Welcome to Kindergarten!
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Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We are thrilled that you have chosen Oak Ridge Early Learning Center for your student’s early learning education.
Our mission is to create a safe, respectful and engaging educational environment that provides developmentally-appropriate instruction focusing on the needs of the whole child.
Our staff is second to none, and I am confident that you will find our building to be a positive start to your student's Sabre journey.
Below you will find important information to help you plan for the start of this school year. Please click through the sections below for important details about:
- First Days of School
- Skyward Family Access - password-protected portal for student information
- Sabre Launch
- Back to School details
Questions? Please contact Deb Johnson in our main office via email or 320-656-3750.
Preparing for our new school year
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Skyward Family Access
Skyward Family Access - link
This password-portal allows families real-time access to student schedules, student absence requests, attendance information, meal items purchased, health information, report cards and conferences. You will also use it to schedule your personal conference for Sabre Launch.
- Families should update their contact information (phone numbers and email addresses)
- If you do not have access or have questions regarding your login/password, email Sue Fibranz or call 320-656-3701 x1131.
Required Back-To-School Registration
All families must complete the annual Back to School Registration updates each year. Parents/guardians listed as “Family 1, Parent 1” in Skyward Family Access must complete and submit the ‘Back to School Registration Checklist’ on a computer/laptop.- Family 1 head of household users should click on the Back-To-School Registration Checklist button under ‘Online Forms’ (left menu tab) (NOT New Student Enrollment) on a computer/laptop.
- Our Back to School webpage has a 3-step PDF to assist you with the process. This annual update contains IMPORTANT permissions needed before the start of school.
Teacher/classroom placement
Skyward Family Access contains your child’s teacher/classroom placement information. A great deal of time and effort has been taken to develop these classroom learning-communities that support all students. Our class lists are final and our teaching staff are working hard to prepare the classroom for their learners.Schedule your personal 40-minute Sabre Launch conference
We are excited to have Sabre Launch on September 3 & September 4. By selecting the “conference” tab, please sign up for your student’s Sabre Launch time in Skyward Family Access.Free/Reduced Eligibility and Education Benefits
If you think you may qualify for school benefits, please fill out an application via Skyward (directions online) or print the PDF packet. -
Sabre Launch - Conference & Open House
We are excited for Sabre Launch (Tuesday, September 3 and Wednesday, September 4), an innovative Open House/Conference experience for PreK-Grade 5 students and their parents/guardians held before school begins on Thursday, September 5.
Sabre Launch nurtures the home-to-school partnership and offers more individualized time for your family and your child’s classroom teacher to establish a personal connection while introducing your child to their new learning environment.
- All students MUST pre-register for a 40 minute SABRE Launch conference slot with your child’s teacher via Skyward Family Access.
- After signing into your account, click on the “Conference” tab to view available time slots.
- Families will be meeting individually with their teacher so signing up is important. We recommend the visit include the students and parents/guardians only.
The individual conference times will allow for:
- Students/Parents/Guardians - become acquainted with the classroom learning spaces
- Teachers/Students - welcome and personalized Get-To-Know-You time
- Families - drop off and organize their supplies
- Teachers - gather new academic information via Fastbridge Assessments from students for reading and math
- Parents/Guardians - complete an All About Me form for their student to help the teacher
- Learn about each student’s learning style
- Expedite the process of individualized programming
The individual conference times will allow for:
- Teacher welcome and personalized Get-To-Know-You time
- Caregivers/students become acquainted with learning spaces including the classroom, media center, lunchroom, Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Music (STEAM) lab, specialist spaces, and lockers
- Teachers to gather new academic information via Fastbridge Assessments from students for reading and math
- Students to drop off and organize their supplies
- Caregivers complete an All About Me form for their student to help the teacher
- Learn about each student’s learning style
- Expedite the process of individualized programming
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Sabre Launch - Childcare option
KIDSTOP will be available for K-5 child care on both Sabre Launch days at each building from 6:30a-6p.
Families new to KIDSTOP must register for the Boys & Girls Club KIDSTOP Program: KIDSTOP Registration - Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota This registration is for Sabre Launch only and does not include school year care.
- Note, you must complete both the registration and childcare forms separately.
Currently registered KIDSTOP families must complete the All Day KIDSTOP Child Care form in order to attend KIDSTOP on the Sabre Launch days.
Please contact the Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota administrative office at 320-252-7616 with any questions.
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Sabre Launch - School Photos
Student pictures will occur in our gym during Sabre Launch.
After meeting with your student's teacher, please stop by the gym for photos.
If you are unable to have your student take their picture that day, we will have a photographer on Thursday, October 24, for your student to take their picture during the school day.
