The EPAT Meeting will be virtual on Tuesday, November 30, from 6-7 pm. There is no in-person meeting. You can join the virtual meet at meet.google.com/dqb-vfst-pzm

Parents, in an effort to help reduce disruption in classrooms during the day, please call ahead of time to either the attendance line (651-621-6601) or the main office line (651-621-6600) to notify us you need to pick up your student early so we can get a pass to them to leave class on their own without disrupting and having to call into the room. We appreciate your help!

Thank you for your ongoing support of Edgewood, and for considering a donation to EPAT. The EPAT fundraising effort concluded yesterday, November 18, and we have asked all students to submit their envelopes to their first hour teacher. If they have not done so, please have them dropped off at the front office ASAP.

TODAY (November 19), we are hosting the End of Fundraiser Community Day. We will have a shortened 1-7 schedule, with the typical period 6/7 time being our Community Day. This is the shortened schedule for the day. The remaining part of the day, students will participate in different activities.

Just a reminder that TODAY, NOVEMBER 19, is the deadline to get the early bird special pricing of $15.00 for a yearbook. After TODAY, pricing will go up to $20 per book & will only be available to order online. Last year, we ran out of extra copies for students to purchase at the end of the year so to guarantee you receive one, order your own copy today! Go to http://ybpay.com and type in the yearbook ID code #10712922.

Just a reminder that there is no school the week of Monday, November 22, through Friday, November 26, due to teacher workdays/Fall Break. The main office will be closed during this time.

Also note, winter break will take place Thursday, December 23, through Friday, December 31. Students will return on Monday, January 3. The main office will be closed during this time.

With COVID-19 cases rising in our community and schools, please keep these tips from the CDC in mind as you enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones. Refer to this District-wide message for more reminders about staying safe in the coming weeks.

To receive a Thanksgiving bag with all the fixings including a turkey or gift card, please call the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf at 651-621-6280.

Do you need help with toys and gifts for your children? To register your children (birth to grade 12), please visit http://www.operationjoymn.org. Deadline to register is December 3.

Join Mounds View Public Schools and the Shoreview/Arden Hills Lions Club for an upcoming webinar on parenting during the holidays. Learn tips on communication, managing stress and maintaining relationships during the holidays. Learn more here.

The 7th and 8th Grade bands along with the Jazz Band will be performing Thursday, November 18, at 7:00 pm. The 6th Grade and Beginning Bands will perform Tuesday, December 7, at 7:00 pm. Band students should arrive at 6:30 pm. Both concerts will be livestreamed on the Edgewood Music Department's Youtube Channel. Come support the awesome work our band students have put in this fall!

It’s been a while since we’ve experienced a weather-related school cancellation. Here are five things to remember this year:

1. If winter weather conditions force school closures this year, there will be no instruction held on the affected day(s).

2. Families will not receive a “We’ll be open tomorrow” message during wintery weather evenings. Always assume schools will remain in session, until you hear or see differently from Mounds View Public Schools.

3. Within 20 minutes of a decision to close schools, families will receive text, voicemail, and email messages. Make sure your contact information is current in ParentVUE. Instructions can be found here.

4. Want your student to also receive an alert? Parents can add their student’s cell phone for emergency text alerts in ParentVUE. Here’s how.

5. If you've blocked ANY previous text messages from us in the past, you won't receive any emergency alerts. To unblock your cell phone, contact your school's front office.

The decision to close schools is a difficult one to make, and we realize that it significantly impacts all of our families. To learn more about the criteria for school closures, visit here.

Mark your calendars for our other upcoming Music Concerts. Watch for more information closer to performance dates!

• Thursday, December 2, @ 7:00 pm - Winter Choir Concert (All Grades)
• Thursday, December 9, @ 7:00 pm - Orchestra/Chamber Orchestra Concert
• Tuesday, December 14, @ 7:00 pm - 6th Grade/PW/SS Orchestra Concert

Just a reminder, due to bus driver shortages, we will only have transportation on Mondays & Wednesdays of each week for after-school activities. There are three activity bus routes available, check here and click on the routes to see which bus drop-off location is closest to your home and make sure your student knows which bus to take home if they stay after for activities. Staff will be available at the buses to help students.

MONDAY, November 22 - FRIDAY, November 26

• NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

MONDAY, November 29 (A Day)

• Chess Club - Cafeteria 6:50-7:30 AM

• Breakfast Served – Cafeteria 7:15–7:40 AM

• After School Snack – Cafeteria 2:25-2:35 PM

• Art Club - Room 004 2:30-4:00

• Chamber Orchestra - Room 136 2:35-3:15 and 3:20-4:00

• Choir Ensemble - Choir Room 2:30-4:00

• FTC Robotics - Room 040 2:30-4:00

• Jazz Band - Band Room 2:30-3:20

• Math Team Practice - Room 121 2:30-3:30

• Math Zone - Room 16 2:30-3:30

• Quiz Bowl - Room 022 2:30-3:30

• Reading Zone - Room 001 2:30-3:30

• Science Zone - Room 003 2:30-3:30

• Social Studies Zone - Room 120 2:30-3:30

• Spanish Zone - Room 106 2:30-4:00

• Strategy Game Club - Cafeteria 2:30-4:00

• Unified Club - Room 232 2:30-3:30

• Volleyball - Red Gym 2:30-4:00

TUESDAY, November 30 (B Day)

