Roady's Newsletter
Family Edition
Rice Lake Students and Families,
Welcome to Asian American Pacific Islander Month, a time to honor the deep, pure, honest lives and experiences of our Asian American and Pacific Islander history in the United States.
“Life isn’t perfect, any failures you have are actually learning moments. They teach us how to grow and evolve.”― Phillipa Soo
This May brings us the opening of Spring with fragrant flowers, rainy days, outdoor living and an opportunity to gather in community for a variety of reasons. We celebrate our school year, and Run for Fun, listening to the sounds of our musicians, time for say farewell to our 5th graders and hello to long summer days.
May is such a wonderful month to engage as a community and support our learners. Please continue to remind them and review with them our Rice Lake Core Values of Respect, Learning and Responsibility. The more they hear it from both of us the more likely they are to use it regularly in all settings.
This monthly Student Celebration has been a wonderful addition to the wonderful students who support a strong community here at Rice Lake every day. This month On May 1, 2024, we celebrated our student of the month with a popcorn party and games with the Principal. This celebration welcomed all of the students identified for the month that were following our Rice Lake Elementary core values of Respect, Learning and Responsibility.
Thank you again for voting and supporting our upcoming facilities updates. Classrooms this summer will receive new furniture and more to come for Rice Lake :)
Have a wonderful month and hope to see you at one of our many events this month!!!
Miigwech, Many Thanks
Diane Bagley, Principal Rice Lake
May-June 2024
TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
May 6-10, 2024 Celebrating our educators and the amazing work they have done this year at every level! THANK YOU!!!
THIRD GRADE FIELD TRIP: SUNDANCE BOWLING
May 8, 2024 Bowling fun for our 3rd grade students and team!
SPRING BUS EVACUTION PRACTICE
May 8, 2024 8:40-9:00 Our students who ride the bus will practice the safety evacuation. We practice in each trimester.
KINDERGARTEN ARBORITUM FIELD TRIP
May 14, 2024 Enjoying and learning the importance of our environment and how to care for it!
PTO FUN RUN
May 17, 2024 Fun run for all of our students. Please make sure students come with gym shoes for the run!
PTO BOGO BOOK FAIR
May 23, 2024 This is a wonderful opportunity for students to have additional books for the summer!
VOUNTEER APPRECIATION CELEBRATION
May 24, 2024 9:30-11:00 Celebrating those that have made this a wonderful year with all you do for our school community!
DONUTS WITH DIANE
May 28, 2024 from 9:00-10:00am in the Conference Room. Bring yourself and a friend to engage in discussions about our wonderful school!
FIRST GRADE FIELD TRIP
May 29 & 30, 2024 Bell Museum Fun!
SUPER KIDS DAY
May 29 & 30, 2024 Celebrating a wonderful year supported by our amazing staff
FIFTH GRADE SENDOFF CEREMONY
May 31, 2024 2:00-3:00pm in the New Gym. Parents please pre-sign up and in at RL so that we can have your visitor pass ready and waiting by Door 12. Please park in the back parking lot off of Elm Creek Blvd.
PATROL TO VALLEYFAIR
June 3, 2024 Patrol students will celebrate their leadership with fun and friends
FIRST GRADE KERBER PARK TRIP
June 3, 2024 First grade end of year celebration
FOUTH GRADE KERBER PARK TRIP
June 4, 2024 Fourth grade end of year celebration
FIFTH GRADE SENDOFF CELEBRATION AT COMMUNITY CENTER
June 5, 2024 Fifth grade end of year and elementary school celebration
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
June 6, 2024 Enjoy your summer and see you in the Fall!!!
Educational Benefits Form
Families are strongly encouraged to complete the Educational Benefits form. Families who qualify may access free or reduced prices for iPad and Chromebook repair and replacement, band/orchestra instruments (5th grade), home electricity bills through Excel Energy, and home internet from some providers, other benefits.
In addition, schools receive additional funding based on the number of students who qualify for Educational Benefits. Rice Lake receives a significant amount of money that is used to hire additional teachers and ESPs to support students. Filling out this form will help to ensure Rice Lake can continue to provide that additional support to students.
To be considered for free or reduced-priced meals and other educational benefits, parents/caregivers must complete the Free/Reduced Meal Application each year. The benefits of filling out the application and being approved (or qualifying) may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Free or reduced meal costs for your student if your household income qualifies.
