Kennedy Parent Newsletter
December 2022
Principal's News
Progress Reports are posted in Powerschool - These are also being mailed to your home address. Log into Powerschool - select the child you want to view from the top of the screen (if you have more than 1 student) - These reports are posted in Document Storage (left side of the screen, scroll down and select document storage)- At the top of the Document Storage screen that appears, change the "Show All" box to "Progress Report (K-5)" or "NDSA". -Your child's progress report results will appear. Click the document links to open each progress report result.
Address Verification As long as you are in PowerSchool, please make sure that your address is correct. We need address verification every year - if you have not sent this into the office this year - please do so at this time! You can email this to birchp@fargo.k12.nd.us ~ Thank you
Tardy / Late Slips - We have reached a new high number - 60! Please make sure your child is on time for school. We need to have the lunch counts in by 8:45 - or we will not have enough lunches for all students! It is very disruptive to the whole class when students are late - teaching starts at 7:55 am.
School Start and End Times
School start time is 7:55 am and dismissal time is 2:17 pm. Doors will open at 7:40 am. Do not drop children off any earlier than 7:40 am to ensure that students are supervised.
Grades K - 2 enter through Main Door (6); Grades 3 - 5 enter through Gym Doors (7)
All doors will be available to exit.
Attend to Win!
Students who attend school are more likely to learn, graduate, and succeed. Students who miss two days the first month of school are already on track to be chronically absent.
- Regular school attendance is the biggest predictor of whether a student will graduate on time or not. High school grads earn a $1 million more than dropouts.
- Strive for perfect attendance in the first month. Half of students who miss 2-4 days of school in September go on to miss nearly a month during the school year!
- Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school year (about 18 days per year or 2 days per month), negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
We are getting around 40 tardy/late students a day .It is important that students are one time to start their day with their classmates.
Please see the School Visitation Policy below - If a parent comes to eat with their child at school, please bring a bag lunch or notify the office that you plan to eat the "hot" or "cold" entrée and pay upon your arrival. Parent can not charge their lunch to their child's account. When coming in to join your child for school lunch, parents need to bring the exact amount ($3.60). We do not have change at the school! Food purchased from a restaurant will not be allowed in the lunchroom. Parents who wish to eat restaurant food with their child can sign their child out of school and return their child after their scheduled lunch break. The Visitation Policy (AP 4650) will be followed.
Fargo Public Schools Accepting Nominations Beginning November 28 for Teacher, Administrator, and Support Staff of the Year Awards
Community members are invited to nominate a deserving Fargo Public Schools teacher, administrator, or support staff member for the annual Staff Recognition Program. The program honors FPS staff members who serve our students with excellence. Online instructions, forms, and the application process can be found at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/StaffRecognitionProgram.
Morning Student Drop Off
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
ATTENDANCE – TARDINESS - ABSENCES See Administrative Policy 6220: Student Attendance
The Attendance Policy will be updated online in the Fall of 2022. It is important that parents and their student(s) develop the practice of good attendance and punctual behavior patterns early in their school years and continue to understand their importance.
Parents should call the school when a child is to be absent, so the school can account for all students. When a child is absent and the reason for the absence is not known, the school secretary will contact the parent/guardian as soon as possible to determine the reason for the absence. When school absenteeism (excused/unexcused and/or tardiness) becomes excessive the parents will be contacted to work with school staff on resolving the issue.
Commonly Asked ATTENDANCE Questions:
What if my my child refuses to go to school?
Parents can call the school for assistance in getting their child to school. Parents/guardians are responsible for getting their child to school.
Why do I have to notify the school by 8:30 AM if my child will be absent?
This is necessary to determine the safety of your child. If contact cannot be made, school administration may work with the Fargo Police Department to conduct a welfare check.
Can a school require a medical excuse for absences due to illness?
Yes, schools can ask for medical documentation for illness.
ND Century Code on Attendance 15.1-20-01:
All children between the ages of 7 and 16 are required by law to be in attendance every day that school is in session. Illness and certain other physical or mental incapacities are exceptions. Regular attendance habits require maximum cooperation of parent, students, and school. Parental responsibility is clearly noted in the North Dakota Century Code.
Six late slips = 1 absence / 3 absence = Tier 1 Attendance
Please help us with our daily attendance by calling the school if your child is absent. By calling the school we are able to insure that your child is safe and accounted for each day.
Please call the office (701-446-4206) or email Dawn Sanders at sanderd1@fargo.k12.nd.us.
