Principal Hitchens's Notes
Happy New Year
We hope you have enjoyed your time with family and friends. We will be back in session Monday, January 8th. We are eager to see you and your scholars refreshed and rejuvenated. We are excited to start the new year off strong and finish our school year even stronger. Enjoy your last couple of days and we will see you in a few days. Included in this newsletter is information for downloading the School Bus app so you can monitor your child's bus route times. Also there is information to make sure you iUpdate is current. We will continue to send information via Blackboard and want to make sure you have up to date information.
Important Information
- Tommie Tuesdays: We are encouraging our scholars to wear their purple collaborative shirt on Tuesdays ONLY.
- Winter Break December 22nd- January 7th School Closed
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. January 15th No School
- Open House - January 19th 8:00am-12:00pm
- Family Literacy Night and APTT- January 25th
- Staff Professional Development January 26th No School
Attendance Information
The winter months mean more sickness going around, if you have questions about whether or not your scholar can come to school, please call the health office at 651-888-7648. Please call the office to report every time your scholar(s) will be missing school, 651-293-8680 ext. 42853
Thank you for continuing to work hard to get your scholar to school every day, on time! When students miss more than 10% or 18 days, excused or unexcused, in a school year they are:
Less likely to read proficiently by 3rd grade
Missing out on important academic time which impacts whether or not they make appropriate grade level gains
Fewer opportunities to build positive relationships with staff and peers
May not develop behavioral and social-emotional skills necessary for success in school and life
If you have questions or concerns with getting your scholar(s) to school please contact school counselor Kary Kuenzli, 651-744-7644 or text 612-405-9477 or principal Dr. Hitchens 651-744-4534. We are here to support you and your family!
Counseling Corner
Calling All 5th Grade Families!
It’s hard to believe that we are already thinking about the transition your scholar will be making from Maxfield Elementary to Middle School next fall. Whether you already know which school you’re going to attend or are still undecided, this is an exciting time to explore the different options available to you. The most important thing to note is that all Maxfield 5th graders have a seat saved for them at their community middle school. For most of you, Hidden River Middle School will be your community school. If you want your child to attend a different school from where they have a seat saved, you must fill out the SPPS School Choice application by February 9th. Use the SPPS School School Finder for the 2024-2025 school year. Enter your address to see which school(s) your child can attend and receive bussing to.
Please reach out to school counselor Kary Kuenzli if you have questions or concerns about the transition to middle school.
Contact Ms. Kary: 651-744-7644 or text 612-405-9477
Cold Weather Guidelines
- Families are encouraged to monitor their children’s clothing selections to make sure they are appropriately dressed for cold weather. Our students have daily recess except in extreme weather conditions such as rain or severe cold/wind chill. Students will have indoor recess on any day with a wind chill or actual temperature that is below zero. As weather changes, sweaters and layers are needed! Please consider these factors related to weather as you and your child make decisions for winter clothing. Students must have a WARM coat, hat, and mittens/gloves for outdoor recess. Visit Saint Paul Public School Weather page for more information. To prevent lost Clothing please Label students' names on clothing.
Maxfield C.A.R.E.S.
Hey Hey Listen Up! We continue to demonstrate our use of PBIS C.A.R.E.S. Our January and February focus for C.A.R.E.S. is Responsibility. We want all our scholars to show responsibility in all that they do at home, at school and in the community. Ask them how they demonstrate responsibility in these areas.
SPPS Bus Information
UPDATES & REMINDERS
- Families will receive a postcard in the mail with transportation information at the end of August. If your child rides the school bus, you’ll receive the bus stop, pick-up and drop-off times. This postcard will also include information if your child walks to and from school, or uses Metro Transit at participating high schools.
- If your family moved over the summer, update your address at spps.org/onestop.
- If you believe your student is taking the bus but did not receive a postcard at the end of August, please call your child's school.
- Please arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up your child.
- Track the status of your child’s bus on your school’s website or the Bus Status app linked below.
- For your up-to-date bus pick-up and drop-off times, log on to your Campus Parent account and click on the Transportation tab.
TRACK YOUR BUS WITH THE BUS STATUS APP
The Bus Status app reports buses greater than 10 minutes late and displays up-to-date bus information for SPPS families and students.
Notice: Bus Status has a new and improved app just in time for the new school year! The Bus Status app currently installed on your phone will not update automatically to the new app, and will end notifications after September 29. Download the new Bus Status app for free at the Apple App Store and via Google Play.
Family Resources
Education Benefits Discounts for Families
- Amazon - 50% off Amazon Prime Membership
- Xcel Energy’s Income-Qualified Home Energy Saving Program - Free advice and energy-saving improvements, including weatherization and replacement of your older appliances for newer models.
- Minnesota Children’s Museum - Discounted tickets and membership
- Science Museum of Minnesota - $15/yr membership for two adults and all dependents under 21. Includes free admission, Omnitheather movies, and parking. Discounts on summer camps and the Explore Store gift shop.
- Metro Transit’s Transit Assistance Program (TAP) - $1 rides for all household members
- Xfinity Internet Essentials - $10/mo high speed internet
- Affordable Connectivity Program - Up to $30/month towards broadband service and a one time reimbursement of up to $100 for a device (i.e tablet, laptop). Through approved providers only.
- The Minnesota Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) - TAP is a bill credit of $10 monthly for landline service and LL is a bill credit of up to $9.25 monthly on either landlines, cell phones or broadband internet service.
- T-Mobil 10million Project Free Internet access & hotspots for students for 5 years
- The Works Museum - Discounted admission, memberships and camp scholarships.
- Guthrie Theater Gateway Program - Up to four tickets per production for $5 each
- Bell Museum Curiosity Membership - $15/yr membership for two adults and all dependents under 21 within one household. Unlimited free gallery admission, $2 planetarium tickets, early access to summer camp programs, and pre-qualification to apply for camp scholarship lottery.