Perspectives

This newsletter provides updates, information and event details for Horace Mann School, the Horace Mann School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and Saint Paul Public Schools. It is published weekly and distributed through email. Past issues can be found at mann.spps.org.

4th-5th Grade students will be part of two concerts on Tuesday December 10. Families are invited to come watch them shine! Here is some information to help you and your student enjoy the experience as much as possible.

Evening Concert for Families: Tuesday Dec 10 at 6-6:45pm

• School doors open at 5:30. Students can get a drink, make a stop in the bathroom, and socialize; at 5:45 they should go to the cafeteria and sit in their lunch spots, where teachers will help everyone relax and line up at the right time. The actual concert is held in the gym.
• Please keep student belongings with you or hang them up on the hallway hooks, because students will be released directly to their families from the risers and won't be returning to the cafeteria.
• Horace Mann has a tradition of letting younger siblings and guests sit on the floor in front of the chairs so they can see the show better. Out of respect for the performers, we'll ask guests whose behavior is a distraction to return to sit with their family. Cell phones can be used up front to take photos and video, but games and other uses should be saved for later or taken to the back.

Morning Concert for the School: Tuesday Dec 10 at 7:55am

• The daytime show is shared with the whole school but we do have a couple rows of chairs in the back available for guests who prefer a daytime concert.

Whole-group Rehearsal: Friday December 6 from 12:55-1:50pm

• If you are unable to come to either show on Dec 10, you are welcome to attend the one full rehearsal we have, which is this Friday from 12:55-1:50. This is held in the cafeteria.

Clothing
Like any team, wearing some kind of color scheme adds visual interest and also helps the participants feel united. The theme is "Branching Out," and we would like for students to wear clothing with the colors of a forest if possible. This includes anything green, brown, blue, white, gray, and black. Clothing with patterns or printing is just fine as long as it's school-friendly.

Questions? Please reach out anytime: Stephanie.Bowron@spps.org

Thank you so much for supporting your child: they have worked hard to learn all this challenging music!

Sincerely, Ms. Bowron
(Horace Mann's music teacher)

Mr. Schabert and the students would like to invite 5th grade families to a luncheon concert. The fifth graders will perform for the other students on Monday, December 16. We will have chairs available for family members who'd like to attend.

• 10:40am for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
• 11:25am for 3rd and 4th Grade
• 12:10pm for 2nd and 5th Grade

The performers will miss some class time. They will also eat lunch as a group after their last performance.

Any questions, please email jack.schabert@spps.org.

The Horace Mann School Team held its first meeting welcoming in parent/guardian representatives. The meetings take place once or twice a month. In the meeting, we will focus on staff challenges and successes, problem solving and school improvement, and family engagement strategies. In an upcoming issue, we will introduce our parent/guardian representatives and provide more details.

Bookmark our school calendar. It can be found at the top of our website. Here are some highlights for the next two weeks.

Monday, December 9

• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)
• 6:00-8:00pm Virtual Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEAC)

Tuesday, December 10

• 7:55am Gr 4-5 School Music Concert in the Gym
• 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprouts Spanish
• 5:30-8:00pm Virtual Latino Consent Decree Parent Advisory Council
• 6:00pm Gr 4-5 Family Music Concert in the Gym

Wednesday, December 11

• 8:15am Tour for Prospective Families
• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)
• 6:00-8:00pm Virtual Gender & Sexual Diversity Parent Advisory Council (GSDPAC)

Thursday, December 12

• 1:00pm Readathon Closing Ceremony
• 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprouts Spanish
• 2:00-3:15 Community Education Classes

Saturday, December 14

• 9:30am-2:00pm School Choice Fair at St. Paul Rivercentre

Monday, December 16

• Fun Hair/Hat Day
• 5th Grade Luncheon Concerts (10:40am, 11:25am, 12:10pm)
• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)
• 5:30-8:00pm Virtual Karen Parent Advisory Council
• 6:30-8:00pm Virtual American Indian Advisory Meeting

Tuesday, December 17

• Wear Your Grade Level Color Day
• 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprouts Spanish

Wednesday, December 18

• Sports Day- Wear your favorite team gear
• 8:15am Tour for Prospective Families
• 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL)
• 5:00-8:00pm Somali Parent Advisory Council at 360 Colborne
• 5:30-8:00pm Virtual Hmong Parent Advisory Council

Thursday, December 19

• Dress Up/Fancy Day
• 8:30-10:15am 1st Grade Starbooks Cafe in Holleran Hall
• 9:00am-12:00pm Gr 4-5 Park Square Theatre Field Trip
• 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprouts Spanish
• 2:00-3:15 Community Education Classes
• 2:30pm Leadership Team in Rm 2104

Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3

• No School- Winter Break

The Yearbook needs your photos! The yearbook wants to see all those smiling faces and include them in the yearbook for all to enjoy. Don't wait until the spring to send in photos of your kids and their Horace Mann friends, send them as you take them! Email all photos to yearbook@hms-pta.org. Please include your child's grade and teacher in the subject line.

President: Grace Hanson, president@hms-pta.org

Vice-President: Gina Corradi, president@hms.-pta.org

Treasurer: Alex Stuart & Sam Smith, treasurer@hms-pta.org

Teacher Reps: Amy Kortuem & Mark Lindskoog, teacher-rep@hms-pta.org

Communications: Lisa Ortmann, communications@hms-pta.org

Volunteer Coordinator: Christine Holloway, volunteer.coordinator@hms-pta.org

Recorders: Andrea Gleckner & Sarah Liuzzi, recorder@hms-pta.org

Check the HMS PTA website for the most up to date information about meetings, latest forms, announcements, contact information, volunteer opportunities and more. Click on the “Treasurer’s report and Budget” to see this year’s budget. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please email web-admin@hms-pta.org.

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is not sponsoring, endorsing, or recommending the activities/events announced in the PTA Section and no SPPS student will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Perspectives Submission Deadline: Thursdays by 8:00am

Email: jim.litwin@spps.org
Website: https://mann.spps.org/
Location: 2001 Eleanor Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116

Phone: 651-293-8965
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPPSHoraceMannSchool/