Wolf Pack Press, November 5th

Covid-19 Vaccines Now Available for Children Ages 5-11

Vaccines are now available for elementary school children from ages 5 to 11. Minnesota has set up a website dedicated to making information about how and why to get your child vaccinated clear and accessible. You can visit that website here: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/vaxforkids/

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) Vaccine Clinics for Ages 5-11:

SPPS is partnering with St Paul-Ramsey County Public Health to offer vaccine clinics to students ages 5-11 at Como Park Elementary (780 Wheelock Pkwy. W.) and Battle Creek Elementary (60 Ruth St. S.).

• Como Park Elementary will hold first-dose clinics on November 15, 22 and 29 from 3-6 p.m.

• Battle Creek Elementary will hold first-dose clinics on November 16, 23 and 30 from 3-6 p.m.

• Patients will receive a date for a second-dose vaccination during their first-dose appointment.

Appointments are required. Register at ramseycounty.us/COVIDvaccine.

Other useful sites for vaccine availability (based on providers we know are already offering appointments or will be doing so imminently). All sites below offer free vaccinations and most locations are accessible by public transportation.

• Mall of America Vaccination Clinic (check often, appointments open up based on dose availability.)

• Health Partners (different days are available at different locations; you do not need to be a Health Partners patient to sign up for a vaccine)

• Walgreens (check often, appointments open up based on dose availability)

• Ramsey County Pop-up Clinics and Community Center sites

This year's Spirit Wear features the return of our iconic wolf in celebration of SAPSA's 40th anniversary! For several of our items, you can customize your shirt color and size. Our current campaign closes on November 17th; if you order before the 17th, delivery is estimated by December 8th. Items ship directly to customers. While we may extend our campaign, this is your sure shot way to get these great vintage looks in time for the holidays. The store is here.

Give to the Max Day: November 18th!

Give to the Max Day is a statewide outpouring of support for thousands of nonprofits and schools across Minnesota! GiveMN's Giving Holiday is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, but you don’t have to wait to support St. Anthony Park Elementary. Early Giving is underway at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Sapsa

Donations made before November 18th qualify SAPSA for cherished Golden Tickets. Golden Tickets are random chance drawings. Each gift you make during Give to the Max enters you to win money for the causes you support! Daily $500 Golden Tickets will be awarded each day during Early Giving, and prizes will be awarded every 15 minutes all day long during Give to the Max Day on November 18!

Our direct giving goal for 2021-2022 is $11,600 and we expect a large portion of that to come from Give to the Max Day. This is an excellent opportunity to look into whether or not your employer matches donations.

Saint Paul Public Schools Sustainability Engagement Survey

Saint Paul Public Schools recognizes the need for action on conserving resources and protecting our environment. SPPS is currently taking great steps towards increasing energy conservation and efficiency. Energy use and many sustainability issues are tied closely to climate change, and we recognize this is important to our community. Sustainability requires collaboration and collective action. It is crucial to involve students, parents, staff, and community in the process of planning and implementing solutions to address climate change. It should take fewer than 10 minutes to complete this survey. Your responses will be used to help define what sustainability topics are important to the SPPS community and who is essential to be involved. Click here to begin. Thank you in advance for your participation!

What's For Lunch?

What's For Breakfast?

Please join us for an update from Principal Duke and discussions about Envision SPPS.

Please join us to discuss our second quarter budget and vote on a funding proposal from Ms. Williams.

Conferences:

Wednesday, 11/17 (3-6PM)

Thursday, 11/18 (3-6PM)

Friday, 11/19 (All day) -- NO SCHOOL THIS DAY

Thanksgiving Break:

Thursday, 11/25 -- NO SCHOOL THIS DAY

Friday, 11/26 -- NO SCHOOL THIS DAY

Wolf Pack Press, 10/27/21

Thank You, Mrs. Jeffers!

