Alice Smith Weekly Connections

Dear Alice Smith Families,

SAVE THE DATE!!!! Our Winter School dance is coming SOON!!!

Friday, Jan. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Don't Forget to Check out:

• Vision Screening @ Smith Recap!
• Staff Highlight of the Week - Anne From (Pre-School Teacher)
• YOUTH Enrichment Classes - CHECK THEM OUT!!
• DO you know we have a Spanish class on Thursdays after school for our Kids FREE of Charge? Check this and other Youth Enrichment classes in the section below!

Thank YOU for your continued partnership and collaboration. If you have any questions please email or call me and I would love to connect and make sure you and your family have everything you need to continue making this year a complete success!

Don't forget to check out our Facebook Page and our Photo Gallery Below!

Principal Navidad

Direct Line: 952-988-4201

Email: eduardo.navidad@hopkinsschools.org

School Hours

Alice Smith will start at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:20 p.m.

Follow Alice Smith on Social Media

Twitter: @AliceSmith270 and @NavidadASE

Facebook: @AliceSmithElementarySchool

Alice Smith Weather Station

A huge thank you to our friends at Lion Club. This fantastic organization provided free vision screening for all scholars at Alice Smith last week.

CHECK THESE STATS OUT:

• Total number of screens: 359
• Total referrals: 71

FOLLOW-UP CARE:

If follow-up eye care is recommended, a print-out of the results was provided to your child (sent home on Friday). If no visual condition is detected, no follow-up information was sent home.

An additional screening date will be scheduled in late Feb/early March for those who were absent. If you need additional information, please contact the health office at 952-988-4213.

4th grade students were captivated by the Physics Force on Tuesday at the beautiful Norththrop Auditorium on the U of M campus! The show included demonstrations and experiments using only the laws of physics!

Mark Your Calendar

01/14 - PTO Meeting, 6pm-7:30pm at Alice Smith

01/20 - Martin Luther King, Jr Day - No School

01/24 - Grading Day - No School

01/31 - School Dance - 6pm-8pm

Meet Mrs. Anne From, Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Anne has been a dedicated preschool teacher for 22 years, with the last 11 years spent at Alice Smith Elementary. Her journey into early childhood education began at Madison, where she discovered her passion for working with young children during her student teaching. She loves the opportunity to build a strong foundation for her students, focusing on social-emotional learning, literacy, numeracy, and overall development. "I love that we get to build the foundation for what comes next. We do a lot of social-emotional learning, how to play, and what it looks like to be in a classroom," she says.

Working with three and four-year-olds brings Mrs. Anne immense joy. She cherishes the million hugs she receives daily, the amusing things children say, and their incredible drawings. "Kids are amazing. They come to school wanting to be loved, filled up, and have fun, and I get to do those things with them," she shares. One of her joys is from her parents sharing the many positive changes they see in their children after attending her class. "One of the great things is hearing from parents that they see changes in their children after they come to school with us," she adds. Partnering with parents and witnessing the growth and learning of her students is a rewarding experience for her.

Mrs. Anne loves the community at Alice Smith Elementary. She enjoys building long-term relationships with families and students, some of whom she has known since they were in preschool and are now in fifth grade. She feels honored to be a trusted teacher and a good partner to parents. "I love building relationships with families and that I feel like I'm a trusted teacher and a good partner to the parents," she says.

At home, Mrs. Anne is a loving wife and mother. She has been married for over 15 years and has a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old. Her family also includes a dog, adding to the fun and excitement. Balancing her role as a mother to a tween and a teenager with her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. From finds her happy place reading by the fireplace, drinking tea, cooking, and listening to shows..

Mrs. Anne is excited about the new additions to the preschool playground, including a Playhouse, and the future addition of a xylophone, and an outdoor art easel, thanks to the HEF grant. She envisions an ideal preschool program where learning happens naturally through children's observations and questions. "Taking kids' curiosities and going with it is one of the greatest gifts because it's just natural learning," she explains. She values the flexibility to build on children's intrinsic curiosity and turn their interests into learning opportunities.

