Monroe Newsletter
NOVEMBER 2017
~FROM THE PRINCIPAL~
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences are after school on November 14, 16, and 20. This is a great chance to find out how your students are doing and ask questions. At conferences, you will receive a progress report of academics and behaviors. The scoring for academics is as follows:
Get out and vote on November 7th!
Operating Levy Referendum/School Board Election
Tuesday, November 7, 2017, is election day. If you would like to vote early, absentee voting is available at the District Office, 10 Civic Center Plaza, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents of Mankato Area Public Schools will vote on an Operating Levy and the election of three School Board members.
As a result of our Operating Levy expiring on June 30, 2018, our School Board has proposed to increase its referendum revenue authority. This proposed authorization would include an increase of $365 per pupil and would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years beginning with taxes payable in 2018.
The most common question we hear is, “What will the money be used for?” The dollars go to people, programs and day-to-day operations. Here is a link to our Q & A article which will help answer that question. This is an exciting time for our growing school community. Funding will help us to continue our work and provide the resources we need for the education of each child, retaining and recruiting staff and our daily costs.
Please visit the District website www.isd77.org under “quick links” where you will find more information about the operating levy, a tax impact calculator for your property, and candidate information.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact the District Office at 507-387-1868 or email maps@isd77.k12.mn.us.
Check out our PRIDE Pumpkin Patch!
Important Reminders
- November 4, Daylight Savings Time Ends--Get an extra hour of sleep!!
- Vote on November 7th!!
- The Health Office is in need of Girls and Boys Small and Medium size pants. If you have any, please bring to the office.
- Central Registration is scheduling kindergarten screenings for the 2018/19 school year. Please contact Brenda or Morgan at 507-207-4037 as soon as possible to schedule your child's screening appointment.
- Please, DO NOT drop off or pickup your students in the Monroe staff parking lot.
Fall Conferences
Here is the link to sign up for your child's conference.
Grades K-5 Conferences have been scheduled for:
- Tuesday, November 14 - 3:30-8:00
- Thursday, November 16 - 3:30-8:00
- Monday, November 20 - 3:30-8:00
Students starting Kindergarten in 2018
If you have a preschooler that will be entering kindergarten in the 2018-2019 school year and has not had an Early Childhood Screening, or if you are not planning on sending your child to kindergarten, please call Central Registration at 507-207-4037.
In Minnesota, children are eligible to attend kindergarten when they are five years old on or before September 1st of the calendar year that schools starts. Early Childhood Screening is required before Kindergarten registration.
Kindergarten registration packets will be sent out in January 2018 prior to Kindergarten Round-Up.
Help out your school!
Labels For Education
HyVee Receipts
Milk Moola
Bring in your Milk Moola
Dress for the Weather
PLC- 2 Hour Late Start- November 14, 2017
On the second Tuesday of every month the teachers meet for a Professional Learning Community Meeting. Buses will run 2 hours late on late start days. Monroe School will begin at 10:00 AM, rather than 8:00 AM on these days. To accommodate parents that need childcare on late start days, we will provide supervision beginning at 7:40 AM for students needing this service. However, parents MUST complete the online form to sign your child up. There will be no charge but it is very important that we have an accurate count of students arriving early to plan for adequate adult supervision. You will be asked to complete a registration form for each month. To sign up for the November 14th PLC please, click here. Activities for students during this time may include such things as homework help, quiet reading time, and story time. Breakfast will be available serving from 7:40-7:50 AM.
**If you sign your child up and they DO NOT come, we ask that you CALL THE SCHOOL by 8:00 AM that morning as we WILL be taking attendance.
Children not needing childcare on the late start days should arrive at school between 9:40 and 9:50, with the tardy bell going at 10:00 AM.
Late Start Dates: The second Tuesday of Every Month
- December 12
- January 9
- February 13
- March 13
- April 10
- May 8
NO SCHOOL
- There will be NO CLASSES on Friday, November 10 for Teacher Prep Day.
- Students in grades K-5 WILL have school on Monday, November 20. They will NOT have school from Tuesday, November 21-November 24. School will resume on Monday, November 27.
"Lights of the Season"
The students in grades 1, 3, and 5 are preparing a vocal music concert for Tuesday, December 19. The concert will be performed twice, once at 9:30 am and again at 1:15. We ask that you only come to one performance due to space.
WEATHER HOTLINE 386-4777
When you wake up on a snowy morning and wonder if District 77 is having school or possibly a late start, call the District Helpline at 507-386-4777 after 6:00 am. You will hear a recorded message of the up-to-date news/decision. You can also call this number to find out if there is an early release. Please call the hotline, not the school office for updates.
SNOW STORM EARLY RELEASE
If school is released early due to snow, Monroe will dismiss 15 minutes earlier than the announced time. If the radio announces that elementary schools dismiss at 1:00 pm, Monroe will dismiss at 12:45 pm. Once there is an announcement, you may pick up your child(ren) earlier than the dismissal time. When picking up your child(ren), DO NOT park in the bus-loading zone. Also, on a snow dismissal day, parents must come into the school to get their child(ren) unless your emergency plan states to walk home. Students will be held in school until a parent or other approved caregiver picks the child up inside the building. If your family plans have changed from when you filled out your early release form at the beginning of the year, please contact the teacher to let them know of this change immediately.
What does the P in Monroe PRIDE "Preparedness" look like in all areas of the school?
