Aquila Communicator

April 27, 2023

Greetings Aquila Families,

This evening, Thursday (4/27), at 4:00 PM multilingual families are invited to the AQ Library Media Center to learn more about the Multilingual Learners (ML) program. Parents and guardians can learn about how students are identified, qualify, and exit the program.

Additionally information will be provided about the communication and documentation that is used in the ML program. There will be a Somali and Spanish interpreter at the meeting along with our ML staff.

We love spotting Aquila students reading. Aquila graduate, Ethan enjoys sharpening his Spanish skills while reading with our multilingual Spanish speaking students including Alan. Camila and Ailyn are reading buddies.

Be sure to read the information about our annual Aquila Carnival below. Lots of volunteers are needed to make the night a success. Click here to volunteer.

Paz,

María & Olivia

María Graver, Aquila Principal

952-928-6502 ~ graver.maria@slpschools.org

Olivia Tolzin, Aquila Assistant Principal

952-928-6508 ~ tolzin.olivia@slpschools.org

Key Dates

Thursday, April 27 ~ ML Family Meeting, 4:00-5:30 PM, AQ Library Media Center - Tonight!

Tuesday, May 2 ~ Aquila Meeting - Possible Boundary Change, 6:00 PM

Wednesday, May 3 ~ Middle School (MS) Rally Night for Fifth Grade Families, 6:30-8:00 PM

Thursday, May 4 ~ ASD Family Meetup, 6:00 PM, AQ Library Media Center

Wednesday, May 10 ~ 5th Grade Band & 4th/5th Grades Orchestra Concert 7:00 PM, SLP High School

Friday, May 12 ~ Carnival, 4:00-8:00 PM

Monday, May 15 ~ AQ PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM

Thursday, May 18 ~ Fourth Grade Elders' Wisdom Event at the Middle School, 6:30 PM

Thursday, May 25 ~ Second Grade Talent Development Showcase, 5:00-7:00 PM

Monday, May 29 ~ No School

Thursday, June 1 ~ Fifth Grade IB Exhibition, 6:00-8:00 PM

Friday, June 2 ~ Field Day

Tuesday, June 6 ~ Variety Show

Wednesday, June 7 ~ Fifth Grade Celebration of Learning

Thursday, June 8 ~ Last Day of School

Thursday, June 15 ~ ASD Family Meetup, 6:00 PM, AQ Library Media Center

Unified Champion School Update

Aquila is a Minnesota Special Olympics Unified Champion School. We had the opportunity to host our first Parents Night Out event. This event allowed parents of our special education students to drop their children off at Aquila for a few hours of fun activities and games. Students enjoyed spending time with their peers and creating lasting memories together!

CARNIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ CLICK HERE!

Spanish Classroom Expert ~ Deisy Jimenez

Hola! My name is Deisy Jimenez. This year I am working as the Spanish Language and Culture Specialist at the St. Louis Park Elementary Schools in the Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms. I have been teaching students Spanish with a focus on color and number words. We also have been learning about special holidays and celebrations.

I love spicy foods and pasta. When I am not teaching, I am home with my two year old daughter, Haisley. I like to watch movies and go on walks.

I have enjoyed being back at Aquila and seeing teachers that I had when I went to Aquila. I have enjoyed teaching and watching the kids learn new words. It warms my heart to be walking in the hallway and have the kids get excited to see me and have Spanish class.

Carnival ~ Classroom Basket Raffle

Be on the look out for a flyer and information coming home about donating items to your student's Carnival Classroom Basket. These baskets will be raffled off at the Carnival. Classes will collect theme based donations for their baskets. Send in donations by Friday, May 5. Thank you!

Kindergarten-Stadler/Swedberg/Modjeski - Art

Kindergarten- Haen/Schladweiler - Superheroes/Disney

First Grade- Kelly- Summer Fun

First Grade- Rae-Schmidt/Ludens/Her - Crafts

First Grade- Papas/Benson - Family Game Night

Second Grade- Overrend/Deming - Slime & Fidgets

Second Grade- Richardson/Eul - Lego

Third Grade-Swanson/Bishop - Family Movie Night

Third Grade- Nelson/Osmundson - Mad Scientist

Fourth Grade- Williams - Kids in the Kitchen

Fourth Grade- Hansen/Ikola - Ice Cream Party

Fifth Grade-Mink/Slingluff - Ultimate snack attack

Fifth Grade-Stern/Stenross - Outdoor games & sports

Health.Moves.Minds.

