Horace Mann/Roosevelt Elementary
October 2023
The mission of Horace Mann/Roosevelt Elementary School
School Improvement Goals
All students will demonstrate growth in the writing process.
All students will demonstrate growth in the math process.
October 2023
Dear HMR Families:
Happy October! We are embarking on a new and exciting month! With fall changing its colors, our students and staff are changing and growing as well. We are continually adding to our HMR family. As new students and staff move in, it has been wonderful to watch our existing students and staff show such caring and supportive actions to help them feel welcome in their new environment.
We had our first Family Fun Night at HMR on Tuesday October 3rd. We had a blast! Thank you families for coming and allowing us to entertain the children and give you some information about HMR and how we are committed to enhancing healthy belonging at HMR and how our dedicated and resilient staff are working to ensure that our students are getting their needs met every day academically, socially, and emotionally.
PTA News
Our next PTA meeting will be on Monday October 9th from 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Horace Mann Campus.
Please keep selling the coupon books. Remember that this is our only fundraiser for the year.
Please also know that if you prefer not to sell coupon books and would like to donate time, money, and talents, please contact Lucy Olson at horacemannrooseveltpta@gmail.com
The first big PTA event will be a “Trunk or Treat” event at the Horace Mann Campus. Please come and enjoy a fall evening “Trunk or Treating”, dancing to some music, some games out in the field, and the playground. Costumes are encouraged! More to come about this event as the time draws near. Questions regarding PTA and events can be directed to Lucy Olson horacemannrooseveltpta@gmail.com
Here is a link with more information and to sign up to participate with your very own trunk design. Thank you to the PTA and the volunteers as this event has been so well attended in the past that we would love to see an even bigger turnout this year!! The Trunk or Treat will be held at the Horace Mann campus from 6pm-7:30pm on Friday, October 27th.
Link for Trunk or Treat:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49A8A62EA6FFC52-44501115-trunk
HMR Information
After School Activities
As October comes in HOT, we would like to hear from you about after school activities. We will promote these activities at both campuses. Volunteers are needed and we will be taking suggestions. Please fill out the information at the link below. We will get started with after school activities the week of October 23rd and go until December 15th. We will then send out another sign up and idea link to start after school activities in the New Year.
Link: HMR After School Activities
HMR University
This year we are going to try something new to increase parent involvement and talk about topics you, as parents and stakeholders, are interested in. We are calling this platform, HMR University. This concept was created by Christopher Turner. The purpose of HMR University is to build a healthy community, inform parents and have dialogue about how and why we do what we do here at HMR and FPS, as well as lending time and space for new and creative ideas to help our HMR families feel more connected to our neighborhood schools. Please click on the link below and fill out this short survey so we know what is important to you. We will leave the link open until the 13th of October. We look forward to learning and growing with you.
Link: HMR University Survey
Parent Survey
In an effort to improve practices, HMR is conducting a parent survey. We value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this online survey. The web survey will be available until November 6th, 2023
To complete the survey, go to our District’s website select where you will see the survey link at the top of the page, or click below.
Safety Drills
As a school we are required to carry out 18 safety drills per year at each campus. They include 12 evacuation drills, 3 lock down drills, and 3 sheltering drills. We will continue to practice these drills and have our teachers communicate the directions and expectations of the drills. Thank you to our staff for keeping safety first and for taking this practice seriously. We will be talking about the Alice drill. That drill is used if there would be an intruder in our school. Alice is an age- and ability-appropriate training program that will empower staff and students to make decisions during life-threatening emergencies. Below is a link that explains the transition from the “Run, Hide, Fight” model to the Alice model for inside threats. Please talk with your child (ren) about this as we approach winter and we do more drills inside the building.
Attendance
Families, school attendance is more important now more than ever! With all of the disruptions to education in the past 5 years, our children need to be in the classroom every day. Research suggests that if a student misses 2 days a month, for the entirety of their K-12 education, that child will have missed an entire year of learning by the time they graduate. Below is the current data of the first 23 days of school at each campus. We need your help in ensuring that your child (ren) attends school regularly. We miss them when they are gone and the value they add to our HMR School Family!!
