Fridley Preschool

11/3 Springbrook Visit

11/6 Evaluation/Planning Day (No School)

11/7 Staff Development Day (No School)

11/23-11/24 Thanksgiving Break (No School)

12/22-1/1 Winter Break (No School)

If you would like to volunteer at our preschool this school year, please fill out the application below. Once you're approved, reach out to your child's teacher for ways you can volunteer in their classroom or within our preschool!

The Fridley Preschool visited the Anoka County Library, Mississippi branch, on Tuesday and Thursday, October 24 and 26. The kids had story time with the librarian and were able to explore the children's portion of the library. We are pleased to continue to partner with the library as a community supporter.

The Fridley Police and Fire Departments visited the Preschool on Monday, October 30. The kids learned about our community partners and the work that the police and firefighters do to help us. They were also able to see the police car and fire truck.

The IB Learner Profile for November is “Communicator”. To be a communicator means that we share our ideas. At the Fridley Preschool and at the Fridley Community Center, to share our ideas can take shape in many ways. We can communicate our ideas and thoughts through print, speaking, art work, play, and the relationships we create with other children and adults. Children learn through communication in many forms as they interact with each other and those around them. Another focus of being a communicator is to allow children to advocate for themselves so they can share with adults what they need to be success and a learner at our school.

Our Preschool is looking for a classroom assistant and para educators! If you're interested, please click the link below.

Hello Fridley Community,

The Fridley Community Center has experienced significant water leaking for several years. The last several months have resulted in increased water damage. Fridley Community Center is part of the district’s Long-Term Facilities Maintenance study which is due back in December. The permanent repair/refurbishment of FCC is of top priority for Fridley Public Schools. Temporary remediation strategies including additional caulking, grading, downspouts and pumping have been completed.

Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to have key areas of the Fridley Community Center tested for mold. These areas include Rooms 112, 114, 116 and the Fridley Community Center main office suite next to Door 5. Testing has determined that mold remediation is needed in the offices and in Rooms 112, 114 and 116. Carpets have been replaced in those areas and remediation of areas has been completed.

The safety and security of our students, community members, and staff are of paramount importance. If you’d like more information on the testing and findings, they are available in this environmental assessment.

I am pleased to share with you all an update following the additional air sample testing completed on October 26 by Institute for Environmental Assessment (IEA). We asked IEA to provide additional testing throughout the building by a certified industrial hygienist. We received their thorough follow-up report, which is available to you to read in its entirety.

IEA’s report indicates that for the majority of the building, while there are indications of an ongoing moisture issue, the results do not indicate an airborne fungal issue at the time of the assessment. However, in several rooms—specifically the Main Office Reception, the back-office area, and Rooms 112, 114, and 116—the results did indicate an airborne fungal concern.

The good news is that we have already taken steps in these areas (and throughout the building) to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Please see below for a specific list of items completed and items in progress.

Items completed:

• Carpet in main office areas

• Compromised carpet along exterior windows has been replaced in the office areas

• Waiting area and foyer carpet has been replaced in office to match

• The remaining carpet in the office area has been cleaned with hot water. A product labeled for mold remediation has been used as a prespray prior to extraction. Carpet has been HEPA vacuumed after replacement and extraction

• Carpet in room 112, 114, and 116

• Carpet has been replaced along windows

• Remainder of 112, 114, 116, 109 and the hallways adjacent to these rooms has been hot water extracted and pretreated with a product labeled for mold remediation

• Downspout extensions have been installed to all building downspouts

• Office furniture has been reset

Items in progress:

• Window cleaning of all building windows with a 5% bleach solution

• Exhaust, supply, and return duct work cleaning throughout facility

• Caulking of exterior doors, windows and concrete slab

• 10-year facilities assessment to permanent solutions to building water penetration

• This report is due back in December

• Follow up air sampling throughout facility

• Flooring replacement in room 106 and health office (when material arrives)

• Room 106 has not been identified as a mold remediation site. The carpet in this area is being removed and replaced with luxury vinyl tile as a preventative measure

• Flooring replacement in room 126A and 126B (summer, requires asbestos abatement)

• The flooring in this room is being replaced as part of a districtwide asbestos abatement project. This project is not related to mold remediation.