Fundraiser 2023 ~ Tom Roberts, Physical Education

Aquila's Physical Education Fundraiser, Health.Moves.Minds. has started. This year our charity of choice will be Special Olympics of Minnesota. This is to honor our students with different abilities and to celebrate Aquila being a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. More fundraising details will be forthcoming. Money raised goes towards new PE equipment and to Special Olympics of MN.

Click here for the directions on how to donate online!

Thank you!

Tool of the Week ~ Wall/Chair Stretch Tool

Each week, students and staff will focus on a tool that helps them with their social emotional well-being. This week's tool is called, "Wall/Chair Stretch."

-Press your hands into the wall or on a chair and walk your feet back.

-Stretch your body as you push with your hands.

-Hold there as you breathe slowly.

Aquila Family Meetings About Possible Boundary Changes

Aquila’s enrollment coupled with increased programming needs have created constraints with the existing building capacity. St. Louis Park Public Schools is exploring ways to address these capacity challenges and would like to meet with families to explore a possible boundary change that, if approved, would move between 100-150 students to a new school beginning the 2024-2025 school year.

The most likely boundary change options, which will be shared at the meeting, would balance the impact across grade levels, race, and capacity at each elementary school.

Please join Superintendent Osei and other school leaders on Tuesday, May 2 to learn more about the possible boundary changes. This meeting will help answer questions from Aquila families and provide an opportunity for leaders to understand the impact of this possible change on families and what may be needed to ensure a successful transition, should it move forward.

Spring Family Engagement Opportunities:

Aquila All Families Meeting ~ Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 6:00-7:30 PM, Aquila Cafeteria
Interpreters in Somali, Spanish, and Oromo

Aquila PTO Meeting ~ Monday, May 15, 2023, 6:30 PM, Aquila Cafeteria (if you are unable to attend the May 2 meeting)

While the meetings won’t be recorded, we will collect all questions and share an ongoing online FAQ with families after the meetings.

Aquila is a close-knit community and this possible change could be a significant change for families who transition to a new school, as well as the families who stay at Aquila without their fellow students and families who are part of our school community. We welcome family feedback before any decisions are made. We also invite families to view the February 28 School Board Meeting Video where the capacity challenges were discussed.

Cafeteria ~ Volunteer Opportunites

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!

New slots available! THANK YOU!

Aquila PTO ~ Parent, Teacher Organization

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.

AQ PTO INFORMATION ~ LINKS:

*Website

*Facebook

*Send an email

GET INVOLVED ~ LINKS:

*Volunteer Interest Form

*Cafeteria Lunchroom Help Link

District News ~ Summer Preschool Opportunity

District News ~ Idle-Free SLP Campaign

Happy spring!

As you pick up and drop off your kids this year from schools or parks, you may notice some “Idle-Free SLP” signs. That’s because the City of St. Louis Park, in collaboration with Park Nicollet, launched a student-driven idling reduction campaign for cleaner air and healthier lungs. Idling, or running the engine while parked, can produce more tailpipe emissions per minute than driving and has been linked to asthma symptoms, heart and lung disease, cognitive issues, and premature death.

Children are even more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because they breathe more air per pound of body weight and their respiratory systems are not yet fully developed. This makes idling near schools – one of the most common idling scenarios as parents wait to pick up their children – especially dangerous. Learn more and get involved by checking out the city website.

District News ~ Subscribe to Board Briefs

Do you want to receive highlights and happenings after each regular School Board meeting?

Subscribe to the Board Briefs newsletter.

View past Board Briefs here in English, Spanish, or Somali.

District News ~ In The Loop - SLP Construction Update

View updates from Knutson Construction and St. Louis Park Public Schools about construction projects in the school district. April highlights include project milestones and progress for the High School, Middle School, and Central project.

Fun Fact: Knutson & industry partners will be attending the SLP HS Trades Career Fair on May 11. Knutson will have a booth full of interactive activities & learning! View the construction updates webpage.

In the Loop: SLP Construction Newsletter