
News and events

November Newsletter 2023
A message from the principal
We have made it to November and are just a few weeks away from the end of Trimester 1. Staff will be evaluating students based on the Trimester 1 report card indicators and you can expect access to your students report cards by early December (more information to come on how to view your student's report card online).
Monroe received the 2023 Minnesota Futures Award presented by the Minnesota Business Partnership on Wednesday, Oct. 18th. The partnership recognizes high performing schools for innovation and success in increasing student achievement. For more information about this award and to view the video created, please click the links below.
Keep Being Amazing,
Mrs. Oliver
Mrs. Amy Oliver
Mr. Scott Mattis
Important Dates
Nov. 1 Picture Day
Nov. 2 Kindergarten Field Trip Children's Museum
Nov. 6th- 17th Kids Heart Challenge
Nov. 13-17 Food Drive and Spirit Week
Nov. 16 Family Math Night 5:30-7:00pm
Nov. 22-24 No School Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 30 Picture Retake Day
Nov. 30 End of Trimester 1
Dec. 1 No School Staff Planning
Dec.4 No School Staff PD
Dec. 6 Kindergarten & 3rd Grade Field Trip Stages Theater
Dec. 12 In person Monroe PTO Meeting 6:30pm
Dec. 18 - 22 5th Grade STARBASE Field trip
School Picture Day
School Pictures will be Wednesday, Nov. 1st. Pictures can be purchased online.
To order online:
1- Visit lifetouch.com
2- Select Monroe Elementary School
3- Enter in picture day ID- EVTC48C4Z
Picture Retake Day will be Thursday, Nov. 30th. More information for retakes will come after the first picture day!
Save the Date- Family Math Night- Nov. 16th!
Kids Heart Challenge is Coming!
Monroe Families,
It’s time to CELEBRATE heart health with the Heart Heroes!
Our school is kicking off a service-learning program, Kids Heart Challenge on Friday Nov. 3, 2023!
Get started NOW! You can:
- REGISTER YOUR STUDENT BY CLICKING HERE
- Download the Kids Heart Challenge App and register
PLUS! Any student who completes Finn’s Mission BEFORE Kickoff Day will be recognized at the Kickoff Assembly and entered to win an Avocado Warmie!
Thank you so much for supporting our school and the American Heart Association!
News from the School Social Workers
As school social workers, we are able to support our students in individual meetings, groups and whole group classroom settings. Other support can include; food, shelter, clothing, financial, mental health, and other basic needs. Please reach out to your social worker to ask for more information or to talk about your student(s).
If you are looking for social or emotional support for your student please reach out to one of the social workers and we will connect with your student individually.
During the month of November, Monroe will have our school food drive to support the GEARS Food Shelf. If you would like to shop at the food shelf, please reach out to one of the social workers or scan the QR code. This is open to ALL of our families and you can shop 2 times a month.
Here are some Winter Holiday Resources that families are able to sign up for.
Mrs. Amy Elder
Ms. Caitlin Turk
Ms. Toni Jahnz
Food Drive and Spirit Week
GEARS SHELF
Is your family in need of food or toiletries? If so, you can use our school’s food shelf. It’s easy, fast, and confidential.
Here are some options:
- Reach out to a social worker to set up a time
- Scan or click the QR code to sign up to shop
Seesaw Change
This Friday, the Seesaw app will look different. Please see below for a look at the new design. Everything inside of the app will remain the same.
5th Grade- Middle School Opportunities
Moving from elementary to middle school is an exciting time. There are some options for students in Anoka-Hennepin to attend a specialty or magnet school. Here are the two options within Anoka-Hennepin:
- Jackson Middle School is a Specialty school for Math and Science. Jackson is the assigned middle school for most of the students who attend Monroe currently. If you would like to know more about the program at Jackson please visit their webpage: https://www.ahschools.us/domain/2503
- Anoka Middle School for the Arts is a Magnet School that is part of the Northwest Suburban district. There is an application process to attend this magnet program. For more information on this program please visit their webpage: https://www.ahschools.us/Page/27719
Meet our Staff
We want to introduce three new members of the Monroe support team. Mr. Ramey and Mr. Lewis will be supporting Monroe students as Student Achievement Advisors. Mrs. Morris will be working in Switching Gears helping students with things like problem solving, mediation with other students, making friends, and many other things. You may receive and email or call from any of these staff members if they have worked with your child during the school day.
