For your Calendar - there's a lot - take a minute to read!
OCTOBER 29: No School, grades 1-5
OCTOBER 29: Digital Learning Day, grades 6-8 (see below for info)
OCTOBER 30: 1st grade meet-up, 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the Rondo / Benjamin Mays playground (just west/uphill from Capitol Hill) Weather permitting! Costumes welcomed! Questions go to shari.albrecht@gmail.com
NOVEMBER 1: Scholastic "Books for All" Coin Drive begins (see below info - donations will be matched)
NOVEMBER 2: Digital Learning Day, ALL grades (no in-person learning on Election Day)
NOVEMBER 3: Envision SPPS meeting
- Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fkq-teqe-xug
- Or dial: (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 691 011 682 8227#
Middle School Conferences (all virtual)
- NOVEMBER 8-20
- more info to come for signups by 11/5
Elementary Conferences 5pm-8pm, (all virtual)
- NOVEMBER 9 & 11: 5-8pm
- NOVEMBER 19: 8am-11am; 12pm-4pm
- Follow this link to sign up for Elementary Conference times: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Capitol_Hill_Gifted_Talented_Magnet_School
NOVEMBER 11 & 12: Scholastic Book Fair 10am-4pm (see below for info)
NOVEMBER 12: End of Quarter 1
NOVEMBER 16: Picture Retakes
Coming next week! Scholastic Coin Drive & Book Fair!
Make sure to create and fund an eWallet for your student, if you are able. You will receive a link to share the eWallet with friends and other family. Cash and checks will also be accepted at the fair. Books are priced from $1 to $20 (or more) plus tax.
If you are unable to afford to donate or purchase a book next month for any reason, that’s okay. We will be using earnings from the book fair to provide books to as many students as possible - and to fill teachers’ classrooms if we are able.
Our goal this year is for every student to be able to choose a book. In order to make that possible, we are participating in a fundraising program called All for Books. If you can, please donate to our All for Books eWallet fund here.
Beginning November 1, we will host a school-wide Coin Drive to reach our goal of every student getting a book. Each day, students will be invited to bring in different coins:
- Nov. 1: Pennies
- Nov. 3: Nickels & Dimes
- Nov. 4: Quarters
- Nov. 5: All coins & bills
Not only will we be helping families at our own school, Scholastic is going to match the amount of money we raise and donate that value in books to other children who need them.
Next week, please remind your students to have their coins ready when they enter the school each morning to drop off just inside the doors. All for Books means Books for All!
Attention Middle Schoolers! Are you interested in Debate?
Debate League bagan October 27th, and will continue every Wednesday through the end of February, providing an after-school debate opportunity for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
Participants will learn debate skills and strategies while also learning about our current national debate topic involving water resources. There will also be three/four opportunities to participate in the MNUDL (Minnesota Urban Debate League) middle school debates beginning in January.
Students will meet in Ms. Hawksford's room (2314) from 4:15 to 5:00. Please make sure you have a ride home at 5:00. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hawksford at alexandra.hawksford@spps.org or find her in room 2314.
PTO UPDATES
November PTO Meeting - Save the Date!
The next PTO meeting is November 15th from 7-8pm. Dr. Jodi Dworkin, University of Minnesota professor and Capitol Hill parent, will lead a Conversation about kids, technology, and social media with tips for parents followed by Q&A.
Merchandise Coming Soon!
Middle schoolers are participating in a design contest to create a new logo for Capitol Hill merchandise. The PTO hopes to have the gear available to order before winter break.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ART ADVENTURE!
What is one of the most important skills our young scholars need to develop? Critical thinking is a primary goal of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's long running program called Art Adventure. We are seeking Picture People to create and record a short video about a selected work of art from this year's theme "Dressed for the Occasion". Curious? You can preview the six pieces of art on MIA's website https://new.artsmia.org/programs/teachers-and-students/art-adventure/dressed-for-the-occasion/.
Please contact Mary Frankson or Christina Pierce at capitolhillartadventure@gmail.com for more information and to sign up for this awesome "art thinking" program.
Get your GLOW Gear!
- GLOW hoodie (unisex black, GLOW design on front and quote on back)
- GLOW t-shirt (unisex black, GLOW design on front and quote on back)
- GLOW beanie (embroidered GLOW logo and rainbow patch)
To order, please use the attached form. Bring to Ms. Hebble in room 2220B, with a check made payable to Advanced Sportswear OR exact cash. ORDERS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12. (Order form below)
EDL begins November 4: Freedom School Express (FSX) Learning Academy Extended Day Learning
Middle School FALL SPORTS update! Winter sports are coming!
PLEASE NOTE NEW END DATES and/or TIMES FOR 3 FALL SPORTS, due to daylight savings:
- NEW! Girls Soccer and Co-Ed Football ends November 5
- NEW! Boys Soccer ends November 12; practice will stop at 5:15 when the clocks change
- Reminder: Volleyball ends November 12; practice will still go to 6:15 til then
Winter sports are coming!
