October 2022

Monday, October 3 and Thursday, October 6 are teacher conferences.
Conferences sign-up is online and can be found here: https://www.myconferencetime.com/universityave/

If you need to cancel or reschedule your time please call our main office 763-506-4500

Hello University Avenue Families,

The month of September went by so fast. Our students have been engaged in learning about the importance of systems and structures that help to increase success at school. We have been gearing up for conferences which begin today from 1-8 and are also held on October 6th from 4:30-8:30.

We are beginning the process of developing a Student Lighthouse Leadership Team (think Student Council), seeking a representative from each classroom, grades 1-5. We are hoping to have one kindergarten representative join us from each class by the beginning of third trimester. Staff and teachers have been integrating leadership roles in classrooms and we some Leadership clubs. Cheers to our ACES Garden Leadership club, ACES Bus Patrol, ACES Kindness Crew, ACES Lighthouse Leadership Team, ACES Assembly Club, ACES Recycling Club, ACES Lunchroom Leadership Club, ACES NEWS crew and more!

We look forward to seeing you at our PTO Meeting on October 13th at 6:30pm. It will be held in person with an option to join us virtually, too. Watch your text and email messages for the link on the 12th.

Thank you for your partnership. Please reach out to us anytime

Committed to Greatness Together,

Diedre Bloemers, Principal

Luke Riesgraf, Assistant Principal

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! What an amazing turn out we had of families for our September 22 Leadership & Learning community building event! We look forward to having more of these events throughout the year!

New this year students are able to scan their barcode off a card instead of having to share a keypad and type in their numbers individually. This is much more efficient and sanitary. Each student gets their scan card before lunch to scan. Many of our students get breakfast at school. All students have a copy of their scan card on their backpacks to scan at breakfast. PLEASE keep these tags on the backpack and let your child's homeroom teacher know if a new tag is needed. Your help is much apprecaited.

Dear Families:

Get ready! The Book Fair is coming to University Avenue! Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them to become Bolder, Prouder, and Stronger Readers. AND—as always—every book they buy earns rewards for our school.

The Book Fair will take place Oct. 3rd and Oct. 6th during Conferences in the Media Center. Watch for a Book Fair flier to come home with your child.

If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school. Visit our online Book Fair at:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/universityave

The countdown to more book joy is on! Catch you at the Fair!

Happy reading!

Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered at University this school year. You make a huge difference and I can't thank you enough.

If you have not already turned in a Volunteer Application form and completed the Criminal History form on-line this school year, and plan on chaperoning a field trip, helping with classroom parties or plan to volunteer in any other way this year, please complete those forms and return them as soon as possible. They should be turned in at least 2 weeks before you plan on volunteering. If there are grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc. that would like to volunteer, please let us know and I'll send them an email with the link to the forms or you can forward this link to them. Click here to complete or update your Volunteer Application

Current Volunteer Needs:

Debbie Blatz, Volunteer Services Coordinator

We are going to be holding a clothing drive during school conferences on October 3rd and October 6th! We are open to any new or gently used clothing and shoes! Our greatest needs are sizes 8,10, 12, 14 and 16 in both girls and boys. We are also starting to get ready for the cold weather and are looking for snow pants and boots!

The clothing closet will also be open for any families to use during conferences! Please stop by and take a look! It is open for ALL families! "

We are excited to start student field experiences. In October our 2nd Grade 'Flight Experts' will be visiting the Anoka County Blaine Airport where they will get to see two airplanes, and visit the tower. Prior to this we have two special guest pilots visiting their classrooms to teach them how pilots use math and reading!
We are still tracking the Artemis Mission and hope to share more news of the current launch schedules as they are released by NASA. Some students remembered last year when we had a special Mission Brief by the Artemis Communication Director!
Finally, what a fun day of synergizing with our buddies! First graders (Problem Solving Experts) and Fourth Graders (Innovative Engineering Experts) met as buddy classrooms on Friday to participate on a special engineering challenge.

School Pictures will be on Monday, October 24. More information will be coming home with your student in early October.