Virtual Academy K-5 Newsletter

With winter weather upon us, it's a great time for District 191 families to make sure their contact information is up-to-date. Families can access their ParentVUE account to see if their information is accurate. Or, they can call their student's school to update their information.

Remember that on the first "snow day" or when school is canceled unexpectedly, there will be no regular classes for all District 191 students, including students enrolled in One91 Virtual Academy, and programs will be canceled.

After the first snow day, snow days (buildings and programs closed) will be Remote Learning days for students.

To learn about District 191's winter weather guidelines and how we communicate to families when weather affects the school day, visit our Winter Weather Guidelines page! https://www.isd191.org/families/winter-weather

ParentSquare Overview

District 191 uses ParentSquare for school and district communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. Teachers at middle and high schools may also be using ParentSquare for direct messages to families.

ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number.

We encourage parents to access their ParentSquare accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified. Parents are not required to download the app to view messages from the school district. However, downloading the app makes it easier to receive and respond to messages.

Learn more at www.isd191.org/quick-links/parentsquare.

ParentSquare Tip: Make messaging easier with the app

The ParentSquare app is available in both iOS or Android stores. Downloading the mobile app is the easiest way to receive messages from your child’s school, including Posts, Direct Messages, Events, Sign Up Requests, Photos and Files.

• iOS App - Apple Store

• Android App - Google Play Store

• Parent Self-Paced Training Module - designed to take 15 minutes and covers the things you need to know about using ParentSquare as a parent or guardian!

Learn more at www.isd191.org/quick-links/parentsquare.

ParentSquare Tip: How to Activate Your Account

Your child(ren)'s school has your email and/or phone number in their records and they will initiate the setup process with you. At the beginning of the year, all parents were sent an invitation email. If you haven’t registered yet or didn’t receive an invitation email, please send an email to communications@isd191.org.

To register after receiving the invitation:

1. From your email, click the button, Activate your account.

2. Or, from your text message, click the Register link.

3. Register by entering your Email or Phone Number, then click Get Started.

From the app:

ParentSquare makes it easy to register for ParentSquare from the app. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the ParentSquare App.

2. Enter your email or cell phone number.

3. Tap Continue (Note: If your email or phone number is not recognized by ParentSquare, you can "Request Access" or call your school office and ask them to update your contact information.)

4. Create your password and confirm your password.

5. Enter your registration code sent by Email or Text and tap Verify. (Note: If your registration link has expired, a new one will need to be sent to you. Please contact your school's admin and ask for a new link to be sent to you.)

Parents are not required to set up an account In ParenSquare to receive messages from their school and the district. However, using a ParentSquare account helps keep parents up-to-date and informed about what’s happening at their child’s school.

Learn more at www.isd191.org/quick-links/parentsquare.

ParentSquare Tip: Change Your Language Setting

Did you know that you can change your language setting so that you will receive Posts, Messages and Alerts in your preferred language.

1. Log in to your ParentSquare account, click your name at the top-right and select My Account.

2. On the left, select Language Settings.

3. Click the drop-down menu and select your language and click Save.

Learn more at www.isd191.org/quick-links/parentsquare.

ParentSquare Tip: Change Your Notification Settings for Posts

Parents can customize the way they are notified about new Posts, Alerts and Messages based on type and delivery method.

To change your notification settings, log in to your ParentSquare account. Click on your name in the top right corner and select “My Account.” Then select “Notification Settings” from the menu on the left side.

• The Instant setting will send all Post notifications in real-time.

• The Digest setting will send all Posts for the day in one single digest at the end of the day.

You can also choose whether or not to receive notifications through text or email or both. Posts sent as immediate, as well as direct Messages and Alerts, will still be delivered instantly.

Learn more at www.isd191.org/quick-links/parentsquare.

ParentSquare Tip: Submit an Attendance Note

Parents and Guardians can view Attendance Notices on their app or web site and can submit notes back to the school.

1. Click Send Note to School when logged in to your ParentSquare account or in the email or text notification you received.

2. Enter the reason for the absence and click Submit.

3. The note will be sent immediately to the school's attendance office.

Learn more at www.isd191.org/quick-links/parentsquare.