• Breakfast Served – Cafeteria 7:15–7:40 AM

• After School Snack – Cafeteria 2:25-2:35 PM

• Orchestra Zone - Room 136 2:30-3:30

• Reading Zone - Room 001 2:30-3:30

• Social Studies Zone - Room 120 2:30-3:30

WEDNESDAY, December 1 (A Day)

• Breakfast Served – Cafeteria 7:15–7:40 AM

• After School Snack – Cafeteria 2:25-2:35 PM

• FTC Robotics - Room 040 2:30-4:00
  

• Math Zone - Room 16 2:30-3:30

• Quiz Bowl - Room 022 2:30-3:30

• Reading Zone - Room 001 2:30-3:30

• Science Zone - Room 003 2:30-3:30

• Social Studies Zone - Room 120 2:30-3:30

• STARS Club (by invitation only) - Room 020 2:30-3:30

• Swim Club (Must sign up in office) - Pool 2:30-3:45

• Volleyball - Red Gym 2:30-4:00

THURSDAY, December 2 (B Day)

• Breakfast Served – Cafeteria 7:15–7:40 AM

• After School Snack – Cafeteria 2:25-2:35 PM

• Creative Writing Club - Room 122 2:30-3:30

• Jazz Band - Band Room 2:30-3:20

• Reading Zone - Room 001 2:30-3:30

• Social Studies Zone - Room 120 2:30-3:30

FRIDAY, December 3 (A Day)

• Breakfast Served – Cafeteria 7:15–7:40 AM

• After School Snack – Cafeteria 2:25-2:35 PM

• GSA - Room 022 2:30-3:30
  
  

*Activities are subject to change, please listen for daily announcements.

Registration for winter sports (Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Fitness Training, Swimming, and Floor Hockey) will open on Monday, December 6, at 9:00 am.

Check out the Choir groups starting in the near future:

Ensemble will begin on Monday, November 29, from 2:30-4:00 every Monday in the Choir Room.

Choir Leadership Team will begin on Wednesday, December 8, from 2:30-3:30 every Wednesday in the Choir room.

Contact Ms. Cummings if you have any questions.

Get ready! Iron (Irondale / Spring Lake Park / St.Anthony) Youth Wrestling will be back again this year for grades K - 8th. All practices will go from 6:30- 8:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

We will have 2 sessions.

Session 1 will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from November 16th - December 28th. Session 1 will have 11 practices.

Session 2 will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 4th - March 15th. Session 2 will have 21 practices.

Many of the high school wrestlers will be there to help your child improve their wrestling knowledge, become a better athlete, and of course, have fun and make friends! We will post optional tournament dates throughout the season that our coaches will be at if your wrestler wants to try out the skills that they have been learning.

Costs:

Session 1 - $30/wrestler

Session2 - $60/wrestler

Both sessions - $80/wrestler (Family cap: $150)

Link https://www.irondalewrestling.com/page/show/6740934-youth-youth-2021-2022-

Registration for winter/spring Community Education activities will open at 9 a.m. on December 6, with some classes starting in January 2022. Highlights include:

• All-ages star watch party

• Family ski/snowboarding and tubing events at Wild Mountain

• New youth enrichment opportunities for arts, languages, STEM and more

• Adult enrichment programming for financial planning, gardening and more

See the electronic version of the catalog here.

The recording of the 2021 SEPPAC presentation "Calm Down Kits and Mindfulness" along with the PowerPoint from November 11 are now available here.

Children ages 5 through 11 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage parents and guardians to visit the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Teens website to learn more and to find a vaccine if they choose. We also encourage families to consult with their pediatrician to learn more and decide if vaccination is right for their child.

If your student is in contact with someone with COVID and you have questions in regards to quarantine, please contact our COVID Coordinator, AP Richmond Tweh at richmond.tweh@moundsviewschools.org.

Please note that if your student is ever out due illness or any other reason, they can access homework through Google classroom. You can also email teachers directly, if needed.

The Minnesota Department of Health encourages the following groups to get tested regularly. With the at-home program and community sites offering free testing across the metro, it's easy to find a test.

• Unvaccinated teachers, staff and students in K-12 should test weekly at a minimum or more frequently per CDC guidance.

• People who are unvaccinated should test before travel (domestic or international).

• Even if you are vaccinated, you should get tested

• if you have symptoms of the virus;

• if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19;

• if you are returning from international travel;

• or if you have attended a large gathering or event where people are not wearing masks and are not able to stay 6 feet apart.

Our community continues to have many free COVID-19 testing options available:

• Walk-in or schedule an appointment at one of the state's COVID-19 community testing sites. The Brooklyn Park site continues to offer free saliva testing seven days a week (weekdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.).

