Farnsworth Lower Family Update

Dear Farnsworth Aerospace PreK-4 Families,

Fall Conferences are just around the corner. We will be having conferences on November 7 from 5-8 pm and November 8 from 9-6 pm. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have not signed up yet. Families can choose to meet their child’s teacher for an in-person or virtual conference. For the virtual conference, your child's teacher will send your child's iPad home. You will need to sign into the conference on your child’s SPPS iPad. You can access the conference by opening the Google Meet app and entering the teacher’s code given to you <<TEACHER'S CODE>>.

Please sign in 5 minutes early to make sure everything is working and wait until the teacher lets you in (there will be a waiting room until it is your conference time). If you are having technology issues accessing your child’s conference please contact the office at (651) 293-8675.

Our students have been making so much growth and progress since the beginning of the school year, both academically and socially, and we are proud of each and every one of them. We look forward to seeing many of you at your child’s conference to connect with your child’s teacher to learn about their progress. If you are not able to attend the Fall conference, you can always reach out to your child’s teacher during the school year to learn about your child’s progress.

I want to remind families that our students go outside for recess every day. The weather has been mild so far and winter weather may be upon us soon. Please have students dress warmly when they come to school.

Have a great week!

Don’t forget to wear Farnsworth clothing, red, blue, white or space apparel on Fridays to show your Farnsworth Aerospace Eagle Pride!

• 2:15-2:40 p.m. (grades 2, 3, 4)
• 3-3:25 p.m. (grades Pre-K, K, 1)

Grade levels will be sharing what they've learned through song, dance or activity.

COVID 19 Illness Guidance

Staff and students should follow general illness guidelines. Stay home from work and/or school until:

• Symptoms are improving and you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine
• Consider increased hand washing and masking for the next 5 days

This Parent Fact Sheet has been added under our illness section of our public webpage.

We will be focusing on bully prevention in our classroom counseling lessons the next few months. Students will learn how to recognize, refuse, and report bullying. Thank you for having conversations with your students at home about the importance of kindness and respect despite our differences. Reinforcing school expectations at home goes a long way so students can transfer skills across settings. We appreciate your partnership!

Please feel free to reach out to Ms. Emily or Mr. Devin with any questions, concerns, or requests. Thank you!

Emily Spofford (Grades 2-3)

• Office: 651-744-7257
• Google Voice: 651-603-4669

Devin Peterhans (Grades K, 1, 4)

• Office: 651-744-6737
• Google Voice: 651-424-0859

Aerospace STEM: This rotation, students in grades 1-4 are learning about patterns in the sky, like what are some of the patterns between the Earth, Moon, Sun, and stars. Students in Kindergarten are learning about weather and how it impacts the earth. Pre-K students are learning about STEM materials and going outside for recess.

Phy Ed: We are now starting our Volleyball and Basketball mini units for the older students. Our youngest learners will continue to work on locomotor skills, which include: running, skipping, hopping, galloping and jumping.The younger students will also have many opportunities to learn how to use the manipulatives in our class activities (these include: scooters, bean bags, building stations, and the parachute). All students will be having the chance to use our climbing wall during our station day.

Science: In this rotation, students in grades 3 and 4 are learning about energy and how it transfers. They are building egg racers to test different energy sources and observe how it is transfered. Our 1st and 2nd grade students are learning about landforms through creating models and sketches using clay. In kindergarten, students are learning about how to be scientists as they explore nature.

Art: Students have completed September and October projects. There are wonderful pieces of art hanging in our hallways from the students at Farnsworth. Please take time on conference night to check out all the different floors filled with art. Projects that we have completed are Linetangle, Warm and Cool Bubbles, Yayoi Kusama Polkadot pumpkins, Doddle stack emotions, leaf texture collage. Third and fourth graders completed 3D Skewer sculptures. During conferences, the art room will run open house style for students to stop in with families and say hi and check out the room. After conferences, the art will be sent home and new art will replace it.

Grade 1

Friday, November 22 we have an opportunity for our first graders and an adult to join us for telescope viewing and space activities at Harmon Park in West Saint Paul.

Please look for the flier going home with your child today. Registration is due by November 7 as space is limited.

Kindergarten

Kindergarteners and their guardian will have a chance to sleep at Sea Life for an overnight stay February 21-22. More information and registration to come right after winter break.

Space is limited.

3rd Grade

3rd Graders and their guardian will have a chance to visit iFly in Minneapolis for an Indoor Skydiving experience and learn about Wind Tunnels on Saturday, March 22. Parents do not need to fly if they aren’t comfortable, but do need to attend the event with their child. More information and registration to come in January. Space is limited.

2nd Grade

2nd Graders and their guardian will have a chance to visit the Deke Slayton Space and Bicycle Museum in Sparta, WI for space activities. This day trip will take place on Sunday, May 18. More information to come in February. Space is limited.

4th Grade

4th Graders will learn about an opportunity to visit Oshkosh, WI for a two-night camp during the week with Farnsworth staff May 20-22. More information to come after winter break. Space is limited.