Please view the 2024 Fall Picture Day Flyer and Lifetouch Ordering Instructions for additional information. Picture Day ID: EVTXMVHJK
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Sabre Launch - Staff available for questions
Prior to or following your individual Sabre Launch conference, school personnel and support staff will be available to answer questions and assist families with transportation, health services, food service, social worker/counselor, specialists, special education services, and technology.
Please plan for additional time around your scheduled conference to tour the school, including visiting the media center, cafeteria, Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Music (STEAM) lab, specialist spaces, lockers through a scavenger hunt activity and have your student’s school picture taken.
- Nutrition Services: Make account deposits in the cafeteria, office or online in RevTrak and complete the Free/Reduced Educational Benefit application.
- AM preschool students are able to eat a free breakfast each day while at school.
- Full Day Preschool students are able to eat a free lunch each day while at school.
- Seconds/extras are billed separately and not included in daily free meals. Please see our Nutrition Services Handbook for detailed information.
- Health Services: If your child will be needing medications at school, please bring them to the main office. Students must have a current medication order from the physician and medication in a pharmacy labeled bottle to match the physician's order.
- Transportation: Only preschool students with individual education plans (IEPs) have access to transportation in preschool. Connect with transportation to request a change in your student’s transportation.
- Nutrition Services: Make account deposits in the cafeteria, office or online in RevTrak and complete the Free/Reduced Educational Benefit application.
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School Hours & Early Release Wednesdays
School Hours for 2024-2025
7:15 a.m. Faculty hours begin
7:40 a.m. Students may enter the building
- Students should not arrive before this time (unless registered to attend KIDSTOP/KIDSTART)
7:55 a.m. Kindergarten classes begin
2:15 p.m. Kindergarten Student dismissal time
3:15 p.m. Faculty hours end
3:30 p.m. Office closes
Early Release Days
The following Wednesdays have been designated as “two hour early release days” to accommodate a staff training requirement for the state’s Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act:- September 25
- October 30
- November 27
- December 18
- January 29, 2025
- February 26
- March 19
Caregivers will indicate their student’s end of day transportation plans within the Back-to-School Registration updates. These dates are on our printed calendars and on www.isd748.org/calendar.
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Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Safety is our top priority when it comes to working with your children. We are asking for your help to keep everyone safe during our morning drop-off and afternoon pick up times. Please adhere to the following to help keep our drop-off area safe for everyone.
Drop-off Procedures
- Please drive slowly in the parking lot at all times.
- Please do not drop students off before 7:40a. Students are not supervised prior to that time.
- Park in a parking space and walk your child to the front entrance. We DO NOT permit parking along the curb for drop off or pick up.
- All students are escorted into the building by school staff. Parents are not permitted to walk their child to the classroom. It is important that all students learn to successfully separate from their parent(s) and become independent with morning arrival routines.
Pick-up Procedures
- Students are dismissed at 2:15p. Please arrive on time to meet your child at the front of our building entrance..
- PLEASE DO NOT PARK ALONG THE CURB - please park in a designated parking space and come to the front of the building. Tickets may be issued for parking in the No Parking Zone along the curb.
- Parents will wait directly outside the front entrance until students are dismissed at 2:15pm.
- Kindergarten students will be grouped by class along our building wall. All parents will be required to check their student out with one of our paraprofessional support staff members.
- Early Childhood students will be released to parents by the teacher at 2:20pm. Please look for your child’s teacher at pick-up.
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School Supplies
Our School Supply List is for both preschool and kindergarten.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties and are looking for assistance with school supplies, please email Carrie Gapinski, our social worker.
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Password-protected family portals
In addition to Skyward Family Access, our District uses:
- SeeSaw: All classroom teachers will use a digital platform called SeeSaw to post classroom news and events. Your student’s teacher will help you set up your SeeSaw account at Sabre Launch.
- Skylert: Skylert is used for weekly announcements, weather schedule updates, food service updates, and other important information. You can update your email, phone, and texting preferences in Skyward. On the left menu, click Skylert to make your updates.
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Translation Support
Visit our Translations page to learn how to translate our website, emails, PDFs, and more.
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Preschool_Welcome PMPS_Welcome RIS_Welcome SMS_Welcome SHS_Welcome
Please click the icons or links above to visit the Welcome pages for each building.
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Principal
Julia Bjerke
A few fun facts about Principal Bjerke:
- Starting her 12th year at Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 (and 19 total years in education)
- Her favorite subject is Music
- She loves to fish!
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Early Childhood Coordinator
Julie Thom
A few fun facts about Julie Thom:
- Starting her 3rd year at Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 (and 24 total years in education)
- Her favorite subject is English
- She likes to paddlboard, kayak, and hike!