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Hello Aquila Families,
Aquila’s enrollment coupled with increased programming needs have created constraints with the existing building capacity. The St. Louis Park Public Schools School Board is considering adding a building addition to Aquila which, if approved, would be complete by the fall of 2025.
Please join us to learn more about the possible building addition. This meeting will share information about the possible building addition plans, answer questions, and provide an opportunity for families to share what’s important to them when considering a building addition.
Click here to RSVP to the Aquila Family Meeting
Monday, April 15, 2024, 5:30-6:15 PM
Aquila Cafeteria
Note: Childcare and Spanish and Somali interpreters will be available
We also invite families to view the March 26 School Board Meeting Video where the building addition was discussed. The SLP School Board welcomes family feedback before their vote on the possible building addition scheduled for Tuesday, April 30. Community members can email the board at schoolboard@slpschools.org or sign up to speak at Open Forum prior to a Business Meeting of the board.
In partnership,
María & Olivia
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María Graver, Aquila Principal
952-928-6502 ~ graver.maria@slpschools.org
Olivia Tolzin, Aquila Assistant Principal
952-928-6508 ~ tolzin.olivia@slpschools.org
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Monday, April 15 ~ Aquila Community Meeting - Potential Construction, 5:30-6:15 PM, Cafeteria
Friday, April 19 ~ Jump Start - Fifth Graders to Middle School
Tuesday, April 23 ~ Elders' Wisdom Children's Song - Fourth Grade, 6:30 PM, MS
Wednesday, April 24 ~ Dine Out For Aquila - México City Café
Thursday, May 9 ~ Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM, AQ Gymnasium
Saturday, May 18 ~ Aquila Carnival
Thursday, May 23 ~ Second Grade Talent Development STEAM Showcase/Evening
Monday, May 27 ~ No School
Monday, June 3 ~ IB Exhibition - Fifth Graders & Families, 6:00-7:30 PM
Thursday, June 6 ~ Aquila Field Day
Friday, June 7 ~ Last Day of School
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Aquila Gardens ~ Volunteer Opportunity | |
We are looking for volunteers to help with spring garden tasks including helping students with planting. Please click here to sign up. Thank you! | |
MCA ~ Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments | |
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Students in Grades 3, 4, 5 will be taking the MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) in April. Grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the Math and Reading MCA. Grade 5 took the Science MCA in March. They will be completed on the students' Chromebooks at school. For more information about the MCA, click here. Here is a link to the SLP testing website.
Students must not use or access cell phones, wearable technology, or any other devices at any time during a testing session, including during breaks or when they finish testing for the day. “Wearable” technology is defined as devices that may be worn on a student’s body that can electronically send, receive, or capture information (for example, smartwatches, fitness trackers, Bluetooth headphones).
Aquila Tentative MCA testing dates:
Third Grade Reading MCA: Wednesday, April 17 and Thursday, April 18
Third Grade Math MCA: Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 25
Fourth Grade Reading MCA: Tuesday, April 16, Wednesday, April 17
Fourth Grade Math MCA: Tuesday, April 23, Wednesday, April 24
Fifth Grade Reading MCA: Tuesday, April 16, Thursday, April 18
Fifth Grade Math MCAP Tuesday, April 23, Thursday, April 25
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Aquila Yearbook ~ Order Now | |
Health Moves Minds ~ Deadline Extended to April 19 | |
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Mr. Roberts is once again hosting the Health Moves Minds fundraiser at Aquila!
Funds raised will buy new Phy Ed equipment and fund a donation to Special Olympics Minnesota.
This year, all students will vote to help decide how funds raised are spent - can YOU help us reach our $3,000 goal?
To join Team Aquila:
1. Use the flyer QR code or visit our team page by clicking here.
2. Click JOIN TEAM and create a fundraiser champion page.
3. Set your own goal and know that every dollar you raise goes towards Aquila's overall goal of $3,000!
5. Share your fundraiser champion page via email and social media - family, friends, neighbors & more can support Team Aquila.
5. Watch for progress updates on the team page and at school!
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Aquila Library Media Center Update | |
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What activity boosts a child’s confidence, builds social emotional skills, and does not involve a screen? Reading a book together with a family member! Reading together creates time for parents and guardians to talk about all kinds of topics and nurture their child's curiosity. Looking for more information about reading with your child? Visit Reading Rockets for home literacy resources. Don’t forget to visit the Hennepin County Library to get a stash of new books.
The Aquila Library Media Center has been bustling with activity. Lots of great books have been read aloud (see picture). Kindergarteners shared an animal fact using the app ChatterPix. The Dash Robots have been in use by First and Second Graders. Third Graders have been introduced to keyboarding programs and the coding program Scratch. Fourth and Fifth Graders have been using digital tools such as Pixton to make comics and using the video tool in Adobe Express to digitize a piece of writing. Ongoing work continues with older students on digital citizenship lessons including how to paraphrase and cite sources to prevent plagiarism and identifying criteria that make resources reputable.
Remind your student to bring their Aquila Library books back to school so they can check out new ones.
Joanne Bongaarts
bongaarts.joanne@slpschools.org
952-928-6494
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Grades 3, 4, 5 Talent Development Update | |
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Third Graders have wrapped up their Engineering Unit. Students created "marble runs" that could: go the farthest distance, go around a corner and go up a hill. They learned about speed, distance, and momentum in this unit.
