Holton Families,

On February 4th and 11th, we have parent teacher conferences. Here are a few suggestions that can make your conferences as beneficial to you and your child as possible. First, make sure your child comes with you, this way if there are questions about any information, you have a first-hand source. Then, as a team we can plan and agree on how to proceed if there are concerns. Second, please review the Infinite Campus Portal so you are aware of your child’s status academically. Having the information from the Portal can frame your conversations pro-actively with your child’s teacher. Finally, review your contact information on the Portal and make sure we have the most current and accurate contact information in case we need to call or email you with information about your child or in case of an emergency.

For our sixth-grade families, please bring any questions or concerns you may have about next year at Ellis. Your child’s advisor should be able to answer any questions. If not, don’t hesitate to set up a meeting with your child’s counselor, Mrs. Kennan, to make sure you have all the information you need. We also have all our registration information on our website under Parent Resources. For our 5th grade families, I will be in the IMC on the half hour to answer any questions parents have about next year and the new schedule which focuses on less transitions for your child.

Mr. Schara

Dear Families,

We hope this newsletter finds you well and thriving! As we move into a new month, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement in our school community makes a significant difference in our students' lives.

Important Announcements

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Coming up in February, we have parent-teacher conferences scheduled for February 4th and 11th. Please make sure to sign up for an appointment with your advisory teacher.
• No School Days: Please note that there will be no school on February 14th and 17th.

Celebrations from the Week
We are thrilled to share that January has been a very successful month!

• Student behaviors have been commendable, reflecting our positive school culture.
• 2nd Quarter ended and overall the students are doing great!
• Last week’s dance was well attended, and we are proud of our students for following expectations and making it a fun event!

Additional Information
As we transition into spring, please be aware that the weather can be quite unpredictable. This week, it may be cold in the morning and warm by the afternoon. We kindly remind you to encourage your students to take their jackets back and forth each day. This will ensure they have what they need for both school and home, especially over the weekends.

We are grateful for your ongoing support in helping our students succeed. Together, we can continue to foster a nurturing and positive environment for all.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community! We look forward to our continued collaboration and to seeing you at the upcoming conferences.

Warm regards,

Kane Malo

Assistant Principal

Welcome to February, Holton Hawks!

As I have mentioned in previous updates, PBIS is very much a part of what we do at IJ Holton. Recently, we had our January Celebration. During this celebration, students had the chance to play BINGO as a team. If you follow us on social media, you saw numerous pictures of students having a great time and winning some pretty awesome prizes.

Speaking of social media, if you don’t follow IJ Holton Intermediate School on any of the socials, may I take a second to recommend it. Our pages show the weekly winners of our Character Counts awards. You also get to see pictures and videos of various events, activities and celebrations that go on at Holton.

A perfect example of one of those events was the January Holton Dance. What a massive success that was! So many kids dancing, eating, socializing, and simply having a great time! It is events like this that remind us of how lucky we are to have such a great group of students at IJ Holton. Our final dance of the year is scheduled for Friday, March 28th. I look forward to seeing all of our students there.

At IJ Holton, we encourage our students to be Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and to Do Their Best! If at any time you have any questions or concerns, please email me david.brown@austin.k12.mn.us or call me at 460-1525.

David Brown

IJ Holton Dean of Students

Safe and Welcoming learning environment.

-Our department chairs went through staff development on “Strengths” training. They use the individual strengths in each department to identify how to function a peak performance.

-On the last Cold Day our paraprofessionals, for PD, listened to a podcast on student behaviors and reflected how they can lean into their strengths to help support teachers and students when behaviors arise.

-Our teachers are working on the second half of our OL/LA reading training. Staff have used their professional development time very well to complete the training. Building administration has also completed the training. The reading training will help us implement extended time in reading next year.

-Our last PBIS incentive was very successful. Students were able to build rollercoasters out of paper and minimal supplies; we finished the day with awards for the most effective rollercoasters.

-We are working on developing classroom libraries for next year.

-We are preparing for conferences next month; parents have a link they can use to sign up, or simply call the school.

Packer Profile for All Students

-We continue to adjust our Project Lead the Way classes to align with potential careers. We will investigate adding a Project Lead the Way class for 26-27school year.

-Our field trips to the Hormel Institute have been very successful. We are still one of the only school districts in Minnesota to visit the Institute regularly.

-Our Young Scientist program in cooperation with the Hormel Institute is off and running.

MTSS For All Students

-We are sending representatives to the BARR conference and beginning the planning for adding BARR to Holton next year. We believe the BARR process gives teachers voice in our MTSS process, and it has been working very successfully at Ellis. We hope to have a final decision in February regarding implementation.

