GLENDALE ELEMENTARY JANUARY NEWS
#ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE- BE THE ONE
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dear Glendale Families,
Happy New Year and welcome 2024!! As we head into colder weather, here are a few reminders for students and families.
Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather. Students will always go outdoors for recess unless the “Feels Like” temperature falls below -5 degrees F or it is steadily raining. All elementary schools will check the local weather forecast using weather.com or a similar website to determine the “Feels Like” temperature.
We require students to wear snow pants (if there is snow) outside if they are using the playground equipment. If they come to school without snow pants they will be asked to play on the blacktop area of the playground.
If a child cannot go outdoors due to health conditions, please contact our health office so that alternate arrangements can be made.
Also, please make sure your child’s name is written on their jacket, hat and gloves. That way if it is misplaced and put in the lost and found, they will be able to find it. Thank you for your attention to these issues.
E-Learning
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools offers E-Learning Days to provide an opportunity for students to learn from home when our schools close due to weather. Our first inclement weather day of the school year will NOT be an E-Learning Day. The first school cancellation due to weather will remain a traditional cancellation as in the past. Should there be a second inclement weather day this school year, an E-Learning Day will be called. For more details, click here.
School Messenger
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools communicate with families using School Messenger. All families that have an email address and phone number registered with the district will receive periodic communications about school related events, emergencies, school closures, and links to other pertinent information. This information will be communicated through emails, text messages, and phone recordings. Anyone who would like to receive text messages regarding school-related news, closures or emergencies, should text "Y" to 67587.
Decisions to close or delay schools will be made as soon as possible. You will be notified through School Messenger. In early dismissal situations, bus students will be transported home.
I am thankful to be starting the new year with you and your child(ren) and am looking forward to all of the amazing learning to come! Thank you for your support and partnership!
Take care,
Jennifer Molitor
JANUARY IMPORTANT DATES & EVENTS
- Jan 2- CLASS RESUMES- WELCOME BACK!
- Jan 4- 5th Grade Trip- Music in the Middle School 10:00AM - 11:30AM
- Jan 5- 5th Grade Ski Trip- Highland Hills 9:30AM - 3:30PM
- Jan 8- 6th Grade Parent Information Night- TOMS 6:30PM
- Jan 9- PTC Meeting 6:30PM
- Jan 10- EARLY RELEASE (1:50 PM Dismissal)
- Jan 11- JNATS Meeting 8:10AM
- Jan 11- LAKER LEADERS Meeting 12:15PM
- Jan 12- GLENMART 2nd & 5th Grade 9:10 - 9:50AM
- Jan 12- January LAKER PRIDE CELEBRATION: "Winter Fun"
- Jan 16- NO SCHOOL- MLK DAY- STAFF WORKSHOP
- Jan 17- Choir Concert Dress Rehearsal for Glendale Students 9:45AM
- Jan 18- Choir Concert 7:00PM
- Jan 19- Bills for Beaks (wear a hat & bring $1)
- Jan 19- CARES BREAKFAST
- Jan 19- GLENMART 3rd & 4th Grade 9:10 - 9:50AM
- Jan 19- 1st Grade Fieldtrip to Science Museum 9:45AM - 2:30PM
- Jan 26- NO SCHOOL- Staff Workshop
- Jan 30- All School Meeting 9:45AM
C.A.R.E.S
Students at Glendale will be recognized for showing the CARES skills through out the school year. Adults can recognize students who are doing an excellent job demonstrating: Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy or Self control. Students who are recognized will be honored with a certificate, have their names announced at an All School Meeting, will be showcased in the Glendale monthly newsletter and will get to enjoy a cinnamon roll breakfast with Mrs. Molitor & the other recipients during morning meeting.
Congratulations to all of the students that received this award for December! The next C.A.R.E.S. breakfast honoring the December winners will be Friday, January 19th.
NEW SCHOOL SAFETY FEATURE
We are excited to share some important news regarding enhanced safety measures at our school entrance. We have recently installed a new video intercom system outside the main entrance that will serve as an additional layer of security, allowing us to better control access to our school.
All visitors must press the call button on the video intercom to notify the front office staff in order to gain admittance to the building. Our staff will be able to communicate with visitors directly through the intercom, ensuring only authorized individuals gain access. Signs will be posted to help everyone learn how to use the system.
