Meadowbrook News

Good Afternoon Meadowbrook,

With the cold weather upon us, please remember to send your child to school with warm gear for recess—coats, hats, gloves, boots, and snow pants. We go outside daily unless the actual temperature is 0 degrees or below or the windchill is -10 degrees or below. Wearing winter gear ensures your child can enjoy outdoor play comfortably. Don’t forget to label each item with your child’s name to help us return anything that might end up in the lost and found!

November is not only National Native American Heritage Month but also National Gratitude Month. I want to take this opportunity to share my gratitude with you, our Meadowbrook community, for your support, generosity, and, most of all, for sharing your amazing children with us.

Next week is a short week, with no school Wednesday through Friday, November 27–29, in observance of Thanksgiving.Because of the shortened week, I will not be sending a weekly update next week. For those of you celebrating, I hope you enjoy the time with your family and friends.

In partnership,

Natalie

• Open-enrolled families (families who live outside the Hopkins School District): if you have a fall 2025 kindergartner, you will need to complete an Open Enrollment Application for your child by January 15, 2025.
• Hopkins School District resident families: please submit a K-12 Student Enrollment form for your fall 2025 kindergartner — even if you are already attending Hopkins Preschool.

What an amazing evening! Thank you to everyone who made a donation for Service Night, volunteered throughout the week, or joined us and participated at the event. Our school community came together to serve eight local organizations with 14 different service projects. Check out some pictures from our amazing event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/7cP7LMwPnkGMWgHv6

Here’s a look at Service Night, by the numbers:

• Over 375 people in attendance, with over 50 volunteers working to make the event a success
• Over 4,000 hygiene items collected in our school donation drive
• 200 hygiene kits for adults packed, containing shampoo, body wash/soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm and tissues
• 110 hygiene kits for kids packed, containing 3-in-1 wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm and tissues
• 385 pairs of socks & handwarmers packed into kits for adults and kids
• Over 2,000 diapers and wipes packed into 200 diaper packs for families in need
• 18 blankets tied for children in the hospital
• 300 ping pong balls & 7 snuffle mats made for cats and dogs in the shelter
• 100 kindness rocks painted for seniors in an assisted living facility
• 115 cards decorated for members of the community
• 44 recipe books made and taken home to promote healthy eating habits
• Over 200 bird feeders made and taken home to feed local birds in the winter
• 100 reusable tote bags decorated and taken home to help reduce plastic waste
• $500 in dinner proceeds to benefit the Meadowbrook Family Support Fund

For more ideas on raising children who care and contribute, check out Doing Good Together. DGT is a Minnesota-based national nonprofit that works to make volunteering and service, along with daily kindness, easy for every family: www.doinggoodtogether.org.

Special thanks to the Golden Valley Community Foundation for their financial support!

I want to take a moment to thank all our families who keep their children home to rest and recover when they’re not feeling well. Your efforts truly make a difference in keeping our school community healthy.

Recently, we’ve seen several cases of pneumonia and strep throat. While there are no significant clusters in any specific grade or classroom, we encourage you to consult your child’s healthcare provider or visit urgent care if they have a persistent sore throat or a cough that isn’t improving.

As we head into the holiday weekend, remember that good handwashing, balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and a healthy mix of rest and activity are key to staying well.

Wishing you a joyful and healthy Thanksgiving!

As we continue to honor Native American Heritage Month, let’s explore some fascinating facts about the contributions and influences of Native American cultures—facts you may not have learned in history class!

The Origin of Hockey
Did you know that hockey has roots in a Native American game? Tribes such as the Saux, Foxes, and Assiniboine played a game called "shinny," using a curved stick to hit a buckskin ball down the field. During winter, they played on ice—a precursor to modern hockey. White settlers observed the game and adapted it into the sport we know today.

Names Rooted in Native Languages
Ever wondered how states like Minnesota, Dakota, or Michigan got their names? Many state names are derived from Native American languages, reflecting the deep cultural influence of Indigenous peoples across the United States.

Learn about the multiple ways to support PTO fundraising efforts in this video. Our work to support community-building opportunities for students, families, and educators at Meadowbrook comes with a price tag. And with costs of things like field trip transportation going up, our dollars don’t stretch as far as they have in the past. We are currently working with a $10,000 deficit for the school year. To help us meet the budget needs, we have several fundraising events planned soon, and we have an exciting partnership with a company (Booster) to help run our spring fundraiser. This company has a marketing strategy and provides almost all the communications and materials. If you’d like to help the PTO coordinate with Booster, please email Meadowbrookelementarypto@gmail.com.

Coming up! Shop at Kiddywampus Toy Store on Sunday, December 1st and 20% of your purchase will come back to the Meadowbrook PTO. Be sure to mention Meadowbrook at checkout.

It’s time to order your yearbook!

This year, the PTO won’t be able to provide a yearbook for each family, so please be sure to place an order if your child would like one in the spring.