• Order a free at-home test kit.

• Additional testing options: Ramsey County COVID-19 testing.

Edgewood Parents & Teachers (EPAT) is an organization in which parents, as well as Edgewood (EW) teachers and administration work together to help meet the needs of the EW students and staff. This includes funding for EPAT-sponsored student events, providing grants to teachers for items not covered in the school's budget, and staff appreciation events.

We understand that not all families may be in a position to give right now, but if you have the means, please consider a direct donation to EPAT. There are several ways to contribute, but direct donation maximizes the dollars available to support our students and teachers! Here are our current fundraisers:

• Direct Donation
  • Send it via U.S. mail to:
    Edgewood Middle School, Attn: EPAT
    5100 Edgewood Drive, Mounds View, MN 55112
  • Shannon Mildenberger is available at Edgewood to receive donations in person
  • Donate online:
    o Venmo information (see below)
• Amazon Smile (Group Name: Edgewood Middle School PTO)
• Tasteocracy (Group Name: Edgewood Parents and Teachers PTO Group)

If you would like more information or are willing to volunteer your time to support the EW community, go to our website at https://www.moundsviewschools.org/edgewood or please contact margaret.meyer@moundsviewschools.org or lockwood.kimberly@gmail.com.

Check the weekly Edgewood E-news for updates on EPAT and our upcoming meetings.

Bus 15 will transport Edgewood students who are scheduled to go to Irondale after school for athletics or activities.

Seventh & eighth grade athletes that wish to participate on a high school team will also register online. Before you begin your online registration, approval must be obtained from the middle school principal or dean, the high school activities director and coach. In addition, signatures from both student & parent/guardian are also required. Please complete this Middle School consent form and deliver to the high school activities office before you begin the online registration.

In addition to the youth programs and enrichment opportunities available through the District's Community Ed Department, a number of activities, camps and youth programs are hosted by area cities, local businesses, community organizations and school PTA groups. Please see offerings available in the district attendance area here.

Though schools and buses usually have a limited number of extra masks on hand, please make sure your child is bringing their mask to school and/or on the bus each day. As a reminder, Mounds View Public Schools requires that students, staff, and visitors wear masks while inside its buildings. The federal government also requires face coverings for individuals while riding on all forms of public transportation, including school buses. If you are in need of reusable masks for your child, please contact your school.

Parents/guardians, just a quick reminder that the frontage road next to the tennis courts off of Woodale Road is an ENTER ONLY road. Please DO NOT EXIT out that way; please exit out of the parking lot back out onto Edgewood Drive after dropping off/picking up your student. Thank you for your help in keeping our families safe!

If your student will be absent, coming in late, leaving early, etc., please leave a message on our 24/7 attendance line at 651-621-6601. You may also report an absence through ParentVUE.

If your student is leaving early, you may also send a note with your student to bring to the front office. We will issue a pass to them so they can leave their class early to come down, sign out, and be ready for pick-up.

We realize there are times when families take vacations when school is in session. If that is the case, we ask that you please complete our "Extended Absence Form". This form is used to inform the school office and teachers of your child's absence. Also, just a reminder to parents planning to take students out-of-town for a week or more should arrange with the teachers/Deans to have school assignments issued in advance of the trip. Students should also plan to stay after school, if needed, when they return to make up missed work.

Just a reminder that if you are picking up your student early, you can either send a note for them to drop off at the front office or report it through ParentVUE or the 24-hour attendance line at 651-621-6601. The office will give your student a pass to leave early with the time noted when they are to be dismissed. Please note, it is the student's responsibility to share the note with their teacher and leave at the time of the dismissal. Your student should then come to the office, sign out, then wait until you arrive. Please help remind your student if you need to pick them up early on any given day. If students return back to school during the day, they can sign themselves back in and we will give them a pass to return back to class.

Attention students: It is critical and expected that you bring your charged Chromebook to school everyday. Please be sure to place your Chromebook inside your backpack each evening or morning after you have charged it to ensure it is ready for you at school.

Breakfast, lunch, and snack are FREE to all students this year; however, if they want items from the Ala Carte (snacks, juice, treats, etc.), they need to add money to their lunch accounts and use their lunch pins to access.

PLEASE NOTE: The funds must be put in an envelope provided on the black collection boxes located either in the front lobby or outside the cafeteria door. The envelopes NEED to include the student's first & last name then NEEDS TO BE PUT into the secure cash box or drop it off in the front office. PLEASE INFORM YOUR STUDENT NOT SET THEIR MONEY/ENVELOPE ON TOP OF THE BOX! The cafeteria collects the money at 9:00 am each morning. They cannot take money during lunch. Thank you for your help in this matter.

The safest way to add money is through the online Paypams account here.

Get ready for back to school with new spirit wear! Take a look at Edgewood's options here. Shop from a selection of t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, vests and other accessories.

Para asistencia en traducciones ó ayuda como intérprete, por favor llama 651-724-2854. Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau 651-724-0396. Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad ah ama turjumaad, fadlan kala 651-724-7482.