Tiger Tales

Stevenson Families,

It was wonderful seeing so many of our families and scholars at family BINGO! Thanks so much to PTO for sponsoring along with Metro Therapy and to all of the staff volunteers to make the event happen! Officer Faber also made timing to attend and to depart so much better by directing traffic, thank you.

Our scholars recently earned an exciting Integrity Celebration this month by showing our Stevenson C.A.R.E.S (Cooperation, Appreciation, Respect, Empathy, for Success) expectations. See the highlights below.

February is Black History Month!

• Please see details on Parent Involvement Day & our Festival of Nations Event
• Our scholars will be learning about and celebrating 26 historical African American leaders
• Weekly broadcasts featuring learning and celebrations
• Class murals of influential leaders

We are half way through the school year as semester 2 now begins. Report cards were sent home along with academic testing data from FAST Bridge, a nationally used assessment tool. While grade level mastery is important, academic growth is where we focus as it is critical each and every one of our scholars is growing. We also must remember there are many assessments to measure progress and some of the informal measurements such as writing samples are the most exciting artifacts of success. Please reach out to your child's teacher with any questions on report cards or testing reports.

Kindly,

Veronica Mathison

Stevenson Elementary Principal

763-502-5301

veronica.mathison@fridley.k12.mn.us

Wednesday, February 7th-Lifetouch Spring Picture Day

Monday, February 12- Parent Involvement Day

Monday, February 19th-No School (President's Day)

Wednesday, February 21st-PTO Meeting 5:30 p.m. at RLS

Thursday, February 29th-Festival of Nations-5:30-7:30 p.m. at RLS

We would like to invite you all once again to join us in our Celebration for Black History Month with our Annual African American Parent Involvement Day on February 12th according to your student(s) lunch time. This invitation is open to all our parents, and we would also like to highly encourage parents to buy a school lunch for $5. Check-in will be at the main office with either Cindy or Chelsea. Ms. Alma our Equity and Inclusion Specialis will be at the Cafeteria Area with Light Snacks and Coffee for you to enjoy as well! Please help our staff best prepare by RSVP-ing on the link below to help coordinate lunches and check ins.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLeX6jGp9-C_sNm5K9UxrD8wYlVp47BybfsdxtX-L89MpKkA/viewform

We look forward to seeing many of you join us this day, we had lots of fun with those who were able to come last year!

You’re Invited!

Please join us for the Stevenson Festival of Nations on February 29th from 5:30-7:30pm! At the Festival of Nations you will be able to learn about different countries and cultures, listen and watch different performances, taste a variety of foods, and much more! Feel free to wear your traditional cultural clothing to this fantastic family event!

Our scholars earned a school-wide assembly for showing excellent character skills. There were masked singers, golden records, a student skit, and recognitions for Star Students of the Month!

For the month of February, Stevenson students will be traveling the world by reading. Each week kids are encouraged to read 100 minutes and complete an extra reading task. This reading fuel will power us to places like Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Mogadishu, Somalia, Berlin, Germany and Vientiane, Laos. Kids who participate in all four weeks of reading (a total of 400 minutes) will receive their own compass and additional prizes to help them continue their travels. Keep an eye out for that student reading log and thanks for flying "Stevenson Airlines," where the only fuel we'll be needing is Stevenson students out there reading.

Mr. Kozarek and Ms. Rae

Stevenson Elementary is now a drop off site through TerraCycle for juice pouches. Students can recycle theirs in the lunchroom and you can drop off juice pouches at the front office anytime! Our school does receive funds from TerraCycle based on how many we recycle. Please consider bringing us any Caprisun/KoolAid/Honest juice pouches.

Student arrival begins 8:55 a.m.

Free breakfast is served 8:55 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

School day starts at 9:10 a.m.

Dismissal is 3:45 p.m.

https://www.facebook.com/RLSElementary/

If you need any help with warm gear, please contact our school social worker, Cait Ostman, at 763-502-5310.

Our student resource room is in need of:

• Warm mittens
• Snow pants
• Boots

Items can be dropped off in our front office and will be available to our scholars in need of items.

This is just a reminder as the cold weather is here, we go outside everyday unless the temperature with wind chill is below 0 degrees. There is not an indoor recess option because it's important for students to get movement and fresh air. Please send your child with the appropriate winter gear every day. Here is what we call the Frosty Five that are required to keep kids safe and warm.

