Eisenhower Elementary Newsletter
XinXing Academy, Community School and Juntos
Friday, May 13, 2022
Principal's Message
Read about our 1st grade Kinesthetic Classroom Grant, and our QSA Lending Library Grant!
Paw Pride Students of the Week!
Spring Arts Cultural Festival is May 26!
Save the date!
Our Spring Arts Cultural Festival is BACK!
Join us on May 26th from 5:30-7pm for an evening of Art, Performances, Book Signing, Silent Auction (Signed Michael Birawer Print), Food and Games.
We need volunteers to make this event a success! Sign up to run a game, an art activity or more! Please sign up – the more volunteers we get, the more activities we can offer!
Many volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Please consider signing up so all activities planned can run. Click on the link below to see the volunteer opportunities.
We look forward to seeing everyone in person again for a fun evening!
Student Information for Class Placement
Please understand that we cannot accept specific teacher requests.
• Information will be shared with classroom teachers.
• These forms are not saved from one year to the next.
• Fill out the form no later than May 19, 2022
• Forms with a particular teacher identified will not be considered.
Click on the link here to fill out the form.
Thanks you!Non Edible Treats
As a reminder, we no longer have edible treats in the school for celebrations. As a school we are focusing on other fun, non food related activities.
For more information, click on the button below.
PTO Corner
1. This week, we are launching the Eisenhower Online Directory, a secure space for Eisenhower families to share contact information. We are using a vendor that allows us to easily roster the classrooms from year to year. Starting next week, we will be sending frequent communications to facilitate and encourage registering your selected contact information to make it easier to communicate with fellow schoolmates and facilitate community building outside of school. Please plan to register and start connecting!
PS: Many thanks to our parent volunteer, Jeffrey Bennett for all his hard work! Sign up now! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_BROW0JXHhfb3Ox57UqXbxg-O7u20jA2/view?usp=sharing (additional emails and fliers will be sent out as well.)
2. We are busy preparing for the Spring Arts and Culture Festival. We need volunteers and attendees! Please revisit the announcement earlier in this newsletter.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, May 26 - Spring Arts Cultural Festival
Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day - No School
Wed, June 1 and Thurs, June 2 - Tentative Field Day Dates
Friday, June 3 - 6th grade party and Last day of school
WIKE May 11, 2022
Hopkins School Board Listening Sessions: Racial Equity Policy
School’s Out for Summer - Pre-K and Elementary Caregiver Support Groups
Upcoming Topic:
School’s Out for Summer
This month’s caregiver support group will explore common summertime stressors for caregivers and children.
We will discuss supporting children through changing routines, strategies for managing screen time, and how to foster learning outside of school.
Starting on May 11th, 2022, three groups will be held on-line on Wednesdays at 12:00pm. See registration links for each week below:
- May 18th 2022: Registration Link
- May 25th 2022: Registration Link
You will receive a follow-up email including the Google Meets link for the weeks you are registered. If you cannot attend all three weeks, you are welcome to attend whenever your schedule allows.
2022-23 Calendar
Supporting Gender Expansive Kids - Parent and Caregiver Group
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.
Summer Program for Scholars Entering Grades 7, 8, and 9
Monday-Friday, June 13 - July 29, 2022
Hopkins North Junior High
10700 Cedar Lake Rd Minnetonka, MN 55305
The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools© program is a six-week multicultural literacy-based experience for scholars entering grades 7, 8, and 9 in the 2022-23 school year that is deeply rooted in the Civil Rights Movement. Scholars will immerse themselves in engaging curriculum, activities, and opportunities that exercise critical thinking, camaraderie, and social-emotional learning.
Space is limited, register today!
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!
Order your veggie box a la carte (for pickup in June, July, and August) or subscribe for the entire 3-box series season. Every box will contain an assortment of peak season vegetables and herbs, along with favorite recipes from our community chefs (both home and professional). Every box and bouquet is homegrown in MN and assembled by our farmers. The Best Part? For every 3-box subscription purchased, Friendly Hmong Farms will donate one box to a family-in-need in our school district! Funds raised will be used to support all Hopkins elementary schools. It's Friendly Hmong Farms' commitment to equitable education.HEF Partners with Great Harvest Bread Co. for Gratitude Gifts!!
It's that time of year! HEF 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
School Start Time Schedule Summary
Next year, Eisenhower, Glen Lake and Tanglen will begin at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:20p.m. with the first bus pick up time being close to 7 a.m.
Next year, North Junior High, West Junior High and Hopkins High School will begin at 8:45 a.m. and end at 3:25 p.m. It is possible junior highs will have a later start time for the 2023-24 school year.
Next year, Alice Smith, Gatewood and Meadowbrook will begin at 9:33 a.m. and end at 4:05 p.m., which is the same schedule they currently have.
Beginning in 2023-24, all elementary schools will be on the same schedule, most likely beginning at 7:50 a.m. and ending at 2:20 p.m.
VirtualEDU will continue to operate from 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. next year.
Ready Set Kindergarten
Do you have a 5-year-old at home who didn’t attend preschool this past year? Ready Set Kindergarten is a 3-week summer program offered through HopDina, a joint partnership between Hopkins Public Schools and Edina Public Schools. The program is for incoming kindergarten students for the fall of 2022. You can send completed applications to Emily Acker at Alice Smith Elementary. Applications must be received by May 27th to be eligible for the lottery.
When: Monday-Friday, July 18th-August 5th 8am to 12pm
Location:
Alice Smith Elementary
801 Minnetonka Mills Road
Hopkins, MN 55343
**This program is tuition-free.
**Families living in the Hopkins or Edina School Districts will have access to transportation.
**Lunch will also be provided.
Resources
Please contact your school counselor or social worker if you are in need of resources for mental health, food, etc..
ICA Weekend Food and Hygiene Bags
Masks now strongly recommended, not required
COVID TESTING
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.
Weekly Testing and Rapid 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.