Principal Message
Our school's commitment to provide social emotional learning (SEL) within our instruction is aligned to our school's goal in creating and sustaining a strong school community and a positive learning environment for all. Everyone belongs here! Through ongoing professional learning and community partnerships, we continue our work to promote SEL for all.
MoveMindfully
Our school partnered with MoveMindfully through a grant with Dakota County in 2020-21 providing residencies supporting movement, breathing strategies, as well as helping students and staff work toward creating a peaceful and calm learning environment using specific tools. All sessions last year were offered to our school over Zoom.
This fall, we invited our residency partners from MoveMindfully, Chrissy Mignogna and Kathy Flaminio, to our school, in-person, to provide a refresher class with some of our classroom partners. This opportunity was part of our grant from last school year in supporting our teachers in professional learning to continue the work using the tools and strategies learned from last school year. Our partnership with MoveMindfully aligns with our social emotional learning goals for the 2022-23 school year. We look forward to continuing our partnerships with MoveMindfully in the future! To learn more about our school's partnership with MoveMindfully, click here.
"Current scientific research on mental health promotion clearly demonstrates
that learning and practicing physical and emotional self-regulation through simple movements, social-emotional learning and optimal breathing techniques allows both children, adolescents and adults to learn to take care of the body’s stress response, settle emotions, and improve cognition." ~ Dr. Nimi Sighn
Magnet Professional Learning
Magnet Schools are founded on the five pillars of diversity, innovative curriculum and professional development, academic excellence, high quality instructional systems and family and community partnerships. Our school's magnet team meets regularly to create ongoing monthly professional learning aligned to our school's art & science magnet themes and units of study. This past month, our focus was on the first pillar, diversity. Our team engaged in a group activity using the digital tool/app, Google Earth, to learn about various locations and international landmarks. Instructional connections using this tool extend beyond learning about locations as we can learn about the various origins and cultural background of our students and families. At Glacier Hills, we are a diverse learning community. Learning about our school community increases inclusion, cultural awareness and promotes a greater sense of belonging. All of these attributes contribute in creating a strong and positive learning environment.
~ Principal Henderson
Get Out & Vote THIS WEEK - District 196 School Board Election
Early in-person voting begins today, Tuesday, October 26 through Monday, November 1 during regular office hours at the District Office, 3455 153rd Street West, Rosemount from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (extended hours 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 1). Election Day is November 2.
You can also vote early in person at the Dakota County Administration Center in Hastings, 1590 Highway 5, each business day from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (extended hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 1).
For Lakeville residents in Precincts 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 , because there is a special election in your city, you do not vote at the District Office. Please visit the Lakeville City Hall to vote.
Get out and vote!
News From Mrs. Utell, Music Specialist
Hello from the music room! I am enjoying singing, playing, and moving to music with your students so far this year, especially the singing! Restrictions due to Covid-19 made so many things in the performing arts world difficult that little things like singing together inside a building has been a celebration. But, it also really pushed our creativity on what we can do to still make and move to music together. I especially came to love moving/dancing to music last year so much that I am continuing to incorporate it more into my lessons!
Movement and dance to music is great for learning music concepts. In October I used movement to “In the Hall of the Mountain King” in all grades to feel the tempo (speed of the music). Then we connected this to a dance we did the previous week “Fjaskern” from Sweden and noticed that both changed tempo from slow to fast. In 1st and 2nd grades they learned about or reviewed the terms Presto (very fast) and Largo (very slow). In the older grades we added the term Accelerando (to get faster). In 3rd grade we sang “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and added body positions to show what dynamic (volume) level we were singing. Dances like “La Raspa,” “Fjaskern,” and “Los Machetes” are great to feel the form of the music since they repeat sections in an ABABAB or ABCABC pattern.
