Principal Henderson's Message
Welcome back to grades 3-5 students and teachers who returned to in-person learning this past month. It is so good to see many faces online and in-person!
Thank you to all our families for attending our winter literacy assessments. It was a huge success! Teachers enjoyed spending time with their students 1:1 and learning about their progress. We are looking forward to using the data collected on our students to best inform our instructional practices. A special thank you to our GH Booster families for their generosity in providing snacks and restaurant gift cards to our entire staff during assessment days.
Attendance matters! We continue to follow up on attendance daily. If you know your child needs to be out for any reason and is not in attendance either in-person or online in Digital Academy, please contact our school to report the absence. Students who need to quarantine will be participate in distance learning. If you have any questions regarding your child's health or need to report a COVID-19 case, please contact Nurse Kristi Harvey at kristi.harvey@district196.org or call our school office at 651-683-8570. To report an absence online, please email our office at GH.Attendance@district196.org.
Please note that families who are choosing to go on vacation out of the country are asked to not take their device with them. We are not able to accommodate distance learning for students who leave the country at any time. Sometimes there are issues with applications not working correctly once a student leaves the country. App developers do/will block IP addresses. We don’t know which countries or networks in those countries that might be blocked. We have students try to remotely work in other countries and run into issues. If you have any questions about your child's work completion and are going on vacation, please contact administration.
Students at GHESAS will go outside every day, weather permitting. We want students to stay healthy and dry. Please send warm winter gear with your child every day and encourage them to be wearing their gear when outdoors. Sending extra socks and masks will help students be prepared in the event that they get wet or soiled. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.
Warm regards, Principal Adriana Henderson
News from Ms. Hosek, Science Specialist
January and February have been very busy in the STEAM room. Check out what students have been learning in the new year since late January into February!
Kindergarteners came to the STEAM Room to learn about and drive one of our robots, spheros. They practiced driving in control, tracing a shape, creating and following a maze, and driving fast. There was a lot of excitement in the room. Digital Academy students worked on testing different materials to protect their ice cube. They made predictions, testing materials and wrote a conclusion. They were very busy scientists.
First graders spent time at school learning about and creating a habitat for an animal of their choice. They learned about their shelter, food and water source and created a project showing these things. In-person students are also learning about different types of penguins and created a penguin in the STEAM Room. They designed, built and shared about their penguin. Students that are learning from home created an animal habitat out of materials from school of that they had at home. We have many creative students at GHESAS!
Second graders discussed culture and traditions and created a representation of something that was important to them and their culture. Second graders also walked to Fish Lake Park to explore signs of winter and animal habitats. They used their science skills to observe and record what they found. Digital Academy students studied different materials and how they have different properties. They tested out materials that can change shape and reform and those that can’t. They also worked on building with materials to hold back water from their building.
Grades 3-5 students have just rejoined us at school and are starting to have experiences in the STEAM Room.
- Third graders explored with light and shadow by tested the different materials to see how much light they let through. They also testing how the length of a shadow changes by moving the light source closer to and farther from that object. Digital Academy students will begin a series of engineering challenges while in-person third graders will wrap up February in the STEAM Room for a unique technology & building experience. I’m looking forward to see their creative sides.
- Fourth grade students, either virtually or in-person, participated in a real-world problem solving experience while engineering different ways to cross a river safely. We had some great discussions about how to solve problems while helping people. Digital Academy students will continue to work on engineering challenges at home while in-person students will explore signs of winter at Patrick Eagan Park later this month.
Fifth grade students have been learning about things that shape and form the earth and create landforms. They’ve discussed natural disasters as well as things that shape land quickly and slowly. All students have participated in hands-on demonstrations or investigations around these topics. In-person students will be visiting the STEAM Room at the end of the month to participate in a hands-on investigation aligning with their classwork.
It has been wonderful to continue to connect with students virtually and to have students back in-person. Thank you for sharing your children with me - it is so fun to see their creativity in action!
~ Ms. Hosek
Welcome Mark Karstedt, Building Technology Support
Please join me in welcoming Mark Karstedt, our new Building Technology Support. Mark is proud to join GHESAS as a Technology Support Clerk. He has a variety of diverse work experiences including teaching in Sevilla, Spain, website development in Puebla, Mexico and North Minneapolis, and supporting remote surgeon interface in Thiotte, Haiti. Reading, writing and walking in nature brings him joy. After the death of George Floyd, Mark was invited to join Twin Cities community leaders to create and manage healingourcity.org. The organization provides a positive way for community members to grief, be open to change and share visions for the future. His ongoing volunteer role includes website and social media management. Welcome, Mr. Karstedt!
GLACIER HILLS IS STILL COLLECTING BOX TOPS!
Make a difference for Glacier Hills every time you shop! By using the Box Tops for Education app to scan your store receipt, participating products can instantly add cash to Glacier Hill’s earnings online. From playground equipment to technology to library books, Glacier can use this money to help our teachers and students get the supplies they need.
Still haven’t downloaded the app? Do it now! Download the Box Tops for Education app on your smartphone & under settings you can select Glacier Hills Elementary. You can see what items earn box tops, scan your receipt & earn without cutting a thing! If you’re unsure of how it all works, please visit boxtops4education.com
Panda Express Food Night Fundraiser
GHESAS is hosting a Panda Express Fundraising Event on February 24th!
Come join us from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at:
YANKEE DOODLE RD & PROMENADE AVE
1270 Promenade Place, Suite 150 Eagan MN 55120
20% of the proceeds will go directly back to our school! Order in-store or online! Orders must be placed on the event day.
In-Store:
Show paper or digital version of flyer
Online:
Enter 320908 in the promo code box during online checkout at order.pandaexpress.com.
Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts & Science
Email: GH.Attendance@district196.org
Website: https://gh.district196.org/
Location: 3825 Glacier Drive, Eagan, MN 55123
Phone: 651-683-8570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlacierHillsArtsandScience
Twitter: @GlacierHills