Greetings Aquila Families! |
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Aquila Families,
We hope the start of the 2020-21 school year has gone well for your family. It was great to see so many of you last week at school for our meet your teacher event or to pick up a device. Although we wish we were fully in person with your children, please know until that can happen safely, we will be doing everything we can to provide your children a rigorous and engaging school experience.
This newsletter will come out every two weeks.The goal of the newsletter is to keep you updated on school information, events, and share what students have been doing. We encourage you to also go to the Aquila and district websites for up-to-date information.
During the first few weeks of school, each classroom teacher will spend time on community building and getting to know every student personally. We want to build classroom spaces where it feels safe for every child to show up as their true authentic self. Teachers will be providing time for children to be able to process how racial tensions and the pandemic have affected them. We know this will vary from student to student and be different based on their lived racial experiences. Every day will start with a morning meeting. This time will allow students to not only share about themselves, but also learn more about their classmates. Teachers will build in social emotional lesson during these morning meetings throughout the year. As educators, we want our students to feel valued, heard, and supported.
In this newsletter you will learn more about our Virtual Family Connect Meetings. This is an opportunity for parents/caregivers to learn more from the grade level teachers, ask questions, and share their feedback about their child’s school experience. We hope you will be able to attend these informal meetings.
We know this will be a school year that is different than any of us have ever experienced. You are your child’s first educator. We feel privileged to join you in your child’s educational journey. We feel confident that when we work collaboratively with you, we can meet your child’s needs and help them have a successful school year. Feel free to reach out to either of us at any time.
In partnership,
Shelley Nielsen, Aquila Principal
Olivia Tolzin, Aquila Assistant Principal
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WEDNESDAYS - Distance Learning
Wednesdays in the distance learning schedule are different than the other days.
- All students will begin Wednesdays online where teachers will mark attendance, build community, do a possible social emotional lesson, and share expectations for the day.
- Teachers will let students know if they need to be online for small or individual instruction or assessments at any other point during the day on Wednesdays.
- Teachers may communicate with families to check-in and get feedback.
- Band, orchestra, social work small groups, and counseling services will also be meeting with students on Wednesdays.
- Teachers will be involved in collaborative teams to do lesson planning and receive professional development on Wednesdays.
- Wednesdays are great days for students to independently finish or make-up any assignments that have been posted in Seesaw.
Check your classroom schedules for more details about Wednesdays.
Please contact your student's teacher with any other questions.
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On Monday, September 28, Kindergarteners, First Graders, and Second Graders will begin hybrid learning.
Your student will come to school either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. Your teacher will let you know which days they should come to school. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders will start hybrid learning on Monday, October 5.
*During the hybrid model the school day ends at 11:45 in person. Buses will leave Aquila at 11:45AM.
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Aquila Grade Level Virtual Family Connect Meetings |
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Grade level teachers will be holding Virtual Family Connect Meetings with families from their grade levels. These online meetings will give parents and caregivers a chance to ask questions and share experiences about distance learning.Teachers will share links to meetings closer to dates.
Wednesday, September 23
Kindergarten: 12:00-12:30PM
First Grade: 9:30-10:00AM
Second Grade: 11:00-11:30AM
Wednesday, September 30
Third Grade: 12:00-12:30PM
Fourth Grade: 9:30-10:00AM
Fifth Grade: 12:00-12:30PM
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Thank You - Wintrust Mortgage Company |
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A big thank you to Wintrust Mortgage employees in Plymouth for donating school supplies to Aquila and Peter Hobart this year. Because of the many donations, many families were able to get supplies needed for the year. THANK YOU!
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Thank you to Aquila parents Vanessa and Chris Larson who spent countless hours in the Aquila Native Plant Garden this summer weeding and mulching.
THANK YOU!
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Fourth Grade Orchestra Registration |
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Families with a fourth grade student have the special opportunity this year to have their child learn to play the following string instruments: violin, viola, cello and large string bass.
Registration procedures for the 2020-21 fourth grade orchestra have changed due to COVID-19. Instead of hosting a registration night at the High School, students and families interested in registering for fourth grade orchestra need to visit either House of Note (7202 Minnetonka Blvd. in St. Louis Park; 952-929-0026) or Schmitt Music (11300 Wayzata Blvd. in Minnetonka; 952-546-0555). Families should call ahead to make an appointment.
Employees at these two locations will be able to assist your child in what instrument to choose, what size is correct for your child, and what the cost of renting a string instrument will be. (Rent a string instrument – do not purchase.) Besides renting a string instrument for the school year, your child will need to purchase a folding music stand (for use in practice at home and for concerts) and the music book titled All For Strings Book #1 (tan colored book).
Click here to download and complete the orchestra registration form which can be emailed to Elementary Orchestra Director Mark Anderson at anderson.mark@slpschools.org. You can also email Mr. Anderson with any questions about elementary orchestra.