If your child arrives at school after the bell rings at 7:55 AM, they will need to stop at the office to get a tardy slip before going to the classroom.
APPOINTMENTS: If you need to pick up your student for an appointment during the school day, come to door 6 and ring the security bell to enter the school. Your child will be called down to the office once you arrive and you may sign them out at that time. Please remember to bring your appointment slip back to school - we will attach it to your reenter slip.
Field Trips and In School Experiences Kindergarten - Grade 5
See Kennedy Calendar for Schedule - https://www.fargocalendars.org/public/genie/212/school/18/
For more Field Trip information Click Here
Note to Parents:
We are excited to offer these opportunities to parents. Parents have the choice to opt their student. If you wish to opt your student out of an opportunity, scroll to the last page of the above link and chose the Opt Out Form. Please fill out the form and return it to your building’s principal.
School Visitation Policy
The Menu’s this year are only going to be posted a week at a time because of the new system the kitchen is using and the supply of what is available. Parents can access the menus on the Fargo website under the quick links tab. I have included the link here as well https://family.titank12.com/menu/PZJCHY
Students that are eating breakfast at school should arrive by 7:40 to allow them time to eat before to the last bell at 7:55. They should enter through door 7 and get their breakfast before they go to their classrooms.
School Start and End Times
School start time is 7:55 am and dismissal time is 2:17 pm. Doors will open at 7:40 am. Do not drop children off any earlier than 7:40 am to ensure that students are supervised.
Grades K - 2 enter through Main Door (6); Grades 3 - 5 enter through Gym Doors (7)
All doors will be available to exit.
DROP OFF PROCEDURES:
If you drop off your child or children at school, we ask that you be kind and patient to others in the drop off loop. If the loop gets congested, you can pull to the tennis court for extra parking and drop off space.
- Have your child ready to get out of the car once you are stopped. Have their backpack and device beside them, so they can exit the car as quickly as possible..
- All children being dropped off in the loop should get out on the passenger side door.
- Adults are to ALWAYS remain in the vehicle.
- If your child needs assistance in dressing or gathering their belongings, please park in the parking lot to assist them. Fast drop offs keeps the drop off line flowing.
- The north loop is for buses and daycares only, NOT for parent drop off or parent pick up.
- Parents picking up Kindergarten & 1st grade students, please park on the south side of 44th Ave ONLY for the safety of your children. We do not want them crossing the street to get into your cars.
- Pull up as far as you are able.
- Be courteous to staff and others while dropping off - they are they are they to assist with the safety of dropping off and picking up of of your child/ren.
PTA NEWS
Join Kennedy PTA
We are only as great as our members, and need every family at Kennedy to join PTA. Memberships are only $15 per individual and gives you a formal voice in what the PTA does. Joining does not require you to volunteer, although our small army of dedicated volunteers always appreciate the extra help! You can join online on our MemberHub store: https://kennedyfargo.memberhub.com/store?category=Memberships. You can also join in-person at our first PTA meeting September 12th (check or credit card).
PTA Volunteers
Just like joining the PTA does not require you to volunteer, volunteering does not require you to be a PTA member. We welcome all families and staff to support our events when possible. Many employers match volunteer hours with donations to the PTA. Our volunteering opportunities range from as little as one hour one time to organizing an event to serving as a Chair or Officer. Please visit with us at the next PTA meeting to learn more!
DATES TO REMEMBER
December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break - No School
January 3 - Classes resume
January 9 6:30-7:30 pm - PTA Meeting - K1 Pod
January 26 9:30-10:30 CBE Music
February 1 Extended Day - Math
February 8 Extended Day - Mental Health
February 20 PD Day
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley (BGC)
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley (BGC) offers affordable and flexible youth development programs for before school, after school, and school-out days for youth K-5th grades, and The CLUB Teen Center at our BGC Midtown location after school and summer for teens 6th through 12th grade.
We’ve increased our capacity for after school activities at The CLUB Teen Center at BGC Midtown, cost is only $10 per teen annually!
And we’ve launched the Maris Academy, a year-long program designed specifically for grades 6-12 that provide exciting career exploration opportunities right here in our community!
Visit our website at BGCRRV.org for more information.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley
Scheduling, Registration, & General Information
701-235-2147 | schedule@bgcrrv.org | BGCRRV.org
Kennedy Elementary School
Email: ragek@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/kennedy
Location: 4401 42nd Street South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-4200
Twitter: @KennedyFargo