2014-2015DASSEL-COKATO

School StartsSept. 2

2 Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014

Letter To Dassel-Cokato Students and ParentsDear Students and Parents,Welcome to the 2014-15 school year!As the year progresses, we will encounter a variety of challenges that can be overcome successfully if we work together as a team. Supporting each other, and utilizing direct, clear communication are crucial to our effort. If you ever have questions about what is happening at school, please take the time to call the person most closely associated with the question. If you don’t know who to call, please call the principal of your child’s school or Mr. Powers. Unnecessary misunderstanding and stress can often be avoided by direct communication. Remember, we all want the very best for our children!The first day of school is September 2, with open houses the previous week. This back-to-school supplement is being distributed to the homes of all families in our school district. It is full of useful information you will need as you proceed through the school year. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. You will also find it on the DC website under Newsletters.If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact the office of the school your child attends. Students receive the best education possible when there is a strong partnership between the school and their family. Thank you for your continued support and trust!Sincerely,Dassel-Cokato Schools Administration

High School & 9th Grade Meeting Wednesday, August 27

All students and parents are invited to attend the High School Open House on Wednesday, August 27th from 4-7 p.m. The purpose of Open House is to allow students an opportunity to find their 1st trimester classrooms, meet staff, catch up with friends, and take care of any business that will help better prepare them for the 1st day of school.

A special meeting for 9th grade students and their parents will take place during Open House on August 27th starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center(PAC). Students will meet key staff members from the Office Team who will provide information to help students have a successful start to their 4 years at DCHS!

For students who are new to the district (foreign exchange students included), we will have a “pre-Open House” meet and greet opportunity on Tuesday, August 26th starting at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Commons. Students will meet other new students, as well as key high school staff, who will assist them in their transition to DCHS. If you cannot attend this session, we hope students and parents are still able to come to Open House.

A newsletter detailing the above information will be sent to the homes of all students in mid-August.

OPEN HOUSESDassel-Cokato High School • Aug. 27 • 4-7 p.m.

DC Area Learning Center • Aug. 27 • 4-7 p.m.Dassel-Cokato Middle School

Aug. 27 (grades 6-8) 5-7 p.m. & Aug. 28 (grade 5) 5-7 p.m.

Dassel Elementary • Aug. 28 • 4 - 7 p.m.Cokato Elementary • Aug. 28 • 4 - 7 p.m.

Middle School Orientation and Open House August 27 and August 28

On Wednesday evening, August 27, 2014 there will be an open house for students in grades 6 - 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Students and parents will be able to pickup their schedule packets and visit with staff starting at 5:00 p.m. There will be a presentation for all 6th grade students and their parents at 6:00 p.m. in the PAC regarding the sixth grade educational field trip and other items related to sixth grade orientation. This presentation is very important for all sixth grade families to attend. 7th and 8th grade students and their parents may meet with teachers anytime between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Teachers will be in the hallways and their rooms to meet with you and answer any questions related to 7th and 8th grade. This is a great time to get your schedules, find your lockers, learn about curriculum, and meet up with friends.

On Thursday evening, August 28, 2014 there will be an orientation from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for 5th grade students only. Students will be able to pickup their schedule packets and tour the middle school starting at 5:00 p.m. We will have approximately a 30-45 minute presentation in the Performing Arts Center starting at 5:45 p.m. for students and parents. This presentation will include a brief orientation to the middle school, 5 grade, and an introduction of the staff. Students and parents will have time to find their lockers and visit with staff before and after the presentation.

Students who are unable to attend open house may pick their schedules up before school on the morning of September 2. Fifth grade students who cannot attend the Open House on August 28 are welcome to visit the morning of August 29. Please try to attend orientation with your child. The Dassel–Cokato Middle School staff is looking forward to meeting you!

ADDRESS CHANGES

Please contact Middle School secretary Sarah Wolff at (320) 286-4100 ext. 1603 with any address changes (physical or email) and/or phone number changes you may have experienced over the summer and throughout the year. In addition, please update any emergency contact information through our health office. It is very important the middle school staff has current contact information in case there is a need to contact you for any reason during a school day. If you have new neighbors with school age children, please remind them to contact the school office, so that their children are registered before school starts.

