October 2024

10/1 – 10/11 Fall Fundraiser

10/9 - Safety & Technology Levy Community Forum, 5:30pm, Shakopee High Schol

10/11 Grandparent/Special Person Day, Grades 1st, 2nd & 4th, 9:30-10:45

10/11 Grandparent/Special Person Day, Grades K, 3rd & 5th, 2-3:15

10/15 Fall Fundraiser – Color Run 1:00 - 3:30 pm

10/16 No School for Students

10/17 - 10/18 No School for Students & Staff/Fall Break

10/24 - Picture Retake, 8:30 – 11:30 am

10/25 - Culture Fest (during the day for students)

10/25 - Field Trip, All of 3rd Grade to the Bell Museum, 9:15-2:00

10/29 Hearing/Vision/Dental Screening

10/30 Hearing/Vision/Dental Screening

We will be holding school wide hearing, vision and dental screenings for our 1st, 3rd and 5th graders on October 29th. The dental screening is done by the MN dental program, “Give Kids a smile”. We will also be screening the kindergarten boys for color vision concerns on October 30th, only the boys are screened as color blindness affects males more often than females (1 in 12 males are color blind where 1 in 200 females). You will be notified if your child has any concerns regarding their hearing/vision or dental screenings.

If you have questions or concerns, you can reach out to the Licensed School Nurse Nichole at nfleming@shakopee.k12.mn.us

All Shakopee Public Schools staff, students and family members have the opportunity to participate in the 2024 fall flu shot clinic led by Homeland Health Specialists. All persons should bring their insurance card. If you do not have insurance, free shots are available for children aged 18 months to 18 years of age.

Four (4) vaccine options will be available:

• Quadrivalent flu shot
• FluMist (limited supply)
• Senior Dose (limited supply)
• COVID

Adults without insurance can purchase a vaccination for $40, FluMist (if available) for $45 or Senior Dose (if available) for $70. The COVID vaccine is available for $185. Those over 18 years of age, and are uninsured, may qualify for the UUAV program to receive their vaccination(s) at no cost. Homeland Health is a MN Vaccines for Children Provider and will offer flu vaccine to uninsured children 6 months to 18 years of age.

Greetings from the Art Department!

I hope everyone has had a great start to the school year!

We certainly have in the art room! The 4th and 5th graders have been working in their sketchbook and exploring ways to enhance their creativity. They are doing this by adding their own ideas to a masterpiece artwork. I am excited to display these works of art in the hallways during October and November. The 2nd and 3rd graders have been learning about the color wheel and intermediate colors. They are completing an intermediate color still life. The Kindergarteners and 1st graders have painted a color wheel and are now learning the order of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. They are creating a hot air balloon artwork and will be bringing it home soon!

K-3 Families: Please remember to send an ART SHIRT with your student if you have not already. An art shirt is just an old T-shirt that protects their clothing from getting messy.

Sincerely,

Mr. Olson

Jackson Art Specialist

• • 3rd Gr. Concert, Thurs. Nov 7th, 2:30 pm in the Jackson Gym
  • 5th Gr. Native Pride Field Trip, Nov. 21st, 10-11:20 am at Shakopee High School
  • 2nd Gr. Concert Friday, December 13th, 2:30 pm in the Jackson Gym
  • 1st Gr. Concert, Friday, January 31st, 2:30 pm in the Jackson Gym
  • District Band Concert (grades 5, 8, & HS), Sat. March 22nd, in the high school gym
  • 3rd Grade Orchestra Hall Field Trip, March 20th, 2025
  • 4th Gr. Jack Brass Band Field Trip at Shakopee High School - TBD
  • 4th Gr Concert, Friday, February 28th, 2:30 pm in the Jackson Gym
  • Kindergarten Concert, Thurs. April 17th, 2:30 pm in the Jackson Gym
  • 5th Gr. Band + General Music Concert, May 16th, 2:30 pm in the Jackson Gym

WHAT IS OUR LEARNING FOCUS IN MUSIC CLASS?

• Grade 5 – The Elements of Music
• Grade 4 – Meter
• Grade 3 – Preparing for our Veteran’s Day Music Program
• Grade 2 – La, Sol, and Mi pitch matching
• Grade 1 – Reviewing steady beat & so/mi pitch matching
• Grade K – Steady beat

BAND FAMILIES

Mrs. Peoples emails band parents every Sunday at 1 PM with band information. Please contact her if you have not been receiving these important emails. Her email address is speoples@shakopee.k12.mn.us

We have had a fantastic start to the year! Everyone is stretching out their muscles and enjoying playing some “new to Jackson” activities. Soccer is just starting up, we will work on skills for a few days and then move to mini games. The next unit is all about throwing and catching, with football catching challenges for the older grades. The end of October we will be talking about our fitness and setting goals.

Mr. Levi Gotto lgotto@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Mr. Dan Koenig dkoenig@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Mrs. Jill Nelson jnelson@shakopee.k12.mn.us

The Learning Commons is a unique place in our school!! Students attend Media classes once every 10 days and learn to use our Learning Commons to access books and ebooks as well as learn to be great Digital Citizens and experience different hands-on lessons that are linked to our new curriculum.