Once inside, authorized visitors will still be required to sign in using our visitor management system to gain access beyond the front office/check-in area.
The intercom system has been installed as part of the district’s partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to conduct assessments at our schools called, “Security at First Entry” or “S.A.F.E.”
If you have any questions or concerns as we launch this new feature, please let us know so we can work to ensure our school remains a safe and welcoming learning environment. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our school safe!
WELCOME SIGNAGE
CALL BOX
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTRY
*Translated in Russian, Somalian & Spanish
MATH INFORMATION NIGHT #2
There will be a second district Math Information Night for parents/guardians to learn more about the visual models used in Bridges in Mathematics on January 31st and February 1st from 6:30-7:45pm at Redtail Ridge Elementary. The information presented on January 31st will be specific to parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade and the information presented on February 1st will be specific to 3rd - 5th grade. If you are unable to attend, the information from the Math Information Night will be posted on the district website.
D.O.G.S & JUNIOR NATURALISTS TEAM UP!
The D.O.G.S. came to help the Junior Naturalists make birdhouses the middle of December. The birdhouse kits were purchased by the D.O.G.S. and Home Depot donated the tools we needed to put them together. Our superintendent, Dr. Thomas, even stopped by to help with the project.
The Junior Naturalists had a great time and created some beautiful new homes for our feathered friends. Thank you D.O.G.S. for your help and donation! Thank you Home Depot for the use of your tools! Check out the PLSAS Facebook page to watch a video of the students making their birdhouses.
DIGITAL WELL BEING TIPS
Help your children balance their Media lives. Here are some helpful tips:
Create screen-free times and zones. Help kids take breaks from tech by limiting screen time in bedrooms, during study time, or at the dinner table. Have kids charge their devices in a common location of the house such as the kitchen to avoid distractions before bedtime.
Try parental controls. Set content limits that make sense for your family. Use features such as content filtering, privacy settings, and time limits offered by the apps and platforms your family uses to help manage access and exposure to media.
Establish clear family rules. Decide together what kind of media and tech is OK -- and when it's OK to use it. A family media plan can help get everyone on the same page.
Go to commonsensemedia.org to learn more!
E-LEARNING DAYS FOR INCLIMATE WEATHER
YEARBOOKS ON SALE NEXT WEEK!!
Get ready for the 2023 yearbooks- they will go on sale next week!! Look for the link to order & more information coming soon! And congrats to our "Yearbook Contest" winners! Although we had many great designs, our final winners were: Aubree Wing & Elaina Swinehart in 4th grade (front cover) + Sukrit No in 5th grade (back cover). Way to go guys!
MEET THE STAFF
ANDRIA TURCOTT (Social Worker)
ABOUT ME:
I received my under grad @ Winona State University & did graduate school @ St. Thomas/St. Kate's.
I have worked as a school social worker at the Elementary, Middle and High School level, but have fallen in love with Elementary!
FUN FACTS:
I am a Prior Lake graduate! I attended both Westwood & Grainwood Elementary, HOMS & PLHS.
I have a dog named Geppetto and a cat named Toast. I am a HUGE "Swiftie" and attended the Eras Tour this summer in Denver, CO! My husband & I camper-vanned around Iceland this past summer, going around the whole island in 10 days!
MY FAVORITES:
I love to travel, explore & adventure! My family & friends are SO important to me! I love hiking with my dog and being in nature. I LOVE my job!
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
SPECIALIST SNIP-ITS
Grades 4 and 5 are looking at carved masks from the Tlingit indigenous tribe from southern Alaska and constructing a masks-forms from cardboard. After trying out many construction techniques students will apply their color theory skills to paint their work a color scheme of their choice.
Ask a 3rd grader, “Who weaves?” and you might be surprised at many animals and people who practice going under and over, under and over to make nests, webs, and clothing. Students are working on a round loom and are enjoying putting their favorite color combinations together.
2nd grade has started a unit about experimental drawing, using a paper with a field of dots to inspire their creative drawings. Students are drawing on variety of isometric grids and will use them to explore secondary and tertiary color families with watercolors.
Kindergarten and 1st graders have enjoyed seeing the number-related work of the American painter Jasper Johns. Students are collaging their own masterpieces using numbers, patterns, and watercolors.
MEDIA-
The month of December was spent participating in the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is hosted by Code.org each year in December and gives kids all across the world opportunities to engage in computer science and coding activities. 2nd-5th graders got to try a lot of different coding games throughout the month. Kindergarten and 1st played Code Monkey and Kodable. They all did an awesome job!
