Meadowbrook News
October 15, 2021
From Mrs. Sawatzky
Good afternoon Meadowbrook,
Thank you to those of you who have reached out with interest in the Caregiver Advisory Committee. I look forward to collaborating with this group in order to gather input and feedback from our caregivers as we journey towards 2031. We still need a few more caregivers in order to be representative of our Meadowbrook demographics. If this committee interests you, please send me an email at natalie.sawatzky@hopkinsschools.org.
This week marks the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout the past month, classrooms have learned more about the contributions and culture of Latinx people. One of our parents, Victor Valdez (who your kids may recognize as DJ Victor), provided the video below about the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month; take a look! Also this week our classrooms recognized and discussed Indigenous People's Day on Monday.
I've been receiving emails from caregivers regarding safety before and after school. Here are a few reminders for adults and students:
- If students are riding bikes to or from school, they should use the bike lanes. Biking side by side another biker in the bike lane is unsafe and it is best to be single-file.
- When biking, please stay off your phone.
- If you need to cross Glenwood Avenue, please use the crosswalk. Please do not run through traffic.
- At bus stops, you should not drive past the bus when it is stopped. Please wait until the bus departs the stop before leaving the stop.
- At Door A, we ask all students to stay on the sidewalk or grass when entering their vehicle. Please do not encourage your student to cut through the parking lot to reach your car.
Lastly, the weather has changed and the colder temperatures seem to be here to stay. Our students go outside every day unless it is raining or lightning. Please make sure your student is prepared to spend time outside and is dressed for the weather. Being cold at recess makes it a lot less fun!
Have a great weekend,
Natalie
P.S. Remember there is no school next week, October 18-22!
Fall Conferences
We are looking forward to connecting with you during our upcoming fall conferences! Elementary fall conferences are scheduled for Monday, October 18th from 11:00am to 7:00pm and Tuesday, October 19th from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
The conference sign-ups are now closed, but you can schedule a conference by contacting your child's classroom teacher.
Lost and Found
Multi-Age at Meadowbrook
If you'd like to donate a pair of socks, feel free to send them to school with your child, who can bring them to the office or to Mrs. Juba, Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Gleason, or Mrs. Bancroft's classroom.
Caregiver Community Building Circle
Ms. Pakenham, Mr. Lawson, and I welcome you to participate in our first Caregiver Community Building Talking Circle on Thursday, November 4 at 6:00pm. The theme of our circle discussion will be "Caregiver Inclusivity at Meadowbrook" and we hope you will consider adding your voice to the discussion. This is an in-person event and free school-aged childcare will be provided; please complete this form if you will utilize childcare.
Virtual Kindergarten Information Night
Reminder for Open-Enrolled Families
Siblings of current open-enrolled students are not automatically enrolled and you must complete an open enrollment application. The application deadline is January 18, 2022.
Parent Support Group Opportunities through St. David’s Center
St. David's Center for Child and Family Development a 60-year-old non-profit organization in the Twin Cities, has partnered with the Hopkins School District to house school-based mental health therapists in schools since the spring of 2014. St. David’s Center received DHS state grant funding to expand its supports to families during the 2021-2022 school year. This new offering is a monthly online support group for parents. Please complete the short survey to provide feedback about what needs can be addressed.
Hopkins Public Schools is Hiring!
If you or someone you know would like to be a part of an inclusive school community on a mission to transform what education looks like — we need you! We currently have positions open in transportation, nutrition, event coordination, marketing and communications, teaching, early childhood and more. Ready to get started? View our Careers page.
Thank You Girl Scout Troop 18040
On behalf of our Meadowbrook community; Thank you Troop 18040!
Yearbooks
School is in full swing and we are hard at work on your child’s 2022 Yearbook. We can’t wait for you to see this year’s book! Don’t put it off, order now at the link below.
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/LookupJob?jobNumber=14465722
Renaming the Lindbergh Center
Last June, the Hopkins School Board voted unanimously to convene a committee to recommend a new name for the Lindbergh Center. Please help by giving us your input on renaming the Lindbergh Center. Click here.
Hopkins Online Royal Academy
The Open Enrollment period for the Online Royal Academy (ORA) has closed. Families wishing to pursue an in district transfer to the ORA may still do so using the in-district transfer request process. That process can be found here. Please follow the drop-down directions titled: We live in the District but want our child to attend a school other than their assigned school (In-District Transfer). ORA will accept and process transfers as space permits. For help with the In-District transfer process, please contact Deb Pauly at Deborah.Pauly@hopkinsschools.org.
The Meadowbrook PTO has a new website, check it out! This is where you can access the online directory and so much more!
Room Parents Needed
Are you interested in being a room parent this year?
Please let us know which teacher/class you would like to help by completing our form here: https://forms.gle/VBDyZfHtbPBoDbiXA
Restaurant Nights
Restaurant Night Location Change: D'Amico and Sons - Golden Valley
7804 Olson Memorial Highway
Tuesday, October 26, 4pm - 8pm
Mention Meadowbrook when ordering online/in person/call in for dine in or take-out and D'Amico will donate 15% of the order to the Meadowbrook PTO!