MS & HS ORIENTATION

Are you looking for a school calendar or an assignment posted on a teacher’s webpage? Do you want to register for a Community Education class? Maybe you need to double-check on a sports schedule or get copies of eligibility forms. Are you looking to check on a student’s grades or attendance through the student or parent portals? Maybe you need an email address to contact a teacher, or your child needs to access school-provided research databases to complete an assignment. Answers to these and many other questions can be answered by visiting the Dassel-Cokato Schools website.

To enhance communication and conveniently provide our patrons with valuable resources, we have designed a content-rich website packed with information that we feel will benefit the students, families, and community members in our district.

By browsing tabs at the left of the main page, visitors can access comprehensive district-wide information. To go to a specific school or a program such as community education or activities, simply select one of the tabs at the top of the page. There are also tabs at the top filled with information specifically directed to parents, students, and staff members.

To share what is happening in our schools, each main school page is regularly updated with school news and upcoming events. We hope you visit the site often.

Here are a few of the helpful things you will find on the D-C school website:

• Calendars• Teacher and class websites• Student handbooks and registration guides• Research tools• Scholarship information• Board agendas and minutes• Activity schedules and forms• Staff contact information• Important dates and school news• Parent and student portal access• Employment opportunities• Lunch menus• Newsletters• Online payment center• Community Education events and registration• Performing Arts Center events

These items and more are available to you with the click of a mouse. Please visit us at http://www.dc.k12.mn.us You may find yourself bookmarking the site, so you can return often.

D-C SCHOOL INFORMATION IS A CLICK AWAY AT WWW.DC.K12.MN.US

Thurs., Aug. 28 • Dassel, 4-7 p.m. • Cokato, 4-7 p.m.Everyone is invited to the annual open house on Thurs., Aug. 28, 2014.

We are having the open house before school begins so that as a family, the students and parents can meet the teachers and learn other important information for the school year. This would also be a great time to deposit money in your family lunch account and take care of morning break milk and juice fees. You may also bring your school supplies. We would especially encourage kindergarten families to attend.

Everyone is welcome.

DASSEL & COKATO ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSES

Emergency information is needed at schoolParents, please take the time to complete an EMERGENCY INFORMATION FORM annually. In the event your child becomes ill or there is an incident that requires emergency care while at school, it is helpful to have name and telephone numbers where you, or another family member or friend can be reached. Forms are available in each of the school offices.

In addition, if your child has a significant health problem, we would appreciate being informed about it in order to plan for and provide a safe environment for your child while at school.Call the school nurse with any questions or concerns.Annette Bohnsack, School Nurse (320) 286-4100, ext. 1804

Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014 3

Late Starts, Early Outs, and Closings

Throughout the year there will be days when, due to inclement weather, school is delayed, dismissed early, or closed for the day. Delays or closings may be announced as late as 6:15 AM. We will be using our calling system, Campus Messenger, to announce changes in the school schedule due to weather. We typically also post announcements on: Channel 4 WCCO (830 AM), Channel 11 KARE TV, Channel 5 KSTP, Channel 9 FOX, and KDUZ (1260AM). For more information on the Campus Messenger system, please contact one of the school offices.

Minnesota weather is highly variable and changes quickly. There are days when it is clear at 6:15 AM, and foggy at 6:45 AM. Weather and road conditions also vary widely around the 186 square miles of the district. Although we attend to weather conditions closely, you may consider the conditions at your location unsafe for your children. Additionally, your child may have an early morning practice or commitment at school, that occurs before a delay or closure is announced. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of parents to send their children to school, or keep them home, when the weather is inclement. If you don’t think it is safe to send your child to school, don’t send them.

RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS SCHOOL MEALS FREE OR AT A REDUCED PRICE

APPLYING FOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITSMuch of Dassel-Cokato’s school funding is based on our percentage of students who receive free and reduced lunches. This funding is used to hire Title 1 para-professionals, reading specialists, and other educational benefits in our district. In order to access all of the funding our children are entitled to have, we are asking you to fill out the “Application for Educational Benefits” form found in this supplement. Please complete and return it even though you think you may not qualify or choose not to receive the service; it will still benefit our children. All information is kept confidential.

