Oak Ridge Family News
October 2020
A Message from Dr. Kindem
Dear Oak Ridge Families,
Our teachers and staff are so excited to be welcoming students to our new learning day models! Thank you families for your patience and flexibility as we prepared for the first days back with students and for all that you have done to make our new learning routines a success!
The weather is getting cooler! Classes will continue to learn and play outside – every day and in all kinds of weather. It’s been exciting to see our students in their natural environment – exploring their surroundings, being curious about what’s around them and finding joy in seeing new things. Your child is learning about the weather, the change in seasons, and about different animals that are found outside. We are looking forward to enjoying the beautiful weather! For hybrid families - continue to send your child with clothing (shoes, jackets, etc.) they can wear to explore and move easily outside and inside.
During these full learning days at school or online, we are focusing on mindful movements and breathing. Keep encouraging breaks and exercise at home. Think about ways your child can move and play during at home days. How might you plan regular opportunities to get up and move around? Remember to go outside and play too! Here is a quick tip for spending some time outdoors as a family:
- Look and experience first, talk later. Smell the lilac, rub the bark, or listen to the rumble of the garbage truck, then have the conversation.
The month of October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Our school will be focusing on showing we are united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. We will be learning about making friends, being a leader, and challenging others to be kind. Check your Seesaw and/or Schoology accounts and our social media feeds for regular updates on our student activities and learning experiences. More information is coming.
Be well and safe,
Dr. Kindem
Welcome Back
Outdoor Classroom at Oak Ridge
New Outdoor Music Classroom
October 2020 School Nurse Notes
Health Updates/Emergency Contacts
Please log into Campus Portal and update your students' emergency contacts and health information. If you need to talk to the nurse call the Health Office at 651-683-8593.
Health Screenings
Screenings will be limited this year. Please contact the nurse if you have any concerns with your child’s hearing or vision 651-683-8593.
Illness and COVID-19
Students must stay home if they/household members have tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for a test result, or are showing COVID-19 symptoms, until they meet criteria (see MDH Decision Tree, below) for return. Siblings will also remain at home until they meet the criteria for return. Please contact the school nurse, Angie Ridgley if you have any questions 651-683-8593.
Student Illness Decision Tree
https://www.district196.org/about/restart2020/student-illness-decision-tree
MDH Decision Tree
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/exguide.pdf
Seasonal Flu-Find a Flu Clinic
Prevention is the best defense against seasonal influenza: immunize, stay home when you are sick, cover your cough, and wash hands frequently. For more information about influenza visit:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/flu/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
Find a flu clinic near you - https://vaccinefinder.org/find-vaccine
Here Comes the Bus Tracking App
Users of the app can establish a perimeter around their stop and receive an alert when the bus enters that area. Here Comes the Bus also sends a notification message if a bus is running late or if a different bus has been substituted for a child's usual bus.
To set up an account, users will need the school district identification number (73500) and the student's lunch account number. Parents can monitor buses for multiple children from a single account.
Notice to Parents and Guardians
- Whether the MN Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects the teacher teaches or has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
- The teacher's college major and any advanced degrees, and the subject of advances degrees, and
- Whether any teachers' aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child, if they do, their qualifications.
- For more information, you may contact our school principal, Dr. Cathy Kindem.
District Does Not Provide Accident Insurance
Fifth graders received their band instrument this week.
Preschoolers doing outdoor art on a tree.
What fun on our new equipment!
School Social Worker News
While the federal government is providing free meals for students until the end of 2020, please don’t forget to apply for the free/reduced lunch program. You need to complete a new application each school year. Students who qualify for “reduced-priced” meals will receive free breakfast and lunch. Your children can get free meals if your household income is within the certain guidelines. To apply online visit https://paypams.com/OnlineApp.aspx Your application helps our school qualify for additional education funds and discounts.
The cost of heating our homes during a MN winter can add strain to any family’s budget. MN’s Cold Weather Rule offers families some flexibility when utility bills become difficult to pay during the coldest months of the year. From Oct. 15 to April 15th the Cold Weather Rule protects residential utility customers from utility shut-offs and disconnections if the customer meets program requirements and has a payment plan in place with the utility company. Another resource for families struggling with heating bills is the Energy Assistance Program. Energy assistance gives grants that are applied directly to the energy bill. Both renters and homeowners can apply. Funding is limited. Contact the CAP Agency at 651-322-3500 or visit their website at www.capagency.org.
Oak Ridge continues a partnership with The Sheridan Story again this year. It’s an opportunity for your family to discreetly receive a free bag of non-perishable food each week. For now our school has obtained the “ready to eat” bag which contains snack items that your student may eat at school. If your student does not have a snack at school they will be offered this bag. They can eat items out of it for snack and will bring the rest of the bag home. If you are interested in receiving a full meal bag each week, please call or email me.
October is bullying prevention month. I’ll be working with teachers to deliver messages about how we can all work together to make sure bullying doesn’t happen in our Oak Ridge community.
Alisha Kaul, School Social Worker
651-683-6970 (Tuesday, Thursday & Friday)
Voicemail 651-683-6969, mailbox 84822
Indoor classroom learning
Building "houses"
Outdoor exploring
Important Upcoming Events
October 12-13 & 19-20 - Lebanon Hills Naturalists' Learning Activities
October 13 - PTO Family Restaurant Night at Chipotle on Cliff Road - 4-8pm
October 15 & 16 - NO SCHOOL OR CHILD CARE - State Teachers' Conference
October 21 - School Pictures for Digital Academy Students (watch for email with information on scheduling an appointment)
October 22 - School Pictures for Cohort A Students (with class during school day)
October 23 - School Pictures for Cohort B Students (with class during school day)
November 4 & 5 - Parent/Teacher Zoom Conferences (will be scheduled after October 21. Watch for an email with information on scheduling an appointment.)
November 6 - NO SCHOOL OR CHILD CARE