- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Is it February already?? Things are starting to pick up again with Read-a-Thon, the Luminary Walk, and Spirit Night at Zero Gravity!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, February 10 - Advisory Council (5:30-6:30) & SAPSA Meeting (6:30-7:30) in library. Regular and gluten-free crust pizza will be available between the meetings. (Bring your own all-ages appropriate beverages.)
Wednesday, February 11 - Spirit Night at Zero Gravity! Jump & play, 5-8 pm
Thursday, February 12 - End of Read-a-Thon
Friday, February 13 - Family Friday (enjoy coffee and bring a pastry to share in cafeteria after drop-off)
Monday, February 16 - NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)
SAP Elementary in the ICE Age
The unnecessary and unprecedented presence of thousands of ICE agents in the Twin Cities continues, creating challenging times for our community and our school. However, our kids are continuing to attend school in person or online; they are still reading, writing, doing math, learning about the world and socializing with their peers.
As editor of the Wolf Pack Press, I'd like to shout out a special THANK YOU to all the volunteers who are manning the School Patrol, providing transportation for students, and donating and delivering food to those afraid to leave their house.
You can find an ICE Safety Resource sheet here. Also, this page has some good info about how to talk to students about ICE.
Read-a-Thon Is Here!
While the Winter Olympics start Friday, SAP Elementary's parallel "Reading Olympics" area already in full swing. Our student readers are working hard to raise money and win raffle tickets. So grab a book to read with your kid, and let the games begin!
Read-a-Thon packets were sent home this week. For a PDF of the packet, click the document below.
Spirit Night at Zero Gravity!
Zero Gravity will be hosting a School Spirit Night for St. Anthony Park Elementary on Wednesday, February 11, 5-8pm. Bounce on in and let your kiddos jump with their classmates! Proceeds go to SAPSA.
Tickets can be purchased HERE. 100% of the Pre-sale
Single Jump Tickets will benefit SAP Elementary! There is also a Facebook page for the event.
Langford Luminary Walk
Below is info on the annual Langford Luminary Walk from the St. Anthony Park Branch Library:
Please join the St. Anthony Park Branch Library Association (SAPBLA) in celebrating the strength of our community as we come together to bring light into the darkness. Through glowing displays, warm company, and shared hopes for a peaceful world, we’ll create a weekend filled with meaning, connection, and collective care.
Luminary Event Schedule
Below you will find a list of scheduled events. In addition, the luminary walk will be lit each night from Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, inviting quiet contemplation, peaceful family outings, or moments of reflection at your own pace.
Saturday February 7 - Luminary Building Event
2:00PM - 4:00PM - St. Anthony Park Branch Library
This hands-on activity is open to all ages and provides a chance to create something meaningful while spending time with neighbors. Bring your lantern to the luminary procession on 2/14/2026.
Saturday, February 14 - Luminary Procession
6:30PM - Lantern Procession From Library To Langford Park
Gather with lanterns at the St. Anthony Park Branch Library for a poetry reading and procession to Langford Park where the luminary path will be lit.
7:00PM - 8:00PM – Crankie Storytelling with Alisa Mee
Join Alisa Mee from SAP Branch Library as she does her luminary traditional storytelling.
7:00PM - 8:00PM - Como Senior High School Choir
We are honored to be joined by the Como Senior High School Choir, whose voices will fill the space with selections from the Justice Choir Songbook, offering music rooted in reflection, hope, and collective strength.
8:00PM – Family Skate at Langford Park Rink
The rink will be open for skating with music and dreamy lighting. Bathrooms will be open and some concessions will be available.
Volunteers Needed!
To help create this magical event, we’re seeking volunteers to support two special activities that pull the weekend together.
Ice Luminary Building: We invite neighbors to help create ice luminaries that will line the trail in Langford Park. Whether you make just one or a whole bunch, each luminary adds its own glow—and together they’ll light the way beautifully.
Candle Lighters: To bring the luminaries to life, we’re looking for volunteers to help light the candles and place them into the luminaries. You can sign up for one evening or all three—each shift is a short commitment of about 25 minutes per night.
If you are able and willing to volunteer, please complete our event volunteer form.
Give Kids a Smile Dental Clinic
From school nurse Jeannie Vore:
Give Kids a Smile is a free dental event for children under 18. It takes place annually on the first Friday & Saturday of February: February 6-7, 2026. A number of clinics participate.
Finding a clinic with open appointments is as easy as visiting www.mndental.org or contacting the United Way – simply dial 2-1-1 on your phone or text your zip code to 898-211. Appointments can then be scheduled directly with the dental office.
Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. No eligibility questions are asked in an effort to remove any possible barrier to care.
History Lesson—The Gutterson School
Before St. Anthony Park Elementary opened its doors in 1955, there was the Gutterson School. This school was built in 1888 and located at the corner of Como and Commonwealth, where the parking lot for Centennial United Methodist Church is now located.
Originally named Murray School after local attorney William Pitt Murray, it was the neighborhood's first primary school, and the first class had one teacher (Emma Cooper) and nine students. Later on, the original four rooms of the school were expanded to eight, and in 1925 a new junior high was built for the burgeoning neighborhood. The Murray name was transferred to that school, and Murray Middle School is still standing to this day. The old school was renamed the Gutterson School after community leader and businessman Gilbert Gutterson, who had passed away in 1923.
When St. Anthony Park Elementary was built just down the hill, the Gutterson school was demolished. However, you can still visit a tribute stone to Gilbert Gutterson in nearby College Park.
Library Helper
Mr. Watson, our Library and Materials Management EA, would greatly appreciate help with reshelving books for an hour during the school week.
To sign up as a library helper, click HERE .
Have a great week, 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
