Don't forget to sign up for Conferences!
It is time to sign up for spring conferences! Conferences will be:
Wednesday, March 23, from 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Thursday, March 24, from 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Friday, March 25, from 8:00 - 11:00 AM and 12:00 - 3:00 PM
Because COVID numbers are down, our default mode for conferences will be in-person. Masks will be required, we will sit at a distance, and we ask you to limit visitors to parents and guardians only. If you would prefer to meet online, please contact the classroom teacher to request a Google Meet code, after you have signed up. Here is the link to sign-up for conferences: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/St_Anthony_Park_Elementary_1
Staff Room Stock Up -- Help Needed
During Spring 2022 conferences, SAP Elementary families will be providing snacks for teachers! They teach Wednesday and Thursday, then gear back up for afternoon/evening conferences. This makes for three very long, exhausting days. We want to keep them fortified and make sure our appreciation of their hard work is evident!
New this March: we are also using this opportunity to stock up the staff room with some shelf-stable provisions for the next few months. Boxes of granola bars, packs of bubbly water, dried fruit, etc. This is why you will see some large quantities of items on the sign-up!
Fresh snacks and treats will be available to teachers starting at 2:00 PM on March 23, 2021.
If you are bringing a shelf stable item for the stock-up, you can leave in the main office at drop-off any time next week.
If you are bringing a fresh item or one that requires refrigeration like ice cream bars, fresh cookies, fresh fruit, please bring your contribution to school between 12-1:30PM on Wednesday the 23rd. If your item doesn't require refrigeration, feel free to leave during drop-off.
As you can see, we are asking mostly for items teachers can take to go. We've left a few blank spots for those of you who enjoy baking or are snack aficionados to fill in with items you would like to bring.
***There is a nut allergy, so please keep any nut topping separate and/or provide a label naming the nut ingredient.***
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Please share this sign-up with anyone who might be interested in contributing to snacks. Thank you for showing your appreciation for all our teachers do!
Save the Date: Science Fair, Monday, March 28th!
The St. Anthony Park Elementary Science Fair will take place on Monday, March 28th. Our 3rd-5th Grade students will be presenting their Science projects. 3rd, 4th, 5th Grade Families are invited to attend the night of March 28th. K-2 students will be able to walk though during the day on Monday.
From Mr. Schrankler: we still need 5 people to help with giving students feedback on their projects. No special scientific talents are needed, just the ability to communicate with the presenters (students) and give them some friendly feedback. We could also use some help in taking down tables and cleaning up after the evening session. (All volunteers must be vaccinated-COVID-19 and wear masks in the building). Here are the two opportunities:
7:45AM—11:00 AM Evaluators Giving Feedback
6:45 PM-7:30 PM Science Fair Clean-up
Here is the LINK to sign-up to volunteer. Thank you!
Meeting Recaps
SAPSA and Advisory Council Minutes are here:
At both monthly meetings, we heard an update from Principal Duke:
Covid numbers are way down and continue to be low.
There are now changes in Covid protocols:
No more contact tracing, no assigned seats, changes to lunchroom layout,
Large events allowed with distancing like the Science Fair on March 28th
Field trips like 5th Grade Wilderness Inquiry
Masks / School Board will vote 3/22
No change to volunteer/visitor policy; vaccination or testing still required
Possible changes/additions to volunteer/visitor opportunities including parents to coming back slowly again to do drop off on assigned days.
We hope to have a Spring Picnic and Field Day!
We hope Kindergarten Orientation will be in person.
Advisory Council
At Advisory Council, we discussed the timeline for the school's budget. Dr. Duke reviewed the dates for when major budget related milestones happened last year (April-May). There are still many moving pieces that need to fall into place before there will be any numbers to share like enrollment projections, state legislature decisions, and potential additional ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds. The typical sequence is first the allocation from district, then meeting with staff, then meeting with principals, then meeting with Advisory Coucil, then meeting with school community, then submit final budget.
Here are some relevant variables unique to our school: How will Envision, school closures, start time changes, affect interest in SAP? Kindergarten applications are most likely known by now. How will the relatively small 1st grade class continue to move through the school in terms of number of classrooms?
Advisory Council needs a chairperson for next academic year. Karen will put out a call in her next Principal’s newsletter. Samantha hopes to remain involved and eventually provide some connection between district-wide family engagement and school-level council work.
