Welcome to McAuliffe Elementary
October 2020
About Us
Health Office (Nurse): 651-480-7395
Kids' Campus: 651-480-7423
Hastings Bus Company: 651-437-1888
Website: mcauliffe.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 1601 12th Street West, Hastings, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7390
September is already behind us! We had an excellent beginning to the school year. The students have been “all smiles” and enthusiastic about learning. Of course, being back with friends and having an opportunity to make new friends is a plus too.
DATES TO REMEMBER
OCTOBER
12 - In Person School Day for Cohort 1
13 - In Person School Day for Cohort 2
12 & 13 - Evening Zoom Conferences
14 - NO SCHOOL - Morning Zoom Conferences
15 & 16 - NO SCHOOL (Teacher Association Days)
20 - McAuliffe PTC Meeting @6:30pm,
Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 504 244 5157, Passcode: PTC
20 & 22 - Hastings Online Academy Picture Retakes, 4-5pm @HMS
NOVEMBER
3 - Picture Retakes - Cohort 1
5 - Picture Retakes - Cohort 2
17 - McAuliffe PTC Meeting
Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 504 244 5157, Passcode: PTC
25, 26, 27 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
FALL CONFERENCES
Elementary conferences are scheduled in the evening of Monday, October 12th and Tuesday, October 13th and during the morning of Wednesday, October 14th.
All conferences will be held virtually via Zoom. Teachers will communicate the zoom meeting information through email as well as Seesaw.
Scholastic Book Fair update: The Scholastic Book Fair will not be held during fall conferences. Stay tuned for more information on a virtual book fair this November!
ATTENDANCE
In line with state requirements, schools will track attendance during their at-home days (distance learning days). We do this by having students interact with learning tasks & materials. If learning tasks need modifying or are not being completed, parent/teacher communication will be needed. Please feel free to reach out with your teacher on Flex days.
Although attendance is required, we value students thoughtfully engaged in their learning. Accountability for learning (completing assignments/assessments) will be separated from “showing up for distance learning” (attendance). For the purpose of accountability, students are expected to complete tasks daily and demonstrate evidence of their learning. This expectation applies for both the Hastings Online Academy and Hybrid Learning.
To report an absence, parents/guardians can notify the school's attendance line at 651-480-7391.
MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE
Please continue to monitor your child every morning for symptoms of COVID-19 that could indicate that they are not well. If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms or they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, please keep them home and call the attendance line. Symptoms of COVID-19*
● Fever or chills (T = 100.4 or higher)
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Fatigue
● Muscle or body aches
● Headache
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Congestion or runny nose
● Nausea or vomiting
● Diarrhea
*This list does not include all possible symptoms (see Symptoms of Coronavirus for more information).
We learn more about COVID-19 every day, and as more information becomes available, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will continue to update and share information with us. As our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 evolves, this guidance may change.
During the school day if your child develops illness symptoms we, the school, will notify you and help you and your family take needed actions. Students who develop illness symptoms during the school day will be sent home.
PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF EXPECTATIONS
1) We must make conservative driving decisions. Always Be Patient!
2) Whenever possible, prepare your child(ren) to exit the vehicle on the curbside.
3) Please pull up as far as you can, so other cars can drop off behind you.
4) Do not park your car along the curb and come into the building. If you need to come into the building for any reason, please park in one of our parking lots.
5) As the cold weather approaches, make sure you have clear visibility out all of your windows.
Drop off times are from 9:20 to 9:40 am. Children should not be dropped off before 9:20. If you need to drop off before the 9:20 bell, you can enroll your child in Kids Campus. Further information about Kid’s Campus can be obtained from the district’s website, or from our office.
DISMISSAL SAFETY
We want to make sure all students are safe at dismissal. Getting everyone on the same page at the end of the day has some inherent challenges. Consistency with your child’s dismissal plans reduces stress on all parties involved. Keeping the same plan, day after day, helps us maintain safety throughout dismissal.
We understand that there are times when events occur that need to change dismissal plans. In those instances, it is recommended to have a note a day in advance, and the day of. We thank you for your advanced planning and communication.
In order to minimize interruptions to the classroom, students should not be picked up early unless it is an emergency. On those occasions when it is necessary to pick your child up during the school day, please go to the school office to sign your child out. The office secretary will call the classroom and have the student sent to the office.