Visit ybpay.com and enter code 14465725 to order. All orders must be placed by April 12, 2025.

Monthly Newsletter

• September
• October
• November

Restaurant Nights

• What are Restaurant Night funds used for? The sales from Meadowbrook Restaurant Nights are used for PTO funds. These funds provide many opportunities for all students and teachers. This includes, but is not limited to field trips, equipment for classrooms and the media center, artist residencies, and transportation costs for events and field trips.

• Tuesdays at The Local: Tell your friends, tell your neighbors! This year Meadowbrook is partnering with the Local in the West End; every time you or someone you know dines or gets take-out at the Local, mention "Meadowbrook PTO" and a portion of the proceeds will be provided to the Meadowbrook! This is an on-going partnership, taking place every Tuesday.

How to Help The PTO:

• Volunteer with us! Click here to learn about our many volunteer opportunities. There is something for everyone!

• Visit the PTO website, MeadowbrookPTO.weebly.com for current info on all things PTO!

• Sign up for the PTO’s monthly newsletter to stay in-the-know on all PTO events, activities and opportunities. Sign up here!

Any questions? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at MeadowbrookElementaryPTO@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, or our PTO website.

20% your online purchase

Includes clearance!

NOW – Wednesday December 4th Order here: https://hopkins-high-school-spirit-shop.square.site/

Use code: THANKS24

*20% off in person sales included (Excludes Letter Jackets)

Do you know an elementary or middle school scholar who loves to ski? Improve your skills and learn to race with our Hopkins community education program!

For scholars grades 3-6, our Alpine program team is a fun way to enjoy winter and get to know other kids who love to ski. No race experience is needed, all you need is the ability to ski in control and our coaches will teach you the foundations of racing. Community education sign up is now open, so please use this link: Hopkins Alpine Community Education Program - Hopkins Community Education.

If you have questions about this program, please contact coaches Jason Langlie (JasonLanglie@gmail.com) or Maria Eaton (Mariachristine2@gmail.com)

Order a HEF Gratitude Gift for each of the special teachers and staff who have made a difference in your child’s life. Each Gratitude Gift includes a loaf of delicious bread, a restaurant gift card, and a personalized note. And, best of all, HEF will package and deliver it for you before winter break. Start thinking about the teachers, paras, bus drivers, coaches, cafeteria workers, and other Hopkins Public Schools staff who deserve your gratitude. Your gift orders ($25 each) support HEF’s teacher grants that kickstart learning opportunities for Hopkins students. Visit HopkinsEducationFoundation.org to order. Orders close December 9.

Are you the caregiver of a child who transcends traditional binary gender roles? We are offering a supportive, ongoing group for parents and caregivers to ask questions, share ideas, and support one another. Some children may identify as transgender, gender fluid, non-binary, gender queer, gender expansive, or simply move through the world in a much more gender-free type of way.

This is for parents and families from all of Hopkins schools -- and from all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school, and beyond). Laura Jensen, Hopkins Schools LGBTQ+ Community Liaison will facilitate the meetings. This is not a group to debate the issue, rather for parents looking to support their child.

North Middle School, 5-6:30 p.m. Room 506 (use side parking lot, Door R)

Questions? Email Laura.Jensen@hopkinsschools.org

The Golden Valley MLK Human Rights Contest provides a path for children and youth to follow as they grow. Quotes from Dr. King and the over-arching themes give children and youth a starting point on the path to understanding Dr King's message to the world. Students may submit any kind of original work that exemplifies the themes, including artwork, essays, poetry, songs, raps, videos, and more. Students are encouraged to base their entries on these specific prompts:

• Quote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
• Quote: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
• Quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent questions is, ‘What are you doing for others?’.”
• Quote: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”
  

The contest is open to students in grades Pre-K-12 who live in Golden Valley, attend a school in Golden Valley, or attend a Robbinsdale Area District or Hopkins District school. Prizes will be awarded to two students in each of the following grade groupings: Preschool-Kindergarten, 1-3, 4-7, and 8-12.

Submissions are due by Monday, Dec 16, 2024, 4 pm, to Seth Kaempfer, 7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427 or skaempfer@goldenvalleymn.gov.

The contest is sponsored by the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. for more complete entry information about entering, visit www.goldenvalleymn.gov/DEIC

November 27-29: No School - Thanksgiving Break

December 6: No School - Staff Professional Learning

December 20: School Spirit Friday

December 23 - January 3: No School - Winter Break

January 20: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 23: Student Showcase Night

January 24: No School - Grading Day

January 31: School Spirit Friday

Main Office Line: 952-988-5100

Attendance Line: 952-988-5110

https://meadowbrook.hopkinsschools.org/families/attendance

Email: natalie.sawatzky@hopkinsschools.org
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/meadowbrook-elementary
Location: 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, MN 55422, USA
Phone: (952) 988-5100
Facebook: facebook.com/HopkinsMeadowbrook
Twitter: @MeadowbrookGV