Rice Lake Reflections, Family Edition

RICE LAKE ROADRUNNERS ARE THE PLACE TO BE!!!

Hello Rice Lake Students and Families,

Hope you and your family had a relaxing break filled with joy and laughter. It is during these times of year that it is a wonderful time to reflect on the successes and growth areas for each of us and set our intentions for a strong 2025. We are looking forward to supporting our families, students, caregivers and staff for all of their academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs this new year brings.

All staff will be reviewing routines, procedures and expectations here at Rice Lake in all areas of the school as well as in the classroom. Please take time to discuss with your student(s) what these look like for them and how they are upholding Respect, Learning and Responsibility each day here at Rice Lake.

We have Dessert with Diane and the Monthly PTO meeting on January 9, 2025 beginning at 5:30pm in the Media Center.

Have a wonderful month!!!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND BACK YOUR POSTER IN HONOR OF OUR MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY

• Each student will be bringing home a large piece of construction papers. We ask that as a family you are comfortable in sharing with our community the following:
• Where you and your ancestors home of origins?
• What celebrations and holidays does your family participate in annually?
• What languages do you and your family speak?
• What special dishes or meals (along with a recipe) do you enjoy as a family?
• Please share any additional customs that you and your family celebrate.

Arrival and Dismissal Reminder

As we continue to review transportation and safety for our students and staff it is vital that for both arrival and departure, we need your partnership in modeling safety protocols for our young learners. It is expected that cars at both arrival and dismissal are traveling safely and slowly through the parking lot.

SAFETY expectations need to be adhered to:

ARRIVAL: MOTTO “Kids first, then cars”

1. All students MUST be supervised by parents/caregivers until 8:40am.

2. All parents MAY drop off student(s) by car in the lane closest to the school sidewalk beginning at 8:40am.

3. All parents/caregivers in the parking lot area are expected to walk their students to the door, they MUST park in the front lot and cross at the crosswalk following patrol signals.

4. Parents/Caregivers MAY NOT cross through traffic either on their own or with their student(s).

5. Parents/Caregivers MAY NOT park in handicapped parking spots without their handicap parking sign in the window or on their license plate.

DISMISSAL: MOTTO “Kids first, then cars”

1. All parents/caregivers MUST Pick up their students at the front of the building to ensure the safety of our students. Please do not ask students to walk down to the street to be picked up. Their safety is our first priority.

2. Kindergarten pick up families, please come to Door 18 with your ID to sign out your student(s).

3. Parents/Caregivers MAY NOT line up their cars in the parking lot area, however you may park and walk to pick up your student(s) or if they are an older student(s) (grades 3-5) you may wait for your student(s) to cross at the crosswalk to arrive at your car.

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS:

• Please be thoughtful in the parking lot. Do not double park, stop in the drive lanes, or park in handicap parking spots without handicap tags.

• Be respectful of our neighbors! Do not park on 89th Ave, block crosswalks, or leave your vehicles while parked illegally.

Thank you for your partnership in creating a safe environment for Arrival and Dismissal of our wonderful students!

GOOOOOOOOOO ROADRUNNERS!!!😊👨🏻‍🏫👩🏻‍🏫🚌💙💙💙

Dress for Recess

We go outside in the snow, in the cold, we go outside in the wind and with the ice. Make sure your student dresses for the weather and is prepared to go outside. Rice Lake follows a District guideline of -5 with windchill before we call indoor recess. Please make sure ALL outwear is labeled with student' s name.

Miigwech, Many Thanks

Diane Bagley, Principal Rice Lake

JOIN US FOR A MONTH OF LEARNING AND FUN!!!

• Week of January 6-10, 2025 Posters DUE for our Multicultural Hallway Celebration of our Families.
• Thursday January 9, 2025 Dessert with Diane 5:30pm in the Media Center
• Thursday January 9, 2025 Monthly PTO Meeting 6:30 in the Media Center
• Thursday January 9-24, 2025 FASTBRIDGE SCREENER beginning for our students to identify growth and support areas for our students.
• Wednesday January 15, 2025 Classroom and Group Photos in the Media Center 8:00am-3:00pm
• Thursday January 16, 2025 DARE Graduation at 1:30pm
• Friday January 17, 2025 Asynchronous Learning Day, NO SCHOOL IN BUILDING.
• Monday January 20, 2025 NO SCHOOL MLK Day
• Friday January 24, 2025 School CARNIVAL from 6:00-8:00pm
• Monday January 27, 2025 Begin to sign up for February Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Thursday January 30, 2025 Blue Orchestra Demonstration Osseo Middle School 8:00pm
• Friday January 31, 2025 Kindergarten Field Trip to Stages Theater 9:15am-12:15pm

Educational Benefits Form

Families are strongly encouraged to complete the Educational Benefits form. Families who qualify may access free or reduced prices for iPad and Chromebook repair and replacement, band/orchestra instruments (5th grade), home electricity bills through Excel Energy, and home internet from some providers, other benefits.

