Kennedy Elementary
May 2021 Newsletter
About Us
Main Office: 651-480-7221
Nurse: 651-480-7224
Kids' Campus: 651-480-7257
Hastings Bus Company: 651-437-1888
Website: http://kennedy.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 1175 Tyler Street, Hastings, MN, United States
Phone: 651-480-7220
DATES TO REMEMBER
MAY
14 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development/Workshop
31 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
JUNE
4 - Last Day of School - Early Release @ 12:20 pm
Summer School
If you have any questions, please contact Paul Bakker, Summer School Principal at 480-7280 or email pbakker@isd200.org
Mask Breaks Outside at Recess
Transportation Reminder
Warm Weather and Flip Flops
As the weather continues to be conducive to being outside, our class may spend prolonged periods (20 min+) outside learning. Please have your child bring any needed sun exposure items such as hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. that you see as appropriate for your child. If your child is going to bring sunscreen, please show them how to apply it themselves, and remind them not to share their sunscreen with other students. A base layer of sunscreen can also be applied at home before sending your child to school.
FLIP-FLOPS
Although flip-flops are fun and colorful, they should not be worn at school since they do not provide any stability or protection from injuries. Our nurse sees children with cuts, scratches, broken toenails, twisted ankles, and falls from running in flip-flops. Please be sure that your child wears appropriate shoes each day to school.
Looking Ahead to the 2021-22 School Year
Each family will receive a communication in August containing important information regarding the beginning of the school year. This information will include your child(ren)’s classroom assignment and, if needed, the dates and times of kindergarten orientation.
The first day of school in the fall for students in grades 1-4 will be Wednesday, September 8th and Thursday, September 9th for kindergarten students.
Suggested classroom supply lists for the fall will be available on our school websites and in local stores.
FREE Lunch & Breakfast
Whether your kids are still in school or moving into quarantine, they can still get free breakfast and lunch every day. Thanks to special federal funding, ALL KIDS 18 years old and under eat free this year both at school and at home.
We want all of our students (and their younger siblings not yet in school) to get their free meals!
- Quarantined learners will still get free meals at school, and can pick up meals for days they’re learning at home. Click this link to sign up.
Distribution Locations:
Pick the time most convenient for you and come get your free meals twice per week!
Mondays & Thursdays 8:00-10:00 a.m. or 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Hastings Middle School (Door #24)
1000 West 11th St
2021-2022 KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT
Kindergarten enrollment packets have been mailed out to families. Registration forms are due by Friday, March 5th. If you did not receive an enrollment packet for your incoming kindergartener, please reach out to the Kennedy office: 651.480.7221
MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE
Please continue to monitor your child every morning for symptoms of COVID-19 that could indicate that they are not well. If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms or they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, please keep them home and call the attendance line. Symptoms of COVID-19*
● Fever or chills (T = 100.4 or higher)
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Fatigue
● Muscle or body aches
● Headache
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Congestion or runny nose
● Nausea or vomiting
● Diarrhea
*This list does not include all possible symptoms (see Symptoms of Coronavirus for more information).
We learn more about COVID-19 every day, and as more information becomes available, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will continue to update and share information with us. As our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 evolves, this guidance may change.
During the school day if your child develops illness symptoms we, the school, will notify you and help you and your family take needed actions. Students who develop illness symptoms during the school day will be sent home.
SCHOOL SAFETY
Your child's safety is of prime importance to us. There are a few procedure guidelines that help us maintain a secured building and limit the number of distractions to our classrooms. Our building is designed to have a single entry point during the school day. Please keep the following in mind:
- Always check in at the office whenever you are at school.
- When delivering things for your child (ex. snow gear), please drop them off at the office. We will deliver articles or call your child down to the office.
- When picking up your child early from school, please do so by signing them out at the office. The office personnel will contact your child’s teacher to dismiss them and meet you in the office.
Click on DISTRICT WIDE SAFETY PROCEDURES to learn more
Bring your ID
Please bring your driver's license with you when you are checking out your student.
CROSSWALK SAFETY
If your student is walking to school and needs to use the intersection of Tyler & 10th Street E, the best times are 9:20 – 9:35 am as this allows them to arrive to school on time and have assistance by a crossing guard.
Morning Drop Off Safety
Afternoon Pick up Safety
Dismissal Time: 3:25 is the dismissal time for all students. Students being picked up by car will be dismissed from the back horseshoe drive. Be sure to get your car/student number from the office. Walkers and bus students will use the front door. The curved drive at the front of the building is reserved for buses.
Afternoon car pick-up procedures: Dismissal begins at 3:25 and takes a total of about 10 minutes. The line moves quickly beginning at the 3:25 dismissal bell.
· If you are picking your child up at the end of the day, you will need to stop at the school office to get a number to display in your vehicle window. Students will have a matching number attached to their backpack.
· Form a single line of traffic entering from Tyler Street, through the north parking lot, around to the back of the building.
· PLEASE STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE. Students will be assisted to the vehicles.
· Please move your car up as soon as the car in front of you moves forward.
· Make sure your car number is visible. The numbers may be attached to the passenger side visor so it can conveniently be flipped down or on the front passenger window. The numbers are not visible if they are on the dash.