Grey Cloud to Go:
The Week of April 5th- 9th:
Important Dates:
- April 23rd: No School
- April 26th: No School
- May 31st: No School
- June 2nd: Last Day of School K-5
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments or MCAs:
Students in grades 3-5 will participate in our state assessments called the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment or the MCAs. As outlined below, 5th grade students will take Science MCAs in addition to the Reading and Math MCAs students in grades 3-5 participate in. (MCA participation is not required for VLA students.)
Grey Cloud MCA Testing 2020-2021:
April 12-16: Reading Grades 3,4,5 Math Grade 5,
April 16: VLA Grades 3-5 Reading and Math (This is just for students who elected to participate.)
April 19-22: Math Grades 3,4
April 23: VLA Grade 5 Science (This is just for students who elected to participate.)
April 27-30: Make-ups
May 3-5: Science Grade 5
Important Specifically VLA Dates and Resources:
"Lucky Duck" Staff Appreciation:
We want to show Grey Cloud staff how much we appreciate their heartfelt work especially this year. Therefore, from April 15th- May 28th we will be using the theme “Lucky Duck.” Each Dial teacher, VLA teacher, cook, paraprofessional, clerical employee, custodian, and student support member will receive a rubber duck with a number on it. Several times per week we will draw numbers over the morning announcements to show appreciation for our staff by awarding them with prizes.
Prizes Donations: If you are interested in adding to this appreciation event, you are welcomed to send in small gift cards($5) or small gifts (Candy/snacks, pop, pens...) for our drawings that can go to any staff. These items can be sent directly to the office anytime during the month of April. The more we get, the more drawings we can do!
Ways to Show Appreciation outside of these drawings:
Create a "Lucky Duck" card with your child and have them deliver it to a staff member. “ I am a lucky duck to have you as my teacher because… “ or “I am a lucky ducky to have you in my life because…”
Send an email to a staff member or your child's teacher to brighten their day. These often are the most important and the most meaningful for staff.
Thank you for all you do to support Grey Cloud Elementary School!
Insurance Encouraged:
If you declined insurance previously, it is not too late. The price has been adjusted with less than a trimester left of the year.
https://sowashco.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1217437&pageId=22911183
Masks:
Thank you for sending your students with masks each day. The kids are doing a great job wearing their masks to help keep us all healthy and in school, learning together. Sometimes during the day, the masks may become wet or soiled, such as after PE. Please keep a spare, well-fitting mask in your child’s backpack in case they should need to change during the day for comfort or safety.
Thank you!
Health Office Staff
COVID-19 Testing For Families:
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has recommended all students who are in-person at school and their families, to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks through the end of the school year. Getting tested every two weeks can help keep schools open and sports operating.
To get tested, you can visit a community testing site, order a free at-home saliva testing kit or get a test through your health care provider. Visit Getting Tested for COVID-19 or contact your health care provider to schedule an appointment.
Schools Now a Drop-off Site for Student COVID-19 Tests:
If families choose to order a free, Vault-at-Home COVID-19 test, students can now bring their completed and bagged test to school on designated drop-off days. School health staff will then send the test to the lab. This testing option is not for students who have symptoms, as they should not be present at school.
How student Vault-at-Home COVID-19 testing and drop-off works:
- Students or families can order a Vault-at-Home COVID-19 saliva test at no cost (for Minnesota residents)
- Students complete their COVID-19 test with help from Vault.
- Students seal their sample tube and place it in the biohazard bag. The biohazard bag then gets sealed in the shipping bag that came with the test. The shipping label sticker is attached to the bag.
- Students bring their sealed shipping bag with the label to their school’s health office on designated drop-off days listed below.
- Staff at school cannot help students take the saliva test. The test must be completed at home and sealed prior to bringing them into a school building.
- Test drop-off is only available to students.
Upcoming COVID-19 test drop-off days at your school:
- Monday, April 12
- Monday, April 27
- Monday, May 11
- Monday, May 25
COVID-19 tests are still available for free at community testing sites.
