Kennedy Elementary School
Comet Tales January 2020
Notes from the Principal
Welcome 2020! I wish our Kennedy students, staff, and families a Happy New Year!! In 2019, we appreciated the support you have provided our students and their teachers. Educating children is a "all hands on deck" process. Our Kennedy staff has appreciated the team work with our families which helped our students to be successful. I hope the winter break allowed each of you time with family and friends.
I anticipate that after the break we will (unfortunately) have another bout with the cold and flu. Please review the guidelines below regarding illness.
I have included information below regarding a 2-hour late start. Doors will open at 9:30 am. Buses will run their route 2 hours later.
If you have a new phone number or address, please update your information in PowerSchool. If you have questions or need assistance, please call the office at 701-446-4200.
Some notable events coming up:
Kindergarten Registration for 2020-21. If your child is going to be Kindergartner at Kennedy in fall of 2020, we ask that your read that section below.
On Tuesday, January 7th, from 6:00 to 8:15 pm at South High School the State of the Schools address will be held. If you would like to be a focus group member, please sign up (see the details below).
On Monday, January 20th, there will be no school in honor of Martin Luther King.
Thank you for allowing us to educate your children and working with you toward a bright future. We are here to work with you to provide the best education possible. If you have questions please contact me.
~Mrs. Rage
REMINDER - STATE OF THE SCHOOLS ADDRESS & PUBLIC FOCUS GROUP
The Fargo Public Schools will hold the 2019-20 State of the Schools Address & Public Focus Group on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m. at South High School, 1840 South 15th Avenue, Fargo. Parents, staff and community members are invited to participate and are encouraged to pre-register by 4:00 p.m. on December 18, 2020 by calling 701.446.1005 or signing up online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/focusgroup. Attendees will receive reading materials electronically in advance of the event. For more information, visit www.fargo.k12.nd.us/focusgroup.
DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT
As evidence of Fargo Public Schools’ commitment to our patrons, the FPS 2018-19 Annual Report is now available, and it showcases the qualities and services of our school district. The publication provides a wide array of information to familiarize families and the community with Fargo Public Schools. Report details include enrollment, staffing, and budget numbers, and overviews student services and student assessment data. Thank you for your continued support as we serve the citizens of Fargo by providing its students an excellent educational experience. Access the full document at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/AnnualReport.
Illness Guidelines
Children with the following symptoms should not be sent to school and/or school activities. We ask that you keep your children home when they are ill so that other children and our staff do not become ill.
If these symptoms are present, the student should be sent home:
• Any indication of communicable diseases as listed on the communicable disease regulations.
• Thermometer indicates a temperature of 100 degrees or above
• Undiagnosed rash or sores.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Deep and severe cough, heavy or discolored nasal discharge.
• Contagious infection diagnosed by a physician. Students may not return to school until:
•When the student is diagnosed by a physician to have a contagious infection and places the student on a prescription medication, the student may not return to school until they have taken the medication for a full 24 hours and the student’s temperature has remained below 100 degrees for 24 hours, without the use of acetaminophen (i.e.,Tylenol), etc. to keep the temperature down.
• There has been no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours.
These guidelines are for the safety of the ill student as well as for the other students and staff.
Two Hour Late Start
EARLY DISMISSAL
Occasionally, the school day may need to be shortened due weather, water, electrical, or other unforeseen circumstances. In these instances, the district will contact the media to make a public announcement about the time of dismissal as well as any other circumstances that may be important. The usual bus routes will be run if possible. The school will follow parent’s plans
as indicated on Emergency Early Release form that is completed online at the beginning of each year.
GENERAL INFORMATION
All students are to be at school no later than 8:00 am.
School hours are 8:10 am to 2:32 pm.
If your child is going to be absent or late, please call 701-446-4206 prior to 8:00.
Make sure your child has lunch funds. Free and Reduced Lunch forms are available.
Dress your child in appropriate attire for the current weather. (Winter - coat, snow pants, boats, hat & mittens)!
If you are picking up your child, come in to the office to sign them out. Office staff will call them down when you arrive.
End of Day Arrangements - if you need staff to relay a message for a change in plans - the office needs to be notified by 12:00 to ensure that we catch your student before the end of the day. If you know in advance you can always write a note in their planner / communication folder.
CELL PHONE & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Below is a modified version cell phone and electronic devices as found in the Fargo Public School Elementary Handbook. For a full description, please go the the Elementary Handbook (page 9).
Standards for responsible use at school, on buses or at school activities:
- Students shall not use any electronic devices that in any way disrupts or detracts from the educational environment.
- Electronic devices should not be visible unless designated by the teacher for classroom use.
- The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items or individual service plan charges related to use of electronic devices.
