Kelly Newsletter
November 2021
PRINCIPAL PRESS
Dear Kelly Families,
It’s always hard to believe how quickly the time goes once the school year begins, but here we are and it’s November. We all remain thankful that in person learning continues. Thank you for your efforts in following the district’s Covid protocols and monitoring your child’s symptoms closely. The safety and health of our students and staff remains one of our top priorities.
Our weather is changing, so please make sure your children are coming prepared for outside recess. Teachers continue to take students outside until we have days of extremely cold temperatures. Hopefully those days can hold off for a bit. It’s always helpful to label your child’s belongings too. Our lost and found tables seem to always be overflowing.
Our Kelly PTO has had a busy and productive start to the school year. We are so fortunate to have a PTO that supports our students, staff and school. We appreciate the many ways that they show their support, which has included providing a meal and snacks during conference
week and providing funding for resources and learning tools, to name just a few. Our PTO is a blessing in so many ways!
Thank you for making a difference in lives of your children and our school.
#MakeaDifference #BeTheChange
Sincerely,
LuAnn Schmidt
Associate Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, November 8th-PTO Meeting-5:15pm
Wednesday, November 10th-1:30 Dismissal
Thursday, November 11th-NO SCHOOL
Thursday, November 25th-NO SCHOOL
Friday, November 26th-NO SCHOOL
KELLY STUDENT COUNCIL
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are invited to attend Kelly Student Council Meetings! The first student council meeting will be Friday, November 5th at 8:00am in the library.
COOKIE FUNDRAISER
November 5-19 is COOKIE FUNDRAISER time! We are so excited to partner with Real Good Cookies, a locally owned and operated business right here in Grand Forks. Their cookies are INSANELY delicious, and we can’t wait for you to try them! Look for more information coming soon!
SOCIAL WORKER CORNER
Winter Warmup Coat Drive
Who: Children and Adults if you are in need of a coat, come and get one for free!
Where: Freedom Church- 308 Demers Ave, Grand Forks
When: Sunday, November 11, 2:30 – 6:30pm, Monday, November 12, 12 – 3pm
Questions: email anisa.holwerda@und.edu or gabrielle.cummings@und.edu
Christmas Food and Toy Baskets
Who: Families in need of food and gift assistance at Christmas time
When: Sign up November 1st-5th, 2021
Where: Salvation Army- 1600 University Ave, Grand Forks
Must provide: picture ID, SS cards or med cards or housing doc (to verify who is in the household) proof of address: bill in the last 30 days
Questions: please call the Salvation Army at 701-775-2597
Christmas Food and Toys
Who: Santa Claus Girls
What: provide toys, food, books, hats, gloves and socks to children aged 12 and under families in need during the holiday season.
When: Please use this link to sign up for the Santa Girls Program at http://www.santaclausgirls.com/register and click register here at the top. The deadline for registering is November 19. Pick up and delivery date - Dec. 17.
Family Turkey Baskets
Who: Families in need of assistance for a Thanksgiving meal. The University of North Dakota Quo Vadis Chapter of Mortar Board is preparing for its 42nd Annual Turkey Basket Drive. Each turkey basket contains all the items needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
When: The deadline to get signed up through the school social worker is Friday, November 5th, 2021. Please contact the school social worker, Ms. Schneeweis before the deadline. She can be reached at 701-317-3960 or sschneeweis150@mygfschools.org.
PAYING FEES ONLINE
We ask parents to consider paying for bus tickets, Chromebook cases, Device Protection and intramurals online through MySchoolBucks. This will help minimize the amount of cash/check deposits being handled throughout the day. There is a small surcharge fee when depositing money into your student's lunch account, however, there is no additional surcharge fee when paying for sports/activity fees and bus tickets.
Create your free account today and never worry about having to send cash/checks to school with your student again. Visit myschoolbucks.com or download the app today to get started.
How do I enroll?
- Go to www.myschoolbucks.com and click enroll now.
- Create an account for yourself and your children. You will need to know your student’s district ID number, date of birth, school and grade.
- Provide credit or debit card information.
