Knight News
Grand Forks Central High School - March 1st, 2021
Return to Every Day Face-to-Face Learning is March 8 - How Can We Prepare Students?
GFC Families,
The last days of learning in cohorts as part of the hybrid model of school are upon us. And, as we prepare for all of our learners (minus those in the Virtual Academy) to start coming to school every day beginning on Monday, March 8, the transition is exciting.
At school, we are busily replacing our furniture and modifying our classrooms and eating spaces to accommodate learners and educators to keep all as safe as possible. We will show informational videos to students this week that detail some of our procedural changes that result from this change.
What can families do to assist with this transition? The most important thing you can do is support a good sleep schedule for students - which should start today. Remember, students need 8-10 hours of sleep. We know that many students sleep schedules (especially around their remote learning days) have had them staying up later and waking later. It will take some time to reset schedules so that learning and healthy sleep habits are in place before March 8.
Please work with your student(s) to reduce phone time before bed and eliminate phone time in bed. The best thing to do is to remove the phone from student bedrooms and invest in an alarm clock. Many of them need an adult to step in and assist with this, even if they are seniors. This simple move can be the most important one made for both short and long term success!
Onward Central!
Mr. Jon Strandell
Principal
PreACT/ACT Testing Information & Reminders
March 2 - Cohort A: Face-to-Face Learners & Remote Learning Juniors
- All students testing please arrive by 7:50 AM
- Face-to-Face students will test: 9th on 1st floor, 10th on 2nd floor and 11th on 3rd floor
- All pre-registered Junior Remote Learners will test in the library today
- Juniors bring your Chromebooks fully charged
- All seniors will work remotely from home today
- 9th & 10th grade will be dismissed at 11:30 AM
- 11th grade will be dismissed at 12:25 PM
- Lunch/Grab & Go meals will be available in the commons starting at 11:30 AM
- All buses will leave at 12:30 PM (there will still be a 6:00 PM bus for athletics)
- All grades will begin online learning at home (google classroom) at 1:30 PM
March 3 - Cohort B: Face-to-Face Learners & Remote Learning Juniors
- All students testing please arrive by 7:50 AM
- Face-to-Face students will test: 9th on 1st Floor, 10th on 2nd floor and 11th on 3rd floor
- All pre-registered Junior Remote Learners will test in the library today
- Juniors bring your Chromebooks fully charged
- All seniors will work remotely from home today
- 9th & 10th grade will be dismissed at 11:30 AM
- 11th grade will be dismissed at 12:25 PM
- Lunch/Grab & Go meals will be available in the commons starting at 11:30 AM
- All buses will leave at 12:30 PM (there will still be a 6:00 PM bus for athletics)
- All grades will begin online learning at home (google classroom) at 1:30 PM
March 4 - 9th & 10th Remote Learners (who pre-registered) PreACT testing in the library
- Testing students please arrive by 7:50 AM
- Students will be dismissed by 11:30 AM
Important Dates
March 2 - PreACT/ACT Testing Cohort A/Remote Learning Juniors
March 3 - PreACT/ACT Testing Cohort B/Remote Learning Freshmen & Sophomores
March 4 - 9th & 10th Remote Learners (who pre-registered) PreACT testing in the library
March 5 - The last cohort day where face to face students attend school every other day.
March 8 - Face to face learners will meet every day in person starting today.
March 10 - Early Release at 1:00 (PLC Day)
March 17-19 - NO SCHOOL - Conference Trade Days/Spring Break
March 26 - End of Quarter 3 for High School
GFC's Main Office will be closed March 17th-19th
ACT Preparation is All About the Verbs
As our juniors prepare for the ACT test at GFC on March 2 & 3 and our sophomores and freshmen take the Pre-ACT on those same dates, we are reinvigorating our school wide focus on verbs.
Many students report that they feel they know the content on which they are questioned when taking the ACT, but aren’t always sure about the ways they are being asked to demonstrate that knowledge. In essence, the verbs used on the prompts and questions can be the biggest obstacle to answering the questions correctly and completely.
Listed below are the GFC Power Verbs that we will reinforce at school to increase student vocabulary, but also assist to our students in demonstrating their knowledge and to seek clarity in areas they do not understand, not only on the ACT, but in life.
We appreciate any reinforcement you can provide with the use of the verbs at home. Imagine all the fun that you can have with the verbs and your student, right!? A key will be to be able to differentiate between the verbs.
