Back to School Newsletter
WELCOME BACK!
When do I find out who my teacher is???
If you have trouble accessing your teacher's name by Thursday, August 19, the Horace office will then be able to accept inquiry phone calls.
ATTENTION Kindergarten Parents
Kindergarten students and a parent will each meet with their classroom teacher for a 45-minute assessment before they start school. You will get an email on August 18 to schedule an appointment. You will have a one-on-one meeting with the teacher in the classroom and each student will have a short reading assessment with our reading teacher. The assessment days will be Thursday, August 26, Friday, August 27, and Monday, August 30. All, kindergarten students will begin daily classes on Tuesday, August 31.
Parent Information
Here are websites that might be of interest to you.
School Newsletter https://www.smore.com/gtua7
Parent Portal Parent Portal / PowerSchool Login (k12.nd.us)
School Handbook:
Student Handbooks / Elementary School Student Handbooks (k12.nd.us)
School Supply List
Supply List / Section Overview (k12.nd.us)
School calendar:
West Fargo Public Schools / Calendar (k12.nd.us)
Lunch Menu:
Nutrislice Menus | West Fargo Public Schools
My School Bucks:
Bus information:
Transportation / Department Overview (k12.nd.us)
Return to Learn Information
Return to Learn / 2021-22 School Year (k12.nd.us)
Horace PTO
PTO / Section Overview (k12.nd.us)
Please feel free to visit our website to retrieve additional school information:
Horace Elementary School / Homepage (k12.nd.us)
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day at times other than breakfast or lunch. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options.
The goal of the FFVP is to improve children’s overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health. The FFVP will help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, and increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.
Parent Resources for the FFVP https://www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/5303
We are a Bucket Filling School!
Our positive behavior support plan for Horace is Bucket Filling highlighting behaviors that are Safe, Responsible, and Respectful. If we see any student demonstrating positive behaviors, we recognize their behavior and verbally explain how the behavior was safe, responsible, or respectful. Then follow-up that positive interaction by giving the student a YELLOW ticket to either sign their name or number on and place it in their classroom bucket. Teachers may pull tickets out for various things within the classroom, i.e. line leader, classroom helper, etc.
On Fridays, teachers pull names out of the bucket to be the Bucket Filler winners for the week. Then we will call down the bucket fillers (1 per class) to come to the counselor to choose their prize and have their photo taken for the newsletter.
PARENT DROP-OFF & PICK-UP REMINDERS:
- For the safety of our students, please follow.
- When dropping off or picking up your child curbside, please pull all the way forward along the curb so you are directly behind the vehicle in front of you. This will allow as many cars as possible in the lane at one time.
- Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in the loop. If you need to walk in or meet your child at the door, please use the parking lot and be sure to use the designated crosswalk near the front doors.
- Kindly reserve “handicap” designated parking spaces for those displaying a handicap permit in their vehicle. It’s the law!
Thank you for helping ensure our students remain safe and drop-off and pick-up times run smoothly.
WALKING TO SCHOOL
Students who walk to school should always walk on the sidewalks when possible. Students should utilize the student entrance.
RIDING BIKE TO SCHOOL
Students who ride bicycles to school may park them and lock them in the provided bike racks.
BUS TAGS
Bus students remember you will be using your bus tags to scan on and off when you are riding the bus. Please find your bus tag from last year and tie it to your backpack. Remember it should be on the right side when you have your backpack on.
Smart Watches in the Classroom
Smartwatches can be a distraction in the classroom. From social media to texting, allowing digital devices could hinder a student’s performance in the classroom. Therefore, we ask all students and parents not to text or call using the smartwatch during school hours. If a student uses the watch to text or call, we will ask them to keep the watch in their locker. If it happens again, we will keep it in the office. Thank you for your understanding.
Phones need to be kept in the child's locker or backpack. We are not responsible for lost items.
