Discovery Family Newsletter

Hello Discovery Families,

We have had a fantastic start to the school year, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for all you do to support our students and staff. Thank you to everyone who has been patient with our pick up and drop off procedures. These have become significantly faster over the past two weeks and will continue to improve as we adjust to the additional volume in our building.

Looking ahead, Picture Day is coming up on September 29th! You can find the sign-up link below, and you can also expect a paper flyer to come home in your child's folder in a few days. Thank you again for your partnership and support in making this school year great!

Warmly,

Principal Nagorski and Assistant Principal Skaalerud

As we get started with the 2026-2027 school year, we'd like to share important updates to our Student Code of Conduct and Early Childhood/Elementary Student Handbook. These changes help support a safe, respectful and positive learning environment for all students.

We encourage you to review these updates with your student. By working together, we can help every student feel safe, supported and ready to learn each day.

Code of Conduct 2026-2027

Key updates for this year include:

Updated Technology Guidelines: We've updated our technology expectations to make them easier to understand. This includes specific codes and guidance for the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day, the recording and sharing or creating of digital media and general technology misuse.

Clearer Behavior Definitions: Some behavior definitions have been updated to provide more clarity such as sexual physical contact (consensual in nature) and substantial disruption. Behaviors are grouped into levels, with responses based on how serious the situation is and how it affects safety and the school environment.

Updated Response and Intervention Categories: We have updated our response options to emphasize instructional, restorative and progressive staff actions across all levels. Our goal is to provide responses that help students learn from their mistakes while creating a safe and positive learning environment for everyone. You may notice many behaviors are assigned to more than one level. This allows staff and administration to respond based on the severity, frequency, and circumstances of each situation.

Early Childhood and Elementary Student Handbook 2026-2027

Our updated handbook follows the guidance from the Minnesota School Boards Association. To make it easier to use we changed it from an alphabetical format to four sections:

Part I - Information: General school information and family resources.

Part II - Academics: Learning expectations, grading, and assessments.

Part III - Rules and Discipline: Expectations for student conduct and attendance.

Part IV - Health and Safety: Student health, wellness and school security.

We also updated the language throughout the handbook to better reflect today’s school environment, including changes to technology use and safety.

We encourage you to review these updates with your student. By working together, we can help every student feel safe, respected, and ready to learn every day

Important Message from Cahill Studios!

Picture Day -

Discovery Community School

Date: Tuesday, September 29th

Pre-Ordering is now open!

Order now to receive FREE SHIPPING to the school!

• Please make sure you type in the correct Student ID Number. This number can be found in Skyward.

• Please note.. Any orders placed after picture day will be shipped directly to the address provided on your order for a $4.95 shipping fee. Free Shipping to the school is only available when pre-ordering.

• Pre-ordering for Free Shipping to the School will open back up 1 week before Retake Day.

Pre-Order Link: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001434231

Want to see your student's photo before ordering?

Wait to order until AFTER picture day and your student will bring home a Proof Sheet 1 week after Picture Day with access to view their school photo online. Any orders placed after picture day will be shipped directly to the address provided on your order for a $4.95 shipping fee. Free Shipping on orders over $45.00 with the Discount Code provided on the Proof Sheet.

Need to order with cash/check?

It is strongly encouraged to pre-order online where you will have the most package and background options. However, if you need to pay with cash/check, your student will bring home a paper order form about 1 week before picture day. Please have your student return the form and exact change to the photographer on picture day.

Retake Day: Tuesday, October 27th

• If a retake photo is needed, simply fill out the retake form provided in the email communication after picture day or on Cahill Studios website. It is REQUIRED to sign-up for retake day. If your student's name is not on the list, we cannot guarantee your student will get a photo taken on Retake Day.

• If your student missed the first picture day, they will be automatically added to the Retake Day List.

The Cahill Studios Team

Email: service@cahillphotostudio.com

Office Number: 715-268-9363

Toll-Free Number: 866-229-0135

Feeding Area Children Together (FACT) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. FACT Packs are provided free of charge to K-8 students who are in need of food on the weekends. This is NOT a government program; all food and supplies are paid for by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. All information is confidential.

Signing up for the FACT Pack program means your child will receive, if availability allows, a child-friendly, non-perishable breakfast, lunch and snack for each weekend day during the 20262027 school year. FACT Packs are distributed to students at school.

Dear District 742 Families,

Your voices matter, and we are grateful for the perspectives and experiences you bring to our schools. This year, we are creating more opportunities for families and community members to help shape district practices and learn alongside our staff.

You are invited to join one or more district advisory groups:

• Generative AI and Technology
• Special Education
• Immersion Education
• Community Education
• School Finance
• School Safety and Wellness
• Curriculum and Instruction

Groups will meet once per trimester for one to two hours in the evening, either virtually or in person. Meetings begin in October. Please complete the sign-up form by Sept.18.

We will also continue monthly parent and caregiver groups at the district and school levels, with interpretation provided. Please contact your school or check its newsletter or website for details.

Cabinet members and I will also host a Community Coffee and Conversation once each trimester. These informal gatherings are a chance to ask questions, share ideas and connect directly with district leaders. Our first gathering will be Oct. 21 from 9 – 10 a.m. at the District Administration Office, 1201 Second Street S. in Waite Park.

