A Note from Mr. F
After such a beautiful, unseasonably warm fall, it appears that Minnesota has not let us down winter-wise. The snow we had this week reminded many of us that we live where it gets cold and snowy!
Winter can bring many challenges to us hearty Minnesotans and schools are not immune to these challenges. The rest of this letter is intended to keep you informed of what you can expect from Hamilton Ridge during the winter months.
First, we will continue to have outdoor recess throughout the winter. Indoor recess will be called when the "feels like temperature" is -5 degrees Fahrenheit or below with wind-chill. We use KARE 11 weather as our source of temperature. Please help your child be ready for winter recess by making sure they bring the Winter 5 to school every day. The Winter 5 is boots, snow pants, a jacket, hat and gloves or mittens. To play in the snow, on the equipment or in the fields, students need to wear the Winter 5. Some of our older students prefer to not wear the Winter 5 and just stand around during recess. We allow this, but even these students should bring at least a jacket, hat and mittens or gloves. The wind really moves around Hamilton Ridge and it is dangerous to have ears and fingers uncovered during recess when there is a wind-chill.
The other piece to be aware of is the possibility of having to close school due to inclement weather. You can find School Closing Information on the PLSAS website. Our preference is for students to be in school every day, but our priority is always student safety. Sometimes the weather makes coming to school unsafe.
The first school cancellation due to weather will remain a traditional cancellation as in the past. Should there be additional inclement weather days, an E-Learning Day will be called. You can learn more about what you can expect with an E-Learning Day by clicking on this link.
Thank you, again, for partnering with us in your child’s education. Please always reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Attendance Matters: Making Attendance a Priority
While the 2022-23 school year has started off with less interruptions from Covid-19, we are still grappling with the health pandemic. Many students are settling into a routine of regular attendance, making it more important than ever to support this rhythm during the month of December. As long as your child is healthy, please prioritize attendance at school. Every day is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect with their peers and teachers.
Our winter break is from Wednesday, December 22 - Monday, January 2. School will resume on Tuesday, January 3. We appreciate the effort of families to avoid school absences the days before and after winter break. May these days off be restful and enjoyable.
Thank you for partnering with us!"
Hamilton Ridge PTC Update
- Be on the lookout for more information in January on the first ever Hamilton Ridge family movie night on January 26, 2023!
- Hamilton Ridge DOGS (Dads and Dudes of Great Students) is excited to host Donuts with Grownups this year! Families will be invited by grade level throughout the rest of the year. This is a free event where families can join their students for donuts and juice before school in the cafeteria. 5th grade families have already been invited and will enjoy their donuts this Friday, December 2.
Here are the remaining dates for grades K-4. :
January 13, 2023 – 4th grade
February 3, 2023 – 3rd grade
March 3, 2023 – 2nd grade
April 14, 2023 – 1st grade
May 12, 2023 – Kindergarten - WE DID IT! We made our goal of $25,000 for our direct donation fundraiser. THANK YOU FAMILIES FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!
- Thank you families for all the donations for the conference meals for teachers. They LOVED all the donations and appreciated the 2 meals.
- Upcoming restaurant night out: Thursday, December 8th from 4-8 pm at Noodles & Co in Savage. Mention Hamilton Ridge while dining in or use code GIVING25 when ordering online.
Helping Our Schools
You may not think of applying for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, but we need to ask a favor: please do! Many families are eligible for educational benefits, including free or reduced-price meals, waivers and instructional support. Qualifying applications generate much needed educational funds for all of our schools.
Families must complete the Application for Educational Benefits each year.
Applications are available:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Legacy Book Club
Hamilton Ridge is offering an option for families to purchase books in honor of students and help our library grow! It is called Legacy Book Club (follow the link to learn more). This is a positive way for your child to give a unique gift to all students at Hamilton Ridge.
If your family chooses to purchase a book to donate to the Hamilton Ridge Media Center, we will place a book plate in the book with your child's name, and he or she will be the first student to check out the new book. Thank you!
