PATRIOT NEWS
October 2023
Principal Saxberg Message
October 10th our students in grades 1-3 will have a presentation by the Grand Forks Fire Marshall, teaching our children about fire safety. Our kind kindergartners will also get to visit a real fire engine that will be at our school.
NFPA.org is a great resource for fire safety, education, and prevention resources.
Here's another great link full of videos and activities https://sparkyschoolhouse.org/
Written Notification of School Accountability Report
Dear Parent/Guardian,
North Dakota has launched a dashboard called “Insights,” designed to help communities across the state access important information about K-12 districts and schools. Insights features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success, including:
· Student Achievement
· Choice Ready Results
· Performance Comparisons
· English Learner Progress
· Graduation Rates
· School and State Accountability Results
· School Improvement Information
· Post-Secondary Education
· School Environment
Transparency to the Public
North Dakota is committed to informing communities about how well our schools are doing. North Dakota’s future success depends on tapping into the potential of all students, so they graduate choice ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful.
State education departments are required to annually create an accountability report for every public school in the state per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The school accountability reports outline how schools perform on the accountability elements North Dakota selected within its ESSA plan.
How is our School Doing?
To find more information about our School Accountability Report, visit the dashboard at Insights.nd.gov, select “Find My School,” and search alphabetically. The school accountability report is posted under the Dashboard heading.
Please note that the data made available to the public masks or hides data for groups with ten or fewer students to protect confidential information about individual students. Therefore, if data is unavailable to less than ten students, it will say “no data available.”
A summary of Century Elementary School’s Accountability Report follows:
English Language Arts 2 Year growth rate- Century=38%, North Dakota=49%
Math 2 Year growth rate- Century=52%, North Dakota=49%
Student Engagement- Century= 94%, North Dakota= 87%
North Dakota State Assessment of English Language Arts Proficiency 2022-23 Century=37%, North Dakota=44%
North Dakota State Assessment of Math Proficiency 2022-23- Century= 42%, North Dakota=39%
Family Engagement
We have strong plans for working to improve the educational programs at our school. We want you and your child(ren) to continue actively participating in our educational system. Please help support our high expectations for student achievement by participating in the school educational initiatives, offering input and support in our endeavors to raise student achievement, or volunteering at the school. Meeting our school’s goals will take a united effort, and I look forward to working with our families to ensure success for each student.
Continuous Improvement
All schools engage in continuous improvement for general support; therefore, our school has completed a continuous improvement plan through Cognia.
As part of the overall school improvement plan, a strategy map is generated for each school. Our strategy map, outlining our key school improvement initiatives, is also available on Insights.
Century Elementary School is a participating Title I school, with a student membership count of 422.
If you have any questions regarding the information in the memorandum, please contact me.
Sincerely,
David Saxberg, Principal
Title I Dispute Resolution Policy
Grand Forks School District
Dispute Resolution Policy/Procedures
Federal and state regulations require districts to adopt procedures for receiving and resolving disputes. A complaint may include an investigation by district staff that will result in a determination of findings of facts, conclusions, and reasons for the final decision.
Any individual who believes the Grand Forks Public School District has violated the regulations or law governing the federal Title program should submit a detailed, written statement of facts supporting the allegation to:
1. Grand Forks Public School Federal Title Program Representative, Matt Bakke, Grand Forks School District, P.O. Box 6000 Grand Forks, ND 58206-6000
2. Any complaint should include the following:
· The date;
· The name of the school district, unit, or individual the complaint is against;
· The name, address, and telephone number of the individual filing the complaint;
· A detailed description of the complaint, including specific facts; and
· The signature of the person making the complaint.
When a written complaint is filed, the appropriate staff member will investigate and issue a written response.
Reconsideration: If either party is not satisfied with the handling of the complaint or resolution, the matter can be appealed to the district’s superintendent. Dr. Terry Brenner, Superintendent, Grand Forks Public School District, PO Box 6000, Grand Forks, ND 58201.
Once a response is received from school staff, the complainant has the right to submit a written reconsideration request to: State Superintendent North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201 Bismarck, ND 58505-0440.
The department will issue a final decision within thirty (30) days of the request for reconsideration.
If the complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of the individual, the individual may forward the complaint to: The Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20208.
Other Formal Dispute Resolution Procedures: Rules regarding dispute resolution between a school district and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction regarding state or federal funds are outlined in the following: • Chapter 67-23-05 of the NDDPI Administrative Rules • Title IX, Part E, Subpart 1, Section 9503 of ESEA – Complaint Process for Participation of Private School Children • Title X, Part C, Section 722(g)(1)(C) of the ESEA – McKinney-Vento
Emergency Response Guide
Statistics consistently show that schools are among the safest places to be due to the strong commitment of educators, families, and our community to our students and schools. We strive to be proactive rather than reactive. This guide outlines the key elements of Grand Forks Public Schools’ state of preparedness. We hope it will answer questions you have concerning our actions and intentions in the event of an emergency.
For consistency, we have developed the following terms to use:
- Drill: An activity that covers a specific safety circumstance and is designed to prepare your student to act quickly and minimize questions and fears should an emergency take place. North Dakota Century Code requires fire, tornado, and other emergency drills, including an unannounced lockdown.
- SRO: School Resource Officer; a uniformed Grand Forks Police Department officer assigned to schools to help build and maintain relationships between police, students, families, and employees.