HELP OUR SCHOOL TO

RECEIVE EDUCATION

FUNDS AND DISCOUNTS

Instructions for Completing the Application for Educational Benefits

Complete the Application for Educational Benefits on page 5 for the school year 2014-2015 if any of the following apply to your household:− Any household member currently participates in the Minnesota Family Investment Program

(MFIP), or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or

− One or more children in the household are foster children (a welfare agency or court has legal responsibility for the child), or

− Total household income (gross earnings, not take-home pay) is within these guidelines:

MAXIMUM TOTAL INCOMEHousehold

Size$ Per Year $ Per

Month$ Twice

Per Month$ Per 2 Weeks

$ Per Week

1 21,590 1,800 900 831 4162 29,101 2,426 1,213 1,120 5603 36,612 3,051 1,526 1,409 7054 44,123 3,677 1,839 1,698 8495 51,634 4,303 2,152 1,986 9936 59,145 4,929 2,465 2,275 1,1387 66,656 5,555 2,778 2,564 1,2828 74,167 6,181 3,091 2,853 1,427

Additional 7,511 626 313 289 145

Children and Foster Status • List all children in the household in Section 2. Check the box if a child is in foster care• Include any regular income, for example SSI, to children other than foster children. Do not

list occasional earnings like babysitting.

Case Number: Complete Section 3 if any household member currently participates in one of the programs listed in that section. If Section 3 is completed, skip Section 4 (adult names and incomes).

Adults / Incomes In Section 4. List all adult household members, whether related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). Include an adult who is temporarily away, such as a student away at college. Do not complete Section 4 if a case number was provided in Section 3, or if the application is for foster children only.

For each adult household member, list their gross incomes (not take-home pay) and how often each income is received. For example write in “W” for weekly income or “BW” for bi-weekly (every two weeks).

• List gross incomes before deductions.• For farm/self-employment income only, list net income after subtracting business

expenses.• If an income varies, list the amount usually received. Include overtime if it is usually

received.• Examples of “other income” to include in the last column are farm/self-employment,

Veterans benefits and disability benefits.• Check the “No Income” column after a person’s name if they have no income.

Do not include as income: foster care payments, federal education benefits, MFIP payments, combat pay, or value of assistance received from SNAP, WIC, FDPIR or Military Privatized Housing Initiative.

Signature: The form must be signed by an adult household member in Section 6.

Last Four Digits of Social Security Number The person signing the application must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number in Section 6. The Social Security number is not needed if a qualifying case number was provided in Section 3, or all children in the household who need school meal benefits are foster children, or the person signing the application does not have a Social Security number and has indicated this in Section 6.

General notice for parents or guardians

2014-15 School Year Pesticide Notice

A Minnesota state law requires that schools inform parents and guardians if they apply certain pesticides on school property. State law also requires that you be told that the long-term health effects on children from the application of such pesticides or the class of chemicals to which they belong may not be fully understood.

The Dassel-Cokato School District does not apply pesticides on school property unless all other measures have failed to control the problem. In the event that insect control sprays and dusts need to be applied, it will only be done when students are absent from the area, and will be out of the area until any spray and any odor has dissipated.

If you would like to be notified prior to pesticide applications made on days other than those specified in the estimated schedule (excluding emergency applications), please complete and return the form below and mail it to: Jeff Powers, Dassel-Cokato Public Schools, 4852 Reardon Ave SW, Suite 1700, Cokato, Minnesota 55321. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact the district office at (320) 286-4100, extension 1000.

Request for Pesticide NotificationDassel-Cokato

Public School DistrictI understand that the school will make available an estimated schedule of pesticide applications for review and copying at the school office. Should a pesticide application be scheduled on a day different from the day(s) specified in the original schedule, I would like to be notified. I understand that the school may ask me for reimbursement for the costs of notification.

I would prefer to be notified by (circle):

US Mail E-mail

Please print neatly:

Name of School Building:

Name of Parent/Guardian:

Date:

Address:

Day Phone:

Eve Phone:

E-mail:

Return to: Jeff Powers, Dassel-Cokato Public Schools,

4852 Reardon Ave SW, Suite 1700, Cokato, MN 55321

School Criminal Background Checks

The school district has adopted a policy, the purpose of which is to promote the physical, social, and psychological well-being of its students. Pursuant to this policy, the school district shall seek criminal history background checks for all applicants who receive an offer of employment with the school district. The school district also shall seek criminal background checks for all individuals who are offered the opportunity to provide athletic coaching services or other extracurricular academic coaching services to the school district, regardless of whether compensation is paid. These positions include, but are not limited to, all athletic coaches, extracurricular academic coaches, assistants, and advisors. The school district may elect to seek criminal background checks for other volunteers, independent contractors, and student employees.