Fourth Graders have been busy practicing for their performance on Tuesday, April 23. They listened to each Elder's story, then themed, wrote, and produced a song to honor each of them. Please join us at the Middle School at 6:30 PM to watch the culmination of this project! This year we will honor Rick Bohn, Rene Norton, Antonio Olivos-Reyes, and Arsenio Richardson.
Fifth Graders also just ended an Engineering Unit. Students learned about simple machines including levers and pulleys. They created a free standing roller coaster that had a hill, a curve, and at least one "loop." Students learned about force, motion, and created levers and pulleys during this unit.
Lisa Bottolene
bottolene.elizabeth@slpschools.org
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Aquila ~ Plastic Film Drive | |
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Coming in April, Aquila will be having a plastic film drive in partnership with Ridwell. Ridwell is a company that partners with others to redirect as much as possible from landfills.
From April 15 though May 3, we invite families and staff to save the following types of plastic film: Ziploc bags, bubble wrap, bread bags, plastic grocery bags, cereal bags, and Amazon Prime shipping envelopes.
Beginning on Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 10, bring the plastic film to school!
Click here to see a document that outlines examples of plastic film that we will be collecting. Thank you!
Problem: Plastic film cannot go in curbside recycling bins because it gets stuck in the sorting machines.
Solution: Collect plastic film and pass it on to Ridwell, who partners with Trex Company, which repurposes the plastic film into composite decking material.
Contact Aquila Staff Member Sarah Young Reuben with any questions at
young.sarah@slpschools.org.
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IB PYP ~ Earth Day - Monday, April 22 | |
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Earth Day is ESPECIALLY important for families like yours who are part of the IB/PYP program! It's a special time when we focus on taking care of our planet, which is like a big home for all of us.
Earth Day and Week hold significant importance for IB/PYP elementary families as they align closely with the program's core values and principles of developing internationally minded learners who recognize their role in creating a better, more just, and more peaceful world.
Through Earth Day actions, we can learn the importance of taking care of the planet, fostering a sense of responsibility towards the environment, and understanding the interconnectedness of all living things.
The BINGO grid is a great way to get started TODAY!
P.S. We’d love to create an action board with photos of our students/staff/families taking action. Please send photos to lalondelaux.anne@slpschools.org and include family/student name, school, and action(s) taken in your email.
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Download The New Transportation App, My Ride K-12 by Wednesday, May 1. | |
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Download the new Transportation App, My Ride K-12 by Wednesday, May 1, 2024. This spring, St. Louis Park Public Schools will begin using a new transportation app for parents and caregivers to access updated transportation information for their student(s).
In the new app, you can access the information as you did in the previous app.
- Real-time mapping for school bus arrival for pick-up and afternoon drop-off
- Easy access to bus information (bus number, bus stop location, and bus stop time)
The new app, My Ride K-12, is available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store now. You can use your existing log-in information (username and password) from the previous transportation app (Traversa Ride 360) to log into the new app or the website.
Parents and guardians will need to download a new app by May 1 in order to access their student’s transportation information. Learn more about how to set up your account: Spanish | Somali
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Aquila PTO Board Opportunities | |
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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
Volunteer Opportunity~Lunchroom Support - Click here
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Elders' Wisdom Children's Song ~
Fourth Grade Talent Development
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District News ~ Kids Place Registration 2024-2025 | |
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Kids Place Registration 2024-2025
We’re pleased to announce our school year registration window for Kids Place School Age Care, welcoming participants in grades K-5! Registration window: April 9 - May 3, 2024.
Register at slpcommunityed.com/kids-place or scan QR code
• Click on “Online Registration”
• Sign in or create an account
• Select “Explore All Programs”
• Select Kids Place Childcare
• Choose “Registration”
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete
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District News ~ Native Craft Circle | |
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Join us at the Native Craft Circle, hosted by the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC)! Students and families are invited to learn about the rich heritage of regalia.
On March 23, April 6 and April 13, Native Craft Circle’s will be held in Room 1B at the Central Community Center.
Students will be working on making their own regalia to use at upcoming events including the AIPAC Community Celebration that will be held on April 20. All are welcome to participate!
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District News ~ SLP HS Theatre Presents Steel Magnolias | |
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St. Louis Park High School Theatre Presents:
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling
April 19-21
Steel Magnolias is a dramatic comedy centered around six southern women and their relationships that bloom within the local beauty salon. Set over 2 years in the late 1980s, the play follows Truvy, the sassy and strong salon owner; Annelle, her anxious new assistant with her fair share of secrets; Miss Clairee, widow of the former beloved mayor who has become quite the public figure herself; Ouiser, the town curmudgeon with a warm heart; Shelby, a young woman with health issues who’s ready to take risks to live her life; and M’Lynn, who will protect her daughter at any cost.
Due to construction at the High School, all performances will be held at the Middle School Performing Arts Center, located at 2025 Texas Ave S. Performances are April 19 and 20 at 7:00 pm and January 21 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and free with student ID for all SLPHS students. Please purchase tickets at gopark.hometownticketing.com/embed/all.
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