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As we prepare for conferences below are a few helpful questions to make the conference as productive as possible.

Progress:

• How is your child performing as compared to end of year grade level standards?
• How is he or she doing compared to the rest of the class?
• How is your child doing socially and emotionally? What do you see as his or her strengths? How could he or she improve?

Support learning at home:

• Ask what you can do at home to help your child learn. How can everyday reading routines help with your child’s reading skills?
• Is there any follow-up needed from home regarding making sure we keep expectations high on how we treat each other.

Support learning at school:

• Find out what services are available at the school to help your child.

Oct. 6: Fall Dance 6:30-8:30pm - VOLUNTEER LINK

Oct. 6: Direct Drive Fundraiser begins - Register Here

Oct. 9: No school for Students / Staff Development

Oct. 12: Parent - Teacher Conferences 4-8pm

Oct. 12: Wear Flannel - The Great Apple Crunch (see below)

Oct. 13: College and Career Spirt Day (see below)

Oct. 17: Parent - Teacher Conferences 4-8pm

Oct. 19-20: No School / Professional Organization Meetings

Oct. 24: Lifetouch Picture Retake Day 9:30-12pm

Oct. 27: Character Parade 2:40-3:20pm

Registration for Fall Conferences opened September 28 at 10 AM. Please note that both nights will be in-person conferences. Our goal is 100 percent participation, so please check out the dates listed below, and thank you in advance for making every effort to attend. If you have any difficulty signing up, please call our main office number at 763-792-6200 or email twikstrom@isd12.org.

As in the past, BHE is requesting families to honor our goal of having one conference per student unless it is legally necessary to have two conferences. We have found it beneficial for the parents to work together. If you need an accommodation, please contact Mr. Hartmann.

Conference Details:

• Thursday, October 12th
• Tuesday, October 17th
• Registration for conferences CLOSES on Sunday, October 8.
• Follow this link to the MyConferenceTime online platform to sign up for conferences.

Helpful Links:

• Sign-Up Link: https://www.myconferencetime.com/bhe
• Help with signing up: https://www.myconferencetime.com/info/help/video-how-to-sign-up/
• Canceling a conference: https://myconferencetime.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/48000236886-cancel-a-registration

Date: Friday, October 27

Time: 2:40

What type of costume should a student wear for the Character Parade?

• We are asking that all families choose a costume that is non-violent/scary in nature. These costumes are day costumes and may differ from a costume a student wishes to wear in the evening. Examples of appropriate costumes are sports figures, historians, fairy tale characters, occupation outfits, storybook characters, heroes, etc. Costumes that are distracting are not welcome at BHE (examples: zombies, Scream, Freddy Krueger, etc.). No play or real weapons of any kind will be allowed on school grounds. If you are wondering if a costume is appropriate or not, please ask your child’s teacher. Also, please do not send your child to school with his/her face or hair painted, they will be asked to remove it if this occurs. If your student wants to participate but needs help getting a costume please contact the school office at 763-792-6200.

What do you do if you do not want your student to participate in the character parade?

• Please complete the form to request an alternative activity. FORM

Once a month, our students, teachers, and staff across the school wear college or career clothing to celebrate and promote college and career readiness!

It is a celebration for us and an opportunity to have conversations about our educational journeys, college experiences, setbacks/comebacks, and even the jobs we've had before becoming an educator to our students.

We would love to put your pictures in our yearbook! If you have first day of school pictures, spirit day photos, Homecoming pictures, and photos from the fall dance, please share them at the link below. In the description, please include each child's grade and only include students from Blue Heron - thank you!

https://images.jostens.com/0TXbkr6X9Dd-4tY5ni64eHQ

Register your student(s) at MyBooster and get at least 1 donation prior to the dance tonight and your student(s) are eligible for a prize drawing during the dance!!

To register: Go to https://mybooster.com/v3 and create an account. Search for Blue Heron Elementary (make sure you select the BH in Lino Lakes), add your student and select your teacher. Now share your link with friends and family to get your donations! Our direct drive fundraiser is the PTO’s biggest source of funding for the year, and we need your donations.

If you have questions on how to register please e-mail the PTO at bhptopresident@gmail.com.

The students can earn fun rewards as the school reaches milestones over the next few weeks:

• $5,000 - Fun Hair / Hat Day
• $10,000 - Mr. Hartmann, Mrs. Gschwind & Mrs. O’Shea dye their hair blue
• $15,000 - Extra recess!
• $18,000 - Schoolwide movie & PJ day (with popcorn!)

Additionally, the class that raises the most money will win a pizza party and the top two fundraisers in the school will each with lunch with a teacher/staff member of their choice from the area restaurant of their choice!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Blue Heron PTO

School pictures were taken Tuesday, September 19th.

• If you preordered school pictures online or sent in your order form, your pictures will be sent to Blue Heron within a few weeks
• If you have not ordered pictures yet, you will get a new code for ordering when you receive your student's SmileSafe card. All students will get a SmileSafe card with their picture on it.

Picture retake day is October 24th from 9:30am-12pm. If you are choosing to retake pictures, please bring your original pictures back and return to the Lifetouch photographers.

It's never too early to start thinking about the yearbook! Order your 2023-2024 yearbook today. The yearbook cost is $19 through October 20th. On October 21st, the price increases to $20. See below for order information.

