Tiger Tales

Stevenson Families,

Happy New Year! Warm wishes to all of you as we kick off 2024! We are so grateful for all of our wonderful families and scholars. Learning engagement has been high as students are growing their academic skills and their character traits. I am also thankful for our amazing Stevenson staff who have gone above and beyond to meet the needs of students and are constantly thinking about how we best serve students and families. As we all partner together, we will continue to make this a great year for our scholars.

We have one of our biggest family events coming up! Family BINGO is back again. See the details below.

Kindly,

Veronica Mathison

Stevenson Elementary Principal

763-502-5301

veronica.mathison@fridley.k12.mn.us

January 2-Students return to school

January 15- MLK DAY! No School for students

January 17-PTO Meeting 5:00 p.m.

January 24-Family BINGO night 5-6:30 p.m.

January 25 & 26-No School for students

Stevenson Family BINGO Night is coming! This is free to all of our families. We ask families to please bring a 2 liter bottle of soda to contribute to our carnival.

Wednesday, January 24th

5:00-6:30 p.m.

Stevenson Gym

See how our IB Programme, partnership with the Educational Resource Center, and our STEAM lab bring awesome opportunity to our Stevenson scholars!

Stevenson scholars read and sang to Fridley residents. They brought joy and received it when they read to community members and when they were read to.

Every year there is magic surrounding fairy tales of the Gingerbread Man. Our littles listen to stories, investigate clues, write about it, and as a culminating event they decorate cookies.

All of our scholars have access to quality specialist classes; Art, Media, Music, Physical Education, and Spanish. Our scholars love their specialist courses. Ms. Park and our wonderful fourth grade choir gave an outstanding performance "A Night At The Movies" this last month.

Scholars participated in Worldwide Hour of Code Week! Those tech and math skills were busy at work!

Our art teacher Ms. Faber helps our scholars create artwork all year long. Check out the new display featuring talented Stevenson artists.

State Statute Requires Schools to Provide Menstrual Products to Students in Grades 4-12

In response to legislation passed by Minnesota lawmakers last spring, Fridley Public Schools will make menstrual products available to students in grades 4 through grade 12. The products, limited to menstrual pads, will be available in dispensers at no cost to students and will be located in restrooms regularly used by students in these grades. The legislation requires that these products be available to students by January 1, 2024.

Research has shown that one in four teens missed class due to a lack of menstrual products, and this legislation is aimed at removing the barrier of limited access to menstrual products for students. Staff have installed product dispensers and waste receptacles. If you have any questions about the availability of these products, please contact your school's health office or building principal.

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.

The 7th annual Black & Gold Gala 2024 will be on January 25, 2024 at Jax Cafe from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Jax Cafe is at 1928 University Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55418.

The Fridley Schools Foundation awards educator innovation grants across the school district, provides post secondary scholarships to graduating seniors, and supports district initiatives.

Get your tickets

Individual-$100

Gala table for 8-$750

Gala Sponsership-$1500

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/

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