Click here to view a short video of Mr. Anderson playing the instruments to show your child what the instruments sound like.
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FREE Meals During Distance Learning - Mondays & Wednesdays |
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While the District is in a distance learning educational delivery model, students and families will be able to pick up FREE MEALS (breakfast and lunch) at any of our six schools on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Families picking up meals on Mondays will be able to receive three days worth of breakfast and lunch meals. Families picking up meals on Wednesdays will be able to receive two days worth of breakfast and lunch meals.
The District will also drop-off meals to seven St. Louis Park apartment complexes in designated neighborhoods, between 1:00-2:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Meal Drop-Off Schedule:
Meadowbrook (Era Apartments) | 1:00-1:50 p.m.
Colonial Terrace Apartments | 1:00-1:20 p.m.
Park Glen Apartments | 1:30-1:50 p.m.
Oak Park Village Apartments | 1:00-1:50 p.m.
Louisiana Court Apartments | 1:00-1:20 p.m.
Rhode Island Chateau Apartments | 1:30-1:50 p.m.
Courtyard/The Park Apartments | 1:00-1:50 p.m.
Meals available by PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY for designated apartment complexes!
Menus on the Nutrislice website and mobile application are accurate and will reflect what is included in the grab-and-go bag meals.
While meals are currently free, it's still important for families to fill out a Free and Reduced Meals Application. This application can be filled out by families in a number of different ways including online through their Wordware or PowerSchool account or by filling out a paper copy.
If anyone has questions or needs more information about the St. Louis Park Public Schools Free Meals program, or needs assistance in filling out a Free and Reduced Meals Application, they can contact the School Nutrition Department at 952-928-6146.
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Family Technology Help Resources |
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The NEW St. Louis Park Schools Family Tech Help site is located at https://slpfamilytechhelp.blogspot.com/. Please look here for solutions to common technical problems that you may have with a student device.
If you are in need of additional, specific assistance, you can email a technician at familytechhelp@slpschools.org or leave a message at 952-928-6056.
In both cases please state the student name, school, grade, and provide device info, and contact phone or email. Both of these methods are checked on a regular basis during the school day from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Any calls or emails made after 4:00 p.m. will be received and returned the next school day after 7:30 a.m.
Joanne Bongaarts, Aquila Library Media Specialist, is also available to support families.You can email her at bongaarts.joanne@slpschools.org or call 952-928-6494.
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PowerSchool Family Portal |
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St. Louis Park Public School is excited to offer families a convenient way to access information about students and make online updates. One important yearly update is the "Annual Student Update." You can update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and more.
If you already have a Middle School or High School student in the district, you might already have an account. You can log in to that account to add information about your elementary student.You should have received a letter with an access ID and code for your elementary student.
Make sure to scroll down once you are in the account and look for the "Annual Student Update" button.
If you have questions, please contact the Aquila School Office at 952-928-6500.
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St. Louis Park Hennepin County Library - Open! |
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Hours:
Sunday: 12:00PM - 5:00PM
Monday: 9:00AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday: 12:00PM - 8:00PM
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When the School Board voted in April 2019 to change school start and end times beginning in the Fall of 2020, the District also committed to form an "Out-of-School Time (OST) Taskforce" to help develop before and after school academic programs, enrichment and recreation opportunities, and childcare options for families.
The District's Youth Enrichment Program (YEP) has released the first slate of enrichment opportunities as a result of the work of the OST Taskforce. These offerings for K-8 students include a drawing class, chess club, Lego class, coding class, guitar lessons, and a puzzles & riddles escape experience.
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St. Louis Park Public Schools released its Return to School Guide for the 2020-21 school year. This guide contains important information about potential learning models (distance, hybrid and in-person), health and safety guidelines and protocols, and other general information on a variety of topics including transportation, school nutrition, childcare, arts, athletics, and much more!
PLEASE NOTE:
This document will be updated frequently and maintained on the school district website at www.slpschools.org/COVID19...please bookmark this page and refer to it often for the latest updates and information about the school district’s response.
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Central Clinic is now open. Here are the details:
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We will be open every Wednesday afternoon from 1-4:30pm
- We will only see patients for vaccine visits
- Patients can continue to schedule phone visits for other medical needs as appropriate
- All patients and visitors will need to wear a mask
- Students are allowed one adult guardian in to their visit. Other visitors should be asked to wait outside of the clinic.
- Masks will be available if the patient/visitor is not wearing one
- All patients and visitors must be screened upon arrival to the clinic (Patients will be screened when they are checking in).
- Social distancing guidelines will be posted and the lobby arranged to support this effort
- When appropriate, the patient can be scheduled for a virtual phone visit
- We will not be performing COVID testing at Central
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We will not be administering immunizations to patients who are positive for COVID symptoms
Call for 952-993-1100 for more information!
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