Today is Mrs. Jeffers last day at Saint Anthony Park Elementary. After thirty-five years dedicated to teaching, Mrs. Jeffers is retiring. We are so grateful for her warmth, joy, humor and kindness and her many years of service to our school community. We wish her the very best in the years to come and will miss her very, very, very much.

(Also, did you know her daughter runs a garden center near Nokomis? Check it out! Agrarian Seed and Garden. How cool!)

Reminder: There is no school this Friday, October 29th.

Upcoming No School Days

Friday, 10/29

Friday, 11/19

Thursday, 11/25

Friday, 11/26

Digital Learning Day:

Tuesday, 11/2

Election Day:

Tuesday, 11/2

Conferences:

Wednesday, 11/17 (3-6PM)

Thursday, 11/18 (3-6PM)

Friday, 11/19 (All day)

Thanksgiving Break:

Thursday, 11/25

Friday, 11/26

Reminder: Election Day is November 2nd / Next Tuesday is a Digital Learning Day

We urge you to vote next Tuesday. This year, Saint Paul residents will vote for Mayor and on a ballot question about limits on rent increases. We will also vote for several members of the St. Paul Public School Board which comes at a particularly sensitive time as board members prepare to vote on Envision SPPS. Here is some information to help you prepare to vote.

The Saint Paul School Board has seven members, each elected through a citywide vote. The board members are elected to four-year terms on a staggered basis. This November 2nd, Saint Paul voters will have the opportunity to fill four of the seven positions.

• Candidates will be elected from two pools. In one pool, there are six candidates running to fill three of the four vacancies. The three top vote-getters will each serve a four year term.

• In the other pool, there are two candidates running to fill one vacancy. The winner of this special election will be serving the remaining two years of a recently-vacated four year seat.

You can learn more about the candidates in a number of ways, and we have tried to consolidate many of the resources here. Early absentee voting is open now. Information about how to register and vote on or before election day is available here.

Saint Paul Board of Education At-large (three seats available, 4 year term)

James Farnsworth

Halla Henderson

Jennifer McPherson

Jim Vue

Uriah Ward

Ryan Williams

Saint Paul Board of Education At-large Special Election (one seat available, serving the remaining 2 years of a vacated term)

Jeanelle Foster

Clayton Howatt

Voter Guides:

League of Women Voters Saint Paul Voter Guide

Star Tribune Saint Paul City Elections Voter Guide

Sahan Journal School Board Candidate Pop Quiz

Candidate forums:

League of Women Voters Saint Paul School Board Candidate Forum 10/6/21

Staff Spotlight!!!

Which SAP staff member loves pizza with everything on it and lives on a small farm in Wisconsin? She also spent one summer teaching in China! This teacher loves to visit Door County and comes from a big family. Any guesses? It’s Ms. Baerenwald, St. Anthony Park’s Speech/Language Pathologist! Ms. Baerenwald was recently interviewed by one of her students and you can learn more about her by reading the interview here.

Directories: Thank You & Sponsorship

Thank you to everyone who submitted directory information to be included in this year's student directory! Directories will be delivered to students (one per family) early next week.

We off-set the cost of the directories by offering sponsorship placements. Perhaps you have a business or service you would like to let the parents/guardians of 400 area students know about? Please let us know! The model is simple: $25 for a quarter page, $50 for a half page and $100 for a full page. Black and white only. Deadline this Friday. Please reach out to Nia Anderson at yeseniag@gmail.com if you would like to book a sponsorship placement.

What's For Lunch?

What's For Breakfast?

Repeat Announcements

EDL (Extended Day Learning) Music Instructors Needed!

