Knight News
Grand Forks Central High School - October 15, 2020
Who's Doing the Work? What is the Goal of the Work?
Central Parents/Guardians,
As we push students to bring structure and accountability to their days of remote learning (see the previous edition of the Knight News), it's fair to examine the role parents play not only in remote learning, but all student learning and development. In education, we often start with the end in mind when planning (stay tuned for the GFC Portrait of a Graduate). What skills and attributes should Central graduates possess for success and wellness in the "real world"? With the end in mind, the challenges we currently face provide great opportunities for students to practice these important skills.
Parents/guardians often jump into the lives of their students and manage the work - ironically, the work we want students to do - thinking that we are modeling what responsible adults do so that our kids will then mimic those skills moving forward. Probably not a surprise, but this is not effective and often times becomes counter-productive toward our end goal for students.
Our current trials provide multiple chances for our students to own their schedule, their work, and their progress. Owning the work also means the work, and the products of the work, will not always be pretty. But, seeing this time as practice, with the support of adults, can go a long way toward moving our students to our end goal of success and wellness. And the bonus of this approach is that they actually gain confidence and are happier when they see themselves beginning to manage their learning and lives - realizing they have support, when needed. Missteps and miscues from students are to be expected. It's important that adults help students reflect on them and see them as opportunities for growth.
Let's keep asking the questions: Who is doing the work? What do we want our students to gain from their experiences?
Onward Central!
Mr. Jon Strandell
IMPORTANT DATES
October 15-17 - Check Please/13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview - 7:00 PM
(The fall drama production is not open to the public, see the live link information below.)
October 21 - PLC Early Release at 1:00
October 22-23 - NO SCHOOL - Administrator Conference Day
October 27 - School Pictures Cohort A 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (students will be called down during class)
Remote students A-K 3:15 - 4:00 PM in the Auditorium, Use Door #6
October 28 - School Pictures Cohort B 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (students will be called down during class)
Remote students L-Z 3:15 - 4:00 PM in the Auditorium, Use Door #6
October 30 - End of Quarter 1
November 4 - PLC Early Release at 1:00
November 9 - Booster Club Meeting 7:00 PM/GFC Media Center
November 9 - Opening Date for Boy's Hockey, Girl's Hockey, Wrestling
November 11 - NO SCHOOL-Veteran's Day
Check Please & 13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview Live Links
Because of COVID-19 protocol, the theatre performances are restricted to two vouchers per student, limiting the amount of in person audience. BUT....we are so excited to have the ability to livestream the play! It will be livestreamed this Thursday, October 15th @ 7:00pm. Hop on to support the hard working students! They would love to have you watch! Enjoy!
Livestream Link:
School Pictures
Extra picture packets will also be available on site on both picture days for all students if needed.
Hybrid Student Pictures:
Cohort A: Pictures will be taken on Oct. 27th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students will be called down during class to take their pictures.
Cohort B: Pictures will be taken on Oct. 28th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students will be called down during class to take their pictures.
Remote Student Pictures:
Remote students last name A-K on Oct. 27th from 3:15-4:00 in the Auditorium, use door #6.
Remote students last name L-Z on Oct. 28th from 3:15-4:00 in the Auditorium, use door #6.
School Cancellation and Postponement Procedure
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.
Contact Information Changes
Detention
7 a.m. detention is also available in room 221 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but students must sign up in advance for 7 a.m. detention in the main office.
Detention hours were not held against students for eligibility during Quarter 1 due to the cancellation of spring and summer detention sessions. The policy that states "Students who owe detention hours will not be eligible to participate in any extra-curricular activities, public performances or represent GFC publicly until the hours are served" will go back into effect for Quarter 2 which begins Oct. 31st.
Reporting Absences
Unplanned Absences: Please contact the Attendance Secretary as soon as possible so the absence may be excused. The Attendance Office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and voicemail is also available 24/7. Absences that haven't been excused within 3 days may be coded as unexcused and detention may be assigned.
Planned Short Term Absences: If your student needs to leave school early due to a planned absence, such as an appointment, please call or send a note in advance. Students are responsible for obtaining a purple dismissal slip from the Attendance Secretary prior to leaving class. Doing so ensures they will be excused on time, and they will not interrupt class when they leave. Students must sign out with the office before leaving and sign back in upon return.
Planned Long Term Absences: If you student will be missing 2 or more days due to a planned absence, please contact the Attendance Secretary in advance. Once permission for the absence has been given to the Attendance Secretary, your student should request a pre-arranged absence slip. The pre-arranged absence slip will need to be signed by your student's teachers and turned into the office prior to the absence. Students must make all homework arrangements directly with their teachers for any planned absences prior to the absence.
October is College Application Month!
Many colleges and universities are offering incentives to apply this month. Please check the websites of your schools for details.
The Bank of North Dakota will pay $35.00 toward application fees for North Dakota Colleges and Universities. Please email Ms. Loftus, the senior counselor, if you plan to apply to a North Dakota school in October and she will provide the code.
AP Students
2020-2021 Yearbooks
If you would like to order a 2020-2021 GFC yearbook, go to this website: https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=55338
The cost is $55 or $60 if you want it personalized with a name on the cover. Senior pictures and senior baby pictures are due by May 1st and can be emailed at any time before that to: centralyearbooks@mygfschools.org
Administration
Dr. Gabe Dahl - Associate Principal A-K
Mr. Mike Wilber - Associate Principal L-Z
Contact Us:
Grand Forks Central Main Office : 701-746-2375
Attendance Line: 701-746-2482
Follow us on Twitter: @GFC_Activities
Follow us on Instagram: gfc_activites
Main Office Hours 7:00 AM-4:15 PM
School Doors Open at 7:30 AM