MUSIC-
In music, all students learned about the ballet, the Nutcracker. We listened to music from the ballet and talked about the story. We also talked about different holidays our Glendale students celebrate throughout the year, and how many of our holidays are the same in the way we celebrate--with food, family, and gifts. Kindergarteners and 1st graders watched a read aloud of the story of the Nutcracker, and then they went plate skating using paper plates, skating to the music-Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. 2nd through 5th grade played a cup passing game to the music-The Trepak, where they won a prize if they had the special cup at the end of the song!
PHY ED-
Hello Glendale Families! We hope that everyone was able to enjoy the Winter Break with Family and Friends. The few weeks leading up to break was our “Moonlight Bowling” unit here at Glendale. We had so much fun, playing “Add it Up” and “Bowling Bingo” all while the lights were out and the string lights were up around the gym walls. Moonlight bowling is definitely a favorite activity for both the students and the staff. Please help your child to remember to bring tennis shoes to school, they are required to wear proper gym shoes during Physical Education class. This is a safety issue for the student and their classmates. Thank you for your help with this.
COLD WEATHER APPAREL
Dressing your child with warm clothes, hats, gloves, snow pants and boots helps students have a fun time in cold, snowy weather. **Students will always go outdoors for recess unless the "feels like" temperature falls below -5 degrees or it is steadily raining. Please help to make sure your child is prepared for outdoor recess each day!
**IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO LABEL YOUR CHILD’S JACKET, MITTENS, HAT, SNOW PANTS, AND BOOTS TO HELP PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING LOST!!
PTC CORNER
Happy New Year! As we move into the new year, the PTC is working hard to plan some exciting things! We will start our planning soon for the Spring Fling family fun day with games, food trucks, raffles, a silent auction and more! If you are interested in helping to plan this event, please reach out as we would love some additional help! We are bringing back the Eileen’s cookie dough fundraiser, we will be providing a staff dinner during spring conferences and a fun themed teacher appreciation week! Watch for more details on these events and more coming soon!
Glenmart, the school store, is open again this year and the 5th graders have been working hard to make the shopping days a great success for our students! Thanks to all of the kids that have shopped with us!
Upcoming Glenmart shopping dates:
Grades 2nd & 5th- Jan 12th, Feb 9th, Mar 8th
Grades 3rd & 4th- Jan 19th, Feb 23rd, Mar 22nd
If you haven’t already, please consider giving our Facebook page a like to not miss any important details! PTC will be using our Facebook page for updates, event information, restaurant nights, sharing information and more!
https://www.facebook.com/Glendale.PTC
Jenny Olson
Glendale PTC President
D.O.G.S DISH
- The next DOGS meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 3rd @ 7:00PM p.m. at Loon's Landing
- WINTER BLAST EVENT Coming in February! Look for more details to come soon!
- Fun Activities we've been up to include: Bird House Build, Teacher Appreciation Coffee & Donuts, and DOGS Lunch with our students
NOTE FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Greetings from the Health Office!
'Tis the season for...illness! Let's work together to keep each other healthy. When your child is sick, it's important to know when they should stay home from school. If they have a contagious disease, keep them home. This will help them get better faster and keep their teachers and classmates from getting sick. Please remember the following before sending them to school:
KIDS COMPANY
PAST SMORES
CONTACT US
Glendale Attendance Line 952-226-0201
Glendale Main Office 952-226-0200
Glendale Health Office 952-226-0206
Jennifer Molitor, Principal jmolitor@plsas.org
Lindsay Comstock, Dean of Students lcomstock@plsas.org
Dawn Ryan, Head Administrative Assistant dawnryan@plsas.org
Heather Hartman, Building Administrative Assistant hhartman@plsas.org
Andria Turcott, Social Worker aturcott@plsas.org
Technology Helpdesk 952-226-0062 or ithelpdesk@plsas.org
District Transportation 952-226-0050 jswedberg@plsas.org
Prior Lake Bus Company (after hours) 952-440-1166
Glendale Elementary
Email: jmolitor@plsas.org
Website: gd.plsas.org
Location: 6601 Connelly Parkway, Savage, MN, United States
Phone: (952)226-0200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlendaleElementary/
Twitter: @GlendaleElementary