Wilder Elementary School
Parent Newsletter - November 2021
Greetings from Wilder Elementary School!
November Greetings!
Thanks, parents, for your involvement with parent/teacher conferences early in October. We appreciate that you prioritize this opportunity to meet with your child's teachers and hope that you will not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your child's progress. The 1st Trimester ends on November 19 with Report Cards being sent via email the week after Thanksgiving.
Please see the car safety checklist that is attached to this newsletter. I called on Safe Kids Grand Forks to help promote child safety measures as students are transported to and from school. We've noticed that children are not always buckled up or seated in the backseat as guidelines would suggest. In addition, we want to be sure that we are clear on our safety measures at dismissal. Thanks for reviewing the safety guidelines attached and these "dismissal" guidelines:
- Please be aware that traffic on North 4th St. tends to run fast. Even if our parents are cautious at dismissal time, there are other drivers that are not so cautious. Thank you for taking extra care to ensure your child's safety.
- Parents must find a safe space to park their vehicle at dismissal time. There should be no stopped vehicles waiting in the traffic lanes of N. 4th St.
- Please use the crosswalk if you are parked on the opposite side of N. 4th St. We teach this to students as a critical safety measure.
- Students should not be on the berm between the sidewalk and the street unless they are safely boarding their parent's vehicle. Students should be with their teacher or with their parent. There is no running/playtime at dismissal time.
- If at all possible, please have children get in your vehicle from the curb side rather than the traffic side.
- See the attached Car Safety Guidelines for safety reminders once your child is inside your vehicle.
- Know that snow and ice further complicate our safety concerns. Once we are in the winter season, even more caution will be needed.
We are excited to have the Scholastic Book Fair come to Wilder next week! Please note that we have a Thursday off this month (November 11 for Veteran's Day), but there will be school on Friday, November 12.
Thanks for all the ways you support your child's learning at Wilder. We appreciate you!
Sincerely,
Leslie Wiegandt
Principal
It's Time to Get Ready for Bundling Up!
If you are in need of some winter gear, please let our office know. We can help!
Also, please see the November newsletter from Safe Kids attached at the end of the newsletter for some information on staying safe in our winter months!
Upcoming Dates
NOVEMBER
Tuesday, November 2 to Thursday, November 4 -- Scholastic Book Fair in the Library
Tuesday, November 9 - PTO Meeting, 6:00-7:00 pm
Zoom Link: https://mygfschools.zoom.us/j/88904390611
Wednesday, November 10 - Early Dismissal - SCHOOL OUT at 1:30 pm
Thursday, November 11 - Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL
Friday, November 12-- IS A SCHOOL DAY :-)
Thursday, November 25 - Friday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
DECEMBER
Wednesday, December 1 - Early Dismissal - SCHOOL OUT at 1:30 pm
Monday, December 13 - Wilder's Music Program Concert
(Band, Orchestra, Choir)
Wednesday, December 15 - Early Dismissal - SCHOOL OUT at 1:30 pm
Wednesday, December 22 through Sunday, January 2 - Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
Monday, January 3 -- SCHOOL RESUMES
Start out November with the Scholastic Book Fair!!
We will be hosting an in-person Scholastic Book Fair from Tuesday, November 2 through Thursday, November 4.
Students can shop during their library time. If you want to shop with your child, parents are welcome to come on Tuesday from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm and on Thursday from 7:30 am - 8:20 am.
Students can bring cash or check payable to GFPS to shop for books. You can also set up a cashless "ewallet" for your student by visiting the fair website at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/wilder and clicking on the "Get Started" button.
PTO Meeting
You're invited to the next Wilder PTO Meeting on Tuesday, November 9th from 6-7pm! We will meet via Zoom: Click Here
We will be sharing our coupon book fundraising totals, hear how the Scholastic Book Fair went (November 2nd-5th!), our plans for American Education Week, and other happenings around Wilder. If we missed you at Back to School Night, please send an email to cynthia.culver@gmail.com so we can add you to our PTO email and/or text lists to send out information and volunteer requests. See you at our November meeting, where we will be giving away a gift card to one parent, guardian, or other family member in attendance. We will also give a pizza party to the classroom that has the most parents attend this November PTO meeting! (Each classroom must have at least two family members from two different households to be eligible!)
President: Sonja Brandt (Callan – Grade 5, Julia – Grade K)
Vice President: Looking to fill this position!
