Kelly Newsletter
November 2019
Dear Kelly Families,
It is hard to believe that we turn our calendars to November this week. We have already had our first signs of winter and we know there is more to come. Please take the time to make sure your children have all the necessary winter gear. We ask that you label these items with the student’s name. Our lost and found tables are continuously filled with items containing no names.
We hope you can join us for Turkey Bingo on Thursday, November 21st. More information will be coming from the PTO regarding this event. Also, watch for information from the Kelly staff regarding Gifts from the Heart. Our staff members donate a variety of prizes that often allow them to spend fun quality time with our student winners. Our next Monthly Fuel Up Event is also on Thursday, November 21st at 8:30am. Our students love having you join us at these events.
Cherry Street is a busy place before and after school. We ask that you all set the example by using the crosswalks. We need to model this behavior for our students. We are lucky and thankful to have crossing guards before and after school every day.
Please take some time to read through all the information in this month’s newsletter. Thank you for partnering with us in the education of your children.
LuAnn Schmidt
Associate Principal
LuAnn Schmidt
Associate Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Monday, November 4th-PTO Meeting-5:15-Library
- Tuesday, November 5th-Pajama Day Fundraiser
- Thursday, November 7th-2nd Grade Program-6:00pm
- Monday, November 11th-No School
- Wednesday, November 13th-1:30 Dismissal
- Thursday, November 21st-8:30am Fuel-up Parent Event
- Thursday, November 21st-Turkey Bingo
- Wednesday, November 27th-1:30 Dismissal
- Wednesday, November 27th-End of 1st Trimester
- Thursday, November 28th-No School
- Friday, November 29th-No School
TURKEY BASKET FOOD DRIVE
SOCIAL WORKER CORNER
UND Mortar Board Turkey Baskets:
- Sign up by Friday, November 1st
- Call or email Mrs. Meagher at tmeagher180@mygfschools.org or 701-215-6990
- Please provide your name and number of people in your family
- Directions for pickup will be sent out before Thanksgiving
The Salvation Army Sit Down Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Sunday, November 24th from 4:00pm-Until the food is gone. The address is 1600 University Avenue, Grand Forks.
Salvation Army Christmas Food and Toy Baskets:
- Sign up November 4th-8th from 1pm-3pm
- Sign up at 1600 University Avenue, Grand Forks
- Ages Newborn to 15 years of age
- ID and Income Verification Required
Red River Valley Community Action: Santa Day Sign-Up:
- Deadline to sign up is November 15th
- Parents will be allowed to pick out gifts for their children and wrap them
- ID, Income Verification and Social Security Cards required for all household members
- Address is 1013 N. 5th St., Grand Forks
EARLY DISMISSAL WEDNESDAYS
The following Wednesdays school will be dismissed at 1:30pm:
November 13th
November 27th
December 11th
January 15th
January 29th
February 5th
February 19th
March 11th
April 1st
April 29th
May 6th
May 20th
MONTHLY FUEL UP EVENTS
This year we will be taking a ride on the Energy Bus and we invite all of you to ride along with us. Our theme is based on a book written by Jon Gordon titled The Energy Bus for Kids. It is a story about staying positive and overcoming challenges. Each month we will learn about one of the rules that can help us on the ride of our lives.
If you have more than one child at Kelly School, you may bring your children together into one classroom each month. Please alternate so each child is still able to attend their own classes Monthly Fuel Up Events. It will be helpful to have a plan in place before the event begins so that all events can begin on time.
These are the dates and times of this year's Monthly Fuel Up Events. We hope you can join us as we fill our tanks with knowledge and positivity.
Thursday, November 21st at 8:30am
Monday, December 16th at 2:30pm
Thursday, January 23rd at 8:30am
Friday, February 14th at 8:30am
Thursday, March 26th at 2:30pm
Tuesday, April 21st at 8:30am
TURKEY BINGO
Time: Doors will open at 5:30pm. Bingo starts 6:15pm.
Where: Kelly Gym (Enter the South Doors Near Gym-Door 6)
Why: It's Fun and the money raised goes toward the new playground
Cost: $5 Per Bingo Card
Food will Be Available:
~$2 Pizza Slice
~$2 Water
~$1 Popcorn
SCHOOL POSTPONEMENT AND CANCELLATION 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.
Dietrich Bus Information
· We require all students who ride a regular route bus to have a Transportation Request Form on file. This form can be completed online at https://forms.gle/HY8Q3g1njkA8VrDW8.
o Any change must be made three (3) business days prior to the change taking effect. Changes can be made by submitting a new Transportation Request Form.
· Dietrich uses Google Maps for bus routes. If you visit the district/your school website, click on "Families" (top toolbar) > "Student Transportation" in (left sidebar), and the maps are under the "Links" section (right sidebar) LINK: https://www.gfschools.org/Page/7894
o When you open a map, click on the Magnifying Glass in the upper left-hand corner, enter your home address, and you will see the nearest pick-up/drop-off location.
· Dietrich has a transportation policy that we will require riders to abide by. This is also located on the "Student Transportation" page under "Transportation Policy." LINK: https://www.gfschools.org/Page/8725
· We require all elementary students who ride a regular route bus to have a Backpack ID tag. If you have a student new to riding the bus, or you don't have the ID tag from last year, please have your student visit the main office at their school.
Should you have any questions, please contact the main office at your child’s school. Thank you for your time and understanding!
Grand Forks Public Schools
LUNCHROOM INFORMATION
- Child lunch costs $2.20. Child breakfast costs $1.20.
- You can check your child's lunch account balance and meal purchases or pay for your child's lunch by going to myschoolbucks.com It's super easy and convenient.
- In accordance with the Grand Forks Public School Wellness Policy #6175 we strive to be superior in our nutrition standards. This means that no fast food or other restaurant food is allowed in the lunchroom for either student or parent.
KELLY SCHOOL TWITTER ACCOUNT
Kelly School now has a Twitter account and we would love you to follow us. It is a great way to see all the wonderful things happening each and every day. You can follow us @KellyGFPS
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.
Bus Tickets: Bus Tickets are $10.00 for a strip of 10. You can purchase them in the school office. If you are writing a check, make it payable to GFPS. Kelly School only has an PM bus. If your child is riding the bus you must complete the required online form. For more information about the bus including the bus routes, maps, procedures and forms go to https://www.gfschools.org/Page/7894
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: School begins at 8:25am. Breakfast is offered from 7:45-8:25am. Reading opportunities are available starting at 8:00am. Students should not wander the hallways or hang up their coat/bag before the first bell rings.
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 classroom’s assigned door. Students will meet their parent or person picking them up at a prearranged meeting place near the assigned dismissal door.
• Older siblings meet 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.
Visitors: Parents and visitors are required to check into the school office. Please do NOT stop at your child’s classroom first.
Box Tops: Keep saving these!!