Hello Aquila Families,
I continue to be inspired by our students daily; they live the IB Learner Profile. Last week, Ms. Nielsen and I met with students to celebrate January birthdays. We asked them, "If you were president what is one of the first things you would do?" Their replies included:
"Build homes for the homeless."
"Make sure everyone had enough food."
"Build more schools."
"Tell everyone to show kindness and stop wars."
All of our students were thinking of global issues and caring for others. At Aquila, we live the mission of the International Baccalaureate daily, doing our part, "to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect."
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At Aquila, as we enter into February, Black History Month, we will continue to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. I have encouraged all teachers and students to learn about a black man or woman that has contributed their knowledge and gifts to their topic of study; all too often their contributions have been left out of our shared history.
I want to share with you a note that was written by two inquiring, knowledgeable, caring first graders in Ms. Overend's class. They wrote this after celebrating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King.
May we all live by his words. In partnership,
Olivia Tolzin
Aquila Elementary, Assistant Principal
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Dear Edwina Jr Musical - THIS WEEKEND!
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Aquila Theatre Arts (over 105 students!), proudly presents
Dear Edwina Jr.!
Performances will be at the St. Louis Park High School Auditorium (Door 4 on 33rd Street) this Friday, February 7 at 7:00PM and Saturday, February 8 at 2:00PM. This is a free event! Freewill donations are appreciated. Aquila Elementary took an all-school field trip today (February 6) to enjoy the musical.
Dear Edwina Jr.!
begins on a 1990 summer afternoon, outside13-year-old Edwina Spoonapple’s garage. The neighborhood kids come together to put on a show to help Edwina get an invitation to the Kalamazoo Advice-A-Palooza Festival. Edwina, an “advice-giver-extraordinaire”, longs for an invitation to the festival to put up on her fridge alongside the many awards won by her brother and sisters, hoping to finally feel her true worth.
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National African American Parent Involvement Day -
Monday, February 10
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Please join us this Monday, February 10th to celebrate National African American Parent Involvement Day;
all families are welcome!
National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) is a day for all parents to come to their child's school, see what their day is like and to support their child's educational future. Some of the goals of NAAPID are to:
- Promote parent involvement in their child's education.
- Address the serious achievement gap facing African American students.
- Promote and provide strategies for all parents and students to take full advantage of the educational process at all levels of the educational system (preschool through college).
Like any day, you are invited to come and spend time in your child's classroom and have lunch!
The cost per adult for school lunch is $4.00.
In honor of NAAPID, we will also have coffee, cookies, and conversation with Principal Shelley Nielsen and Assistant Principal Olivia Tolzin from 12:00-1:00PM in the Library Media Center. Please come and go as your schedule allows. We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on how we can continue to support our students and families.
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Aquila Health Office News - Cafeteria Safety
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We would like to share new practices happening in the Aquila lunchroom. At the beginning of the year, each classroom was assigned two tables at lunch. Keeping students' health and safety as a first priority, we now have one peanut/tree nut-free dedicated table, with separate wash buckets and washcloths for each class.
Students with peanut and tree nut allergies will sit at this table, along with any classmates having school hot lunch. We're asking that students with home lunch or school bag lunch sit at the other table to avoid risk of exposure (students with school hot lunches can sit at either table).
We believe this process is much more inclusive than having one lone peanut free table which requires students to separate from their classroom peers. The process is going well so far. Some students have concerns about not being able to sit next to one specific friend on a given day, but we are reminding students that lunch is only about 15 minutes out of the whole day and the tables are directly next to each other. We appreciate the support of all families, students, and staff in keeping all of our students safe at school.
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A
BIG
thank you
to all the families, staff, and community members who have donated winter clothing items to Aquila.
The only things we continue to need are gloves and boots.
THANK YOU!
REMINDER - CHECK THE LOST & FOUND NEAR THE CAFETERIA!!!!
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Service Club - Pennies For Patients - Ends TODAY!
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Thank you for your contributions to the Pennies For Patients Drive!
The drive ENDS TODAY Thursday, February 6 which is a change from previous communications. Winners will be announced soon!
Thank You! Aquila Elementary Service Club
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Physical Education News - Mr. Roberts & Mr. Boyle
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HealthMovesMinds Fundraiser
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On Wednesday, February 26 we will have our HealthMovesMinds kick-off assembly. HealthMovesMinds is a student focused initiative that teaches our students strategies on how to deal with social-emotional situations. Key concepts include kindness and mindfulness.
The fundraising portion of HealthMovesMinds will go from Wednesday, February 26 through Thursday, March 26. More information coming soon about this fundraiser.
Students will continue to be exposed to social-emotional learning through June.
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MN Timberwolves Get Fit Program
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Over 60 students participated in the Minnesota Timberwolves Get Fit program. The program focuses on promoting physical activity outside of school. Students earned points for any kind of physical activity that occurred outside of school. The students who brought back the completed activity card received a free ticket to a Timberwolves game, a Timberwolves backpack, and the opportunity to shoot a free throw at the game.
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Mark your calendars for the Grade 2 & 3 Music Concert! It will be held on Thursday, March 19 at 7:00PM in the Aquila Gymnasium.
Note this a date change from previous communications.
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AQ PTO - Parent Teacher Organization
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The Aquila PTO partners with families to enhance the education experience of all Aquila students, families and staff! If you are interested in being involved, please contact AQ PTO President Rachel Bohn at rrbohn@live.com.
Please click here to visit our Facebook page!
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BOOK FAIR
The next AQ PTO Book Fair will be during conferences on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14 in the AQ Gymnasium.
Money raised at the fair is used to purchase new books and online resources for the Aquila Library Media Center.
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Don’t want to cook? Too cold to go out? Have
Parkway Pizza DELIVER to you
while supporting Aquila. Mark your calendar for the next event on
Wednesday, February 12
. All food and beverage purchases (even deliveries) on the 2nd Wednesday of each month will be donated to the AQ PTO.
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- Feb 5: Online Book Fair Opened
- Feb 11: AQ PTO Meeting, 6:30PM
- Feb 13: Conferences & Book Fair, 4:00-8:00PM
- Feb 14: No School
- Feb 14: Conferences & Book Fair, 8:00AM-4:00PM
- Feb 17: No School
- Feb 18: Online Book Fair Closes
- March 6: No School
- March 10: 5th Grade Band Students - District Band Festival Concert, 7:00PM High School
- March 12: Kindergarten Information Night (Incoming Fall 2020)
- March 19: Career-A-Palooza
- March 19: Music Concert Grades 2 & 3, 7:00PM
- March 27: No School
- March 30-April 3: No School
- April 6: School resumes
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