Falcon Newsletter

Supporting Our Students and Fair Oaks Updates

Dear Fair Oaks Families and Community,

We are mindful of the heaviness that many are feeling. With recent events unfolding in our immediate community, across the state, and around the world, it is clear that our community needs us—and each other—now more than ever.

Amidst these challenges, I want to reaffirm our commitment to you and your children. Our higher calling here at Fair Oaks remains steadfast: to provide a high-quality education to every student in our building and, equally importantly, to compassionately care for them. We are dedicated to ensuring our school remains a safe, supportive, and consistent environment where your children can thrive.

Supporting Your Child at Home

We know that children process complex emotions in different ways. If you have concerns about how your child is coping at home, or if they seem to be dealing with a heavy emotional load, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school counselor, social worker, or your child's teacher.

Some changes to look out for may include:

Changes in sleeping or eating habits.
Increased irritability or clinginess.
Withdrawal from activities they usually enjoy.
Physical complaints (stomach aches, headaches) without a medical cause.

We are partners in your child's well-being, and we are here to support your family.

District Reminder: Alternative Learning Options

Finally, please remember that the district recently sent out communication regarding temporary alternative learning options.

Signing up
Signing up for this temporary online learning option is a commitment beginning Tuesday, Feb. 17 through the end of the school year (Friday, June 5). Families may choose to return to in-person learning at their school at any time; however, once a student returns to in-person instruction, they cannot re-enter the temporary online program.

Please complete this new enrollment sign-up form for each elementary student you would like to participate in this temporary online program. The enrollment form will close on Monday, Feb. 9 at 11:59 a.m. Note, if your student is currently in the temporary online program and wishes to enter this new one starting Feb. 17, they’ll need to complete the form.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are honored to serve this community.

With care and purpose,

David Freeburg, Principal

Osseo Area Schools, District 279

Fair Oaks Elementary

5600 65th Ave N

Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

(763) 533-2246

As the weather begins to change, please remember to send tennis/athletic shoes with your child for gym. This is a requirement for their participation in class. Thank you.

While the 2025-26 school year is still young, Osseo Area Schools is already making preparations for a smooth transition to new attendance boundaries at the elementary and middle school levels for the fall of 2026. Families can double-check whether or not their household is impacted by using the 2026-27 search tool available via osseoschools.org/boundaries.

FOOD RESOURCES

Local Food Resources

CEAP Food Market in Brooklyn Park: https://www.ceap.org/
NEAR Food Shelf in Crystal: https://www.nearfoodshelf.org/
Food Shelf in a Box at Zanewood Recreation Center (2nd Tuesday of the month): https://www.goodinthehood.org/our-programs/food-programs/
Hunger Solutions hotline (1-888-711-1151) or food finder tool: https://www.hungersolutions.org/find-help/
Second Harvest Heartland food finder tool: https://www.2harvest.org/find-food/resource-map
Loaves and Fishes find a community meal: https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org/find-a-community-meal/

This is a tough time for many in our Fair Oaks community. Please know that support is available for a variety of needs. Our school social worker, Krysta Sather, can assist you in making community connections.

Fair Oaks elementary will continue to have the weekend food bag program provided by EveryMeal. If you have not signed up for this program, but want to participate please contact our school social worker, Krysta Sather, via email (satherk@district279.org), phone (763-549-2356), or TalkingPoints to request a sign up brochure.

More Minnesotans can now get free or lower cost health insurance regardless of immigration status. Portico health helps families navigate the healthcare system and apply for health insurance through the MNSure system. Trained navigators can speak with families in multiple languages including Spanish and Hmong.

https://porticohealthnet.org/

YOU CAN CALL THE MAIN OFFICE FOR YOUR STUDENT'S PARENTVUE ACCESS CODE. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT THAT YOU CANNOT ACCESS, YOU WILL JUST NEED TO CLICK "FORGOT PASSWORD" AND GO THROUGH THE STEPS TO RESET YOUR PASSWORD.

YOU CAN ACCESS YOUR STUDENT'S ID NUMBER AS WELL AS THEIR FIRSTVIEW (BUS TRACKING) ACCESS CODE IN PARENTVUE.

SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER FOR HELP TO SET UP ANY OF OUR DISTRICT APPS.

Dear Scholars and Guardians,

Osseo Area Schools provides all scholars with access to district technology resources, including an assigned 1:1 iPad or Chromebook, for educational purposes. All scholars must follow all district policies regarding the use of these devices at all times. More information can be found on the District Website under digital learning.

Although devices are in the hands and homes of our scholars, each device is and remains the property of Osseo Area Schools. Scholar devices can and may be accessed by authorized Osseo staff, including their teacher, to provide instruction, technical support, and ensure district policy is followed. If a device becomes damaged at any point, repair or replacement cost may be assessed and would be added to the scholar’s account after notification to the family. A list of costs and other information can be found on our website under digital learning. Below are the most common device repair costs:

iPads

Chromebooks

Asset tag replacement: $10.00

Charging kit replacement: up to $28.00

Charging kit replacement: up to $31.00

Damaged case: up to $50.00

Damaged keyboard: up to $25.00

Damaged screen: up to $139.00

Damaged screen: up to $185.00

Liquid damage: varies, up to $294.00

Liquid damage: varies, up to $300.00

Full replacement: up to $350.00 (Kit)

Full replacement: up to $375.00 (Kit)

Mary McGrath

Tech ESP Fair Oaks

74309

mcgrathm@district279.org

Click here to reach the help desk for any technical related issues.

2/4 - Crafty Readers 4:10pm-5:10 (For students who are signed up)

2/9 - Robotics: Nature Bots (for students who are signed up) 4:10-5:10

2/11 - Crafty Readers 4:10pm-5:10pm (for those who are signed up)

2/12 - 5th Grade - Math Masters (for those who are signed up)

2/16 - No school

2/18 - Conferences

2/19 - 5th Grade - Math Masters (for those who are signed up)

2/23 - Robotics: Nature Bots (for students who are signed up) 4:10-5:10

2/24 -Conferences

2/25 - Crafty Readers 4:10pm-5:10pm (for those who are signed up)

2/28 - Conferences

3/2 - Robotics: Nature Bots (for students who are signed up) 4:10-5:10

3/4 - Crafty Readers 4:10pm-5:10pm (for those who are signed up)

3/5 - 5th Grade - Math Masters (for those who are signed up)

3/9 - Robotics: Nature Bots (for students who are signed up) 4:10-5:10

3/11 - Crafty Readers 4:10pm-5:10pm (for those who are signed up)

3/12 - 5th Grade - Math Masters (for those who are signed up)

3/16 - Robotics: Nature Bots (for students who are signed up) 4:10-5:10

3/18 - Crafty Readers 4:10pm-5:10pm (for those who are signed up)

3/19 - 5th Grade - Math Masters (for those who are signed up)

3/20 - All School Morning Meeting - Celebrating March CARES Champions

3/23-3/27 - Spring Break (No online or in-person school)

THESE STUDENTS WERE NOMINATED BY STAFF FOR SHOWING C.A.R.E.S. QUALITIES!

JANUARY CARES Champions

Ahmed Darboe

Owen Yang

Bryson Lezama

Domenico Santiago-Souriyavong

Axel Halter

Adonis Hunter-Morris

Joseph Torres Morales

Hawa Kromah

Bijou Desoto

Khaleesi Tep

Joseline Ponce

Alanza Robinson

Tate Olson

Avery Yang

Bentley Morton

Yanney Salinas

Micah Xiong

Alhassan Donzo

Natalia Lopez Magana

Zak Vue

Camille Vang

Deriana Hall

Ja’Marion Jones Wesley

Bella Williams

Janelle Neekpo

Anthony Pederson

Nyvea Vang

Emiliano Leal

Everly Parkin

Oscar Lantz

Josh Sando

Elijah Yang

Everlyn Vang

Sebastian Hernandez Avila

Vincent Yang

Mia Montero Ozuna

Gaffing Donzo

Felix Zedekiah

Kayla Vazquez

Emanuel Rotimi

Sa’Riyah Moritz

Karma Green Nick

Francisco Felix Maldonado

Journee Miller

Amir Eggleston

***JANUARY CARES Champions were celebrated at the January All-School-Morning-Meeting.

Congratulations to all of our CARES Champions!

