Meadowbrook News
May 13, 2022
From Mrs. Sawatzky
Good afternoon Meadowbrook,
In May we recognize Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a thirty-one day celebration of Asian achievement and inclusion. As I was reading quotes to use with our community building Circles, I came across this one by Yoko Ono, "You change the world by being yourself." It resonated with me as it connects to my core belief that all of our children deserve to belong to a school community that recognizes and values their authentic identities and contributions. To our families of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage: we see you and love you. Thank you for enriching our community.
I was also made aware that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. At Meadowbrook we recognize that mental health is an important part of overall health and wellness. Our counselors, Mrs. Sobanski and Mrs. DeGroot and our social worker, Sarah Swanson are amazing resources for our school community. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please don't hesitate to reach out to one of them. We are here to support you!
It looks like the weather is going to be perfect next Saturday for Run Meadowbrook Run. If you have not yet registered, you should! And, if running isn't your thing, we are still looking for volunteers to help out. It's going to be so much fun!
In partnership,
Natalie
P.S. Remember that the class placement caregiver input forms are due Friday, May 20.
Run Meadowbrook Run
Sign up for our 6th annual Run Meadowbrook Run!
When: Saturday, May 21
- 8:00am for 5K Run and 9:00am for 1 Mile Fun Run
Where: Brookview Park, Golden Valley
Registration is open! Visit RunMeadowbrookRun.com for more information.
Volunteer Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA8A92BA4FC1-rmrvolunteers1
Come run with us!
6th Grade Caregivers
Hello 6th grade families! Check out the website for the 6th grade brunch and picnic on the last day of school! This will be the place to go to stay up-to-date on plans, ways to volunteer, and your number one place to donate! The event is largely dependent on your donations that will go towards things such as making sure every 6th grader receives a T-shirt and we're really hoping to raise enough to have their lunch catered, plus brunch and DJ. This event is 100% donation driven, donate this week, if you can! Let's make this a day they'll never forget!
School Tool Box
School supplies for the 2022-2023 school year are now available through School Tool Box! You can place your order at ANY time and have your supplies shipped directly to your home.
The kits will be available throughout the summer and can be brought to school on Open House night.
See the link below and make sure to search Meadowbrook, 55422 and choose the Golden Valley location.
Spring Orchestra Concerts
Kindergarten Bridge
If you have an incoming kindergartener that will be joining us for the 2022/23 school year, come join us for an in-person family-friendly event! Kindergarten Bridge will introduce your child to a kindergarten classroom, allow you to meet other kindergarten families, and provide you with tools and resources on how to prepare your child for their first day of school.
This event is intended for families who have already enrolled their child at the specified Hopkins Public Elementary School noted below. Due to limited space in the Kindergarten classrooms, we will be limiting each event to 30 families. Register early to secure your spot!
Meadowbrook Elementary: Tuesday, May 17 2022. 6:30-8:00 p.m. [register]
The Hopkins Kindergarten webpage also has been updated with dates, times, and registration information for this event series. Or, you can view the collection of Kindergarten Bridge events on Eventbrite.
We look forward to seeing you and your family at Hopkins Kindergarten Bridge!
Hopkins School Board Listening Sessions: Racial Equity Policy
The Hopkins School Board will hold a listening session with the community to gather thoughts and feedback on its proposed Racial Equity Policy. The listening session will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. You can access the session at this link. You can provide feedback and ask questions through this form prior to the meeting. Look for more details on our website.
Supporting Gender Expansive Kids - Parent and Caregiver Group
Are you the parent or caregiver of a child who transcends traditional binary gender roles? We are offering a supportive, ongoing group for parents and caregivers to ask questions, share ideas, and support one another. Some children may identify as transgender, gender fluid, non-binary, gender queer, gender expansive, questioning or simply move through the world in a much more gender free manner.
Our first meeting will be in person on May 18, 2022 from 7-8 p.m. at North Junior High, Room 506. This is for parents and families from all of Hopkins schools -- and from all grade levels (elementary, junior high, high school, and beyond). Laura Jensen, Hopkins Schools LGBTQ+ Community Liaison will facilitate the meeting. Please RSVP via email at laura.jensen@hopkinsschools.org. This is not a group to debate the issue, rather for parents looking to support their child.
HEF Partners with Great Harvest Bread Co. for Gratitude Gifts!!