FREE MEALS
The USDA has announced a new waiver that will allow WFPS to serve FREE MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS through the entire 2020-2021 school year. This waiver applies to every student, every day (onsite learning days, offsite learning days, and Virtual Program participants). The waiver takes effect immediately. Funds that have been placed in your student’s account will remain their account. Additional items served in cafeterias, such as extra milks, are not included in the free meal waiver, and funds are required to purchase these items.
Milk Fees for Morning Snack Break
Elementary students have milk/snack breaks every day at school. You may purchase milk each semester for them to have during the break. First-semester milk fees will be $36 and can be submitted online via MySchoolBucks or by submitting payment via cash or check to the school office.
If you currently have an account, you will use the store for the fees option to pay for snack milk. It is a separate account from lunch money. If you have not used MySchoolBucks in the past, please follow the instructions to create a new account.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day at times other than breakfast or lunch. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options.
The goal of the FFVP is to improve children’s overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health. The FFVP will help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables, children experience, and increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
North Dakota law contains compulsory attendance requirements for students ages seven through sixteen. West Fargo Public Schools believes there is an intangible benefit associated with being present in the classroom. Students are required to attend school 90% of the academic school year. For more information on the district's attendance policy, review the administrative policy FFB-AP: Attendances & Absences.
If your child will not be in school, please call the school office before the school day begins, with the following information:
- Child's Name
- Child's Classroom Teacher
- Reason for Absence
Unexcused and unverified absences result when a student skips school or if no phone call has been received by the school. Repeated unexcused/unverified absences or truancy may result in a referral to juvenile authorities through our SARB process.
If you know in advance that your child will be absent due to an appointment, funeral, vacation, etc., please notify your child's classroom teacher and the school office. In the event a child needs to be picked up prior to the end of the school day, a parent/guardian must report to the school office and request the child be dismissed from class. The parent/guardian may call ahead to request the child be ready, but they must still report to the school office.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that provides special rights to students who are experiencing homelessness.
Are you living in a shelter?
Are you sharing housing with family or friends, due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason?
Are you living in a motel, hotel, substandard housing, or campgrounds due to a lack of alternative and adequate housing?
The primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not meant for regular sleeping accommodations for people
Living in a car, park, public spaces, abandoned buildings
Are migratory students meeting the above descriptions?
Are unaccompanied youth not living with your parent/guardian
If you answered YES to any of the above, please contact your school's social worker to determine eligibility. If eligible students have the right to:
- Attend school
- Stay in the school of origin (school attended prior to losing housing)
- Receive transportation to/from the school of origin
- Participate fully in school programs and activities
- Receive free breakfast and lunch at school
- Enroll immediately in school
Please reach out to Margit Schmelka at 701-499-1309 or mschmelka@west-fargo.k12.nd.us for additional information and support.
WFPS on Social Media
Did you know West Fargo Public School is active on social media? The district’s Public Relations Department manages a district-level Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube account. If you are interested in receiving breaking news about the district and updates on construction, enrollment, and staff and student successes, be sure to follow us on social media!
School Emergency Information
PTO Information
Upcoming Meetings - Join us at our next meeting! All parents and teachers are welcome to attend the PTO meetings. Each meeting is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the school library. We have entertainment for the children, so bring them along!
Officers can be contacted at horacevolunteers@gmail.com
Sign up for volunteer/donation opportunities here: http://signup.com/go/N9AAWZ
Like us on Facebook to keep up to date: https://www.facebook.com/HoracePTO/
After School Activities and Camps
Effective for the 2021-22 school year, North Dakota Century Code requires schools to allow “youth patriotic societies” access to students during school hours. This new law means that representatives from groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts must be given the opportunity to speak with all students in grades K-5 this fall. To ensure equitable access that does not take away from learning, each group will be given no more than five minutes to share about their organization. These presentations may be scheduled during class time, lunchtime, recess, or as part of an assembly that is already planned; the scheduling will be done at the principals’ discretion, in alignment with the legal requirements.
Once your child’s principal has established a presentation schedule with a youth patriotic society, it will be shared via the school newsletter. If you would prefer that your child not participate in these presentations, please contact your principal.