Dance is also great for a big theme this year supporting social emotional learning in music! Last year we did a lot of dancing alone - many were adapted from dances that were supposed to be with a partner or in a group. This year I am so glad to be able to do some of these dances again with a partner or in a group. In 5th grade we did “Rural Felicity,” which is a social dance from the 18th century. This dance included do-si-dos, two hand swings, and sashays in two long lines. It reminded me so much of doing square and line dancing in school when I was around their age! While some 5th graders grumbled, I had far more requests to do it again! “Sasha” is also a favorite among all grades that have learned it. It is not too hard to learn, but so fun to do, especially since you get a new partner to clap hands and elbow swing with each time it repeats!
Learning about music and dance from around the world is a great way to expand horizons and provide a small peek into another culture. I am so thankful to find people from all over the world sharing dances online that I would otherwise never know about. I found videos of people from India and Zimbabwe who could teach our students a dance from their countries, how cool is that! I hope to find more people (maybe even you!) who can teach me or our students a dance from another place.
~ Mrs. Utel, Music Specialist and Da Capo Choir Instructor
News from the STEAM Room - Ms. Hosek, Science Specialist
October continued to be a busy month with Ms. Hosek in the STEAM Lab and in outdoors! Each grade level was in the STEAM room for an outdoor experience, team challenges, to follow the Engineering Design Process or to extend on their classroom science lessons. Here is what is happening at every grade level.
Kindergarten
During October, kindergarten students discussed manmade vs. natural materials in the STEAM Room. They then went outside to find various natural materials that they used to “write” out their name on a painted piece of cardboard. Students were so excited to see their names come to life with natural materials.
First Grade
Students spent some time in the STEAM room working together in a team to complete building challenges. They had to use different skills to create a tower and a playground. Students also used the Engineering Design Process to create their own piece of playground equipment that moves. They loved using various materials to complete this project.
Second Grade
Second graders participated in some outdoor activities during the month of October. We walked together to Fish Lake Park to observe different environments. Students recorded their observations with pictures and used those pictures to create a project of their learning. Second graders also kicked off their plant unit talking about seeds and planting them. They will visit the STEAM Room over the next few weeks to observe and record changes with their plants and also to see how animals affect these mini environments.
Third Grade
During October, third grade students walked to Patrick Eagan Park to observe forest plants and their structures. Students will also participate in team building challenges where they focus on collaboration, communication, creative thinking and problem solving. They will also explore with Ozobot robots at the end of the month.
Fourth Grade
All fourth graders participated in the Engineering Design Process through a project called the Extraordinaires. Students worked together with partners to ask, imagine, plan, create, improve and communicate around a superhero and their needs. This was a day full of teamwork and design and creativity.
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade students walked to Patrick Eagan Park to collect data in the forest and prairie environments. Students then made a graph of this data and wrote a conclusion comparing the Glacier Hills’ environments to the Patrick Eagan Park environments. Students also used microscopes to examine water from Patrick Eagan Park and Fish Lake Park. They then discussed human impact on water and created a way to share their learning around how humans impact their environments.
Magnet Lottery Application Opens Nov. 3 for 2022-23 School Year
Selecting a school for your child is an exciting process! We invite families to take a tour of our magnet schools to find the right fit for their student. Please contact your school of choice to schedule a tour. To learn more about our school choice options, please attend one of our sessions at Valley Middle School for parents on November 8 & 22 at 6:30 PM-8:00 PM
SAVE the DATE for our Glacier Hills Spotlight Event for prospective families on:
- November 16 @ 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM at Glacier Hills
- December 1 @ 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM at Glacier Hills
*Come learn more about our school with a presentation and an all school tour!
Applications for the 2022-23 school year will open on November 3rd for Magnet Elementary Schools and Valley Middle School of STEM. The application window closes on January 5th for Elementary and February 9th for Valley Middle School of STEM. The School of Environmental Studies takes application on an ongoing basis. To access our magnet application for the 2022-23 school year online, please visit our website at https://www.district196.org/academics/magnet-schools.
