Welcome to Kindergarten

Dear Families,

I am so excited to welcome your family to kindergarten at the North Branch Area Education Center for the 2023-24 school year! The first day of school is Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023.

Your child’s teacher for the 23-24 school year is available to view in ParentVUE (this is the same online portal used when you registered your child for kindergarten). In order to login, use the following steps:

1. Navigate to the ParentVUE portal

2. Login to your account, or contact the office for login support - 651-674-1220

3. Select the “Class Schedule” from the side bar

4. The top teacher name will be your child’s homeroom teacher. They may also have additional names listed for specialist time.

5. You may select “student info” for additional information about your child’s enrollment.

School Hours: 8:05 am – 2:40 pm – Monday through Friday

Mark your Calendars for Conferences: Fall parent-teacher conferences will be held November 20-22.

Critical Information - Please make time prior to the start of the school year to share any information required for us to ensure your child is safe and supported at school – legal documents, medical needs or medication administration – let us know when you are here during your WELCOME DAYS conference. If information changes during the school year, please remember to update the school.

There is more valuable information below. On behalf of everyone here at the Education Center, we look forward to seeing you at WELCOME DAYS and supporting your child’s kindergarten experience!

Erica Bjerketvedt

Director of Early Learning

761-674-1225

ebjerketvedt@isd138.org

This school year will again feature WELCOME DAYS, which allows for a “soft start” to the school year as we welcome children and families back from extended time away. We ask that each family sign up for a time to visit the Education Center, using the ParentVUE portal. Select the “conference” tab from the side bar to choose a time. Welcome Days provide families with an orientation to meet their teacher, have school pictures taken, and more!

Welcome Days have been combined to two days as follows:

• Wednesday, August 30 - 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, September 5 - 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The relationship building that happens during Welcome Days sets us up for a strong first day of school on Wednesday, September 6th!

Student pictures will be taken on WELCOME DAYS. Be ready with a smile when you come! Each student will be able to take a school picture in the media center. Families DO NOT need to purchase or register in advance! Proofs will be sent home after Welcome Days with order information.

It is important to note that free breakfast and lunch will be provided to K-12 students in Minnesota Public Schools for the upcoming school year. If you plan to deposit money in your family meal account, you can do so through WordWare or in the cafeteria during WELCOME DAYS. This will be used if a student goes back for a second lunch or has additional food items, like an additional piece of pizza, beyond the standard lunch serving.

Your family could be eligible for discounts on a variety of school expenses such as activity and field trip fees. To find out if your family is eligible, complete the Application for Educational Benefits. A hard copy of the application can be found here, or it can be completed online through your family’s WordWare lunch account.

NBAPS has released the 2023-24 Student-Parent Handbook, and your family is strongly encouraged to familiarize yourself with the contents. The student-parent handbook can be found on this page.

• Morning Drop off Procedures: The school day begins at 8:05 am and students may be dropped off at Door #1 beginning at 7:50 a.m. Kindergarten students may enter the building independently or family members may walk to the main entrance. Family members will NOT be allowed past the main entrance for security reasons. If family members have made a plan to connect with a staff member, they must be cleared through the HallPass security system by presenting a photo ID. When dropping off students, please enter the drop off lane on the south end of the Ed Center, pull up as far as possible and remain in your car. Students should exit the vehicle on the sidewalk side. If you are walking your student to the entrance, please park in the parking lot to the north end of the Education Center. Thank you for keeping all learners safe! Please call (651) 674-1207 to report any absences.

• After-School Pick-Up Procedures: Students may be picked up at Door #1 between 2:40 - 3 p.m. Family members should arrive with a photo ID when coming to pick up a student. Kindergarten students will be dismissed individually within the entrance of door #1. Family members will NOT be allowed past the main entrance for security reasons. If family members have made a plan to connect with a staff member, they must be cleared through the Hall Pass security system by presenting a photo ID. Students must be picked up by 3 p.m. Please notify the office, (651) 674-1025, by 1:30 pm with any last minute end of day pick-up requests/changes. Please keep calling until you speak with someone; do not leave a message.

• Mid-Day Pick-Up Procedures: Please send a note and call in advance (651) 674-1025 if your student needs to be picked up early for any reason. Allow enough time for pick-up as students will be called to the office when you arrive. Adults will be asked to present ID. Please send a note and call in advance (651) 674-1025 if your student needs to be picked up early for any reason. Allow enough time for pick-up as students will be called to the office when you arrive.
  

Bus information is expected to be available the week of August 21, and will be mailed to families when available. It can also be accessed by logging into ParentVUE. Please feel free to contact the Transportation Dept. at 651-674-1030 if you have questions about busing related issues, or stop in during Welcome Days.

Youth Connections is a fee-based before and after school care program available at the Education Center. Students must be registered in advance in order to participate.

• Before School Care: Opens at 5:45 a.m. Kindergarten students in Youth Connections care are walked to their kindergarten classroom by Youth Connections staff at 7:50 a.m.

• After School Care: Kindergarten students attending Youth Connections will receive a pass at the end of the school day, and be supported by staff to safely make this transition to the Youth Connections rooms. Youth Connections is open until 6 pm.

North Branch Area Public Schools is thrilled to announce our new app for mobile phones! Stay up-to-date with access to district and North Branch Area Early Learning events, documents, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications. You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3phcIA7

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3p6NNPA

The Education Center is an allergy-aware school and staff work hard to be sensitive to the needs of students who may be allergic to foods, scents, etc. If your student has allergies important for us to know, please contact Kristen Swalboski, school nurse, at (651) 674-1194.

23-24 School Calendar

School Supply List

North Branch Early Learning Website

WordWare Lunch Accounts

Health Services/Forms

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