Congdon Park Weekly News
February 10, 2021
Hello Families
Happy Valentine's Day! We are so thankful to have so many students back in the building. We have about 400 students in the building, while approx. 100 students are still distance learning. We are slowing getting back into the routine of being in school.
A couple of reminders:
For students in grades K-5 that have returned to in person learning, if you have not already done so, please return the chromebook/tablet your child borrowed from Congdon. On a piece of masking tape, please write your child's name and teacher name. Use the tape to adhere the charging cord to the device. Have your student hand the device in to their teacher when they get to school. The chromebooks will be cleaned and assessed for any damges.
If your child will not be at school, please call the attendance line at 218.336.8825 ext 2 and leave the following information:
Student's name, grade, teacher
Date and reason for the absence
Your name and relationship to the student
There is no school for students February 15-19 WINTER BREAK
Masks are required for all students.
Distance Learners Supply Pickup
Picture retakes
February is I Love to Read Month
Is your child arriving late to school or getting picked up early?
- Please park in the 15 minute parking spot by the main doors.
- Send your child into the building and direct them to come to the office
- Office staff will check them in and send them to class.
- Adults - Please do not come into the building.
Picking up early
- Please notify your child's teacher by note or email on the day that your child will be getting picked up early
- Please park in the 15 minute parking spot by the main doors
- Call the office (218.336.8825) and let us know you are here and where your child is going
- When your student gets to the office, we will sign them out and send them outside.
- Adults - Please do not come into the building
Important Dates
February is I Love to Read Month
Feb 11 - PTA Meeting via Zoom 12:30-1:30 LINK To MEETING
Feb 15-19 - Winter Break - no school
Feb 23 - Picture Retakes
March 1-14 Virtual Book Fair, more info to come.
March 4 & 9 - Conferences - Virtual - more info to come
March 15 - deadline for ordering a yearbook - see information below
April 13 & 15 3:00-7:00 - Kindergarten Roundup
School calendar link can be found on our website or by clicking
PTA Meeting
Kindergarten Roundup
An Early Childhood Screening is required for all incoming Kindergartners. Click HERE to register.
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Daily symptom screening:
Remember to screen your children daily for any symptoms before coming to school and keep them home if there are any symptoms found per the MDH Decision Tree.Reporting test results and quarantines:
Please continue to report to your child’s school any COVID-19 symptoms, test results or quarantine status for your child. We track this information for attendance and follow the Decision Tree guidelines for when children may return to school.For students experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms:
Your student will be required to stay home from school for 10 days following the start of COVID-19 like symptoms unless documentation is given to your child's health office showing a negative COVID-19 test and/or a note from a health care provider stating that the student with symptoms has another illness that is not COVID-19 (e.g. an ear infection, a sinus infection, etc).
For siblings and household member of student experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms:
Siblings and household members who attend or work at school will also have to stay home until negative COVID-19 test result or an alternative diagnosis is received. A longer quarantine for siblings and household members may be required if documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or alternative diagnosis is not received by your school health office.
IMPORTANT Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders
We have nearly twice as many families dropping off and picking up their children than in a normal year, so it is vital everyone follows these rules:
- Students should not arrive to school until 7:30am
- ADULTS - IF YOU ARE IN THE DROP OFF/PICK UP LINE DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR!!!!
- Do not park in the Fire Lane. This is illegal and it really deters the flow of drop off and pick up. If you need to leave your vehicle, you must park in the parking lot.
- If you are waiting in your car to pick up your child, continue to PULL FORWARD AS SOON AS THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU MOVES FORWARD.
- Please put away your cell phone so you are not distracted and hold up the line.
- When Dropping off in the morning..."stop, drop, and go" quickly to open up the spot for another car to drop off. Your child must get out on the sidewalk side of the car. Also remember to PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
January/2021
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE - “Is it okay to travel out of state for winter break?”
Dan Vaught, LSN; Joan Wick, LPN - Health Assistant
Hello Congdon Parents!
