Silver Ranch Report

Our Mission: "Empower every learner to thrive."

Our Vision: "Together, our strong relationships build inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environments that create agency and inspire a passion for learning, excellence, and discovery."

Our Values: Excellence, Innovation, Inclusion and Leadership.

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! We’re thrilled to kick off the year with a full staff ready and committed to strive at making progress toward our mission and vision, keeping our BPS values and commitments at the forefront for all learners.

A big shout out to our great custodian crew! They have been busy getting the school ready for the school year and we sure appreciate all of their hard work over the summer.

As we partner with you this year, we want you to know that we value your involvement, feedback, and support. We extend a special yearlong invitation to our families to join us at school activities and events.

If you have any feedback throughout the year, please use our Silver Ranch Suggestion Box. You can find this at the bottom of our monthly newsletters and will also be on our Silver Ranch website.

Additionally, please consider joining our PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) to help plan and organize these special events. Our PAC meets every month at Silver Ranch in the library.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our Open House on Monday, August 17th from 4:00-5:30.

Better Together, We are the Stampede!

Mrs. Jordan

At Silver Ranch, every day is an opportunity for learning, growth, and connection. This year, we are setting an ambitious goal: 95% of our students will attend school at least 95% of the time.

Students should aim to be present for at least 165 of our 174 school days.

Why Attendance Matters

Academic Achievement

Students who attend school regularly are more likely to become strong readers, build confidence in math, and stay on track with grade-level learning. Missing just two days of school each month can add up quickly and make it harder for students to keep pace with instruction.

Social-Emotional Growth

School is about more than academics. When students are present, they build meaningful relationships with classmates and staff, strengthen their sense of belonging, and develop important social skills.

Future Readiness

Good attendance habits begin early. Students who learn the importance of showing up every day are better prepared for success in middle school, high school, college, and future careers.

Every Day Counts

We understand that absences due to illness and family emergencies happen. Our goal is not perfect attendance, it is consistent attendance whenever students are healthy and able to be at school.

Before scheduling vacations, appointments, or other activities during the school day, we encourage families to consider the impact of missed learning time. Even a few missed days throughout the year can add up quickly.

How Families Can Help

• Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines.
• Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
• Plan vacations and family trips during school breaks.
• Communicate with the school if challenges arise that may impact attendance.
• Encourage your child by celebrating strong attendance and talking about the importance of being at school every day.

Let's Do This Together!

At Silver Ranch, we know that reaching our 95% attendance goal will take a team effort.

Together, let's make every day count and help every Silver Ranch student cross the finish line strong!

• Teachers will be in their classrooms to meet the students and families. Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies to the classroom.
• BNC National Bank has graciously offered to grill at our Open House. Hot dogs and chips will be served.

With the school year fast approaching, we would like to take a moment to remind families that the start and end times go into effect on our first day of school, Thursday, August 20.

Bell Times for 2026–2027:

1. Doors Open: 7:15 a.m.
2. School Day: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Bismarck Public Schools has transitioned from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus as part of a statewide change initiated by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Families may now access the Infinite Campus Parent and Student Portals. The portal will eventually provide access to student information such as attendance, grades, schedules, classroom assignments, and more.

Please note that the transition is still underway, and not all information will be available immediately.

Visit the Infinite Campus Parent Portal:

https://bismarcknd.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/bismarck.jsp

You may also download the Campus Parent app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. When prompted, select:

• State: North Dakota
• District: Bismarck 1

Returning BPS PowerSchool Users

If you previously had a BPS PowerSchool parent account:

1. Enter the personal email address associated with your PowerSchool account.
2. Click forgot password to generate a password reset email
3. If you do not receive a password reset email, then proceed to the steps below for new users.

New BPS Families

Simply put in your email and click forgot password. You will need to reset the password and then wait overnight for the system to update. You should be able to sign in the next day.

Parent Account Settings

We encourage you to update your contact preferences.

• Click on the user icon in the top right > Settings > Contact Preferences or update household information at top left > More > Address Information
• Contact information is at the top, messaging preferences are at the bottom.

Need Assistance?

If you have difficulty accessing or creating your Infinite Campus account, please call the school 701-323-4250 for assistance.

We appreciate your patience as we continue the transition to Infinite Campus.

We’re getting excited to welcome everyone back for a new school year, and we know you're eager to find out who your child’s teacher will be!

This year, class placement information will be available through Infinite Campus. To access it:

🔹 Log in to your Infinite Campus account on Friday, August 7th.
🔹 The teacher assignment will appear right under schedule on the initial screen after you log in.
🔹 Make sure you’ve set up your Infinite Campus account ahead of time so you're ready!

Kindergarten Families:
Please ensure that you have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account set up. Simply put in your email and click forgot password. You will need to reset the password and then wait overnight for the system to update. You should be able to sign in the next day.

Need help? Call the office at 701-323-4250 and we’ll be happy to assist you in setting up Infinite Campus or answering any questions.

As we prepare to welcome our students for another wonderful school year, we wanted to share a few reminders about our arrival and dismissal procedures to help ensure a safe and smooth start for everyone.

