News and events

April 1, 2025

Monday, April 14: PTO meeting in the Dayton Library at 6:00 pm

April 15th and 16th: 3rd-5th grade Reading MCA's

Friday, April 18: NO SCHOOL - Staff Development

April 22nd and 23rd: 3rd-5th grade Math MCA's

April 29th and 30th: 5th grade Science MCA's

Wednesday, May 7: Yearbook sales END

Friday, May 9: Dayton Olympics (watch for more information)

Tuesday, May 13: 4th Grade Music Program 7:00 pm

Monday, May 26: NO SCHOOL, Holiday

2024-2025 Elementary school digital days calendar

Calendar Translations

2025-2026 Elementary school digital days calendar

• On sale NOW - May 7th (Extras will not be available)

• $10.00 per yearbook

• Purchase online via SchoolPay (see below)

• Yearbooks will be delivered to students during the final week of school

Log in to your A-H Connect parent account at ahschools.us. If you do not have a parent login, contact 763-506-HELP. Click on the My Student Information/Synergy icon. Once in ParentVUE, click on the “Fee” tab. Click on “Pay for Meals/Activities/Fees Here”. Click on “School Payments.”

Help Every Student Cherish the Memories! Order Your Yearbook & Consider Donating Today.

SchoolPay directions - English

SchoolPay directions - Spanish

Every spring, we begin to develop our class lists for next year's classes. Our goal, as always, is to create balanced classes that work well for all students, teachers, and families. If you feel that you have information we should know about your child to help support our placement process, please complete a student placement form no later than May 2nd. This form is available upon request from our school office. Returned forms will be reviewed by school staff and considered in the placement process.

Art

Explorations

🌞 Kindergarten – Be Prepared
Kindergarteners are kicking off Be Prepared with an exciting look at the Sun! We’ll investigate how the Sun warms the Earth, changes the temperature of different surfaces, and affects the way we dress and play outside. Through hands-on activities, students will explore why some surfaces feel hotter than others and how shadows move throughout the day.

🦉 First Grade – Animal Reporters & Shadow Town
First graders will wrap up Animal Reporters by designing their own communication devices based on how animals use sounds, colors, and body movements to send messages. Then, we’ll journey to Shadow Town, where students will explore how light travels, what causes shadows to form, and how they change depending on the time of day and position of the light source.

🌿 Second Grade – A Garden for Life
Our young botanists will continue A Garden for Life by learning what plants need to grow, why gardens are important for people and wildlife, and how different habitats support life. Later in the month, we’ll shift our focus to pollinators, where students will discover how bees, butterflies, and even bats help plants reproduce and why these creatures are essential to a healthy ecosystem.

🦋 Third Grade – Welcome to the Biodome
This month, third graders will begin Welcome to the Biodome! We’ll dive into the life cycles of plants and animals, studying how living things grow and change over time. One of the highlights of this unit will be raising caterpillars and observing their incredible transformation into butterflies, helping students see metamorphosis up close!

🌎 Fourth Grade – Geographical Investigations
Fourth graders are continuing their Geographical Investigations, shifting their focus to human impacts on the environment. We’ll explore how people change landscapes by building cities, farming, and using natural resources. Through maps, case studies, and discussions, students will consider the challenges of balancing human needs with environmental sustainability.

⚖️ Fifth Grade – The American Revolution
Fifth graders will continue their study of the American Revolution, examining major events like the Declaration of Independence and the role of key figures in shaping the new nation. We’ll explore how the ideas and principles from this time influenced the creation of the U.S. government and continue to impact our country today. Students will consider how the founding principles still influence the way laws are made and how citizens participate in democracy.

Library

April is National School Library Month! We will celebrate by sharing fun read-alouds, STEM challenges, and library games! April is also National Poetry Month, so students will be learning about and reading all kinds of poetry. Students in grades 3-5 have been learning how to use our online library catalog to search for and locate books in our library.

Music

This April, kindergarten, first, and second grade students will start to use the notes and rhythms they have learned to create and perform their own songs. Third grade students are still working on their own songs and have already tried them out on the xylophones. Our fourth graders are practicing their concert music for their performances on May 13, and fifth grade will start to learn the ukulele.

PE

We will finish up nutrition, food groups, and balanced meals. We will then start to prepare for the Olympics. MAY 9th!!! This includes paddle skills, teamwork, race etiquette, and sportspersonship.