Ms. Weisman writes: Our St Anthony Park EDL after school program needs music instructors for our 4th and 5th graders in the after school program. The school district is short staffed, and we usually have a full band and strings program. We also have a school set of decent ukuleles as well! I am very flexible and musicians who would like to teach or teachers who play an instrument would all be welcome. The program is Tue and Thu 2-3:45. Usually students receive small group lessons. I am very eager to provide a musical choice, and I’m open to various ways to do this. The program runs from Oct 26 - May 26. Please email Ms. Weisman at marcia.woods-weisman@spps.org

Dine Out Fundraising Coordinator

Do you know the best local spots to eat out? Do you enjoy trying new cuisine? With a light commitment you'll be a great fit to help SAPSA as a Dine Out Fundraising Coordinator! Call your favorite local restaurants and search chain restaurant websites to develop about 6-8 dine out (or take out) events over the course of the year. You will be the liaison on behalf of our school and in charge of booking the events. Please click here to sign up.

Service Project Team Leaders

We're looking for 2-3 Service Project Leads to work together as a team to identify organizations to partner with on service projects. Last year, we partnered with My Very Own Bed, St. Anthony Park Seniors and Project Reach. The team will create 2-3 service projects with a clear activity for the SAP Elementary Community and end date. They will also coordinate any necessary volunteer needs for each project.

If there are deliverables (like blankets or coats), have a plan to get items to the partner organization. This will require medium commitment with planning meetings and availability during events. It's a great way to get the SAP Elementary Community involved with the larger community and help those in need. Please click here to sign up.

SAPSA Board Positions For 2022-2023

Almost our entire board will finish serving out our terms this spring. Are you interested in community leadership? Do you enjoy communicating with other parents? Perhaps you are really good at planning events? Maybe you just want to meet people with children the same age as yours? Board positions that will be open: Vice President, Advisory Council Chair, Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator, Communications Chair, Treasurer. Elections will take place in April/May 2022. Please reach out to Amy Raddatz for more information or plan to attend a monthly SAPSA meeting to see what it's all about.

Staff Spotlight: Ms. Baerenwald

Ms. Baerenwald was interviewed by Katerina Hanson!

Katerina: Do you have any pets?

Ms. Baerenwald: I have two pets. One cat, and one labrador dog.

Katerina: Who is in your family?

Ms. Baerenwald: I’m married to my husband Steve and then I have two daughters that are all grown up.

Katerina: Do you have any siblings?

Ms. Baerenwald: I do! I come from a family of seven kids! So I come from a very, very big family, Katerina! How many siblings do you have?

Katerina: Two!

Katerina: Where do you live?

Ms. Baerenwald: I live in River Falls, Wisconsin, on a little farm.

Katerina: What do you have on your farm?

Ms. Baerenwald: Well, I used to have cows and chickens and turkeys and horses.

Katerina: No zebras or giraffes?

Ms. Baerenwald: No, no giraffes and no zebras!

Katerina: What is your favorite place to visit?

Ms. Baerenwald: I like to go to Door County which is a gorgeous place in Wisconsin. Have you ever been there?

Katerina: No.

Ms. Baerenwald: It’s right above...well have you been to Wisconsin Dells?

Katerina: No.

Ms. Baerenwald: Oh, that should be on your bucket list. My kids said it was wonderful! But I like to go to the water. Door County is on the bay.

Katerina: What is your favorite animal?

Ms. Baerenwald: I think my favorite animal is the red panda!

Katerina: What do you do for fun?

Ms. Baerenwald: I like to do gardening and reading.

Katerina: Is there anything you’d like to be besides a speech teacher?

Ms. Baerenwald: I would like to be an artist!

Katerina: What are your favorite foods?

Ms. Baerenwald: Besides ice cream, I like...pizza.

Katerina: You can say more than one thing!

Ms. Baerenwald: Okay, I like pizza with everything on it!

Katerina: Tell us something interesting about you.

Ms. Baerenwald: Let’s see...I taught in China one summer! That was very cool, I loved that.

Katerina: That’s where one of my friends moved to. She was here in kindergarten but then she moved back to China.

Ms. Baerenwald: I don’t know if they have red pandas there, but of course they have giant pandas, don’t they?

Katerina: Yeah!