Information for Middle School and High School students living in town

Middle School and High School students living in town will be picked up between

7:45 a.m. & 7:55 a.m.at the same pick-up points as last year, unless they have been notified of changes.

Call 320-286-4105 (Dassel residents) or 320-286-5315 (Cokato residents) to verify your stop if you have questions.

Student accident insuranceThe school district does not carry insurance for student accidents that may occur during school hours or activities. It is the family’s responsibility to have insurance coverage for their students. We will be providing information for parents to secure this type of insurance. The school district, in cooperation with Voyageurs Insurance

Company, will have student accident insurance information packets available at the beginning of the school year. This information will not be sent home with all students at the beginning of the school year. You may pick up this information at any one of the school buildings.

Supplement available in many formats

This document is available in the following formats upon request: Braille, Large Print, Audio Cassette Tape, Computer Disk.

Please call 320-286-4100 for more information or

to request a copy.

4 Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014

Asbestos Notification

The school district continues to maintain a “Zero Tolerance” in regard to the possession, use or distribution of weapons by students. The full weight of the law and consequences will be followed if the “Zero Tolerance” policy is violated including expulsion from school in addition to statutory penalties that may include significant fines and prison.Weapons are not allowed on school property including buses, buildings, or athletic fields or on properties rented by the school district. A “weapon” means any object, device or instrument designed as a weapon or through its use is capable of threatening or producing bodily harm or which may be used to inflict self-injury including, but not limited to, any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; airguns;

pellet guns; BB guns; all knives; blades; clubs; brass knuckles; numchucks; throwing stars; explosives; fireworks; mace and other propellants; stunguns; ammunition; poisons; chains; arrows; and objects that have been modified to serve as a weapon. No person shall possess, use or distribute any object, device or instrument having the appearance of a weapon. All such objects, devices or instruments shall be treated as a weapon including, but not limited to, weapons listed above which are broken or non-functional, look-alike guns; toy guns; and any object that is a facsimile of a real weapon. TRESPASS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. Individuals who get on school roofs without permission may be charged with a misdemeanor.

Weapons and trespassing

As a result of federal legislation (Asbestos Hazard Response Act – AHERA), each primary and secondary school in the nation is required to complete a stringent inspection for asbestos and to develop a plan of management for all asbestos-containing building materials. The Dassel-Cokato schools are in full compliance with this law. As a matter of policy, the Dassel-Cokato schools shall continue to maintain a safe and healthful environment for our community’s youth and employees.In keeping with this legislation, all buildings owned by the school district were inspected by EPA accredited inspectors. Based on the inspection, the school prepared, and the state approved, a comprehensive management plan for handling the asbestos located within its buildings safely and responsibly.Federal law requires a periodic walk-though (called “surveillance”) every six months of each area containing asbestos. Also, the law requires

all buildings to be re-inspected three years after a management plan is in effect. This will be accomplished under the contract by the Institute for Environmental Assessment (IEA).Short-term workers (outside contractors – i.e. telephone repair workers, electricians and exterminators) must be provided information regarding the location of asbestos in which they may come in contact. All short-term workers shall contact the lead maintenance person before commencing work to be given this information.The Dassel-Cokato district office has a list of the location(s) type(s) of asbestos-containing materials found in our school buildings and a description and timetable for their proper management. A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan is available for review in the school office. Questions related to the plan should be directed to the superintendent of schools at (320) 286-4100.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Students eligible for 504 assistance are those who 1) have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, 2) have a record of such impairment, or 3) are regarded as having such an impairment.If a parent believes their child is in need of 504 accommodations, they should contact their building social worker who serves as 504 coordinator.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION

Welcome

BackParents of students who are new to the

Dassel-Cokato School District are encouraged to register their children by coming to or calling

the office of the school in which their children will be enrolling before school begins.

Registering students before school begins enables a smoother transition for the children as they

become oriented to their new school.