Always gym shoes, please!

More information is coming soon about each grade level’s ½-day schedule.

With a heart full of gratitude, we want to extend a warm thank you to each and every person who contributed to the success of our Booster Fun Run. It's truly heartwarming to see such overwhelming support and generosity from our community.

📣 2025-2026 PTO Board Nominations are here!

Do you love supporting our school and our amazing staff? Do you want you make a difference? Then why not join the Dayton PTO?

Be sure to join us at our next Dayton PTO Monthly Meeting on Monday, April 14th at 6:00 pm. We would love for you to express your own interest or nominate another parent. 🗳️

If you are looking for summer reading enrichment programs for your child, please see the link below. Program focus varies depending upon the grade level of the student. Tuition varies by grade level and space is limited.

Mindfulness can be an important tool for both parents and children to practice in order to support healthy relationships and coping strategies. When parents practice mindfulness, it is easier for children to pick up those same strategies. Our newsletter has strategies for children and families alike, to support mindfulness this spring!

Elizabeth Korzenowski

PreK - Grade 3 Parent Educator, M.Ed

elizabeth.korzenowski@ahschools.us

(612) 520-1710

April Parent Press Newsletter

Absences/Late Arrivals

Please report attendance online or by calling the attendance line before 10:30 am. We appreciate you using these methods and ask that you refrain from emailing or using Seesaw to notify your child's teacher about attendance.

Report an absence or late arrival 24/7:

• Call: 763-506-2206

• Online: Log in to My Student Information or the ParentVUE app. Select the "Report Absence" button next to your student's name, follow the on-screen instructions, and click "Save." (See these step-by-step directions for more information.)

Student Drop Off

Student drop-off begins at 9:15 am. School hours are 9:30 am - 4:00 pm. The first bell rings at 9:15 am for students to enter the building and get ready for class before the final bell rings at 9:30 am.

• Please do not drop your child(ren) off BEFORE 9:15 am, as staff are not on duty until then.

As a reminder, it is important that students are arriving on time to school so they do not miss out on learning opportunities.

Student Dismissal

Parent pick-up starts promptly at 4:00 PM in the Dayton and Rebel parking lots. Please call 763-506-2200 by 3:00 PM if you need to change a dismissal plan.

Student Release from School

For security, we are a locked facility. All visitors must bring a photo ID and press the silver button at the main entrance to speak with the office. Only parents and legal guardians are authorized to pick-up. If someone else needs to pick up your child, please call the office at 763-506-2200 in advance to make arrangements.

Early dismissal

To help students avoid missing important end-of-day instructions and reminders, please schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. If an early pickup is unavoidable, please allow ample time for us to locate your student. Daily schedules are available here. Early pickups should occur before 3:30 p.m.

Need your AH Parent Credentials??

Call 763-506-HELP (4357) or email 506HELP@ahschools.us

We recommend you keep these in a safe place as you will use them until your child(ren) graduates.

Health Office

763.506.2204

HEALTH SERVICES

Dayton A+

763.506.2213

Dayton Child Nutrition

763.506.2211

Bus Information

If your child's bus doesn't arrive in the morning or they don't get off the bus in the evening (rare), call the bus company directly. Save their number for after-school hours, as they can contact drivers.

First Student Bus Co.

763.421.5785 First Student Champlin (regular routes to/from Dayton Elementary)

763.421.3199 First Student Anoka (students receiving special education transportation)

Anoka-Hennepin families can track their school bus in real-time using the free FirstView app. This app monitors regular bus routes and provides estimated arrival times, including information about delays, substitute drivers, and the anticipated length of any delays. Families can also receive instant email, push, or text notifications about bus status changes. While Anoka-Hennepin buses are typically on time, FirstView helps families stay informed about unforeseen delays due to weather or traffic.

Download the FirstView app (iTunes app store; Android Google Play store). First-time users:

1. Open the app and select "Login with SSO".
2. Set the state to "Minnesota" and district to "Anoka-Hennepin", then click Continue.
3. Log in with your A-HConnect parent/guardian username and password (call 763-506-HELP if forgotten).
4. Your student's information will automatically appear.

Dayton Elementary participates in the Box Tops for Education, so please scan your receipts. It helps raise money for our school! Click here to learn how.