Morning Arrival

• Students may be dropped off beginning at 7:15 a.m.
• On the first day of school only, parents are welcome to walk their child to their classroom beginning at 7:40 a.m.
• Beginning on the second day of school, parents may walk students to the front entrance. Students will then enter the building independently and staff will help direct students.
• The first bell rings at 7:55 a.m., and the tardy bell rings at 8:00 a.m. We encourage students to arrive on time so they can begin their day ready to learn.

Student Drop Off Before School (7:15-7:55):

Please refer to the Silver Ranch Traffic Map below as a reference.

• The “Student Drop Off Lane” is for stopping temporarily to drop off your children. It is designated by the words, “Student Drop Off Lane” on the map in green.

• Pull all the way forward as far as you can before dropping off your riders.

• Do not exit your vehicle. When students exit your car, they need to exit on the curbside only.

• After dropping off your riders please continue through the lane to exit our pickup/drop off zone.

We do have a crossing guard out front to help students transition safely from the parking lot. If your child needs additional time to gather belongings or say goodbye, we encourage families to park in the parking lot and have your child(ren) cross using the assistance of our crossing guard.

Student Pick-up After School (2:30):

To ensure a smooth transition, kindergarten teachers will walk Kindergarten students to their respective pick-up areas (daycare bus, parent pick up, bus, BLAST) All school bus riders, 1-5th grade will be dismissed with adult supervision, to load buses respectfully through door #10. All other students, 1-5th grade will be dismissed at 2:30 out our front doors.

• The “Student Drop Off Lane” is for stopping to temporarily pick-up your children. It is designated by the words, “Student Drop Off Lane” on the map in green.

• Pull all the way forward as far as you can before picking up your riders. Do not exit your vehicle.

• We do have a crossing guard out front to help students transition into the parking lot.

• When students arrive at your car, they need to enter from the curbside only.

• After picking up your riders please continue through the lane to exit our pickup/drop off zone.

• Please refrain from parking in the loading zone or reserved ADA parking area zones noted on the traffic map in blue.

• Do not leave your car unattended in the pickup/drop off area, this can disrupt the traffic flow for all families. If you need to visit our building, please park in our designated visitor parking lot, directly in front of our building. Designated ADA parking is also available in this lot.

• Please drive slowly in our parking loop using extra caution.

• There will be a bicycle rack located in the front of our school.

Thank you for working with our school personnel to ensure the safety of every child. We will monitor and communicate any changes as the neighborhood and streets continue to develop. Please use our Silver Ranch Suggestion Box located on our website to provide feedback on these procedures.

STUDENT MEDICATIONS

If you are sending medication for your child to take at school, you must complete a Medication Administration Authorization form. This form is found on the Bismarck Public Schools website under Departments, Health Services, and then Medication on the left. We will also have these forms available in the office. All prescription and non-prescription medicine must arrive in its original container. We will not accept any medication arriving in baggies, envelopes or other types of packaging.

CROSSING GUARD

In response to feedback from families, Silver Ranch will begin a pilot program providing a crossing guard at the 43rd Street crosswalk. The crossing guard will be available from 7:30–8:00 a.m. and 2:30–2:45 p.m. on school days. During the pilot, we will monitor how many students use the crosswalk and benefit from this additional support. We will continually evaluate the program’s effectiveness and communicate any changes based on our observations. We appreciate our families for sharing their concerns and partnering with us to support the safety of our students.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED

Employing high quality teachers is a priority in our school district. Through federal law, you have the right to information about the professional qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals at our school. If you are interested in learning this information, please contact the school office at (701) 323-4250 to receive a list of the teaching staff at Silver Ranch along with their licensing, education, and experience.

The meal prices for this school year:

• Student breakfast - $1.95
• Student lunch - $2.85
• Adult lunch - $4.60
• Milk is included with all meals. Additional milk is 50₵

Eating Lunch With Your Child

Families are welcome to join their student(s) for lunch on an occasional basis. The cost of an adult meal is noted above. If you plan to visit, please contact the office (not your child’s classroom teacher) by 8:30 a.m. on the day of your visit so we can make proper arrangements. Payment for your meal must be made in cash (exact amount is appreciated) or by check.

LINQ Connect

The BPS meal payment platform is called LINQ Connect. This system provides parents with more control over school lunch accounts while offering many convenient features. Activity and library fees will continue to be processed with My Payments Plus. All families with students who eat school lunches must create an account for LINQ Connect. Balances from the old system will automatically be transferred over.

Registering is simple, just follow these steps:

1. REGISTER at linqconnect.com by clicking on the register button near the upper right-hand corner. Next, input your name, email address, and password. Choose your language and timezone and check the I agree to the Terms of Use box. Finally, click submit.
2. VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT by opening your email and clicking on the verification link sent to you from LINQ Connect. After doing so, please click the Back to LINQ Connect button in the email. BPS staff will need to use their personal email, you cannot use your BPS email address.
3. SIGN IN. You should be automatically signed in, but if not please click the login button in the upper right-hand corner.