Why should I sign up for this service?
- You can view your child’s cafeteria purchases.
- You can sign up for free e-mail notifications when the lunch account is low in funds.
- You may prepay their lunch account without sending money to school.
- My SchoolBucks will charge a $2.49 service fee when adding money to a lunch account.
701-746-2265-school office
Telephone Calls: Calls do not ring into the classroom during school hours to minimize interruptions. Messages for students can be left on the teacher’s voicemail.
Peanut/Nut Free School: When sending a snack or packing a lunch, please remember to check labels to make sure it does not contain or have traces of peanuts/nuts.
Birthday Snacks: Due to the increase of students who have severe food allergies and the higher levels of severity, we no longer celebrate student birthdays with a “birthday snack” in our schools. Parents are welcome to find other non-food items to send to school if they wish. Please discuss with your child’s classroom teacher for ideas or preferences.
Arrival:
The first bell rings at 8:20 am. School begins at 8:25 am. Breakfast is offered 7:40-8:15 am. All students coming to breakfast must use door 16. Students not coming for breakfast should arrive between 8:15 and 8:20 am.
Dismissal: The safety of our students is a top priority for us at Kelly School. As per district policy, schools will have parents meet their child(ren) at a designated location outside the school at dismissal time.
• Teachers will bring their students to a location outside the school at their assigned door. Students will meet their parents or person picking them up at a prearranged meeting place near the assigned dismissal door.
• Older siblings meet the youngest sibling at youngest sibling’s assigned door.
• Bus/Daycare van students will walk through the school to Door #1 to board their bus or van.
SCHOOL CANCELLATION AND POSTPONEMENT PROCEDURES
School postponement and cancellation alternatives will be as follows:
- a. Hold school as normal
- b. Open school but delay sending buses
- c. Delay the start time in all schools by two (2) hours based on each school’s start time
- Elementary School: Start time is 8:25, so school would start at 10:25. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.
- Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school would start at 10:40. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m.
- High School: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- When school starts late, there will be no morning Early Childhood Special Education classes. Afternoon Early Childhood Special Education classes will be held.
- Breakfast will not be served at any sites.
- d. No school in Grand Forks Public Schools all day
- e. No school for the Grand Forks Air Force Base School District students all day
- Decisions related to the weather-related delayed opening or closing of air base schools may not always be consistent with those made for in-town schools. On those days when severe weather makes travel conditions so hazardous as to threaten the safety of staff members, opening delays or the closing of base schools will be given special consideration.
- f. Once school is in session, it will not be terminated until the regular closing time except in very severe situations. However, school buses may leave early. Radio and TV stations will be used to notify parents.
The decision to close or delay school will be made as early as possible. Announcements will be made on the District webpage (www.gfschools.org), and District social media (www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools; www.twitter.com/GFSchools). Announcements will also be made on local radio and TV stations.
Grand Forks Public Schools will be using our Automated Calling system to call staff and parents if school will be delayed or cancelled due to severe weather conditions. Typically, this automated call will occur to staff between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and to parents between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.Parents or guardians may always exercise their right to keep students home or pick them up early during stormy conditions.
If an emergency situation should develop during the time school is in session, children will be cared for in school until the storm has subsided.
If buses are sent home early, all buses will be sent.
- a. Radio and TV stations will make the announcement of the departure time.
- b. The lead-time needed for the procedure is approximately one (1) hour.
- c. If conditions are dangerous, bus drivers must use common sense in discharging students that must walk a considerable distance. If possible, use the radio and contact the base station. Have parents meet the bus or be on the lookout for their children. If the driver is unable to contact parents and conditions are dangerous, do not let students off the bus but return to school and notify the principal. Schools that have bus students must have a written procedure for caring for students in the event they must be kept overnight at school.
SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION TIPS
Feelings of insecurity, doubt and pressure may creep in during puberty. Offset those feelings with a lot of positive comments about your child’s individuality and strengths. Focus on their effort, creativity, and kindness rather than specific outcomes such as good grades or winning a game.
Source: https://drugfree.org/