Any questions? Reach out to us at meadowbrookelementarypto@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instragram, or our PTO website
Caregiver Education Events
Lead by a Parent Educator, we will explore Sibling Relationships, Teaching Your Child To Speak Up for Themselves, Playful Parenting, Stress and Family Self Care in four events with our Kindergarten-Sixth grade Elementary Parents. All Events will be virtual meetings, and the Google Meet will be sent in your registration confirmation.
Teaching Your Child To Speak Up for Themselves
Learning to speak up for yourself and assert wants and needs is an important skill for children as they navigate social relationships and school. We will look at ways we can foster assertive and clear communicators and support our children with their social emotional development.
Thursday, Oct. 28, 7:30-8:30pm VIRTUAL
https://meet.google.com/zzi-jxiw-xwz
Playful Parenting
One of the easiest ways to connect to our children is through play. We will discuss different ways to incorporate playfulness into your family dynamic to decrease stress, increase happiness and find new ways to communicate with your family.
Thursday, Nov. 11, 7:30-8:30pm VIRTUAL
Stress and Family Self Care
Take an hour to reflect on how to create more mindful moments in your family's routine to decrease stress and promote more self care. Parenting and family life can be stressful. You will leave with new tools to bring more calm into your family life.
Thursday, Nov. 18, 7:30-8:30pm VIRTUALTo register for these events, use this link.
Registration for Fall Programs
Registration for Community Education fall programs is now open! Pre-season wrestling, after school art classes, Home Alone Safety classes, chess club, online classes and many more offerings are available. Register online at hopkins.ce.eleyo.com
COVID-19 Updates
Please remember to have your child complete a daily health screening before attending school. It is very important that you keep your child home if they are experiencing any cold or flu symptoms.Thank you for helping us keep our schools operating as normal as possible!You can find updates and information related to our school’s safety plan on our COVID Hub.
COVID-19 Dashboard is now live
Hopkins Public Schools COVID-19 Dashboard is now live. The 2021-22 dashboard shares the level of transmission rate of the virus in our community and also the number of positive cases and quarantines among staff and students. The dashboard will be updated Fridays at 12 p.m.
Face Mask Use
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Minnesota, it has become more important than ever for all scholars, staff, and visitors to wear a face mask in our schools and other buildings. We will provide a washable, reusable cloth face mask to every scholar in need of a mask. Due to the high cost of disposable masks, we are not able to provide them to scholars each day. Please send multiple face masks with your child each day. We encourage one to wear and at least one for backup.
Free At-Home COVID-19 Testing for Hopkins Scholars
Hopkins Schools will continue to offer weekly COVID-19 testing for all scholars. Through grant funds, we hope to purchase more test kits and continue our testing program throughout the rest of the school year.
Upon request, students may pick up Vault Saliva Test Kits at their school’s main office to take and complete at home. Your child’s saliva sample must be returned to the school nurse by 12:00 noon on Tuesday. Vault’s COVID-19 At-Home Testing Instructions can be found here. Vault will email results to the participant within 48 to 72 hours. In addition, families who would like test kits on hand may order free home testing kits through the MN Department of Health at any time.
More Vaccination Information
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is safe and easy. Everyone in your family aged 12 or older is eligible for vaccination. Many healthcare providers and retailers with pharmacies now provide vaccinations. They include CVS, Cub Foods, Hy-Vee, Target / CVS, Thrifty White Pharmacy, Walgreens, and Walmart / Sam’s Club. For more information, please visit this MDH website.
Meal Benefits Applications
All student meals are free for the 2021-22 school year. However, you can help our district qualify for important federal and state financial resources to support education by submitting a meal benefits application for your family. Please complete the 2021-22 Free Meal Application for Educational Benefits form.
Paper copies can be filled out and returned to the Meadowbrook office.
Questions? Contact the Student Nutrition Office:
Email Nutrition@HopkinsSchools.org or call 952-988-4060
Important Calendar Dates
October 18 & 19: No School: Caregiver/Teacher Conferences
October 20: No School: Staff Development Day
October 21 & 22: No School: Education Minnesota Convention
October 26: MB Restaurant Night - D'Amico and Sons
November 2: No School, Election Day - Staff Professional Learning Day
November 4: Caregiver Community Building Circle at 6:00pm
November 9: Virtual Kindergarten Information Session 6:30pm
Meadowbrook Elementary
Main Office Line: 952-988-5100
Attendance Line: 952-988-5110
https://meadowbrook.hopkinsschools.org/families/attendance
Online Student Directory: www.meadowbrookpto.ptoffice.com
Email: natalie.sawatzky@hopkinsschools.org
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/meadowbrook-elementary
Location: 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, MN 55422, USA
Phone: (952) 988-5100
Facebook: facebook.com/HopkinsMeadowbrook
Twitter: @MeadowbrookGV