Family Update 11.1
Message from Principal Branch
Greetings,
I want to thank families for participating in School Conferences this fall. Overall, we had good attendance. If you missed conferences, you could reach out to teachers to schedule a phone or video conference. Building relationships and establishing partnerships with your child’s teacher helps accelerate learning and growth. With your support we know scholars can take big steps towards achieving reading and math goals this school year. Here are some ways you can get involved at Garden City:
- Attend Families to Families meetings. At these meetings we discuss a variety of topics led by Garden City or district staff. We also have guest speakers. The first Families to Families session is Thursday November 2nd from 5:30 to 6:30. This meeting will be virtual. See the picture below for the full schedule.
- Attend school events, activities, and celebrations. Check out the image below for details.
- Volunteer for field trips, reading in the classroom, etc. Here is the link to the online volunteer application form. All families interested in volunteering need to complete this form.
- Read, read, read every day with your scholar.
Thanks for being a Garden City family!
Principal Branch
Vote on November 7 Building a Better Future
Building a Better Future, Phase II ballot question: Addressing school needs to provide learning spaces that are secure, modern and structured to equip students for tomorrow
Building a Better Future, Phase II, is the second phase in improving our schools as determined through a multi-year research process that involved staff, families and community members. Their work revealed critical safety/security needs, teaching and learning needs, and building space needs with regard to programming and current and predicted population growth. A big thank you goes out to everyone who volunteered countless hours to closely analyzing the needs of all our schools.
- Early voting underway by postal mail
- In person at the City of Brooklyn Park’s multipurpose room; this is for all Osseo Area Schools voters
If phase II is approved by voters you can expect to see:
- Safety & security improvements
- Full renovation of library media center
- New classroom furniture
- Addition of an outdoor classroom
- Renovation of two existing classrooms into flexible/adaptable spaces
If voting in person, please remember in person at the City of Brooklyn Park’s multipurpose room; this is for all Osseo Area Schools voters!
Halloween
At Garden City we try to keep Halloween celebrations to a minimum. Students may wear a costume to school, but they cannot wear masks or bring toy weapons to school with them. They need to keep accessories at home. If you trick or treat, remember to be safe and keep you treats at home. Let us know if you have any questions.
Halloween Safety Tips
Cold Weather Expectations
Winter is coming and we want to remind all families about dressing warm for the winter months. We want scholars to have fun outside during the winter months. We go outside for recess everyday unless the temperature or windchill is 5 below zero. We encourage you to send students with:
- Winter coats
- Boot
- Snow pants
- Hats
- Mitten or gloves
Student Cell Phones/Devices at School
We are encouraging families to keep student cell phones be left at home. If you choose to send your child to school with a celll phone, please keep the following in mind:
Secure your phone. The school and district are not responsible for replacing lost or stolen cell phones.
Keep them in backpacks, coats, etc.
Do not use them for social media, taking pictures, or videos during school hours or on the bus.
Cell phones being inappropriately used at school will be collected by staff and returned the student at the end of day. If it becomes a repeated interruption to learning, a family member may be asked to come to school.
All students have access to district devices while at school, so cell phones are not needed or required for instruction. If you have any questions, concerns, or situations that require your student to have a cell phone at school, please contact Principal Branch or Ms. Hartman at 763-561-9768.
Upcoming Events- Mark your calendars!
11.7.23--Teacher workshop day (NO School - Remember to Vote!)
11.8.23--Picture Re-Take Day
11.16.23--Northern Clay Family Night 5:00 - 6:30pm
11.23.23 & 11.24.23--Thanksgiving Break Weekend (NO School)
*IMPORTANT END OF DAY NOTICE*
To ensure the safety of all our students…
If there are ANY changes to pick up at the end of the day (example- your student(s) being a parent pick up instead of taking the bus home, or a different family/friend picking up etc) please notify the
OFFICE NO LATER than 2:30pm.
Call 763-561-9768