Capitol Hill Headliner

Monday, December 9: Math Team Meet 4, 4:15-6:15pm @ SPA Upper School

Monday, December 9: Wrestling Meet, 4:30 @ Hidden River Middle School

Monday, December 9: Girls Basketball vs Highland Park Middle School, 4:30 @ Capitol Hill

Thursday, December 12: Middle School Band Concert, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday, December 17: 2nd Grade Winter Wonderland 10am-noom

Tuesday, December 17: 5th Grade Band and Middle School Orchestra Concert, 6-8:30pm

Thursday, December 19: Wrestling Meet, 4:30 @ Murray Middle School

Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3: NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

Monday, January 6: Girls Basketball, 4:30 vs Washington Middle School @ Washington Middle School

Tuesday, January 7: 1st Grade Schwab and VandenHeuvel to Belwin, 9:45am-2:45pm

Wednesday, January 8: 1st Grade Brzinski to Belwin, 9:45am-2:45pm

Thursday, January 9: Wrestling Meet, 4:30pm @ Capitol Hill

Saturday, January 11: Wrestling Meet, 9:00am @ Highland Park High School

Monday, January 13: Girls Basketball, 4:30 vs Global Arts @ Global Arts

Capitol Hill: WE DID SO MUCH GOOD, TOGETHER! Thank you to everyone that joined us for our annual community service fair. Together we…

• Painted an awesome community mural on the wall at the top of the green stairs in our school (check it out next time you’re in the building!)

• Packed 154 snack packs and made 154 kindness notes for Loaves & Fishes

• Packed 80 craft kits for children who are hospitalized at Masonic Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Mpls/St. Paul

• Packed 100 hygiene kits for Avivo and Union Gospel Mission

• Learned about food insecurity from Every Meal

• Learned about native grasses and root systems from Friends of the Mississippi River

• Made 65 fidgets for mental health

• Learned about and visited with rescue dogs from Secondhand Hounds

• Learned about and visited with service dogs from Helping Paws

• Learned about and visited with reptiles from Remarkable Reptiles

• Made 97 fleece toys for The Bond Between

• Made 40 thank you cards for staff at our school

• Made 90 toys for rescue birds at MAARS

We also collected SO MUCH food for Hallie Q. Brown Community Center!!! The kindness and generosity of our community is an amazing thing to witness.

Special thanks to all of our amazing volunteers and school staff - we absolutely could not have done this without you!

• Janna Garramone, Stephanie Lein Walseth and Madeline, Tim Feyma, and Sarah Berman-Young (food servers)

• Liz Collier, Dionne Reinhart, Ann Linde, and Sarah Wilmer (greeters)

• Stacie Sinclair and the last minute crew that showed up to help pack food (snack packs and kindness notes for Loaves and Fishes)

• Rin Garramone and Aditya Bhargava (thank you cards for staff)

• Meg Bredeson and Madeline Gragg (fleece dog toys)

• Beth Scudder and Melina Hoehn (fidgets)

• Madeline Strom, Ms. Ballard, Jay Amundson, and the crew from MAARS (bird toys)

• Jeremy Page and John Riederer (craft kits)

• Jeanie Swenson and Suzanne Joy (child hygiene kits)

• Tim Leier, Libby O'Connoll, Allison Burnett, and Scout Pack #9561 (general event assistance, energy efficient night light distribution, and reflection station)

• Ms. Letellier, and WEB students (community mural painting and an appearance from Cougie)

• Der Thao, Sunny Neiger, and Pa Kou Yang (school level support for all the things)

• Clem McKay (providing security for the evening)

• David Odeen and the custodial team (set-up, clean-up, and other logistical support)

• Principal Freeman (support for this event every year)

• All of the parents and students that showed up on event night and volunteered to help lead activities

• Helping Paws

• The Bond Between

• Every Meal

• Loaves & Fishes

• Friends of the Mississippi River

• Xcel Energy (night light distribution)

• Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS)

• Jim Gerholdt with Remarkable Reptiles

• Doing Good Together (the non-profit organization)

• Martha Au-Yeung (scavenger hunt)

• Dr. Fried and our quartet of student musicians (providing music for the event)

• Event planning team: Abby Heuckendorf, Anne Harris, Carrie Au-Yeung, Jill Miller

See you next year!

The Doing Good Together Team: Abby, Anne, Carrie, and Jill

Thank you to all who have donated so far this year!