GFC Power Verbs
Formulate - to express in precise form; create; It's difficult to formulate a plan under pressure.
Compare - to examine the qualities of to discover similarities & differences; It's best to compare prices before a big purchase.
Contrast - to examine the qualities of to discover differences; Her black dress and the white snow contrast sharply.
Predict – say or predict that something will happen in the future. I predict the Vikings will win the Super Bowl.
Describe – give an account of something, including relevant details. Cormac McCarthy describes the setting in The Road as bleak, desolate, and harmful to human life.
Evaluate – form an idea of the amount, value, or idea of. We need to evaluate our options before making a choice.
Infer – make a good guess; read between the lines; what’s the hidden meaning. From your letter, I infer that you are well.
Support - give the facts; back up with details; provide proof. The facts support your claim of innocence.
Analyze – break apart; study the pieces; look at closer; examine. It is best to analyze a situation before acting.
Summarize – give a brief statement of the main points of something. Read the article and summarize it in a paragraph.
Justify - to show or prove to be right or reasonable; You must justify your actions with solid evidence..
Claim - state or assert that something is the case; She claimed that she was a part of a wealthy, educated family. .
Staying Connected Through PowerSchool
Grand Forks Public School parents are provided a PowerSchool account to help them stay connected with their student's progress. With PowerSchool, you can view the daily announcements and receive updates about your student's grades, assignments, attendance and more. You can access all of your students who attend Grand Forks Public Schools (not just GFC) with one account (referred to as a single sign on account).
If you would like to receive automatic email notifications from PowerSchool, log into your account and indicate which reports you would like to receive under "email notifications". You can also select how often you wish to receive the reports (daily, weekly, etc.).
If you have forgotten your user name or password, there is a link to reset those on the log in page for PowerSchool (below).
If you have never created a PowerSchool parent account for your students, please contact the main office for assistance.
Detention
Detention is held on most Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the commons. Dates are announced in the daily bulletin.
7 a.m. detention is also available in room 221 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Because our main door doesn't open for students until 7:30 a.m., students wishing to serve detention must meet the detention supervisor at door #1 between 6:55 - 7:00 a.m. or they will not be allowed to enter the building/detention room and serve any time.
Students who owe detention hours will not be eligible to participate in any extra-curricular activities, public performances, represent GFC publicly or attend prom until the hours are served. Also, seniors who owe detention hours will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony if they do not complete all hours by Tuesday, May 25th.
Reporting Absences
Unplanned Absences: Please contact the Attendance Secretary as soon as possible so the absence may be excused. The Attendance Office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and voicemail is also available 24/7. Absences that haven't been excused within 3 days may be coded as unexcused and detention may be assigned.
Planned Short Term Absences: If your student needs to leave school early due to a planned absence, such as an appointment, please call or send a note in advance. Students are responsible for obtaining a purple dismissal slip from the Attendance Secretary prior to leaving class. Doing so ensures they will be excused on time, and they will not interrupt class when they leave. Students must sign out with the office before leaving and sign back in upon return.
Planned Long Term Absences: If you student will be missing 2 or more days due to a planned absence, please contact the Attendance Secretary in advance. Once permission for the absence has been given to the Attendance Secretary, your student should request a pre-arranged absence slip. The pre-arranged absence slip will need to be signed by your student's teachers and turned into the office prior to the absence. Students must make all homework arrangements directly with their teachers for any planned absences prior to the absence.
Summer School Registration Is Now Open
The registration for the 2021 Summer School Session is now open. Students may register with the assistance of their counselor or by clicking on the following link. Summer School 2021 Registration Packet. Please contact Mike Wilber at mwilber310@mygfschools.org if you have any questions.
2020-2021 Yearbook
If you would like to order a 2020-2021 GFC yearbook, go to this website: https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=55338
The cost is $55 or $60 if you want it personalized with a name on the cover. Senior pictures and senior baby pictures are due by May 1st and can be emailed at any time before that to: centralyearbook@mygfschools.org
Scholarship Information
The North Dakota Academic and CTE Scholarship Application is now available online. This is the $6,000 scholarship that students may use at any North Dakota college or university. Use this website to apply for the scholarship: https://apps.nd.gov/DPI/scholarship/login.aspx
Students who plan to take WorkKeys tests to be eligible for this scholarship must sign up for the March 8 or 9 testing date. See Mrs. Mankse in the counseling office. This is the last time WorkKeys will be offered at GFC.