"Go for the Gold" Coming to Grey Cloud:
Class Building:
At Grey Cloud, we build class lists annually considering the academic, social, and emotional needs of each student while striving for balanced classes that allow for efficient and effective scheduling of services. If your child has specific educational needs that you would like us to consider, please fill out this link.
The intent of this form is to allow families to provide additional feedback on their child’s individual needs and to outline an environment that the child would be most successful in. Please note that your child’s current teacher does consider what he or she knows about your child when building balanced classes for the upcoming year.
All forms need to be completed by Tuesday, May 4th.
If a specific teacher is requested, your input form will not be considered.
PTA Art Show:
What: Grey Cloud’s 6th annual art show
When: April 28th - May 12th
Where: Online! Website to come soon
Mark your calendars for our first Artome virtual art show fundraiser! More information to follow. Funds raised go towards Grey Clouds PTA to help students and teachers thrive.
YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW!!
This year maybe a little different but we will still have a Yearbook with so many great memories!! This will be the yearbook your child looks back on in the future to remember this crazy year. Guarantee your child receives a yearbook in the Spring by placing your order today, there is limited stock available!!
Click here to order: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09896680
PTA Facebook Contest:
PTA:
Joining the PTA: Would you like to sign up to be a PTA MEMBER? Here is how to sign up!
1. LOGIN in to https://gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com (If you haven't created an account, you will have to at this time.)
2. Click on MY ACCOUNT
3. Click PTA MEMBERSHIP
4. Select how many memberships you would like to purchase, click ADD TO CART
5. At top of page, click ITEM IN CART
6. Click PAY OFFLINE LATER
7. Confirm order and click PLACE ORDER (You should receive a confirmation email.)
8. Send a check made payable to GREY CLOUD PTA for amount due into the school office. 9525 Indian Blvd. S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
9. YOU ARE NOW AN OFFICIAL PTA MEMBER! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Thank you again. Please have your dues into the office and signed up on https://gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com by November 24th.
Learn more about PTA on Facebook!
Support Grey Cloud Through Amazon Smiles!
- Go to amazonsmile.com
- Enter PTA Minnesota Congress Grey Cloud Elementary PTA
- Always shop at amazonsmile.com from now on and Grey Cloud will receive 0.5% of all purchases eligible for amazonsmile.com donation which most of amazon products are eligible.
Summer Programs from Community Education:
You haven't seen the catalog yet, so you probably thought Community Education wasn’t offering any summer camps. BUT WE ARE! Online registration is now open for all your favorite sports, fitness, speed & strength camps, STEM camps, art camps, cooking, woodworking, language, Driver Education, ACT prep classes and so much more! For all the details go to: SOWASHCO.CE.ELEYO.COM Sign up for our email list for our Constant Contact updates at communityeducation@sowashco.org
Clarification on the Neon Green Area in the Picture Below:
Morning Carpool:
After School Carpool:
Lane Near the School:
This lane will to blocked off. Busses and families dropping off students for our high needs special education program will be let through by our crossing guards once their pass is shown.
Carpool Procedures Video:
Thank you for making sure you are just using the front sidewalk before the neon green area pictured below for dropping students off.
Dressing for the Weather:
Family Technology Support Phone Line 651-425-HELP (4357)
South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo) has started a new family technology support phone line at 651-425-HELP (4357). Standard phone line hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can leave a voicemail at any time with your child’s name, the school they attend and a call back number, and someone will return your call.
A variety of technology resources are also available on our Fall 2020 website including:
Attendance:
- Daily participation is required on all In Person and Distance Learning Days.
- If your child is unable to participate because of an excused reason such as illness or a funeral, please contact the school’s attendance office so that the absence can be excused and participation requirements may be adjusted.
- Grey Cloud's attendance line number is: (651)-425-4206
New Family Directory Sponsored By PTA:
This has been a crazy time to say the least! Our children are missing their friends and as families you are in need of some social interaction! We as a PTA are here to help! We have created a new website through the PTA where you can access a secure directory of other Grey Cloud families who have signed up to share their info. Here is how to sign up:
Our NEW WEBSITE is up and running! Visit gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com to see everything the PTA has to offer. On our NEW site, you can see upcoming calendar events, buy memberships, sign up to volunteer and be a part of our schooldirectory and much, much more.
