Kennedy Parent Newsletter
February 2022
Principal's News
K-5 Virtual Music Program-February 8th
Due to the storm days, our virtual music performance has been rescheduled to February 8th. A link will be sent out to families. Classes will be recorded and the link for all K-5 performances will be shared. Feel free to share the link with other family members. This is a virtual concert and is able to be viewed when you are able to work it into your schedule.
PowerSchool
It is important that we have your current contact information. Please log into your PowerSchool account and update your phone numbers and address. Please include more than one phone number. If you have questions or need assistance, please call the office at 701-446-4200.
Kindergarten Registration for 2022-23. If your child is going to be Kindergartner at Kennedy in fall of 2022. Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 opens online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2022. Child must be age 5 by July 31, 2022 to attend school in the fall. See full details below.
Masking Update:
Masks are strongly recommended, however, not required in all FPS buildings. The school board decision does not change the federal requirement to mask on public transportation. This includes public school buses, so please remind your child that masks are still required on the bus.
With this shift, teachers will encourage students to follow their family's expectations regarding masking, but they will not be keeping track of who is and who is not wearing masks or giving reminders to certain students to wear them.
COVID Testing REMINDER: If any member of your family tested- please make sure you keep your students home until the test results have been received. Please share the results with the school. Working together will allow us to keep in school learning happening. Thank you for continuing to keep us updated!
REMINDER - School Hours: Students are allowed in the building at 7:47 am (First Bell) - Second Bell is at 8:02 am - at this time your child is expected to be in their classroom. We are averaging over 35 tardy/late students per day.
School Make Up Days
Due to the weather-related school cancellations on January 7 & 14, Fargo Public Schools will use the storm make up days built in to the school calendar. Classes will be held on Monday, April 18, 2022 and Monday, May 16, 2022. These days are now days that students and staff are expected to be at school.
Inclement Weather: Please be sure your child has winter clothing which includes: gloves, hat, winter coat, snow pants, and boots. If your child does not have these items, they will remain on the side walk during recess in order to keep their clothes and shoes dry for the remainder of the day.
Also, if the weather is inclement, we will bring students in the school and they will wait in the hall under para supervision. This means there will be NO ADULTS helping in the drop off loop.
Check out the Kennedy Elementary Home page https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/kennedy You will find morning announcements, bus information (click on the transportation button), monthly newsletters and other information under Quick Links.
Community Resources
School counselors and staff are available during the school day to assist students. After hours and during weekends and holiday breaks, families need to utilize community supports. If you are in need of assistance for yourself or someone else, please contact the following resources:
- FirstLink: Dial 2-1-1
- (24/7 hour help line for community resources and emotional support)
- Suicide Lifeline (answered locally): 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Red River Regional Dispatch: 701-451-7660
- If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1
Thank you for allowing us to educate your children and working with you toward a bright future. We are here to work with you to provide the best education possible. If you have questions please contact me.
Thank you for your cooperation and showing other's empathy and kindness.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2022.23
It is time to register your Kindergarten student for 2022-23 school year. Registration for Fall 2022 is now open online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration ( February 1, 2022). Your child must be age 5 by July 31, 2022 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process:
STEP ONE: REGISTER ONLINE
Complete online registration forms at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration. For assistance, please contact your child’s school to schedule an appointment to complete in-person. Masks are required for all visitors.
STEP TWO: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school by August 25 to finalize registration.
· Child’s certified birth certificate
· Child’s immunization record with 5-year shots
· Document (i.e. current pay stub, current utility bill or lease/purchase agreement) that includes parent/guardian name and current address for verification
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701.446.1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
Lost and Found Table
GENERAL INFORMATION
All students are to be at school no later than 8:00 am.
School hours are 8:02 am to 2:24 pm.
If your child is going to be absent or late, please call 701-446-4206 prior to 8:00 am.
Make sure your child has lunch funds. Free and Reduced Lunch forms are available.
Dress your child in appropriate attire for the current weather. (Winter - coat, snow pants, boats, hat & mittens)! Children who do not wear these items will go out but for recess
If you are picking up your child, come in to the office to sign them out. Office staff will call them down when you arrive.
End of Day Arrangements - if you need staff to relay a message for a change in plans - the office needs to be notified by 12:00 to ensure that we catch your student before the end of the day. If you know in advance you can always write a note in their planner / communication folder.