BUS SAFETY TRAINING
All District 200 K-4 elementary students received school bus safety training on a school bus in late September. Hastings Bus Company drivers conducted the training. They have developed lesson plans that correlate with the bus safety curriculum classroom teachers cover each fall.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
When the temperatures start to dip into the 40’s and 50’s, we do require students to wear a light jacket or sweatshirt outside. When winter arrives, winter clothing will be required.
OVERCOMING ANXIETY
Let your children know you care. If your children are anxious about school, send personal notes in the lunch box or book bag. Reinforce the ability to cope. Children absorb their parent's anxiety, so model optimism and confidence for your child. Let your children know that it is natural to be a little nervous anytime you start something new but that they will be just fine once they become familiar with classmates , the teacher, and school routine.
Do not over react. If the first days are a little rough, try not to over react. Young children in particular may experience separation anxiety or shyness initially but teachers are trained to help them adjust. If you drop them off, try not to linger. Reassure them that you lave them, will think of them during the day, and will be back. Remain calm and positive.
Acknowledge anxiety over a bad experience the previous year. Children who had a difficult time academically or socially or were teased or bullied may be more fearful or reluctant to return to school. If you have not yet done so, share your children's concern with the school and confirm that the problem has been addressed. Reassure your children that the problem will not occur again in the new school year, and that you and the school are working together to prevent further issues. Reinforce your children's ability to cope. Give your children a few strategies to manage a difficult situation on their own. But encourage your children to tell you or the teacher if the problem persists. Maintain open lines of communication with the school.
Arrange play dates. Try to arrange get-togethers with some of your children's classmates before school starts and during the first weeks of schools to help them re-establish positive social relationships with peers.
Family Matters - A resource from the National Association of School Psychologists
KIDS CAMPUS EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
If the Hastings Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather conditions, the Kids Campus Program will also be closed. If school is delayed two hours in opening, Kids Campus will be open at the regular time (6:30 am).
If school closes two hours early, then Kids Campus sites will close two hours early
(4:00 pm). Parents will be called and notified by Kids Campus staff to pick up their child.
Please pick up your child by 4:00 pm or authorize someone else to pick up your child by that time. Please listen to the radio and TV for school closing announcements.
CHANGES TO SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
Effective Monday September 14, 2020 free meals will now be available to all children enrolled in the Hastings ISD 200 school district. This does NOT include ala carte milk. Milk is $0.50 when purchased alone or an extra is purchased. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it will waive all fees for school meals through December 31, 2020, or earlier if funding runs out.
How will my student get their free meals?
When learning at school: Breakfast and lunch will be available at no cost to students when they are in school or an in-person or hybrid learning schedule.
Hastings Online Academy
A week’s supply of both breakfasts and lunches will be available for pickup on Monday (unless otherwise noted for holidays, etc.) from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Hastings District Office. Order Thursday at noon the week before.
Elementary Hybrid Learning
Order lunches for the days your students are not onsite only. Meals will be picked up by your student at their designated location at the end of the day.
Students in Cohort 1 (attending onsite Monday/Tuesday): Order lunch on Monday by noon for students to take at the end of the day on Tuesday for Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
Students in Cohort 2 (attending onsite Thursday/Friday) order lunches on Thursday by noon for students to take at the end of the day Friday for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Fill out those Free & Reduced Application forms!
Even though meals are free for the first few months of school, you still need to fill out your Free & Reduced Application form. This ensures you will have help paying for meals after December 31, and also helps you cover costs for other school-related activities. In addition, it grants our district access to federal funding to support our schools. Complete the 2020-2021 Free & Reduced Meal Application online or contact Food Service to request one.
Please Note: Families MUST fill out a new application for benefits at the beginning of each school year or benefits will expire.
HOA - LENDING LIBRARY CART
Need Books?
H.O.A. Lending Library Cart
Open: 8am-3pm
Located: outside McAuliffe Office doors (in the school entry way)
Contact-free option
Available to all HOA students
No book check out required!
Take what you need, return what you can, donate more books if able!
Always use the provided hand sanitizer on the cart before selecting books. If there is a family looking at the books on the cart, please practice social distancing and wait at least 6 feet away for your turn.
Community Education Recreational Opportunities
TO REGISTER: Call 651-480-7670 or register online at www.HastingsCommunityEd.com