If there are barriers to getting your child (ren) to school, please email or call us at either campus and we will help problem solve and partner with you to ensure that our HMR Spartan Scholars get the very best out of their education so that they are able to reach their full potential, continue to learn and grow, and to support their curiosity and Joy for learning.
Horace Mann Attendance
Roosevelt Attendance
2022-2023 End of year Data
The data collected from last year is an indication as to why daily attendance at school is so important. We had a very high percentage of students at both Horace Mann and Rooselvet who were Chronically or Significantly Chronically absent last year. It is vital to student growth socially, emotionally and academically that they attend school every day. Thank you for what you do to ensure that your child (ren) are attending school every day.
Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KrbLQvvJG2Qa5-kYSyU8G6Jw623_LT4tMUYXYFRfdis/edit?usp=sharing
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on:
Thursday October 12th from 3:00pm-7:00pm
Monday October 16th from 3:00pm – 7:00pm
We will be registering on PCTfast again this year. To those of you new to HMR, we use this web-based sign-up process to help parents and caregivers schedule conference times that work for you. There will be more information coming out to parents as we get closer to Conference time later this month.
PCTfast link: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Horace_Mann_Roosevelt
Here are some general hints on how to have a successful conference:
Ask your child if there is anything that he/she would like you to discuss with the teacher.
1. Jot down everything that you want to talk about at the conference.
2. Arrive promptly or a few minutes early.
3. Be open-minded to suggestions from the teacher.
4. Take notes about what has been discussed to share with your child.
5. Do not stay beyond your allotted time.
In the past, parents at HMR have had a 90% plus attendance rate at conferences. This is an impressive example of teamwork between parents and school in the educational process! We are excited to talk about the joy your child brings to HMR!!
Schoolwide Title 1 Handbook:
Please scan the QR code and browse the HMR Schoolwide Title Handbook. This will give you information about being a Schoolwide Title School and what that offers our students at HMR.
QR Code:
Field Trips
Please take a moment to log into Powerschool and look at the Field Trips page. Many families have opted for their students to not partake in district wide field trips. If that is your wish then nothing needs to be adjusted. If you marked the “opt out” option by mistake, please change the response in Powerschool. Below is the link to our FPS Field Trip Handbook.
Lice
HEAD LICE…..Never a topic we want to discuss, but something that we need to be informed about.
The Fargo Public Schools policy aligns with the recommendations of Fargo Cass Public Health regarding head lice (AP 4780): No Exclude from school until the end of the day the live lice were found and then the child must remain home until treated. Children should be treated for lice as soon as possible. Close contacts should be checked frequently for two weeks. Head-to-head contact with other children should be discouraged.
Due to the low risk of transmitting head lice at school and to maintain confidentiality, letters will NOT be sent to parents of classmates and classrooms will NOT be checked.
What do I Need to Know? Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)
What are head lice?
Head lice are small insects (less than 1/8 inch long). They range in color from red to brown, black, yellow-tan or gray-white. Head lice live on blood they draw from the scalp and lay tiny, gray/white eggs (known as nits) on a hair shaft near the scalp. The warmth from the scalp is needed for the eggs to hatch. Head lice are not known to spread disease.
Who is at risk for head lice?
Head lice infestations occur in all socioeconomic groups, are not an indication of poor hygiene, and can affect anyone.
What are the symptoms of head lice?
Most people who have head lice do not have symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, the most common signs include itching of the skin on the scalp or neck where lice feed. Nits are glued to hair, commonly behind ears and at or near the nape of the neck. Scratching, especially behind and around ears and at the nape of the neck, may lead to open sores and a bacterial infection that also may cause swollen lymph nodes.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Symptoms appear when a live louse is present.
How are head lice spread?
Head lice are spread most commonly by direct contact with hair. Additionally, infested people can also spread head lice by sharing combs, brushes, hats, blankets, or sheets with others, but this is not very common. It can be spread only by live lice and not nits.
When and for how long is a person able to spread head lice?