A Day in Mrs. Anne's Classroom

A typical day in Mrs. Anne's classroom starts with greeting the children and having breakfast together. The day includes journal time, free play, group activities, outdoor play, and storytime. Mrs. Anne emphasizes the importance of learning through play, where children can explore letters, numbers, colors, and shapes in a natural and engaging way.

What Students and Staff Say About Mrs. Anne

Students:

• "Mrs. Anne is the best! She always makes learning fun and gives us lots of hugs."
• "I love drawing pictures for Mrs. Anne because she always puts them up in the classroom."
• "She helps us learn how to be good friends and play nicely with each other."
• "Mrs. Anne makes every day exciting. I love coming to school because of her."
• "She always listens to us and makes us feel special."
• "Mrs. Anne's class is the best part of my day. I love all the fun activities we do."

Staff:

• "Anne is an incredible teacher who truly cares about each of her students. Her dedication to their growth and development is inspiring."
• "Working with Anne is a joy. She brings so much positivity and energy to our school community."
• "Mrs. Anne has a unique ability to connect with her students and make them feel valued and loved. She is a wonderful colleague and friend."

Mrs. Anne's dedication, passion, and love for her students make her an incredible member of our Alice Smith Elementary family. Her ability to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment has left a lasting impact on countless young hearts and minds. We are incredibly grateful for her gifts and the positive influence she has on our students and families.

Thank you, Mrs. Anne, for being the heart and soul of our preschool program and for making a difference every single day.

You truly embody the spirit of Alice Smith Elementary, and we are honored to celebrate you as our Staff Highlight of the Week.

We start off every Friday with a PAW ticket drawing. Scholars earn PAW tickets throughout the week for being Respectful, Responsible, & Ready to Learn. On Fridays, Mr. Navidad draws 12 tickets randomly during morning announcements and if your name is on that ticket, you are rewarded with a prize. Congratulations to this week's drawing winners!

Youth enrichment classes will inspire students to challenge themselves, gain confidence, build relationships, develop their interests, and discover their passions.

Hopkins Community Education Youth Programs offers a wide variety of out-of-school time enrichment classes and athletic activities that will expand your child's learning experiences and provide opportunities to build social relationships with caring adults and other students.

Community Education offers classes for preschool-age children (Hop-Kids classes), as well as for elementary, middle, and high school students. Students can explore art, sports, cooking, pottery, chess, dance, fitness, drama, STEM, and more in a safe and supportive environment.

Browse available classes and register online!

School dance: Friday, Jan. 31, 6-8 p.m.
Give your student an opportunity to get those winter wiggles out and enjoy an evening with their friends! Join other Alice Smith families for our school dance! Students can move and groove to music from a DJ while enjoying the company of their pals. Note: This is not a drop-off event. Students must be chaperoned by their parents.

Please make sure your child is dressed up in layers or with appropriate winter clothing.

We go outside even when it is "COLD!"

Our District policy for Indoor Recess is when the Outside Temperature is at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit OR a wind chill of -10 degrees or colder.

*Parents, please understand that we cannot keep kids inside the classroom when they don't want to go outside. Our homeroom teachers are the ones supervising recess and scholars cannot be left behind.

**Parents, if you are requesting for your child to stay inside, we do need a doctor's note to accompany that request.

*** IF you need winter gear, please reach out to Mrs. Lutz @ kristin.lutz@hopkinsschools.org

Our Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.

What are your hopes and dreams for our school? Our February meeting will provide an opportunity to share with Principal Navidad what you value most as our 2025-2026 school budget is developed. Your voice and feedback are important! (If you missed the January meeting, you can access the minutes here.) Also, sign up for our PTO newsletter!

Did you know that you can earn money for our school just by uploading your receipt to an app when you buy certain products at the grocery store? Look for items with the Box Tops for Education label, and when you purchase them, scan your receipt in the free Box Tops app. Alice Smith will get 10 cents for every product. This is a great (and easy) way to support our school! Learn more and get the app

Big thank you to all who got dinner from Noodles & Company on Jan. 8. The restaurant gave 25% of sales to Alice Smith, which resulted in $235 for our school! Those funds will be used for field trips, teacher supplies, enrichment activities, and more. Stay tuned for more information on a similar opportunity at Blaze Pizza in April!

Canvas is our district-wide learning management system used in grades E-12. It’s the main platform for all secondary courses.

