Good Afternoon Meadowbrook,
I want to start by sharing how proud I am of our students for the perseverance they show each day as they tackle challenging learning experiences. Their hard work inspires me, and I’m grateful to be part of such a dedicated community.
I hope you’ll join me for Service Night tonight! It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage in meaningful, hands-on projects that support local charities, our school community, and the environment. Here’s the schedule:
- Dinner: 5:30–6:15 PM in the cafeteria
- Project Stations: 6–7:30 PM in the gym
A quick reminder about bus passes: In the past, we’ve been able to accommodate same-day bus pass requests for students needing to ride home with a friend. However, with many buses now at capacity, we ask families to plan ahead. If your student needs to ride another student’s bus, please submit your request at least one day in advance to our office. We’ll check availability and let you know if we can accommodate the request.
Finally, don’t forget that next Friday, November 22, is School Spirit Friday! Encourage your child to show their school pride by wearing Meadowbrook or Hopkins gear, or our school colors: Royal Blue, White, Gray, or Black.
Thank you for your continued support of our Meadowbrook community. I hope to see many of you tonight at Service Night!
In partnership,
Natalie
Service Night Donation Drive
Wow, wow, wow! Meadowbrook, you are amazing!! We collected over 3,860 hygiene items in our donation drive. This is two-and-a-half times the items collected last year! Thank you SO much to everyone who participated. With the generous amount of donations, our school will be able to pack over 250 hygiene kits for adults and children in need in our local community. Join us tonight at Service Night, Friday November 15th, to help pack the hygiene kits!
The class in each grade level that collected the highest number of items wins a turn with the Golden Service Night Trophy! The winners are:
- Kindergarten - Mrs. Muer, 294 tissues & lip balm
- 1st Grade - Mr. Shepherd, 90 toothpastes
- 2nd Grade - Ms. Morral, 217 toothbrushes
- 3rd Grade - Mrs. Gleason, 80 shampoos
- 4th Grade – Mrs. Bell, 117 body wash/soaps
- 5th Grade - Mrs. Frober, 51 deodorants
- Kids&Co and our early childhood families also collected nearly 400 pairs of socks and over 400 hand warmers.
Thank you again to everyone who participated!
We Need Your Input on Cell Phone Policy!
Earlier this week, the district sent an email inviting families to share feedback on the new cell phone policy, required by recent Minnesota legislation. We’d love to hear your thoughts on cell phone use at school and how we can create a balanced, effective policy. The survey takes about 10 minutes and is open until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 27. Check your email for details!
Preparing for Kindergarten?
November is Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month
This week, we’re celebrating the beautifully illustrated children's book, We Are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade. The story follows a young Indigenous girl determined to protect the Earth's water from harm, drawing inspiration from her people’s deep connection to nature.
Through poetic storytelling and breathtaking artwork, We Are Water Protectors shares an important message about environmental stewardship, Indigenous wisdom, and the need to safeguard our planet’s most precious resources. It’s a powerful reminder of the role we all play in protecting and preserving our Earth.
We encourage families to explore this award-winning book and discuss its themes together. It’s a meaningful way to honor Native American Heritage Month and inspire young minds to care for our planet.
Support Meadowbrook during Give to the Max Day on November 21
Are you participating in Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day on November 21st? Be sure to find your Meadowbrook PTO’s donation page! Our work to support community-building opportunities for students, families, and educators at Meadowbrook comes with a price tag. And with costs of things like field trip transportation going up, our dollars don’t stretch as far as they have in the past. We are currently working with a $10,000 deficit for the school year. Can you help us shrink that? Give to your Meadowbrook PTO on Give to the Max Day on November 21st; give for education and give for good!
https://www.givemn.org/organization/Meadowbrook-School-Parent-Teacher-Organization
Yearbooks
It’s time to order your yearbook!
This year, the PTO won’t be able to provide a yearbook for each family, so please be sure to place an order if your child would like one in the spring.
Visit ybpay.com and enter code 14465725 to order. All orders must be placed by April 12, 2025.
