January News

Hey Puma Families - We need two dependable people committed to helping our Pumas succeed on the playground for 2 hours a day. This is a paid position and is available 5 days a week from 10:20-12:30. If you are not available for all 5 days we can be flexible with your schedule.

Click here for the job posting. From there, click on para-educator and then scroll down to the non-classroom (playground/lunchroom) supervision posting. Please give us a call if you have any questions.

Thank you for considering!

On December 13th and 16th, we hosted our Family informational session about what Rosa Parks will look, sound, and feel like next school year as a Focus School with a STEAM focus. It was wonderful to see everyone who attended and to address the curiosities and questions that were shared. We recognize that there are still many more questions you may have. We encourage you to visit the Focus School Webpage on our District Webpage. This will be able to provide more clarity and answers to the many questions still out there. A great resource is our Frequently Asked Questions Document where we will add more questions and answers, so check back often.

Linked here is the presentation I shared during the session. Within the presentation, you’ll find a link and QR code to submit any future questions you may have.

More information to come in the future to keep everyone updated as we continue on this exciting journey together. Stay tuned!

On February 6 @ 5:30-7:00 we will be having a family STEAM exploration night at Rosa Parks.

Activities may include things like:

• Aurora Art

• Air Power

• Catapults

• Cloud Exploration
• Moon Jump

• Soil Core

• We will also have reading, math, and art activities happening! We hope to see you there!

We are currently accepting donations of new or gently used winter clothing items such as coats, snow pants, and boots. Items can be dropped off in the office.

Winter weather will be here soon, so it’s a good idea to have a plan for your family in case of school closings, early dismissals, or late starts.

Notices for school closings and early dismissals will be posted on the following websites, radio, and television stations. You can also hear a recorded message on the District Notification Line at 507-387-6046.

Other ways to track school closing delays/dismissals/closures:

● www.isd77.org ● katoinfo.com ● mankatofreepress.com ● southernminnesotanews.com ● keyc.com ● KEYC 12 - TV AND MANY MORE.

Click HERE for a copy of the Winter Weather Information.

*Blue Earth Area Schools is a smaller school district south of us. When you hear or see this, IT IS NOT Mankato Area Public Schools.

Jan. 8 Early Release

Jan. 13 PTO Meeting, 7:00 PM

Jan. 20 NO SCHOOL

Jan. 23 PTO Fundraiser-Noodles

Jan. 27 NO SCHOOL-Teacher work day

MAPS families, we will have early releases on the following Wednesdays:

2-Hour Early Release Days

January 8, 2025

February 12, 2025

March 12, 2025

April 9, 2025

May 14, 2025

• This means your student will start their day at the normal time of 8am and be released at 12:30pm. Your student will still receive lunch prior to the 12:30pm dismissal when buses will leave the building.
• Optional supervision by school staff is coordinated by the building and provided between 12:30 and 2:30pm. A Google form will be used to sign up again this year.
• Students who stay for the optional supervision and are not enrolled in ACES must have transportation home by 2:30pm, the end of a normal school day.
• Lastly, ExCEL and After School Club programs will not run on early release Wednesdays.

We have our arrival and dismissal procedures in place to keep students safe, and operate in an efficient and effective manner.

Arrival:

• Doors will not open until 7:35 unless you are enrolled in our ACES program. Also, adult supervision does not start until 7:35.
  

• Students that arrive between 7:35 and 7:50 should either report to the playground or breakfast.

• Curbside drop off is in the lower lot, door (#3). Please follow the flow of traffic.

• DO NOT PASS cars and skip ahead in line.

• Pull ahead as far as possible at all times. It may be super convenient for your kid to exit the vehicle right in front of the door or playground but please be considerate of others. The better everyone follows the procedures the smoother the experience is for everyone.

• The upper lot, (door #1) is reserved for buses only. and special circumstances. Should you need to visit the office, use the upper lot to park and enter the building.

• Students who walk or ride their bike will approach on the path, on the playground side of the building. They will walk/bike around the building to the bike racks and use the lower door (#3).

THE END OF DAY PICK-UP PROCEDURES -

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

• Students who walk home will exit door #7 (near orange playground equipment)

• utilize the walking path

• must promptly begin leaving campus once they exit the building.

• Students who bike home will exit door #7 (near orange playground equipment)

• utilize the walking/bike path

• must promptly begin leaving campus once they exit the building.

• Students who are car riders will exit door #3.

• We are committed to keeping Rosa Parks students, families, and staff safe. Thank you for your cooperation!

• Each family is given a number that will need to be displayed in the car window

• Families will get two numbers to have in multiple vehicles

• Display number on the passenger side

• When pulling up, always pull up as far as you can and we will load multiple cars at a time.

• Staff will communicate the numbers in the order they have arrived into the building.

• Avoiding the process and driving to the front will result in your number not being called. Follow the process!

• As cars load, they will be dismissed and the next batch of cars will pull in.

• Make sure your children know their number for dismissal.

Please make sure your child knows how they will be getting home each day. Inform your child’s teacher or the school office if there is a change in your family’s plan.

The Greater Mankato Mental Health Hub has launched! This hub was developed by Greater Mankato Area United Way's Youth Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Committee and is hosted by the Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Rosa Parks is a School-wide Title 1 School, meaning we receive additional funding to provide supplemental interventions or services to students. The purpose of Title I, Part A under the Federal ESEA Act is to supplement services to students to help them learn what they need to know to be successful on high academic standards.

Rosa Parks' Parent Engagement Plan emphasizes the importance of collaboration between parents and educators. We encourage you to participate in our school activities, attend meetings, and provide feedback to help us create a supportive learning environment for your child. A copy of Rosa Parks' Parent Engagement Plan is available upon request.