Albertville Primary School

October-Kindergarten Newsletter

POPs - Parents of Primaries Organization

POPs - Parents of Primaries Organization

POPs is the parent organization at Albertville Primary School. The goal of POPs is to support and encourage the students, parents and staff of Albertville Primary.

Parents/guardians of Albertville Primary students are welcome to attend any or all of the meetings. Meetings are held in the Albertville Primary Media Center at 6:00 p.m.


Meeting dates are:

· October 11

· December 13

· February 21

· April 11

Don’t miss our first meeting on Tuesday, October 11!


During this meeting I will be asking parents the following questions:

· How has the transition to kindergarten been for your child? For you?

· What form of communication do you prefer? I.E. email, Facebook, Twitter, SeeSaw, School Website, etc.

· What can we do better as a school?

· School Safety

· We will also have a school levy presentation at this meeting


Thank you,

Mr. McDonald

POPs - Parents of Primaries Organization
Important Dates

Important Dates

October 7: Fire Station-Walking Field Trip


October 11: POPs Mtg @ 6:00 PM in Media Center


October 12: Wear blue for Trustworthiness (Character Counts)


October 13: Picture Retake Day


October 20 & 21: No School


November 3: Kindergarten Early Release at 11:45 AM for parent/teacher conferences.

*Children enrolled in the Kids Play program that need childcare after school on the early dismissal days, must register online at stma.ce.eleyo.com

Important Dates
OUTSIDE RECESS

OUTSIDE RECESS

Please be mindful of the weather. Our kindergarten students go outside for 30 minutes of recess every day. As temperatures turn colder, please remember to send your child to school with a jacket, hat, mittens/gloves. When the snow begins to fly, make sure to add snow pants and boots.

Thank you!

OUTSIDE RECESS

CHARACTER COUNTS

STMA is dedicated to strengthening the character of young people through promotion of the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship (T. R. R. F. C. C.).


During October, we are focusing on trustworthiness. Trustworthiness can be explained to kindergarteners by explaining that good people are people you can trust. They are honest and tell the truth. They are brave enough to do good things, even when people want them to do bad things. They keep promises. If they say they’ll do something they do it. They say and do good things for their families and friends. They are loyal.

To celebrate trustworthiness students and staff will wear blue on October 12.


Trustworthiness Tips for Young Students:

· Tell only the truth.

· Say what you mean.

· If you find something, return it to its owner.

· Do the good things you say you’ll do.

· Do the right thing, even when people want you to do bad things.

· Return things you borrow.

· Keep promises.

· Be careful of what you say you’ll do. Only say you will do the things you think you really can do.

LUNCH VISITORS

LUNCH VISITORS

Starting Monday, October 24…...

We will begin welcoming family members to have lunch with their child. This date has been selected in order to allow students ample time to learn and practice our lunchroom routine. If you would like to join your child for lunch at school, PLEASE contact the office by 9:00 AM on that day or the day before (you may also email your child's teacher). Also, please include whether you plan to eat school lunch or if you will be bringing in your own lunch when you call or email ahead of time.

By asking families to call ahead, this will allow us to have ample space in our lunchroom. Thank you!

LUNCH VISITORS
Student Absences

Student Absences

For the safety of students, it is important to call in all absences. Parents are asked to call in all absences from school to the office before 7:30 a.m. Parents can call the 24 hour attendance line anytime at 763-497-2688 to report an absence. If parents do not call in each absence, school personnel will attempt to contact parents.

If contact does NOT occur within 24 hours of the absence, the absence will be marked as unexcused.

Student Absences
Minnesota Reading Corps

Minnesota Reading Corps

Albertville Primary is excited and fortunate to have Mrs. Resa Delaney and Mrs. Angie Grubbs in our school as a Minnesota Reading Corps Literacy Members this year. MN Reading Corp (MRC) is a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader by the end of grade three. These two MRC tutors will be working with kindergarten students who are identified as Reading Corp eligible students based on assessment data. These students will receive individualized instruction to help them reach their reading target. Members tutor students for 15-20 minutes each day using specific interventions that build early literacy skills. Members collect data each week to make instructional decisions for students.


Please direct questions you have about the program to Kaye Johnson, Albertville Primary Reading Specialist and MRC Internal Coach at kayej@mystma.org or 763-497-2688.

Minnesota Reading Corps
ZONES OF REGULATION

ZONES OF REGULATION

Kindergartners will be learning about and using the Zones of Regulation this year. The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavior approach used to teach self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete zones. The Zones curriculum provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of, and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve conflicts.

The Four Zones:

· The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behavior, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone.

· The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, one has some control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.

· The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.

· The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings, such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.

ZONES OF REGULATION
Big picture
Picture Retake Day - Mark Your Calendar

Picture Retake Day - Mark Your Calendar

Zahler Photography will be conducting picture retakes on

Thursday, October 13 from

8:00-9:30 AM and from 11:30-12:00 PM.

*Send back your original photo packet in order to receive Free retakes.*

Picture Retake Day - Mark Your Calendar
Big picture

Remember to Vote on November 8!

On November 8, 2022, STMA will ask taxpayers to consider an operating levy. This is a predictable and sustainable source of local revenue that focuses on students and the classroom.


While STMA schools are a big point of pride in our community, our district faces pressing financial challenges due to forces largely out of our control. Low state funding and stabilizing enrollment, exacerbated by the pandemic, have created an unforeseeable combination of multiple short-term and long-term impacts to our budget. Over the last few months, we listened to stakeholders and adjusted. Our needs remain, and we are asking for considerably less than requested in November, 2021.


Please visit the levy webpage or attend an informational session to get factual information.

  • Friday, October 7 1:00 p.m. MW Auditorium Coffee & Conversation

  • Wednesday, October 12 7:00 a.m. MW Auditorium

  • Thursday, October 13 7:00 p.m. HS PAC

  • Monday, October 17 9:00 a.m. MW Auditorium Coffee & Conversation

Please remember to vote! You can vote on November 8 or you can vote early as MN allows voters to cast ballots early for any reason. Early voting started Friday, September 23. Early voting forms can be found in all school offices and on the levy webpage.