December 8, 2024

Dear Cheetah families,

Our School Choice Fair will take place on Saturday, December 14th from 9:00am-2:00pm at the RiverCentre. A big thank you to all the parents who have signed up to assist with answering families' questions, highlighting our school’s programs and services, and helping new families feel welcomed into our community. If you’d like to be part of this event and take a shift, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. Your support is greatly appreciated!

On Monday, 3rd graders will start another exciting Art Residency through ArtStart with Kallie Melvin. We are looking for thin cardboard boxes (such as granola or cereal boxes) for the project.

As part of our new traditions at Chelsea Heights, I am excited to announce that 4th and 5th graders will attend the Afton Alps field trip on Thursday, February 13th. We will be finalizing the logistics, and classroom teachers will send out permission forms, payment details, chaperone opportunities, and any additional information you need about this trip.

Additionally, Ms. Flaten's and Mr. Matuzak's students will participate in the Biztown field trip on Wednesday, January 29th. We are excited about these unique experiences and look forward to the adventures ahead.

Winter Band/Orchestra Concert at Murray Middle School on December 17th at 6:30pm.

Project REACH Toy & Gift Drive: Project REACH is seeking new toys and gifts for children ages birth through 18. Items are accepted now through December 13. The gifts will go to families experiencing homelessness in Saint Paul Public Schools.

Project REACH Coat & Blanket Drive: Project REACH is accepting new coats and blankets this year to help keep our children experiencing homelessness warm all winter. Items are accepted Nov. 13-Jan. 21.

I encourage you to continue expressing gratitude for the Chelsea Heights staff members who have made a positive impact. Whether it's sending an email or filling out the gratitude form (which requires an email but is sent anonymously), your appreciation makes a difference! Staff members have already received some wonderful notes of thanks, and they were very well received. Thank you for helping create a culture of gratitude in our school!

Looking for Winter Resources?

• Non school day programming
  
• St. Paul Parks and Recreation No School Day Programming

• SPPS Discovery Club Open to all families on a first come basis registration.

• YMCA Full Day School Release Days

• Community Winter Events

• St. Paul Parks and Recreation Winter Events

• St. Paul Public Library

• Resources for the whole family

• Wellstone Center (179 Robie St. E St. Paul, MN 55107) for winter gear and basic needs such as food self

Reminders:

• We are in the season of respiratory illness: asthma exacerbations, colds, COVID, influenza, even whooping cough. Remember to keep your and your children's vaccinations up to date and help them practice good health habits:
  

  
  

  • Drinking plenty of water

  • Getting enough rest

  • Washing hands

  • Masking when at risk or sick

  • Following asthma action plans

    
    

  Remember, please keep your student home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or an unexplained rash. Call 651-293-8790 to let us know.

  
  

• Warm Clothing for Outdoor Recess: We provide recess every day for our students and hold it outdoors unless the weather reaches extreme conditions. On colder days, please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately with jackets, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats.

  To avoid any confusion in case items get misplaced, kindly label each piece of clothing with your child’s name. Thank you for helping us keep your child comfortable and safe during outdoor recess!

  
  

• Review the guidance for a possible non-instructional day or e-learning day by clicking on the Winter Weather Guidance

• Bus Delays Due to Snow or Ice: When roads are icy or snowy, please be prepared for potential bus delays. For real-time updates, you can check our Bus Status Page. Alternatively, you can call our Transportation Department at 651-696-9600 or our Main Office at 651-293-8790 for more information. To help us manage inquiries efficiently, we kindly ask that you wait until the bus is at least 10 minutes late before calling. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

• Winter Open House for prospective families - Tuesday, June 14th, 2025, 2:00-3:30pm

• I am working with our PTO and staff members to plan our NAAPID Assembly on Monday, February 10 at 9:00am. Save the date and stay tuned for more information.

• As a reminder, we want to prioritize the safety of all our students. Please be aware that school hours officially end at 2:00 PM, and any students who remain on or near school grounds after that time are not under the supervision of Chelsea Heights staff. We kindly ask that families encourage students who stayed at the Rec Check to stay within the school building and avoid areas such as the Como Lutheran Church parking lot, the Speedway Gas Station on Hamline Ave. N and Larpenter Ave. W, and the Holiday Gas Station at Larpenter Ave. W and Fernwood St. These locations can be unsafe or busy during after-school hours. The school cannot assume responsibility for any incidents occurring outside of our supervision after the official school day ends. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring the continued safety and well-being of all students. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

• The City of Saint Paul is providing swimming lessons! They are offered for free on a first-come, first-served basis for youth who live in Saint Paul. Visit stpaul.gov/swimminglessons to see available lessons.

• I encourage you to bookmark the Cheetah Family Calendar where you can see upcoming events, conferences, concerts, Como Rec Center events, and more.

• Thank you so much for following the Chelsea Heights Cell Phone Expectations. We appreciate your support as we want students to focus on learning while in school.

• Use the Staff Directory from our website if you need to contact any of our staff members. Call the office at 651-293-8790 if you need any support.

• Use this link to donate to Arts and Music Residencies.

• Summer Learning Program (SLP) is tentatively scheduled to run for five weeks with 23 student-contact days. Tuesday, June 24 - Friday, July 25 (no programming 7/4). More information about locations and enrollment will be shared by March, 2025.

Below are the dates and names of the other artists coming to visit Chelsea Heights:

01/17/2025 - Son de Cuerdas

03/14/2025 - Alma Brasileira

05/09/2025 - Steam Machine

As we prioritize the safety and well-being of all students in our school community, we encourage you to review the Bike & Walk to School guidelines. Promoting safe walking and biking practices not only helps our students stay healthy, but also ensures their safety as they travel to and from school.

Please take a moment to visit the Bike & Walk to School webpage to familiarize yourselves with important safety tips, routes, and school-specific recommendations.

We invite you to visit the school and check the lost and found collections in the main hallway by the cafeteria and outside the Rec Center, and playground area.

Our goal is to return all items. Anything left behind will embark on a new adventure with our local Goodwill.

Inclusion in the directory is completely voluntary. You are welcome to submit only the information you are comfortable sharing. The directory will be organized by grade level, so your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade level(s) will be important information for inclusion in the directory.

The directory will be made available to the Chelsea Heights community via a link in the PTO newsletter.

If you are able and would like to donate to the PTO to help cover the costs please send cash or check in envelope labeled "PTO"

Checks can be made payable to: Chelsea Heights Elementary School PTO

Spirit Wear available here.

Show your school spirit all summer with a Chelsea Spirit Wear sweatshirt, available in adult sizes S-2XL. (This is Minnesota...we need sweatshirts all year round.)

You can place your order here and make arrangements to have it sent home with your student.

Please use the SPPS Family Calendar when looking for the days off for elementary students, upcoming breaks, and more.

• December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break
• January 20 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 27 - No School - Professional Development Day
• February 17 - No School - Presidents Day
• March 7 - No School - Conference Prep Day

Preview the Winter Catalog!

The Winter 2025 Community Ed Catalog is now online and ready for you to snowball into new skills.

Take a sneak peek now and get ready—registration opens on December 5th. Don't let these cool classes pass you by!

REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES OPENS DECEMBER 5TH AT 9:00AM

Preview The Catalog Here

Northern Heat Volleyball is offering a Youth Development League for girls U9 - U11 (3rd - 5th grade).

They practice out of Visitation School on Fridays in January - April.

Check the flyer for more information. Register here.

Email: Guillermo.maldonadoperez@spps.org
Website: https://chelsea.spps.org/
Office: 651-293-8790