Monroe Newsletter
March 2018
From the Principal's Office
One area of concern that has been brought to me by parents is the morning drop off. After observing students being dropped off on Monroe Ave and the congestion on the surrounding streets, we need to make one major clarification: the Monroe side of Monroe Avenue(eastbound) is for dropping off students only. If you would like to park and get out of your car, we ask that you park on the other side of Monroe Ave and use a crosswalk to get to the school. If we are able to keep the Monroe side of the street a quick, unloading zone only, then it will help get cars in and out of the drop off lane quickly. Thank you for showing your Monroe PRIDE when you are dropping off your students!
Let's keep working together to make Monroe a safe and friendly place!
Steve Johanson
Testing Schedule
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School Closings & Delays
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PLC- 2 HOUR LATE START- MARCH 13
On the second Tuesday of every month the teachers meet for a Professional Learning Community Meeting. Buses will run 2 hours late on late start days. Monroe School will begin at 10:00 AM, rather than 8:00 AM on these days. To accommodate parents that need childcare on late start days, we will provide supervision beginning at 7:40 AM for students needing this service. However, parents MUST complete the online form to sign your child up. There will be no charge but it is very important that we have an accurate count of students arriving early to plan for adequate adult supervision. You will be asked to complete a registration form for each month. To sign up for the March 13th PLC please, click here. Activities for students during this time may include such things as homework help, quiet reading time, and story time. Breakfast will be available serving from 7:40-7:50 AM.
**If you sign your child up and they DO NOT come, we ask that you CALL THE SCHOOL by 8:00 AM that morning as we WILL be taking attendance.
Children not needing childcare on the late start days should arrive at school between 9:40 and 9:50, with the tardy bell going at 10:00 AM.
Late Start Dates: The second Tuesday of Every Month
- April 10
- May 8
Spring Conferences
Grades K-5 Conferences have been scheduled for:
- Tuesday, March 20 - 3:20-8:00
- Thursday, March 22 - 3:20-8:00
- Monday, March 26 - 3:20-8:00
You will be able to sign up online for conference times. The link to schedule is now open and will close on March 16. Please sign up here.
Feel free to stop in and visit with the Music, Phy. Ed., Media, and Art Specialists when you come in for conferences.
No School
- There will be No School for students grades K-8 on Friday, March 16.
- There will be No School for students grades K-5 on Wednesday, March 28.
- There will be No School for students K-12 Thursday, March 29- Monday, April 2.
See you back at school on Tuesday, April 3rd!
No Excel
- No Excel March 19-April 2
- Excel will resume on Tuesday, April 3
- Excel ends on Wednesday, April 11
Classroom Placements for 2018-2019
In early May, the Monroe Teaching Staff will begin to work on class lists for the 2018-2019 school year. These lists reflect a balance of boys and girls, students' abilities, and other educational needs. If you feel your child in kindergarten through grade 4 has an educational need that should be considered when we place students, send a letter or email to the principal (sjohan1@isd77.k12.mn.us) by March 27, 2018 stating this need. No phone calls please.
- Requests for specific teachers will NOT be accepted.
- Letters will not be accepted after March 27, 2018.
- If you are moving or changing schools please let the office know ASAP.
MARCH
Mar. 7- Water Festival, 4th Grade
Mar. 12- Open Door Clinic
Mar. 12- PTO Meeting- Kindergarten
Mar. 13- PLC 2-Hour Late Start
Mar. 13- Township Elections
Mar. 14- Last Day of Excel until April 3
Mar. 16- NO SCHOOL, K-8 Grades
Mar. 20- Conferences, 3:20-7:40
Mar. 22- Conferences, 3:20-7:40
Mar. 26- Conferences, 3:20-7:40
Mar. 28- NO SCHOOL, K-5 Grades
Mar. 29- NO SCHOOL, K-12 Grades
Mar. 30- NO SCHOOL, K-12 Grades
APRIL
Apr. 2- NO SCHOOL, K-12 Grades
Apr. 3- School resumes
Apr. 3- Excel resumes
Apr. 4- Planetarium, 4th Grade-Blaisdell & 1/2 Bjork
Apr. 5- Planetarium, 4th Grade-Kaeter & 1/2 Bjork
Apr. 6- WOW Zone-5th Grade
Apr. 9- McTeacher Night- Kind. & 1st Grades
Apr. 10- PLC 2-Hour Late Start
Apr. 11- Last day of Excel
Apr. 16- PTO Meeting
Apr. 17- Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Apr. 19- Kindergarten Round-Up
Apr. 20- Children’s Museum, Kindergarten
Apr. 24- Children's Museum, Evans & Anderson
Apr. 27- Carnival & Book Fair
~MONROE PRIDE~
What does the E in Monroe PRIDE "Excellence" look like in all areas of the school?