- All electronic devices, including cellular phones, iPods, MP3 players, PDAs, e-Readers, and other devices (this would include smart watches and Gizmo type devices) capable of transmitting data or images be turned off anytime the device is not in use for educational purposes.
- The USE of cellular phones or other personal electronic devices is strictly prohibited in locker rooms and restrooms.
Violations of these guidelines may result in loss-of-use privilege, other consequences, and/or confiscation of the device based on the discretion of school administration, teachers or other school personnel. If you need to reach your child, please call the office at 446-4200.
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2020 opens online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2020. Child must be age 5 by July 31, 2020 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process: online registration and document submission.
STEP ONE: Registration can be completed at home online anytime or at computer kiosks in the office at each Fargo Public elementary school building on the following dates with extended office hours:
- February 24, 26, and 28 – 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- February 25, 27, and March 2 – 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
STEP TWO: Once online registration has been completed, families MUST bring the following documents to the school their child will attend to finalize their child’s registration:
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s current immunization record
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and address to verify the correct neighborhood school
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.
Questions? Call the school office or Betsy Beaton at 701-446-1043.
Skate City - PTA EVENT
IMPORTANT DATES
December 23 - January 1 - Winter Break - NO CLASSES
January 2 - Classes Resume
January 10 - No Classes
MCKINNEY- VENTO
Is your current address a temporary living arrangement?
Is this temporary living arrangement due to loss of housing or economic hardship?
If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, your child(ren) may be eligible for McKinney-Vento services. Please call Jan at (701) 446-1013 to determine eligibility.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
Now that colder temperature are here please make sure to have your children dress in layers. They will need to have boots, snow pants, jacket, hat and mittens to play out in the snow. The school policy states that we will cancel outdoor recess when the temperature and wind speed create a wind chill of 15 degrees below zero or more.
LUNCH GUESTS
MID-MORNING BEVERAGE BREAK SECOND SEMESTER-JANUARY 13, 2020
Please note there will be NO REFUNDS this year unless the student moves out of the Fargo Public School attendance area.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
If you choice to join your child to for lunch and are ordering school lunch - you need to have your order into the office no later than 9:00 am.
Daily prices for the 2019-20 school year
Breakfast
Student-$1.45
Adult-$2.15
Lunch
Student-$2.45
Adult-$3.50
Carton of Milk-$0.35
Free and Reduced Forms are available on line. Click below.
MORNING ROUTINE AND SUPERVISION
Students are allowed in the building after 7:30 am-NO EARLIER. Prior to 7:30 am there is not staff available to supervise them. Kennedy breakfast starts at 7:30 am. Students will be supervised on both playground areas (K-1 north playground and grades 2-5 south playground). When the weather becomes rainy or cold (windchill factor of -15 degrees below zero or more), students will gather in the gym or in their classrooms for recess and will be supervised by staff.
If early morning day care is provided at Kennedy by the Fargo Youth Commission beginning at 6:45 am. Parents must contact them for availability.
RECESS CANCELLATION POLICY (From the Elementary Handbook)
STUDENT DROP OFF/PICK UP
For pick up and drop off, please use the south loop. The north loop is for BUSES ONLY.
Parents dropping off students from 7:30 am to 8:10 am MUST REMAIN IN THEIR VEHICLE when dropping off your child/children for school. If you need to get out of your car or wish to walk your child into the building, please park in the parking lot. This ensures that there is not a backup of cars on 42nd Street.
At dismissal, between 2:00 and 2:45, parents also need to park in the left or right lane and REMAIN in their vehicle. The center lane is for cars to pull out and leave once their child/children have entered their car.
DO NOT PARK IN THE BUS LANE (THE NORTH LOOP) AT ANY TIME.
Remind students to “scanning on and off the bus”. This will help to pinpoint where your child is if they get off at the wrong stop. Check “Here Comes the Bus” to be sure the child is scanning and the card is being read,
PTA NEWS - NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
Hello Kennedy Families!!
Check out Kennedy PTA Newsletter - https://sites.google.com/site/fpsptakennedy/
Kennedy PTA 2019/2020 Goals:
· Fund an Outdoor picnic area
· Fund the First year of 5th grade legacy tree planting
· Host the 2nd annual Kennedy fun color run
· Purchase a popcorn machine to use for class and other events at Kennedy School
All of your support helps us achieve these goals that enhance our children’s educational experience. Thank you for supporting our students and school staff!
Mark your calendar the next PTA meeting is on Monday, January 6th in the K-1 pod area beginning at 6:30 and ending at 7:30 pm.
Contact Us
Email: ragek@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/kennedy
Location: 4401 42nd Street South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: (701) 446-4200
Twitter: @KennedyFargo