October 2024 Bulletin
Hello Bobcat Families,
And just like that, we’ve turned the page in our calendars and it’s October - time flies when you’re having fun and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing! If you haven’t already, like and follow Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts on Facebook to see regular updates and pictures. During the month of September we celebrated our first assembly, completed our Gaga pit installation, hosted our first musical concert by Son de Cuerdas and welcomed volunteers who stuffed backpacks with books for each student to take home and keep. Looking ahead to October, our PTO is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair during Parent Conferences on October 8th, 10th & 14th and a Family Movie night on Friday October 11th. Remember, there is no school for students on Thursday and Friday October 17th & 18th.
Parent Teacher conferences are an excellent way to partner with your child’s teacher. The relationship between caregiver and teacher is invaluable and research has proven that students benefit from a shared partnership between their caregiver and teacher. Our teachers utilize the TalkingPoints app to easily and regularly communicate. Let your teacher know if you need help accessing this resource. Teacher conferences can be scheduled through ParentVue or scheduled directly with your student’s teacher. See the announcements section below for more information on how to schedule your conference and download ParentVUE. We look forward to 100% participation.
We are here to serve you and your family and make every effort to create the absolute best place to learn, work and visit.
Your administrative team,
Margo Kleven & Lindsey Patterson
Fall Conference Scheduling
Fall Conferences start next week! Conferences will be held on the following dates:
- Tuesday, October 8th from 8:00-9:00 am and 4:20-7:20 pm
- Thursday, October 10th from 8:00-9:00 am and 4:20-7:20 pm
- Monday, October 14th from 8:00-9:00 am and 4:20-7:20 pm
Conferences may be scheduled through ParentVUE. Instructions on how to schedule may be found below. Conferences may be held virtually over Google Meets or in person at Birch Grove. Please make sure you choose which option you'd like when scheduling your conference.
If one of your child's teachers has already reached out to you and scheduled a conference, you do NOT need to schedule on ParentVUE.
How to schedule conferences on ParentVUE: English | Arabic | Hmong | Oromo | Russian | Spanish | Somali | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
ParentVUE access and account setup
Coming for a conference after school? The Birch Grove PTO will be selling raffle tickets to "Skip the Lane" on all 3 after-school conference dates. Two families will win the chance to skip the front pick-up line and avoid the 4-way traffic! The winners will be able to pick their student up at the back of the school with easy access to Noble Ave. See the PTO on conference nights for more information.
Fall Scholastic Book Fair
Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Birch Grove! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair:
Dates: October 8th, 10th, and 14th from 4:20-7:20 pm; October 11th from 5:00-6:00 pm
Location: Birch Grove Media Center
There’s even more info on our school’s Book Fair homepage. While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds. When you fund an eWallet, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to a giving initiative called Share the Fair™. Your contributions directly support our students who need help buying books from the Fair. Many of us still remember the rush of finding the perfect book at a Scholastic Book Fair. I hope you’ll join your child at our school’s Fair and share a reading experience they’ll remember forever.
Volunteers are needed to help with set up and operating the cash register. Sign up here for any dates/times that work for you! Middle and high school students are welcome with an adult!
Please make sure you complete the volunteer application if you have not done so already for the 2024-25 school year! This is required for all volunteers, including middle and high school students.
Happy Reading!
Picture Retakes are on October 14th
October 14th is Picture Retake Day! Student photo galleries from Picture Day on September 17th were emailed to you by Kemmetmueller Photography around September 24th-27th. You may view and order photos from this link. Please be aware that Birch Grove does not receive links to student galleries and will not be able to assist with sending them to you.
If your student was absent on September 17th for Picture Day, Kemmetmueller will have their name down as needing their photo taken. If your child was present for Picture Day but you would like a retake, please tell your child's teacher no later than October 13th. Students needing retakes will be brought to get their picture taken individually rather than by class, so please make sure you communicate in advance to your child's classroom teacher if you would like them to have a retake done. Photo galleries for retakes will be emailed to you 7-10 days after Picture Retake Day.
If you have any questions or if you have not received a link to your student's picture gallery, you can call Kemmetmueller Photography at 952-473-2142 or email them at info@k-photography.com.
A Message on Digital Citizenship from Ms. Lecy
Partnering to help navigate social media, digital safety and emotional well-being
To the Caregivers of our Scholars:
Our Why:
We want to recognize the impact of social media on students inside and outside of the school day. In the effort of transparency, these worlds are closely connected; what happens online outside of the school day can impact what happens in our school community on a day-to-day basis.
Our goal is to partner with you in keeping our scholars safe. The use of technology in our world and in education is an incredibly powerful tool and we want our scholars to utilize the internet and their devices safely and responsibly.
Encourage your scholars to be thoughtful and aware of interactions they have online with friends/peers/classmates online outside of the school day, as it can and does trickle into educational spaces. Please be mindful of the importance of device supervision and being aware of online activities to ensure not only physical safety but mental/emotional safety as well.
At Birch Grove, as a school community we want all of our students to feel safe, valued, and supported. Our goal is to partner with families in making sure all our scholars have a positive experience gaining a rich education while they are with us.
Some relevant articles and resources for Caregivers:
SEL in Digital Life Family Conversations and Resources
Practical Tips for Easing Kids' Social Media Anxiety
How to Prepare Your Kids for School After a Summer of Screen Time
Cell Phones and Devices: A Guide for Parents & Caregivers
If you believe your student is in need of support due to concerns surrounding digital safety and wellbeing, you may contact counselor Abbie Lecy at LecyA@District279.org.