We have raised $11,400, which is far short of our $55,000 goal.

Unless we raise the remaining $43,600 by mid-January, we will need to make mid-year budget cuts.

We raise our entire PTO budget annually with two major drives - Direct Drive (includes Give To The Max) and Cougar Read-A-Thon. It is important to note that we deliberately increased our PTO fundraising goal this year to be able to:

· Restore the budgets of teachers and staff that had to be reduced last school year

· Eliminate barriers by making the Spring Carnival games and activities free

· Increase the amount of funding for Voice, Choice, and Joy Day.

Our 2024-25 PTO budget is available in our PTO Google Drive and is updated monthly.

There's still time to prevent cuts!

Give today through one of the following ways:

· GiveMN: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Capitol-Hill-Fund-Raising

· PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CapitolHillPTO

· Cash or check: drop off cash or check at Capitol Hill's front desk (make checks payable to "Capitol Hill PTO"

4th - 6th grade EDL ORCHESTRA!

Ms. Weltzien (Ms. W.) has worked with orchestras at Central and Murray and is now teaching EDL Orchestra at Capitol Hill. All 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students are welcome whether you are a beginner, advanced, in orchestra during the school day, or not. If interested, complete this Google Form or go to: bit.ly/EDL456Orch

Ms. Weltzien (Ms. W.) has worked with orchestras at Central and Murray and is now teaching EDL Orchestra at Capitol Hill. All 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students are welcome whether you are a beginner, advanced, in orchestra during the school day, or not. If interested, complete this Google Form or go to: bit.ly/EDL456Orch

Each week our elementary classrooms will highlight star students.

Our heath office is looking for donations of gloves and mittens to keep students warm during recess.

February is “I Love to Read” month and the 2025 Capitol Hill Cougar Read-A-Thon will be

February 3rd – 17th

Start looking for Family Packets in your students’ backpacks beginning January 13 which will contain event details. However, you do not need to wait until January to start reaching out to family and friends for support of your reader and Capitol Hill. Perhaps your reader wants to plan which books they will have on hand in February or maybe they want to set a new minutes goal this year. Maybe your reader wants to tell extended family about Capitol Hill’s culture of reading. Whichever way your family wants to participate will contribute towards the school-wide minute total and maybe set a new record this year!

Winter is creeping up on us and that means it’s almost time to hit the slopes!

Whether you are a total pro or just starting out,

you are invited to sign up for The Capitol Hill Ski & Snowboard Club.

This year the Ski Club will have an option of 3 to 5 visits to Afton Alps after school on Fridays where kids can participate in Afton’s “Slope Days” program. In Slope Days, kids learn the basics of skiing or riding while gaining confidence, perseverance, endurance, and a true love for the outdoors!! Lessons are the first hour of the night with independent skiing to follow.

Details below.

• WHEN: Option of 3, 4 or 5 Fridays (12/20, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21)

• WHERE: Afton Alps Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGyPJdey7Dw6qQY36

• TIME: Bus departs Capitol Hill at 4:10PM arrives back at Capitol Hill at ~9:35/45PM Parents/caregivers expected to pick up their kids at Capitol Hill at 9:35/40PM

• COST OPTIONS:

• Option 1: All inclusive Slope Days Program (includes bus transport): $279 for 3 days, $257 for 4 days, $435 for 5 days. This program is inclusive of bus transportation, lessons, lift tickets and rental equipment for all nights.

• Option 2: Bus Only (assumes you have an Epic lift ticket/pass and your own equipment already): 3 days = $70, 4 days = $85, 5 days = $100. Note: have an Epic pass–which you can purchase now from Afton directly at this link. Note, pass prices go up Sunday, November 17.

• AGE REQ’S: Due to safety concerns with kids skiing on their own (and at a relatively large ski area), the club is geared towards independent middle schoolers in grades 6-8 as there will be minimal adult supervision other than a few chaperones in the Ski Chalet. Reach out to me if you have younger siblings or kids interested...we just want to make sure everyone is safe. :)

• HOW TO REGISTER:

• Step 1: Fill out a permission slip here. Return this slip with your bus payment to the front office OR send it in via email to anne.halvorson@gmail.com.

• Step 2: Pay.

• For OPTION 1 you will pay Afton directly for Ski Slope program and the PTO for the bus fee. To Register & pay for Slope Day via Afton directly here--it will give you the option of 3, 4 or 5 days. Then write out a check for bus transport (3 days = $70, 4 days = $85, 5 days = $100) and drop off in the front office with your permission slip.

