Wolf Pack Press - December 3, 2025
- Communications
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday. Now Winter Break is only a few weeks away!
Upcoming Events
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​​Tuesday, December 9 - Advisory Council (5:30-6:30) & SAPSA Meeting (6:30-7:30) in library
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Friday, December 12 - Family Friday (enjoy coffee and bring a pastry to share in cafeteria after drop-off)Â Â
Saturday, December 13 - School Choice Fair. 9:30-2pm at the River Centre
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December 22 - January 2 - WINTER BREAK! Â
School Choice Fair
The School Choice Fair will be held on Saturday, December 13, 9:30-2pm at River Centre. We are looking for two or three volunteers to represent SAP Elementary. If you are interested, sign up HERE!
Art Adventure Is Another Masterpiece
If you see 2nd - 5th grade students coming home with an amazing sculpture, painting or frieze, odds are that it was created as part of Art Adventure.
This is a program organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and masterminded by SAP parent Sarah Langford. The MIA sends reproductions or photos of six works in the museum. Inspired by them, students create their own works as part of their Performing Arts curriculum. This year we've had:
Soap carvings inspired by the Jade Mountain sculpture.
Construction paper friezes inspired by a Malagan frieze from Papua New Guinea
Sculptures inspired by Picasso's bronze Baboon and Young and William Edmundson's limestone Ram
Painting inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's Pedernal - From the Ranch #1 and Junius Brutus Stearns' A Fishing Party Off Long Island
Each class is presented the piece of art and then given the rest of the hour to work on their own masterpiece, with art projects designed by SAP parent Todd Balthazor. Todd's creative genius has really helped the kids' creativity SOAR!Â
Most classes are taught by volunteer parents who do some training or research on the art. After volunteering with my wife Lisa, I must say this is a wonderful opportunity to actually "teach" your child's class ... well, you know, with Ms. Brandvik beside you to keep chaos in check. The kids love seeing new faces and have a thousand ideas about their own piece of art. See the Gallery section below for some standout examples!
Art Adventure runs through mid-December, and students will create their own "museum" with their works of art. Then early next year each class will take a field trip to the MIA to see their inspirations in person. Roadtrip anyone!?
Visual arts were dropped from the SAP specialist rotation in the 2024-25 school year due to budget constraints. But thanks to the volunteers, Ms. Brandvik, and the MIA, visual arts are now back in the classroom at SAP Elementary! And thanks to you all for your generous donations to SAPSA, which pays for the Art Adventure field trip buses and art supplies.
Gallery
Below are some examples of art created in the Art Adventure program. However we hope to keep a semi-regular "Gallery" feature in the Wolf Pack Press featuring student art. Send your child's art or writing to communications@sapsamn.org!
The Student Directory Is Here!
Your student should have recently brought home the SAP Elementary 2025-26 Student Directory. Stop by the office if you need an additional copy.
    
Thanks to everyone who made the directory possible, as well as our sponsors (Life Inspired Fitness Training, Pletschers' Greenhouses, Dolly Langer at Edina Realty, and Courtney Law Office). Special kudos to Lea Chittenden for organizing it!
Wolf Ridge Calendars for Sale
Each year, SAP Elementary 5th graders take an unforgettable trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN. This 5 day, 4 overnight camp experience builds core memories through outdoor adventures and experiential learning about MN History and the Lake Superior Area. The cost to attend is $300/student but NO child is turned away for lack of payment.Â
One way scholarships are provided is through the sale of calendars featuring Minnesota Wildlife. This year's photographer is Dominique Braud.Â
Calendars cost $20Â and ALL proceeds go towards funding Wolf Ridge scholarships for 5th grade students.Â
Order your Wolf Ridge 2026 calendar by filling out this form:
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 HEREÂ .
Spirit Wear
Rep your favorite elementary school! T-shirts ($15/kid, and $20/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.
For existing orders, shirt pickup is moved back to 10/10, not curriculum night as I initially planned.
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