Primary News

September 2017

Isanti Primary and Early Childhood Center 301 Heritage Blvd NW, Isanti, MN 55040 Office:(763) 691-8778 Fax:(763) 691-8700 http://www.c-ischools.org/school/isanti-primary-school

From the Principal Hello Parents and Guardians, I hope each of you are doing well. I want to say we have had a successful start to the school year at IPS. Thanks for the great support by attending our Open House and our two days of Kindergarten Entrance Week. As I stated in my meetings, we are so fortunate to have a community that supports education and educators. This partnership is a needed element to help ensure students are prepared to be life-long learners and excited about team work and problem solving. This year we have many focuses, but one in particular we want to bring attention to is our PBIS journey. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Supports which we are able to implement thanks to a grant our entire district qualified for and is being used as of the beginning of this 2017-2018 school year. This journey is one that we are very proud to be taking! What is PBIS? This is a way for our school and district to have common language regarding routines and supporting our 5 character traits. Our team of PBIS members have gone to multiple trainings. You will notice throughout our building we have posters in all areas such as lunchroom, classroom, hallway, etc. to shine the focus on the expected behaviors. It is a great resource for teaching our common language throughout the areas of the school. The following video is a great resource for teaching the areas of the school with our common language. Our staff is working together to help promote these skills to ensure students are more prepared for a successful year. These skills will help create outstanding citizens of every community. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwo88HujKlRYRUo wcHdJV0xZdlk/view. The video is on our website if you’d like to view it there. Thanks again for the great support and encouragement you do daily to help our school be successful.

Fundraiser Our fundraiser with Club’s Choice kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 20 and will end on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Delivery will be Wednesday, November 15 from 2:45–6:00pm in the cafeteria. If you wish, you may pick up your fundraiser items when you pick up your child from school. Angie Lindell is our Volunteer Coordinator. She will be working with Bob from Club’s Choice this year in order to fundraise for proceeds to help our school. Questions? Email Angie at [email protected]

K – 2 Parents Remember to have an extra set of clothes in your child’s backpack or locker for those times when they may need a change 

For the Calendar Fall Picture Day: Thursday, Sept 28 Conferences by appointment only: October 10, 12 and 17 Please be watching for information from your child’s teacher. No School: October 6 – Professional Development Day October 19 & 20 – Annual Professional Convention

Primary ParentNews What You Need to Know About the New Wellness Policy A note from the Principal: If you haven’t heard, our district has a new Wellness Policy. This move is to help reinforce healthy snacks and prevent potential issues that occur with bringing in foods that may be a risk for students with allergies. I will be making changes as well. In the past I have drawn names out of our Bluejacket Pride Tote and the winners and I would have donuts for breakfast. I will still provide this reward but with a focus on more healthy alternatives. Below is information from the Education Services Center regarding our new policy Policy 533 - Local Wellness.

Hello parents and guardians! The school day just got healthier! How? Child nutrition experts weighed in on federal legislation called the Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and a decision was made to make additional mandates. Why? The rules are designed to support a school environment that promotes sound nutrition and student health. What? All foods and beverages sold or provided on school grounds must meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. Please note, there is an exception for special education students on an Individualized Education Program; this also would not apply to students with certain medical conditions who are on Individualized Health Plans. As of June 30, 2017 all school districts in the United States are to be in full compliance with the new rules. What does this mean for parents and guardians? 1. Foods and beverages that students bring to school to share with their classmates must meet the nutrition standards. 2. Foods and beverages will not be given out as rewards (unless as excluded above). 3. Foods and beverages brought to school solely for your child’s personal consumption for snack or lunch are excluded from the nutrition standards. What’s wrong with cupcakes? Treats are okay on occasion; everything can fit into a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. However, food brought to school by your child to share with other students must meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. Click here or check on the school website for a list of healthy snack ideas. We appreciate your participation in helping to implement healthy changes in our schools! If you would like to be a part of the district wellness committee please contact Julia Lines, [email protected]. More information on the wellness policy is available by clicking here or on the school website.

PTO News Are you wondering when PTO meets? The first Tuesday of most every month at 6:30 p.m. Exceptions are March and April (second Tuesday). Our PTO is a great organization that supports our school, families, and community. We are excited about the events planned for this year and would love to see more members join our organization! Some upcoming events include: PTO Meeting Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Reading Night Friday, November3 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Media Center

Attendance Line Remember, if your child will be absent or late you need to call our 24-hour attendance line. Please call that line when you know your child will be absent, even if it’s in the middle of the night. We do check that line before 8:00 a.m. each day. The number is: 763-691-8770. For an attendance to be considered “excused” we must have a call or a note to the office and teacher explaining the absence. Thanks!