-We use our WIN time to assist students who are struggling academically and who have been identified through our MTSS process. This is also a great time for students who need re-teaching or other supports to get help from their content teachers.

-We begin ACCESS testing next week for our EL students.

- IJ was once again recognized as a PBIS Minnesota Statewide Sustaining Exemplar School.

Excellence in Resource Management

-We are preparing to write an APE grant for our classroom libraries next year.

-We are also evaluating our furniture to make sure it can accommodate small group learning for next year.

-We will work with our leadership team to allocate classroom space for next school year.

-Kane Malo, our assistant principal, attends all elementary principal meetings so we are prepared for next year.

-We will begin setting up scheduled conferences for February.

-On January 18th, we will be hosting a Robotics Tournament with numerous schools from around Minnesota.

School visits to investigate BARR at Holton

• · Saw two schools both in White Bear Lake
• · Did a walk-through of one school and talked with the administration and the BARR Coordinator
• · Got to see a big block meeting with the other school
• · Both schools integrate MTSS and BARR
• Gives teachers direct input to MTSS
• Teachers drive what interventions are tried

-With our schedule change next year, we must make sure we have furniture and instructional items our teachers need.

-We are also beginning department staff development for next year so teachers have the curriculum outlines they need to teach three subjects.

Parents, Guardians & Students,

Welcome to the New Semester!

The start of a new term is always an exciting time—a fresh opportunity to set goals, make new memories, and continue building on the progress from last semester. As always, you can keep track of assignments and grades through Infinite Campus. Let’s make this semester a successful one!

Support When You Need It: Crisis Line 988

We want to remind everyone about an important resource available to all—988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Whether you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, experiencing a crisis, or just needs someone to talk to, help is only a call or text away. The 988 crisis line is available 24/7 and provides confidential support from trained counselors.

Please keep this number in mind and share it with anyone who may need it. Your well-being matters, and we want you to know that you're never alone.

For additional mental health resources, don’t hesitate to reach out to our school counselors, who are always available to support students.

National School Counseling Week: February 3–7, 2025

We are excited to celebrate National School Counseling Week from February 3–7! This week is an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the incredible work that our school counselors do every day. School counselors play a vital role in supporting the social, emotional, and academic growth of our students. From helping with course selections to providing guidance during tough times, their impact is immeasurable.

Closing Thoughts:

As we dive into the new semester, remember that you have a team of caring professionals, teachers, and staff ready to support you. Whether it's academic help, emotional guidance, or simply someone to talk to, we are here for you. Here’s to a successful and fulfilling semester ahead!

If you have registration questions, please contact your student’s grade level counselor.

Kirstin Norby, 5th grade (507) 460-1536

Lynn Keenan, 6th grade (507) 460-1533

Zack Langreck, 7th grade (507) 460-1513
Farin Delaney, 8th grade (507) 460-1517

Lea Oelfke, REACH (507) 460-1510

Rebecca Gullickson, SSW (507) 460-8306

"Paint the Packers Pink" will take place from February 3rd-7th. This event aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer research, with all proceeds benefiting the Hormel Institute. Students can get involved by participating in penny wars, purchasing suckers before school, and joining in on dress-up days. For more details, check out the flyer:

• February 3-7th, 2025- Paint the Packers Pink/Penny Wars
• February 3-7th, 2025- Reading Access Testing
• February 3rd, 2025- Art Club 3:05 PM- 4:15 PM (Blue Group)
• February 4th, 2025- 3:30-8:00 Scheduled Conferences
• February 10th, 2025- Art Club 3:05 PM- 4:15 PM (Red Group)
• February 10th, 2025- 5th-8th Music Showcase
• February 11th, 2025- 3:30-8:00 Scheduled Conferences
• February 14-17th, 2025- NO SCHOOL

• February 18th-21th, 2025- Speaking Access Testing
• February 19th, 2025- Young Scientists
• February 20-21, 2025- Scoliosis Testing

• February 24th, 2025- Art Club 3:05 PM- 4:15 PM (Blue Group)

The annual Mower County CEO class business for 2024-2025 is "Local Legends," a night of music featuring local musicians Martin Zellar, Molly Kate Kestner, and Riley Olson. The show is scheduled for Friday, February 21, beginning at 6:30 PM in AHS Knowlton Auditorium. Tickets start at $30 and all proceeds will benefit the CEO program.

There will also be a silent auction in the commons right outside Knowlton Auditorium with winners being announced during intermission.

Doors open at 6:00 PM for this amazing concert experience, so make sure you get your tickets today!