• Log into the Parent Portal
• Click on the three lines in the upper left corner
• Click on Fees in the drop-down menu
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Optional Payments
• Pick which student you are paying for in the "Person" drop-down menu
• Scroll thru the list and choose the correct fieldtrip

Click Here for more information

Centennial’s fee-based childcare program has space for additional students after school and limited space before school at Blue Heron Elementary School. We provide a choice based program for students before and after school, on many Non-School Days, and during the summer at select locations. For more information, including costs, please visit our website https://communityed.isd12.org/kids-club. If interested, please register through Eleyo, https://isd12.ce.eleyo.com/child-care/1/kids-club, and we’ll reach out to you to set up a start date. For additional questions, please contact kidsclub@isd12.org.

In honor of Farm to School Month, Centennial Schools is participating in the Great Apple Crunch on Thursday, October 12 at lunch time. Apples will be provided by Pine Tree Apple Orchard, White Bear Lake and will be available to all students (even if bringing lunch from home). We’re also encouraging students to wear plaid, dressing for the occasion to support our local farmers!

Nominations for Centennial’s Hall of Fame due November 1

Do you know of someone who has a longstanding history of providing services of time and commitment to education? Or, do you know a Centennial graduate who has demonstrated outstanding professional accomplishments and/or has used their education to impact society? Nominations for the Class of 2024 are due November 1. More information on criteria and how to submit a nomination can be found on the Centennial website.

Concert Benefits the Powerpack Program

Centennial Schools has partnered with the Centennial Community Food Shelf (CCFS) and created the Powerpack Program, a weekend food program where students take home a bag of non-perishable food items at the end of every week during the school year. The Powerpack Program is one way to provided needed food to students who would otherwise not have adequate access to food during the weekends or school breaks.

This fall, the Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra under the direction of Cindy Martinson will present “The Gift of Music” on October 15, 2023 at St. Joseph of the Lake Catholic Church, 171 Elm Street, Lino Lakes. A free-will donation will be taken during the concert with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Powerpack Program. More information on the Powerpack Program, including student eligibility, volunteer and donation opportunities, can be found here.

Make a Difference and Substitute in our Schools!

Don’t miss this chance to get involved and make a difference in the Centennial School District! No experience necessary; training provided!

Available positions:

• Substitute Teachers (To qualify, you must have bachelor’s degree with MN Teaching or Substitute License; you can obtain a Short Call License if you have a bachelor’s degree.)

• Substitute Paraprofessionals (To qualify, you must have a HS Diploma/GED.)

Apply at teachersoncall.com; 800-713-4439. Substitutes are also needed for Kids Club, food service, custodial, administrative assistants, and nurses. More information can be found on the Centennial website.

Reminder: Immunization Information

Minnesota law requires children enrolled in childcare, early childhood education, or school to be immunized against certain diseases, unless the child is medically or non-medically exempt.

If proper documentation is not provided, students will be unable to attend school after November 1, 2023. What you need to do:

• Contact your health care provider and review your student’s immunization status to make sure they are up to date.
• If you missed a required vaccination, make an appointment with a healthcare provider or local clinic as soon as possible.
• Follow up with your students’ school if they have reached out to you regarding your student’s immunization status.
• Turn in medical (must be signed by health care provider) and non-medical (must be notarized) exemption forms to your child’s school.

Visit the MDH website for vaccine schedules, exemption forms and more information including where to get free/low cost immunizations today. Please reach out to your student’s school for any questions. Please note, K-12 immunization status is available on Campus Parent Portal.

School Board Hosts Listening Session for the Public

In the District’s ongoing efforts to gather feedback from our stakeholders, the Centennial School Board is hosting a listening session for the public on October 16, 5:30pm-6:15pm. The session will be held in the District Board Room prior to the regularly scheduled School Board meeting.

Listening Sessions are held quarterly to provide the opportunity for community members, staff, parents, and students to meet informally with Board Representatives and the Superintendent to discuss topics in the schools. More information can be found on the Centennial website.

Don’t forget-Join us for the Halloween Hustle 5K, Oct. 28 at Centerville Elementary! Run or walk the course in your best costume, pets are welcome! Stay after the run for more fun including a Trunk or Treat and Touch truck event in the parking lot and other alumni events. Register by Oct. 12 to receive a race T-shirt with your registration.

Happening soon:

Oct. 11- DASH After School Soccer (gr. 2-5) After school at BHE!

Oct. 14- Canvas Fun: Pumpkins & Glow (gr. K-5)

Oct. 19- Ninja Day Camp (ages 6-13)

DASH Multi-Sport Non-School Day Camp (gr. K-5)

Oct. 24- Select Aquatics classes begin this week!

Oct. 28- Halloween Hustle 5K (all ages/family)

Skyhawks Flag Football (ages 5-10)

Oct. 29- Cougar Soccer Academy (gr. K-5)

Nov. 2- Intermediate Chess (gr. 2-5) After school at BHE!

Nov. 13- Fall Soccer Skills (gr. K-1)

Go online to view all activities and to register, communityed.isd12.org.

Welcome to the Digital Backpack, the district’s central posting place for community flyers. If you have questions regarding these programs, please contact the organizations directly. Browse the Digital Backpack.

Email: apalmsteen@isd12.org
Website: www.isd12.org/schools/elementary-schools/blue-heron-elementary
Location: 405 Elm Street, Lino Lakes, MN, USA
Phone: 763.792.6200