Garrison Public Schools

Since the Governor’s announcement on Sunday night that K-12 schools would be closed, our teachers have been working vigorously to get ready for what many feared was coming.  In an effort for families and staff to prepare , we believe it’s best to move forward with this plan.  Therefore, we will begin our blend of learning alternatives on Monday, March 23rd.  Specific classroom questions can be communicated later this week to your child’s classroom teacher.  Please email nick.klemisch@k12.nd.us with discussion points you may have and I will put together an FAQ to answer those questions the best we can. Deployment of materials and tech devices will go out as planned tomorrow. All staff will continue to report as we have done this week.  PS we still do not have updates on spring activities, prom, and graduation. Our hope is the curve will flatten soon and we will back to normal.  Thank you for bearing with us as we enter uncharted educational territory.

This is Mrs. Fuller. The following message is for students and parents in grades K-6. In the midst of the coronavirus, we have been trying to prepare for school next week and beyond with so much unknown. We are hoping to be back at school next week but are planning in case we need to continue to quarantine ourselves. Our teachers have been working and preparing to continue education through an online platform in case we remain out of school. We will also be using some online tools to interact with our students throughout home-based learning times. We ask that parents of K-6 students come and get educational materials quickly on Thursday with the following schedule. You will need to use the North East Gym door, and we will only allow ten people in the gym at a time. Bring bags for your children’s items as we are sending Chromebooks (grades 3-6) as well as other curricular materials to use for school-at-home learning time. Our teachers are working on lessons and custodial staff are busy disinfecting our school. Here are the groups and times for material pickup: Parents of students with the last name beginning: A-B can come on Thursday from 10–10:20, C-D 10:20-10:40, E-F 10:40-11:00, G-H 11-11:20, I-J 11:20-11:40, K 11:40-12:00, L-M 12:00-12:20. N-O-P 12:20-12:40, R-S 12:40-1:00, T 1:00-1:20, U-V-W-X-Y-Z 1:40-2:00. If you have students with multiple last names, please find your children’s materials with your oldest child’s last name. Please try to stick to your time as much as possible. If you have only a preschool-aged child, there is no need to come pick up materials at this time. If you wish to return library materials at this time, you may bring them. Thank you for your help and cooperation in getting students materials to help them in continuing to learn as we battle COVID-19. We look forward to time when we can be back in school learning together with our students and staff in the future.

Good afternoon, this is Steve Dangel, Principal at Garrison High School. The following message pertains to students and parents in grades 7-12. In the midst of the coronavirus, we have been trying to prepare for school next week and beyond. We are hoping to be back at school next week but are planning that Gov Borgum or President Trump and the CDC will want us to continue to quarantine ourselves. If we are not at school, our teachers have been working and preparing to continue education through an online platform. One of our concerns is the lack of resources by our students, for example they don’t have chrome books or textbooks because they are here at the school. To help remedy this situation, I have broken our students down into groups of 10. We ask that students come and get their needed material quickly on Thursday or Friday. Our teachers are working on lessons and custodial staff are busy disinfecting classrooms, hallways, lockers, doors, and door knobs. I would like to thank you for all your assistance and flexibility while we overcome the coronavirus. Here are the groups and times for material pickup, please keep siblings grouped together, there is no need to come in at different times: Students with the last name Aasand — Bendickson can come on Thursday from 9–9:30, Betz — Davidson 10-10:30, Diffley — Franklin 11-11:30, Fuller — Hernandez 12-12:30, Hett — Huesers 1-1:30, Hummel — Jochiem 2-2:30, and Johnson — Kinden 3-3:30. Starting on Friday from 9-9:30 Kittel — Kolden, Kidman — Marsch 10-10:30, Mautz — Meyers 11-11:30, Nelson — Perkins 12-12:30, Phelps — Sand 1-1:30, Sanders — Schlehr 2-2:20, Schmitcke — Souza 2:30-2:50, Stehr — Vetterman 3-3:20, and Westman — Zook 3:30-4. I again want to thank you for your patience and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Please fill out the following district survey by Tuesday at 8:00 am to gain insights on how we can prepare for the shut down should it continue beyond this week. https://forms.gle/r4fA7Z9qHb3Z...​​

Dr. K. here with an update.... I will be meeting with my administrative team tomorrow to develop our plan moving forward based on the Governor’s recommendations. All staff will now report to work on Tuesday. This week will not be made up, but we will be preparing for the event should we be closed longer than this week. Our custodians will continue cleaning tomorrow and additional staff will utilized the remainder of the week to further this process. Please ensure you avoid large social groups and stay home if you’re sick. More updates to come. Thank you all for your patience as we continue to work through this.