• Important note re: Afton Instructions: After you check out you must enter our unique group code (AACHSC3FRI) into the “special conditions” field–this last part is very important so we can identify our club during registration.

• For OPTION 2 (bus only): Write out a check for bus transport (3 days = $70, 4 days = $85, 5 days = $100) and drop it off in the office. OR, you may pay via PayPal: (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CapitolHillPTO) with a note of "ski" or "ski club for [child's name]" in the "What's this for" field.
  
  

If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne Halvorson at anne.halvorson@gmail.com or text 503-593-4096.

Co-Ed Wrestling and Girl's Basketball began on Monday, November 11. Practices are held Monday-Thursday from 4 to 6pm. Parent pick up will be at the green doors at 6pm.

Boys Basketball will begin Monday, January 20, 2025.

An activity registration start- up guide for families is provided on the athletic website.

Athletes can still join! To register online: middle school athletic registration form document

District Athletic Website: SPORTS.SPPS.ORG

If you have questions, please email our athletic director, Ms. Bergstrom. nadine.bergstrom@spps.org

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to support Capitol Hill. Thank you to all parents and guardians who have already submitted the volunteer background checks paper form.

Due to a policy/procedure change, from our human resource department, there is a new volunteer background check process.

A volunteer background check electronic form must be complete before volunteering. It is now the responsibility of the staff members leading the event to send the volunteer background check link out to families. We recognize that the this change in the process and understand that this change came weeks after the paper forms were sent to families.

For those who have submitted the paper form you will need to submit an electronic form. Our HR department is no longer accepting paper forms. If you have turned in a paper form, we will shred it for you.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you,

Marcus

Capitol Hill is working on acquiring Title I status and we need your help! Being a Title I school would mean additional funding that could pay for multiple staff at our school next year. Attaining Title I status relies heavily on the Application for Educational Benefits (commonly known as the application for free and reduced price lunch). Every family MUST complete this form, even if you think you do not qualify for benefits, and even though meals are now free for all students. Why? These forms provide important data that determines both our compensatory and Title I funding for the following school year (2025-26). We are still missing forms from many families at our school! Forms can be completed online here or you can contact school for a paper form. Unsure if you filled the form out or not? Log into your School Cafe account and check! Only one person in the household needs to complete the form. The forms are due by December 15!

Additional information:

Income Guidelines for the Application for Educational Benefits from MDE

Questions? Reach out to school, or any of the following district staff:

Stacy Koppen, Director of Nutrition Services: stacy.koppen@spps.org

Lynn Broberg, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services: lynn.broberg@spps.org

Anne McInerney, Director of the Office of Federal Programs: anne.mcinerney@spps.org

The Capitol Hill visitor policy was made with the health and safety of students, staff and our Capitol Hill community in mind. Parents and guardians will need to make an appointment prior to meeting with a staff member at Capitol Hill. Also, families will no longer be able to walk their student(s) to their respective classes. Families can drop their scholar off at the main office and then the student will be able to walk to class by themselves. Lastly, families are more than welcome to come and pick their child up to have lunch, but families will not be able to eat lunch in the cafeteria with students.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment in keeping all of our students, staff and Capitol Hill community safe.

The Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet school policy about the use of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, mp3 players, headphones & earbuds, and personal gaming systems, is as follows:

1. ALL electronic devices that are brought to school are to be TURNED OFF & STORED in students’ backpacks or lockers from the time students arrive on campus until they are off campus after 4PM.

2. Cell phones and other non-district devices should not be used in classrooms (including the gymnasiums/locker rooms), the library, lunch room, restrooms, or hallways.

3. Students who violate this policy must turn over their electronics/equipment to staff upon request.

4. The following consequences are in place for students who are in violation of this policy.

1. 1st offense – Teacher and student will discuss and problem solve how to eliminate the distraction.

2. 2nd offense – Teacher will hold the item until the end of class.

3. 3rd offense – The phone will be held until the end of the day and an Administrator will call home.

4. 4th offense – Parent/Admin/Student Meeting to pick up the device.

Note: A Parent or Guardian may come to the school at any time to reclaim the confiscated item and take it home with them.

Why don’t we allow cell phones in class/lunch/bathrooms/halls during the school day?

