Wilson Parent Newsletter
September 2018
Message from the Principal
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year at Wilson Elementary! We’re excited to get back to work with you and your children! We’re committed to continuing our strong parent and community partnerships with the school to ensure our students have an exciting, empowering, and world-class relevant education!
Wilson underwent some construction this summer replacing part of our HVAC system, remodeling a bathroom and our guided library. In addition, we also have replaced our desktop computers and several pieces of furniture. Each year, we get to welcome new staff to our building so please join me in welcoming the following staff changes for the 2018-19 school year:
Kacie Clauson (Teaching and Learning Coach)
Alisha Field (Social Worker)
Rachael Ingalls (Level III Special Education Teacher)
Luke Holt (P.E. Teacher)
Angela Andreen (Music Teacher)
A reminder to please read the article below about the before school interviews we are doing this year. It's important that all families are signed up for a time and all details are listed below.
Your continued support of your children at home is appreciated as well as critical for their success in school. We are looking forward to another fun, exciting, and productive school year!
Best Regards,
Melodee Hoffner, Principal
Facebook @WilsonOwatonna Twitter @WilsonOwatonna
#inspiringexcellence #owatonnaproud
Before School Interviews
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Sign up for Before School Interviews Grades 1-5:
Please follow the link to sign up for a 40 minute interview time with your child’s teacher.
https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Wilson_Elementary
or you can access the link on our elementary school website at http://wilselemowatonna.portal.rschooltoday.com/ If you have questions or do not have internet access, please call the elementary school office at 444-8400.
Interview times will be on the following dates:
Thursday, August 30th from 7:40-3:10
Tuesday, September 4th from 11:40-7:10
Wednesday. September 5th from 7:40-3:10
**First day of school for grades 1-5 will be Thursday, September 6.**
Sign up for Kindergarten Before School Interviews:
Please follow the link to sign up for a 30 minute interview time with your child’s teacher.
https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Wilson_Elementary
or you can access the link on our elementary school website at http://wilselemowatonna.portal.rschooltoday.com/ If you have questions or do not have internet access, please call the elementary school office at 444-8400.
Interview times will be on the following dates:
Thursday, August 30th from 7:40-3:10
Tuesday, September 4th from 11:40-7:10
**First day of school for kindergarten will be Thursday, September 6th or Friday, September 7th.**
You and your student should plan on being at the school for at least one hour to complete the following items:
School Pictures
5 minute Reading Assessment
Vision and Hearing (Grades 1 and 4)
Scheduled 40 minute interview time with teacher 1-5 and 30 minute interview for K
Spanish:
La hora para la cita de la Entrevista antes del Año Escolar de {Coloca el nombre del niño} es:
Fecha y hora:
Maestro(a):
Importante:
El padre/madre de familia/guardian y el alumno(a) estarán en la escuela por mínimo de una hora para completar lo siguiente:
Fotografías escolares
Evaluación rápida de lectura (5 minutos)
Prueba de vision y auditiva (1o a 4o grados)
Entrevista de 30 a 40 minutos con su maestro(a)
**El primer día de la clases para 1o a 5o grados será el jueves, 6 de septiembre
**El primer día de la clases para preprimaria (kindergarten) será el jueves, 6 de septiembre o el viernes, 7 de septiembre
Somali:
{Ku qor Magaca Ilmaha} wakhtiga jadwalka loogu talagalay wareysiga ka hor sannadka Iskuulka:
Taariikhda iyo waqtiga:
Macallinka:
waxa muhiim:
Waalidka / mas'uulka iyo ilmahaaga waa inuu qorsheeyaa inuu dugsiga joogo ugu yaraan hal saac si uu u dhamaystiro waxyaabaha soo socda: Fadlan ku tala gal ugu yaraan saacad dugsiga si ay u dhamaystiraan hawsha soo socda:
Sawirada Iskuulka
5 daqiiqo Qiimaynta Akhriska
Aragga iyo Maqalka (fasalada 1 illayo 4)
Jadwal u dhig 30-40 daqiiqo waqtiga wareysiga macalinka
** Maalinta ugu horeysa Iskuulka fasallada 1-5 waxay noqon doontaa Khamiista, Sebtembar 6-deeda. **
** Maalinta ugu horeysa Iskuulka caruurta kindergarten waa Khamiista, Sebtembar 6deeda ama Jimcaha, Sebtember 7aad.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- August 30 - Before School Interviews for K-5
- September 4 - Before School Interviews for K-5
- September 5 - Before School Interviews for 1-5
- September 6 - first day of school for grades 1-5 and half of kindergarten starts today (please see initial school letter received or talk to your kindergarten teacher)
- September 7 - other half of kindergarten starts today (please see initial school letter received or talk to your kindergarten teacher)
- September 12 - PTO kickoff
- September 13 - Ice Cream Social 4:30-6:00
- September 18 - PTO meeting 5:00
- September 19 - Vision and hearing rescreening
- September 21 - Homecoming early release - 12:25
- September 22 - Culturfest
- September 24 - PTO fundraiser orders due
- October 15 - K-5 conferences/PTO book fair
- October 16 - K-5 conferences/PTO book fair
- October 17 - K-5 conferences/PTO book fair/no school for K-5
- October 18/19 - No School K-12/Education MN
- October 24 - Picture Retakes - 8:00 a.m.