Students in the Learning Commons should be posting what they learn on Seesaw! Look for your child’s activities and what they create, build, construct and learn!

Gigi Hilgers, Media Specialist

Mackin VIA is our school’s e-book platform! Student can select from a wide variety of e-books. Download the app for free on any home device!

To log into Mackin VIA at any time:

User name: student number

Password: First name initial capitalized, Last Name initial lowercase and birthdate in numbers with year listed as last 2 digits (ex. Gh012868)

Destiny is our Learning Commons book catalog. From home at any time, you can search for a book in our Learning Commons! It will tell you whether the book is checked in or out. To get to Destiny to search for a book or e-book, use this QR code:

This is a Link to The Learning Commons Resources!

• Destiny Catalog Search
• MackinVIA
• Virtual Student Library Card
• FREE databases for research

All students in Shakopee Public Schools have the opportunity to use their Virtual Student Library Card! The virtual card give all students access to the Scott County Libraries and the Metro Twin Cities Libraries. SORA is an app that allows students access to age-appropriate Ebooks. To log in to SORA:

User Name: 720+student ID number

Pin: Last 4 digits of the student’s ID number

All students in our school will be introduced to the 40 Book Challenge for this school year! We will track our own individual progress in reading 40 books that are on each of our reading levels.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP Lessons: Students in all grades will be exploring lessons about Digital Citizenship using the Common Sense Media Curriculum. Students will be talking and learning about using common sense on-line, private information, not being mean behind the screen, and a host of other topics about being safe on-line.

HOW DO I PICK A BOOK ON MY READING LEVEL?

Students have also been discussing the Five Finger Rule! If there are 4 or 5 words on a page that they don’t know, the book is too hard - unless they are reading with an adult! 1-3 words that they don’t know on a page = books that are the best fit!

Please read with your child every day! You read a page, and then listen to your child read! Take turns and learn together!

Shakopee Public Schools’ current Capital Projects Levy, often referred to as a ‘technology levy’ or ‘safety & technology levy’, was approved by voters in 2015 for ten years. Renewal of the existing Capital Projects Levy was approved on June 24, 2024 to be on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot. Early voting starts September 20, 2024.

This levy is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2025-26 school year, unless voters approve to continue the same levy at the same tax rate and same terms, for another ten years. If renewed, the levy will continue to provide:

• Strong safety and security for all schools.
• Critical support that allows staff to provide quality instruction.
• Tools students use for learning today, and leading tomorrow.

The PTO events are in full swing. Thank you to everyone that joined us at our Back to School Picnic and participated in the Once Upon a Child Shopping Day. We love your support! Let’s keep up the momentum as we move into October. Our main fundraiser of the year runs September 30-October 11. This is strictly donation based and provides the funds needed to award Teacher Grants, support Jackson Elementary students and staff, and run PTO events. Without your support, the PTO cannot do all of these amazing things. Family, friends, neighbors, and more can donate to ensure Jackson continues to be not only a place of learning, but a place where students and staff can have fun and create memories that last a lifetime. You can donate here: https://form.jotform.com/232514608636154. Every little bit helps! Donations to Jackson PTO are tax deductible, and if your company matches donations to a charity or non-profit, Jackson PTO qualifies as a recipient! “Jackson Elementary Shakopee PTO” is our official name with the IRS.

We are in the final days of our Webstore. You will find great items for all members of your family. Show your Sabers and Jackson pride throughout the year by shopping here: https://shakopeevalleysports.chipply.com/jackson/.

October brings us our first “no cook” night of the year. Join us at Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant on Monday, October 7, between 4:00-8:00 PM. Both dine in and take out orders bring a portion of the profits right back to us. Just mention Jackson to your server or when you order/pickup your food.

Everyone’s favorite event, Grandparents / Special Friends Day, is Friday, October 11. First, Second, and Fourth grades can enjoy their visitors from 9:30-10:45 am. Kindergarten, Third, and Fifth grades can enjoy visitors from 2:00-3:15 pm. Anyone can be a special friend, including you! If you do not have extended family nearby, you can still attend and have your student show you his or her classroom and more. All visitors must check in at the Main Office. If a student will be checked out of school at the end of the visit, parents must first arrange it with the office even if the person checking out the student is on the approved pickup list.

Our final big activity in October is our Color Run on Tuesday, October 15. Parents are encouraged to watch as their students get splashed with colored chalk (don’t worry parents, it washes out!). Run times for the specific grades are found on the attached flyer. Students will receive a brand new Sabers shirt to wear home. Much thanks to our sponsors who made the new shirts possible: Bill’s Toggery, MN Kitchen Remodel, Valley Sports, Park Dental Dean Lakes, Cedar Cove Wealth Partners, American Family Insurance Nick Atkinson, The Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry, Laurel Builders, Jen Packard Edina Realty, Metropolitan Dance Alliance, Katie Odeen Agency State Farm, Card My Yard Shakopee, Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant, Mallards Restaurant, Maxx Spa and Nails, and Infinitee Painting. We are grateful for their support of the rising generation.