- Lockdown Instruction Continues: Instruction continues in a secure building. All occupants remain in the classroom/building. Movement within the building is at building administrator’s discretion.
- Lockdown: Occupants are kept in rooms or areas that are secured. There is no movement within the building. Lockdown procedures are followed.
- Reunification Site: Area where students and employees are transported.
- Student Release Area: Location designated at a school or reunification site where families may pick up students. This location would be communicated to you at the time of an emergency.
As soon as possible, please:
- Ensure your contact information in PowerSchool is current and accurate, including who is authorized to pick up your student.
- We will use this information and multiple communication channels (phone call, email, text message (if opted in)) to provide accurate and timely information in the event of an emergency.
- If necessary, we may also use our District website (www.gfschools.org), district social media (Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/GFSchools)), and local news outlets may be asked to broadcast information.
- Explain to your student that cell phones should not be used during an emergency unless directed by an adult. Your student must pay attention to instructions from trained personnel.
What you can expect if an emergency occurs:
- The emergency plan will be implemented and the district/school emergency teams will respond.
- All appropriate emergency response agencies will be dispatched to the school.
- Depending on the situation, students and employees will be secured within the building or relocated to a Reunification Site.
- Families will be kept informed on the situation with as much detail as possible. The first and official way for us to contact you in an emergency is using our automated phone calling system. This will most likely originate from the phone number 701-746-2212. Please save this phone number in your contact list now. Please only rely on these official communications.
- In an emergency situation, phones are needed to manage the situation and lines must remain open. Calling could also put students and employees at risk in an intruder situation. For example, if they did not have time to turn down their ring volume, your call could potentially give away their hiding spot.
- You will not be allowed on school grounds during an emergency. Emergency personnel responding to the situation need the area clear to do their job. After emergency responders determine that a safe student release is possible, arrangements will be made to reunite students with their families. This will occur at a reunification site.
- Students will not be allowed to take their property (coat, backpack, etc.) with them in an emergency.
After an Emergency:
- You may be directed to a reunification site, where you will need to show photo identification.
- Students will only be released to a parent, guardian, or other adult listed on the student’s Emergency Information Form, which you completed at the beginning of the school year. The individual picking up the student will be asked to complete a Student Release Form (available on-site). This procedure is designed for your student’s protection and for your peace of mind.
- Please be aware that reunification can be very time-consuming, and we appreciate your patience.
- It is important to remain calm as students are greatly influenced by their family’s sense of well-being. At the same time, families need to be compassionate listeners when their student speaks of an emergency. Please seek help from the school, district, or community resources if you/your student have concerns.
Additionally, all Grand Forks Public Schools employees, students, families, and community members are encouraged to report anything they see, hear, or are made aware of that may impact a school. If you see or hear something, say something. Call 911 or the Grand Forks Police Department at 701-787-8000. To text an anonymous tip to the Grand Forks Police Department, text GFPD to 847-411.
- When providing information, please be as detailed as possible. Include the name of the school(s), person(s) involved, type of alleged activities, when they occurred/may occur.
- All threats are taken seriously. Police are notified, and officers and school administrators work together to thoroughly investigate any threat, whether it is made verbally, in writing, email, text message, or online. The earlier we know about a potential threat, the earlier an investigation can begin.
- Anyone who makes a threat against a school could face criminal charges. If a student is involved in making a threat, the school/district will respond as outlined in the student handbook.
WARNING: it is against policy to impersonate an official Grand Forks Public Schools’ social media account or post false information about or from the school system under an anonymous account or alias. Depending on the nature of the post, such action may result in notification to local law enforcement. If made by an employee or student, it could result in disciplinary action.
The way in which we respond to an emergency is greatly influenced by the specifics of an incident. Our plans do not replace the authority of emergency personnel. Our employees work in full cooperation with these agencies.
For security reasons, components of our emergency plans are not publicly available.
Important Dates
Oct 2- PTO mtg @ 6 PM in library
Oct 4- Early Release @ 1:30Oct 9- Indigenous Peoples' Day (School in Session)
Oct 12- Picture Day
Oct 12- PT Conf. 4-7 PM
Oct 13- NO SCHOOL- Parent Teacher Conferences
Oct. 17- PT Conf. 4-7 PM
Oct 18-20- NO SCHOOL- Professional Development & Admin Convention
Oct. 24- 6 to 8 PM- Century PTO Trivia Family Event
Oct 25- LAST DAY of Intramurals for 4th grade
Oct 27- LAST DAY of Intramurals for 5th grade
Nov 1- Early Release @ 1:30
Teacher Conference Meal
We need your help! Parent-teacher conferences will be Oct. 12, 13 and 17. PTO will provide teachers with a meal the first night of conferences - Thursday, Oct. 12. Could you volunteer to bring in something? We need just a few more volunteers to bring in a main course (casserole/hot dish). Please sign upusing the sign up link below! You can also contribute financially by sending funds into the front office or on our site: https://century-pto-store.square.site/
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4FA4A82FA2F58-teacher?useFullSite=true#/
Attendance
School Pictures
Generosity Sparks Joy at Century
Generosity Rocks Century
Lost and Found
Peanut & Tree Nut Restricted
School Cancellation and Postponement Procedures
PTO Meeting
Century Elementary School
Email: thinesley150@mygfschools.org
Website: www.gfschools.org/Century
Location: 3351 17th Ave S, Grand Forks, ND, USA
Phone: 701-746-2440
Twitter: @CenturyGF