Gothenburg Public Schools Home

Good Evening!  This is Mrs. Jonas,  Superintendent of Gothenburg Public Schools, calling with a few important messages after the first day of school.  The last one is very important so please listen to this message in full or check Facebook for the transcribed version.

After a long and quiet summer at the school, it was WONDERFUL to see everyone in the building today.  The first day of school is always full of so much promise, hope, and excitement.  Thank you for choosing to share your children with us!

You will see that your child has brought some paperwork home for you to review, sign, and return.  I would like to bring special attention to a few items:

First, the student handbook is new.  This student handbook covers all grades Pk - 12th and aligns with our new policies that were adopted early this summer.  Please be sure to review before signing.  Here, you will find information about attendance, discipline, school lunch, dress code, and many other items of importance.  Additionally, this document can be found online and is easily searchable in that format.

The second item I’d like to bring your attention to is our illness protocol.  This is a supplemental document that outlines the process of deciding when and how long your child needs to remain home if they are ill.  As a reminder, we’re in the business of education.  Healthcare questions should always be directed to your family physician.  The bottom line is that if your child is healthy, we want them here!

Finally, it is critically important for you to know that we must have you complete the school lunch paperwork that came home today - even if you don’t think your child will qualify for benefits.  While we have been fortunate to have two years of school meals paid for by the federal government, this program ended last May.  We have now returned to our traditional charging practices which means students must have funds available in their account OR qualify for assistance in order to be served a hot lunch.  If a student has no funds available to pay for a meal, the student will be provided and charged for a limited “courtesy meal” option, such as a plain sandwich.  

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this message.  We are truly looking forward to an outstanding school year!  If you have additional questions about any of the paperwork sent home, please feel free to call the elementary or high school offices.  Or if you have questions about the lunch policy and procedures, please contact either Joni Jacobsen, Food Services Director or myself at 537-3651 ext. 9.