Public Notice: Annual Notification of Rights Protection and Privacy of Educational Rights

Pursuant to the requirements of Independent School District No. 466 Dassel-Cokato School Dis-trict Policy regarding educational data privacy, the following constitutes the school district’s an-nual notification to parents and students regard-ing data privacy practices of the school district.The school district has adopted a Data Privacy and Student Records Policy incorporating state and federal requirements as to data privacy rights. In summary the policy provides:A. Privacy RightsEducational records which identify or could be used to identify a student other than directory information, may not be released to members of the public without the written permission of the student’s parents or guardians or the student if he or she is 18, attends a post-secondary institution, is married or has graduated. This general rule is subject to specific and limited exceptions which cannot be set out here due to limitations of space, but which are set out in district policy.B. Directory Information“Directory Information” includes a student’s par-ents’ names, student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, sex, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of mem-bers of athletic teams, dates of attendance, grade levels completed, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student and other similar information. Directory information may be released to the public without prior parent or student consent unless the parent or eligible stu-dent has objected in writing to the release of one or more category of such information.Directory information does not include identify-ing data which references religion, race, color, so-cial position or nationality.A parent of a student or an eligible student in the district may refuse to permit the release of any or all categories of directory information by contact-ing the building principal in which said student at-tends and completing form “Objection to Release of Directory Information.” This objection must be given the district within thirty (30) days of this publication notice.C. Inspection of RecordsParents of a student or a student may request to inspect and review any of the student’s education-al records except those which are, by state or fed-eral law, made confidential. The school district will comply with the request immediately if possible and if not, within five days exclusive of weekends and holidays. In certain special circumstances, an additional five days may be required in order to comply. Copies of records may be obtained at the actual cost of reproduction.D. Challenge to Accuracy of RecordsA parent or eligible student who believes that specific information in the student’s educational records is inaccurate, misleading, incomplete or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, may request that the school district amend or cor-rect the record in question.If the superintendent, within a period of 30 days,

declines to amend the record as requested, the parent or student who is 18 or older will be ad-vised in writing of their right to request and obtain a hearing.If either the superintendent or, after hearing, the hearing officer appointed by the school district, determines that the record in question is inac-curate, misleading, incomplete or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, the record will be amended, the parents or student age 18 or older notified of the change, and an attempt will be made to notify past recipients of the data.If, as a result of the hearing, it is determined that the challenged record is not inaccurate, mislead-ing, incomplete or in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student, the parent or student of age 18 or older will be notified of their rights to place a statement with the record commenting upon it and setting out any reason for disagree-ing with the decision of the school district. Data in dispute will be disclosed only if the statement of disagreement is included with the disputed data.The decision of the superintendent or hearing of-ficer is the final decision of the school district and may be appealed under the provision of the State Administrative Procedure Act, Minn. Statute C15, relating to contested cases.E. Transfer of Records to Other SchoolsIndependent School District No. 466 forwards educational records of students to other schools and school districts in which a student seeks or intends to enroll upon request of that school or school district. A parent or student who is 18 years of age may request and receive a copy of the re-cords which are transferred and may, pursuant to this policy, challenge the accuracy of the records. The district does not, however, notify parents or students of age 18 or older prior to such transfer.F. Data Collection RightsA parent or eligible student when asked to supply private or confidential data, shall be informed of: (a) the purpose and intended use of the request-ed data; (b) whether he may refuse or is legally required to supply the requested data; (c) any known consequence arising from his supplying or refusing to supply the data and (d) the identity of the persons or entities authorized by state or fed-eral law to receive the data.G. Complaints for Non-ComplianceParents and students of age 18 or older may sub-mit written complaints of violation of rights ac-corded them by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20201.This review of the data privacy rights of students and parents in the educational records main-tained by Independent School District 466 is in-tended only to be a summary of the provisions of school district policy and applicable state and federal law.Requests for copies of the policy and ques-tions should be addressed to: Superintendent of Schools, Independent School District 466, 4852 Reardon Ave. SW, Suite 1700, Cokato, Minn. 55321.

Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014 5

School bus routes and procedures 2014-2015Most transportation routes and bus times will remain similar to last year’s. Those with significant changes will be notified.If you are new to the Dassel-Cokato school district and have not talked with someone at the district office regarding transportation of your children, please call 320-286-4100, extension 1005, or stop in the district office at the west end of the high school (7:00 AM – 4:30 PM) as soon as possible. Cokato area students are transported by Cokato Transportation (contracted by the District); and, Dassel area students are transported by District owned/operated buses. Special needs students are transported primarily by district owned/operated vans and/or lift bus when necessary.New families and the families with major changes will be contacted by mail, email, or phone prior to beginning of school with bus number, pickup time and location.General InformationWhen your child/children will not be riding the bus/car/van on any given day, please call 286-4100, ext. 1005, prior to their pick-up time. The message can be left on voice mail at any time. The dispatcher will notify the driver via two-way radio. Please do not call or text the driver’s cell phone. All messages to drivers should go through dispatch. If you wish to contact Cokato Transportation (Cokato area buses), please call 320-286-5315 or email, cokatotransportation@gmail.com . Middle school and high school students living in town will be picked up between 7:45 AM and 7:55 AM at the same pick-up point as last year unless they have been notified of changes.

