September 22, 2022

Greetings Aquila Community,

There's a lot to celebrate here at school! Hispanic Heritage Month began last Thursday, 9/15, and we are looking forward to assemblies next Thursday, 9/29. Check out our papel picado and bulletin boards when you come for Family Connect on 9/29 or 9/30.

If you haven't had a chance to choose a Family Connect Time, please click on this link.

On Tuesday, 9/20, Seeds Feeds and the Aquila PTO co-hosted our annual Resource Fair, where community members shared dinner, enjoyed live music from a local artist and learned about opportunities throughout St. Louis Park. Thanks to everyone who helped make the Resource Fair a success!!

Tomorrow, 9/23, we hope that you'll all come to the playground for our PTO-sponsored Back to School Dance from 5:30-8:00 PM. Check out the details towards the end of the Communicator. Use the QR code to let us know you're coming, so that we can have plenty of pizza for everyone .

We are grateful for each and every one of you,

María & Olivia

Thursday, September 22 ~ Fifth Grade Band Info Night, MS Performing Arts Center, 6:30-8:00 PM

Friday, September 23 ~ Aquila School Dance, 5:30-8:00 PM TOMORROW!

Thursday, September 29 ~ Book Fair, 3:00-7:30 PM

Friday, September 30 ~ Book Fair, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Friday, September 30 ~ No School, Family Connect Times

Tuesday, October 4 ~ School Picture Day

Friday, October 7 ~ Homecoming Football Game, 7:00 PM

Monday, October 17 ~ AQ PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM

Thursday, October 20 ~ No School

Friday, October 21 ~ No School

Tuesday, November 1 ~ Westwood Nature Center Field Trip, Deming/Overend

Wednesday, November 2 ~ School Picture Day, Retakes

Thursday, November 3 ~ Westwood Nature Center Field Trip, Eul/Richards

AQ Spotlights

Tim Binger - Orchestra

Emilie Bertram - Band

Amanda Bauer - Music

Evan Graham - Music Assistant

Tom Roberts - Physical Education

Kevin Jones - Developmental Adapted Physical Education

Brian Tangney - Physical Education Assistant

Freddie Boyle - Physical Education

Aquila's Tool Of The Week ~ Upward Mountain

Each week students and staff will focus on a tool that helps them with their social emotional well-being. This week's tool is a movement tool called Upward Mountain. Ask your student about this tool.  

Steps:

1. Standing in Mountain, press your feet into the floor.
2. Breathe slowly and reach your arms up overhead. Look up, if you want, as you stretch.
3. Say to yourself, "I can do this."

Talent Development K-2 Family Connect Opportunity 

When? Thursday, September 29 from 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Where? Aquila Elementary Room 127 (Open House Style)

Who? K, 1, 2 Students are invited to bring their families to share their learning in Talent Development.

***PLEASE - Click here for information about

Talent Development from Marriah Foudray

Fifth Grade Families ~ Band Information Night - TONIGHT

Band Information Night - TONIGHT!

Thursday, September 22nd 6:30-8:00pm (Presentations at 6:30pm and 7:30pm)

St. Louis Park Middle School - Performing Arts Center

5th Grade Band Registration Deadline:

• Wednesday, September 28th - End of Day
• Click here for Registration and Band Information
• Click here for Registration Link

Please read through all of the materials before registering. All questions and concerns should be directed to Ms. Bertram.

Contact Ms. Bertram by email at: bertram.emilie@slpschools.org

Worried about costs for an instrument

for your student?

If after reading through the options on the band information guide mentioned above and the cost of playing an instrument is still a barrier to your student joining band, please contact Emilie Bertram about the SLP Friends of the Arts, Gift of Music Program as a possible solution. 

Book Fair Information & Volunteers Needed

Stop by the AQ PTO Scholastic Book Fair Fundraiser!



Thursday, September 29 ~ 3:00 to 7:30 PM 

Friday, September 30 ~ 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Online Store will open on September 29 for purchases.

Volunteers needed to help run the book fair.

Please click here to sign up to help. Thank you!

School Picture Day Information

Volunteer Opportunity ~ Lunchroom help

Please consider helping out in the Aquila Cafeteria. We are looking for parents and guardians to help keep tables clean and engage with students.