Reading is Fun 5K
Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Lunceford, Mrs. Patterson, and Art the Bobcat attended the rainy Reading is Fun 5K at Elm Creek Park Reserve on September 21st! The Reading is Fun 5K is an annual event held by the District 279 Foundation to raise money for the libraries and media centers in Osseo Schools. Nearly 300 community members registered for this year’s family-friendly event and raised $13,000 to purchase learning resources for media centers in Osseo Area Schools.
October 3rd: PTO Meeting
October's PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, October 3rd. Meetings occur the second Thursday of each month in the Birch Grove media center and online at the link below. This month's meeting has been moved to the first Thursday of the month due to conferences.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, October 3rd
Time: 6:00-7:00 pm
Location: Birch Grove Media Center
October 5th: Community Event - Fire Department Open House
Join Brooklyn Park's Fire Department for an exciting day of safety demonstrations, station tours, and family-friendly activities, including Jaws of Life, kitchen fire simulation, sprinkler demonstration, fire truck & ambulance tours, resource booths, and more!
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, October 5th
Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Central Fire Station
5700 85th Ave N
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
October 8th, 10th, and 14th: Conferences & Book Fair
See announcements section of this newsletter for details on conference scheduling.
Event Details
Date: October 8th, 10th, and 14th
Conference Times: 8:00-9:00 am and 4:20-7:20 pm
Book Fair Times: 4:20-7:20 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary School
Don't forget to stop by the PTO table to purchase a raffle ticket for "Skip the Lane"! The PTO will be here to sell raffle tickets on all 3 conference nights during the evening times only.
October 11th: Movie Night & Book Fair
Join the Birch Grove PTO for Family Movie night! The PTO will provide popcorn and gym mats to sit on. You are welcome to bring your own food, drinks, chairs, and blankets. Vote for which movie you want to see at the link below! All children MUST be accompanied by an adult for the entire event.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Friday, October 11th
Time: 5:00-8:00 pm
Book Fair open 5:00-6:00 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary School Gym
October 14th: Picture Retake Day
Please see the announcements section of this newsletter for detailed information about Picture Retake Day.
If you have any questions or if you have any problems accessing your student's picture gallery, please call Kemmetmueller Photography at 952-473-2142 or email them at info@k-photography.com.
October 24th: Trunk or Treat
Join us for Trunk or Treat hosted by the Birch Grove PTO! There will be food trucks on site. More information will be coming about this exciting event soon!
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, October 24th
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary
East Parking Lot (Bus Lot)
Sign Up for a Free Thanksgiving Meal
Living Word is continuing its impact against hunger this Thanksgiving season by offering 700 Thanksgiving meals to families in our community.
Families that sign up will be responsible for picking up their own meal. The holiday meal will include a turkey breast, cranberry sauce, cornbread stuffing mix, turkey gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, and dinner rolls. The meal serves 4-6 people.
The meal pick up will be held on November 23, 2024, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Living Word, 9201 75th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN. This is the only time a meal can be picked up.
Please contact Megan Ruhland with questions and to sign up. Please call 763-549-2335 or email at ruhlandm@district279.org
Child Tax Credit
Exciting news for Minnesota families! Discover the new Child Tax Credit offering $1,750 per child under 18. Don't miss out—check eligibility and claim your credit when you file: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/child-tax-credit.
Working Family Credit
Minnesota Residents, discover the benefits of the Working Family Credit! You could qualify for a refund, even if you don't owe taxes. Check eligibility details, especially if your income is below $35,000 (joint filers). If you're a part-year resident, adjust your income accordingly for Minnesota taxes. Learn more at https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/site-search?site_search_text=m1nr
Save Receipts for School Supplies!
The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers two valuable tax benefits for caregivers who purchase school supplies for their K-12 students: the K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction. These benefits can reduce caregivers’ taxes to increase their refund, but is only available for those who keep their receipts. Purchases for most school supplies, field trips, and musical instruments for school band are eligible. Most Minnesota caregivers qualify for the K-12 subtraction, which reduces their taxable income. Caregivers under certain income limits may also qualify for the K-12 credit, which can refund up to 75% of their costs – even for those who do not owe any taxes. Visit Revenue's website for details.
Homework Starts with Home
Are you or someone you know at risk of losing your housing? The Homework Starts with Home program is grant funded and in partnership with Hennepin County and the YMCA. Here are guidelines of the program:
- Families must have a child enrolled in our school district and reside in Hennepin county.
- Families must meet income guidelines set by Hennepin county.
- Families must qualify for rent assistance of owing back rent and are at risk of eviction in order to receive utilities assistance.
- Families must provide something in writing that they owe back rent or are at risk of eviction (ledger of back rent owed, eviction notice, court date notice)
- Families must reach out before their eviction date/court date. Unfortunately we can't retroactively provide financial assistance if they have already moved.
Please reach out to Kendra Kuhlmann at HSWH@District279.org if you have questions or are interested in learning more about the Homework Starts with Home Program.
Information available in: English | Hmong | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese
Earn Money for Birch Grove with Box Tops for Education
Download the Box Tops for Education App and start earning money for Birch Grove by scanning your shopping receipts.