Head lice will spread until they are treated with a chemical that kills lice and until the eggs have been killed or removed. Research has shown that removal of nits may not be necessary.
How is a person diagnosed?
Diagnosing head lice is done by identifying the presence of live lice or nits within 1/4 inch of the scalp. Identification of eggs and lice with the naked eye is possible; however, the use of a hand lens or microscope may help to confirm the identification.
What is the treatment?
Over-the-counter treatments and prescriptions that kill lice and most viable eggs are available. Follow the directions on the label. Re-treat nine days after initial treatment if not otherwise specified on the product label. Contact your health-care provider or local public health unit for more information.
Does past infection make a person immune?
No. A person who previously had head lice may get it again.
What can be done to prevent the spread of head lice?
Follow these steps to prevent the spread of head lice:
Avoid sharing headgear, coats, hats, hair ornaments, helmets, headphones, combs, brushes, towels, and bedding.
Combs and brushes should be washed in hot water (130 °) for 10 minutes.
Items that cannot be washed should be bagged and stored for two weeks.
Provide separate storage areas for clothing so that the personal articles of one person do not touch the personal articles of another.
When an infestation is found, check the hair and scalp of all household members and treat only those who have lice and those who share the same bed with the infested person.
Additional Information
For additional information about head lice, head lice removal, school exclusions, etc., contact the ND Department of Health, Division of Family Health at 800-472-2286.
Resources:
American Academy of Pediatrics, [Pediculosis Capitis]. In: Pickering LK, ed. Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 28th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009: [495-497}
CDC - lice - head lice - parents. (2013, September 24). Retrieved August 5, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/parents.html
North Dakota Department of Health, (2012). Head Lice; A Lousy Problem. Division of Family Health. pp. 1-30.
Halloween Guidelines
Our school will observe the tradition of Halloween by hosting low key classroom parties at the discretion of the classroom teacher. However, if your family does not observe the traditions of Halloween we will respect your wishes if you would like your student (s) to not participate in any of the classroom activities. Please let your classroom teacher know if you do not want your child to participate in the classroom parties. Included in this communication are the guidelines that we will follow at HMR regarding costumes and classroom parties. Also, please respect the individual teacher if they choose not to have a classroom event. We support their individual decisions.
1. Costumes our Schoolwide theme is “Superheroes”. Families may choose to participate or not. That is purely a family decision. Also, please look at See Saw or your child’s (ren’s) teacher communication about any Halloween events and guidelines.
2. Costumes are not to be worn to school. (If the classroom teacher allows costumes, time will be provided for students to change into their costumes at school.)
3. There will not be time to apply face paint, hair coloring or make up in school so, please save this for at home use.
4. No food items will be allowed if the classroom teacher has a classroom party.
5. Each individual teacher will determine the time frame of their classroom parties.
6. An alternative to purchasing a costume would be for children to dress as a career interest. (Business person, nurse, doctor, carpenter, etc.)
7. Most importantly have a safe and fun Halloween.
Dates to Remember!
October 10: Learn Not to Burn @ Horace Mann 12:00p
October 12: Parent Teacher Conferences @ HMR 3:00-7:00p
October 16: Parent Teacher Conferences @ HMR 3:00-7:00p
October 18:
Author Visit @ Roosevelt Campus ONLY 9:45a
Early Out Day - Dismiss 2 hours early
October 19: NO SCHOOL
October 20: NO SCHOOL
October 24:
Picture Retakes @ HMR
Grade 5 Plains Art Museum (Mrs. Bergin, Mrs. England) 8:45a
Grade 1 MSUM Field Trip 9:20a
October 25: Grade 5 Plains Art Museum (Mrs. Jenkin, Ms. Schroeder) 8:45a
October 27:
Spartan Spotlight - @ Roosevelt 9:00a (Responsibility wear green)
Trunk Or Treat @ Horace Mann 6:00-7:30p
October 31: HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Horace Mann/Roosevelt Elementary School
Jackie Shultis, Assistant Principal
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/HMR
Location: 1025 3rd Street North, Fargo; ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-4600 701-446-5300