If you haven’t already done so, join the “Jackson Parents” Facebook group to get the latest and greatest information. Sign up for Box Tops for Education to raise money for Jackson. Use referral code MJ2M1WIP when signing up and then scan any receipt to complete the process. All earnings go right back to supporting Jackson students. The PTO is always looking for volunteers to assist at our various events. Apply to be a Shakopee School volunteer here: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MzIxNzplbi1VUw==. To be a Grandparents / Special Friends Day volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FADA823A0FCC07-51386167-grandparents#/.

To throw chalk at the Color Run: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FADA823A0FCC07-51539867-jackson#/.

The PTO appreciates all of our amazing volunteers. We could not do any of this without you!

Diane Bowen

PTO President

Picture retakes are on Thursday, October 24th.

Join us on December 4th!

Five Schools. Endless Opportunities.

Come experience the Shakopee difference!

ALL incoming families are welcome. Learn more about routines and activities, obtain important dates, engage with staff and feel at ease about the upcoming Kindergarten transition!

FREE future Saber bag. Children welcome. Cultural Family Liaisons will also be onsite.

When: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 5:45 - 6:45pm

Where: Host Site - Sun Path Elementary (lower entrance, back of school)
Please note, Sun Path is the host site due to its central location but all five schools will be represented.

Additional Details:
Activities will be available to keep our future Sabers smiling.
Registration/RSVP is not required but encouraged to provide the best experience.

The session is open to all interested families and future Sabers. Children must be five (5) years of age by September 1, 2025 in order to enroll for Kindergarten in the 2025/26 school year.

Learning, Teaching & Equity is seeking membership for the 24-25 District Advisory Council. The District Advisory Council is a group of dedicated community members who collaborate with school district leaders to provide input, share insights, and help make informed decisions around the design, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum to meet Minnesota Graduation Standards.

All meetings are held on Mondays from 6:00-7:30pm at the District Office in Room 201. Here are the dates for the District Advisory Council meetings:

Monday, November 11, 2024

Monday, February 3, 2025

Monday, May 19, 2025

Please reach out to our principal, Kevin Bjerken, if you are interested in serving on this committee.

• Daily Announcements
• Winter Weather Guidelines & Information
• Elementary Report Card Rubrics
• How to Access Report Cards
• Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

• Visitor Reminders: All visitors are required to check-in at the front office and must be screened through the Raptor system during normal school hours.

• Now Hiring Part-Time/Full-Time Paraprofessional Positions, Food Services and More: Training provided, job share responsibilities and weekend/summer/school breaks off. Click here for a list of positions and to apply.

• Communication Reminder: We encourage families to download the Seesaw app on your smartphone or bookmark on a computer to gain access to important school communications and teacher messages.

Parents and guardians can submit absences for their students via Infinite Campus or via the attendance line.

• If possible, please try to submit absences via Infinite Campus or the attendance line before 10 am.
  
• While you can email the teacher about absences, please also notify the office.
• If it's after 10 am and you will be picking your child up early, please call the main office (952-496-5802) instead of submitting the early pick up time via Infinite Campus.
• If you will be changing how your child is getting home at the end of the day, please call the main office before 2:30 pm.

In the mornings we have two drop off areas available to you to help you avoid waiting in line for too long, and an opportunity for you to park as well. Please see the map below. Three options for drop-off:

A – Students are dropped off starting at 8:55, cars in a single line, parents can exit out with a left turn. We can handle 3-4 cars to drop off at a time in the lower green area and students are supervised as they walk to the bottom cafeteria doors. This is the most efficient. Please be patient to keep our students safe. Please drop off students quickly and move on so that line does not get backed up.

B – Students can be dropped off in the upper green, cars in a single line. We can handle 3-5 cars dropping off at a time in the upper green area. Since this area has the most congestion, people must be patient to keep our students safe. Areas after the upper green (there is a sign on site) must stay clear for special service busing and crosswalk.

C – If you wish to walk your students to the entry, parents can park in the lot and walk their students all the way across the crosswalk to be safely on the school sidewalk. Please stay on crosswalk, students cannot walk on their own. Cars in this section must use the west end of the lot to enter parking spots during drop off and pick up times. A map of a parking lot is below.

Here are a few reminders if you are joining your student for lunch or breakfast this year.

• Please sign in through the main office.
• Please arrive five minutes early and have your driver's license with you.
• If you plan to eat lunch from the school, please bring exact change or a check. Adult breakfast is $2.85 and lunch is $5. If your student's lunch account has money in it, you may also use that to purchase your food.

If you would like to volunteer in the media center, especially during our upcoming book fair, please let Mrs. Hilgers know ghilgers@shakopee.k12.mn.us.

You will also need to fill out this form below and be approved to volunteer in our school.

You can drop off at the school any school day with my name on it! Any donations to our Learning Commons are used with our curriculum and are appreciated! We also accept hard cover books that are K-5 appropriate, and this list is being updated with needed titles. Thanks so much!

This is the criteria that teachers will be following to ensure that students are safe outside. Please send your students with the appropriate warm clothing each day.