GRIMSRUD ELEMENTARY

Dear Families,

As we approach the end of the school year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each member of our Grimsrud School community. Together, we've seen remarkable growth in our students' social, behavioral, and academic skills, a testament to the dedication and encouragement of many. As I reflect on the past year, it's inspiring to see the gains we have made in so many areas.

Thank you for being a strong partner in your child's education. I am proud to serve as your school Principal and very much looking forward to the next year. Here's wishing you a summer filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments. Let us return refreshed and re-energized, and ready to embark on another year of learning, growth, and shared achievements.

Have a truly wonderful last couple weeks of school and great summer!

~ Dr. Upton

Is your child involved in activities outside of school? Do you wish they were but aren't sure what is available or have something in your way of making that happen?

Our Parent and Community Engagement along with Student Engagement Committees are looking for parent input through this 3 question survey about what your child is involved in outside of school. Our ultimate goal is working to identify what families and students are interested in and then ways we can bring those to our students. To start, we need to know what, if any activities your child is currently involved in outside of school. Students will be sharing their input in the coming weeks so that we can start planning for next year. Thank you for your time.

WHO: Registered kindergarten students for the ’25-26 school year and their parent(s)

WHEN: Monday, May 19th 2025 from 4:30-5:30PM

WHAT: Meet the teachers, see the classrooms, and attend a short presentation

WHERE: Enter Grimsrud Elementary School at 716 W St. Benedict Drive; Door 1

BRING: No need to bring anything with you at this time

• Fall Open House for grades K-5 will be held August 14, 2025 from 3:30-4:30pm at Grimsrud. Come and meet your teacher, drop off school supplies, and get excited for the new school year!

• School Supply lists for the 25-26 school year will be available on our website https://grimsrud.bismarckschools.org/ by the end of May.

• The first day of school for the 25-26 school year will be Tuesday August 19th.

• The elementary school day will run from 7:50am-2:20pm (see below for additional information on bell times)

Earlier this year, Bismarck Public Schools announced it would transition to a two-tier bus system for the 2025-2026 school year. To support you in this upcoming transition, please review the rest of this newsletter for after school care options and bussing.

Finalized Start and End Times (2025-2026)

• Elementary Schools

• Doors Open: 7:15 AM
• Grimsrud students will read or color in the gym until 7:50 (no AM outdoor recess)
• Breakfast served at 7:50 AM in the classrooms
• School Day: 7:50 AM – 2:20 PM

• Middle Schools

• Doors Open: 7:00 AM
• School Day: 8:40 AM – 3:50 PM

• High Schools

• Century High School

• Doors Open: 7:00 AM
• School Day: 8:30 AM – 3:38 PM

• Bismarck Early Childhood Education (BECEP)

• AM: 7:40 AM – 10:40 AM (Monday–Thursday) No Fridays

• PM: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM (Monday–Thursday) No Fridays

https://www.bismarckymca.org/school-age

A reminder if you haven't, please take a moment to fill out our parent survey to give us feedback and help us make next steps making Grimsrud even better. If you have already completed this no need to complete again. Thank you for your time!

Ms. McCulloch's 5th grade class had the highest overall participation in Fresh Fruit and Veggie Week. The were rewarded with some cute and cuddly visitors to their classroom thanks to our friends at Runnings.

Students learned about the life cycle of North Dakota native plants and crops with hands on activities right in the classroom.

All stakeholders are invited to attend the Grimsrud Title 1 Annual Spring Review on

Wednesday May 21 @ 3:15 pm. Staff will report school results on reading, math, and behavior

goals as well as discuss the Title 1 plan for the 25-26 school year. If unable to attend, the Spring Meeting minutes will be posted online after the meeting for stakeholders to review as well.

Summer is a great time to recharge—but it’s also an opportunity to help your child grow socially and emotionally. Here are some easy ways to support their emotional well-being during the break:

🌟 Keep a Simple Routine
Maintain regular sleep, meal, and screen time habits to provide structure and comfort.

🗣 Talk About Feelings
Ask questions like, “What was the best part of your day?” and model how to name emotions.

👫 Encourage Social Play
Plan playdates or small group activities to keep friendships strong.

🧘 Practice Calming Skills
Create a cozy space for deep breathing, coloring, or listening to music when emotions run high.

🌱 Celebrate Effort, Not Perfection
Praise problem-solving and persistence to build confidence and resilience.

Little moments of connection each day make a big difference. For more ideas, check out The Imagine Neighborhood podcast (linked below) or read together from books like The Color Monster or What Should Danny Do?

Click buttons below for needed support. These links will lead you to a quick form to complete that will reach out for the support needed. If you have other questions or needs please reach out to Mrs. Schmidkunz at (701)934-0826.

The winner of our May Birthday celebration is.... Mays! He will be bringing a birthday cake kit home to celebrate with his family!

We’re thrilled to announce that our school has received a generous grant to support early literacy development. Thanks to this funding, all K–2 students will receive five rounds of 10 decodable readers, each carefully aligned to their individual reading level. Decodable readers are powerful tools that help young learners build confidence and fluency by reinforcing phonics skills through consistent, readable text. Each book also features a convenient scannable QR code, providing parents with easy-to-follow guidance on how to support their child’s reading journey at home. We’re so grateful for this opportunity to strengthen literacy both in the classroom and beyond!

Check out this VIDEO to learn more about this exciting program and how to participate with your child at home.

Email: grimsrud_secretary@bismarckschools.org
Website: https://www.bismarckschools.org/grimsrud
Phone: 701-323-4150