- Applications completed and approved prior to Oct. 1 will help provide funding for the school your child attends, which can be used to provide additional resources that benefit students.
- To qualify for P-EBT benefits if extended into the upcoming school year.
- Testing fees for the ACT, SAT and AP Fees may be discounted as well as field trips and instrument rentals.
- Reduced internet rates with certain providers.
- Athletics fees waived or reduced.
Educational Benefits application
Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
One breakfast and one lunch per day are free for all students in Minnesota.
If students bring a lunch from home and wish to have school milk, they must purchase one for 50 cents using their SmartSchoolK12 lunch account. Once you’ve created this account, you can log in and add money to your child’s meal account. Balances are shared by all students in a household.
To load your student’s lunch account, view menus, apply for free/reduced lunch, etc., please visit www.district279.org/services/nutrition-services.
Click the button below to create a SmartSchoolK12 account.
Parent Vue
Parent Vue is a web application used by Osseo Area Schools for parents to access their child's report card, sign up for conferences, view health information, etc. It is critical that all parents/guardians have access to Parent Vue. To use, simply install the app on any smart phone and create your account. To ensure confidentiality, each student has their own access code. All accounts are prompted in the fall to update their back to school forms so that contact information is up to date with all families.
Computers and assistance will be available during Open House to sign up for Parent Vue.
Late Arrival Absences
Arriving at school on time is incredibly important for your child so they are a part of all classroom community building and learning opportunities. Students should arrive at 8:40am (please review the handbook for specifics) . A late arrival will be marked for students that arrive at school after 8:50am. Late arrival absences can be marked as excused, or unexcused, based on reasoning. Parent or guardian must come into the building with students to fill out a form for their late arrival.
Birthdays/Celebrations
Out of respect for instructional time, family and religious choices, and many food allergies, birthday treats are not permitted in the classrooms. This is a district wide policy.
Cell Phone/Electronics
It is important for families to be able to communicate with their scholar either before or after school, however during the school day, cell phones, smart watches and other devices become a distraction for the student in their learning and the learning of those around them. We ask if you are able to keep the cell phone, smart watch or other device at home please do so; however, if this is not possible for your family, we ask that students drop off cell phones/smart watches or other devices in the main office for the day and they may pick them up at the end of the school day. This will ensure and maintain a learning environment in classrooms and throughout the school.
Arrival and Dismissal for Students Who Are Parent Pick-Up
The Rice Lake parking lot gets busy and crowded during arrival and dismissal. PLEASE drive slowly, pay attention, and be patient and kind to others.
Students may arrive at 8:40 am. There is no adult supervision prior to that time; students should not arrive earlier than 8:40am. School doors will open at 8:40 am.
Morning Drop Off: PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALK
Parents who are dropping off are encouraged to enter the drop off line and line up at the curb by the black fence. Students should leave their vehicles at 8:40 am and wait at the school doors; please do not have students wait in their vehicle until 8:40 am when doors open because it backs up traffic. Students should only exit their vehicle when the vehicle is stopped at the curb, not in the lane for vehicles to leave. Parents should remain in their vehicle except if a pre-k or kindergarten student needs assistance with the vehicle door.
Afternoon Pick-Up: PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALK
Students who are parent pick-up are dismissed at 3:15 pm. Parents are encouraged to use the pick-up line rather than parking. Please remain in your vehicle. There are multiple staff who assist students to the correct vehicle. Students should be picked up from school NO LATER than 3:20 pm.
Parking
Parents may also choose to park in the morning or afternoon. Parking spaces are limited. Handicap spaces may only be used by vehicles with a handicap sign clearly displayed. Please use the designated walkway and cross walks. Wait for your child near your vehicle or near the cross walk. Please do not wait for your child by the doors of the school.
Bus Number and Bus Stop Information
You will receive an email from our Transportation Department with your child's bus number, bus stop, and pick up/drop off times the week before school starts. Bussing information for your child is also available on the Parent Vue app. If you have any questions regarding this, please call 763-391-7244. Changes or cancellations to transportation can be sent to busquestions@district279.org.
Bus Stop Safety Reminders
- Arrive 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up
- Keep safety in mind (no horseplay, games, chasing, or pets)
- Wait on the sidewalk, boulevard or edge of the roadway. Stay away from houses, garages, and porches.
- When you see the bus approaching, form a line to board the bus. Stay in line until the bus comes to a complete stop.
