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Dear Aquila Families,
As the month of October comes to an end, we know many families have questions about seasonal festivities including Halloween. Our primary goal is to ensure that our educational environment remains focused on learning, so this year, we would like to provide some guidelines regarding the acknowledgement of this holiday within our school.
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We will not wear costumes or face paint: Costumes, face paints, and related accessories can be distracting in a learning environment. Therefore, we ask that students not wear or bring these things to school.
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We will not bring or share candy: To ensure the safety and health of all students, there will be no sharing or distribution of candy in school. We encourage families to partake in their own Halloween traditions at home, if they choose.
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We will not have specific holiday parties: We do not have parties at school on Halloween. This school year we will have three school party days to build community during the school year (November 21st will be our fall party, the day before winter break, and the day before spring break).
However, while we are setting these guidelines to maintain a conducive learning environment, we also understand the cultural and festive importance of Halloween. Our dedicated teachers may discuss Halloween, Día de los Muertos, and other holidays around this time and their historical and cultural significance during their morning meetings. This will be an opportunity for students to learn about and appreciate the diverse ways people celebrate.
Thank you for being an integral part of our school district community, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Warm regards,
María Graver and Olivia Tolzin
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Did you know Monday was Teacher Jean Jacket Day?! | |
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Wednesday, November 1 ~ Picture Day Retakes
Friday, November 3 ~ No School
Saturday, November 4 ~ Kindergarten Welcome for Families with a 2024 Kindergartener, Click here for more info.
Sunday, November 5 ~ Aquila Gives Student-Teacher Adventure Tickets go on sale at noon. More Info coming soon.
Wednesday, November 8 ~ Dine Out for AQ - Parkway Pizza
Thursday, November 9 ~ Turkey BINGO
Sunday, November 12 ~ AQUILA GIVES begins
Monday, November 13 ~ ASD Family MeetUp - 6:00-7:30 PM Aquila Library
Tuesday, November 14 ~ Kindergarten Talent Development Science
Observation Night, 5:00-6:30 PM
Tuesday, November 14 ~ Dine Out For Aquila - The Block - 5:00-8:00PM
Wednesday, November 22 ~ No School
Thursday, November 23 ~ No School
Friday, November 24 ~ No School
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Aquila Health Aide
Heidi Galbraith
Aquila RN
Danielle Carey
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Aquila Winter Gear Requests | |
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If your student needs any winter gear, there are items available.
Please contact your student's teacher or Janaki Vivekananda, Aquila School Social Worker.
Please communicate the following information:
~Student's name/Teacher's name
~What items they might need:
*hat
*gloves/mittens
*winter coat/size (S, M, L, XL)
*snow pants/size (S, M, L, XL)
*winter boots/size
Janaki Vivekananda
vivekananda.janaki@slpschools.org
(952) 928-6498
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Aquila PTO is proud to once again sponsor Operation Recess from Pros of the Rope! On Mondays this fall, Coach Jonny will lead interested students in collaborative, team-building, and inclusive activities during recess. Operation Recess is made possible by generous donations to Aquila Gives and a grant from Park Public Schools & Community Foundation.
In picture, Kindergartener Lily puts her best foot forward as she sprints across the final line!
Third graders Khadar, Calvin, Heaven, and Maurice show what they've got! Calvin eventually won it all and was named an Operation Recess All Star for the week.
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Kindergarteners Honesty, Simon, and Tyshown, with the help of 5th grade coach Javon'tay, learned the ins and outs of 1 vs. 1 footracing. | |
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On Friday, October 13 we gathered for our first assembly of the year celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Students of Hispanic heritage paraded into the gymnasium holding flags from various countries.
Aquila's Baile Folklórico group under the direction of Carmen Rudin did a carnival themed dance.
As we sang and danced together, we recognized that our school is a family, and that each one of us is necessary in the Aquila community.
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Scholastic Book Fair ~ Online | |
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The Scholastic Book Fair is still available online until
Monday, October 30.
Click here to visit the website.
You can still purchase books. All online purchases benefit
our school and earn 25% in Scholastic Dollars. The final gross sale of our in-person fair reached just over $6000. THANK YOU!
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Kindergarten Talent Development | |
Second Grade Talent Development | |
Picture Retakes ~ Wednesday, November 1 | |
Aquila Gives is coming soon! This annual direct donation fundraiser for Aquila PTO provides money for many awesome community events, field trips, & other happenings at Aquila. What does this look like & why is it important to donate? Here are a few examples: | |
Nearly 100 students experimented with art, science, math, engineering & technology at a free STEAM Night! | |
Over 70 students participated in Aquila's Imagination Fair at no cost! | |
Last year's entire 3rd grade visited the Science Museum free of charge! | |
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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 Website - Click here
AQ PTO Facebook page - Click here
AQ PTO Calendar - Click here
AQ PTO Email Signup & Volunteer Interest Form - Click here
AQ Dine Out Nights For Aquila - Click here
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District News ~ Core Principles | |
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As we journey through this academic year, we'd like to remind everyone of the core principles that guide our endeavors at St. Louis Park Public Schools.
St. Louis Park Public Schools sees, inspires, and empowers each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience to create racially equitable learning that energizes and enhances the spirit of our community.
We believe in:
- The brilliance of ourselves and others. Everyone has the capacity and responsibility to foster the growth and brilliance of others.
- Authentic community engagement. Engaging and supporting our employees, families, and communities will enhance the healthy development of each learner.
- High expectations. Instilling and upholding high expectations empowers students and staff to higher levels of achievement.
- Collective responsibility. Embodying the collective and urgent responsibility of anti-racist practices enriches a work and learning environment and community.
- Persistent effort. Through persistent effort we will create anti-racist schools and academically successful learners.
- Racial consciousness and cultural competence. Racial consciousness and cultural competence are essential to each person’s ability to be a catalyst for change.
Advocacy for equity. Everyone has equal intrinsic worth and we will advocate for the historically marginalized.
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District News ~ Kindergarten Welcome! 2024-2025 | |
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Join us for Kindergarten Welcome on
Saturday, November 4 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
Location: Middle School Field House - 2025 Texas Ave S
Principals will share about each school, and find out more about departments and services that will be a part of your educational journey.
Find out more at slpschools.org/kindergarten
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District News ~ Eat Donuts and Learn More About
Park Public Schools & Community Foundation
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On Thursday, November 16, 2023, between 7:00 - 9:30 AM, at Angel Food Bakery, learn more about the Park Public Schools & Community Foundation (PPS&CF) and the amazing work being done in our community and schools with grants made possible by the Foundation and our generous donors.
Every year, the PPS&CF raises funds and makes grants to teachers in our district in grades pre k-12 for projects that inspire and enhance our students’ education. In the 2022-23 school year alone, the Foundation was able to make grants totaling over $55,000! Examples include paying for new play equipment for preschoolers; a potter’s wheel and slab at the Middle School; exciting field trips to bring classroom learning to life; a mobile makerspace; a kindness rocks garden project; innovative instruments combining engineering and music; and cutting edge technology bridging the physical education and science curriculums at the High School. Click here for more info!
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District News ~ Mayor For A Day Essay Contests | |
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The League of Minnesota Cities is once again encouraging our state’s 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to share ideas about how they would make cities better through submitting essays in the League’s “Mayor for a Day” essay contest.
Contest information can be found at lmc.org/mayorforaday. We encourage you to share this link with the elementary schools in your city and consider publishing it on your city's website as well as the next issue of your city newsletter. We have also shared contest information with your city’s mayor.
Three winning students will be chosen from among submitted entries. Each winning student will receive $100 and will have their essay published in a future issue of Minnesota Cities magazine. If a student from your city wins, we are happy to share ideas on public recognition you can consider in your own community.
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