Grade K Newsletter

Greetings Kindergarten Families,

Happy New Year!

We are ready to welcome our students back to school after the holiday break beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

I have just a few important reminders as we begin the month of January. Please take a moment to review this newsletter.

Kind regards,

Erica Bjerketvedt

Director of Early Learning

761-674-1225

ebjerketvedt@isd138.org

It’s getting colder, while our snow is limited, it is time to make sure your child has all the needed winter gear to enjoy a 30 minute recess each day! We will monitor the weather for it being too cold, but most days we do go outside. Coat, hat, gloves/mittens, snow pants, snow boots and a scarf are all recommended! If your family is in need of assistance with purchasing winter clothing, please know that we have an Angel Fund available to help anyone in need, just reach out to your child’s teacher or Annette Fairbanks, Early Learning Coordinator - email: afairbanks@isd138.org or 651-674-1223.

Classroom teachers will be providing a refresher of our school’s behavior expectations and reteaching many rituals and routines to help students as they return to school after the long break. Parents can support this by reviewing school expectations on a regular basis at home.

We will also be reviewing our safety protocols with students at the Education Center this week through classroom reminders and discussions. For your reference, here is the parent handout that reviews the Standard Response Protocols. We do not have a drill schedule for this week, but when we do practice drills, our youngest students are reminded we are practicing how to be safe at school and listening to their teachers is the most important thing they can do. You can help by reinforcing the importance of good listening with your kindergartener.

Place your orders now for your kindergartener’s first memory book from school. The memory book is like a yearbook that features Grades K-5. The cost is $20 if you order before February 1, 2024.

Two easy ways to order:

1. Purchase a yearbook online using a credit or debit card at:

https://www.balfour.com/minnesota/north-branch/north-branch-schools-k-5.

OR

2. Print and complete this form and return it to your school office with payment

There will be no school on the following dates this month:

• Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
• Monday, January 22 - Professional Development Day for District Staff

Toothpicks and Marshmallows STEM Night Ages 4-6 - Jan. 11 / 6 - 7 PM / ONLY $5 per family

Little Kickers Dance Camp Grades PreK-6 - Starts Jan. 23 / 6 - 8 PM

Open Gym available January 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 25/ Cost $2 per person per day

North Branch Area Public School students: come and enjoy an afternoon at our open gym!

Students in grades K-5 must have a parent accompany them during open gym. Parents can play dodgeball or enjoy open gym with their child(ren)!

Students in grades 6-12 enjoy open gym and dodgeball.

Grades K-5: Open Gym (HS North Gym) 1-3 pm, Dodgeball (HS Multipurpose Room) 2 - 3 PM *Adult needs to accompany this age at all times

Grades 6-12: Dodgeball (HS Multipurpose Room) 1-2 pm, Open Gym (HS West Gym) 1 - 3 PM

Dodgeballs will be provided. Please bring your basketball (some available).

Erica Bjerketvedt, Director of Early Learning & Community Education

• email: ebjerketvedt@isd138.org
• Phone: 651-674-1225

Jennifer Aguirre, Early Learning Program Secretary

• Email: jaguirre@isd138.org
• Phone: 651-674-1220

NBAPS Early Learning includes kindergarten, preschool, parent/child classes, early childhood screening, and special education. Services are provided by caring staff in an environment designed specifically to meet the social-emotional and learning needs of young children.

Email: ebjerketvedt@isd138.org
Website: https://www.isd138.org/
Location: 38705 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN, USA
Phone: 651-674-1025
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbapschools?hc_ref=ARRcMw0sWIs_6KEJHTw-GwiasGYMr29vzqXCkzbnq5JbD6yHDvkMQH3fvmZoLfctMnM&fref=nf