Current Scholarship Listing: Please check the scholarship listing on the GFC Counseling Page.
Spring Sports Starting Soon!
Boy's Track - March 1st - Coach Sean Allan
Girl's Track - March 1st - Coach Eric Polries
Baseball - March 22nd - Coach Tim Gregoire
Softball - March 22nd - Coach Brittany Baker
Girl's Soccer - March 29th - Coach George Dubois
Girl's Tennis - April 15th - Coach Matt Fuka
Boy's Golf - April 12th - Coach Josh Cichy
Trapshooting - Start date TBD - Coach Jim Shulind
More information can be found in the daily announcements in PowerSchool and on the GFC website under Athletics. Trapshooting information will be shared via flyers in the school and the daily announcements.
White Card Information for Athletics
White cards are used to indicate that student athletes have completed all necessary paperwork in order to compete. This paperwork only needs to be completed once per year. After submitting the paperwork, the student may come at any time to the main office during any sports season and request a white card. Athletes must present a white card to coaches before they will be allowed to tryout or practice.
1. Sports Participation Fee: $80.00
The preferred method of payment is through your students www.myschoolbucks.com account (there is NO additional fee for using myschoolbucks). Fees may also be paid by check (made out to GFPS) or cash in the main office.
*Activity Fee Waiver - If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you may qualify for a free or reduced activity fee. The Free and Reduced Lunch Application determines eligibility for the Activity Fee Waiver. Both forms can be found below or picked up in the main office. The forms only need to be completed once per year.
2. Physical Waiver (Form B) or Recent Physical
Any student with a physical on file at Grand Forks Central High School last year (2019-20) or any incoming freshmen who had their physical on file at their GFPS middle school last year does NOT need an updated physical examination for the 2020-21 school year. The NDSHAA has waived this for one year. These students with physicals on file will need to complete a waiver form (Physical Form B), which can be found in the links provided. The date of your last physical will be entered by GFC staff, so do NOT worry about that on Form B.
If you are new to the district or do not have a physical on file, you will need to turn in a signed physical form after an examination.
3. Code of Conduct Form AND Concussion Form
All students MUST fill out a new Code of Conduct and Concussion Form, regardless if they have one on file from last year or not.
Please see the following page for all links to any of the forms stated above.
PHYSICAL LINK
PHYSICAL FORM B LINK
CODE OF CONDUCT FORM LINK
CONCUSSION FORM LINK
Participation Fee Waiver Link
Free and Reduced Lunch Application Link
Online Sports & Activity Fee Payments
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.
2021 Graduation Information
The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021 is scheduled for Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
Prior to graduation, there are a number of items that need to be completed. The following is a checklist of all obligations that must be met by each student before a diploma will be presented.
- All course work, tests, and detention time must be completed before Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
- All independent study, online and correspondence course work must be completed by Friday, May 14, 2021.
- A “Senior Survey” will be sent out in early May. This must be completed by Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Early graduates will be notified about the procedure to use in completing the survey.
- All bills must be paid (media center, athletic equipment, lab equipment, book damages, etc…) by Friday, May 14, 2021.
- The final day of classes for seniors will be Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
- Graduation practice is tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. All graduating seniors must attend the practice session.
- Caps and gowns were ordered in November and will be distributed from the Principal’s Office on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
- Senior pictures for the yearbook are due by May 1st and can be turned in at any time before that date to Mr. Berglund or can be e-mailed to: centralyearbook@mygfschools.org.
- If a student desires to receive a diploma without going through the graduation ceremony; he/she may do so by notifying Mr. Strandell prior to Friday, May 14, 2021.
- All students who participate in the commencement ceremony are expected to dress in an appropriate manner. The cap, gown, tassel, and shoes are all required. No other personal additions will be allowed other than school-issued stoles of honor without prior permission from administration.
Only students who have completed their graduation requirements will participate in the graduation ceremony. The list of students who will be participating in the ceremony will be finalized on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
Administration
Dr. Gabe Dahl - Associate Principal A-K
Mr. Mike Wilber - Associate Principal L-Z
Mr. Aaron La Deaux - Activities Director
Contact Us:
Main Office : 701-746-2375
Attendance Line: 701-746-2482
Main Office Hours 7:00 AM-4:15 PM
School Doors Open at 7:30 AM
Location:
115 N. 4th Street
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Follow us on Twitter: @GFC_Activities
Follow us on Instagram: gfc_activites
GFPS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools/