Red Oak Reader
NOVEMBER 2022
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Red-Oak-Elementary-616598338468336
Twitter: @RedOaksters
Dates to remember
November 4: Student Early Release Day (school ends at 1:45)
November 8: Election day (See below for more information)
November 10: Virtual Conferences (8:00-8:45am/4:00-7:00pm)
November 11: NO SCHOOL: grading day
November 14: IN PERSON conferences (4:00-7:00pm)
November 16: IN PERSON conferences (4:00-7:00pm)
November 18: Dress up Day: Slipper/Stuffed Animal/Comfy Clothes
November 23-25: NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving Break
Principal Updates
Greetings families!
Another great month has flown by! We have just celebrated a huge event today. We found out that because of our student's hard work (with your help) we have raised just over $24,000 from our Read-a-thon fundraiser! Not only will this money fund all field trips for each of our students, it will help support teachers with classroom supplies and with the collaboration of the PTO and the building leaders, we will determine the best way to spend the rest of the money for our students.
This month, we focused on community building and practicing routines to help foster a positive learning environment for all. With the positive learning environments established and in practice, our students are able to not only grow their minds academically but build positive relationships with their peers and teachers.
As you can see in the above section, we have many events coming up in the month of November. The first event is in just one week, 11/4; students will be released at 1:45pm (2 hours early) so staff can partake in professional development. Your child will follow their normal transportation plan on early release days, it will just be 2 hours earlier.
Our fall conferences will be held on 11/10 (virtual: 8:00-8:45am and 4-7pm), 11/14 and 11/16 (in person: 4-7pm). You will be receiving a link from our scheduling program, "Meet the Teacher" on Monday 10/31 to sign up for a conference for your child(ren). You teacher's are looking forward to collaborating with you and sharing your child's progress in school.
November 8 is the election day. Red Oak is a designated voting site. Please see the section below for specific information regarding election day.
Just a reminder, we do not allow students to dress up for Halloween or bring costume accessories to school.
Thank you for sharing your children with us.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Your partner in education,
Krysten Ellis, Principal
Election Day Information
In cooperation with Scott County and the City of Shakopee, Red Oak is an official polling location for the 2022 General Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
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 occured 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 November 8, 2022 (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
Winter Weather
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.
- 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 down 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 2022/23 school year can be found online here: bit.ly/SPSHealthServices22. Optional COVID-19 self reporting details and a form are available here.
Attendance
Parents/guardians should call the attendance line when a student will be late or absent 952-496-5953.
Students arriving after 9:05 will need to be walked in by their parent/guardian and will be marked tardy.
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.
Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer in the classroom or attend a field trip or volunteer with students, you must have a completed, cleared background check. Click here to fill out the form.
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
Free meals are no longer provided by COVID federal funds.
Breakfast is no longer free for students in grades 1-5. Kindergarten students are the only grade that has free breakfast.
Student meal accounts will need to be funded in Infinite Campus. Free or reduced meals can be offered to families that qualify. Applications also impact school funding. Digital applications can be completed in Infinite Campus. Printed applications are also available in our main office and at the district office. For tips on how to fund meal accounts in Infinite Campus, click here.
For additional details on free and reduced meals, click here.Need Support? We've Got Resources!
Family Resource Centers of Scott County: When times are tough, it's hard to know where to go to get the help you need. The Family Resource Center (FRC) are here to help families get connected to support and resources. If you're feeling stuck, visit a FRC. Click here for more information (in multiple languages)
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, Liz Ammermann: eammerman@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Red Oak 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.