Dear Aquila Families,
I am inspired each and every day by your children. They are curious thinkers that take action on what is important to them. They are brilliant rays of hope. As I walk through the halls, I see students using their creativity to express their thoughts and ideas. I see posters taped up along our hallways that share beliefs about composting, protecting endangered animals, recycling, ending racism, and showing kindness. In classrooms I see students helping one another with math problems and encouraging one another. I see students incredibly proud of their work and they cannot wait to show it to me. I am proud of them too! I am proud that I see confident, caring, young people who learn in community with one another.
Next week, May 3 - 7 is Aquila Staff Appreciation Week. The learning environment that I just described could not happen without the commitment of our amazing Aquila Staff. Our PTO has activities planned to honor their work. If you’d like to contribute, please read the information below from our PTO.
Thank you for your continued support!
Olivia
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Shelley Nielsen, Aquila Principal
Olivia Tolzin, Aquila Assistant Principal
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Help Needed - Aquila Staff Appreciation Week |
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Hello Aquila Families!
Aquila Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 3 - 7. It's been a crazy, challenging year, and it feels more important than ever to show our amazing teachers and staff how thankful we are for everything they do to help our children GROW!
We have an entire week of appreciation planned the week of May 3 with a farmer's market theme. Perfectly timed with the new community garden space being built at Aquila this spring! We would love to have your help in making this week special. There are 3 ways you can be involved:
1) Have your child(ren) make a piece of a "thank you" banner we will be creating/displaying. Ask them to cut out a triangle (any size, out of any type of paper), decorate it, and write a message answering the question, "How do your teachers/staff help you grow?" Drop off your triangles (or ask your children to drop them off) at the office by tomorrow, Friday, April 30!
2) Come "chalk the walk" in front of the school this weekend. Bring your own chalk! Draw plants, flowers, fruits, veggies or any other garden-y things, and write messages of appreciation for our teachers/staff to see as they walk into school on Monday! Saturday and Sunday are both supposed to be beautiful! No need to sign up, just show up when you can!
3) Sign up to purchase supplies. Click here to sign up to donate individually packaged breakfast, lunch, snack and drink items as well as gift cards.
THANK YOU for your help and support!
Kristin Cook, PTO Volunteer
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Health Office - Information Regarding Seasonal Allergies |
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Please call the Attendance Line when your child is sick (952-928-6507),
especially if it's a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case.
Please call AQ Health Services at 952-928-6505 with questions.
COVID-19 vs. Allergies: Do I Need to Quarantine?
STUDENT & FAMILY Information Regarding Allergy/Cold/Flu Season:
Some symptoms of general illness such as seasonal allergies, colds, and/or flu overlap with symptoms of COVID-19. If a parent/guardian/family member believes their child/student has any illness - which displays the same symptoms as COVID-19 - the student, and other household members, are not allowed to attend school until:
The symptomatic student tests negative for COVID-19; or
An alternative diagnosis (such as allergies, cold, or flu) is received from the child’s/student’s health care provider in written form and copied to the school health office.
If the student with symptoms does not test for COVID-19, or receive an alternative diagnosis from their health care provider, they would need to isolate at home for 10 days and household members would follow the 14 day quarantine protocol.
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Fifth Grade Families - Middle School Site Council Information |
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Hello Fifth Grade families and a big welcome to the Middle School next year! We hope you will get involved during your child's three short years at the Middle School. One way to do that is participating in Site Council or various open volunteer leads.
Site Council is a group of parents/staff/administration that meets 7 times a year to discuss pertinent issues and self select to work on a strategic focus area committee. Committee break-outs this year included 1) Racial Equity, 2) Mental Health, 3) Communication, 4) Student Recognition. We anticipate continuing work on many of these areas in the 2021/22 school year. Meetings are approximately once per month on Wednesday's and were held virtually this year. No meetings December or March due to Winter/Spring Breaks.
Site Council and Leadership open positions for 21/22 school year:
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Site Council Co-Chair - Co-lead with Julie Yakes - collaborate with administration as we build and lead meaningful content for meetings, ensure volunteer leads have support, build structure, etc. Approx time commit = 4-5 hours/month.
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Treasurer - Be in charge of finances, building and executing budget, writing checks, etc. Approx time commitment = 1-3 hours/month
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Fundraising Co-Lead - Help lead and execute the annual direct donation campaign; Approx time commitment July - September = 5-15 hours/month; Approx time commitment Oct - June = 0 hours/month
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Site Council members at large - Participate in Site Council meetings and strategic focus area committee work; Approximate time commitment: 1.5 hours/month Sept - May; All parents are welcome. We ask that you commit to attending at least 5 of the 7 meetings to maximize the committee work.
Unsure or have questions? Please contact Julie Yakes (612-210-5196) or Heidi Meyer (612-462-5364) for more information.
Together, we can continue to make the Middle School even better! Welcome!
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AQ PTO (Parent, Teacher Organization) |
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The Aquila PTO partners with families to
enhance the education experience
of all Aquila students, families and staff!
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*Aquila Family Directory: Click here! Please note the grade level tabs along the bottom. Keep the link handy. If you want to be in the directory, click on this link.
*Next AQ PTO Virtual Meeting: Tuesday, May 25 at 6:15PM - All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
*For more information about the AQ PTO: Please contact AQ PTO President Chelsea Bergaus at bohnbergaus04@gmail.com.
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Coming Soon: Aquila's Schoolyard Urban Farm |
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We are excited to announce that a Schoolyard Urban Farm will be built at Aquila Elementary.
This project will strive to make the space which invites, includes, and reflects the many cultures and individuals that are part of the broader Aquila School community.
We believe that everyone should have access to fresh and safe food that affirms the cultural identity of our community.
We know learning how to grow food can be empowering and healing, and want to plant a variety of vegetables and herbs that students can identify from family meals.
We want to hear from you!
- What vegetables and herbs do you use in cooking?
- Do you want to be informed about opportunities to be involved?
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HealthMovesMinds 2021 - Tom Roberts, Physical Education |
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It is with great excitement that I announce Aquila's HealthMovesMind event for 2021. 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 becoming a Special Olympics Unified Champion School.
Pictured below is the HealthMovesMinds wristband. Every Wednesday morning beginning at 7:45AM there will be an announcement for students to come down to the gymnasium to purchase the wristbands. Cost is $5.00. Kindness is Everything t-shirts will be given to each student that raises at least $25.00.
TO DONATE ONLINE:
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Go to healthmovesminds.org
- Click on the red HealthMovesMinds box.
- Scroll down and click on "Register."
- Click on "Donate."
- Click on the tab "Search For A School Team."
- Type in Aquila.
- Click on Aquila (in blue).
- Click on "Join Team."
- Fill in the information.
- You are registering as a "Team Member Fundraiser."
- Follow prompts.
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Can be purchased for $5.00
on Wednesday mornings.
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Raise over $25.00, receive a t-shirt! |
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Summer Opportunities - St. Louis Park Community Education |
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COVID-19 School District's Response |
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PLEASE NOTE:
Updates and information about the school district's response to COVID-19 can be found on the school district website at www.slpschools.org/COVID19. P lease bookmark this page and refer to it often.
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