All... The Governor has just announced the closing of all schools in North Dakota through March 20, possibly longer. As a result, all teachers, secretaries, and custodians should report to the high school gymnasium at 8:15 tomorrow. Students and parents we will prepare things for what lies ahead. Make up dates and information regarding what students are to do in the interim will come tomorrow via our alert system and social media. If you have questions, I will try my best to answer them as expeditiously as possible. Please email me at nick.klemisch@k12.nd.us or calling 463-2818.

Dr. K. here once again.... With the announcement from the NDHSAA and further announcements by the ND Dept. of Health, Governor’s Office, and The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction we have decided to not allow any outside activities use of our facilities until further notice.  School will be on as planned, but we are suspending all active groups from using our facilities. Additionally, Science Olympiad Monday, HS concert Tuesday, career fair Wednesday, and doughnuts with grownups are all cancelled this week. Please contact the school if you have any questions, comments, and concerns. I will continue to provide updates to you as this progresses.

We are continuing to  monitor the advice of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in our area. We are aware that this is a rapidly evolving situation and will continue to monitor those events happening in our state and region.  The school has not received any recommendation or mandate from any organization as of now to close our school system. The district is working to address possible options in the event we are forced to close.  We are looking at providing some online lessons, reading and math supplements, etc...  in the event that our area would arrive at a situation where we would need to cancel regular school activities or in the event of a full quarantine. At this time we do not have plans to change our course of action or cancel any extra-curricular activities. Those families who do not have devices or internet connectivity at home are encouraged to contact the school to allow us to make individual contingency plans in the event we we close. Should the situation change patrons will be updated via social media and our instant alert system. We will continue to monitor the recommendations of the NDDPI, CDC and the NDDoH.

In light of all the sickness going around, please take this long spring break weekend to recoup. If your child has any signs of sickness, please keep them home. Two of my children both tested positive for influenza A and their symptoms were like that of a common cold. Our schools will be disinfected over the weekend. Regarding the Coronavirus, we will continue to monitor this as well and will defer to the guidance we receive from the state. At this time, we are not planning on closing for an extended period of time unless we are directed to do so.

Parents: we have canceled spring photos with Lifetouch due to poor quality and timeliness of receiving product. Please ignore any communication you receive from them about spring picture day in March. Thank you.

Let’s go, Troopers! Tied at the half!

Attached are the results from the McLean County music festival. We had several great performances by our students. Special thank you to Mr. Hertz and Mrs. Gehring for ensuring our kids were on key!

You’re invited to the High School Band and Choir Spring Concert on Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30pm in the High School Gymnasium. 🎶😊

Reminder... bus permission slips need to be turned into today for the pep bus to Bismarck on Monday.

A friend shared this article from the Legion Newspaper. Congrats Deputy Dave! You are a great role model for our students and an asset to our school district.

Regional Fan Bus!!! We would love to fill the bus to cheer on the Boys' Basketball Team. Bus will leave at 3, permission slips are in the office and need to be returned by Friday.

Offices will be closed from 9-11 today. If you need to contact the school, call or text Mrs. Fuller at 337-6132.

Thank you to author Sean Covel for an amazing Family Literacy Event! Thank you to all the families who attended, and also to the staff members who assisted in making the arrangements and setting up/cleaning up today!

Reminders.... Thursday PT Conferences will begin at 4:00 at the elementary school. All elementary students should have a scheduled time and grades 7-12 will be the elementary gymnasium. Saturday from 6-10 pm we will be hosting a backyard game night for grades 7-12. If you have corn hole boards and bags, ladder golf, etc... we can use please send them with your child. Also, we will have some classrooms available for video games. Gaming systems will also have to brought by students. Food and beverages will be provided along with smores to be made by students. The purpose of this night will be to provide students with an opportunity to do constructive activities during the weekend. Please encourage your children to come, as it should be a great time. Please share!!!

We are almost ready! Sneak peek!