- October 25 - PTO fundraiser pick up
Early Release for Homecoming
PTO News
Welcome back Wilson Families! My name is Natasha Talamantes and I am the new PTO President. We have a very exciting year ahead of us here at Wilson. If you’re unfamiliar with what we do, let me fill you in! The PTO Party Dues ($6.00 per student) that are paid by you at the start of the school year goes towards four classroom parties: Fall Celebration, Winter Holiday, Valentine’s Day and End of the Year. Without your help this could not happen! Also, all fundraisers we do throughout the year help fund the next phase of the playground, each child’s ROAR t-shirt, the Ice Cream Social, our Wilson Carnival, Teacher and Staff Appreciation, and many more events!
Without volunteers, our events cannot happen. Please make sure you return your PTO form to us with your email! If you want to know more or are interested in helping, please come to a PTO meeting. We meet every third Tuesday of the month at 5 pm in the teacher’s lounge. Our next meeting is September 18th at 5:00 pm. If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like more information, please email me at wilsonpto1@gmail.com.
Stay Connected to PTO!
Like and Follow Wilson Elementary PTO! Watch for our next FB contest!
You can also find us on Twitter! Tweet us @wilson_pto!
Watch for emails to volunteer and follow the link to sign up!
Text 81010 with the message @wilsonpto1 to sign up for free text reminders!
Upcoming events:
Great American Fall Fundraiser: Kick-off is Wednesday, September 12th! This is our main fundraiser and is helped to fund various things throughout the year. Watch for packets to come home and please consider helping your child sell items for the upcoming holidays!
Ice Cream Social: Wilson’s Welcome Back-to-School Ice Cream Social is on September 13th from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. This is a FREE event for all Wilson families so make sure to come celebrate and socialize with all your Wilson friends! We hope to see everyone there!
2018-2019 Wilson PTO Board Members
President – Natasha Talamantes
Treasurer – Jamie Bock
Secretary – Sarah Mensing
Welcome Alisha Field ~ Wilson School Social Worker
Hello Wilson Families!
My name is Alisha Field and I am the new school social worker at Wilson. I am entering a position Sue Schroeder was in for many years. I worked closely this past summer with Sue to make this a smooth transition for the students and families of Wilson. I am super excited to be part of such a wonderful building and cannot wait to work with you and your child/children.
I am an Owatonna alumni and was so excited to get back into the school district that helped me become the person I am. I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Minnesota State University, Mankato. I started with the Owatonna School District in August of 2017. Previous to starting my journey in Owatonna, I worked in the Rochester School District for 6 years as a school social worker.
I married Rob in March of 2015. We welcomed our first daughter Kamryn the following October. We welcomed another little girl, Karsyn, to our family last Fall. We also have two dogs, Macy and Morgan. We are a busy family of four plus two fur babies. We enjoy going for walks, going to parks, finding water parks to go to, watching races at dirt tracks around the area and attending sporting events.
My passion is working with students and families. We all face many challenges during our lives. Challenges of all sizes, large and small, are easier to conquer with support. I hope to be a support for the families of Wilson. Please reach out to me if you find your family or student facing any size challenge.
To reach me directly, call 507-444-8415 or email me at afield@isd761.org. I cannot wait to begin working with you.
Here is to a great school year!
Alisha Field
Alisha Field, MSW, LGSW
School Social Worker
Wilson Elementary
Visitors to the Building
Culturfest at Wilson ~ September 22
Field Trip Chaperones and Volunteers
School Parking
Healthy Classroom Snacks & Party Treats 2018-2019
Nutrition Services
Owatonna Nutrition Services will now offer MyPaymentsPlus so you can manage your student's meal account all in one place! This includes monitoring your student's meal balance, making pre-payments into their account, setting up low balance notifications or auto-payments, and more! Please visit www.MyPaymentsPlus.com to register for an account and start taking advantage of the benefits!
Application for Meal Benefits
Go to www.owatonna.feepay.com or www.owatonna.k12.mn.us > District Services > Nutrition Services and click “Apply Now” to fill out the online application quickly and confidentially. Paper applications can be picked up at the District Office at 515 West Bridge Street or at your child's school. Please call Nutrition Services at 444-8616 if you have questions.
Office Information
School Hours (7:55-2:25)
325 Meadow Lane
507-444-8400 (Main Line)
507-444-8405 (Attendance Line)
Health Office Hours (7:45-2:45)
Spanish Liaison Hours (7:45-2:30)
Somali Liaison Hours
Reminders
- Call the office before 9:00 a.m. if your child will be absent.
- The first bell rings at 7:50 and students are able to enter the building at that time. If students enter the building after 7:55 they need to check in at the office as they will be marked tardy.
- Please check the lost and found area as many items are there waiting to be claimed.
- Please remember to notify the office if you have a phone, address or email change.
Lunch Schedule
Please feel free to stop in and have lunch with your child. Remember to bring your photo ID (driver's license) to the office and receive a visitor badge.
1st grade
- 11:05-11:25 recess
- 11:25-11:45 lunch
5th grade
- 11:15-11:35 recess
- 11:35-11:55 lunch
Kindergarten
- 11:25-11:45 recess
- 11:45-12:05 lunch
4th grade
- 11:35-11:55 recess
- 11:55-12:15 lunch
2nd grade
- 11:45-12:05 recess
- 12:05-12:25 lunch
3rd grade
- 12:15-12:35 lunch
- 12:35-12:55 recess