Wolves Newsletter
February 1, 2024
A note from the principal
Testing Season!
Testing Season has begun! February is when students who are on the continuum of learning English take the ACCESS Test. In April students in grade 3 - 5 take the MCA's (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments), and then in May students in grades 1 - 5 take the Fastbridge math and reading assessments.
Some feel that the tests are not essential. However, I for one believe that we need to know how students are performing academically, and how Park Brook compares with academic growth to other schools in the district, state and nation so that we as educators can improve our practices.
Students have been preparing for these tests since last year. Please see below how you can support your child at home, including their fitness levels, to increase academic growth. In addition, make sure your children are in school, and on time.
Last month, January, students in grades 1 - 5 took the Fastbridge test for our winter screening so we can adjust interventions as needed.
Conferences are a great time to visit with your child's teacher about what your child may need to work on to reach grade-level standards.
Mr. Taylor
Ms. Anfang's 5th Grade Class
Conferences
Conferences will be held between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the following days:
- Wednesday, February 7, 2024
- Tuesday, February 13, 2024
- Thursday, February 15, 2024
You should have received a specific time for your child's conference. Please call the office if you need to know the time for your child's conference. You can all email Mrs. Titus at titusa@district279.org .
If you need to change the time for your conference, please call right away so we can update our schedule.
Ukulele Club
The Ukulele Club meets twice-a-week before school. On Wednesdays the students are building ukuleles and then on Fridays the students are continuing to develop their ukulele musical skills. The students were in Ukulele Club in the Fall, but only met once-a-week to learn to play the ukuleles.
Choir & Ukulele Concert - March 21, 2024 - 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
Support Your Child's Learning at Home
- Read - Children should read at home, or be read to.
- Eat together - Enjoy meals together without the television on or cell phones.
- Sleep - Elementary age kids need 9 - 11 hours of sleep every night. If they need to be woken up every morning, or need an alarm clock to get up, have them go to bed earlier.
- Exercise -- Kids call it play! Kids should get 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
The four ways above to increase learning have been the standard at Park Brook, however we have added two more:
- Monitor and limit technology.
- Practice math facts.
Homework is not the most effective way to increase academic growth for elementary age kids. The above ways increase academic growth more than homework.
In addition, if kids are in school, and on time, we provide the instruction, and you can enjoy meals together, play together, and read enjoyable books together.
Riding in Style to Ski
Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 had a great time skiing at Wirth Park on January 10. Thank to The Loppet Foundation, the students enjoyed a charter bus, rather than a school bus! (Pictures of the students skiing were posted on Facebook, which then upload to the website.)
Focus on Fitness - Information & Videos (SHORT VIDEOS)
Why Focus on Fitness?
The simple answer is to increase academic growth and positive behaviors.
The chart below based upon scores from the California Department of Education, shows the following:
- The group of students in 5th grade who pass one physical fitness test:
- 29% are at grade level in reading
- 36% are at grade level in math.
- The group of students in 5th grade who pass all physical fitness tests:
- 55% are at grade level in reading.
- 71% are at grade level in math.
Similar studies have been completed, and all show similar results.
We need strong academic instruction. However, students who are more active and eat healthier will gain more from the academic instruction.
Kinesthetic Seating
Kinesthetic Seating, or seating that uses core muscles, is not designed just to be fun. Dr. John Ratey from Harvard University has stated that there is a 10% increase in focus during instruction for students when they use kinesthetic seating.
Cell Phones - Group Chats - Social Media
Parents of 5th grade students received an email regarding group chats that are occurring outside of the school day. We encourage you to monitor what is taking place on cell phones, social media, websites children visit, and so on.
It is in a child's best interest to keep their cell phone and all electronics out of the room where they sleep. While you may fully trust your child, it is about removing the temptation and peer pressure to be on the phone or text late at night.
4th Grade Art
Seat Belts and Boost Seats
Short trips are just as dangerous as long trips. An airbag exploding in an accident does not care if you are on a trip that is 40 miles long, or a trip that is two blocks long. Airbags save lives, but for little kids in the front seat they can be deadly.
The school minivan that flipped earlier this year in an accident taking a student home from school was on a residential street, similar to the streets around Park Brook. The minivan was hit with such force that the van flipped. However, the student inside was buckled in a booster seat and walked away with only scratches. If the student had not been in a safety seat and properly buckled in, the results could be much different.
For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Students Connecting Through International Service - School Supply Drive
We really appreciate all of your help with our School Supply Drive for students in Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico. Last week we collected $3,096, which will provide lots of needed school supplies! Thank you very much for your generosity, we know the students in Mexico will be so appreciative!
Park Brook Elementary participates in two fundraisers to help outside organizations, part of our district's mission to inspire students to contribute to community. The first fundraiser is this one, Students Connecting Through International Service, and the second one is The American Heart Association with The Double Dutch Team.
Kindergarten Physical Education
Kindergarten students worked on cup stacking - fine motor skills, along with exercising - gross motor skills, in phy ed.
Why Deadlines for Weekend Field Trips
Mr. Taylor's desire is to take as many students as possible on weekend field trips. However, there must be deadlines in order for us to be prepared to safely take students on these trips:
- Our nurse reviews the list of all students registered and packs a medical bag with any medications, inhalers and so on that students need.
- Our nurse reviews the list of students for any food allergies staff must be aware of on the trip.
- There must be adequate time to ensure all students have a seat on the bus.
- The list of students attending sometimes needs to be delivered to the organization sponsoring the activity.