To add students:

1. After logging into LINQ Connect, click the plus sign in the upper right-hand corner.
2. An “Add” menu will appear. Here, you will choose type, which will be student for student accounts. Next, type in “Bismarck Public Schools” for the district area.
3. Now you will be able to input your child’s first name, last name, and birthdate in order to add a student. Please note that the name must match what is in PowerSchool.

Adding Auto Pay

1. On your account homepage, click the Add Money to Account button.
2. You now have options to transfer balances or add auto pay.
3. Click Add Auto Pay and fill out your payment account information. The frequency option allows you to choose when payments will occur.

Download the new LINQ Connect app in the Google Play Store available now, or visit LINQConnect.com to manage all your payments in one convenient location. An Apple Store version will be available soon. Within the LINQ Connect portal, you can set up one-time or recurring payments for your students’ meals, view previous transactions, set spending limits, transfer funds between students, set low-balance notifications, and more. It’s an easy way to manage meal payments without the hassle of sending cash.

For more information and helpful resources about LINQ Connect, please visit www.bismarckschools.org/linq or see the LINQ Connect FAQ.

Free Reduced Meal Benefits

Applications are accepted anytime during the school year for free or reduced meals. If your household income changes at anytime during the school year and you think you may qualify for Free or Reduced Meal benefits, you can apply Online through your LINQ Connect account or submit a Free/Reduced application at Lincoln Elementary.

When students are approved for Free or Reduced meals, it covers reimbursable meals and does not include any Ala-Carte items. Ala-carte is an additional food item that can be purchased at full price if a student has funds in their lunch account or cash to cover the cost. There is no charging allowed for Ala-carte items.

Free or Reduced meal benefits DO NOT rollover from year to year, you must reapply every year. If you qualified for Free or Reduced Meal benefits during the previous school year, you will receive a 30 school day grace period. Your benefits will expire after the first 30 school days of new year, if a new application has not been received. Students will be charged full price for lunches if no application is received by the 30 day cut off. Charges will continue until the application is received, entered, and approved for benefits. These meal charges will not be reversed, and will become the parents' obligation to pay.

You may find the online application at our BPS Website.

Menus can be found at https://bismarckschools.mealviewer.net/ and are subject to change based on product availability. Please check the menu daily!

BPS will continue to utilize Stopfinder, an easy-to-use app that gives you instant access to your student’s bus schedule and updates!

✅ View schedules

✅ Receive push notifications for changes to bus times and routes

✅ Create GeoAlerts that notify you when buses arrive or depart from key locations

✅ Invite caregivers or family members

✅ Message the transportation office

✅Supports multiple languages

Download the app now from the App Store or Google Play. If you have not already used Stopfinder, watch for your invitation email on August 7th. It will go to the primary email on file in PowerSchool. This invitation is required to use the app.

Learn more 👉 stopfinder.com/parents

Silver Ranch has an online gear store that is opened all year long. It is filled with MANY options and it will be shipped directly to your house! Click on the button below to start shopping!

August

8/17 - Open House - 4:00-5:30

8/20 - First Day of School

September

9/2 - Scout Sign Up Night - 6:00 - 7:00 School Cafeteria

9/7 - Labor Day - No School

9/14 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

9/18 - Picture Day

9/21 - Staff Developement Day - No School

October

10/5 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

10/19 - Parent / Teacher Conferences

10/20 - Parent / Teacher Conferences

10/21 - Picture Re-Takes

10/22 -Admin Convention Day - No School

10/23 - Admin Convention Day - No School

November

11/2 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

11/11 - Veterans Day - No School

11/13 - End of 1st Trimester

11/26 - Thanksgiving Day - No School

11/27 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

December

12/7 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

12/21 - Parent-Teacher Conference Day - No School

12/22 - 12/31 - Winter Break - No School

January

1/1 - New Years Day - No School

1/4 - Staff Development Day - No School

1/11 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

1/18 - Martin Luther King Day - No School

February

2/1 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

2/8 - Parent / Teacher Conferences

2/11 - Parent / Teacher Conferences

2/15 - President's Day - No School

2/16 - Staff Development Day - No School

2/19 - End of 2nd Trimester

March

3/1 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

3/4 - Storm Make-Up - No School

3/5 - Parent-Teacher Conference Day - No School

3/26 - Good Friday - No School

3/29 - Easter Break - No School

April

4/5 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

4/23 - Storm Make-Up Day - No School

May

5/3 - PAC Meeting - 6:00pm

5/21 - Field Day

5/25 - 5th Grade Send Off - 1:30

5/26 - Last Day of School

5/27 - End of 3rd Trimester

5/30 - High School Graduation

Bismarck, ND 58503

Office Hours:

Mon-Thurs: 7:15-3:30

Fri. 7:15-2:30

Email: silverranch_secretary@bismarckschools.org
Website: https://www.bismarckschools.org/silverranch
Location: 4511 Silver Boulevard, Bismarck, ND, USA
Phone: 701-323-4250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverRanchElementaryBismarck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverranchbismarck/