Kennedy Elementary School
Comet Tales November 2019
Notes from the Principal
At Kennedy, we describe this as "walking in someone else's shoes" and thinking how other's thoughts might be different than our own.
During the upcoming months, it is time for spending time with friends and family, and being thankful for what we have (rather than complaining of what we don't have or want). Frequently, I find myself not appreciating the little things. During the month of November, I challenge you to print the "November Acts of Kindness" calendar and do some of the activities.
There have been questions about holiday programs. The dates are Monday, December 9th for grades K-5. Each grade will be assigned a specific time beginning with Kindergarten at 5:30 pm. On December 16th, the Orchestra and Choir will have their program from 7 to 8:00 pm.
Thank you for making conferences a success.
~Mrs. Rage

DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES
GENERAL INFORMATION
All students are to be at school no later than 8:00 am.
School hours are 8:10 am to 2:32 pm.
If your child is going to be absent or late, please call us prior to 8:00 (701-446-4206).
Make sure your child has lunch funds. Free and Reduced Lunch forms are available.
Dress your child in appropriate attire for the current weather.
If you are picking up your child, come in to the office to sign them out. Office staff will call them down when you arrive.
Attendance/End of Day Arrangements
Please make arrangements for end of day pick up with your child before they come to school. However, we do understand that emergencies come up and will do our best to help out. Please let us know by 12:00 when possible if there has been a change in plans for end of day. You can always write a note in your child's communication folder/planner and the teacher will see it first thing in the morning. If your child is not going to be attending school, please call 701-446-4206 - the Attendance Line.
Our school day begins at 8:10 am and ends at 2:32 pm. The first bell rings at 8:00 am. All students should be in their classroom ready to learn at 8:10 am.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
The Student Handbook . Please review page 6 - Attendance - Tardiness - Absences in the Student Handbook. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Rage or Mr. Larson.
IMPORTANT DATESNovember 4 6:30-7:30 - General PTA Meeting November 6 AM - Picture Retakes November 8 PTA Breakfast with Principal Rage November 11 - Veterans Day - NO CLASSES November 12, 13 & 14 8:30-2:00 - Family Health Dental Sealants November 27, 28 & 29 - Happy Thanksgiving - NO CLASSES | ILLNESSStudents are to say home if:
Students are ready to return to school when:
| REMINDER - BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT SCHOOL
|
IMPORTANT DATES
November 4 6:30-7:30 - General PTA Meeting
November 6 AM - Picture Retakes
November 8 PTA Breakfast with Principal Rage
November 11 - Veterans Day - NO CLASSES
November 12, 13 & 14 8:30-2:00 - Family Health Dental Sealants
November 27, 28 & 29 - Happy Thanksgiving - NO CLASSES
ILLNESS
Students are to say home if:
Have a fever of 100.0 or higher
Are vomiting (within the past 24 hours).
Have diarrhea (within the past 24 hours).
Have head lice (including nits).
Have an eye infection (pink eye). Symptoms include reading, itching, and/or drainage.
Students are ready to return to school when:
They have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication (i.e., Tylenol or Motrin).
Free from vomiting for at least 2 solid meals.
Free from diarrhea for 24 hours.
Treated with appropriate lice treatment at home and a head check appears “clear” (nit free and lice free).
REMINDER - BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT SCHOOL
School birthday invitations can not be sent home with students from the school unless you invite the entire class.
Check with your child’s teacher on their classroom policy regarding birthday treats.
If the classroom allows treats, they should bring something in an individual serving for each student in the class.
Kennedy does not allow birthday cakes and will not do a “birthday party” in the classroom as this takes away from instruction. Generally treats are eaten during snack time.
Parents are allowed to drop off treats in the office but will not be allowed to deliver to the child’s classroom.
PLANT UPDATE!
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
If you choice to join your child to for lunch and are ordering school lunch - you need to have your order into the office no later than 9:00 am.
Daily prices for the 2019-20 school year
Breakfast
Student-$1.45
Adult-$2.15
Lunch
Student-$2.45
Adult-$3.50
Carton of Milk-$0.35
Free and Reduced Forms are available on line. Click below.
MORNING ROUTINE AND SUPERVISION
Kennedy breakfast starts at 7:30 am. Supervision of students not having breakfast begins at 7:30 am. During the fall and spring, students will be supervised on both playground areas (K-1 north playground and grades 2-5 south playground). When the weather becomes rainy or cold (windchill factor of -15 degrees below zero), students will gather in the gym or in their classrooms and be supervised by staff.
RECESS CANCELLATION POLICY (From the Handbook)
STUDENT DROP OFF/PICK UP
For pick up and drop off, please use the south loop. The north loop is for BUSES ONLY.
Parents dropping off students from 7:30 am to 8:10 am MUST REMAIN IN THEIR VEHICLE when dropping off your child/children for school. If you need to get out of your car or wish to walk your child into the building, please park in the parking lot. This ensures that there is not a backup of cars on 42nd Street.
At dismissal, between 2:00 and 2:45, parents also need to park in the left or right lane and REMAIN in their vehicle. The center lane is for cars to pull out and leave once their child/children have entered their car.
DO NOT PARK IN THE BUS LANE (THE NORTH LOOP) AT ANY TIME.
The first week of school, make sure to have your child get in the habit of “scanning on and off the bus”. This will help to pinpoint where your child is if they get off at the wrong stop. Check “Here Comes the Bus” to be sure the child is scanning and the card is being read.
During the first week, walk your child to the bus in the morning and pick your child up at the end of the day. It would be helpful to show your child items that are familiar to look for so they know where to get off.
It is helpful to introduce yourself to the bus driver for both the morning and after school route.
PTA NEWS - NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
Hello Kennedy Families!!
Thank you for attending our annual Fall Carnival! It was so fun to see so many of our students and their families enjoying the evening together.
Announcements:
· Kennedy just received a $1000 PTA Connected Workshop grant! This grant will fund a family engagement event with meaningful discussions about raising children in an online world. If you are interested in helping to plan and deliver this exciting workshop contact us at kennedypta@gmail.com.
Cool Fact:
· The Fall Book Fair added $600 in new books to the Kennedy library and $125 new books to two classroom libraries this month. In addition, Kennedy families added a combined 985 books to their personal libraries from the Book Fair.
PTA Mythbuster:
· Myth: I can’t be involved in PTA because I will be expected to volunteer for each event and I just don’t have time.
· Mythbuster: We appreciate any help at the many events that we host. If each member volunteered for just one event a year, we would have more than enough help!
Kennedy PTA 2019/2020 Goals:
· Fund an Outdoor picnic area
· Fund the First year of 5th grade legacy tree planting
· Host the 2nd annual Kennedy fun color run
· Purchase a popcorn machine for use across Kennedy school
All of your support helps us achieve these goals that enhance our children’s educational experience. Thank you for supporting our students and school staff!
Mark your calendar the next PTA meeting is on Monday, November 4th in the K-1 pod area at 6:30-7:30