Here's what you need to do:
- Go to gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com
- Click on the Log In button or the Registration button.
- If you already have an account with another organization that uses Membership Toolkit you can use the same email and password to login. You can then proceed to the numbered steps below.
- Select "Create Account" and fill in the name, email, and password information.
- Click "verify my email" and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
- Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process.
Once your account has been created:
- Complete the Parent/Family and Student Information forms.
- Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences.
- When you have completed the forms you will be able to access the whole site accept the directory.
- You will need to be approved by the school to have access to our directory, this should take about 24-48 hours. (It may take longer at first with the entire school choosing enrolling.)
We are excited to share this site with you and hope you can use it during this time to keep in contact with other parents and your child’s friends!
We hope everyone is doing well!
Your Grey Cloud PTA
Grey Cloud Policies and Procedures:
A. Reminders about Checking Students Out:
1. Identification: To maintain student safety, please make sure that anyone checking your child out of the office has his or her identification such as a driver’s license and is listed as an emergency contact in Infinite Campus, our student information system. As we know students and families better, we will not need to repeatedly ask the same people for identification. Thank you for understanding the balance of being welcoming and maintaining safety!
2. Emergency Contacts: Please be certain that you update your emergency contacts in Infinite Campus. We are not able to release your child to anyone who is not on that list or you have not provided permission in writing. We cannot accept verbal permission for a student to go home with anyone who is not listed in Infinite Campus. To update you information, you can access Parent Portal using this https://www.sowashco.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1217437&pageId=2922767
B. Students and Cell Phones/Smart Watches/ Personal Technology:
Students are not allowed to have cell phones or Smart Watches on or out during the school day at Grey Cloud. Once students arrive at school, cell phones and Smart Watches should be off and in backpacks. Cell phones and Smart Watches may be used once students are dismissed at 3:10 PM unless they are attending Kids Club. When possible, we encourage students to keep cell phones and Smart Watches at home as lockers are unlocked. In the event of an emergency or needing to get in touch with parents or guardians, students may use school phones.
C. Indoor Recess Guidelines:
Just a reminder, students do go out for recess on cold days. We will have indoor recess when the actual temperature is below zero degrees or if the wind chill is less than -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Hats, mittens or gloves and a warm coat are definitely "musts" on these cold days.
D. Carpool: Grey Cloud is a busy place before and after school! For safety and efficiency, we have created and maintained a number of procedures and supports. Please take the time to view this brief video and/or share it with anyone who will be providing your child with a ride to or from school. Video Link. Please note that during COVID students are distanced and come out of different doors.
E. Celebrate Student Birthdays with Non-Edible Birthday Treats: In the past, it has been a common practice to provide treats for the class in honor of a child’s birthday; however, we are asking that NO EDIBLE TREATS be sent in to celebrate birthdays. We will make your child’s birthday special in the classroom without edible treats. If you would like to send a little something to honor their day please consider an alternative birthday treat such as pencils, book or game donated to the classroom. We ask that no edible treats be sent in due to varying allergy conditions and other issues related to edible treats in the classroom and to better align to the wellness policies.
F. Holidays: At school we acknowledge and teach about holidays. We have moved away from celebrating holidays at school to allow all students to feel welcomed and included in our celebrations. We to have special events and parties for rewards and community building.
Thank you for your help with following this new practices promoting safety and wellness!
G. Informational Videos about In Person at Grey Cloud:
Full Length In Person Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDaBT-4Gu4Y&feature=youtu.be and Brief Overview Video: https://youtu.be/Iv9eiDiXUD8
H. Quarantining:
- Classes: If there is a positive COVID-19 case in the student's bubble or homeroom, it is very likely the entire bubble or class will be put into quarantine since distance is no longer at the same level with twice the students. To avoid this, please keep children home when they are ill.
- Schedule: If a class is put into quarantine, we are hopeful that we will automatically resume the current morning distance learning schedule for all school days in the prescribed quarantine.
- Virtual Time #1: 9:00 a.m.
- Virtual Read Aloud: 10:30 a.m.
- Virtual Time #2: 11:00 a.m.
Thank you for all you do to support Grey Cloud!