Gratitude Gifts are a wonderful way to wrap up an extraordinary year. Send your thanks to ANY Hopkins staff member.
Gratitude Gifts generate many smiles from grateful, hard-working, innovative, and adaptive staff. For a $25 donation to HEF, we’ll deliver a sleeve of delicious cookies from Great Harvest Bread Co. in Minnetonka, along with your personal message.
Place your orders by Friday, May 20. Gratitude Gifts will be delivered on Thursday, May 26.
To order now, visit www.HopkinsEducationFoundation.org
Exciting Summer Opportunity for Scholars Entering Grades 7, 8, and 9 - Space Limited
The Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools© program is a six-week multicultural literacy-based experience that is deeply rooted in the Civil Rights Movement. Scholars of the program immerse themselves in engaging curriculum, activities, and opportunities that exercise critical thinking, camaraderie, social-emotional learning, and much more.
Scholars entering grades 7, 8, and 9 for the 2022-23 school year are encouraged to attend. Space is limited, early registration is recommended. To register, CLICK HERE. For more information, please reach out to Paris Timmons at 952-988-4843 or paris.timmons@hopkinsschools.org.
Support local farms and our schools!
NOW available to ALL Hopkins families- We are excited to announce that the Hopkins Elementary PTOs are partnering with Friendly Hmong Farms to offer all Hopkins families fresh vegetables and flowers this summer!
Meadowbrook Mingle
The Meadowbrook Mingle reached the goal of $40,000. You know what that means....PRINCIPAL DANCE OFF! It also means that we reached all of our fundraising milestones. May is going to be a very fun month at Meadowbrook!
- $5,000 = 20 min of Choice Time
- $10,000 = Natalie runs a 10K at Recess
- $20,000 = Principals wear costumes for a day
- $30,000 = DJ at Recess
- $40,000 = Principal Dance Off
Thank you everyone who participated in this year's Mingle.
2022-23 Calendar
COVID-19 Updates
Hopkins Public Schools COVID-19 Dashboard remains live on our website. Please remember to have your child complete a daily health screening every day before attending school. It is very important that you keep your child home if they are experiencing any signs of illness.
Please note, our isolation and quarantine protocols have changed. We have shortened our isolation requirements to a five-day protocol for students who meet the requirements. You can review the changes here.
Testing
While supplies last, we will continue our weekly saliva testing program for scholars and staff. Due to an Omicron subvariant and spring travel, we’re seeing an increase in cases. We have plenty of rapid test kits for our scholars’ and families’ use. If you want a test kit, even for peace of mind, please see your school nurse or main office and ask for one.
The Meadowbrook PTO has a new website, check it out! This is where you can access the online directory and so much more!
What's better than Restaurant Night? Restaurant WEEK!
Monday, May 9 through Sunday May 15, visit Culver's in Golden Valley and order a Concrete Mixer to support the PTO. For each Concrete Mixer sold, Culver's donates $1.00 to the Meadowbrook PTO! Dine-in, Carry-out, or Drive-through. Support school's PTO--and a locally owned restaurant--and satisfy your sweet tooth! Only at Culver's of Golden Valley, 8845 7th Ave N, Golden Valley, MN 55427.
The PTO needs your help next school year! The 22-23 school year will be the final year at Meadowbrook for our current Co-Presidents and Treasurer. We are looking for a few people to work with us next year to learn the tasks of these roles to take over the following year. PTO can’t happen without YOU! Please email if you would like further information about these open positions - meadowbrookelementaryPTO@gmail.com.
To view other open positions for the 22-23 school year, please visit our website: https://meadowbrookpto.weebly.com/who-we-are.html
Any questions? Reach out to us at meadowbrookelementarypto@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instragram, or our PTO website
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, special education and more. Ready to get started? View our Careers page.
For additional information about paraprofessional support jobs in special education, please email Heidi Wilhelm at heidi.wilhelm@hopkinsschools.org or call the Special Services Department at (952) 988-4044.
Important Calendar Dates
May 9-15: Culver's Concrete Mixer Fundraiser - Golden Valley Culver's
May 17: Kindergarten Bridge 6:30pm
May 20: Caregiver Input Forms Due
May 21: Run Meadowbrook Run Event at Brookview Park
May 30: No School: Memorial Day
June 3: Last Day of School
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