DROP OFF PROCEDURES:
If you drop off your child or children at school, we ask that you be kind and patient to others in the drop off loop. If the loop gets congested, you can pull to the tennis court for extra parking and drop off space.
- Have your child ready to get out of the car once you are stopped. Have their backpack and device beside them, so they can exit the car as quickly as possible..
- All children being dropped off in the loop should get out on the passenger side door.
- Adults are to ALWAYS remain in the vehicle.
- If your child needs assistance in dressing or gathering their belongings, please park in the parking lot to assist them. Fast drop offs keeps the drop off line flowing.
- The north loop is for buses and daycares only, not for parent drop off or parent pick up.
- Parents picking up Kindergarten & 1st grade students, please park on the south side of 44th Ave ONLY for the safety of your children. We do not want them crossing the street to get into your cars.
- Pull up as far as you are able.
- Be courteous to staff and others while dropping off - they are there to assist with the safety of dropping off and picking up of of your child/ren.
Thank you for your patience and kindness.
WHEN WILL KIDS HAVE RECESS INSIDE?
Students will have indoor recess when:
- it is raining, students will be inside for recess.
- it is -10 or colder (with wind chill)
Fargo Public Schools has a new guideline of -10 or colder (with the wind chill) for students staying in for recess. The classroom teacher will monitor the temperature before taking their students outside using the Fargo Public Schools weather information center resource. The FEELS LIKE temperature will be used. Each teacher will lead various activities with their students which will be different class by class.
POWERSCHOOL ATTENDANCE CONFUSION
MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT
Is your current address a temporary living arrangement?
Is this temporary living arrangement due to loss of housing or economic hardship?
If you can answer “yes” to either of these questions, please contact:
Jan Anderson
Homeless Liaison
Fargo Public Schools
(701)446-3113
TARDIES
PTA
Please join us for our first PTA sponsored Family Game Night on February 1st from 6 to 8pm. Games will include Bingo, Trivia, Escape Room and a cake walk. There will be something for kids of all ages, and their grown ups too! There will NO snacks available at this event.
We are in need of some helpers for game night so if you have any older kids or family members who would like to assist us, please email kennedypta@gmail.com.
Kennedy PTA meeting – February 7th @ 6:30pm
Our Kennedy PTA meeting is set for Monday, Feb 7 at 6:30pm. It will be held at Kennedy in the K/1 Pod and masks will be required per current FPS policy. The meeting will also be broadcast via Facebook Live for those unable to attend. Our next Kennedy PTA meeting is set for Monday, March 14th at 6:30pm
Join us - Kennedy PTA
We are still looking for a lot more Kennedy families to join PTA this year. Like any membership organization our PTA finds the best ideas when we have lots of people involved, and our offerings are most successful when they represent all of us. If you have not yet joined, please visit our MemberHub store here: https://kennedyfargo.memberhub.com/store?category=Memberships.
MARK YOUR CANENDARS!
February 1st - 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Game Night
February 7th - 6:30 PTA Meeting K-1 Pod
February 21st - No School - Presidents' Day - PD Day
March 1 - 3 - Book Fair
March 3 & 7 - Parent Teacher Conferences (Classroom teachers will send out the link.)
March 17 & 18 - No School - Spring Break
Fargo South Activities Briefing
Fargo South Activities Briefing
This has been included in your newsletter to provide information on the value of kids participating in activities, the events happening at South High, and information on the great things that our South students are doing.
Fargo South sponsors 24 varsity sports and over 30 groups, co-curricular activities, and co-curricular clubs. You can find the full list of opportunities at https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/domain/138.
*All times and dates are subject to change. Please find the most current information on the South High Calendar at https://www.fargocalendars.org/public/genie/187/school/39/.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley (BGC) offers affordable and flexible youth development programs for before school, after school, and school out days for youth K-5th grades, and The CLUB Teen Center at our BGC Midtown location after school and summer for teens 6th through 12th grade.
Visit our website at www.bgcrrv.org for more information.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley
Scheduling, Registration, & General Information
701-235-2147 | schedule@bgcrrv.org | www.bgcrrv.org
Kennedy Elementary School
Email: ragek@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/kennedy
Location: 4401 42nd Street South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-4200
Twitter: @KennedyFargo