News from the nest 8.30.24

Hello Ramsey Families!

Welcome officially to the 2024-2025 school year. Our Ramsey staff is so excited to partner with you this year. These "News from the Nest" communications will come out at the end of each month this year. Please take the time each month to scan through to learn about upcoming events, past celebrations, departmental news, and important updates.

Eagle Walk of Fame

Ramsey Elementary is a Leader in Me school. Through this lens, we teach students professional skills to be successful. Each month, starting in October, we will focus on one habit. New this year, staff will nominate students they have witnessed working hard to grow that habit at the end of each month. We will celebrate these students in an Eagle Walk of Fame parade. If your child is selected, you will be invited to participate in our VIP section and stay for pictures. Our first celebration is September 30th, after a month of focusing on our three commitments here at Ramsey: Seek Connection, Work Together, and Show Pride.

First Days- Student Support

Families, please plan to take first day pictures at home before you leave! We will be starting our entry procedures right away.

The first 2 days of school, teachers will be meeting grades 1-2 students outside the school to support them in learning the routines and where to go. This will happen again for the first 6 days of kindergarten who begin on either Sept. 5 (A-L last names) or Sept.6 (M-Z last names). After the first few days, there will be many staff in the hallways providing support to any students still needing guidance to get to breakfast or the right classroom. If you do need to come into the building to speak with the office, you will need a valid ID and enter using the Door 1 kiosk.

Coming soon! Visitors in the cafe

We will begin to welcome families that would like to eat lunch with their child in October. We use September to set up our structures and routines and ensure things are running smoothly. This year, there will be a sign-up genius for each grade level so we can ensure we have enough seating for all our students and guests. This is a similar procedure to what is used in other large buildings. Please watch for this in a future message.

Student drop off and pick-up

Messaging about our systems were sent out earlier this week. A recap is provided below. We can efficiently move 900+ students safely in and out of our building within 15 minutes when everyone is following the procedures. Thank you in advance for helping us support student safety!

• Drop off begins at 9:10, do not leave students unattended before that time
• Last names A-R use the North lot
• Last names S-Z use the south lot
• Students can enter at 9:15 am, 9:10 if having breakfast
• Stay in line and in your car for the entire process

Enjoy your long weekend, see you next week!

Picture packets will be sent home the first week of school. If you are wanting to order online the click the link below and enter the Picture Day ID listed.

Order online

Please join us to learn more about Ramsey and celebrate the beginning of another great school year! Food and entertainment will be provided. All ages welcome!

Sept. 2: No School

Sept. 3: First Day for grades 1-5

Sept. 3-4: Kindergarten family conferences

Sept. 5: Kindergarteners last names A-L attend

Sept. 6: Kindergarteners last names M-Z attend (no A-L kindergarteners)

Sept. 9: All Kindergarteners attend together

Sept. 13: Fall Picture Day

Sept. 24: Fall Family Picnic

Spet. 30: First Eagle Walk of Fame!

Stay up to date with everything Ramsey PTO by checking out their website linked here! If you are also interested in receiving the PTO newsletter you can fill out the google form linked here.

Upcoming Events:

• September 10: PTO Meeting (5:30-6:30, Library)
• October 8: PTO Meeting (5:30-6:30, Library)

Welcome back from Community Education! We hope everyone had an amazing summer! We are looking forward to our upcoming classes and would love to see your student enrolled. Register now to ensure a spot for one of our many activities including:

FEATURED CLASS: 10/02: Drawing Palooza

• 10/02: Eco Explorers

• 10/10: Spooky Trio

• 10/14: Dance Basics (K-2)

• 10/14: Mini Musical: Just for Kids!

• 10/14: Young Engineers STEAM program: Amusement Machines

• 10/17: Learn to Ride: one day horse camp

For even more classes and opportunities: All Current Youth Community Education Classes

Questions about Community Ed?