~SPECIAL'S CORNER~
From the Media Room- Mrs. Hagen
From the Music Room- Mrs. Hopf
Spring Informances will be arriving for K, 2, and 4th Grades before we know it! Here is the schedule for your child's class. Please mark on your calendar!
From the Gym.- Mr. Carlson
From the Art Room- Mrs. Wingen
~NEWS FROM THE PTO~
PTO Minutes
February 15, 2018
Welcome and introduction: Jackie Murray, co-chair
Welcome and introductions were done by all present.
Secretary’s Report: Rose Voss, secretary
Rose presented the minutes from the last meeting. The report was approved by Angie Anderson and seconded by Trisha Anderson.
Treasurer’s Report: Trisha Anderson, treasurer
The fun night at the Children’s Museum was a success! There were around 236 children and 130 adults. The PTO owes the Children’s Museum $600.
Upcoming expenses for field trips are around $3,100.
The PTO still has around $15,000 to spend on campus upgrades.
The treasurer’s report was approved by Steve Johanson and seconded by Jackie Murray.
.
Principal’s Report: Steve Johanson, Monroe Principal
The sound panels are up in the teacher’s lounge and seem to make it echo less.
The testing season for students is coming up soon. The testing will be done in the classrooms on Chromebooks.
Teacher Request:
The first grade teachers requested funding for buses to the Children’s Museum for their upcoming field trip. The request was approved.
Some teachers have requested covering over the fluorescent lights in their rooms to reduce the glare. Some teachers are using a blue fabric cover that attaches to the lights with magnets, these seem to work well. Twenty packs of 4 will be purchased for $600. Depending on how well the teachers like them more may be purchased. This was approved by Becky Crimmins and seconded by Sarah Wennes.
Committee Reports:
Color Run: The date of May 12th will not work as the structure at Spring Lake Park is not available. The date of May 5th or May 19th will be looked into.
Carnival:
The carnival will be held Friday, April 27th.
Rose Voss will contact Shannon Gilbert to coordinate the food.
Miscellaneous:
Campus Upgrade Ideas:
The idea of getting an outdoor LED sign, for school announcements, was looked into. The sign would cost anywhere from $8,200 to $15,000 depending on the color of the LED lights and if it is double sided or single sided. This price did not include installation. The sign would be 16 feet wide and 6 feet tall. There was a concern of possible vandalism to the sign and if there should be an outdoor security camera. There were also questions on if there would be maintenance for the sign and how much it would cost. The option of purchasing a sign will be looked into further.
Storage shed: The PTO has received permission to place a storage shed next to the one on Bridges Elementary campus. Sheds that are sold by companies who install them on your property are more expensive than kits you can buy at a store but they seem sturdier and better made. Angie Anderson will get more quotes.
Tree stump: The Monroe playground has a very large stump from a tree that was cut down two summers ago. It was suggested that it could be carved into a bench or some kind of Monroe symbol.
Playground resurfacing: The district has no plans to resurface playgrounds at any of the elementary schools. However Monroe will be getting a new layer of mulch this summer and it can be spread all the way up to the black top.
Spring conference meal sign up: Some parents would like to bring food but do not have the time to prepare it or to bring it to the school. The idea of giving parents the option of purchasing a pizza or a platter of subs was brought up.
Parent Concerns: The sidewalk along Center Street and leading up to the school is very slippery. Another concern is the double parking along Monroe Ave during morning drop off. Steve Johanson will look into both of these issues.
If any teachers have pictures for this year’s yearbook, please turn them into the PTO.
Kindergarten Round up is April 19th.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.
~SCHOOL MENUS~
About Monroe
Email: me@isd77.k12.mn.us
Website: www.me.isd77.org
Location: 441 Monroe Avenue, North Mankato, MN, United States
Phone: (507) 387-7889
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonroeElementaryPto/?ref=br_tf
Twitter: @MonroeMAPS
Phone Numbers
Mankato Public Schools Hotline 386-4777
Hours
Building Hours 7:30-3:30
Office
Secretary Mara Dehning
Clerical Asst. Mary Krueger
Health Asst. Madeline Veroeven