Our volunteer coordinator is Sophie Castruita. She can help you with any and all questions regarding volunteer work at Fair Oaks. There are many events though out the year that we need volunteers to help make a success! If there is a chance that you will chaperone your student's field trips at all this year, we ask that you please fill out this application as well. You can reach Sophie at: CastruitaS@district279.org

Volunteer Application

Makerspace Update

This past month in Makerspace, 3rd–5th grade students explored winter-themed design challenges. Students created cardboard snowflakes using recycled toilet paper tubes and learned how to safely use a hot glue gun to assemble their designs.

Students also worked with a variety of building materials—including Magna-Tiles, KEVA planks, and LEGO—while participating in challenges such as constructing igloos or snowflakes. To wrap up the winter theme, students used playdough to design snowflakes using spheres of different sizes, focusing on shape, symmetry, and creativity.

Makerspace continues to be a fun, hands-on space where students build problem-solving skills, practice safe tool use, and express their creativity.

INCREASE IN ILLNESS AT SCHOOL

We have been experiencing an increase of illness at school. Below are helpful tips for when students should remain at home to help avoid the spread of illnesses.

Please consider keeping your child home if they show signs of: (consider calling your child’s primary physician’s office to assist you with any questions or concerns)

· Earache, ear drainage

· Stomachache, nausea

· New or Persistent cough

· Runny nose and/or nasal congestion

· Unidentified/Suspicious skin rash

· Headache

· Sore throat

· Pink eye (conjunctivitis) in one or both eyes, especially if they are unable to remember to not touch their eye and to wash their hands after touching their eyes

Students must stay home if they are experiencing:

· Vomiting, or diarrhea (must be vomiting or diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school)

· Oral temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher (your child must be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of medication (Tylenol or Ibuprofen) before your child returns to school)

· If diagnosed with strep throat, your child may return after taking the prescribed antibiotic for 12 hours and has been fever free after 24 hours (if they had a temperature over 100.4)

· Live Lice, students cannot return to school until treated for lice (medication can be purchased at any Target, Walmart, Walgreens, etc.) When your child returns to school, the nurse must check your child’s hair for any signs of live lice

Medications in the school health office

All medications (prescription or over the counter) that need to be administered during school hours, must have a physician’s order and a signed medication administration consent form. Medications received without this documentation cannot be administered by the nurse and it will be sent home.

**Please contact the nurse prior to sending any new medication. The nurse will assist you will all the necessary documentation needed for your student’s new medication.

ATTENDANCE REMINDERS

Attendance Reminders

If your student(s) are ever late or absent from school for any reason, please be sure to call our attendance line at 763-549-2353 (this is different than our main office number). You can leave a voicemail in either English or Spanish, 24 hours a day on this line. We ask that you please let us know about your child's absence or late arrival by 10am whenever possible to avoid receiving one of the automated calls from the district about your student's attendance.

Click here to see the Fair Oaks Facebook page

Hmong families are also welcome to follow our Hmong FB page!

KOU VANG

ML Community and Communication Specialist

Educational Equity Department

Osseo Area Schools

11200 93rd Ave N. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Work Cell: (612) 394-3358

vangk@district279.org

Brooklyn Middle School (T/W/F)

Fair Oaks Elementary (TH)

Palmer Lake Elementary (M)

OSSEO AREA SCHOOLS HAS A NEW BUS TRACKING APP THIS YEAR! PLEASE DELETE YOUR OLD FIRSTVIEW APP AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO DOWNLOAD THE NEW APP. YOU WILL NEED YOUR STUDENT'S ID NUMBER WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON PARENTVUE, AS WELL AS THE CODE: P4P7U.

NEW FIRSTVIEW BUS TRACKING APP!

The FirstView 1.0 mobile app helps you to keep track of school buses going to and from school each day. Support is available Monday - Friday from 7:00 am - 5:00 pm ET for existing FirstView users with app-related questions or concerns.

Email: support@myfirstview.com

Phone:1(888) 889-8920