morning. Please pull all the way up toward the door if guided into the main entry lot. We are limited in staffing given morning parent drop-off, please be patient with us as we are doing our best to keep students SAFE and get parent vehicles underway as efficiently as possible.
If possible, we encourage students to ride the bus to prevent parent vehicle back-ups.
- If your son/daughter is coming in late and/or leaving early, please send a note or communicate with the classroom teacher as to the reason. We are not being nosy, but need to document absences appropriately. Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
There is no school February 15 - 19th. Classes resume Monday, February 22, 2021.
2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration
Please use this link: https://www.isd709.org/for-new-families/how-to-enroll
We will be sending more information home about Kindergarten Registration at a later date. We encourage early enrollment/registration!
If you have questions, please contact the Homecroft Elementary Office.
There is no Free Lunch? YES THERE IS!
Due to a recent change at the state and federal level, free breakfast and lunch are available to all children for the remainder of the school year.
Free bagged meals are available weekdays when school is in session to children 18 years of age and younger at specified locations. See the list in the links below.
Parents/Guardians can pick up the bagged meal without students present.
Even though meals are free, we strongly encourage families to fill out the Application for Free/Reduced Price Meals.
- Qualifying for free or reduced price lunch may also qualify your family to pay a lower fee or no fee for school activities.
- Students who qualify take the ACT Test at school for free.
- Families who qualify are helping Duluth schools receive additional education funds and discounts.
- Click here to apply for Free/Reduced Price Lunch.
List of all Free Breakfast/Lunch Distribution Sites
Questions? 218-336-8707. This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Family Pandemic Food Support P-EBT
Information from the State of Minnesota:
Students who qualify for free/reduced price lunch may be eligible for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) to purchase food for days they are not in the school building.
- To receive benefits, your child must be enrolled in SNAP, the Minnesota Family Investment Program, or free or reduced-price school meals.
- If your child does not receive MFIP or SNAP and is not enrolled in free or reduced-price meals, but you think they may qualify for free or reduced-price meals, submit an Application for Educational Benefits through your child’s school as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- If you did not receive a 2019-2020 P-EBT card but were notified that you were eligible, please complete the 2019-2020 P-EBT Help Form.
- If you are having a problem using a 2019-2020 P-EBT card, please contact EBT Edge by calling 888-997-2227 or visiting www.ebtEDGE.com.
- If EBT Edge is unable to resolve problems with your 2019-2020 P-EBT card, such as address changes or date of birth questions, please complete the 2019-2020 P-EBT Help Form.
It's Cold Outside!
The Arctic Air is here! Bring on the Polar Vortex!
Important school information you should know as temperatures continue to be below zero:
So How Cold is Too Cold to Send Students out for Recess?
Actual or a wind chill of -18 degrees or colder is the district's guideline for having students outside for recess or as crossing guards.
We also take into consideration our recess monitors. They will spend 2 1/2 hours outside.
Because there is not a certified National Weather Service temperature/wind gauge in the Homecroft area, we look at a variety of nearby current readings.
We can't stress enough to remember to send appropriate winter gear with your child for recess...such as: hat, mittens, warm coat, snow pants and boots.
How are Snow Days decided? How do we find out if there is a 2 hour late start?
Below is information from the School District's website (found HERE). Please note that a "Snow Day" can be called if it is too cold as well (based on actual or wind chill temperatures). The criteria is not listed on the website, so best to check your favorite source of weather information when we have the arctic blasts.
Please note if there is a 2-hour delay, children cannot arrive at Homecroft until 9:30am. Staff is also delayed 2-hours, so there is no one here to assist with children prior to 9:30am.
The decision to close or delay the start of school due to severe weather is made prior to 6AM. Unless you hear an announcement over local TV and radio stations that schools are closed or delayed, you can assume that school will be in session as scheduled. Your cooperation in not calling stations or schools regarding possible closure is appreciated.
All families, especially those with elementary age students, should have a contingency plan for their children in the event of weather-related school closings or two hour late start.