It is important that all students be on time! Buses will not wait for students who are not at their stop at their designated time. If students miss the bus, bring the students to the elementary school. MS and HS students can catch their bus there.Buses run their regular rural routes and proceed to the elementary schools to unload the elementary students. The buses then proceed to the middle school and high school.The reverse is true at the end of the day. High School and middle school students are picked up first. The buses then proceed to the elementary schools to pick up elementary children and proceed on the evening routes.In Dassel, buses unload/load on the south side of Dassel Elementary. In Cokato, buses will unload/load on the south side of Cokato Elementary. Parents should NOT drop off, or pick up students, on the side of the elementary buildings where buses are unloading or loadingIf you are planning a birthday party or organization meeting, and plan to utilize the bus for transportation, you must call the district office, (320) 286-4100, extension 1005, several days prior to the event to check on availability of space on the bus. If there is not room on the bus, other arrangements for transporting to the event will have to be made. Complete district transportation policies are available at our website, www.dc.k12.mn.us or in the district office.

Medication use while at schoolOur policy is a reflection of the Minnesota Guideline for Medication Administration in Schools, published in January 2005. This guideline was developed collaboratively by the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services, the Minnesota Board of Nursing, and a statewide multidisciplinary work group. Before medication can be dispensed in school, we must have the following items on record. These items must be renewed annually and whenever there are medication and/or dosage changes: For prescription medications:• A medication authorization form must be signed

by a Health Care Provider indicating the reason for the medication, the dosage, time and frequency, possible side effects and termination date.

• Signed permission from the parent/guardian for school personnel to administer medication. • Prescription medications must be brought to

school in a pharmacy labeled bottle which contains instructions on how and when the medication is to be given. The pharmacy label must match the written order on the authorization form signed by the provider.

For over the counter medications:• Signed permission from the parent/guardian for school personnel to administer medication. • A provider’s signature is not required unless the

medication is to be given in a manner other than indicated on label.

• Over-the-counter medication must come to school in the original, unopened container. • Aspirin or any product containing aspirin will not be given without a written order from the provider.

• At the discretion of the school nurse, signed orders from a Health Care Provider can be requested.Medications that must be administered during the school day in order for a student to attend school shall be administered by the Licensed School Nurse or by a designee of the school nurse who has been trained in medication administration.All medications must be stored and locked in the health office*. Exceptions may be made for emergency medications such as inhalers and Epi-Pens; however, orders from a Health Care Provider are still mandatory and must be updated annually. Medication not picked up at the end of the school year by the parent/guardian will be destroyed.* A secondary student may possess and use non prescription medications in a manner consistent with the labeling, only when the school district has a written agreement between the Licensed School Nurse, the parent, and the student. Agreements must be updated annually. The school district may revoke a student’s privilege to possess and use nonprescription pain relievers if the school district determines that the student is abusing the privilege. This provision does not apply to the possession or use of any drug or product containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as its sole active ingredient or as one of its active ingredients.*

To protect the safety of your child, health office staff will not administer any medication to a student unless they have received the of the required information as listed above.If you have questions about this policy or other issues related to the medication administration in school, please call Annette Bohnsack, Licensed School Nurse at 320-286-4100 ext. 1804. Thank you for your cooperation!

6 Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014

Dear Parent/Guardian:Our school provides healthy meals each day. Breakfast costs $1.00; lunch costs HS/MS $1.85, Elementary $1.80. Return your completed Application for Educational Benefits to Dassel-Cokato Public Schools, 4852 Reardon Ave SW, Suite 1700, Cokato, MN 55321.Your children may qualify for free meals. New this year:• Students who qualify for reduced-price school meals will receive free lunches and breakfasts.• All kindergarten students qualify for free breakfasts.To apply for free school meals, complete the enclosed Application for Educational Benefits following the instructions. A new application must be submitted each year. If you don’t qualify now, you may apply at any time during the school year. Your application also helps our school qualify for education funds and discounts.Who can get free or reduced-price meals? Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Also, children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions.Do foster children qualify for free meals? Yes, foster children who are the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals regardless of household income. Complete an application identifying the children who are in foster care.I get WIC. Can my children get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please fill out an application. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free meals.Who should I include as members of my household? Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends).What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.How will the information I provide be kept? Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval for school meal benefits, will be protected as private data. See the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits for more information about how the information is used.Will the information I give be checked? Yes, and we may also ask you to send written proof.If you have other questions or need help, call 320-286-4100 Extension 1013.Sincerely, Tina Palmer, Business Manager

