Perspectives

This newsletter provides updates, information and event details for Horace Mann School, the Horace Mann School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and Saint Paul Public Schools. It is published weekly and distributed through email. Past issues can be found at mann.spps.org.

If you received this newsletter in error, please click "Unsubscribe" at the bottom.

You can look at your child's progress report before conferences. It's a great way to think of questions before you meet with the teacher.

Just click this link and use your arrow buttons to see step-by-step directions. On a mobile device, it takes a little longer to load and you need to tap to move the to the next slide.

It's not too late to sign up for conferences at https://ptcfast.com/schools/Horace_Mann_School. If you need virtual, please email the teacher. We also offer a few tips from expert parents when you have a conference.

Before You Go

• Talk with your child about school. What are they excited about? What are they worried about? What are they working hard to improve? Use your child's answers to share with the teacher. Teachers are still learning about your children and want to use your help to create the best year for them.
• Bring copies of any work that might help the conversation.

During the Conference

• Be a few minutes early. Conferences are tightly scheduled.
• Have a strategy if you hear some difficult things about your child. One suggestion is to use a sentence starter like "Please tell me more about..." That will give you time to keep your cool and look for the constructive criticism from the teacher. Another suggestion is to ask 3 "Whys". The teacher shares and you ask "why does he or she say that." The teacher gives the answer. Consider it and ask why again for further clarification. The teacher answers and then you ask why one last time. By the 3rd why, you should have a good understanding and will be able to respond thoughtfully.
• Take notes.

After the Conference

• Talk with your child. Share the positives. Make a plan to address areas to grow.
• Follow up with the teacher in writing if there is anything unresolved or if you still have any questions.
• Follow through with the things you can do at home to support your learner. Stay in communication with the teacher.

The lost and found is full of sweatshirts, shirts, hats, water bottles, and more! All of it will be put on tables in the main hall during conferences. Please stop by and pick up your child's lost items!

Any new items lost during conferences will go into the original lost and found. It is found by Door 5, the door near Holleran Hall to the playground.

Drivers must stop when School Patrol flags are out and pedestrians are crossing the street. There have been several instances recently. Vehicles have gone through intersections when School Patrols have been crossing students and families.

A School Patrol with their flag extended is the same as a Stop sign. If a car goes through an intersection with the flags out, Patrol members will turn in the license plate number of the vehicle. That info will be sent to St. Paul Police. A ticket may be mailed to the owner of the vehicle.

Vehicles may not go through an intersection until the School Patrols have put the flags down, and are back on to the sidewalks.

Thank you.
-Mr. Castillo

Have extra candy left from Halloween? Want to limit how much candy your child has? Want to teach a life lesson about service?

Bring in and donate your extra candy at Horace Mann School. We will collect candy through Friday, November 8. Then we will pack up the candy and donate it to the troops.

Consider helping out and teaching your child about service for those who are in service to our country!

Each class signed a leaf to signify that they pledge to speak up with kindness, reach out with acceptance, and be a friend through inclusion.

The Student Placement Center will host two information sessions for families. Both sessions will be held at District Office at 360 Colborne St, 55102.

• Thursday, November 7th from 5-7 pm
• Thursday, January 23rd from 5-7pm.

Those attending will:

1. Learn more about the Early Admission to Kindergarten process.
2. Get questions answered about our schools, programs and services and our application process.

The sessions will be conducted in English as well as Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Karen, if those attending prefer a bilingual presentation.

Dinner will be provided, Transportation and childcare is available upon request. RSVP at apply.spps.org. Please contact jayne.williams@spps.org with any questions.

Looking for part-time work? Know someone who needs a part-time job? Just want to help out?

We are seeking a Lunchroom Assistant. You will work from 10:15a.m.-12:45 p.m. daily when there is school. Pay ranges from $15-24/hour.

The job entails helping students:

• Through the lunch line (swiping a badge, carrying trays, getting condiments)
• Make positive behavior choices and redirect/reteach when needed
• Recycle food, clean and stack dishes, and toss garbage
• Clean tables, clean up, and assist at dismissal

Please contact Principal Jim Litwin if you are interested or want more information. Email at jim.litwin@spps.org or call 651.293.8965.

Thank you, Horace Mann School community, for making the Boo Bash a success!!

We truly appreciate all of the volunteer hours, supply donations, and participation at last Thursday's event! It was a special night, making Horace Mann memories AND bringing $9,262 to support our 5th graders' week at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. We are thankful for your contributions, and hope you had a fun experience!

We are also grateful to our business sponsors:

• Breadsmith
• Cafe Latte
• Costco
• Highland Popcorn
• Kowalski's
• La Boulangerie Marguerite
• Leeann Chin Chinese Cuisine
• Lunds & Byerly's
• McGann Dental
• Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Regina's Candies
• Target
• Widmer's Supermarket

Bookmark our school calendar. It can be found at the top of our website. Here are some highlights for the next two weeks.

