January 27th, 2017
Principal's Message
 
CHANGEMAKER and THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

As many of you know Highlands is a selected Ashoka Changemaker School. Peter Hodne, former principal at Highlands is a leader in this work as well as a contributing author in the book published last year; Changemakers: Educating with a Purpose. Changemaker is defined by Bill Drayton founder of Ashoka, as someone who has both the will and skill to make positive change, who puts empathy in action for the good of all. Changemaker education is driven by a transformative mindset which challenges each of us to see beyond the entrenched "reform" stance that has taken hold of the educational system and strive for new greatness.

Changemaker schools are full of passionate educators who work tirelessly to improve the social emotional and educational context for their students. Changemaker schools across the board believe teachers and students are powerful, develop school-wide culture of empathy, and offer themselves as a hub for changemaking and innovation.  

As I am learning and planning how Highlands continues to be a strong voice in this important work. I feel very fortunate and excited to be invited to participate The Changemaker Education Summit being held in New Mexico February 15-19, 2017.  Ashoka is convening innovators, educators and thought leaders from around North America to collaborate and ignite conversations and co-create ideas for the future of education. I will communicate and share the experience during and after the summit. I will use twitter and Facebook to keep you all abreast to interesting learning as it is occurring.

Global Play Day! February 4!
"Global School Play Day is more than just a day of play. It's a day of acknowledgment that play matters, that kids need play, that our society has gone amok with testing and drilling and making kids sit in seats and has forgotten what childhood is all about. This is for affirming the child's right and need to play. I t is a day for parents, educators, playground directors, city planners-for everyone-to think about what they can do to make free play once again a major part of childhood."
Spread the Word: Feb 4 is Global School Play Day
Be Well and PLAY!
Katie
Wonderful things are happening every day! We want to share. Twitter= @Highlands_ELEM FB= @HLHappenings

Stuart Brown- Play is more than fun

Tony Wagner;PLAY-PASSION-PURPOSE

January Open Lab- Sewing Challenge
Week of 1/30-2/ 3 classes throughout the week and students will be able to come during lunch/recess. Take advantage of the space, project, supplies and learning fun for students. The schedule and information google slides will be out next week. We might have a family Open lab event as well that week so keep a look out and be sure to come and play/learn. 

Check out FB and Twitter for ongoing pictures and videos of the MAHONEY MAKER CHALLENGE and Open Lab. There is amazing learning, discovery and play happening! 

I fixed the form so it should be working!!!
I would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes and give me some feedback about how the year is going and how I can keep improving my work, energy and efforts for you. This is anonymous form unless you decide to add your name. Thanks!

Highlands Happenings
"A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota,
Normandale Auditorium.   
Here is the webpage, which includes the following highlights:
 
"A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota," is a collection edited by local author Sun Yung Shin of 16 essays by diverse Minnesota writers.  It will be the subject of three of the sessions.  Each will feature a panel of essay writers, with an opportunity for facilitated discussion reflecting on their stories and how they impact the Edina community.
 
These sessions will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
·            Thursday, March 16
·          Tuesday, April 18

 
 
Media Message
By Lisa Dooley, Media Specialist
 
 
Two wonderful things happened this week - Meghan Haselbauer and I met with parents to talk about technology and the students created an art gallery of Award Winning Books. Check out this year's winners here !
 


PTO News
Learn what is going on and volunteer.
 
IFSE 2017 Tuesday, February 28 - Save the date!
Calling all scientists, inventors, researchers and dreamers. Registration for the 2017 Highlands Imagination Fair and Science Expo is open. Visit the
IFSE event page for event details, project idea resources and to register.  We need lots of volunteers to make this event a success.

DAVANNI'S PIZZA NIGHT & FUNDRAISER
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Must Bring Coupon
 
Fundraiser at Davanni's - Tues, Jan 31, 4:00-8:00 pm AND (new this year) 11:00 am-1:00 pm.  Grab a tasty lunch OR supper and Davanni's will donate 20% of your pre-tax total to Highlands PTO!  Remember to bring the flier. Why not buy a gift card, too?  Dine-in and take out; sorry, no donation on delivery.


PARENTS - GET YOUR YEARBOOK!
Yearbooks are a fun way for kids to remember their school year, teacher and classmates. Don't forget to order you 2016 - 2017 yearbooks. Visit Highlands    PTO - http://highlandspto.com/store/ to purchase yours today.
 
Highlands SING: a Musical Carnival
March 17, 5:30-8:00
We need YOU to help plan the biggest fun night of the year for the kids!  Sign up for the planning team at: Help Plan Carnival 2017 and please join us at a pizza and Carnival planning meeting, Tues, Jan 31, 6:30 at Davanni's. Questions? Contact  DianeLindquist99@gmail.com 
 
 
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!!!
Please volunteer to help at our next two amazing events. You can sign up to help at the IFSE and at the Carnival . Positions are now posted on the PTO Website . We can't do these events without you!!
 

Shopping For Others or Just Yourself?
Don't forget to use Amazon Smile when shopping at Amazon. Sign up and the Highlands PTO will receive a portion of each sale. Every bit helps.
 
    
Box Tops - Please k eep them coming.
Box Tops is a great fundraiser and so easy to do. You'll find BoxTops on so many of the products that you use on a daily basis. Just clip the BoxTops and send them in to the collection box in the office or to your teacher.   Thank you.
Help us win 50,000 = $5,000.00
Thanks to General Mills and Walmart, every Walmart-exclusive Box Tops Certificate that we clip and collect until 3/1/17 earns our school a chance to one of the 20 winners of 50,000 bonus Box Tops - that's $5,000 for our school.  Please go to the website for more details and prizes.
 
Announcements
Edina PCN presents
Kids, Parents and Power Struggles:
The Secret to Managing the Intensity   by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D.

Monday, January 30th, 2017 at the Edina Performing Arts Center (EPAC)
Edina High School   7:00 - 9:00 Free.

How do you discipline the child who refuses to take "no" for an answer and seems to know the perfect trigger to push your buttons? Do you worry that if you "give in" today, you will be giving in forever? What do you do when every day activities like bedtime, homework and getting out the door become battles nobody wins? Mary Sheedy Kurcinka will help parents develop an understanding about what is behind their child's
challenging behavior, how to build a better relationship with their children and effective tools and techniques for preventing the daily struggles and managing the intensity. Known for her real-life examples, Mary Sheedy Kurcinka links research-based information with typical challenging behaviors and provides practical solutions which really work. She is an internationally recognized lecturer and parent educator and the
author of the top selling parenting books Raising your Spirited Child, Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving or Missing Sleep and Kids, Parents and Power Struggles . She recently earned a spot on Amazon's Top 25 Parent Education authors list.

Mary Sheedy Kurcinka holds a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership
from Hamline University and a Master's degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota.

CEU credits available for $20 Donations always welcome
www.edinapcn.com
Edina PCN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing recognized parenting resources to the Edina community. All forums are free.



Edina Students Art Show

Join the artists and their families for this reception to celebrate the art created by students from the six Edina elementary schools.  Art will be on display December 15th, 2016 through February 9, 2017.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Edina Library and presented in collaboration with Edina Public Schools.

Summer School Options
Intermediate District 287 offers opportunities for students seeking a challenging summer school experience.  Intermediate District 287 hosts summer school programs for advanced learners.  Enrollment is open to advanced learners in the west metro districts including Edina students.

West Suburban Summer School (WSSS) Registration Information: https://www.district287.org/page.cfm?p=910

Course Catalog: available to download beginning February 15th, 2017

Registration will Open:
* Member Districts: Feb 22, 2017 at 6:00 am
* Non-member Districts: Feb 23, 2017 at 12:00am

Parents should contact ISD 273 directly with questions about the criteria dn Nomination Form.

Leslie Hanson
Gifted & Talented Program Coordinator
phone: 762-550-7167

Kim Kallroos
Program Secretary
phone: 762-550-7245 

 

Join the EHS Boys and Girls Hockey Teams
at Skate with the
Hornets
Sunday January 29
Braemar West rink, 1:10 - 2:40 pm
Take the ice with EHS Boys and Girls Hockey teams.
Bring skates, a helmet and a non-perishable item for the local food shelf.  Free posters and snacke (while supplies last!) A limited number of Edina super-fan tshirts will be available.
Upcoming Events - Bulletin
Week of January 27th - February 3rd

Monday 30th 
Community Ed - Crazy Chem
3:55 - 4:55
 Rm 28
Community Ed - Piano Lessons
4:00 - 7:00
 Rm 5

Tuesday 31st 
Leadership
3:00
 Gym
Davanni's Fund Raiser
11-1, 4:00 - 8:00

Davanni's 

Wednesday 1st
Math Olympiads - Practice
8:30 - 9:10 Media Center
Community Ed - Drama Kids
3:55 - 4:55
 Rm 5

Thursday 2nd

Wallace - MN Captitol
9:25 - 11:30
 State Capital
Community Ed - Amazing Draw
3:55 - 4:55
 Rm 28
Community Ed - Chess
3:55 - 4:55
 Rm 32
Community Ed - Piano Lessons
4:00 - 7:00
 Rm 5
J. Baker/Mack Bakken
9:30 - 1:30
 Bakken

Friday 3rd
 
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Highlands Elementary School
5505 Doncaster Way,  Edina, MN 55436
Office: 952-848-4500 | 
Attendance: 952-848-4502

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