Secretary: Cindy Prescott (Emily – Grade 2)
Treasurer: Tim Prescott (Emily – Grade 2)
PTO Members: All parents/guardians, teachers, and staff of Wilder Elementary
Contact: wilderelementarypto@gmail.com or Wilder PTO on Facebook
PTO REQUESTING PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR BOOK FAIR AND AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEk
You Can Assist with Appreciation for Teachers or at Wilder's Book Fair!
Wilder's Scholastic Book Fair
Ms. Salgado, Wilder's library specialist, has requested some volunteers to help the younger grades browse and shop on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (November 2 and 4). She could also use a couple of volunteers on Tuesday, November 2, after school.
American Education Week
We are also still looking for 2 more families that would be willing to provide treats or small gifts (little bottles of hand sanitizer, etc.) for the Wilder staff during American Education Week. We do have limited funds available if you are willing to help, but would prefer to be reimbursed for your expenditure.
You can sign up for either volunteer opportunity (or both!) via this Sign Up Genius link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054DA8AD2BA5F85-wilder
Thanks so much for your support to our school!
Cindy Prescott
Early Release Days
2021-2022 REMAINING EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAYS - 1:30 pm
November 10
December 1 and 15
January 12 and 26
February 9
March 23
April 6 and 20
May 4 and 18
On early release Wednesdays, students who are walking home or being picked up will dismiss from Door #4 promptly at 1:30 pm. Please plan accordingly.
Students enrolled in ENCORE's Early Out Club will report to their designated attendance location at Wilder at 1:30 pm.
Early Out Club will dismiss at 3:00 pm. Parents (of children not also enrolled in Encore) are to come to Door #1 (parking lot door) and sign their child out.
GFPS School Cancellation and Postponement Procedures
School postponement and cancellation alternatives will be as follows:
- a. Hold school as normal
- b. Open school but delay sending buses
- c. Delay the start time in all schools by two (2) hours based on each school’s start time
- Elementary School: Start time is 8:25, so school would start at 10:25. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.
- Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school would start at 10:40. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m.
- High School: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- When school starts late, there will be no morning Early Childhood Special Education classes. Afternoon Early Childhood Special Education classes will be held.
- Breakfast will not be served at any sites.
- d. No school in Grand Forks Public Schools all day
- e. No school for the Grand Forks Air Force Base School District students all day
- Decisions related to the weather-related delayed opening or closing of air base schools may not always be consistent with those made for in-town schools. On those days when severe weather makes travel conditions so hazardous as to threaten the safety of staff members, opening delays or the closing of base schools will be given special consideration.
- f. Once school is in session, it will not be terminated until the regular closing time except in very severe situations. However, school buses may leave early. Radio and TV stations will be used to notify parents.
The decision to close or delay school will be made as early as possible. Announcements will be made on the District webpage (www.gfschools.org), and District social media (www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools; www.twitter.com/GFSchools). Announcements will also be made on local radio and TV stations.
Grand Forks Public Schools will be using our Automated Calling system to call staff and parents if school will be delayed or cancelled due to severe weather conditions. Typically, this automated call will occur to staff between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and to parents between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Parents or guardians may always exercise their right to keep students home or pick them up early during stormy conditions.
If an emergency situation should develop during the time school is in session, children will be cared for in school until the storm has subsided.
If buses are sent home early, all buses will be sent.
- a. Radio and TV stations will make the announcement of the departure time.
- b. The lead-time needed for the procedure is approximately one (1) hour.
- c. If conditions are dangerous, bus drivers must use common sense in discharging students that must walk a considerable distance. If possible, use the radio and contact the base station. Have parents meet the bus or be on the lookout for their children. If the driver is unable to contact parents and conditions are dangerous, do not let students off the bus but return to school and notify the principal. Schools that have bus students must have a written procedure for caring for students in the event they must be kept overnight at school.
Updated 9/30/2019
Parents Lead: Substance Use Prevention Tips
Feelings of insecurity, doubt and pressure may creep in during puberty. Offset those feelings with a lot of positive comments about your child’s individuality and strengths. Focus on their effort, creativity, and kindness rather than specific outcomes such as good grades or winning a game.
Source: https://drugfree.org/
Wilder Elementary School
Email: afiala210@mygfschools.org
Website: https://www.gfschools.org/Domain/1087
Location: 1009 North 3rd Street
Phone: (701) 746-2320