West Monthly Newsletter
FEBRUARY 2020
West Elementary School
Email: ediederich060@mygfschools.org
Website: https://www.gfschools.org/Domain/1047
Location: 615 North 25th Street, Grand Forks, ND, USA
Phone: 701-746-2310
Message from Mrs. Diederich
Hi West Families!
February is here! This school year has gone by so quickly! Students and staff have been busy with assessments, and are preparing for upcoming parent/teacher/student conferences. This spring, conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd and Thursday, March 5th from 4:00-7:00pm, and on Friday, March 6 from 12:00-4:00 pm. On March 6, school will dismiss at 11:20. More information on scheduling a conference time will be coming home with your child(ren) soon. Conferences are a time to celebrate your child(ren)'s learning and help them work toward their goals. We look forward to seeing you there.
Noted is that our parking lot is tight, and has become even tighter with all of this snow! Our youngest students use door #5 to come and go from our school, and they can be difficult to see. To keep our students safe and help with congestion, if you are picking your child(ren) up from door #5, please park on the streets and walk to door #5. Also, when dropping your child(ren) off or picking them up, please avoid driving on the sidewalks. When sidewalks are driven on, it is difficult to clear them of the snow and ice that builds up. I appreciate your help with keeping our students safe!
The flu season has been a tough one for our students and staff. Please remember that when your child has a fever or has been sick to his/her stomach, they need to remain at home symptom-free for 24 hours. Please encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of sleep, and wash hands regularly.
West is now on Twitter! This is a great way to stay connected and see what is happening at our school. We’d love you to follow us @GFPSWEST.
Spring is around the corner! For now, stay safe and warm!
Elisa Diederich
Principal Designee
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
We are excited to see you on March 12th as we prepare for your student’s kindergarten year at Grand Forks Public Schools! Details for this event will be forth coming.
In order to help better prepare for your arrival at Kindergarten Registration, we would like you to take a few minutes to complete our online Pre-Registration form. This Google Form (http://bit.ly/Kindergarten2020) will allow us to capture information so we can begin your student’s enrollment now and cut down your waiting time at school that day.
Children who reach the age of five before August 1, 2020 would qualify to enroll for the 2020/2021 school year. You will need your child's birth certificate, updated shot records, a primary proof of address and a secondary proof of address. Acceptable documentation is listed at the end of this newsletter. Please contact our office at 746-2310 if you have any questions.
5TH GRADE REGISTRATION
Families of 5th grade students,
The Grand Forks School District has established school boundary lines for the purpose of
creating geographically accessible schools with class sizes that fall within school board
guidelines. Each of our schools offers equitable learning opportunities and programs,
committed staff, and pride-filled environments.
Families may request a different school for their child other than their neighborhood school by completing a Transfer Request Form. Approvals are contingent on “space available” for both regular and special education programs. Student academic, attendance, and behavior records are also reviewed. The majority of our schools are at enrollment capacity, and therefore, very few requests are approved.
Families contemplating a transfer request must be able to provide daily transportation.
Students must be dropped off close to the start of the school day and be picked up at the end
of the school day (or end of an activity) to ensure student safety.
If you are considering a transfer request for next year, the completed form is due to the
requested middle school office by February 28, 2020. Forms are available at any elementary
or middle school office. You will be notified by mail in April/May whether your request is
approved or denied.
Thank you for understanding our goals of maintaining appropriate class sizes and positive
environments in our schools.
Sincerely,
Ms. Catherine Gillach
Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education
WE ARE NOW ON TWITTER
Morning Arrival Door Policy
School Meal Menu
https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/WestElementarySchoolND
Upcoming Dates
Monday, February 3rd
WEST CLOTHING STORE OPENS TODAY
VEX Meeting 3-4
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Chorus 3:10-4
Tuesday, February 4th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
5th Grade - Winning Decisions Program 10:30-11:30
Red Event 2:30-2:50
Wednesday, February 5th
Early Release 1:30
Thursday, February 6th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
Therapy Dog Visit 1:30-2:30
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Friday, February 7th
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Saturday, February 8th
VEX Tournament at Discovery (Door #2) / 8-2 (VEX Team) / 10-2 (Audience)
Monday, February 10th
VEX Meeting 3-4
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Chorus 3:10-4
GF School Board Public Forum at South Middle School 7-9
Tuesday, February 11th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
5th Grade - Winning Decisions Program 10:30-11:30
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
PTO Meeting 6-7
Wednesday, February 12th
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Thursday, February 13th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
Therapy Dog Visit 1:30-2:30
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Friday, February 14th
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Monday, February 17th
VEX Meeting 3-4
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Chorus 3:10-4
Tuesday, February 18th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Wednesday, February 19th
5th Grade Pen Pals at Valley Memorial Homes 9:30-11:30
Early Release 1:30
Thursday, February 20th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
Therapy Dog Visit 1:30-2:30
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Friday, February 21st
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Saturday, February 22nd
State VEX Tournament at RRHS (Door #1) / 8-3 (VEX Team) / 9:30-3 (Audience)
Monday, February 24th
VEX Meeting 3-4
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Chorus 3:10-4
Tuesday, February 25th
VEX Meeting 7:40-8:20
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Wednesday, February 26th
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Thursday, February 27th
VEX Meeting 7:45-8:20
Therapy Dog Visit 1:30-2:30
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Intramural 3:00-3:55
Friday, February 28th
NO SCHOOL - Professional Development
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
TEARS is offering Adult Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) classes through May 2020. These 8-hour classes are to mental health what CPR is to physical health – learning to recognize the symptoms and how to be connectors for help. All classes are $20/person.
