Kennedy Parent Newsletter
November 2022
Principal's News
Thank you to all who attend Parent~ Teacher conferences - we had 87% attendance!! Thank you for being an active part of your child's education!
Tardy / Late Slips - We have reached a new high number - 56! 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.
Morning Student Drop Off -
Dental Sealant Program
School Visitation Policy
Retake Picture Day Access Code
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.
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.
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
November 7 6:30-7:30 pm - PTA Meeting - K1 Pod
November 11 - Veteran's Day - No School
November 23, 24 & 25 Thanksgiving Break - No School
December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break - No School
January 3 - Classes resume
January 9 6:30-7:30 pm - PTA Meeting - K1 Pod
FPS 2021-22 Annual Report
Fargo Public Schools is committed to serving our families and community patrons. As evidence of this commitment, we are showcasing the qualities and services of our school district and providing a wide array of information in the FPS 2021-22 Annual Report.
This report aims to familiarize families and the community with Fargo Public Schools by sharing details such as enrollment, staffing, and budget numbers and providing overviews of student services and assessment data. Thank you for your continued support as we serve the citizens of Fargo by providing students an excellent educational experience. You can access the full document at this link.
AP 5052 - Dispute Resolution Policy
Dispute Resolution Policy
Federal and state regulations require districts to adopt procedures for receiving and resolving disputes. A complaint may include an investigation by district staff that will result in a determination of findings of facts, conclusions, and reasons for the final decision.
Any individual who believes the Fargo School District has violated the regulations or law governing the federal Title program should submit a detailed, written statement of facts supporting the allegation to:
(Manager of Specific Title program)
Fargo Public Schools
700 7th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Fargo Public Schools Title Managers
Title I Part A (Disadvantaged Students) Jan Anderson anderja@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title II Part A (Teacher Training/Recruitment) Robert Grosz groszr@fargo.k12.nd.us
Missy Eidsness eidsnem@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title III (English Language Acquisition) David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title IX (Discrimination/Sexual Harassment) Tamara Uselman uselmat@fargo.k12.nd.us
Section 504 (Students with Disabilities) David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Any complaint must include:
• The date;
• The name of the district, unit, or individual the complaint is against;
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person making the complaint;
• A detailed description of the complaint, including specific facts; and
• The signature of the person making the complaint.
When a complaint is filed, the appropriate Fargo Public Schools Title Manager will investigate and issue a written response within sixty (60) calendar days from the date the complaint is received.
Reconsideration
The complainant may submit a reconsideration request in writing to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, the North Dakota Division of Juvenile Services, and the U.S. Department of Education.
State Superintendent The Secretary of Education
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction U.S. Department of Education
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept 201 555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Bismarck, ND 58505-0440 Washington, D.C. 20208
North Dakota Division of Juvenile Services
100 Railroad Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
Revised 7/2016, 7/2017, 7/2018, 10/2021, 2/2022, 7/2022
Written Notification of School Accountability Report
Dear Parent/Guardian,
North Dakota has launched a dashboard called “Insights,” designed to help communities across the state access important information about K-12 districts and schools. Insights features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success, including:
· Student Achievement
· Choice Ready Results
· Performance Comparisons
· English Learner Progress
· Graduation Rates
· School and State Accountability Results
· School Improvement Information
· Post-Secondary Education
· School Environment
Transparency to the Public
North Dakota is committed to informing communities about how well our schools are doing. North Dakota’s future success depends on tapping into the potential of all students, so they graduate choice ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful.
State education departments are required to annually create an accountability report for every public school in the state per Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The school accountability reports outline how schools perform on the accountability elements North Dakota selected within its ESSA plan.
How is our School Doing?
To find more information about our School Accountability Report, visit the dashboard at Insights.nd.gov, select “Find My School,” and search alphabetically. The school accountability report is posted under the Dashboard heading.
Please note that the data made available to the public masks or hides data for groups with ten or fewer students to protect confidential information about individual students. Therefore, if data is unavailable to less than ten students, it will say “no data available.”
Family Engagement
We have strong plans for working to improve the educational programs at our school. We want you and your child(ren) to continue actively participating in our educational system. Please help support our high expectations for student achievement by participating in the school educational initiatives, offering input and support in our endeavors to raise student achievement, or volunteering at the school. Meeting our school’s goals will take a united effort, and I look forward to working with our families to ensure success for each student.
Continuous Improvement
All schools engage in continuous improvement for general support; therefore, our school has completed a continuous improvement plan through Cognia.
As part of the overall school improvement plan, a strategy map is generated for each school. Our strategy map, outlining our key school improvement initiatives, is also available on Insights.
Kennedy Elementary is not a participating Title I school, with a student membership count of 457.
If you have any questions regarding the information in the memorandum, please contact Mrs. Rage, (701) 446-4200.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rage
Building Principal
Fargo South Youth Wrestling Program
The Fargo South Wrestling coaches are offering a free after school camp at all the elementary schools in the Fargo South district. We will be coming to your elementary school to teach you a few things about this sport as well as playing a few games along the way. Signup information will be handed out shortly. If you do end up enjoying it, we will be starting our youth program up the first Monday after Thanksgiving. We hold practices in the Fargo South Wrestling room at Fargo South High School. We usually run that from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. We hope to see everyone in November.
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