August Newsletter

It is that exciting time of year again. The school year is rapidly approaching. Our staff is preparing to welcome all of the students back to our wonderful building. We've had a very busy summer. Brent's crew has worked tirelessly to maintain our facility. The track project is moving forward and hopefully they'll be able to lay the new asphalt in August. The gyms have been sanded are will be ready for the fall sports opening day on August 12th. Last and certainly not least, our amazing teachers have been preparing challenging curriculum to ensure our students have the highest quality education.

We have one new special education teacher, a new High School administrative assistant, a new school nurse, and our School Resource Officer will begin his regular duties this fall. I encourage you to welcome these new members to ISD 2910 and wish them luck as they join the Cougar Family! Check out their pictures and information below.

Please take some time to read the information included in this newsletter as I tried to be thorough yet concise. As always, if you have any questions throughout the school year, please don't hesitate to call or email our staff. I must also make two requests to each family: confirm your contact information in Synergy (address, email, & phone numbers) and check your student's schedule for the 2024-25 school year. We will continue to make minor changes to student schedules to ensure balance throughout this month. Student schedules will be accessible beginning August 12th. We strive to roll into the school year strong and with your help, I know we will have another successful year at Ada-Borup-West.

Thank you all for your continued support. Roll Cougs!

Josh Carlson

ABW HS Principal

The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 3rd at 8:18am. We will no longer host the open house evening as we have recently. Families are welcome to come visit the school during regular business hours prior to the start of the school year. New families are encouraged to schedule a tour with Mr.Carlson or Mrs.Lien prior to the start of school. The 6th Grade Orientation will return to the same night as the Fall Activities Meeting on August 12th. The orientation will begin at 6:00PM in the HS Auditorium. The Staff will continue to participate in PLC's this year, so we have scheduled six early dismissals at 12:30PM throughout the year (10/16, 11/1, 11/27, 12/20, 1/17, 3/21). These are also located on the calendar link below. Commencement will be held on May 23rd, 2024 at 5:00PM. I would also suggest taking note of the Upcoming Important Dates portion of each monthly newsletter to stay up to date with our schedule.

ABW 2024-25 Calendar Link: https://5il.co/2hdms

Activities registration can be found on the Ada-Borup-West website or use the link https://adaborup-ar.rschooltoday.com/. A current physical is needed on file before any student is allowed to participate in athletic activities. Most students complete their physical prior to their 7th and 10th grade school years. Participating in extra-curricular activities greatly helps with the development of our youth by strengthening their mind, improving organizational and time management skills, broadening their social circle, and learning the importance of teamwork. A complete list of activities can be found on the school website or contact Activities Director Kenley Wahlin kenleyw@ada.k12.mn.us. Below is the schedule for Fall Sports Meetings in August.

August 12th: HS Fall Sports Start, Fall Sports Meeting 7:00PM (Junior High and Senior High Football & Volleyball, 7-12 Cross Country)

August 19th: JH Football & Volleyball Start

**Trap Team Meeting TBD (Early September likely)

• Paper schedules will not be printed for all students. We request that students review their schedules prior to the start of school. Individual schedules can be printed upon request.
• Make sure you are up to date on all school events by signing up to receive the daily bulletin. Contact Sandy in the main office to set that up.
• Parent/guardians are expected to inform the office and the teachers of all vacations at least one week prior to the event. It is the student’s responsibility to get the assignments and work with teachers to identify due dates.
• Students are required to meet with the school nursing staff to determine if they need to be sent home due to illness. Parents should encourage their student to check in with the nurse if they are not feeling well.
• All students arriving after the first bell (8:18AM) must check in to the main office in the new addition. Notes are required within 3 days of the absence in order to excuse the absence. Contact Kelsey Grivno kelseyg@ada.k12.mn.us for all attendance updates.
• 9-12 grade students are allowed to use cellphones between classes and during lunch, but not during class, including in the hallway. 6-8 grade students are not allowed cell phone use during the school day. This policy includes smart watches.

• Class schedules will continue to be updated throughout the summer. If you see an issue or wish to make a change, contact HS Counselor Allie Lien alliel@ada.k12.mn.us to discuss those changes.
• The website link to our Bussing GPS System will be available at a later date.

High School students will continue using their lunch codes this year. All students receive a free breakfast and lunch for the 2024-25 School Year. All students consuming a second breakfast will be charged the full adult rate of $3.00. Students consuming a second lunch entrée will be charged $2.00 per entrée and those taking a second lunch (ex. hot lunch & soup/sandwich) will be charged the full adult meal rate of $5.00. Students will need money in their lunch account to be eligible for seconds.

Applications for free and reduced lunches have been mailed and also available on the school website. Please take some time to complete and return the necessary form. Even if you do not plan to participate in the program, the school will benefit greatly if we raise our percentages as we are able to access additional funds and qualify for certain grants. Any student that qualifies will have all Chromebook and activity fees waived (excluding Clay Target). If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Sandy at the high school office. Thank you!

- Pens & Pencils

- Notebook for each class (3 subject notebooks are encouraged)

- 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th grade will be provided a green science notebook

- 5 Colored folders will be provided to 6-8 grades

- TI-30 or higher calculator*

- *TI-30XS Multiview is recommended for 6th/7th grade

- Ear buds/headphones with built in microphone

- Tennis shoes & a change of clothes for Phy Ed

Please take the time to read and fill out the G Suite for Education permission form for Google services and apps. The form can be found on the High School webpage under quick links by selecting the technology folder. This must be signed by all new students at ABW. If you've submitted one prior, you are already covered.

Chromebooks: Students will once again be given use of Chromebooks in a 1 to 1 scenario. All students will be given a Chromebook carrying case and are required to use. The district has observed a dramatic decrease in damage to devices due to these protective cases. All students will be granted permission to bring Chromebooks home when all fees and all agreements are complete. If your student is new to the district, you’ll need to sign the Chromebook agreement prior to receiving a device. There will be a yearly $20 usage fee for all students grades 6-12. Chromebook fees will be waived for students that have registered and qualify for free/reduced lunch. Damage costs are outlined in the Chromebook handbook. Terms and conditions of use are also outlined in the handbook. Chromebook warranty insurance is not available. Contact Principal Carlson if you have interest. The G Suite form can be found on the district website or by using the following link https://5il.co/1fo57

One bigger change this year will be with cougar pack bussing. There will be no cougar pack bus for Ada. The shuttle bus to Hendrum and Halstad will run 4 days a week with cougar pack kids. So no shuttle bus on Fridays. Feel free to email or call with questions. shawnr@ada.k12.mn.us 218 784 5311

The Ada-Borup-West Booster Club partners with the ABW School to support needs in the classroom and in extra-curriculars. If you have not yet become a member, please consider joining this group. Use the following link to view the sign up or pick one up outside the commons. https://5il.co/1ithd

Check out the Booster Club online https://tinyurl.com/4ntnveve Team Code is cougars

Aug 1: Staff Development Committee Meeting

Aug 12: HS Fall Sports Start, Fall Sports Meeting 7:00PM (Football, Volleyball, 7-12 Cross Country)

Aug 19: JH Football & Volleyball Start

Aug 26-29: Teacher/Staff Workshop Week

Sept 3: 1st Day Of School

Email: joshc@ada.k12.mn.us
Website: https://www.ada.k12.mn.us
Location: Ada-Borup High School, 604 West Thorpe Avenue, Ada, MN, USA
Phone: 218-784-5300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ada-Borup-West-Public-Schools-553897911355480