

EXPO Family News
Week of February 3-7, 2025
Weekly Reminders & Announcements
Minnesota Winter Walk to School Day is February 5th
Walk Ride Roll To School Day- February 5, 2025
Join us in celebrating Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025. We encourage all students and families to walk, bike, or roll to school that day if it is possible for you. Families who drive can park a few blocks away and walk the rest of the way to school to join in the fun. If you can’t walk or bike to school, consider celebrating with a family walk or bike ride after school!
Walking and biking to school can improve students’ performance in school, give them much needed daily exercise to boost physical and mental health, and help reduce air pollution and traffic congestion around schools. Here are some simple rules to share with your children for safe walking and biking in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong and Karen.
National African American Parent Involvement Day- February 10, 2025
National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) is a day for all parents to come to EXPO, see what their day is like and to support their child's educational future. Some of the goals of NAAPID are to:
Promote parent involvement in their child's education.
Address the serious achievement gap facing African American students.
Promote and provide strategies for all parents and students to take full advantage of the educational process at all levels of the educational system (preschool through college).
We invite families to come into their child’s classrooms during the following times. You will be able to observe a lesson and see the amazing work that happens at EXPO.
- PreK-3- 8:00-8:30 AM
- Grades 4-5 8:35-9:05 AM
We will be hosting a "Friendship Week" during the week of February 10-14.
Our 5th Grade Leadership Team will be working with classrooms to support them with the following Spirit Week:
2/10- Mindful Monday- do something thoughtful for someone else
2/11- Tell a Compliment Tuesday- Tell someone a compliment about who someone is (ex: You are good at including others at recess)
2/12- What's Up? Wednesday- Talk to someone you don't normally talk with today. There will be talking cards on cafeteria tables to help students with ideas for questions.
2/13- Thankful Thursday- Write a note about what you are thankful for at Expo.
2/14- Find a New Friend Friday- sit by someone new at lunch or play with someone new at recess.
We are going to celebrate Friendship Day on Friday February 14th
Valentine's Day = Friendship Day!
EXPO will celebrate FRIENDSHIP on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14th. If your child would like to bring cards, please practice the life skill of friendship by including all of the learners in your child's class. Valentines is an opportunity to promote friendship, giving and acts of kindness. Activities specific to Valentines allow students to practice reading, writing and friendship skills. Valentines teaches about empathy and love! We will honor our district's “No Sweet Treats” policy, please refrain from bringing in candy, chocolates, cupcakes, etc. for your child's class.
Classrooms will create activities that promote friendship and kindness to celebrate on February 14th.
Any questions should be directed to your child's classroom teacher or myself at john.bjoraker@spps.org
Phillips Eye Institute Eye Exams and Glasses
Under the E.Y.E. Community Initiative, your child will receive an exam by an eye doctor, and any necessary treatment – including eyeglasses. If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover these expenses, you will not be charged for these services. The cost of your exam, treatment and glasses will be paid by the E.Y.E. Community Initiative through the generosity of donors.
E.Y.E. will be at EXPO Elementary on February 25, 2025 to conduct the vision screenings.
How Parents/Guardians Can Help Their Kids Be Successful in School
Encourage independent growth.
Eventually a child must take charge of her own learning. This means that it is important for you to "let go" when your child pursues hobbies and starts reading for her own enjoyment.
One way to encourage independent growth is to maintain the daily "quiet time" even during vacations and weekends. Introducing your child to hobbies, even something as simple as reading the baseball scores in the sports section of your newspaper, is a good way to make non-homework learning fun.
EXPO Council of Parents and Teachers
EXPO Council of Parents and Teachers (a.k.a. EXPO’s PTA)
Our next EXPO Council of Parents and Teachers meeting will be on Monday February 10th from 6:30-7:00 PM to join in the conversation, click on the following link:
https://meet.google.com/zhs-jywz-vhx
January 2025 Meeting Notes-
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12eZUhHFVOMma_ZPMrVpM2U7ktPKIdJQECCEYeiHeiYI/edit?tab=t.0
Order Now! 2024-25 Yearbooks on Sale
Reserve your student's 2024-25 yearbook now! Yearbooks are $20 each.
Order here
Do you have pictures to submit to the yearbook -- things like waiting for the bus, walking to school, a field trip, or life around Expo? Or, do you want to volunteer as a photographer? Email expoyearbook@gmail.com.
EXPO Silent Auction- Mark you calendars- Saturday March 22, 2025
EXPO Community...we need your help. ALL students at EXPO want to go on field trips and have classroom experiences. But, we need to raise money in order for students to have these experiences for ALL students.
The spring fundraiser is the Silent Auction and is organized and run by EXPO parents just like you! The Auction will be held at Bad Weather Brewery on March 22, 2025. It is a great evening, supporting the students and teachers, while building community.
But...we NEED your help to make it a success. Volunteering for the silent auction involves many different roles utilizing different skillsets, (not just soliciting donations) and is a great way to support our EXP Community!
There will be a planning meeting within the next few weeks, so watch for additional information. Please reach out to Jenny Rixen (jennyrixen@gmail.com) if you are interested in helping in any way. We need you to make it successful. Thank you!
Important Dates
February 10: National African American Parent Involvement Day- All are welcome!
February 17: No School – Presidents Day
March 7: No School, Conference Preparation
March 28: No School, Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 31-April 4: No School, Spring Break
Contact Us
Email: john.bjoraker@spps.org
Website: www.spps.org/EXPO
Location: 540 Warwick Street, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-290-8384