Saturday, November 2

• 9:00am-12:00pm Fall Garden Clean Up at Horace Mann School

Monday, November 4

• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)

Tuesday, November 5

• Election Day
• 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprouts Spanish

Wednesday, November 6

• 8:15am Tour for Prospective Families
• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)

Thursday, November 7

• 3:00-6:00pm Fall Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair in the Library

Friday, November 8

• No School- Conferences
• 8:00am-3:00pm Fall Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair in the Library

Monday, November 11

• 9:35am All School Assembly- Veteran's Day
• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)
• 6:00-8:00pm Special Education Parent Advisory- 360 Colborne

Tuesday, November 12

• 3:00-6:00pm Fall Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair in the Library

Wednesday, November 13

• 9:10am-1:00pm 4th Gr Field Trip to Children's Theater Company
• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)

• 6:00-8:00pm Gender & Sexual Diversity Parent Advisory- 360 Colborne

Thursday, November 14

• 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprouts Spanish
• 2:00-3:15 Community Education Classes

Friday, November 15

• 11:35am-1:00pm Highland Park Middle School 8th Graders Read with Kindergarten

Come to the Horace Mann Library during school conferences from 2:30-7PM on November 7th and 12th and from 8AM-1PM on November 8th.

If you can’t make it to the in-person fair this year, you can shop our online Scholastic Book Fair November 7th to November 20th. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.

Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping.

On Wednesday, November 13th, you can order a hot, homemade, family-style meal from Famfare Kitchen and 15% of your order goes back to Horace Mann. Famfare Kitchen prepares hot, homemade meals for the whole family. Their mission is to help busy families eat better, together. Each meal serves 4-6 people and includes an entrée, salad, sides, and bread. You can even order frozen meals for another busy night!

• Order through our platform by 12 PM on Sunday, November 10 (orders open at noon on 11/4).
• Pick up your meals at The Ryan Residence (1931 Saunders Ave, St. Paul) between 4:00 - 6:00 PM on November 13.

On the Menu:

• HOT: Chicken & Dumplings, Spinach Berry Salad with Poppy Dressing & Brownie Bites
• COLD: Ravioli Bake

Order here: famfarekitchen.bottle.com and remember to choose the 'Horace Mann' fundraiser when ordering!

Thursday, Dec 5th from 5pm-7pm

Holleran Hall (Horace Mann cafeteria)

Bring the entire family to this FREE night of seasonal crafting for kids, sponsored by the Horace Mann School PTA! More details on this year's great projects and an RSVP form will be shared in Perspectives in November.

Please note this is not a drop off event - all kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Questions or have an interest in volunteering at Make it Take it?

Contact Sarah Haley at girard312@gmail.com

The Yearbook needs your photos! The HMS community wants to see all those smiling faces and include them in the yearbook to capture favorite memories. Don't wait until the spring to send in your photos. You can send them as you take them! Email all photos to yearbook@hms-pta.org. Please include your child's grade and teacher in the subject line.

Date: FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025

Venue: ST. KATE'S RAUENHORST BALLROOM

Theme: NIGHT WITH THE STARS

The auction committee encourages anyone who is interested in helping to plan this year's event to contact Allison Deep at alli.deep@gmail.com

In order to run our amazing events, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Please consider signing up for one event or committee this year, using this volunteer interest form. Only have an hour to spare? Great! Check “yes” to the last question on the interest form. Want to get a bit more involved in the decision making for events? Check “yes” on the first question to join our board! We have openings.

For questions contact Christine Holloway at VOLUNTEER.COORDINATOR@HMS-PTA.ORG

Many employers offer a company match to cash and time donations made by the employee. The PTA encourages families to check with their employers.

President: Grace Hanson, president@hms-pta.org

Vice-President: Gina Corradi, president@hms.-pta.org

Treasurer: Alex Stuart & Sam Smith, treasurer@hms-pta.org

Teacher Reps: Amy Kortuem & Mark Lindskoog, teacher-rep@hms-pta.org

Communications: Lisa Ortmann, communications@hms-pta.org

Volunteer Coordinator: Christine Holloway, volunteer.coordinator@hms-pta.org

Recorders: Andrea Gleckner & Sarah Liuzzi, recorder@hms-pta.org

Check the HMS PTA website for the most up to date information about meetings, latest forms, announcements, contact information, volunteer opportunities and more. Click on the “Treasurer’s report and Budget” to see this year’s budget. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please email web-admin@hms-pta.org.

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is not sponsoring, endorsing, or recommending the activities/events announced in the PTA Section and no SPPS student will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Perspectives Submission Deadline: Thursdays by 8:00am

Email: jim.litwin@spps.org
Website: https://mann.spps.org/
Location: Horace Mann School, 2001 Eleanor Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116
Phone: 651-293-8965
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPPSHoraceMannSchool/