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February 29, 2024

Greetings Aquila Community,


This week has been filled with so much joy and learning at Aquila. Yesterday we celebrated Black History Month with a school-wide assembly. We were honored with the presence of Dr. Phillip Shoultz, Joe Davis, Traiveon Dunlap, Nii Adjetey Mensah. Please talk with your child(ren) about their learning experiences and watch the video clips of our time together. Thank you to the many families that joined us. 


Today we ended I Love to Read Month with many events that bring joy to our students. We saw students with their reading buddies from other grade levels, reading in their pajamas, and reading inside forts! We can't believe it is already March, time is flying by. Spring tends to be a very busy time, please continue to look at communication and mark your calendars for upcoming events.


Click on these links to view some snippets from the assembly:

Clip One, Clip Two, Clip Three, Clip Four, Clip Five, Clip Six.


Thank you to Parent Volunteer Joe Stevens for his photographs from Finding Nemo Jr. Click on this link to access pictures.


Thank you for your continued partnership,

Olivia and María

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, March 7 ~ District Showcase Band Concert (includes Fifth Graders), 7:00 PM at the High School


Saturday, March 9 ~ AQ PTO Pancake Breakfast, 9:30-11:00 AM


Monday, March 11 ~ Virtual ASD Family Meetup, 6:00-7:30 PM


Wednesday, March 13 ~ Dine Out For Aquila - Parkway Pizza


Monday, March 18 ~ AQ PTO Meeting, 6:00 PM


Tuesday, March 19 ~ First Grade Talent Development Night - 5:30-6:15 PM


Thursday, March 21 ~ Incoming Kindergarteners - Tours/Orientation


Friday, March 22 ~ BINGO Night, 5:30 PM


Wednesday, March 27 ~ Dine Out For Aquila - México City Café


Friday, March 29 - Friday, April 5 ~ No School, Spring Break


Monday, April 8 ~ School Resumes


Tuesday, April 9 ~ Tech Talk Night, 6:00-7:15 PM Online


Wednesday, April 10 ~ No School


Thursday, April 24 ~ District Showcase Orchestra Concert (includes Fourth & Fifth Graders), 7:00 PM at the High School

Five Fabulous Aquila Fifth Graders

I Love To Read Month ~

Author's Night with Sideena Grace & Read In Fun!

District Band Showcase

Aquila Pancake Breakfast ~ Free

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 9.

9:30 - 11:00 AM

Join the AQ PTO in the Aquila Cafeteria for a free pancake breakfast. Volunteers needed - click here! Free will donations accepted!

Aquila BINGO Night ~ Free

Experience Golf ~ Mr. Becker & Mr. Boyle

Boys and Girls St. Louis Park High School Varsity Coaches Dan Becker and Freddie Boyle enjoyed teaching a golf lesson to some of our students this week in Fifth Grade at Aquila. Golf is a wonderful sport our students can participate in that promotes lifetime physical well being. Students are eligible as seventh graders to play golf for the high school team during the spring season. 


Local Golf Opportunities:

Three Rivers Parks

*Girls Only Golf Camps, click here

*General Information, click here

*First Tee Program, click here

*Scholarships available, click here


Brookview Junior Programs:

*Golf Academy, click here


Top Golf Summer Academy:

*Golf Lessons, click here



Youth On Course:

Youth On Course is a great, cost effective opportunity to play golf during the spring/summer/fall. Fora $30 annual fee, players ages 6 - 18 can play many courses, including regulation courses, around the metro area for $5.00 or less per round!

*Join Youth On Course, click here

Aquila PTO 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. 


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

Volunteer Opportunity~Lunchroom Support - Click here

District News ~ Superintendent Search Update


  • Semi-finalists: View the resume summaries for the four semi-finalists for superintendent, Dr. Willie Barney, Dr. Carlondrea Hines, Dr. Jenna Mitchler and Dr. Teri Staloch. Interviews on February 28 and tomorrow, Friday, March 1. The finalists will be announced the evening of Friday, March 1.


  • Community Q&A with finalists on Saturday, March 2: Submit a question for the Community Q&A with Finalists taking place on March 2, 1-5pm at Central Community Center or submit in person. View the flier in English, Spanish and Somali. American Sign Language (ASL), Somali, and Spanish interpreters will be available. We will post a link online to submit online community feedback on finalists prior to the event.


  • Finalist interviews on Wednesday, March 13: Finalist interviews will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Central Community Center in Room 21. The interviews and deliberations are open to the public, live-streamed, and posted on Youtube for 30 days. We will post a link online to submit online community feedback on finalists prior to the interviews. The lone candidate will be announced the evening of March 13.


  • STORiole Pop-up shop (SLP merchandise) at Saturday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 13 meetings: The DECA STORiole is a student-run entrepreneurship that sells SLP clothing and accessories. There will be a variety of items for purchase. Cash, cards and tapless payments are accepted, or can be purchased online at The DECA STORiole. Clothing is produced by students or is purchased through minority or women-owned vendors. 


Superintendent search updates are posted several times each week.

Read all updates.

District News ~ Summer Kids Place

We’re excited to host the Kids Place Summer Program for grades K-5 at Aquila Elementary.


Program Highlights: 


•Balanced schedule includes structured enrichment activities as well as supervised play time for children to explore their own interests

• Daily academic skills practice 

• Focus on building friendships



Visit slpcommunityed.com/kids-place/ for more information

District News ~ Summer Learning Academy

We're thrilled to announce that this year's elementary summer learning program will be held at Peter Hobart Elementary from June 17 - July 25, running Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Please note that the academy will be closed on district holidays: June 19, July 4, and July 5. To ensure a productive and enriching experience, breakfast and lunch will be provided daily. Registration will be open from March 1-31, with both online and paper forms available. Keep an eye out for flyers for more information on how to register your child for this exciting educational opportunity!

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. February highlights include project milestones and progress for the High School, Central Community Center, and Data Center.


Fun Fact: There will be roughly 5000 square feet of brick installed at the new SLP Data Center. That is equivalent to the size of the SLP High School Main Gym Basketball Court!


View the construction updates webpage.


In the Loop: SLP Construction Newsletter






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

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