Conference Meals for Teachers Hosted By GH Booster Club
Conferences are this week, November 3 and 4. On Wednesday November 3rd our Booster Club will be hosting a dinner for our teachers and staff at Glacier Hills School of Arts & Science for their first night of conferences. In order to provide a meal for ALL of our staff/teachers we will need to raise over $1200 towards this (there are nearly 100 staff members at GHESAS)! All money raised will go to buying the catered meal which will be individually packaged for our teachers and staff.
This is a great way for us as parents to say thank you and contribute toward our staff conference meal. In the past, we provided a buffet style dinner, but due to the ongoing pandemic, we will be catering our main dish this year and are excited to provide a meal for our school! You can donate online for this part of the meal at https://glacier-hills-booster-club.square.site.
In addition to donating money to purchase a catered main dish please choose from items below by clicking on the signup genius to donate for our teachers and staff. If you have questions please contact ghvolunteercoordinators@gmail.com.
SIGN UP NOW TO HELP: https://bit.ly/fallglacierdinner
Thank you for your support!
Glacier Hills Booster Club
10th Annual Husky Hustle 5K Fundraiser GREAT Success!!!
Our 10th annual Husky Hustle 5K Fundraiser event was a great success once again this year! We exceeded our fundraising goal and had an amazing race day with students, staff and families! Principal Henderson and Mrs. Bartosh, Assistant Administrator, had so much fun dressing up and showing off their race-day costumes picked by our top fundraising class. It was exciting to see some of our own teachers cheering on students throughout the race path. Our teachers, Ms. Grimsrud, Ms. Hosek, Mrs. Paulson, Mr. Schwarting, and Ms. Vedders, all participated in running the Husky 5K this year! So many of our students came out to run that day as well as previous Glacier Hills students. What a great way to show our love for our school and commitment to healthy living. Way to go GHESAS!!!
Thank you to our families who contributed to the Husky Hustle! We had fabulous weather, a wonderful outdoor gathering for our families, and we raised nearly $40,000 for Glacier Hills! Proceeds from the fun run are used each year to provide funding annually to our teachers and specialists. Funding is used to purchase technology, artists in residence, field trips, and other supplies & materials that support our school's magnet theme! Thank you for your support!
Our operating costs for this event in partnership with Anderson Race Management Company, including t-shirts for students, race fees, permits with the city, and Eagan Police, cost approximately $4,000 on average. Other 'fun run' companies typically charge 50% of fundraising money earned making this is a significant cost savings for our school over!
CONGRATS to OUR 5K RIBBON WINNERS!!!
Boy’s Glacier Hills Student Winners: 1st: Caden Edwards; 2nd: Graham Prouty; 3rd: Lucas Bergstresser
Girl’s Glacier Hills Student Winners:
1st: Norah Jordan; 2nd: Evelynn Johnson; 3rd: Eldana Ermias
Middle School/Glacier Alumni Winners
Girls: 1st Brynn Bartosh; 2nd: Maya Prouty; 3rd: Ryann Mushett
Boys: Ethan Bergh; Charlie Lindstam; Caleb Bartlett
We are so thankful to our parent volunteers who make sure that the Husky Hustle 5K is an incredible fundraiser that supports our school!!! Many thanks to our school staff for participating in supporting our school community on the day of race day!
Site Council & Booster Club News and Updates
Our next Site Council/Booster Club meeting is Monday, November 15 at 4:15 p.m. via Zoom. If you would like to attend, please email glacierbooster@gmail.com for the meeting information. All are welcome!
Join Our District 196 Team!
We are hiring for a number of positions throughout the district. Check out our great opportunities to make a difference! We are actively seeking:
- Building Supervisors
- Bus Drivers
- Custodians
- Facilities and Grounds
- Food Service Associates
- Clerical
- Special Education Paraprofessionals
Visit District196.org/employment to see the latest openings. Apply today!
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