KENNEDY ELEMENTARY
March 2024 NEWSLETTER
About Us
Main Office: 651-480-7221
Nurse: 651-480-7224
Kids' Campus: 651-480-7257
Hastings Bus Company: 651-437-1888
Dates to Remember
MARCH
1 - NO School - Elementary Morning Conferences
4 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm in Media Center *NOTE- 1st Monday due to Spring Break*
11-15 - NO School - Spring Break
27 - PTA Sponsored STEAM night - 5:30 - 7:30 pm
29 - NO School - Spring Holiday
APRIL
4 - Online Yearbook Sales End!
8 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm in Media Center
18-19 NO SCHOOL
Featured Artists
Calvin H, Gracie S, Leo G, Alayna S, Daphne M, Madalyn Z
Kennedy Cougars CARE
These students have been showing Cougar CARE in our building and were recognized in our biweekly drawings. Ask your students about how they can earn Kennedy Cougar CARE tickets.
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration
SAVE THE DATE! Our Countdown to Kindergarten event will be held on Tuesday, January 23rd from 5-6:30 pm. More information on this event and 2023-24 Kindergarten enrollment will be mailed out to families in early January.
Enrollment is now open! Please visit our website to apply online!
2024-25 Classroom Placement
Class placement forms are available in the office if you wish to provide specific input into your child's 2024-25 classroom assignment. Please have these forms returned by Friday, April 12th. Please do not phone or email this information to us.
Yearbooks on Sale!
Order your Kennedy Cougar Yearbook TODAY!
Enter school code: 141685M
All orders must be placed ONLINE by Friday, April 5th.
ONLINE orders only, no cash or check sales.
Kennedy Cougar PTA News
Upcoming Events
MARCH:
4th - Monthly Meeting at 7pm - Kennedy Media Center
27th - STEAM Night 5:30 - 7:30 pm
APRIL:
8th - Monthly Meeting at 7pm - Kennedy Media Center
MAY:
13th - Monthly Meeting at 7pm - Kennedy Media Center
31st - End of Year Carnival during School Day
Check out the PTA Website for more information: https://www.kennedycougarpta.org/home
Birthday Parties & Treats at School
Birthday Parties
Just a reminder that if your child is having a birthday party and wants to invite their friends from school, we are not able to give out names, phone numbers or addresses of the students. While we know it is exciting for children to have a birthday party and invite their school friends, we ask that you not send invitations to school with them to pass out. It can cause hurt feelings for those students who did not get invited to the party.
Treats at School
The district has adopted a wellness policy. We are still celebrating student birthdays; we are just not doing so with birthday treats. We ask that students not bring any treats in honor of their birthday.
Health Services
Illness and Keeping your Child Home
A student should not come to school (and may be sent home from school) if they have or have had:
a fever of 100 degrees F or more in the past 24 hours
vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
an undiagnosed skin rash
Reporting Absences
If your student will not be at school, please call and report the reason for their absence at 651-480-7220. If your student is ill, please report their symptoms and/or any diagnosed communicable condition like chicken pox, strep throat, cough and fever, influenza, or pink eye. It is recommended that you follow the MDH and CDC exclusion guidelines for communicable diseases.
Immunizations
In order to attend school, students must show that they're in compliance with Minnesota School Immunization Requirements (see the Minnesota Department of Health Link below for more Information). Hastings School's immunization policy states that students who are not up to date on their immunizations will not be allowed to start school until they provide the school with documentation that they have received the required immunizations.
Parents/guardians may check their student's immunization status by logging on to the parent portal in Infinite Campus. To see the immunization records, click on the HEALTH tab. If your student's immunization status says "current for grade" in ALL immunizations required by law, then the student is up to date and ready for the start of school. If your student is not current, they will need to get the required immunizations to attend the first day of school. Yearly physicals with their healthcare provider are strongly encouraged for students to have optimal health.
Parents/guardians may choose to decline immunizations for their students by filing a legal exemption with the school. Student Immunization Form
If you have further questions, please reach out to your building nurse.
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.
- We have a new secure entrance, please ring the doorbell and state your reason for visiting.
- 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.
Bring your ID
Please bring your driver's license with you when you are checking out your student, volunteering, or visiting at lunch.
Early Pickup for Students
Links
If the Hastings Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather conditions, the Kids Campus Program will also be closed. If school is delayed two hours in opening, Kids Campus will be open at the regular time (6:30 am).
If school closes two hours early, then Kids Campus sites will close two hours early
(4:00 pm). Parents will be called and notified by Kids Campus staff to pick up their child.
Please pick up your child by 4:00 pm or authorize someone else to pick up your child by that time. Please listen to the radio and TV for school closing announcements.