Happy October. Thank you to all the families who attended Fall Conferences either in person or virtually. It was so great to see you and partner with you to help our students learn and grow.

Here are a few things to remember for the rest of this month:

• There is no school October 18-20. School will resume on Monday, October 23. Have a great fall break!
• Picture day is Wednesday, Nov. 1(see below for more information and to order). Ordering information will go home mid October.
• Field trips are starting! If you are interested in chaperoning at any point this school year, please be sure to complete the volunteer application (see below to apply).
• Monroe grade level shirts have been ordered and will be sent home when they arrive. These are typically worn on field trip days or special event days at Monroe.
• Monroe was featured in another CCX spotlight this week focused on the Monroe GEARS shelf. The story is linked below.

Lastly, we are so excited to share that Monroe was selected as a Distinguished PLTW (Project Lead the Way) School for the fourth year in a row!

Keep Being Amazing,

Mrs. Oliver and Mr. Mattis

To ensure a safe and positive experience at lunch with your student(s), please review the updated expectations below. These updated expectations will start on Monday, Oct. 9th.

• Visitors may only eat lunch with their student. This is due to space limitations and significant food allergies.
• Photos and video are not allowed during lunch as many of our students have photo restrictions. This means they are unable to have their photo taken or shared and are unable to have video recording in school. A school staff can take a photo if desired.
• Students will rejoin their class after throwing away their trash. Visitors will leave at that time and check out with the office. Only teachers and students will return to the classroom.

• Oct. 18-20 MEA Break No School

• Oct. 25- Kindness Posters Due Back to the Building

• Oct. 26- 5th Grade Field Trip to Orchestra Hall

• Nov 1- Picture Day

• Nov. 2- Kindergarten Field Trip to MN Children's Museum

• Nov. 6-17- Monroe's Kids Heart Challenge

• Nov. 16- Family Math Night

• Nov. 22-24 No School Thanksgiving Break

• Nov. 30- End of Trimester 1

• Nov. 30- Picture Retake Day

• Dec. 1- No School Staff Planning

• Dec.4- No School Staff PD

School Pictures will be Wednesday, Nov. 1st. Pictures can be purchased online or with the paper order form send home in students folders.

To order online:

1- Visit lifetouch.com

2- Select Monroe Elementary School

3- Enter in picture day ID- EVTC48C4Z

• Here are a few reminders from Child Nutrition:

  • Meals are FREE this school year. Student will have the choice between 2 hot entrees, PB&J, or salad.
• It is still essential for families to complete the Free and Reduced Form. This benefits not only families with reduced fees for classes, events, etc but it supports the school with additional funding. Please click the image to access the form.
  

As school social workers, we are able to support our students in individual meetings, groups and whole group classroom settings. Other support can include; food, shelter, clothing, financial, mental health, and other basic needs. Please reach out to your social worker to ask for more information or to talk about your student(s).

It is getting cold out and the social workers have winter gear if your student is in need of a jacket, snow pants, boots, hats, or gloves. Please let your teacher or a social worker know and we can get your student all set up.

To learn more about the Monroe Social Workers visit the Social Worker Google Site

(Giving Everyone A Reason to Smile)

Is your family in need of food or toiletries?

If so, you can use our school’s food shelf. It’s easy, fast, and confidential.

If you would like to sign up to “shop” at the food shelf you can call 506-3627, email toni.jahnz@ahschools.us or click this link or scan/click the QR code to sign up to shop.

Every Meal is free for all families!

• No qualifications required to enroll

• No contact information is collected

• Families may choose to participate in the program at any time throughout the school year

• Students will receive food bags in their backpacks each week, typically on Fridays

• There are 5 bag types tailored to different dietary preferences that contain nutritious and delicious items

If you would like more information or have questions about this program, you may reach out to our Site Coordinator, Toni Jahnz at toni.jahnz@ahschools.us or 763-290-0454

We are excited to continue with our Character Strong program called PurposeFull People this year. It is all about helping schools weave simple, powerful, relatable content into everything happening at school and beyond!

Over the course of the year, you’ll be invited to join in the fun! We will provide letters home related to each trait. Each letter has some great conversation starters, books to read, activities to pursue, and some challenges (“PurposeFull Pursuits!”) that we encourage you to look at and try out with your family.

At school, our teachers will be role modeling this work by doing their own challenges! In the classroom, our educators will be integrating everything from 30 second strategies to longer activities designed to teach skills like Courage, Kindness, Empathy, and Responsibility.

October's trait of the month is Responsibility.

Hey Monroe Families,

Wendy Brown is with us again this school year. She will be at Monroe on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Here are some things Wendy will be helping with:

• Field Trips- If you haven't already, please complete the volunteer application linked below! ALL grade levels will be going on field trips, so before you get the notice of your child's field trip, have the paperwork complete!
• Like working on random school projects? Complete the volunteer application and get involved with helping teachers with projects for their classrooms.
• Supporting the Monroe PTO!
• And so many more things!

Please contact Wendy if you have any further questions.

Wendy Brown

wendy.brown@ahschools.us

763-506-3630

Interesting in learning about art pieces at the MIA? Want to support your students classroom a few times in January to share the art from the MIA? Then becoming an Art Adventure Picture Person is for you! Have further questions please contact Wendy Brown or Jui Gadade.

With winter weather approaching, please make sure to send your students in appropriate clothing. Changes of clothes are not readily available for students who get wet at recess. We also know that sicknesses occur with change in season. Please be sure to call your students in if they are sick. Students must stay home from school if:

• they have a temperature greater than 100 degrees
• or have vomited within 24 hours

Students may return to school when vomiting has stopped or the temperature has returned to normal for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.

Please consider the following for your student with the change in season:

• send in a water bottle for your student so they can stay hydrated
• have lip balm for chapped lips available in backpacks
• small bottle/container of lotion for dry chapped skin.

If you have any health related questions, please feel free to contact us @ 763-506-3624!

Attendance Information: Please be sure to call the attendance line if your student is sick, will be out of town or has a doctor's appointment. Absence number is: 763-506-3606.