Finally, we would appreciate your feedback on the start of the school year. Responses are anonymous unless you choose to provide contact information for follow-up.

Thank you for your partnership and for trusting us with your children. I hope you will join us and share your voice as we continue working together to make District 742 stronger for every student.

Sincerely,

Laurie Putnam
Superintendent

Spanish

Somali

For morning drop off:

• Drop off hours will be 7:20 to 7:40am- Students should not exit their cars or arrive at the school before 7:20. Our front doors do not unlock until 7:20am.

• Cars should be aware of buses that will be entering and exiting

• Cars should line up along the curb in front of the school to drop off their students

• Students should exit the vehicle quickly, on the curb side of the vehicle for safety purposes

• Please refrain from parking in the front of the school, unless a handicap space is required- should you wish to park your vehicle, please use the parking lot between Quarryview and Discovery. Handicap Parking Reminder: Please remember that designated handicap parking spaces are reserved for vehicles displaying the appropriate handicap parking permit or identification. Thank you for helping us keep these spaces available for those who need them.

• Walkers should wait by the Discovery sign for assistance from the crossing guard when arriving at school

Dismissal will follow the same procedures. Staff will give you a sign to display in your car with your students number. When they see you arrive, they will call the student out from the school gym. Again, parents who wish to park are asked to utilize the big parking lot between Quarryview and Discovery in order to provide a safer traffic flow. If you park to pick up your child please come to the main entrance and staff will retrieve them from the gym.

To help us keep all students safe and accounted for, please remember:

• Late Arrivals: Students arriving after the school day has begun must be brought into the main office by a parent/guardian and signed in. Please do not drop students off at the door.
• Early Dismissals: Students leaving early must be checked out through the main office by an authorized individual.
• Authorized Pick-Up: Only individuals listed in the student’s Skyward account are authorized to pick up a student. Photo ID will be required for early pick-up. If you need to check who is listed in your students Skyward please contact our office (320)370-6180

Thank you for helping us maintain safe and consistent arrival and dismissal procedures for all Discovery students!

Looking for Work That Matches the School Calendar?

Now that school is underway, it’s a great time to think about a job that lines up with your student’s schedule. Imagine being off when your kids are off — no scrambling for childcare on snow days, school breaks, or summer!

We are now hiring for positions such as clerical staff, paraeducators, kitchen helpers, custodians, and more. Enjoy:

• Family-friendly hours
• A supportive school environment
• Time off that matches your kids’ calendar

Your next great opportunity is just a few clicks away: https://bit.ly/44EPbJV

Minnesota law 121A.15 and St. Cloud Area School Board Policy 530 require all students to have up-to-date immunizations in order to attend school. If your child’s immunizations are not up to date, you must:

• Provide updated immunization records to your school’s health office OR
• Submit an approved exemption form.

All immunization records or exemption forms must be turned in to your school health office by the first day of school or as soon as possible.

If you have questions, please contact your school health office or see our website. Thank you for helping keep our school community healthy and ready to learn!

Parents/guardians often have questions regarding when a child should stay home from school due to illness. In general, the following guidelines are used. Your child should stay home if:

• Elevated temperature – must be temperature free for 24 hours without a fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. An elevated temperature/fever is considered 100.4º F or higher.

• Illness related vomiting and/or diarrhea – if 2 or more episodes occur, stay home for 24 hours without a vomiting and/or diarrhea episode before returning to school

• Strep throat – minimum of 12 hours on antibiotic before returning to school

• Nose discharge - thick, colored drainage may need to be evaluated by a health care provider

• Rash – that hasn’t been diagnosed by a health care provider requires a letter from a health care provider indicating diagnosis before returning to school

• Impetigo - If impetigo is confirmed by a health care provider, stay home until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated and sores are drying or improving.

• Reddened or pink eye - refers to an inflamed eye. It often includes sticky discharge from the eye and pinkish tint to the sclera (whites of the eye). Contact your child’s health care provider for advice/treatment. Children may be at school with symptoms and eye drops are not required.

• Cough - repetitive coughing that interferes with a child’s activity, play or learning may need to be evaluated by a health care provider.

• Select contagious diseases (Pertussis, Influenza, RSV, Chickenpox, Measles, COVID-19, etc.) - stay home and contact your school nurse for a return to school plan.

In the case where one of the conditions occurs at school, the parent/guardian will be contacted to take the child home. If the parent cannot be reached, one of your emergency contacts will be asked to pick up your child. School personnel are not able to transport students home. Please make sure that you have an updated emergency contact on file with the school.

If parent/guardian or emergency contact information changes during the school year, please notify the school office immediately. If your child is seen by a healthcare provider, please obtain a note excusing their absence related to their health condition.

Please keep this as a reference to use throughout the school year. We all need to work together to control communicable diseases and to maintain a healthier environment for the children.

Thank you, District 742 Health Services Department

September:

21: No School for Students (Professional Development for Staff)

29: Picture Day

October:

16: No School - MEA Break

17: No School - MEA Break

November:

12: Conferences 3pm - 7:00pm

17: Conferences 3pm - 7:00pm

24: End of Trimester 1

25: No School for Students (Workshop Day for Staff)

26: No School

27: No School