- Jun 4
- 6 min read
Welcome to our final issue for the 24-25 school year! We have some fond farewells, fun outings, volunteer opportunities, and last-minute reminders below. Ahh... summer!
Upcoming Events
June 2-6 - Fifth grade at Wolf Ridge​
Friday, June 6 - Last day to claim articles from Lost & Found
Monday June 9 - Fifth grade graduation! 5-8pm on school grounds (more info below)
Tuesday, June 10 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!
Fifth Grade Graduation
Congratulations to our Fifth Graders! The next great adventure awaits...
A graduation celebration will be held on the school grounds from 5-8pm, with a program on the front steps at 5:30pm. (In case of rain, the celebration will be held in the gym.) There will be a photo booth, karaoke, lawn games, ice cream and a potluck picnic!
Volunteer for Next Year!
One of the things that makes our school community truly exceptional is the way we come together to provide St Anthony Park Elementary students with fun and enriching experiences. If you're looking for the best possible way to contribute to the fantastic work the St Anthony Park School Association (SAPSA) does for our students, then please sign up for a planning committee for the 2025-26 school year by following this link.
We need the talents of parents and other family members for a wide variety of activities and services—Lost & Found, the school marquee sign, the yearbook, grant writing, Fall Festival and Spring Carnival teams, Chalk the Walk, Silent Auction, Plant Sale, Read-a-Thon, Family Fridays, the list goes on and on.
Sign up now, and we will provide further information and guidance to each of the committees. Your support and dedication are greatly appreciated, and together, we can continue to make our school community thrive.
Happy Trails!
As the end of the school year approaches, St. Anthony Park Elementary gives a fond farewell to three world class teachers— Ms. Maas, Ms. Lime, and Mr. Funk—as well as our beloved principal, Dr. Duke. We'll miss you all, and SAP Elementary won't be quite the same place next year. We heard from Ms. Maas in the last issue. Below are brief interviews with Ms. Lime, Mr. Funk, and Dr. Duke. Happy trails one and all!
Ms. Lime
I was looking through an old year book from, like, 2003, and you were there with your kindergarten class! Can you reveal how many years you've actually taught at St. Anthony Park Elementary?
I’ve been at SAP for 31 years! I started my teaching career as a substitute teacher and was lucky enough to be hired here at SAP.
Why did you choose to teach kindergarten?
I wasn’t always a kindergarten teacher. I was a Language Arts Specialist and also taught 1st grade. After a few years, I had the opportunity to switch to kindergarten and found I really enjoyed teaching kindergarten. A bonus to teaching kindergarten is working with an amazing team of kindergarten teachers.
What is your favorite book and movie?
My favorite children’s book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. One of my favorite adult books would be The Book Thief.
What hobbies do you plan to pursue in retirement?
I plan to do more golfing, hiking, and traveling.
What will you miss most about SAP Elementary?
The community: staff, students, and families.
Mr. Funk
Did you like school when you were a kid?
I really liked first and I LOVED 3rd and 4th grade – and I did not care for K or 2 and disliked 5th grade —very much. It had a lot to do with who my teacher was.
What was your favorite grade to teach?
I have taught for 30+. I loved teaching 6th grade at SAP—I loved teaching first grade at Home Croft Elem—and I loved teaching 3rd grade at SAP.
What is your favorite book and movie?
Favorite Movie: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
Favorite Book: The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy
Any special plans for retirement?
I need to make some money—so I’ll be working somewhere.
I hope to travel a bunch and have more time to spend on my hobbies.(Biking Music Reading Baseball Traveling)
What will you miss most about SAP Elementary?
I will miss the people. I will miss the students the most! I also will miss working with the teachers. And I will miss being part of the St Anthony Park Elem Community very very much!
I have really enjoyed my time at SAP.
Any parting advice you'd like to share with us?Â
Take care of one another!
Dr. Duke
Did you like school when you were a kid?
Yes, I liked it a lot. I loved my teachers, I loved reading especially, and I loved going to "Isabella," which is now called Wolf Ridge. I also remember loving that I could walk to school (we lived on Scudder) and that sometimes we could go home for lunch.
What jobs did you have before you were a principal?
I was a server at a Mexican restaurant, and I was a camp counselor every summer. Then I became a teacher, and then an assistant principal.
What is your favorite book and movie?
It's hard to choose just one! One of my favorite picture books is The Great Fuzz Frenzy. It is really funny. A favorite novel is Wicked, because I like how it tells the story from Wizard of Oz from a whole different perspective. Two of my favorite movies are Inside Out and Inside Out Two, because all the emotions are similar to a lot of things I have felt in my life.
Any special plans for retirement?
The most important thing is to spend more time with my family. My kids are 15 and 19, and I have missed a lot of their activities while I was at work. Also, I will probably find some kind of work to do helping teachers or principals, or studying and teaching how school districts can support teachers and principals to be able to help kids learn better. Also, I have always wanted to work at the Apple Store. For free time, I hope to do more hiking, more reading, and lots of house projects fixing stuff. I have a million ideas, and I will probably still be busy all the time!
What will you miss most about SAP Elementary?
I will miss favorite part of the day: when the bell rings and all of the students and family members come in the front doors from 7:15-7:30. Some are happy, some are sad, some are mad; but everyone brings energy and hope for the new day. The teachers and I get to be part of all children's lives, and I feel so lucky about that. Every day brings the promise of new learning, new friends, new challenges, and a stronger Wolf Pack than the day before. That feeling of standing in the doorway and greeting everyone never gets old for me.
Any parting advice you'd like to share with us?
One of my favorite quotes is from Amanda Gorman: "For there is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it." Be the light. And another favorite quote, from Ghandi: "Be truthful, gentle and fearless." That about sums it up for me!
Lost & Found
Please check the Lost & Found and claim any sweatshirts, coats, snow pants, hats, mittens, and other clothes before Friday, June 6.
Anything that isn't claimed by the 6th will be donated.
Spirit Wear
Rep your favorite elementary school! T-shirts ($20/kid, and $22/adult) and school signs ($10) are available for pre-order now. Email president@sapsamn.org for preorders. Or, look for in-person sales at school events.
Note from the Editor
It has been my great pleasure to edit the Wolf Pack Press this school year, and I'll be back next year. Thanks to the SAPSA board, parent volunteers, and SAP Elementary staff for providing much of our content and photos. Lisa and I are so thankful that our children can attend such a vibrant, diverse, and just plain fun grade school. Enjoy your summer!
Joel Van Valin
Have a great SUMMER, Wolf Pack!
If you have suggestions for content or questions about anything in the Wolf Pack Press, please reach out to Joel Van Valin at communications@sapsamn.org
