Global Arts Plus Newsletter
For Families (this newsletter will be mailed to homes too)
Welcome back to school!
Dear Global Arts Plus families:
Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! All of us at Global Arts Plus look forward to seeing students in grades 1-8 on Thursday, September 9 and Pre-K and Kindergarten students on Monday, September 13. Coming out of what was a challenging school year for us all, we are looking forward to the year to come. As we prepare to welcome all scholars to in-person learning, we ask for your patience in advance.
We are excited to welcome to our administration team Ms. Danielle Beck as our new assistant principal at our Lower Campus. She, along with the rest of us, are looking forward to meeting you.
The first day of school can be overwhelming for students. Here are a few things to know so you and your child can prepare:
K-4 Classrooms Assignments
We are trying a new process for assigning scholars to K-4 classrooms this year. Scholars will be assigned a “Host Teacher.” Scholars will begin their first two weeks with their host teacher, and on Friday, September 24, a welcome letter will be sent home with your child indicating who their teacher will be for the year. Why are we doing this? Though we don’t anticipate many changes, it will give us the opportunity to balance the representation of new and returning scholars in classrooms. This will help create learning environments where focused instruction and optimum learning experiences can happen every day for every child. Thank you for trusting us in this process.
Your child's “host” teacher name can be found on the mailing label.
Open House
Families NEW to Global Arts Plus are invited to an Open House at both campuses on Thursday, September 2 with staggered start times. Families returning to Global Arts Plus or any new family who would prefer to not attend the Open House in person, please join us at our virtual open house on Thursday, September 2nd 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Google Meet codes will be provided via our website prior to the date.
To follow social distancing guidelines, most of the New Family Open House will take place outside with small groups based on last name letters touring the building at different times:
Lower Campus 1023 Osceola Avenue (grades PreK - 4) NEW families:
5:00pm - 5:30pm Last Name begins with A - H
5:45pm - 6:15pm Last Name begins with I - R
6:30pm - 7:00pm Last Name begins with S - Z
Upper Campus 810 Palace Avenue (grades 5 - 8) NEW families:
5:00pm - 5:45pm Last Name begins with A - K
6:00pm - 6:45pm Last Name begins with L - Z
Returning families please join us via presentations by your teachers.
More information will be added to our school website at spps.org/globalartsplus.
Pre-K and Kindergarten Parent Meetings
PreK and Kindergarten parent meetings take place on Thursday, September 9th and Friday, September 10th during the school day. Please sign up for a conference time during the Open House on September 2.
School Hours
School begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m.
School Bus Transportation
Students will receive a postcard in the mail with bus information at the end of August. The postcard lists details about where and when to meet the bus. Please arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up your child. Be sure to track the status of your child’s bus on the district Transportation website (www.spps.org/transportation).
If you believe your student is taking the bus but did not receive a postcard, please call our lead clerks: Emily at our Lower Campus, 651-293-6606 or Val at our Upper Campus, 651-293-8690 as soon as possible.
School Drop-off and Pick-up
For Lower Campus
Parent drop-off in the morning begins at 9:15am. Cars should face east on Fairmount for the drop off line. Families may also find street parking that is not in the bus drop off zones (east side of Oxford Avenue and north side of Osceola Avenue.) Scholars should use the sidewalk between the soccer field and the playground to walk to the cafeteria door entrance. Pick up will be at 4:00 pm, and parents should line up in their cars on Fairmount facing east. Staff will send students out. Our staff workday ends at 4:15 pm, so there will not be anyone available to supervise past this time.
For Upper Campus
Parent drop-off in the morning on Palace Avenue at 9:15am and pick up on Fulton Avenue. Scholars are considered tardy if they arrive after 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast and Lunch
All students receive a free breakfast at school, served daily from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m. through the Breakfast to Go program. As students arrive at school, they can grab their breakfast and eat in class. Hot and cold breakfast options are available. Students interested in eating breakfast should go to the cafeteria to pick up their food.
For the 2021-2022 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free for all students. Students who bring lunch from home can also get a meal from the cafeteria. Students must pick 3 items (such as a fruit, vegetable, and milk) to count as a free lunch. Students can still purchase milk separately for $0.50.