1. We prioritize real human interaction. We believe that learning the skills of in-person communication and collaboration are much more important. Students are already good at using electronics -- they do not need social media practice or gaming practice at school. One of the most important skills our students will learn at Capitol Hill is how to get along and work well, face-to-face, with a variety of people.
   
   

2. Electronics are disruptive. Cell phones ringing and buzzing disrupt both the student and the class. We want students focused on the lesson, not who’s calling or texting them.
   
   

3. They cause drama. Students tend to say things online that they would never say out loud. We don’t need extra drama at school.
   
   

4. They get lost and stolen. Unfortunately, as wonderful as our Capitol Hill students are, phones are lost and stolen. While we try to help students problem-solve, the school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
   
   

Students don’t need them. Every student at Capitol Hill is given an iPad for academic use.

Office Hours: 9:00 - 4:30.

Morning Drop-off Time

We want to ensure each child is safe when arriving for school. Staff

supervision begins at 9:15am. Please do not drop off your child

any earlier than 9:15

Dismissal

Please send a note or email your child's teacher, if you are picking up your child early or letting your

child go home any other way than their normal route. For early pick up, we do not call your child to

the office until you arrive to sign them out. Elementary students will always need confirmation for

changes. Students are NOT allowed to ride a bus home that is not assigned to them. This means

that your child may not ride the bus home with a friend or relative that has a different bus than your

child.

It gets extremely busy in the office at the end of the day. For any changes to your normal

dismissal process, please make sure to call the office no later than 3:00 pm, at 651-325-2500,

as this allows time for the message to be received/delivered. To guarantee that all students

make it home safely, changes and messages will not be delivered after 3:00pm.

Sign In

We always welcome parents and visitors to our school. If you choose to come during teaching hours,

please make sure you have an appointment or a planned visit with the respective staff member.

Please make sure you always stop by the office to check in, sign in, and get a visitor's badge.

Attendance/late arrivals:

Please make sure to always report your child's absences. You can do this in two ways:

· Dial the attendance line directly at 651-325-2599 -OR-

· Email us at capitolhill.attendance@spps.org.

Please include your child's name (spell their name if calling), grade, the reason for their absence,

your relationship to the child, and a return phone number that you can be reached at if we should

have questions.

Questions about SPPS Attendance Policies?

Please click on this link. https://www.spps.org/attendance

Health Related Absences:

If your child is ill, you may receive a follow up call from our nurse or

nurse designee.

Calling Your Child

When calling the school to speak to your child, the office staff will deliver your message to have your

child call you back. We will not transfer calls. Teachers are teaching during the day and we are trying

our best to lessen the interruptions during instructional time. Thanks for understanding.

Capitol Hill Arrival Procedure:

• Parents/guardians drop off students on Concordia Avenue.

• Please follow the cars lining up.

• Please wait your turn and do not go in front of other cars already in line.

• Students can get out of the car after the entrance to the parking lot.

• Pull up as far as you can to Mackubin Avenue, behind the car in front of you, without leaving gaps between cars (please do not stop at the stairs if you have room to pull forward)

• Students get out on the right side (curb). Use the FULL drop-off Zone.

• Parents/guardians stay in the car.

• There will be staff there to assist if needed.

• When your student(s) is out of the car, please safely pull out of the line and follow traffic on Concordia (no right turns onto Mackubin Street).

Capitol Hill Dismissal Procedure for Elementary students:

• Parents/guardians will get out of their vehicles and line up on the sidewalk on Mackubin and let staff know the name of the student(s) being picked up.

• Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with A – G will be located between the far MLK driveway and the corner of Mackubin and Marshall

• Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with H – O will be between the MLK driveways

• Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with P – Z will be between the MLK driveway and the Green Doors

• All Students are to remain inside the school until outside staff have radioed that their parent/guardian has arrived.

• Inside staff will call the student’s name they will walk outside to meet their parent/guardian. Parents/guardians wait for student(s) on the sidewalk.

• Middle School sibling(s) cannot pick-up Elementary sibling(s).

• Parents and/or Guardians are the only ones allowed to pick-up Elementary students.

• At 4:15, any student still left will be escorted to the main Office and the parent/guardian will be called.

Capitol Hill Dismissal Procedure for Middle School students:

• Students will exit the building through the Green doors and go to their assigned bus, walk home, or meet their parent/guardian.

• Middle School students cannot pick up their Elementary sibling(s).

• Middle School students can meet their Elementary sibling(s) outside.