November’s Character Trait is: Gratitude
We are looking forward to focusing on Gratitude this month! One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness.
Thank you Monroe Families and PTO!!
There are so many ways that our PTO supports and encourages our staff using the funds families have provided. Our staff thanks you for the Fun Friday treats!
Volunteer news
Chaperones and Volunteering at Monroe
Hey Monroe Families,
Volunteers help our students, school and entire community be a better place! Thank you for giving your time, talents and energy! As the new school year unfolds, there are plenty of ways to get involved! We are looking for volunteers for the following:
- Food Drive - November 13th - November 17th - We are looking for volunteers to help with our food drive! We will need volunteers to help collect the donated items from the classroom, sort and separate into categories. This will be done each morning at 10am and should only take an hour!
- Art Adventure - January - Dates/times to be determined. Art Adventure will be scheduled multiple days and times during the month of January! This is a great way to volunteer directly with the students in the classrooms! Training sessions will be offered by MIA in November via zoom. The sessions are 45 minutes-1 hour.
- Workroom Volunteer - On-going - We are looking for extra help in our workroom. If you are interested in cutting, copying or laminating, this opportunity is for you! You can come in to help out at your convenience or take a project home to work on!
- Celebrity Reader Day - Thursday, February 29th - We are looking for Celebrity Readers to join us on Celebrity Reader Day to read a book of your choice to the students of Monroe! The Celeb Readers will read to each classroom for 10-15 minutes and visit as many classes as they would like! We consider everyone to be a Celebrity here at Monroe....so everyone is welcome to join us!
- Chaperones for Field Trips - To be considered as a chaperone, a background check and volunteer for are mandatory. Please watch for information from your student's classroom teacher!
- PTO Meetings - An additional way to get involved! It is also a great way to get to know Monroe staff and other Monroe families!! Childcare is provided! The upcoming PTO meeting dates are below.
- December 5, 2023 - 6:30pm-7:30pm
- February 6, 2024 - 6:30pm-7:30pm
- April 2, 2024 - 6:30pm-7:30pm
- May 21, 2024 - 6:30pm-7:30pm
Please feel free to contact Wendy Brown (Volunteer Service Coordinator) if you have any questions or would like more information about any of the volunteer opportunities!
763-506-3630
Health services
With winter weather approaching, please make sure to send your students in appropriate clothing. Changes of clothes are not readily available for students who get wet at recess. We also know that sicknesses occur with change in season. Please be sure to call your students in if they are sick. Students must stay home from school if:
- they have a temperature greater than 100 degrees
- or have thrown up within 24 hours
Students may return to school when vomiting has stopped or the temperature has returned to normal for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.
Please consider the following for your student with the change in season:
- send in a water bottle for your student so they can stay hydrated
- have lip balm for chapped lips available in backpacks
- small bottle/container of lotion for dry chapped skin.
If you have any health related questions, please feel free to contact us @ 763-506-3624!
Parent Press Newsletter
General School Information
Dismissal Line: Please use this line to make any changes to your student's transportation for the afternoon. Any changes need to be made prior to 3pm. The number is 763-506-3614.
Parent Drop Off/Pick Up: Please be sure that you wait in the line along the south side of Brookdale Drive until you are directed to enter the front parking lot. This ensures safety for our students as they arrive and leave Monroe.
Attendance Information: Please be sure to call the attendance line if your student is sick, will be out of town or has a doctor's appointment. Absence number is: 763-506-3606.
This e-newsletter is published by Monroe Elementary School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.