Also, if anyone has a student interested in interviewing a SAP staff member, please fill out this form! https://forms.gle/vmofQ7NgmMYfJn5GA
SAPSA
We heard from Dr. Duke with her Principal Update (summarized above), Cara Melvin about this month's Service Project (see below) and Beth Davies (Every Meal Bags, see below). We also discussed the Science Fair (above) and recapped the Luminary Walk which was deemed very enjoyable and will hopefully become an annual tradition.
We received an update from our Treasurer, Nia Anderson.
We have recently funded the following asks: MN Historical Society Books for 4th Grade, Clay for Ms. Wilson for stop motion animation, and Lunch Room Positive Behavior Reinforcement Items.
Dr. Duke is putting in a proposal to request SAPSA fund the 5th Grade Wilderness Inquiry trip
We would like to remind families that SAPSA is an approved charity in the Amazon Smile program.
New items for the Teacher Lounge new items to be delivered tomorrow. Families are being asked to provide consumables as part of a staff room stock up around conferences next week (see above).
We also discussed upcoming events: The Spring Carnival & Book Fair is scheduled for Friday May 13th. The Carnival will be outside while the Book Fair will be indoors. The goal to be a community builder not a fundraiser.
SAPSA is looking to fill Board Positions for the 2022-2023 school year. Please say hi at Spring Conferences where we will have a table. Also, we will have Lost & Found items out for you to look through when you visit for conferences! THANK YOU.
Service Opportunity: Welcome To Our New Neighbors!
The International Institute of MN is working to resettle more than 600 refugees to the Twin Cities this year, including at least 250 people who evacuated Afghanistan in early September. Over 200 have arrived in the past couple months. They need St. Anthony Park Elementary School’s help to provide toiletries to donate to families when they arrive. Your donations will go directly to welcome new families to Minnesota!
Please drop off donations in the collection box in the SAP school entry through April 1.
Full Size Toiletries Needed:
☐ Package of toilet paper
☐ Shampoo
☐ Conditioner
☐ Liquid hand soap (in pump dispenser)
☐ Bar soap for bathing
☐ Deodorant
☐ Razors and shaving cream for men
☐ Toothbrushes
☐ Toothpaste
*travel size toiletries are not preferred
Here are a few resources to talk to your kids about the refugee crisis:
• Go to www.booktrust.org/uk and search "refugee" for excellent book lists for youth of all ages
• Go to the UN Refugee Agency: www.unhcr.org/en-us/teaching-about-refugees.html
• Go to www.kids.nationalgeographic.com and search "afghanistan"
The International Institute of MN, located just east of St. Anthony Park at 1694 Como Ave, has resettled more than 25,000 refugees to MN since the U.S. refugee resettlement program began in 1974. Questions? Reach out to larabollweg@yahoo.com or carabmelvin@gmail.com
We are now offering Every Meal (bags of food). If you are interested in having your child bring home a FREE bag of nonperishable food on the last day of every week, please open the link below to sign up.
To receive your first bag of food in mid-March
Click here for full details (in English, Somali, Hmong and Spanish)
You may also let your child’s teacher know, or email our school counselor, Megan Rinn, at megan.rinn@spps.org
Lost & Found
Are these items your child's? Please follow https://www.instagram.com/lostandfoundsap/ and connect with us! Your items will be identified and put into the laundry basket in the front office. And please label your child's clothes! It is the very best way to get your items back to you. Thanks!
From Our Friends At Langford Park
Sign-up for Summer Camps at Langford, North Dale & Northwest Como is now live. Here are the camps being offered at those locations.
What's For Lunch?
What's For Breakfast?
Calendar
March 23-24 Conferences 3-6PM
March 25th Conferences AM & PM (No School)
March 28th, SAP Science Fair
April 1st School Spirit Day (Pajama Day)
April 4-8th Spring Break (No school)
April 12th SAPSA & AC Meetings
April 15th Digital Learning Day
May 1st Board Nominee Deadline
May 10th SAPSA & AC Meetings
May 10th Board Elections
May 10-12th Plant Sale
May 13th Spring Carnival (outside)
May 20th Ninja Anywhere
May 30th Memorial Day (No School)
June 2 Fifth Grade Celebration
June 7th Fifth Grade Celebration (RAIN DATE)
June 10th Last Day of School
July 31st – End of 2021-2022 Fiscal Year and Current Board Positions
August 1st – Start of 2022-2023 Fiscal Year and New Board Assume Positions