Families, did you know you can access Canvas to stay up-to-date on your student’s learning and progress? Join our district Technology Integration Specialists for an informational session to learn more about how Canvas works, including:

• Setting Up Your Parent/Caregiver Account: Get support setting up your Canvas Parent account and pairing it with your scholar’s account.

• Viewing Assignments and Grades: Stay updated about what your scholar is working on and how they are performing.

• Communicating with Teachers: Easily reach out to educators for any questions or concerns.

• Accessing Learning Resources: Find helpful materials to support your scholar’s learning journey.

• Q & A: Get all your Canvas-related questions answered.

Can’t make the session? Access these video tutorials to learn about creating and pairing your Canvas Parent account:

• English Canvas Tutorial Videos

• Vídeos tutoriales de español

• Hmoob Canvas Tutorial Videos

• обучающие видео по русскому язык

• Muuqaalo casharo Somali ah

The Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) will be fundraising for a new special project, Outdoor Opportunities, at the Royal Bash gala on March 1 at the Metropolitan Ballroom. Each year, HEF partners with Hopkins Public Schools on a project that will have a districtwide impact. This year’s project will inspire Hopkins students to develop outdoor and leadership skills, build community, and experience joy and connection to the natural world with activities like camping, hiking, canoeing, and more. Funds raised at the Royal Bash will make the class trips listed below possible for students in the District, help the outdoor program acquire more gear, and create an Outdoor Opportunities Fund for scholarships for future trips. We hope this project will create new outdoor traditions for years to come.

• Elementary: Fifth grade day trip to YMCA Camp Ihduhapi

• Middle School: Eighth grade day trip to YMCA Camp Ihduhapi

• High School: Camping trip for up to 120 students

• Outdoor Gear: Expand the High School inventory of camping, hiking, and outdoor gear, to help make it possible for all kids to have outdoor learning experiences, regardless of income.

• Outdoor Opportunities Fund: Any additional funds raised will be placed in a scholarship fund to make future outdoor trips accessible to our low income families.

Tickets for the Royal Bash are on sale now. Join with parents, teachers, district leaders and community members to celebrate and support at the Royal Bash. Tickets and info at HopkinsEducationFoundation.org.

Is your child a member of a Hopkins Student Club? Do they have BIG ideas? HEF has money for Student Clubs! The Awesome Fund provides grants up to $1,000 to existing (or new) Student Clubs to help them fund projects. More information at https://www.hopkinseducationfoundation.org/awesome-fund. Apply today!

This month is all about Perseverance. One way to think about Perseverance is “pushing yourself through challenges and obstacles.” We all experience challenges in our lives. We all have moments when we feel like we can’t do it or that we want to give up on a big task. It is important to develop tools that help us work through those challenges in order to grow in those moments instead of giving up. Perseverance is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

• Kinder Family Letter (Eng)
• Kinder Family Letter (Spa)
• 1st Gr Family Letter (Eng)
• 1st Gr Family Letter (Spa)
• 2nd Gr Family Letter (Eng)
• 2nd Gr Family Letter (Spa)
• 3rd Gr Family Letter (Eng)
• 3rd Gr Family Letter (Spa)
• 4th Gr Family Letter (Eng)
• 5th Gr Family Letter (Eng)

Super Saturday! NAMI Minnesota is holding a virtual half-day conference, free on Saturday, February 8, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm! We are focused on different routes to mental health because we know parents' and caregivers' journeys and destinations are not always the same. Road trips to safety and resources: • Question, Persuade, Refer (provides 1 CEU upon completion) • Mental Health Crisis Planning • Families as Partners • Advocating for Children in Legislation • Mock Parent Support Group Registration closes on February 7 at 3:30 pm. Please register before then. Once registered, you will receive the links to join each session on zoom in your order confirmation. Video recordings will be available for Educational Sessions after the event. Register here

NAMI workshop: Helping Kids Cope: Tips for Supporting Good Family Mental Health

This is a one-hour class that talks about the developmental responses youth may have. We will discuss 5 mental health tips for families and resources in the community. · Wednesday, January 15, 2025: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Register here. · Tuesday, February 4, 2025: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Register here. · Wednesday, February 5, 2025: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Register here. · Thursday, February 27, 2025: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Register here.