We hope this note finds you all well and staying as safe as possible as the pandemic continues. We applaud all of you for your extraordinary efforts to provide for your children during this challenging time. It’s been a long haul but the end is in sight as COVID-19 vaccination programs roll out. All of this would not be possible without the extraordinary work of dedicated scientists who developed COVID-19 vaccines in record time. Hang in there as better days are coming for all of us!
With winter break coming up in February, some parents have contacted the health office to inquire about Minnesota COVID-19 guidelines regarding travel. At present, Out-of-state travel is highly discouraged. Further, people who visit Minnesota, and Minnesotans returning after traveling out of state, are asked to stay away from others (quarantine) for 14 days after they arrive in Minnesota.
For more information, visit the MN Dept. of Health link below.
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html#:~:text=Travel%20to%20or%20from%20Minnesota&text=Out%2Dof%2Dstate%20travel%20is,after%20they%20arrive%20in%20Minnesota
Meet some of our behind the scenes staff
Name - Kristi Morris-Johnson
Position-Speech-Language Pathologist
How long have you worked in the district/Congdon?-I have been in the district for 15 years and have been at Congdon for 14 years!
Tell us about your family
My husband, Kevin, works for St. Louis County. We have two kids: Brendan is 26 and Bailey is 22. I also have two Golden Retrievers: Bauer and Charlie.
What new activities or hobbies did you take up during Covid?
I really haven’t started any news activities or hobbies during Covid. I live out of town, so I just continued to enjoy spending as much time outside as possible: pontooning, swimming, riding on the side-by-side , skiing, and ice skating. I enjoy hiking with my dogs everyday on the trails and love a great campfire! I also like to read and cook for my family.
What are your hopes for 2021?
I hope for everyone's health and happiness in 2021!
Don't forget warm clothes
The students go outside just about everyday for recess. Remember to send appropriate winter gear with your child for recess: hat, mittens, warm coat, snow pants and boots.
Check out these sources if you are concerned that school might be closed due to snow or cold.:
- ISD 709 Website: www.ISD709.org
- Television: KBJR – TV6, KDLH – TV3, WDIO-TV10, KQDS-TV21
- Radio: KDAL 610 AM – 95.7 FM, WEBC 560 AM, WSCN 100.5 FM, KQDS 1490 AM – 94.9 FM
- Duluth News Tribune Website: www.duluthsuperior. com
- Twitter: @ISD709News
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/duluthpublicschools
Two Hour Late Starts may include an All Call phone message to families.
Cafeteria and Playground Monitors Needed
We are looking to add to our valuable team of Cafeteria/Playground Monitors. A great opportunity to engage with youth in our community and perfect for parents interested in "earning while the kids are learning". Follow the link to apply!
Hours are 10:30-1:30pm (2.5 hour shifts - for up to 12.5 hours per week) Days can be flexible. Rate of pay is $10.08 and you must be 18+.
Free Tutoring with St. Scholastica Students
ISD 709 Families can book appointments with trained CSS tutors in many grade and subject areas on various days and times. Go to https://css709tutor.setmore.com to book appointments. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to the video tutoring session. All sessions are online and free.
Grief Support for kids 9-12.
Box Tops for Education
Updated 8-Day specialist schedule
K-5th Grade will be going back to an 8-Day rotation for Art, Music, Phy Ed, and Media. You can find it here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oTdQJqI_oqFH-eLvvaM66I2mbaqmz-Yv/view?usp=sharing
Yes! There will be a yearbook this year!!
Jennifer Engel & Deborah Sah are this year’s yearbook committee, tasked with bringing about a yearbook during this crazy year of hybrid, all distance and now in-person schooling. Given how “unprecedented” this year has been, we are asking parents to send us photos of their kids engaging in school-related activities at home (and school if you have any!). Please send photos to: congdonyearbook@gmail.com and in the subject line- please have your child’s grade and teacher.
In body of message, please include child’s name, what activity it is (if it’s not obvious). PE/art (fails)/google meet-up etc. If your kids were in pods- would love to see those! If you had a mini-at-home-school set up- great!
If there are kids in the photos from other households, please double check that those kiddos’ parent is okay with you including them for the yearbook.
Thank you! We are hoping to put together a memorable yearbook for a memorable year, and will need your help in doing so.
Please see flyer below on how to order a yearbook. Sales are all online.