Please contact Tricia Josephs at tricia.josephs@ahschools.us or 763-506-4012

Need help with online registration?

Please contact Erinn Gardiner at 763-506-5144

*Financial assistance available if needed, please call to inquire

This month's Parent Press highlights the importance of parents and teachers working together to help students do their best. When parents enforce behavior expectations, keep routines consistent, and offer plenty of learning chances, kids do better both in school and at home. Being involved and building strong connections between home and school really helps students succeed.

Thanks for letting us join you on your parenting journey,

Pre K-Grade 3 Parent Education Team

For more information check out our webpage.

All Anoka-Hennepin families are encouraged to apply for the educational benefits program for the 2024-25 school year. A new application must be submitted each school year.

The enrollment window for the 2024-25 school year begins Aug. 1, 2024.

Although school meals are still free, your family may still qualify for other educational benefits. If your family needs access to educational benefits available to your student, an application can be completed by visiting ahschools.us/freereduced.

Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an online application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding and you can save money.

Educational benefits include:

• Athletics fees: Eligible students may qualify for fees to be waived or reduced.

• SAT, ACT, AP Fees: Students may be eligible for discounted fees for academic tests and some lab fees.

• Other high school activities: Students may qualify for discounts on speech, debate, theater, band and others.

• Additional benefits and cost savings: Chromebook device protection, Comcast Internet Essentials discount, Amazon Prime membership discounts, discounted bus fares with Metro Transit, Xcel Energy account assistance, discounts at museums and theaters.

Only one application is needed per household. Please contact the child nutrition department with any questions or assistance at 763-506-1240 or staff.CnpEnrollment@ahschools.us.

Free school meals program information

Every student may receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the 2024-25 school year. The state’s Free School Meals program will cover the cost of one breakfast meal and one lunch meal for every student daily, however the cost of a la carte items, such as milk, other drinks, or extra meal items will not be covered. Students will need to have funds in their meal accounts to purchase any additional food items.

Resources

• Educational benefits flyer [English]

• Educational benefits flyer [Spanish]

• Educational benefits informational video

Welcome Back, Ramsey Families!

I'd like to encourage all of our families to fill out their volunteer applications early in the school year. Please know that completing these forms does not tie you into any obligations, but does make it easier for you to help with an event or to chaperone a classroom field trip, if or when you're able to share your time.

Volunteer at Ramsey Elementary

You may fill out those forms now by using the link above and clicking on the "Ramsey Elementary volunteer application" blue box. Instructions may also be found on the purple handout that was included in your child's open house folder.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Ramsey Elementary VSC, Mary Woestehoff, can be reached at mary.woestehoff@ahschools.us or (763) 506-4073

Fall Picture Day - September 13th

Volunteers are needed to help during our Fall Picture Day from 9:30a-3:30p to welcome and provide direction for all of our classrooms and students. Shifts available are 9:30-11:00, 11:40-1:00, and 1:00-3:30.

September - Grades K-2 Breakfast

Volunteers are needed daily from 9:10-9:45a during the month of September to help support breakfast in the South Cafeteria for Grades K-2.

September - Kindergarten Lunch

Volunteers are needed daily from 12:55-1:20p during the first three weeks of school to help support Kindergarten lunch in both the North and South Cafeterias.

September - First Grade Lunch

Volunteers are needed daily from 10:55-11:20a during the first three weeks of school to help support First Grade lunch in both the North and South Cafeterias.

Welcome back from the health office! Please remind your children about the importance of hand washing as they return to school. Washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of illness.

If your child requires any prescription medication during the school day, please be sure it has been dropped off in the health office.

For inhalers and EpiPens, we also require a current emergency action plan to be on file.

The first few weeks of school can be overwhelming, especially for our youngest learners. If you’re able to, please consider sending a change of clothing in your child’s backpack in case of spills or accidents.

Please call our office with any questions or concerns: 763-506-4004

We are looking forward to a great year!