Monthly Newsletter
Restaurant Nights
- What are Restaurant Night funds used for? The sales from Meadowbrook Restaurant Nights are used for PTO funds. These funds provide many opportunities for all students and teachers. This includes, but is not limited to field trips, equipment for classrooms and the media center, artist residencies, and transportation costs for events and field trips.
- Tuesdays at The Local: Tell your friends, tell your neighbors! This year Meadowbrook is partnering with the Local in the West End; every time you or someone you know dines or gets take-out at the Local, mention "Meadowbrook PTO" and a portion of the proceeds will be provided to the Meadowbrook! This is an on-going partnership, taking place every Tuesday.
How to Help The PTO:
Volunteer with us! Click here to learn about our many volunteer opportunities. There is something for everyone!
Visit the PTO website, MeadowbrookPTO.weebly.com for current info on all things PTO!
Sign up for the PTO’s monthly newsletter to stay in-the-know on all PTO events, activities and opportunities. Sign up here!
Any questions? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at MeadowbrookElementaryPTO@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, or our PTO website.
Hopkins Education Foundation News
Are you looking to give back to Hopkins schools? Support the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF). We fund classroom projects and resources that kickstart learning opportunities for Hopkins students. Your support makes that happen. You can help by ordering Gratitude Gifts for Hopkins teachers and staff. Your $25 purchase supports our grants and gives each recipient a treat, gift card, and personal note. Orders close December 9. You can also help by donating to the Hopkins Education Foundation on Give to the Max Day (November 21) or by attending our fundraiser at Bear Cave Brewing on December 9 (20% of your order that day goes to HEF if you select our organization at checkout). Visit HopkinsEducationFoundation.org for more information.
Districtwide Parent and Caregiver Group for Supporting Gender Expansive Kids
Are you the caregiver of a child who transcends traditional binary gender roles? We are offering a supportive, ongoing group for parents and caregivers to ask questions, share ideas, and support one another. Some children may identify as transgender, gender fluid, non-binary, gender queer, gender expansive, or simply move through the world in a much more gender-free type of way.
This is for parents and families from all of Hopkins schools -- and from all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school, and beyond). Laura Jensen, Hopkins Schools LGBTQ+ Community Liaison will facilitate the meetings. This is not a group to debate the issue, rather for parents looking to support their child.
November 21, 2024 - December 19, 2024 - January 23, 2025 - February 27, 2025 - March 27, 2025 - April 24, 2024 - May 22, 2025 - June 26, 2025
North Middle School, 5-6:30 p.m. Room 506 (use side parking lot, Door R)
Questions? Email Laura.Jensen@hopkinsschools.org
Golden Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Contest
The Golden Valley MLK Human Rights Contest provides a path for children and youth to follow as they grow. Quotes from Dr. King and the over-arching themes give children and youth a starting point on the path to understanding Dr King's message to the world. Students may submit any kind of original work that exemplifies the themes, including artwork, essays, poetry, songs, raps, videos, and more. Students are encouraged to base their entries on these specific prompts:
- Quote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- Quote: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
- Quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent questions is, ‘What are you doing for others?’.”
- Quote: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”
The contest is open to students in grades Pre-K-12 who live in Golden Valley, attend a school in Golden Valley, or attend a Robbinsdale Area District or Hopkins District school. Prizes will be awarded to two students in each of the following grade groupings: Preschool-Kindergarten, 1-3, 4-7, and 8-12.
Submissions are due by Monday, Dec 16, 2024, 4 pm, to Seth Kaempfer, 7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427 or skaempfer@goldenvalleymn.gov.
The contest is sponsored by the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. for more complete entry information about entering, visit www.goldenvalleymn.gov/DEIC
Meadowbrook Elementary
Main Office Line: 952-988-5100
Attendance Line: 952-988-5110
https://meadowbrook.hopkinsschools.org/families/attendance
Email: natalie.sawatzky@hopkinsschools.org
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/meadowbrook-elementary
Location: 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, MN 55422, USA
Phone: (952) 988-5100
Facebook: facebook.com/HopkinsMeadowbrook
Twitter: @MeadowbrookGV