Many field trips have started for our students. We have more throughout the school year, as well as guest speakers coming to our school for small workshops with our students! Please make sure you have a field trip form filled out or iUpdate complete. If you’d like to volunteer, contact Xong Her in our office or reach out to your child’s teacher.

Click here to learn more about the Bell Museum’s FREE November 8th Star Party Event.

Mission Patches: Each classroom has completed a mission patch. Mission Patches are completed for each NASA mission. They are created as a team; the patches represent their crew and mission.

The student leadership team (Eagle Crew) is still deciding on future rocket reward parties. These will be announced in early November. Additionally, Eagle Crew will be providing feedback on how we can improve student’s experiences at school based on our results from the School Climate Survey, for which we had 98% of students complete the survey, not including those who opted not to participate.

Spirit week is November 18-22. Students will bring home a letter with more information in their Friday Folders. The themes for each day are as follows:

• Monday 11/18: Backwards Day, students may wear shirts, hats, and sweaters backwards for the day as long as it does not interfere with learning.
• Tuesday 11/19: Sports Day, students may wear any clothing that is related to sports.
• Wednesday 11/20: Wacky Hair Day, students may change their hair style to be something wacky or out of the ordinary.
• Thursday 11/21: Mismatch Day, students may wear clothing that does not match or go together.
• Friday 11/22: Culture Day, students may wear clothing that represents their cultural heritage. They may also bring items to school that fit in their backpack that represent their cultural heritage.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Devin Peterhans at devin.peterhans@spps.org or at (651) 744-6737.

We look forward to celebrating Spirit Day with your students!

There is NO EDL November 5, 7, 12 or 14.

We are still selling t-shirts and long sleeve shirts. These will be available for sale during conferences, assemblies and other family events. Students may also bring money and can purchase throughout the school day. Sweatshirts and other requests have been made. We are working with the Upper Campus on creating a school order/sale for specific requests. That information will be coming out this month!

FSO (Farnsworth School Organization) serves as the PTO group of Farnsworth Aerospace PreK-8.

Thank you so much for a wonderful Farnsworth Community Breakfast last month. It was great connecting with so many families. We hope to continue getting together and strengthening our Farnsworth Community.

Our Domino's Pizza Fundraiser Ends Wednesday, November 6. Keep selling! We have almost met our goal!

Support us by purchasing, or donating, a card on our online store: https://store.dominos.cards/45505

The cards sell for $20 and will provide you with Buy 1 Pizza, Get 1 Pizza FREE until 6/30/25! You can also use the cards for parties (buy 10, get 10 free)!

The Book Fair and Student Conferences are next week. Check out this link to find out how you can help. We are looking for help with the book fair, and providing treats & drinks for staff.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949ADAC2AA2F8C16-52846634-farnsworth

9:15am- Students enter the building. Cafeteria opens for FREE Breakfast To Go.

9:30am- Students are in their classrooms to start the school day.

3:50 pm- Walkers and caregiver pick-ups go to the Ivy doors.

4:00 pm- Official end of school day (bus students).

Please check out our website at www.spps.org/farnsworthlower. You can find our school calendar, important information, and classroom webpages. You can also find our Family Friendly School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP), Title I compacts, and our Family Engagement Plan. These documents are also available in our main office.

Parents/guardians MUST communicate every time a child is absent. Please note not all absences will be excused. Call in or send a note to the main office, state reason for absence, be specific as documentation may be required to excuse these absences.

November

4-8 Book Fair in the library

6 Dominoes Fundraiser Ends

7 Evening Conferences 5-8pm

8 No School: Conferences 9am-6pm

11 Ms. Ka Xiong’s and Ms. Malina Xiong’s 3rd Graders: Como Planetarium Field Trip

12 Mr. Ryan: Como Planetarium Field Trip

12 Picture Retake Day

13 Ms. Koosmann: Como Planetarium Field Trip

14 Ms. Littler and Ms. Weber: Como Planetarium Field Trip

15 Ms. Her and Ms. Vue: Como Planetarium Field Trip

18 4th Grade: Science From Scientists Visit

20 3rd Grade: Science From Scientists Visit

20 Raptor Center Visit: Grades K, 2, Ms. Ann and Mr. Aaron’s classes

22 1st Grade Telescope Family Night (registration required)

28-29 No School; Thanksgiving Break

December

2 4th Grade: Science From Scientists Visit

4 3rd Grade: Science From Scientists Visit

5 Ms. Young and Mr. Teske: Como Planetarium Field Trip

6 Ms. Thor and Ms. Malina Xiong’s 4th Graders: Como Planetarium Field Trip

10 Lockdown Drill

14 School Choice Fair

17 Ms. Tschida and Mr. Steve Bucad: Como Planetarium Field Trip

18 Ms. Vang and Mr. Littler: Como Planetarium Field Trip

19 2nd Grade Winter Carnival at JHS

20 Celebrations Around the World Assembly 10:30am and 2:30pm

December 23-January 3 No School; Winter Break

Check out all of these dates and more on our website calendar! www.spps.org/farnsworthlower