In addition, schools receive additional funding based on the number of students who qualify for Educational Benefits. Rice Lake receives a significant amount of money that is used to hire additional teachers and ESPs to support students. Filling out this form will help to ensure Rice Lake can continue to provide that additional support to students.

To be considered for educational benefits, parents/caregivers must complete the application for educational benefits each year. The benefits of filling out the application and being approved (or qualifying) may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Applications completed and approved prior to Oct. 1 will help provide funding for the school your child attends, which can be used to provide additional resources that benefit students.
• Testing fees for the ACT, SAT and AP Fees may be discounted as well as field trips and instrument rentals.
• Reduced internet rates with certain providers.
• Athletics fees waived or reduced.

Educational Benefits application

Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students

One breakfast and one lunch per academic school day are free for students attending school in person in Minnesota.

If students bring a lunch from home and wish to have school milk, they must purchase one for 50 cents using their SmartSchoolK12 lunch account. Once you’ve created this account, you can log in and add money to your child’s meal account. Balances are shared by all students in a household.

To load your student’s lunch account, view menus, apply for free/reduced lunch, etc., please visit www.district279.org/services/nutrition-services.

Click the button below to create a SmartSchoolK12 account.

Parent Vue

Parent Vue is a web application used by Osseo Area Schools for parents to access their child's report card, sign up for conferences, view health information, etc. It is critical that all parents/guardians have access to Parent Vue. To use, simply install the app on any smart phone and create your account. To ensure confidentiality, each student has their own access code. All accounts are prompted in the fall to update their back to school forms so that contact information is up to date with all families.

Computers and assistance will be available during Open House to sign up for Parent Vue.

Late Arrival Absences

Arriving at school on time is incredibly important for your child so they are a part of all classroom community building and learning opportunities. Students should arrive at 8:40am (please review the handbook for specifics) . A late arrival will be marked for students that arrive at school after 8:50am. Late arrival absences can be marked as excused, or unexcused, based on reasoning. Parent or guardian must come into the building with students to fill out a form for their late arrival.

Birthdays/Celebrations

Out of respect for instructional time, family and religious choices, and many food allergies, birthday treats are not permitted in the classrooms. This is a district wide policy.

Cell Phone/Electronics

It is important for families to be able to communicate with their scholar either before or after school, however during the school day, cell phones, smart watches and other devices become a distraction for the student in their learning and the learning of those around them. We ask if you are able to keep the cell phone, smart watch or other device at home please do so; however, if this is not possible for your family, we ask that students drop off cell phones/smart watches or other devices in the main office for the day and they may pick them up at the end of the school day. This will ensure and maintain a learning environment in classrooms and throughout the school.

Arrival and Dismissal for Students Who Are Parent Pick-Up

The Rice Lake parking lot gets busy and crowded during arrival and dismissal. PLEASE drive slowly, pay attention, and be patient and kind to others.

Students may arrive at 8:40 am. There is no adult supervision prior to that time; students should not arrive earlier than 8:40am. School doors will open at 8:40 am.

Morning Drop Off: PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALK

Parents who are dropping off are encouraged to enter the drop off line and line up at the curb by the black fence. Students should leave their vehicles at 8:40 am and wait at the school doors; please do not have students wait in their vehicle until 8:40 am when doors open because it backs up traffic. Students should only exit their vehicle when the vehicle is stopped at the curb, not in the lane for vehicles to leave. Parents should remain in their vehicle except if a pre-k or kindergarten student needs assistance with the vehicle door.

Afternoon Pick-Up: PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALK

Students who are parent pick-up are dismissed at 3:15 pm. Parents are encouraged to use the pick-up line rather than parking. Please remain in your vehicle. There are multiple staff who assist students to the correct vehicle. Students should be picked up from school NO LATER than 3:20 pm.

Parking

Parents may also choose to park in the morning or afternoon. Parking spaces are limited. Handicap spaces may only be used by vehicles with a handicap sign clearly displayed. Please use the designated walkway and cross walks. Wait for your child near your vehicle or near the cross walk. Please do not wait for your child by the doors of the school.

Bus Number and Bus Stop Information

You will receive an email from our Transportation Department with your child's bus number, bus stop, and pick up/drop off times the week before school starts. Bussing information for your child is also available on the Parent Vue app. If you have any questions regarding this, please call 763-391-7244. Changes or cancellations to transportation can be sent to busquestions@district279.org.

Bus Stop Safety Reminders

• Arrive 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up
• Keep safety in mind (no horseplay, games, chasing, or pets)
• Wait on the sidewalk, boulevard or edge of the roadway. Stay away from houses, garages, and porches.
• When you see the bus approaching, form a line to board the bus. Stay in line until the bus comes to a complete stop.