Students with lactose intolerance

State law (Minnesota Statutes 124D.114) requires a Sponsoring Authority of school meal programs to provide one of these alternatives for a student with lactose intolerance if the parent has requested an alternative in writing:• Lactose-reduced milk, or• Milk fortified with lactose in liquid, tablet,

granular, or other form, or• Milk to which lactobacillus acidophilus has been added.

Kindergarten Milk Program

Minnesota Kindergarten Milk Program, a provision of the 1988 Omnibus

Agriculture Bill, has provided for public schools to receive a reimbursement

for kindergarten special milk only. Extra milk with meals will be available at 35¢ per one-half pint.

Notice to motorists:D-C students and all other motorists who drive cars are subject to the Minnesota State Law misdemeanor charge if they pass a stopped school bus that has the stop-arm extended and red lights flashing.

Early Childhood Screening

2014-2015 ScheduleEarly Childhood Screen (ECS) is for all children who will be 3 1/2 between April 1, 2014 and March 1, 2015. All children are required to have Early Childhood Screening prior to entering kindergarten. The required components of screening include developmental, speech, language, vision, hearing, height, weight, an immunization review, as well as a review of other factors that may interfere with learning. If concerns are discovered during the screening process, additional evaluation is available to determine what kind of assistance would be most beneficial to the child. Screening gives children at least a year to work on areas of concern before entering kindergarten.If your child is on the school census, you will be sent an appointment reminder. Please contact the Early Childhood Programs Center at 320-286-4120 to make sure your child is on the census.2014-2015 screening dates are Friday, Oct. 3, November 21, January 30, and February 27. If you think your child has been overlooked, please call the Center.

Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014 7

Dear Parent or Guardian,Dassel-Cokato School District has implemented several Health and Safety management plans to protect our students and employees. These programs include asbestos management, pesticide maintenance schedules, and indoor air quality monitoring. Each has a management plan that is available for review in the District Office.Asbestos removal and repair is monitored in district buildings in a proactive manner. Asbestos work

always occurs on breaks and during the summer when students are not present in the building. Dassel-Cokato School District usually applies pesticides monthly and on an as-needed basis, although this is infrequent. Applications are made during off hours and school breaks whenever possible. The district also applies broadleaf herbicide in the spring, summer, and fall. These applications are made during off hours when there are no people present. In addition, Dassel-Cokato School District has an

Indoor Air Quality Management Plan that addresses any indoor air quality concerns that may be reported. Walkthroughs and inspections of the buildings are performed annually to prevent problems from occurring.If you have any questions about these three safety programs or have an indoor air quality concern, please contact Jeff Powers, Superintendent, 320-286-4100, ext. 1003

Health and safety management plansPrices of school lunches and athletic events

Prices for hot lunch for elementary students will be $1.80 per meal. High School and Mid-dle School students will pay $1.85 for a single meal. Students may purchase an additional milk with their lunch or choose to purchase only milk with their cold lunch at the cost of 35 cents per carton. This will be taken off the student’s lunch account. Students in grades 1-12 also have the option of purchas-ing breakfast at $1.00 per meal. Breakfast for Kindergarten students is free. Legislation enacted by the state to provide students who qualify for reduced-price lunches, to now qualify for breakfast at no charge.Meals will be paid for by sending a check for the entire family. No tickets will be issued. Accounts will be credited when payment is received. As the family members eat meals, a deduction will be made from the account. When the family account balance is at $7, an automated phone call to your home will be made. If the family account goes to -$0.01, students will not be eligible to participate in the lunch program until money has been put into the family lunch account.Students in grades K-4 can choose milk or or-ange juice for morning break. The district will be covering the cost for milk and juice break for the 2014-2015 school year.The admission price for athletic events for all school age children will be $4, adults will be $6 per event, and preschool children are free. Admission is charged for all home ath-letic events held in the school building (vol-leyball, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, wrestling) and football. When, however, two events are occurring consecutively, like swimming and gymnastics, only one admis-sion will be charged.To offset the cost burden for those per-sons who attend quite a number of athletic events, an annual pass is available for pur-chase. The annual pass permits admission to over fifty athletic events during the year for $45 per adult, $25 per student, and senior citizen, free, age 62 and older and lives in the district. Ten punch passes will now be avail-able for $30.There is an activity participation fee for junior and senior high students. The fee is $60 per activity for grades 7-8, and $80 per activity for grades 9-12. The cap is $160 per individ-ual per year. The purpose of these fees is to partially offset the cost of the programs. Fees should be paid at the high school activities office, or online prior to the student begin-ning practice. Payment arrangements can be made by contacting Stephanie Dahlin in the activities office 320-286-4100 ext. 1811.Parents and other community members in-terested in supervising DC athletic events can schedule a date and time at eligibility meetings, or you can call the activities office, ext. 1811. Volunteers scheduled to work at six (6) school events will receive one (1) adult annual pass or the Activities Department will waive your son/daughter’s activity fee for one sport per season.