How is the announcement communicated?
ISD 709 Website: www.ISD709.org
Television: KBJR – TV6, KDLH – TV3, WDIO-TV10, KQDS-TV21
Radio: KDAL 610 AM – 95.7 FM, WEBC 560 AM, WSCN 100.5 FM, KQDS 1490 AM – 94.9 FM
Duluth News Tribune Website: www.duluthsuperior. com
Twitter: @ISD709News
Facebook: www.facebook.com/duluthpublicschools
Two Hour Late Starts may include an All Call phone message to families.
School Closing
K-12 Schools are closed for the entire day.
K-12 activities and athletics are cancelled for the day (except participation in sectional or state tournaments, unless cancelled by event officials)
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes are cancelled.
Preschool classes are cancelled.
KEY Zone and Emergency Tier 1 Childcare are cancelled
Afternoon and evening Community Education activities are cancelled
Two Hour Late Start
K-12 Schools start two hours later and dismiss at their regular times
Buses pick up students two hours later
Bus stops remain the same and cannot be changed
No school breakfast service
No impact on after school KEY Zone.
ECFE classes scheduled to start prior to 9:45AM are cancelled
Afternoon and evening Community Education programs and community/organization permitted activities will be held as scheduled
Preschool morning and all day classes are cancelled, afternoon classes run as scheduled.
K-12 afternoon activities and athletics will be held
Rural Buses On Plowed Roads Only Announcement - information on this and more can be found on the School District's website here:
https://www.isd709.org/for-parents/back-to-school/cold-snowy-weather-strategies
COVID REMINDER For Families
SCREEN: Elementary families, please remember to screen your children or yourself daily for any symptoms before coming to school. Keep children home or stay home if there are any symptoms found per the MDH COVID Decision Tree.
REPORT: Please continue to report to your child’s school any COVID-19 symptoms, test results or quarantine status for your child. We track this information for attendance and follow the Decision Tree guidelines for when children may return to school.
Engage! Healthcare
Tuesday, March 2nd from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Yes! This event is free.
Yes! Dinner is provided for your household if you RSVP!
Yes! Children, youth, elders of all ages are welcome. You can share a screen or all be on different devices!
Yes! We will help you get connected.
Yes! Translation and other access accommodations will be provided, if needed.
We will send the Zoom link when you RSVP!
Reserve your spot by filling out the RSVP link at: marnitastable.org/bcbsduluth
Reach out with any questions by emailing sammie@marnitastable.org or leave a voicemail at 612.928.7744.
Day-of Event Contact: 401.871.5641 (call or text)
What to Expect?
Expect to be enlivened and engaged as you share your healthcare experiences, questions and needs with the largest healthcare provider in Minnesota to influence how they work within communities.
If you choose, there will be dinner delivery the night of the event for your household so that we can enjoy a feast together as we observe physical distancing guidelines.
If you know someone who would add and receive value through their participation feel free to invite them to join you!
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan with its charter mission: to provide equitable, economical and timely availability of health services for all Minnesotans. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies.
Minnesota continues to have some of the widest health inequities in between BIPOC and the white population in the nation, preventing many Minnesotans from having the ability to be healthy. Blue Cross is committed to reducing health inequities and systemic racism, as it is essential to fulfilling our mission of transforming care, inspiring change and improving health.
Blue Cross(R) and Blue Shield(R) of Minnesota and Blue Plus(R) are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About Marnita’s Table
At Marnita’s Table, we seek to close gaps across difference through making Intentional Social Interaction the new pattern for society where Indigenous, people of color, the disenfranchised, the poor, the unheard, the fragile, the LGBTQ+ and anyone who is normally left out of community decision making are automatically included and valued at the policy-making and resource-sharing table. Experts at social capital building, we’ve welcomed over 64,000 people from around the world and the around the way to find common ground while breaking bread – in person or online, we bring people together to create meaningful change and more equitable systems. Find out more at www.marnitastable.org.