Discovery Family Newsletter

Hello Discovery Families,

It's hard to believe we're already a month into the school year! Our students and staff have been busy building routines, making connections, and diving into learning. As we settle into fall, we're excited for all the learning and growth ahead! A few reminders as we head into October:

Learning Together: Thank you for supporting your child's learning at home! Be on the lookout for our monthly Read with Me, Math with Me activity packs, sent home on the first Monday of each month. These are a great way to reinforce classroom learning while spending time together.

Every Day Counts: Consistent attendance makes a big difference! Missing just two days a month can add up to 10% of the school year. We know challenges come up, and we're here to help. Please reach out to Ms. Nagorski or Ms. Skaalerud if your family needs attendance support.

Supporting Our Families: Through our partnership with Feeding Area Children Together (FACT), we're proud to offer food assistance to Discovery families. Read below for how to sign your family up.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping make Discovery a place where every student feels safe, connected, and ready to learn. We're looking forward to a great October! 💙🐬

Warmly,

Principal Nagorski and Assistant Principal Skaalerud

Our Character Trait of the Month is "Responsibility". Read more about it here:

• It’s not too late! Give your child the gift of a great preschool experience and pave the way for their educational success! Enroll your preschooler (ages 3-4) in your neighborhood school for the 2026-27 school year.
• Enroll Today! Online at isd742.org/enrollment or visit the preschool office at Quarryview Education Center, 800 7th St S, Waite Park.

Thank you for continuing to support our preschool students and staff in your buildings and for helping connect more families with District 742 preschool.

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.

We are excited to launch our monthly Read with Me and Math with Me activities for at-home learning today!

This afternoon, please look in your child’s backpack for a page of activity materials. We invite you to complete these activities together and enjoy practicing the skills your child is currently learning in the classroom. Each activity is aligned with Minnesota Academic Standards and designed to make learning at home engaging and meaningful.

Throughout the school year, new activities will be sent home on the first Monday of each month.

We are grateful for your partnership as we extend learning beyond the classroom and into your home!

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

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

October:

16: No School - MEA Break

17: No School - MEA Break

19: National Bus Safety Week

21: Unity Day- Wear Orange 🧡

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