Cheetah Family Newsletter-Week 19
January 19, 2025
Dear Cheetah families,
Last week students from Ms. Flatten, Mrs. Bernard, Mrs. Otto, Mr. Matuzak, Mrs. Bangert, Mrs. Hitichens, and Mrs. Erickson started another residency through Now. Make. Art. As part of their residency, artists will work with each class individually to create a Clay City. Students will have the opportunity to brainstorm, plan, and create this collaborative art piece with their classmates. The completed Clay City will be on display during the Winter Hibernation event in February.
Eye Vision Screening will take place on Friday, February 7th. Please review this letter and contact our school nurse Carol DiFrancesco if you have any questions regarding this screening.
Reminders:
- Bus Delays Due to Snow or Ice: When roads are icy or snowy, please be prepared for potential bus delays. For real-time updates, you can check our Bus Status Page. Alternatively, you can call our Transportation Department at 651-696-9600 or our Main Office at 651-293-8790 for more information. To help us manage inquiries efficiently, we kindly ask that you wait until the bus is at least 10 minutes late before calling. Thank you for your understanding and patience!
- Review the guidance for a possible non-instructional day or e-learning day by clicking on the Winter Weather Guidance
- Warm Clothing for Outdoor Recess: We provide recess every day for our students and hold it outdoors unless the weather reaches extreme conditions. On colder days, please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately with jackets, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats. To avoid any confusion in case items get misplaced, kindly label each piece of clothing with your child’s name. Thank you for helping us keep your child comfortable and safe during outdoor recess!
We are in the season of respiratory illness: asthma exacerbations, colds, COVID, influenza, even whooping cough. Remember to keep your and your children's vaccinations up to date and help them practice good health habits:
Drinking plenty of water
Getting enough rest
Washing hands
Masking when at risk or sick
Following asthma action plans
Remember, please keep your student home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or an unexplained rash. Call 651-293-8790 to let us know.
- The City of Saint Paul is providing swimming lessons! They are offered for free on a first-come, first-served basis for youth who live in Saint Paul. Visit stpaul.gov/swimminglessons to see available lessons.
- Project REACH Coat & Blanket Drive: Project REACH is accepting new coats and blankets this year to help keep our children experiencing homelessness warm all winter. Items are accepted Nov. 13-Jan. 21.
- I encourage you to bookmark the Cheetah Family Calendar where you can see upcoming events, conferences, concerts, Como Rec Center events, and more.
- I invite you to preview the announced School Calendar for the 2025-26 school year
- Use this link to donate to Arts and Music Residencies.
- Summer Learning Program (SLP) is tentatively scheduled to run for five weeks with 23 student-contact days. Tuesday, June 24 - Friday, July 25 (no programming 7/4). More information about locations and enrollment will be shared by March, 2025.
Looking for Winter Resources?:
- Non school day programming
- St. Paul Parks and Recreation No School Day Programming
SPPS Discovery Club Open to all families on a first come basis registration.
Community Winter Events
Resources for the whole family
Wellstone Center (179 Robie St. E St. Paul, MN 55107) for winter gear and basic needs such as food self
Bus Discipline Procedure
Riding a bus is a privilege. Please make sure you review the Bus Discipline Procedure with your students at home.
Criminal Background Checks
If you are planning on volunteering in the school or attend a field trip please connect with our clerk, Sue King at sue.king@spps.org to submit your application.
Son de Cuerdas Concert
To all the families who attended the concert. We appreciate your support and participation.
Hallelujah and Ari
1. Mark your calendar for the following MPR Concerts.
Below are the dates and names of the other artists coming to visit Chelsea Heights:
03/14/2025 - Alma Brasileira
05/09/2025 - Steam Machine
Class Notes brings free concerts to Chelsea Heights parents and students. Artists feature an exciting mix of musical styles and instruments. Concerts come with supporting materials that teachers implement in the classroom to enrich and enhance the concert experience.
2. Chelsea Heights BIPOC Family Support Group
Thursday, February 13th
6:30-7:30 pm
Join with Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/qtt-wtgf-exo
Questions? Please E-mail Roxy our PTO Vice President at Chelseaheightspto@gmail.com or follow our Facebook page: Chelsea Heights Elementary - Family Connection for more information.
3. School Attendance Matters
Please try to schedule doctor appointments and family trips at a different time whenever possible.
4. Gender and Sexual Diversity Parent Advisory Council
SPPS goal is to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment that fosters positive self-esteem, respect for others, and academic success for all gender expansive folks, namely our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, two-spirit, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) students, families, and staff members.
5. Every Meal
Through Every Meal's Weekend Meal Program, we are able to offer free weekend food bags to students and their families. The food bags are available to all families without cost, and the process is simple, confidential and there are no qualifications to enroll.
Families can choose from one of five culturally and situationally relevant meal bag options to receive once a week in order to fill the weekend food gap students face when they are not in school.
6. Chelsea Heights Family Directory Sign-Up
Inclusion in the directory is completely voluntary. You are welcome to submit only the information you are comfortable sharing. The directory will be organized by grade level, so your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade level(s) will be important information for inclusion in the directory.
The directory will be made available to the Chelsea Heights community via a link in the PTO newsletter.
7. Yearbook
If you are able and would like to donate to the PTO to help cover the costs please send cash or check in envelope labeled "PTO"
Checks can be made payable to: Chelsea Heights Elementary School PTO
8. Spirit Wear
Spirit Wear available here.
Show your school spirit all summer with a Chelsea Spirit Wear sweatshirt, available in adult sizes S-2XL. (This is Minnesota...we need sweatshirts all year round.)
You can place your order here and make arrangements to have it sent home with your student.
9. SPPS Family Calendar
Please use the SPPS Family Calendar when looking for the days off for elementary students, upcoming breaks, and more.
- January 20: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 27: No School - Professional Development Day
- February 17: No School - Presidents Day
- March 7: No School - Conference Prep Day
- March 31 - April 4: No School - Spring Break
10. Community Education - Winter Catalog
Preview the Winter Catalog!
The Winter 2025 Community Ed Catalog is now online and ready for you to snowball into new skills.
Take a sneak peek now and get ready—registration opens on December 5th. Don't let these cool classes pass you by!
REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES OPENS DECEMBER 5TH AT 9:00AM
Preview The Catalog Here
Contact information
Email: Guillermo.maldonadoperez@spps.org
Website: https://chelsea.spps.org/
Office: 651-293-8790