Click here to sign up to help during October!

New slots available! THANK YOU!

Library Media Center

We have enjoyed welcoming back students in the Library Media Center. Read alouds have included new books When Glitter Met Glue, Creepy Crayon, and The Pigeon Will Ride The Roller Coaster.

Please help your student remember to return and take good care of their library books. Click here for more information about expectations. 

The Hennepin County St. Louis Park Public Library will be closed from the end of September through Jan. The Hopkins branch and any of the other branches are wonderful places to get and reserve books! Click here for more information. 

Please contact Joanne Bongaarts, Library Media Specialist with any questions at:

bongaarts.joanne@slpschools.org

952-928-6494

Back to School Dance ~ Please Scan the RSVP Code or Click Here!

Please click here to help the AQ PTO Dance run smoothly. THANK YOU!

Aquila Give$ Spotlight

Cam and Benicio take a moment to smile while climbing the many

nets at the park.

Mrs. Stadler's Kindergarten class gathers together for a photo before departing the park.

Aquila Urban Farm Volunteer Opportunities & Seeds Feeds Dinners

Spanish Flyer --- Somali Flyer --- English Flyer

Every Meal Program

Aquila is partnering again this year with the Every Meal program. It is a free program that anyone can sign up for. Students who are enrolled in the program will receive a bag of food the last day of the week (typically Fridays) to help with food over the weekend. Students brought home forms. Please return the completed form to school.

If you have any questions, contact Dana Baumeister, Aquila Social Worker

baumeister.dana@slpschools.org

952-928-6498

Click here for the website.

Click here for additional information. 

The mission of the Aquila Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to enhance the educational experience of all Aquila students and support all Aquila community and staff through fundraising and community events. 

Interested in volunteering?

Click on the link and

fill out the form.

Click on this link to add your information to the AQ PTO 22-23

Family Directory. 

Click here for the

AQ PTO

Facebook Page. 

AQ PTO Meeting: Monday, October 17, 6:30 PM ~ All are welcome to attend

Click here for the AQ PTO latest newsletter. 

For more information about the AQ PTO, send an email to info@aquilapto.com.

Shout Out Loud Wellness Fair ~ Saturday, October 1

St. Louis Park Public School families are invited to join us on Saturday, October 1 for a family-friendly event at the ROC at the Rec Center in St. Louis Park promoting mental health and wellness in our community. This event will run from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM and is free for all. Watch great entertainment and interact with community organizations. Be sure to stop by the St. Louis Park Public Schools booth highlighting the unique role schools play in promoting mental health and social-emotional wellness. Visit shoutoutloudmn.com for more information.

SLP Online Meal Menus: New Features

Students and families can view our online meal menus at www.slpschools.info/menus (powered by My School Menus). From the St. Louis Park Public Schools website, click on Quick Links, then Lunch Menus.

New Features

• View menus in Spanish, Somali, and 150+ other languages
• See ingredient and nutrition information
• Print menus to use at home
• Build-A-Meal to see nutrition facts
• Create customized meals
• Identify your student’s allergies and dietary preferences

Watch a video about how to access the menus and features.

My School Menus - English

My School Menus - Spanish

My School Menus - Somali

Help Build Trust in School District Finance:

Join the Financial Advisory Committee

Want to learn more about school finance? We invite families and community members to apply to join the Financial Advisory Committee. You do not need a finance background to join. The Committee advises administration and the school board on economic and school finance issues and builds community trust in school district finances. 

• Apply by October 15, 2022
• No finance experience and background required 
• Attend approximately 8-10 meetings (1.5 hours each).
• We meet monthly beginning October 26.
• View the schedule (click on About the FAC)

COVID-19 Dashboard

St. Louis Park Public Schools will continue to report weekly COVID-19 positive cases. While we won’t publish them every week in our school newsletter, you can view the COVID Dashboard at any time on the website. Visit the COVID Updates and Information webpage for more information.

María Graver, Principal

Olivia Tolzin, Assistant Principal

8500 West 31st Street

St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Phone: 952-928-6500

Fax: 952-928-6466

graver.maria@slpschools.org

tolzin.olivia@slpschools.org

aq.slpschools.org