Red Oak Reader
MARCH 2024
Red Oak Elementary School
Email: kellis@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Website: https://www.shakopee.k12.mn.us/Domain/15
Location: 7700 Old Carriage Court, Shakopee, MN, USA
Phone: 952-496-5952
Principal Updates
Greetings families!
I know I say this every month, but time does really fly by, even with an extra day in February! It's already March! We will soon be changing our clocks and prepping for (even)warmer weather. Believe it or not, we have many upcoming events on our calendar from March to June! Please watch for announcements to get those events on your calendars. Our 5th graders have registered for middle school and our 4th graders are in the processing of signing up for band. We are in that silly time of the year where we have one foot in this year and one foot in next year already.
We had another successful "I Love to Read Month". If you saw on our social media platforms, we had a fun door decorating contest! The pictures above are the winners from each floor, as voted by our students. The students had such a fun time decorating the doors and checking out all of the doors entered in the contest.
Even though we do not have any more formal times to connect with teachers for the rest of the year, I always encourage you to reach out to them if you have any questions, concerns or celebrations.
There are 4 weeks remaining in the month of March before we get to Spring Break. Our last day of school for quarter 3 is Thursday, March 28.
Thank you for all your support with your child's education and your dedication and trust with Red Oak.
Have a wonderful weekend and month!
Your partner in education,
Krysten Ellis, Principal
Dates to remember
March 5: Election Day (see below for more information)
March 8: Dress like a Minion Day
March 13: 4th grade Fun Night
March 19: 5:30-7:00 Kindergarten Round Up (24-25 Kinder families)
March 22: 2 hour Early Release (school gets out at 1:45)
March 29: No school - Grading Day
April 1-5: No school - Spring Break
April 8: School Resumes
April 10: No school
April 19: No school - Staff Development Day
HERE IS THE DISTRICT CALENDAR FOR THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
3/5/24: Election Day
In cooperation with Scott County and the City of Shakopee, Red Oak is an official polling location for the 2024 General Election on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Election activities will be held in the gymnasium and therefore not accessible by students or staff during prep and general polling hours on this day.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day with curbside voting available directly outside the polling location. All polling place activities will be led by the City of Shakopee Elections Department and assigned staff. Shakopee Public Schools is not included in nor associated with polling place activities.
Student safety remains a top priority during the election, and during any school day, and extensive preparation efforts have occurred to ensure ease of flow for voters, families, students and staff as well as proactive safety and security measures. While the polling location is within the building, it is the only location within the school accessible by voters and the election team; interior access will not be available and school operations will remain separate from polling place activities.
School hours, student pick up/drop off locations and any standard before/after care will remain as normal and will not be impacted. Bus drop off/pick up locations will be slightly altered for the day. There will be extra school staff onsite during arrival and departure times to assist with traffic flow.
To limit visitors in the school building, we kindly ask that only essential visitors plan to visit the school on election day (i.e. late arrival/early departure student need, critical student support). No afternoon/evening activities will occur in the gymnasium.
A reminder email will be sent to families the day before the General Election as a courtesy. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to email kellis@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Krysten Ellis, Principal
Student Council Presents...
“Minion Day” on March 8th. Students are invited to dress like your favorite minion!
Winter Weather
District Information/Winter Weather Guidelines and Information:
In the event of a weather-related school change, please see the outline below on general winter weather schedule adjustments for the 2023/24 school year.
School District Communication: https://www.shakopee.k12.mn.us/Page/8643
For families who use the YMCA, please look for communication from the YMCA on information related to delays and/or cancelations.
Spring Music Programs
This year we are going to pivot from grade level music programs during the school day to evening music programs.
Music programs are a fantastic way for our students to showcase their hard work and talents along with their learning progress from their music and band classes. We want all students to be a part of this year's evening programs.
Mrs. Altringer and Mrs. Isles will communicate more details with you as we get closer to the program dates. Please mark your calendars for the grade level music programs (all will be held in the Red Oak Gym).
April 16th
1st grade @ 6:00 pm
3rd grade @ 7:00 pm
April 23rd
2nd grade @ 6:00 pm
4th grade @ 7:00 pm
May 21st
5th Grade Band @ 7:00 p.m
Systems and Procedural Reminders
A few reminders worth noting to the beginning and end of the day structures and procedures:
- All doors open at 8:55 a.m. (walkers and bikers, door E unlocks at 8:55). Students should remain in their cars or on the Saber Paw prints outside until the doors open.
- Breakfast for all students will be in their classroom. This will allow students to be in class and be a part of the morning activities without having them rush through breakfast. Please remind your child to go to breakfast FIRST, then class.
- Drop off/pick up will continue to be in the upper lot. We ask that parents/guardians remain in the car for a more safe and efficient process. There are adults to help get students out of cars in the morning and into cars in the afternoon. Please pull forward to help keep the line moving. Please do not park and get out to drop off your children. This is for their safety.
- Our drop off/pick up line is secondary to getting the busses in and out of the lower lot. Please be mindful of where you line up to allow for large and small busses to maneuver through.
- Families arriving after 9:05 MUST walk their child(ren) into the building and sign them in.
- School ends at 3:45, which means students will not be called for the car line until 3:45. Again, please remain in your car in the line and we will help get your child in the car.
Thank you for your attention to detail on these for the safety of our children.
Front Office Information
Health Services Resources
Health services resources for the 2023/24 school year can be found online here: bit.ly/SPSHealthServices22.
Attendance
Parents/guardians should call the attendance line when a student will be late or absent 952-496-5953. New this year, families can also enter absences into Infinite Campus. Click here for more information and instructions.
Students arriving after 9:05 will need to be walked in by their parent/guardian and will be marked tardy.
REMINDER: Students leaving during the day will not be called to the office until their ride arrives. This process helps students stay in their learning environment as long as possible, should their ride be running late. Please plan ahead for pick up times to factor this step into your plans.
Visitor Reminders
All visitors are required to check-in at the front office and must be screened through the Raptor system during normal school hours.
Change in PM transportation
If your child has a change in how they are getting home, please call the office no later than 3pm so we can get the correct information to the classroom teacher.
Communication Reminder
We encourage families to download the Seesaw app on your smartphone or bookmark on a computer to gain access to important school communications and teacher messages.
Meal Reminders and Updates
Breakfast and Lunch are free for all students. While meals are free for everyone, completing an educational meal benefit form may also provide financial support in other ways (ex: additional funding for family technology & internet access and reduced student fees for participation in athletics & activities such as band instruments) for families who qualify.
For our school district, the applications - and specifically how many families qualify for benefits - generate additional school funding.
This funding provides additional academic and general support for students, even if you choose to decline the family benefits (if approved).
Digital applications can be completed in Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Printed applications are also available in our main office and at the district office.
Need Support? We've Got Resources!
Family Resource Centers of Scott County: Provides families with connection to services, resources, information, and support. https://www.scottcountymn.gov/2016/Family-Resource-Centers
Do you need food on the weekends?
If you need help with meals on the weekend, please sign up here for free meals. There are 5 different types of meals to sign up for. Students who sign up for these meals will take them home on the last day of the school week.
For more information, please email our Social Worker, Katie Smith: ksmith@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Shakopee Needs You!
If you're interested (or know someone who might be interested or would be a good fit) in working at Red Oak (or in Shakopee Public Schools), feel free to call me, Principal Ellis at 952-496-5952 so we can talk about options for various jobs. We would love to have you join our team and support our students. Training provided, job share responsibilities and weekend/summer/school breaks off.
Do you love working with kids? Do you need a job that will work around your schedule? Click here for a list of positions and to apply.