- Organizations sponsoring events prepare all of our materials/equipment for us, and they need time to be prepare for us.
The commitment fee has helped us contain costs. Our goal is for all of the commitment fees to be returned to families because we want an accurate count. Prior to the commitment fee we would sometimes spend an extra several hundred dollars for a bus we did not need.
Orchestra Concert - January 23, 2024
Students in 5th grade orchestra presented a demonstration concert on January 23, 2024 to share what they learned in the first 13 weeks of orchestra!
Mrs. Brenny's 2nd Grade Class
Math Fact Awards - December 13 Assembly
Math Fact Tests are given once a month. The purpose of increasing speed is so students can think mathematically and have discussions regarding math concepts without having to think about each fact.
Students took the January test earlier this week.
At the January assembly we only gave certificates to 1st grade students, and will begin giving certificates to all grades again at the February assembly.
Wolf Way Awards - December - Presented on January 18
Students are recognized each month for following the Wolf Way.
- W - We Will Respect Other and Ourselves
- O - Own our Actions
- L - Listen and Learn
- F - Follow Directions
Coming events
Black History Month
During Black History Month several events will take place. This is just a sampling:
- The monthly assembly will highlight a couple of Black Individuals,
- There will be posters throughout the school, some from other years and new ones that we are making to highlight the contributions of Black Individuals,
- In 1st grade, for example, students learn about a different Black Individual each day about their contributions, their invention, and so on.
Black History should not be relegated to the month of February, Black History Month. Black History should be part of the curriculum throughout the year, which is the plan at Park Brook. Pictured above are portraits of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. that kindergartners made as they learned about his work near Dr. King's birthday, January 15.
Loppet Events - Saturday, February 3, 2024
This is information for families with a student registered for the Next Gen Ski Race and Luminary Loppet. We cannot register additional students at this time.
Over 60 students are registered! Students need to be at Park Brook at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 3rd. Students should eat lunch before coming to school on this day.
If your child is not available to participate, please let the office know by Friday, February 2nd at noon and you will receive your commitment fee back. On Friday we can still adjust busses if need be. We can also adjust our food order, if need be at this time.
As previously stated, younger siblings, and middle/high school siblings are not permitted to join this event with us. We have five parents who indicated they would be joining us; these parents should plan to ride the bus with us.
The weather is forecast to be in the mid-40’s to upper 30’s for this outdoor event. Students will:
- Wear matching hats/gators that we will have students wear for this event. This allows us to easily see our students and for others to know they are with Park Brook Elementary,
- Need to wear jackets, snow pants, snow boots, and gloves. While the temperature will be warmer, the winter weather will help keep them dry.
Dinner is provided for all. The meal consists of turkey or roast beef sandwiches, carrots, chips, and cookies. We have snacks: granola bars and fruit snacks if students should get hungry.
Students will leave backpacks, phones, and so on at the school.
We are scheduled to be back to Park Brook Elementary at 9:00 p.m. When the bus leaves Lake of the Isles, I will post a message on the Park Brook Facebook Page, which uploads to the Park Brook Website. I will give an updated return time; however, we try to be as close to 9:00 p.m. as possible. Students are NOT permitted to walk home alone or just with friends after this event.
Special Thanks:
- The Loppet Foundation donated to Park Brook Elementary $1,245 in tickets to attend the Luminary Loppet. (The Luminary Loppet is a fundraiser for The Loppet Foundation to raise money to provide events at schools and other places, such as Park Brook Elementary.)
- Hy-Vee in Brooklyn Park donated all of the sandwiches for dinner.
- The Loppet Foundation is providing the bus to the event at Wirth Park.
This event will be on the path around the lake, at no time will we be on Lake of the Isles. The Loppet Foundation has adjusted plans as a result of the warm winter.
Monday, February 5, 2024 - NO SCHOOL
There is no school, and no online school for students. This is a staff workshop day.
Kidarod - Saturday, February 17
Students in grades 1 - 5 are welcome to join the fun! This is an outdoor obstacle course. Students have had a great time in years past, and a fun time can be expected.
There is no cost for Park Brook students to attend this thanks to a generous donation.
A $5 commitment fee is required for every student as we must have an accurate count for registration and busses. Students will receive their $5 commitment fee back if they come or let the office know by noon on Friday, February 16 that they are not able to participate. Students who do not show up without letting the office know will not have their commitment fee returned.
President's Day - Monday, February 19 - Events at Wirth Park - FREE
The Loppet Foundation will be hosting a free family day on Monday, February 19, President's Day. This is the day after the World Cup at Wirth Park. There will be events inside the warming tent, outside events, warm drinks, and so on. It should be a great time!
This event is advertised by Park Brook Elementary, however, Park Brook Elementary is not sponsoring nor providing transportation or supervision for any students at this event.
PTO - Parent Teacher Organization
6:00 p.m.
This is an opportunity for parents to connect, visit, learn more about Park Brook, and give input into programs at Park Brook.
Winter Funland - Friday, February 23
Students in grades Pre-K - 5th grade are welcome to come and enjoy the fun. There are a number of activities for students to enjoy. Details coming soon!
This is an event for Park Brook Students. Middle School and High School students will not be permitted unless with they their own parent/guardian who stay with them at the event, or they have pre-arranged to chaperone. Park Brook Students do not need a chaperone to attend.
Double Dutch Performance & Assembly
Park Brook Elementary - Monday, March 4 - 2:00 p.m.
Report Card Marking Day
Friday, March 8 - No School for Students
Choir & Ukulele Concert
Thursday, March 21 - Park Brook Elementary - 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.