Further, as a follow up, we will bring a certified industrial hygienist from IEA back to the FCC on an ongoing basis to do additional testing to make certain that our remediation steps have been effective. IEA has already been back today to complete more testing after remediation steps.

I am grateful for your immense patience as we have moved staff around to accommodate this testing. I also appreciate your understanding as we move forward with the additional work identified in our long-term facilities plan for our building. We will get through this together!

Please reach out to Stephen Keeler at 763-502-5106 or stephen.keeler@fridley.k12.mn.us or Renee Van Gorp at 763-502-5101 or renee.vangorp@fridley.k12.mn.us with any questions or concerns. You may also reach out to Jonathan Spitzer, our district facilities manager at 763-502-5008.

Are you interested in receiving weekly food bags for your child?

We have partnered with EveryMeal-Sheridan Story to provide preschool students weekly food bags to take home FOR FREE. Families have the choice between five options of different types of food. They are listed below.

Blue Bag: Tailored for East African dietary preferences, this bag is pork-free and may contain items such as tuna, spaghetti, black-eyed peas, corn flour, fava beans, and tomato products.

Green Bag: This bag offers the widest variety of food items, such as chicken, tuna, pasta, rice, mac and cheese, chili/soup, and varied vegetables and fruits.

Orange Bag: Tailored for Latino dietary preferences, this bag may contain items such as rice, black beans, pinto beans, corn flour, fideo pasta, enchilada sauce, chipotles in adobo, and diced chiles.

Purple Bag: Tailored for Southeast Asian dietary preferences, this bag may contain items such as rice, rice noodles, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, curry paste, green beans, and mandarin oranges.

Yellow Bag: This bag contains all ready-to-eat items which require little or no preparation, such as dried fruit, tuna salad, chicken salad, sunflower seeds, granola, oatmeal, and soups.

If you are interested in signing up or have any questions, please call our Social Worker, Alaina, at 763-502-5121. You can also fill out this form to submit your choice of meal bag to be sent home with your child.Visit this website to learn more about EveryMeal and Sheridan Story.

School Resources

Food Pantry

Here at Fridley Preschool, we have a pantry of donatable food items and closets of clothing and household items available for families. If you would like to come and see what fits you and your family’s needs, please let me or your child’s teacher know.

Winter Gear

With the Winter months just around the corner, we’ve got FREE winter gear items for you to stock up with! If you are in need of winter gear for your child and family, please contact me or your child’s teacher and we can look through our closets of coats, snow pants, boots, gloves, hats, and more to see what you’d like to take home.

Fridley Public Schools Resource Webpage

This list of names and numbers of community resources is available to any Fridley family. Everything from food, housing, internet, and mental health supports can be found on this site, as well as the names and numbers of each school’s social worker and equity and inclusion specialist. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Community Resources and Events

Springbrook Nature Center Special Events

Bring your family and friends to these fun events hosted by Springbrook! Use the link above to see details, locations, and descriptions. Have fun!

Child and Teen Check-Ups

Learn more about Anoka County’s Health Check-Up program here. You can also call 763-324-4280 for more information and to make appointments for your children. Translation services are available.

Anoka County Local Resources Interactive Map

This map lets you set your location, filter the types of resources you are looking for, and even gives you directions to get there! Use the link above to interact with resources near you!

Anoka County Library

Visit this website to learn more about the Anoka County Library. From children and family events to adult education classes and resources, your neighborhood library has a variety of beneficial services that help and support you and your family. The library closest to Fridley Preschool is 410 Mississippi St NE Fridley, MN 55432.

Need other resources or have other requests? Fill out this form and I will contact you.

Request Social Work Support

Preschool Website

All the best,

Alaina Dehnke

Preschool Social Worker

Email: alaina.dehnke@fridley.12.mn.us

Office Phone: 763-502-5121

Cell phone (text or call): 612-405-8812