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Northpoint Elementary
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See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 - NEWSLETTER
Hello Northpoint Families!
Thank you for sharing ideas through Possip last week! We heard from 190+ of you in the last few days and really appreciate you taking the time to respond. Some examples of praise, appreciation, and feedback or questions were:
Appreciation for staff who are welcoming and helpful
Appreciation for school culture that fosters belonging and inclusiveness
Ideas around teacher communication and expectations
I will always take your feedback and ideas into consideration for our future planning and follow-up as needed. Our next pulse check will be October 26.
We’re taking the next steps with competency-based learning this school year. Last year, we took a competency-based approach to the arts and career and life competencies and this year we’re adding Language Arts, Math, Science, Physical Education, and Health. You can find some basic information as we get under way in today’s newsletter. We are starting with some of the basics, like, “what is competency-based learning.”
We’ll share more information as we go this year, please watch classroom communications for examples from your student’s experience. Please also mark your calendar. Competency-based learning will be a primary topic of our PTO meeting on October 2. I hope you can attend.
We are definitely settling into a routine during this third week of school. Thank you for everything you are doing to support attendance and your student’s readiness to learn each day. Have a great week.
Tyler Nelson
Principal
Northpoint PTO Sponsored Fun Run
The Northpoint PTO Sponsored Fun Run will be held on Friday, September 29. Families are welcome to spectate during their student's run time. The schedule is below:
- Lower Blue (Brodt, Cole, Kroll, Marcella, Knutson) - 10-10:45 a.m.
- Lower Green (Boehmer, Gates-Vickery, Saladis, Vaillant) - 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Upper Blue (Frank, Hendrickson, Phillippo, Weerts, Harrington) - 12:35-1:20 p.m.
- Upper Green (Hosley, Johnson, Mues, Walton, Anderson) - 1:20- 2 p.m.
- Yellow/Red (Healy, Suits, Walsh, Wenum, West, Hazuka). 2-2:45 p.m.
Reminder - Northpoint Picture Day is Wednesday, September 27
Lifetouch will be taking student pictures at Northpoint on Wednesday, September 27. If you would like to order pictures, visit MyLifetouch and use Picture Day ID: EVTS98GG7.
Our next steps with competency-based learning – academic competencies
Competency-based learning is one of the four components of personalized learning in Spring Lake Park Schools. We’ve been taking steps toward a competency-based approach to learning for several years.
Last year, we took a competency-based approach to the arts as well as career and life competencies – like self-direction, communication and collaboration. This year, we’re adding academic competencies for Language Arts, Math, Science, Physical Education, Health and Arts.
We’ll be sharing more information with families in the coming weeks and months. Please watch for examples coming from your student’s classroom. As the school year gets underway, check out this brief Competency-Based Learning - Fact Sheet for some of the basics. This fact sheet and additional information is on our Personalized Learning webpage which can be translated into multiple languages.
Asking your student about science, K-5
The science specialist model is new this year in grades K-5. Throughout the year we might be gathering information from students about their experiences in science. If you do not want your child to share this feedback, please let your classroom teacher know.
Spring 2023 state testing results going home this week
If you have a student who participated in last year's state testing, you can expect to receive a secure email message from Assessments@district16.org with your child's report later this week. This message will include reports for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCAs) and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) for all students currently in grades 4-9, 11, and 12 and ACCESS for students identified as English Learners currently in grades 1-12. Keep in mind these results are from last spring. The state just recently provided results to us. Your child's current teacher(s) will be able to provide you with the most up-to-date information on your student's learning progress.
Update immunizations by November 1, upcoming vaccine clinic
Minnesota School Immunization Laws currently require all students enrolled in school to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTap/Td/Tdap), polio, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, and varicella (chickenpox). One dose of the meningococcal (MCV) vaccine is due in 7th grade, and a booster dose at age 16.
The only exceptions are:
1. A student has had the chickenpox virus
2. Medical exemption with paperwork from your provider
3. Conscientious exemption with notarized exemption form
Students whose immunizations are not up to date by Wednesday, November 1 will be excluded from school until their immunizations are current. If you have questions about whether or not your child is due for immunizations, please contact their healthcare provider.
As a reminder, SLP is hosting a free vaccine clinic for students on Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10 from 3:30-7 p.m. at Kenneth Hall in Spring Lake Park High School (door #33). We ask that students and families sign up ahead of time for an appointment. See more details on the event.
Access to curriculum and student learning experiences
Students use Seesaw (grades K-2) and Schoology (grades 3-12) for their learning. Parents/guardians can also access these platforms and follow along with what their children are learning in school. Once a parent or guardian logs on, if you're not sure what you're looking at or where to find something, ask your student to give you a tour.
Check out these instructions for logging on to our digital learning systems. You can find these instructions along with parent password guidance, and so many more tips and video tutorials about our technology tools on the Technology Tools, Resources and Log Ins page of our website under the "Parent" menu. All our Spring Lake Park Schools webpages also can be translated into multiple languages.
- Wednesday, September 27 - Northpoint Picture Day
- Friday, September 29 - Northpoint PTO Sponsored Fun Run
- October 2-6 - Homecoming Week
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Friday, October 6 - Homecoming Football Game, Panther Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 7, 2023 - Live on 65: 7,000 Miles to Broadway (Singer/Guitarist + Pianist + Bassist), Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.
Monday, October 9 - Free Vaccine Clinic event, Kenneth Hall in Spring Lake Park High School (door #33), 3:30-7 p.m. Sign up here.
Tuesday, October 10 - Free Vaccine Clinic event, Kenneth Hall in Spring Lake Park High School (door #33), 3:30-7 p.m. Sign up here.
- Wednesday, October 11 - Caregiver Learning Event: Mental Health Awareness & Coping Skills, Westwood Intermediate and Middle School (The Den), 6-7 p.m. RSVP for this event.
Saturday, October 28 - Northpoint PTO Fall Fest
Monday, November 6 - Northpoint PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m./Media Center
Northpoint Panther Visit
The Panther made a surprise visit to Northpoint to help kick off the NP PTO Sponsored Fun Run. It was an exciting way to help kick off this annual event!
Northpoint PTO Fun Run - Volunteers Needed
The Fun Run will be held on Friday, September 29 and we are looking for volunteers to help. Click here to learn more and to sign up.
Panther Pride Sweepstakes is back, starting October 2
Win $500 for your school and $50 Panther Store gift card for you! Starting Sunday, October 1, visit the sweepstakes page to enter the daily Panther Pride Sweepstakes. Show your Panther Pride and Spirit by answering a trivia question daily, October 1-5. Families can enter one time each day and can include all students in the family. A student winner and a staff winner for each school will be drawn on Thursday, October 5 and winners will be acknowledged at the Spring Lake Park High School Homecoming game on Friday, October 6. Good luck!
- Safety and security update: 2023-2024
- Report the absence through Campus Parent Portal
- Get ready to see what’s behind the curtain
- Live on 65: 7,000 Miles to Broadway - get your tickets today!
- Complete your review of student behavior and attendance expectations
- 2023-2024 School Handbook
- Openings - Spanish Immersion Preschool class
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Para traducir la información a otro idioma, por favor presionen en cualquier lugar del mensaje para abrirlo en un navegador web y en la parte superior de la página seleccione su idioma del menú.