Is your family on the school district census?Did you know it is required that every family register all of their children ages birth to 6 on the school census? Dassel-Cokato School District #466 keeps records of all families. Being on the school district census ensures that:•Your child will be notified of the Early Childhood Screening.•The elementary school will be expecting your child when it’s time for kindergarten.•You will automatically receive newsletters from Early Childhood Family Education.When a baby is added to your family or if you move into a different school district, you need to register with the school district. To register children on the School District, #466 census, write to the Community Education Office, 4852 Reardon Ave SW, Suite 1400, Cokato, MN 55321 or call (320) 286-4120.Thank you!!

Your help is needed

NONDISCRIMINATION: IN THE OPERATION OF THE USDA CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS, NO CHILD WILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST

BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, SEX OR DISABILITY. IF YOU

BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, WRITE IMMEDIATELY TO USDA,

DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, ROOM 326-W WHITTEN BUILDING,

1400 INDEPENDENCE AV. SW, WASHINGTON, D.C.

8 Enterprise Dispatch • DC Back to School • Aug. 18, 2014

FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DASSEL-COKATO SCHOOLS

Save these items and help us raise additional funds for our school!Check the website for more information; www.dc.k12.mn.us

Look for products with the Box Top for Education coupon. Trim the coupon and send it in. Each coupon is worth 10 cents. Last year our school raised over $1,500 collecting box tops! The class that collects the most box tops during the school year earns a special reward.

Campbell Soup Labels still count! Please trim the UPC code and logo part of the label and send it in. (If easier, send in the whole label.) The labels collected will be used to purchase equipment for the media center, music and physical education.

Over 25 million pounds of empty printer cartridges and cell phones are thrown in landfills each year. Help the environment; send those old cell phones and empty laser, inkjet, fax and copier cartridges to Dassel or Cokato Elementary or Early childhood Center. We can turn them in and get them properly recycled or disposed of and at the same time, we earn technology points for new ink cartridges and other computer items.

My Coke Rewards for Schools is a way for parents, friends and others in the community to support Dassel-Cokato schools by donating My Coke Rewards points. Our school can turn donated points into a variety of rewards that support students. You can donate your points by choosing “donate to your school” at www.mycokerewards.com, or simply send the caps/codes to school with your child and we will enter them for you.

Every Wednesday is Kids Night at the Cokato Dairy Queen. Art made by one of the elementary classes will be on display at the restaurant for the community to enjoy. DQ donates 15% of all sales from 5-8 p.m. that night to our elementary schools. What a fun and tasty way to contribute to our schools.

If you wish to contribute any of the above items, please drop them off at any of the Dassel Cokato School Buildings and they will be distributed accordingly.

Other fundraisers are Land O’ Lakes Save Five for Schools, CashWise Points for Learning, Our Family Foods Labels for Learning, K-Mart School Spirit Card, On-line shopping through boxtops4education.com and Box Tops for Education Visa Card.

Take Charge of Education® is an easy way to help us raise money for our school—for books, band uniforms, reading programs and anything else that can use extra funding.Visit Target.com/tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142 to designate our school, then use your REDcard whenever you shop. When you use your REDcard® (Target Credit Card®, Target Debit Card® or Target® Visa® Credit Card), Target® will donate up to 1% of your purchases.