You've got mail! The latest edition of the Wayfinder has landed in One91 mailboxes. The magazine is chock-full of Pathways stories. The fall/winter issue takes a look at:

• What it means to be a Pathways district
• How makerspaces are sparking imagination, creativity and problem solving skills for elementary learners
• How hands-on learning is fueling exploration at the middle school level
• How students are blazing their own unique trails at Burnsville High School

We hope you enjoy reading about all the amazing things happening in One91! You can also check out the latest Wayfinder on our website.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup = 3 Tbsp butter, softened

3/4 cup = 2 Tbsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups = 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp = 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl beat the 1/2 cup butter with a mixer on medium to high 30 seconds. Add the 3/4 cup granulated sugar, baking soda and cream of tartar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in the 1 1/2 cups flour. If necessary, chill dough until easy to handle, 30 minutes.

2. For filling, in a medium bowl combine the 3 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp flour, brown sugar, 1 Tbsp cinnamon and 1/8 tsp. salt. Spoon mixture onto a waxed paper-lined plate and pat into a 4x2 inch rectangle. Cut rectangle into 15 equal pieces and roll into balls. Freeze until just firm, 10 minutes.

3. In a shallow dish stir together 2 Tbsp granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Shape the cookie dough into 15 1 1/2 inch balls (about 2 Tbsp each). Flatten each ball to form a 2-2 1/2 inch circle. Place ball of filling in the center of each. Wrap dough completely around filling and roll into balls again. Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Chill dough balls 30 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake until edges are set and bottoms are light brown, 10-11 minutes. Cool on cookie sheets 3 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool. Makes 15 cookies.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.

If you have a 3- or 4-year-old at home, it's time to set up an early childhood screening

Screening is an early look at a child's development. Screening can provide peace of mind that your child is developing normally, and if needed, allows health and developmental concerns to be addressed at least one to two years before a child enters kindergarten.

Early childhood screening checks:

• Fine and gross motor skills

• Vision and hearing

• Speech and language development

• Height and weight

• Cognitive and social development

• Immunizations

The state of Minnesota requires health and developmental screening for every child before they start kindergarten. Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 offers this service at no cost. Schedule your screening today.

Literacy, which includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening, is a foundational skill for students because it is the basis for all other learning. When children learn to read, they gain the ability to access information, understand instructions, and explore new ideas.

"What I love about our efforts here in 191 is a true approach with all hands on deck," said Literacy Specialist Katie Ness. "Literacy isn't just reading words, it's understanding your world and when you can understand your world you can participate in all the world has to offer."

"Our District and our teachers have a really strong commitment to students and their literacy skills. They want to know each individual student as a person, they want to know their skills and how they can help those skills develop and so I think that's the core of what we do every day," Sky Oaks Elementary Principal Renee Brandner said.

Watch this video to learn how One91 is ahead of the curve when it comes to implementing innovative literacy instruction and curriculum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka0zksKVgYg

Cultural Proficiency is one of our district's core values. We embrace diversity, remove barriers, foster inclusion, and work to ensure every student feels valued, seen, and supported. Watch this video to learn more about what we're doing to implement culturally proficient practices in our schools.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z2XtS3DLao

When your Chrome device is no longer working correctly and you have worked through troubleshooting items like clearing cache, signing out of your device, and performing a restart, performing a PowerWash may help.

A Powerwash will remove anything that is not the Chrome Operating System. NOTE: All information stored locally on the device will be erased. This will not affect information stored in the Google Cloud applications.

When beginning this process, you may see the option to select “Restart”. Please continue by selecting the “Restart” button and the next screen will prompt you to select “PowerWash”.

1. Press CTRL + ALT + Shift + r keys simultaneously

2. Select Powerwash

3. Confirm Powerwash - press Continue

4. Select Let’s Go at the welcome screen

5. Connect to your available network

6. Accept and Continue to Google terms of service

7. Select Done at the “Enterprise enrollment complete” window

8. Sign in to your Chromebook.

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Class Acts 2025: “The Wonderful World of Class Acts”

January

16 Gym day at Vista View 10-12

16 End of Semester 1

17 NO SCHOOL

20 NO SCHOOL

21 Semester 2 starts

24 Report cards mailed home

24 Family Fun Night at DEC 5-8

Need Chromebook help? You can contact Technical Support by submitting an online request

HERE

or by phone 952-707-2758.

One91 Virtual Academy is a school in District 191 with 100 percent online instruction. Curriculum is designed and taught by District 191 staff.

Email: 191va-elementary@isd191.org
Website: https://virtualacademy.isd191.org
Location: 13109 County Road 5, Burnsville, MN, USA
Phone: (952)707-2900

Attendance line: (952)707-2904

Main number: (952)707-2900

Technology support: (952)707-2758