PACER: School Avoidance in Youth with Mental Health Needs

This workshop will teach parents and others positive interventions to help youth who struggle with school avoidance. It will also cover anxiety, challenging behaviors, and special education. Wednesday, January 15, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here with PACER.

Stanford Medical: Parenting a Youth Who is Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts

Description: This webinar will provide parents with important information about the characteristics of suicide among youth such as rates, risk and protective factors, and common misconceptions. Parents will learn to recognize warning signs of suicide, and how to start a conversation/ask youth about suicide. Finally, we will explore strategies that parents can use to effectively facilitate safety and reduce the risk of suicide in their youth. The webinar will include a live Q&A session.

When: Wednesday, January 15, 3:00-4:00 pm CST *Unable to attend, this will be recorded. Registration Link: https://stanford.zoom.us/.../WN_9kdYezYsS7O4W7TwQO8WwA

Teen & Young Adult (T&YA) Helpline

To help with this mental health crisis, NAMI National has officially launched the new Teen & Young Adult (T&YA) HelpLine. This free peer-support service provides information, resource referrals, and support to connect with peers who understand their struggles and offer them resources and information that help. They are well-trained and available by phone, text, or chat Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Call 1-800-950-6264, text "Friend" to 62640, or chat at nami.org/help if you or someone you know feels sad, anxious, lonely, angry, has trouble sleeping, is going through a difficult time, feels "off," or has questions about mental health. Consider encouraging your teen to add this into their phone contacts.

We have exciting news! Alice Smith Elementary School has been selected again to participate in the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP) for the 2024-2025 school year.

The main goal of the FFVP is to increase the fruit & vegetable consumption of elementary school children. In addition to providing fresh fruits & vegetables, another goal of this program is to provide nutrition education to the children.

Kumquats

• Kumquats are small fruits, averaging 2 to 5 centimeters in length, and have an oval, round to oblong shape.

• The entire fruit is edible, including the peel, flesh, and seeds.

• The fruit’s peel is sweet, subtly floral, and fruity, balancing the tart, sour taste of the flesh, creating an intense sweet-tart combination with a zesty, citrus zing.

Health Benefits

• Kumquats are an excellent source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation.

• The fruits also contain manganese, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, calcium to protect bones and teeth, and provide lower amounts of iron, zinc, potassium, vitamin E, and copper.

• Inside the sweet peel, essential oils such as limonene and flavonoids offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Herbalists in Asia also use Kumquats as a remedy for symptoms of colds and flu. The fruits are traditionally smashed, mixed with ginger, salt, and honey, and steeped as a soothing tea.

Learn more about Kumquats.

Sea Beans

• Sea beans have a crunchy, succulent texture that is quite similar to that of green beans, sugar snap peas, and asparagus. Because they grow in seawater, they also provide a satisfying, salty bite — no additional salt or seasoning is required when cooking with them.

• Sea beans go well with starchy vegetables like potatoes, and are excellent with rice, quinoa, couscous and pasta.

• The plants have been growing wild since ancient times and thrive along beaches, salt marshes, mangroves, estuaries, and intertidal zones.

• Sea beans are also known as Sea Asparagus, Samphire, Glasswort, Pickleweed, Marsh Samphire, Saltwort, Sea Pickle, Crow's Foot Greens, Salt Daddies, and Beach Asparagus.

• Sea Beans are vital to saltwater and brackish ecosystems as they absorb excess salt, balancing their surrounding environment for the survival of other animal and plant species.

Nutritional Benefits

• Sea Beans are a source of protein to develop muscle, calcium to build bones and teeth, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, and potassium to balance fluid levels within the body.

• A serving of sea beans provides more iron than kale, more magnesium than avocados, more fiber than bananas, and even provides a valuable source of vegan omega 3.

Learn more about Sea Beans

The digital backpack is an area where you can find documents with updates and information on school related events and topics.

Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/alice-smith-elementary
Location: 801 Minnetonka Mills Road, Hopkins, MN 55343, USA
Phone: (952) 988-4200
Facebook: facebook.com/AliceSmithElementarySchool
Twitter: @AliceSmith270