Falcon Ridge Elementary Newsletter
January 2021
Important Information:
Office/Main Line: 952-758-1600
24/7 Attendance Line: 952-758-1605
FR Nurse: 952-758-1606
Fax: 952-758-1699
- Nutrition Services: 952-758-1774 and Lunch Menus/Times
- Transportation: 952-758-1480 and FR Drop Off/Pick Up
- Campus Portal: Campus Portal and Instructions
- Calendar/Dates to Note: Falcon Ridge Calendar
- School Supply Lists: Falcon Ridge School Supply Lists
- MN Dept. of Revenue K-12 Tax Benefits: K-12 Tax Benefits
- Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): FR PAC Website
- Hybrid/DL/COVID-19 Information: Important Information
- Facebook: Like Falcon Ridge Elementary on Facebook.
- Twitter: Follow FalconRidge721 on Twitter.
- Instagram: Follow FalconRidge721 on Instagram.
- Website: https://www.npaschools.org/falcon-ridge
Falcon Ridge Attendance
December Students of the Month
Congratulations to the Falcon Ridge December Students of the Month!
January Student Material Pick-Up Days
Distance Learning Students - Wed., Jan. 20 from 1-8 p.m.
Reminders:
- Pick up labelled materials in baskets on the table
- Drop off materials in box below table
- Library book drop-offs go in black crate with red cape
- Don't forget to return the labelled plastic bags
Thank You!
- All of the food and supplies pictured above were donated to our local food shelf, Peace Center in New Prague, after our Holiday Food Drive.
- We were able to help support 25 families through our Holiday Sharing donations. What a blessing!
Way to spread joy, peace and love this holiday season!
Grade 5 Christmas Fish Display - 12/21/20
Falcon Ridge Holiday Reverse Parade - 12/22/20
Falcon Ridge Holiday Reverse Parade - 12/22/20
Principal's Perspective - David Giesen
Falcon Ridge Families,
We hope you are enjoying the holiday break and some time with family. As we move into January, our staff will be preparing to welcome our students back "in person" for the first time since mid-November. We are both excited for this change, and also know that there will be things to work through. For the first time all year, we are planning to have both 'A' and 'B' student cohorts meeting each other in person. Here is some of what we are planning for, along with accommodations, recommendations, and guidelines that will need to be followed:
- Student lunches will be taking place in the classrooms.
- Recess will be outside, but classrooms will need to continue to stay separated.
- Students will travel to their specialist classrooms.
- Kids Company will be starting back up at Falcon Ridge on January 7.
- Our Distance Learning cohorts will continue with their planned schedule; any changes to their schedule will be communicated through the classroom teachers.
Please note that in last Wednesday's communication, there was information shared that is relevant to potential changes for transportation and distance learning.
- For changes to your child's transportation before or after school, please click here.
- If you would like to pick up your child(ren) after school when they start back in person, please fill out this google form for each child you will be picking up.
- To have your child enrolled in full-time Distance Learning for the second semester, please click here.
- Additionally, please use this link for the most updated NPAS calendar NPAS 2020-21 Updated calendar (12.29.20)
Again, we appreciate everyone's support as we continue to navigate an unpredictable school year. We are so excited to see our students again very soon!
Sincerely,
David Giesen
Falcon Ridge Elementary Principal
(952) 758-1601 and dgiesen@isd721.org
Staff Perspective - Tyler Glynn, First Grade Teacher
New Year, New Beginnings!
Happy 2021! To say that the year 2020 was anything but ordinary would be an understatement. We have all done our best to navigate shutdowns, stay-at-home orders, sacrificing family time, pausing sports and activities, and of course distance learning. Whether learning from a hybrid or distance learning model, credit goes out to families, students, and teachers for continuing to do what is right to ensure that high levels of learning are still evident. Throughout my experience teaching during these uncertain times, I have found myself taking a step back and realizing many things to be reminded of:
Teachers are capable of so much more than I ever thought possible.
Children are so resilient with ever-changing situations.
Technology continues to amaze me.
Parents and families are supportive and truly root for their children and teachers to be successful.
Collaboration is more important now than ever before.
Engagement continues to be at the forefront of everything we do.
Colleagues make everything feel better in the end.
Attitude makes a BIG difference in how we view and handle situations.
Work/life balance - you cannot take care of others if you do not first take care of yourself.
Nothing in the world could replace face-to-face learning and interacting with students on a daily basis.
With the new year, brings new beginnings: new beginnings of hope and encouragement of brighter days ahead. Even living during a pandemic, there is SO much to be thankful for. No matter the situation, I am confident that we can do anything that life throws our way. This past year has been a testament to that. Thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do for your child(ren) and their education. We are so appreciative of you. We see you and we hear you.
Stay positive, happy, hopeful, healthy, and kind. Here’s to a year full of possibilities!
Message from Nutrition Services
On behalf of everyone in the Nutrition Services Department, thank you for your continued support! Thank you for being flexible with us as we have had to adjust to changing learning models, weather and regulations. We are happy to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students, whether they are in school or at home. Every meal that we serve or distribute benefits the department and the district.
Upcoming date to note:
- Mon., Jan. 4: Resume free meal pickup at Raven Stream and Eagle View from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and Middle School from 5-6 p.m. Sign up via Infinite Campus School Store by Friday (1/1) at noon.
Kim Harren, RD, SNS | Director of Nutrition Services
New Prague Area Schools | 410 Central Ave. N. | New Prague, MN 56071
phone: 952-758-1772 | fax: 952-758-1799
www.npaschools.org | facebook | twitter
New Prague Area Schools: Proud Tradition, Promising Future
Fundraising Made Simple
In working with our Falcon Ridge PAC, I want to make all of our families aware of some easy ways to support our students at Falcon Ridge by using a few simple steps with businesses that you may already be spending money with:
- NEW! Shutterfly - Simply click on this Shutterfly link and start shopping. A percentage will go directly to our Falcon Ridge PAC.
- Amazon Smile - when you shop online at Amazon. This will help raise money for the Falcon Ridge PAC, which supports all students and all staff! Again, it's easy to do so: 1. Sign in to smile.amazon.com in your desktop or mobile phone browser, 2. from your desktop, go to "Your Account" from the navigation at the top of the page, 3. select the option to "Change your Charity" from the options at the bottom of the page, 4. choose Falcon Ridge Elementary PAC. For every eligible purchase you make on smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% directly to our Falcon Ridge PAC.
- Coborns School Rewards - Coborn's, Inc. is committed to donating $150,000 to local entities during the 2019-2020 school year. The points your school earns will help grow their share of the $150,000 total. It's like a pie; the size of your school's slice will depend on how many points they have received. Schools should encourage their supporters to register for their location at moreRewards.com: 1. Go to moreRewards.com, 2. create a login, 3. proceed to login, 4. go to "manage my membership," 5. choose school rewards, 6. select Falcon Ridge, and you are done! It is just that easy! You can also easily add it through the More Rewards phone app: 1. go to rewards, 2. slide the school rewards button to green, 3. below the button there should be an option for you to change to your school, 4. search for Falcon Ridge, and 5. select Falcon Ridge.
2020-21 Falcon Ridge Monthly Character Traits
R-espect (September)
E-ffort (October)
A-ttitude (November)
P-ride (December)
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C-ooperation (January)
A-ssertion (February)
R-esponsibility (March)
E-mpathy (April)
S-elf Control (May)