1. Winter Jacket
2. Hat
3. Gloves
4. Snow Pants
5. Boots

After the snow falls, without boots students need to be on the sidewalk to avoid wet and super cold feet.

WINTER SAFETY TIPS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

The safety of children on the school bus depends not only on the bus driver, but others on the road as well. Please pay attention to the following winter safety tips to students, parents and motorists:

• Don’t Rush to Catch the Bus. When roads and walkways are slippery, rushing to catch the bus or driving faster to make it to your destination can have disastrous results. Children need extra time to get to the bus stop in cold, windy or snowy conditions. Encouraging them to leave a few minutes early and take their time can reduce the number of falls on slick pavement.
• Bundle Up like Randy from “A Christmas Story.” Students need to keep warm at the bus stop, but they also must still be able to see and hear what’s going on around them. When bundling up your child in the morning, make sure he or she still has an adequate line of sight and can hear traffic and other noises. And make sure your student can put his arms down.
• Put Down the Phone. As highlighted by the “Pokémon Go” craze, not looking where you are walking can have disastrous results. When walking on snow or ice covered surfaces, watch where you are walking, take shorter, more deliberate steps or do the “penguin shuffle.”
• Get a Grip. Wear footwear appropriate for conditions. Avoid footwear with slick (no-tread) soles when walking on wet surfaces, snow or ice.
• Just a Little Patience. School bus drivers are very well trained on driving in inclement weather; however, snow and icy roads can slow down even the most experienced driver. Safety is each driver’s top priority and extra time may be needed to get from stop to stop.
• The Last Step. The seemingly simple task of getting on and off the bus can be taken for granted. Always use the handrails!
• Pay Attention to Weather Alerts and School Messages. As hectic as mornings can be, parents should be aware of weather alerts and school cancellations or delays. Bad weather also can lead to early dismissals or a change in bus routes. Make sure your school has your contact information to receive late-breaking alerts, and be sure to check your school website or local media when inclement weather is expected.

School attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunity for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student.

Examples of EXCUSED Absences

Illness (ex. strep throat, fever)

Please note: After 10 or more days of excused illness absences, students will be required to present a provider note for ongoing absences

Medical, dental or orthodontic treatment or counseling appointment

Physical emergency condition such as a fire or floor

Family Emergencies

Religious Holidays

Death or Funeral of immediate family member or close friend

Examples of UNEXCUSED Absences

Overslept / Alarm Failure

Missed the bus / Car trouble

Staying home to babysit

Needed at home

Shopping / Errands

Please contact our school social worker with any questions!

Cait Ostman, MSW, LICSW

Phone: 763.502.5310

Email: caitlin.ostman@fridley.k12.mn.us

Text: 612.424.0478

Campus Parent Portal is a required account for families to add money to your child's lunch account, apply for financial assistance, and access transportation information. You will also be using Parent Portal to update your phone number and any other personal information such as approved emergency contacts.

Thank you to everyone who has eaten meals with us. We look forward to seeing our students in the lunch line daily. We continue to provide some different meal entrees including Asian Noodle Bowls, Beef Sambusa, Chipotle Style Burrito Bowl, and School Made Mac & Cheese. All students must take at least ½ cup fruit or vegetable with their meal. Did you also know that you can come an eat school lunch with your student? The cost is $5.00 and includes the lunch entree, milk, fruits and vegetables. This is a great value, and you can taste what we are serving our customers. Reminder that students cannot just have a free milk if they are bringing a cold lunch from home, all students must take a reimbursable meal so if your student wants just a milk, we will also have them take fruits and vegetables along with the milk.

In January we will be providing some new fruits and vegetables for students to try as part of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program (snack served in the classroom). On January 11 we will be serving papaya, January 18th star fruit and on January 31 Romanesco. Please ask your children about these items and what they tasted like.

If you have any questions or menu questions, please contact Renee Arbogast RD SNS at 763-502-5022. Thank you,

Nutritional Services

Stevenson Elementary is an International Baccalaureate World School dedicated to nurturing students to show curiosity, be lifelong learners, and give back to their communities. Our exceptional teachers and support staff provide a welcoming environment where the classroom becomes a learning community!

Email: Veronica.mathison@fridley.k12.mn.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/isd14.org/stevensone-learning/home
Location: 6080 East River Road, Fridley, MN, USA
Phone: 7635025300