Aquarian is built on three foundational pillars: academic rigor, relationships, and engagement.

January

1/6- Inservice (No School for Students)

1/6- PTO Meeting 5:30 in the Library

1/7- Students First Day Back

1/13- 3rd Quarter ASAs Start

1/13- 5:45 APC Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 945 3161 5121

Passcode: 871491

1/16- Spelling Bee 10:00

1/16- 3/4 School Battle of the Books

1/20- MLK Jr. Day (No School)

1/23- Pizza Day

February

2/1- House Ball 7-9

2/3- PTO Meeting 5:30 in the Library

2/5-2/6 Science Fair

2/10- 5:45 APC Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 945 3161 5121

Passcode: 871491

2/14- Pizza Fundraiser

2/17- Presidents' Day- No School

2/21- 3rd Quarter ASAs End

2/25- Day of Play

2/26- Parent Teacher Conferences- No School for Students

2/27- Professional Development- No School for Students

2/28- Parent Teacher Conferences- No School for Students

Dear Aquarian families,

The Science Fair is approaching quickly. It will take place on Thursday, February 6th. Teachers may request that students turn in projects a few days early to review in class. Teachers will communicate this expectation in advance.

Attach the CHECKLIST to the back of the science fair board.

We want students to earn as many points as possible on their Science Fair projects. To help students do their best, the Science Fair Committee developed checklists for projects. Your child’s teacher has a checklist for each student who turned in an entry form. Please help your child fill out the checklist and attach it to the back of the board.

You can use these to help get all the information you need on your science fair board. 2024/25 Science Fair Packet

Check-in begins at 7:45 AM on Thursday, February 6th, at the gym entrance if you have not already brought in your board.

Your child’s first and last name, teacher’s name, and checklist should be on the back of the science fair board.

It’s not too late to volunteer: We are looking for 30-40 volunteer judges on February 6th from approximately 8:00-11:30 a.m. Parents, family members, and friends are welcome. For more information, or if you’re interested in committing, sign up at bit.ly/AQSciFairJudge or contact Sarah Fineman.

SCIENCE FAIR OPEN HOUSE 3:15 – 5:00 Thursday, February 6th.

The doors will open at 3:15 for parents and children to come and look at the projects. No unaccompanied children, please.

Parents and children may also come on Friday, beginning at 7:45 AM - 2 PM. Classes will tour the fair throughout the day on Friday. Viewing will close at 2:00 and boards will be collected.

All projects must go home at the end of the day on Friday.

All ribbons will be sent to classrooms for teachers to hand out on Monday.

Thank you for supporting your child's love of learning. We are looking forward to a fantastic science fair!

Your science fair committee,

Lisa Botero botero_lisa@asdk12.org

Sarah Fineman Fineman_Sarah@asdk12.org

Monica Severson severson_monica@asdk12.org

Connie Tracy tracy_connie@asdk12.org

The Amazing Shake is a competition designed to teach students manners, poise under pressure, and how to engage respectfully in a professional environment. At Aquarian, we want to prepare our students to present themselves well for opportunities today and in the future. This competition is a fun, engaging opportunity presenting a series of challenges replicating real-world scenarios, giving students a chance to hone their social skills and professionalism.

It’s our second year hosting the Amazing Shake event, and it’s time for more fun and some exciting changes. In 2025, K-3 students will again have a “shake-out” to find our K-3 champion.

New for 2025, all 4th-6th grade students will compete in Round 1, The Gauntlet on March 21st. The Gauntlet consists of ten fun and challenging stations that evaluate students’ professionalism, collegiality, and ability to interact with people. The top 25-30 gauntlet winners will participate in Round 2, a "work the room" scenario with local business leaders on March 27th. The top 5 finalists will sit down for a professional lunch for Round 3 with local VIPs who will select our 2025 Amazing Shake Champion! Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities! We need your help as we challenge our students to be Amazing!

Questions? Want to help? Contact fineman_sarah@asdk12.org and chelmo_lisa@asdk12.org

Drop Off/ Pick Up

General Guidance
Drop Off is from 8:00-8:15. Students and parents are welcome to enter the building through the gym doors at 8:15. Until then they will wait outside on the blacktop. Students are not allowed on the playground or in the woods without a parent. This is because we do not have enough staff outside to supervise students in those areas, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe.

Pickup is from 3:15-3:30. Classes have specials until 3:15. Please do not plan on picking up earlier than 3:15. You will just be waiting in line. We do a staggered dismissal. Students in 3rd-6th will be dismissed at 3:15. Students in kindergarten through the 2/3 multiage will be released at 3:25. If you have a student in the upper grades and another in the lower grades, come at the 3:25 pickup time.

• No Cell Phone Usage in the Pickup/ Drop Off-Line (This includes texting!)
• Parents and students must cross at a crosswalk.
• Please be kind and patient. Our kids are watching.

Drop Off

• All students will enter through the gym doors.
• Please pull all the way forward. Do not leave space between you and the car in front of you.
• If your child needs assistance getting in and out of the vehicle, please park and walk them across the crosswalk.
• Please do not drop students off in the parking lot.

Pickup

• You have two options for pickup:
  Go through the pickup line. OR Park and meet your child at their line spot on the fence. (Do not meet your child at their classroom. Our halls get crowded during dismissal. We need to safely be able to exit.)

Using the Pickup Line

• Have your yellow card (These will be sent home on the first day and handed out during pick up the first week.) displayed on the right-hand side of your windshield. Staff will be looking for this to call your child to the pickup line.
• When you enter the pickup line, pull all the way forward. Do not leave space between you and the next vehicle.
• A staff member will call your child on the radio. They will be waiting for you in front of the fence, where their class is lined up.
• Students must enter the vehicle from the sidewalk. They may not walk around the vehicle, as cars pass on that side.
• You may not get out of your car in the pickup line.
• As soon as your child is safely inside, please exit the pickup line.
• When exiting the school grounds whether from the parking lot or pickup line, you must turn right. (This is new this year!)

Parking

• Park
• Cross at a crosswalk.
• Meet your child at their line spot on the fence.
• Check-in with the teacher before leaving with your child.
• Do NOT park on the side street. Our neighbors get very frustrated.
• If you want to park, you must use the Lois to 32nd route. All vehicles coming from Minnesota, will need to use the pickup/ drop off line. (This is new this year.)
• When exiting the school grounds whether from the parking lot or pickup line, you must turn right. (This is new this year!)

Remember:

You can use the pickup/ drop off line coming from Minnesota or 32nd. However, you can only use the parking lot if you’re coming from 32nd. This is to keep the flow of traffic going on Minnesota.

Also, when leaving school property, you MUST turn right.

We try to have staff members outside to help remind everyone, but sometimes we simply do not have enough folks. So, thank you again for doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.