The classes will be held:
February 2020
2/7: 5-9 PM, 2/8: 8 AM- 12 PM at Valley Middle School, Youth MHFA
2/21: 5-9 PM, 2/22: 8 AM-12 PM at Altru Hospital Meeting Room A, Youth MHFA
2/22: 8 AM-5 PM at Altru Professional Center, Adult MHFA
March 2020
3/20: 5-9 PM, 3/21: 8 AM-12 PM at Altru Professional Center, Youth MHFA
3/21: 8 AM-5 PM at Altru Hospital Meeting Room A, Adult MHFA
3/27: 5-9 PM, 3/28: 8 AM-12 PM at Red River High School, Youth MHFA
April 2020
4/3: 5-9 PM, 4/4: 8 AM- 12 PM at TBD, Youth MHFA
4/10: 5-9 PM, 4/11: 8 AM-12 PM at Red River High School, Youth MHFA
4/18: 8 AM-5 PM at TBD, Youth MHFA
4/25: 8 AM-5 PM at TBD, Adult MHFA
May 2020
5/15: 5-9 PM, 5/16: 8 AM-12 PM at TBD, Youth MHFA
5/23: 8 AM-5 PM at TBD, Youth MHFA
5/23: 8 AM- 5 PM at TBD, Adult MHFA
Participants must be 18 years of age or older and must go to both session dates. If you register for a class with two class dates back-to-back, you must attend both 4-hour dates to receive a certificate. You can register for classes by searching Mental Health First Aid on Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com/ or looking under Events on the TEARSGF Facebook page.
Contact Moriah Opp (mopp@altru.org) with any questions.
Reading Connection Newsletter
School Cancellation and Postponement Procedures
In the event that school is postponed or cancelled due to weather, the following procedures will be followed:
1. 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.
- * Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school would start at 10:40.
- * High School: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00.
- * Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00.
- *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 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 (www.gfschools.org) and school websites, 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.
Newsletter Inserts
DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS
We send newsletters out electronically. Please make sure we have your email address on file in the office. We will have paper copies of the newsletter in the office for families who need a hard copy.
SCHOOL SECURITY
All doors will be locked by 8:30 am each day. If you would like to visit or pick up your child, please use door #1 located on 25th St. N. by the flagpole. All schools in the district have a "Push to Talk" security system. After 8:30 am, all visitors will need to be "buzzed" in by the Main Office. Parents and visitors are required to come to the office, sign in, and pick up a visitor's pass upon arrival before they enter the rest of the school building. If you are picking up OR dropping off your student during the school day, you will need to come into the school office. All students must be checked in and signed out through our office.
ENCORE
ENCORE After School Program is offering additional after school care to families who need coverage on early release days. Space is limited. Please see attached flyer for more information.
SCHOOL DISMISSAL
Students are dismissed at 3:00 and must be picked up promptly, walk straight home after school, ride the bus or go to ENCORE. Students will meet parents and guardians outside at their assigned door. Older siblings may meet their youngest sibling at their assigned door for dismissal. Due to safety concerns students should not stay and play on the playground.
Door Assignments are as follows:
Door #1 - 2nd and 3rd graders
Door #2 - 4th and 5th graders
Door #5 - Preschool and Kindergarten
ABSENCES AND TARDIES
If your child(ren) are going to be late or absent from school, please inform the school office by calling the attendance line number and leaving a message before 8:25 am at 701-746-2329.
Attendance is very important. If your child is not in school, he/she is missing out on very important learning. We monitor student attendance closely and follow the Grand Forks Public Schools "Stay in School" policy.
PARENT/GUARDIAN AND EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Please keep the school office up-to-date on any address, phone number, and email changes. It is very important that we have all the current and correct information on file. We need updated emergency contact information in the event of an emergency.
TELEPHONE CALLS
Our office receives many telephone calls from parents who want to leave messages or make different after school arrangements for students. We ask that you limit these calls to emergencies only. As a school, we limit announcements so student learning is not interrupted. Please remind your child in the morning before they leave for school about rides, appointments, etc. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
FREE/REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION can be found here: https://apply4schoolmeals.dpi.nd.gov/
BIRTHDAY SNACKS
Due to an increased number of students with food allergies, we no longer celebrate student birthdays with a "birthday snack" in the Grand Forks Public Schools. Parents are welcome to find other non-food items to send to school if they wish. For example, a book, game, pencil or school supplies may be donated to your child's classroom.
PETS AND ANIMALS AT SCHOOL
Pets or animals are prohibited on school grounds during school hours due to potential safety and health concerns.
NEWS FROM OUR SOCIAL WORKER
NEWS FROM OUR NURSE
Hello West Families,
Please click on the download below to view the Dental Health newsletter.
Thank you!
Mandy Iverson