- Winter Sports 1 (November-January) Co-ed Wrestling and Girls Basketball
- Winter Sports 2 (January - March) Boys Basketball
Students are required to complete 2 forms prior to be eligible to participate in our Middle School athletic program:
- Sports physical (good for 3 years) https://drive.google.com/file/d/14hFWR0kDRU6j467TgMkQOPJGj7_0FwSh/view
- Middle School athletics registration form https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q5CWejaOqGDKHxGzPJlimYKv1mHASPCJ8hYu_qCOyws/edit
November Support Staff Newsletter!
Daily Health Screening Expectations for Families
Families should conduct a health screening for COVID-19 symptoms every morning before sending their student to school or the bus stop. School staff will also monitor for symptoms throughout the school day.
Do not send your child to school if they are exhibiting any of these symptoms: chills, sore throat, headache, fatigue, nausea, muscle pain, vomiting or diarrhea, new runny nose or congestion, new or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell. Please report the absence and submit a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System as soon as possible (link below).
SPPS Mask Requirement
SPPS requires face masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors (ages 2 and older) in all SPPS buildings, regardless of a person’s vaccine status, unless they have a qualifying exemption.
If you have not already done so, please get vaccinated and encourage all who are eligible to do the same. You can find vaccine resources at spps.org/covidvaccine
Area COVID testing resources: https://mn.gov/covid19/get-tested/testing-locations/index.jsp
DROP-OFF PROCEDURE:
- Parents/guardians drop off students on Concordia Avenue, no earlier than 9:30am.
- Please follow the procedure of cars lining up, and do not cut in front of other cars already in line.
- When you get close to the front of the line, pull up as far as you can to Mackubin Avenue.
- NO PARKING on Concordia: this a pull up and drop off quickly area. If you must park your car, please find a spot on another street to take care of your drop-off needs.
- DO NOT BLOCK PARKING LOT DRIVEWAYS. Avoid stopping at the stairs as well.
- Students get out on the right side (curbside) on Concordia.
- Parents/guardians stay in the car; there will be staff to assist if needed.
- Once your student is out of the car, please safely pull out of the line.
- Students will proceed to enter into the blue doors.
- Students who walk to school will also enter through the blue Capitol Hill doors.
PICKUP PROCEDURE:
Students will be grouped inside by last name and we will have three lines outside:
- Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with A – G will be located between the far MLK driveway and the corner of Mackubin & 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
We will have three staff members outside calling student names on the radios; one staff member per line. Each line will have a sign at the beginning and end of the line telling you which section of the alphabet is being called.
- If your child doesn’t come out the first time after being called, we appreciate your patience in waiting for a staff member to circle back and call for your child again
- Middle school students will continue to exit the Green Doors on Mackubin
- Middle school students cannot pick up their younger siblings without a parent/guardian present
- Parents/Guardians should not come up to the building to pick up their student(s)
Picking up earlier than 4:15 dismissal time? Please see office notes below for information on making changes to normal routines. All changes should be called into the office (651-325-2500) no later than 3 pm. We have a large amount of families picking up early this year. Please, to the extent possible, be mindful that students are still engaged in learning until our 4:15 dismissal time. We will do our best to get your students out to you in a timely fashion, but the last 30 minutes of the day are particularly hectic!
Please see the picture below for a visual of the 4:15 pickup plan:
Building Visitor Policy
Parents should not enter Capitol Hill during morning drop-off. Your child will be greeted as they enter the Blue doors and make their way through the lobby to breakfast and class. There's staff inside should they need help.
With an appointment, parents may enter the building to meet with specific staff.
Use this link to register for an appointment: t.ly/QEwM. If you are sick or having symptoms, please cancel your appointment and reschedule. Do not come to the school. **
Capitol Hill OFFICE NOTES
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30
Morning Drop-off Time
We want to ensure each child is safe when arriving for school. Staff supervision begins at 9:30am. Please do not drop off your child earlier than 9:30.
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, 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.
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. Teachers are teaching during the day and we are trying our best to lessen the interruptions during instructional time. Thanks for understanding.
Dismissal
Dismissal is at 4:15. We appreciate you making every attempt to honor this time. Students are still actively involved in classroom instruction up to dismissal time.
Please call the Capitol Hill office at 651-325-2500 if you are picking up your child early or letting your child go home any other way than their normal routine.
***Please make sure to call the office no later than 3:00 pm if you have to make changes. If you call later than 3:00, we cannot guarantee that your child will get the message.***
Have you completed the iUpdate?
The iUpdate process is very important for you and for us – it’s an easy way to streamline all the forms and information that your students need: Free/Reduced Lunch form, the Media Release form, and the use of Internet form. Please go to https://www.spps.org/onestop to complete the iUpdate for your SPPS student(s) if you've not done so already.
The Free/Reduced Lunch Application is very important for you! Even though meals are free at this time, it may help qualify for discounted internet service, discounted transit for your whole family and the P-EBT program. It is very important for us - some of our funding is based on the families that could be served by the Free/Reduced Lunch Program, even if you don't think you qualify or wouldn't use the service! Filling out the form benefits the whole Capitol Hill community. www.schoolcafe.com/spps
