January Family Newsletter

As part of the Osseo Area Schools operational plan and strategic direction, the district's communication team is working together with schools to help create improved communications between the district and its families and community members. Our new e-newsletters are more accessible and translatable, and they can be shared for easily in a variety of formats. We hope you enjoy catching up with the latest Garden City Elementary news in this new format.

Hello Garden City Families,

Welcome back and Happy New Year!! We hope everyone had a wonderful and joyful break with your loved ones.

Our 1st Annual Holiday Festival was a HUGE success! It was so nice to see so many families come out and enjoy this special day with us. We loved to see everyone dressed so fabulous for the pictures that were provided. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!

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.

Sincerely,

Principal Branch

Families, the time has come to once again meet with your students teacher and set up a conference time that best works for you. Please go onto ParentVue between the dates of Monday, January 20 to Friday, January 31 to select a time a date. After the 31st you will no longer be able to schedule it on your own, and will have to call the main office.

If you have any questions or need help setting up a conference please call Mrs. Pettis in the main office at 763-561-9768.

Family STEM Night:

1/23 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Near Future Up-Coming:

National African American Parent Involvement Day-

2/10--Monday

Winter Conferences- Both morning and evening sessions available

2/19--Wednesday

2/25--Tuesday

2/27--Thursday

The City of Brooklyn Center has launched its Park Concept Survey, which will remain open from January through February 2025 using the link below. Developed through robust public engagement efforts in 2024 and thorough inventory assessments, these preliminary concept plans are intended to inform the City’s 20-year park capital investment strategy. They are not final recommendations for all amenities illustrated; they reflect community feedback gathered over the last year. Please help and fill out the survey (button below), as its ensuring widespread input that will help guide future park improvements within limited resources. Thank you!

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. Garden City 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 Garden City can continue to provide that additional support to students.

Educational Benefits application

Free Lunch for All Students

All students will receive free lunch courtesy of the Free School Meals for Kids law. Each student can receive one free lunch meal each day. Students who would like to have a 2nd lunch, or just a milk, will need to pay for those items.

Breakfast will continue to be free for Garden City students every day.

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.

Please go to the main office/or call 763-561-9768 for your child's special access code (if you do not have your Parent Vue set up yet).

All back to school forms MUST be completed and/or verified to enter ParentVue for the first time each school year. ParentVue will prompt you to do this when you login. Be sure to select the begin registration button. You will have to verify ALL CHILDREN in your home, even young siblings!

Late Arrival

A late arrival will be marked for students that arrive at school after 9:40am. Late arrivals can be marked as excused, or unexcused, based on reasoning. Arriving at school on time is incredibly important for your child so they are a part of all classroom community building and learning opportunities.

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.

Arrival and Dismissal for Students Who Are Parent Pick-Up

Students should arrive at school NO EARLIER than 9:10 am as there will not be adult supervision.

Students should be picked up from school NO LATER than 4:00 pm

• We begin to call family numbers at 3:50pm
• There is NO left turn into the parking lot. Cars need to line up on 65th Avenue facing East so you make a RIGHT turn into the Family Pickup Zone.
• Do NOT block the bus lane.
• Do NOT park on the street or stop in the line to send someone to get your student(s). You need to line up in the line like all other families. When in line, you need to stay in line, waiting your turn like other families.

*IMPORTANT END OF DAY NOTICE*

To ensure the safety of all our students…

If there are ANY changes to pick up at the end of the day (example- your student(s) being a parent pick up instead of taking the bus home, or a different family/friend picking up etc) please notify the

OFFICE NO LATER than 2:30pm.

Call 763-561-9768

Bus Transportation Information

As a reminder, transportation is only available to students who live within the Garden City attendance boundaries.

If you have further transportation questions, need to make changes to your student's bus information, etc. please email transportation at BusQuestions@district279.org. or call at

763-391-7244.