Hidden River Newsletter

SAVE THE DATES - This Week: EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK!

Next Week (5/12-5/16)

Thurs., May 15th - Puffs Play (Tickets Required! click here) from 6:00-8:00pm in the auditorium

Fri., May 16th - Puffs Play (Tickets Required! click here) from 6:00-8:00pm in the auditorium

Sat., May 17th - Puffs Play (Tickets Required! click here) from 2:00-4:00 & 6:00-8:00pm in the auditorium

EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK: It's National Educator Appreciation Week and at Hidden River we take this as an opportunity to celebrate all members of our incredible staff. Our Family-Staff Organization would like to sponsor an "FSO Friday Snack Bar" for staff on Friday full of grab-n-go snacks and drinks. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please help us fill up the staff lounge with snacks and drinks on Friday. Donations can be dropped off in the main office anytime during the week. FSO has also approved funds to provide for a "Cookie Happy Hour" in partnership with Baking Betty's on Grand Avenue and a lunch for staff thanks to the Potter's Pasties food truck! Looking for another way to thank staff? How about sending a note of appreciation CLICK HERE! Here's a link to the staff directory.

Walk/Bike/Roll to School on Wednesday! Early predictions indicate the weather will be PERFECT for "Walk/Bike to School Day" on Wednesday. Consider getting up a little bit early and biking or walking with your bus-stop friends. Usually get dropped off at parent pick-up? Get dropped off a few blocks away and skip all the traffic around the school FAMILY MEMBERS - want to be part of the fun? We need volunteers to help hand out a healthy treat to kiddos who participate. Can you spare a few minutes before you start your day? Sign-up here!

Students Pierre M., Edna Mbangwana, and Thora S. performed their project titled “The Salem Witch Trials of 1692: The Shadow of Fear and the Superstition Over Human Rights” at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 27, 2025. They worked diligently and rehearsed every day the week before the competition. Through this History Day project, they developed skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking, combining them into a creative and artistic performance. Thank you to all the families who have supported them from the very beginning! Please reach out to rachel.payia-yang@spps.org if you have any questions! Photo courtesy of Mr. Mbangwana.

We are wrapping up our unit on the Great Depression with an in-class essay that students have begun. This writing assessment task aims to enhance students' writing skills in French without the use of technology. They rely solely on their personal notes, a dictionary, and evidence from relevant texts. Feel free to contact rachel.payia-yang@spps.org with your questions.

The art room is in need of sewing needles. Do you have any to donate? Please send them in! Thanks! Ms. Rolig

7th-grade French immersion students participated in Le Grand Concours/National French Contest in Level 1, Division C (completely native). This event has been organized by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) to acknowledge and celebrate students and French programs. The contest is open to French language students in grades 1-12, in all 50 states and abroad. During the 60-minute competition, students demonstrate their proficiency in French and compete with others with similar educational backgrounds for prizes. Congratulations to these Otters!

Awards and National rankings:

Platinum and #1 national: Sonja S., Mila S., and Morgan T.

Silver and #2 national: Gwyneth H. and Thora S.

Silver and #3 national: Malin M. and Franky T.

Bronze and #4 national: Lydia H., Edna M., Elizabeth M., Sorelle S., and Thea S.

Last week and this week, students wrote and practiced a conversation for their interpersonal performance assessment. The topic of the conversation was asking for directions in town in French. In our recent lessons, we focused on the four main irregular verbs in French: aller (to go), être (to be), avoir (to have), and faire (to do/make), which will be used in the context of leisure activities and weather. If you have any questions, feel free to contact rachel.payia-yang@spps.org

During this half-quarter, we reviewed vocabulary related to family, as well as the four main irregular verbs: aller (to go), être (to be), avoir (to have), and faire (to do/make). We also covered verbs that end in -ER, -IR, and -RE. Students will have a spelling test on -IR and -RE verbs. In the coming days, students will also have the opportunity to write a conversation about their daily routines using these verbs in preparation for their interpersonal performance assessment (summative). Additionally, we will review topics related to food and other aspects of French culture. Attendance is crucial for improving language acquisition and skills. Please, reach out with any questions to rachel.payia-yang@spps.org

Our 6th graders received letters from their French peers at Édouard Herriot Middle School in La Roche-sur-Yon, France. The immersion students responded to questions about the Midwest and life in Minnesota that their French peers studied in their social studies class. Immersion students also wrote about topics they covered, including treaties, the U.S.-Dakota War, the Civil War, and slavery. This international partnership has enhanced students’ cultural education awareness and fostered interest in other cultures.

**Please note that the show is suitable for ages 8 and up due to some Harry Potter-style themes.

Dates/times are as follows:

• Thursday, May 15 at 6pm
• Friday, May 16 at 6pm
• Saturday, May 17 at 2pm or 6pm
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Performances will all take place in our auditorium at Hidden River Middle School (631 Albert Street 55104)

Tickets are $5.00 each plus a $0.50 service fee per ticket if purchasing with a credit card. If you wait to purchase at the door, there is no guarantee that seats will be available, but you can pay cash. Seating is limited, so reserve your spots ASAP!

If the cost of the tickets is too much, please reach out to our director: sonja.thorson@spps.org

Please note, the performance will be about 2 hours long and is recommended for ages 8 and up.

https://search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/hiddenriverms/buy-tix

Cast and crew: please remember we have an extra rehearsal this week - Tuesday from 3pm-6pm - no transportation provided. Don’t forget to bring any costume pieces on Monday!

Volunteers are still needed as are dishes for the potluck! Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signup&urlid=10C0B4DAFAC2FA7F5CF8-56271654-puffs&useFullSite=true

EDL Family Night and AVID College Fair! Join us Monday, May 19th after school from 3:15-5:00pm for EDL Family Night and AVID College Fair to check out all the fun things going on after school at Hidden River! There will be snacks, the AVID College Fair (with prizes!), an opportunity to tour the various EDL classes at Hidden River, a cheer performance, and a performance of a scene from the play "Puffs"!

Thursday, May 8, 2025 Baseball: Game @ 4:30pm vs. American Indian Magnet @ American Indian Magnet

**The athletic department is looking for donations for Next Year's Gear. We are hoping to supply the Baseball/Soccer teams with uniforms next year. All checks can be made out to HRMS Athletics. Cash is accepted as well.

Keep Connected Family Engagement Partnership with Search Institute and Change Inc.:

As you might be aware, Hidden River has partnered with Search Institute and Change Inc. to offer the Keep Connected program to students and their families this year. Keep Connected offers resources to families, including tips, ideas, activities and learning opportunities to support strong family relationships.

Family Talk Starters - This Week’s Focus: Stand up for each other when they need it. This is a great way to PROVIDE SUPPORT through family relationships.

When you have a few minutes, ask other family members a question or two. Enjoy the conversation!

• Who are historical people who you particularly admire who stood up for others and, in the process, helped to change society for the better?
• When someone is being treated unfairly, how do you decide when to speak up for them, when to let them speak for themselves, or when to let things go with nothing being said? (Think of experiences you’ve had.)
• What are times when you need or like to have someone on your side to advocate for you or even just to give you moral support? What are ways you can routinely do that for each other in your family?