Welcome to Kennedy Elementary
October 2021
About Us
Health Office (Nurse): 651-480-7224
Kids' Campus: 651-480-7257
Hastings Bus Company: 651-437-1888
Website: kennedy.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 1175 Tyler Street, Hastings, MN, United States
Phone: 651-480-7220
Dates to remember
OCTOBER
18-19 - Evening Conferences
18-20 - Scholastic Book Fair during Conferences
20 - NO SCHOOL - Morning Conferences
21 & 22 - NO SCHOOL (Teacher Association Days)
27 - Picture Day Retake/Makeup Day
NOVEMBER
25,26 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
29 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development
FALL CONFERENCES
Elementary conferences are scheduled in the evening of Monday, October 18th and Tuesday, October 19th and during the morning of Wednesday, October 20th.
Conferences will be held in person unless otherwise arranged with the classroom teacher.
If you wish to have a virtual conference, please reach out to the teacher after sign up.
Click HERE to sign up!
Book Fair
Dear Parents and Families,
The Scholastic Book Fair is back!
Our in-person fair will be held in the Media Center during conferences.
Monday, October 18th from 4:00 - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, October 19th from 4:00 - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 20th from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Volunteers needed!! Please sign up here to help at the book fair.
Remember, every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!).
Save these dates and view our school’s online fair site:
(10/13/21) – (10/20/21)
Online Store: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/jfkcougars
Kennedy Spirit Shirts and Sweatshirts
We are excited to offer Kennedy Spirit Wear this fall.
Shirts will be sold online between now and October 20th. Please have your orders in by the end of the day on the 20th. You will not be able to order after the 20th.
Select "I will pickup my order" at checkout and we will distribute them to the students at school.
Please use the link below to order. It is very easy and efficient.
Cougar Choir
Hello Kennedy Families!
I am excited to announce that 4th graders will have the opportunity to sign up for Cougar Choir. Cougar Choir is a free program that will meet Tuesday mornings from 8:00 am to 8:30 in the music classroom, starting Tuesday, October 19th. Choir begins before bus arrival, and families will need to provide alternative transportation. Students will still be able to get breakfast after choir. We do have an attendance policy in place to make sure students are prepared for performances. Permission slips will be coming home soon and will be due Friday, October 15th. All permission slips must be signed by both parent and/or guardian and the student. I can’t wait to see you there!
Leigh Arnoldy
Kennedy Music
Picture Makeup/Retake Day
Picture Makeup/Retake Day - Wednesday, October 27
*If ordering online, you will need your student's id number. This can be found on your Infinite Campus Parent Portal by clicking "TODAY" in the left hand menu bar*
Pre-Order Now to Receive your Free Social Media Image!
CLICK HERE-->> http://www.cahillphotostudio.com/school-districts.html
***Please make sure you select the correct school building and place separate orders for each child. Ordering under the wrong gallery or multiple children for one order will cause significant delay in receiving your photos. Students are required to have their photo taken at the building where they attend school. The pre-order gallery will be open for 2 business days after picture day. Please note you may receive additional ordering information even if you already placed an order. Photos will not be available for viewing until 10-14 business days after picture day. The free social media image will also not be delivered until 10-14 business days after picture day to your email as a downloadable link. ***
Questions, Comments, Concerns?
Contact Cahill Studios:
715.268.9363 // 866.229.0135
School Lunch Updates!
**NOTE** Students will be charged for second meals, a la carte items, and milk if they bring their own meal.
More information about lunch accounts can be found here.
birthday parties
treats at school
Bring your ID
Please bring your driver's license with you when you are checking out your student.
Early Pick Up for Students
ATTENDANCE
In line with state requirements, schools will track attendance during their at-home days (distance learning days). We do this by having students interact with learning tasks & materials. If learning tasks need modifying or are not being completed, parent/teacher communication will be needed. Please feel free to reach out with your teacher on Flex days.
Although attendance is required, we value students thoughtfully engaged in their learning. Accountability for learning (completing assignments/assessments) will be separated from “showing up for distance learning” (attendance). For the purpose of accountability, students are expected to complete tasks daily and demonstrate evidence of their learning. This expectation applies for both the Hastings Online Academy and Hybrid Learning.
To report an absence, parents/guardians can notify the school's attendance line at 651-480-7220.
MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE
Please continue to monitor your child every morning for symptoms of COVID-19 that could indicate that they are not well. If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms or they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, please keep them home and call the attendance line. Symptoms of COVID-19*
● Fever or chills (T = 100.4 or higher)
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Fatigue
● Muscle or body aches
● Headache
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Congestion or runny nose
● Nausea or vomiting
● Diarrhea
*This list does not include all possible symptoms (see Symptoms of Coronavirus for more information).
We learn more about COVID-19 every day, and as more information becomes available, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will continue to update and share information with us. As our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 evolves, this guidance may change.
During the school day if your child develops illness symptoms we, the school, will notify you and help you and your family take needed actions. Students who develop illness symptoms during the school day will be sent home.
Change of Address or Daycare
END OF DAY PICK UP FOR STUDENTS
In order to minimize interruptions to the classroom, students should not be picked up early unless it is an emergency. On those occasions when it is necessary to pick your child up during the school day, please go to the school office to sign your child out. The office secretary will call the classroom and have the student sent to the office. Teachers will not release students unless the office gives prior approval. This practice has been established to help protect your child.
MORNING DROP OFF SAFETY
crosswalk safety
afternoon pick up safety
Dismissal Time: 3:25 is the dismissal time for all students. Students being picked up by car will be dismissed from the back horseshoe drive. Be sure to get your car/student number from the office. Walkers and bus students will use the front door. The curved drive at the front of the building is reserved for buses.
Afternoon car pick-up procedures: Dismissal begins at 3:25 and takes a total of about 10 minutes. The line moves quickly beginning at the 3:25 dismissal bell.
· If you are picking your child up at the end of the day, you will need to stop at the school office to get a number to display in your vehicle window. Students will have a matching number attached to their backpack.
· Form a single line of traffic entering from Tyler Street, through the north parking lot, around to the back of the building.
· PLEASE STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE. Students will be assisted to the vehicles.
· Please move your car up as soon as the car in front of you moves forward.
· Make sure your car number is visible. The numbers may be attached to the passenger side visor so it can conveniently be flipped down or on the front passenger window. The numbers are not visible if they are on the dash.
BUS SAFETY TRAINING
All District 200 K-4 elementary students received school bus safety training on a school bus in September. Hastings Bus Company drivers conducted the training. They have developed lesson plans that correlate with the bus safety curriculum classroom teachers cover each fall.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
When the temperatures start to dip into the 40’s and 50’s, we do require students to wear a light jacket or sweatshirt outside. When winter arrives, winter clothing will be required.
KIDS CAMPUS EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
If the Hastings Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather conditions, the Kids Campus Program will also be closed. If school is delayed two hours in opening, Kids Campus will be open at the regular time (6:30 am).
If school closes two hours early, then Kids Campus sites will close two hours early
(4:00 pm). Parents will be called and notified by Kids Campus staff to pick up their child.
Please pick up your child by 4:00 pm or authorize someone else to pick up your child by that time. Please listen to the radio and TV for school closing announcements.