~Coming Soon~
November
2- Children's Museum-Wennes/Hoekstra
3- Children's Museum- Peters/Scruggs
4- Daylight Savings Time Ends-Get an Hour Extra of Sleep
6- Online Sign-Up for Fall Conferences will Close
6- McTeacher Night-2nd & 3rd Grades Host
7- Voting for Operating Levy and School Board Elections
10- NO SCHOOL
13-24- NO Excel
14- PLC 2-Hour Late Start
14- Conferences 3:20-8:00
16- Conferences 3:20-8:00
17- Stuff-a-Truck Food Donations Ends
20- All-School PRIDE Assembly
20- Conferences 3:20-8:00
21-24- NO SCHOOL
27- School Resumes
27- 3rd Grade Winter Weather Safety
28- 5th Grade - The Guthrie's Christmas Carol
30- PTO Meeting
~Special's Corner~
From the Media Room-Mrs. Hagen
From the Music Room-Mrs. Hopf
You are invited to attend the Winter Music Program-"Lights of the Season" on Tuesday, December 19. The 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade classes will perform at 9:30 am and 1:15 pm.
From the Art Room-Mrs. Wingen
October has been a very busy time in the art room. Students have had two weeks of Ms. DeWald, teaching by herself. I was close by for questions, but all went well in the art room. Ms. DeWald's last day will be November 3rd.
The Original Works is an optional fundraiser that will be coming home in your child's Tuesday folder. Keep your eyes open for this information. This is an optional art department fundraiser.
From the Gym.-Mr. Carlson
~News From the PTO~
Monroe PTO - Meeting Minutes
October 16, 2017
Welcome and introduction:
Welcome and introductions were done by all present.
Secretary’s Report:
Rose Voss, secretary, presented the minutes from the last meeting. It was mentioned that the report was in the school newsletter before it was approved. This was nice because it was more current, but should be looked at by other members of the PTO before it is sent out. The report was approved by Steve Johanson and seconded by Darcy Roll.
Treasurer’s Report:
Tricia Anderson, treasurer, was absent. The treasurer’s report was presented by Jackie Murray.
The coupon book fundraiser brought in an awesome $14,250.00!
The teacher’s request fund was upgraded to $2,500, which had been approved at the last meeting.
The PTO can spend up to $10,000 on campus updates.
The treasurer’s report was approved by Angie Anderson and seconded by Jackie Murray.
Principal’s Report:
Steve Johanson, Monroe Principal, provided the following:
Teachers reported having almost all of their students show up for the open house. The book fair was very busy this year. Scholastic only sent one cash register when usually they send three. Culver’s usually sells ice cream at the open house and it did not seem to be missed this year.
The peer helper program has been started. There are cafeteria helpers, playground helpers, and new student ambassadors. Things are going well. Mrs. Anderson, first grade teacher, has requested the help of the peer helpers during her Friday reading block for her class. The peer helpers read to the first graders to help them get their reading minutes.
Mr. Johanson spoke on behalf of the P.E. teachers regarding the purchase of a new projector for the gym. The current projector is not strong enough to be seen on the screen with the lights on. The projector is used to show the results from the student’s fitness bands and to do the dance section of P.E., among other things. The PTO is being asked to pay $4,285 of the cost. The MAPS Teaching and Learning Department is covering $1,500. The PTO approved to spend $3,285. The rest of the money will come from a different source. Various grants are being looked into. This was approved and seconded.
The request for document cameras, from the last meeting, was brought up again. The PTO will be purchasing 14 cameras, at $50, each. The Monroe Technology Committee is splitting the cost with the PTO. The PTO will be paying for $400. This was approved by Rose Voss and seconded by Jackie Murray.
Soundproofing for the lunchroom and the teacher’s lounge will be looked into.
Mr. Johanson had more information on the purchasing of a movie license for the school. This will legally allow teachers to show movies(Disney movies included) in the classroom for fun or for reward days. District 77 has decided to purchase a license for the entire district for 5 years. This will be $1,500 per school. The district is asking each school to cover this cost. This was approved by Jackie Murray and seconded by Darcy Roll.
Committee Reports:
Water Bottles: Another idea for spending the PTO’s fundraising money was to purchase water bottles for all Monroe students. Concerns about losing the bottles and some families having multiple bottles at home already were brought up. Ideas were brought up to purchase some kind of Monroe sticker or label that could be put on current student owned water bottles. Angie Anderson will look into this further.
McTeacher Night: The current McEducator night is being replaced with McTeacher night. This will allow McDonald’s to advertise Monroe’s night on their billboard, decorate McDonald’s for Monroe, give free ice cream to the students each night, and Monroe will be receiving 35% of the total receipts instead of 15%. McEducator was done 6 times during the school year whereas McTeacher night will be 2 times during the school year. Usually McTeacher nights happen once during the school year but they like working with Monroe and will be giving us two nights.
Scholastic Book Fair: The next book fair will be held on February 6, 2018 at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota.
School pictures: Certain schools in the area have been having troubles using Life Touch for their school pictures. Jackie Murray will be attending a meeting to see what the problems were and what alternatives they are looking at for school pictures.
Sign Up Genius: Sign Up Genius has been working good for getting volunteers for the different activities the PTO sponsors. One problem that has occurred is a cap of 1,000 emails per month. Since more parents have signed up to get e-mails we have exceeded this. Mara, the school secretary, will be asked if she can send out the link for Sign Up Genius when sending out notices for events.
Miscellaneous:
The District 77 video about the referendum vote was shown again.
The meeting was adjourned around 7:30 pm.
~Tuesday Folder~
~School Menus~
About Monroe
Email: me@isd77.k12.mn.us
Website: www.me.isd77.org
Location: 441 Monroe Avenue, North Mankato, MN, United States
Phone: (507) 387-7889
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonroeElementaryPto/?ref=br_tf
Twitter: @MonroeMAPS
Phone Numbers
Mankato Public Schools Hotline 386-4777
Hours
Building Hours 7:30-3:30
Office
Secretary Mara Dehning
Clerical Asst. Mary Krueger
Health Asst. Madeline Veroeven