We are officially half way through the first quarter. Traditionally, we would be sending home progress reports in grades 3-5, however, we are in the process of creating new forms that better align with our standards-based report cards. If teachers have any concerns about a child's progress, they will be contacting parents directly to discuss with them. You will see our report cards coming home during our first parent/teacher conferences in November.

I hope you all have a spectacular October!

Bree Triplett Ed. S.

Ada-Borup-West Elementary Principal

Contact Information

Superintendent: Aaron Cook ACook@ada.k12.mn.us 218-784-5300 ext. 503

Elementary Principal: Bree Triplett BreeT@ada.k12.mn.us 218-784-5300 ext. 112

District Secretary: Sandy Gunderson SandyG@ada.k12.mn.us 218-784-5300 ext. 501

Elementary Secretary: Merilee Potucek MerileeP@ada.k12.mn.us 218-784-5303

A full teacher directory can be found on the school website.

School Messenger:

Please make sure your contact information, including an email address that you check regularly, is updated in Synergy as this tool is used for communication including weather related announcements. Contact Merilee in the elementary school office for assistance.

Synergy Gradebook:

On the homepage of the school website is a link to ParentVUE, which allows you to access student grades for grades 1-5. If you need help accessing the ParentVUE system for the first time, please contact Merilee (218-784-5303 or merileep@ada.k12.mn.us). Please take advantage of this and have regular conversations about school with your child(ren). A ParentVUE activation key for anyone that has not logged in before will be going home with students on Monday. A tutorial will be sent out soon with more information on how to log in.

Daily Bulletin:

The daily bulletin will be posted on the school website each day. If parents would like the bulletin emailed directly to them, please email Merilee and she will add you to the list (218-784-5303 or merileep@ada.k12.mn.us).

Picture forms went home with students on Friday, October 1st.

Preschool Parents: Due to the fact that not all of our preschool students are scheduled to be in school on that day, we will not have preschool students participating in our regular picture day. If you wish to have your child's picture taken, we request that you accompany your child to have their picture taken before school. They will start taking preschool photos at 8:00am. We do not have enough support staff to wait with students, so parents would need to stay with their child until their photo is taken.

Quarantines

To help control potential outbreaks, students and staff who have a positive test, or are a close contact of a positive test, will be required to quarantine at this time. For a positive test, an individual will have to quarantine for 10 days, which is the same as last school year. An individual who is determined to be a close contact will be required to quarantine for 7 days

and can return after that as long as they are not exhibiting any symptoms. Our health staff will be using the MDH decision tree as a tool to determine who will need to be home from

school, but will also be using their professional judgement based on symptoms and other potential factors.

There are currently two ways to avoid a close contact quarantine. The first way is to be vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to quarantine after close contact.

The second way to avoid a quarantine will be to wear a mask. If a student was wearing a mask while they were a close contact, they will not be required to quarantine. As with all COVID-19 plans, this is subject to change throughout the year.

Distance Learning

If a student is mandated to quarantine by our school nurse, teachers will prepare work for that student to do at home. In addition to the paper/pencil work, teachers will record lessons in core subject areas. These videos will be posted on the teacher's Google Classroom page. Materials will be available for pick up in the common area right outside of the new Cougar Den (new gym) after 24 hours of notice. Distance learning is only available to those who have been deemed to need quarantine by the school nurse. Non COVID-19 absences do not qualify for distance learning.

Your child is invited to join Ada-Borup-West’s after school program, Cougar Pack!

The program, in its eighth year, provides a safe, nurturing environment for students to learn and grow with peers while working toward individualized goals. In the 2019-2020 school year, Cougar Pack was able to provide over 100 students with healthy, engaging activities and academic support during the after school hours.

We know that high quality after school programs (like Cougar Pack!) can boost students' academic performance, improve classroom behavior, encourage physical activity and good nutrition habits, and help children build healthy relationships.

Join the Pack!

Schedule: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays from 3:00-5:15PM

Kick-Off: Monday, September 13rd (ending in May - date to be determined)

Programming: Students receive physical activity time, academic support, a healthy snack, and an engaging, skill-building activity. Programming includes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) activities, Fine Arts activities (music, band, drama), and other educational opportunities that provide learning experiences unique to daily classroom activities.

Students Served: PreK - 8th graders

Cost: FREE!

Transportation: A late bus is available after the program for in-town students in Ada, Hendrum, and Halstad. The Hendrum drop off will be at Nepstad Oil and Propane. The Halstad drop off will be at Valley United CO-OP.

Please follow the link to find more information and registration forms. Forms will also be sent home with students on the first day of school.

https://bit.ly/3mYyuVW

5th- Walk To School Day

6th - Picture Day

20th - Early Dismissal @12:30pm Teacher Workshop Day (No Cougar Pack)

21st & 22nd - No School - MEA

29th - Halloween Parties

4th and 9th- Parent/Teacher Conferences

5th- End of 1st Quarter

5th- Early Dismissal/Teacher Workshop- No Cougar Pack

24th- Early Dismissal/Teacher Workshop- No Cougar Pack

25th-26th- No School

22nd- Early Dismissal, staff and students- No Cougar Pack

23rd- 31sr- No School