All families are strongly encouraged to complete an Application for Educational benefits. These applications determine how much educational funding our school receives, and there are many other benefits for families who qualify for free or reduced eligibility. The application can be completed online at schoolcafe.com/spps. Paper applications are available at school. Please complete the application regardless of family income.
COVID-19 Student and Family Guidelines
Families should familiarize themselves with these guidelines, which are updated regularly and cover prevention strategies, health screening and monitoring, exclusion guidance, and the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System.
Health Screening Guidelines and Expectations
Families should conduct a health screening for COVID-19 symptoms every morning before sending their student to school or the bus stop. School staff will also monitor for symptoms throughout the school day. If your child is exhibiting any symptoms, do not send them to school. Please report the absence and submit a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System as soon as possible.
Face Coverings
SPPS will require face masks for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors (ages 2 and older) in all SPPS buildings, regardless of a person’s vaccine status, unless they have a qualifying exemption. This will include indoor physical education classes and during meal times when not eating or drinking. Masks are also required on school buses. In general, people do not need to wear masks outdoors (e.g. recess).
Students are strongly encouraged to bring their own clean, well-fitting masks to school each day, including extras. Disposable masks are available at all schools and on buses for students who forget theirs.
Find more information on COVID-19 guidelines for the 2021-22 school year, including social distancing, quarantine protocols, field trips, athletics, and more, at spps.org/safelearningplan.
Immunizations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children missed the opportunity to have their regular well child exams and immunizations. Please check in with your health care provider to make sure your child’s immunizations are up to date before school starts in the fall. Visit spps.org/immunizations or call our school nurse for more information.
Before and After-School Programs
Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES) will continue to provide an Early Start program at the Upper Campus for K-8th grade scholars, Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Students must arrive by 8:00am to be admitted for the day’s program. This is a fee-based program for grades K - 3 and free for grades 4 - 8. Space is limited. Registrations are approved on a first come, first served basis and financial assistance will be provided for students who qualify. Registration forms are online at www.aces4kids.org and will be available at our Open House on September 2. All scholars are invited to participate; transportation to the ACES program at Upper Campus must be provided by families. K-4 students are transported by school bus to the Lower Campus for school start at 9:15am. Please contact Sarah Schmidt at saraschmidt@aces4kids.org or call 641-590-6034.
Discovery Club
Discovery Club is a fun and nurturing child care program that supports learning and development before school, after school, on non-school days and during summer. Please note all sites are running a waitlist at this time. For a list of fees, more information and to join the waitlist, call 651-632-3793 or visit spps.org/discoveryclub. Global Arts Plus students’ Discovery Club hub is located at Highland Park Elementary. Transportation is provided between the two schools either before or after school if your scholar is registered for Discovery Club.
Extended Day Learning (EDL) will be offered to 2nd – 8th graders beginning in October. EDL is an SPPS program that takes place from 4:00pm - 5:45pm Monday - Thursday for Upper Campus students and two days a week for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. Registration forms will be sent home in September for this free program.
Student Mental Health
We recognize that recent news and schools reopening may cause extra stress to many in our school community, including families, students, and staff. Please reach out to our school counselors or social workers for support for your child’s mental health and to be connected with community resources where appropriate.
Lower Campus Upper Campus
Counselors
Alyssa Mitchell - alyssa.mitchell@spps.org Jessica Matter - jessica.matter@spps.org
Jessica Mernin - jessica.mernin@spps.org
Social Workers
Madison Williams - madison.williams@spps.org Emily Madland - emily.madland@spps.org
Erika Molaro - erika.molaro@spps.org Erika Molaro - erika.molaro@spps.org
Contact Information
Please check our school website spps.org/globalartsplus for information and updates. If you have questions the website does not answer, please call our lead clerks: Emily at 651-293-6606 (Lower Campus) or Val at 651-293-8690 (Upper Campus).
Attached to this letter you’ll find the following important documents:
School Supply List
2021-22 School Year Calendar
I am looking forward to welcoming you and your child to a new school year Thursday, September 9, for grades 1-8, and on Monday, September 13, for Pre-K and Kindergarten. I’m so proud to be part of this wonderful school community.
Sincerely,
Chreese C. Jones, Principal
Global Arts Plus
Go Green Wave!
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