The CL Courier
October 6, 2023
Principal's Post
Crooked Lake Families,
Thank you for making the start of the year a great success! We raised over 17,000 dollars during our Spirit Week, and Walk-a-thon! Your generosity will help support an engaging 2023-24 school year. A special thank you to our PTO for all of their efforts around this effort as well, and to our amazing families who continue to support our students in so many ways.
Our fall conferences were well attended by our families, and that is the first step to growing each of our learners. I trust you have all been able to get a better picture for what is expected, and how we are going to partner with you for this school year after meeting with teachers this past week. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedules to work toward continued growth for our students.
We are focused on Responsibility for the month of October. "Taking action, and understanding the impact of our choices." Grade levels will be working on specific pieces related to this topic throughout the month. The themes are worked into the school day during morning meetings and other activities involving learning social skills, executive functioning focuses, and having emotional regulation awareness. We recognize one student from every classroom once a month, who shows growth and success with the theme of the month.
Crooked Lake spirit wear is available to purchase online.
Picture Day is Oct. 10.
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Take care.
Sam Anderson
Crooked Lake Principal
763-506-2101
Upcoming Events
- October 2- No school/Staff Development/Conferences
- October 3- Conferences (3:40-7:40pm)
- October 5- Conferences (3:40-7:40pm)
- October 9- Indigenous Peoples' Day
- October 10- Fall Picture Day
- October 10- Eagle Choir Starts (see more info below)
- October 12- Eveland Family Farm (4:30-6:30pm)
- October 17- 1st Grade Field Trip to Oliver Kelley Farm
- October 17- PTO Meeting (6:30pm)
- October 18- No school/Staff Development (No School)
- October 19-20- MEA Break (No School)
- October 25- Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch Field Trip
- October 26- 5th Grade Orchestra Hall Field Trip
- October 31- Costume Parade (k-2)
Follow this link for more upcoming events:
https://www.ahschools.us/Page/16#calendar11/20231003/month
You can also find more information when you visit the Crooked Lake Elementary website here:
Reedy's Report
Hello Crooked Lake Community!
The leaves are changing, and the temperature is dropping. The school year is in full swing! In partnership with Every Meal, we offer free, non-perishable meal bags to any family that would like to receive them regardless of income. A sign-up sheet will be sent home to all families. If you miss the sign-up sheet, you can just call the school and tell us what you would like, and we can enroll you in the program. There are five cuisine styles to choose from, everything is anonymous, and the food is discretely placed into the backpack of the student on the final day of the week. This is a great way to pick up a few extra free meals per week.
Another service we try to provide for our families is snack assistance. We asks that every student comes to school with one snack a day to help with energy levels and mood regulation. For some families, this additional cost is difficult, and snacks are inconsistent. If you feel that you could benefit from free snacks, please let us know.
We are also looking for snacks or snack fund donations. In the past we have received a few very large donations that have helped us cover the cost of this program. Unfortunately, those funds are not available this year. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. Your donation will allow our students to feel included and stay more regulated through the long school day.
- If you have immediate concerns for the physical safety of a friend, a family member, or yourself, call 911.
- Dial **CRISIS from your cell phone to be connected with county mobile crisis services.
- Anoka County Mobile Crisis: 763-755-3801
- Hennepin County Children (up to 18): 612-348-2233
- Hennepin County Adults (18+): 612-596-1223
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (English) or 1-888-628-9454 (Spanish)
- Crisis Text Line: “HOME” to 741741
Tyler Reedy
MSW/LICSW
763-506-2164
tyler.reedy@ahschools.us
Nurse's News
Please consider sending an extra set of clothes for your child in their backpack. Accidents and messes happen! We would also appreciate donations of extra gently used pants to keep in the health office for kiddos that don't have an extra pair!
Also remember to send a water bottle with your student every day.
This is the link to the "Is My Child Well Enough to go to School?" brochure with the 2023-2024 guidelines. https://www.ahschools.us/cms/lib/MN01909485/Centricity/Domain/491/501%20Is%20My%20Child%20Well%20Enough%202023.pdf
Katelyn Salwey
Licensed School Nurse, PHN, BSN, RN
Jolene Dorf
RN, School Nurse
Cook's Corner
The state’s Free School Meals program begins in 2023. Families will still need to apply to qualify for more educational benefits. Starting Sept. 5, 2023, every student may receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year. The state’s Free School Meals program will cover the cost of one breakfast meal and one lunch meal for every student daily, however the cost of a la carte items, such as milk, other drinks, or extra meal items will not be covered. Students will need to have funds in their meal accounts to purchase any additional food items. If your family needs access to any other educational benefits available to your student, please visit ahschools.us/freereduced to complete an application.
The enrollment window for the 2023 Applications for Educational Benefits begins Aug. 1, 2023. Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an online application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding and you can save money. Educational benefits include:
- Athletics fees: Eligible students may qualify for fees to be waived or reduced.
- SAT, ACT, AP Fees: Students may be eligible for discounted fees for academic tests and some lab fees.
- Other high school activities: Students may qualify for discounts on speech, debate, theater, band and others.
- Additional benefits and cost savings: Chromebook device protection, Comcast Internet Essentials discount, Amazon Prime membership discounts, discounted bus fares with Metro Transit, Xcel Energy account assistance, discounts at museums and theaters.
Thanks!
Lauren Green
Child Nutrition Site Supervisor
Library's Latest
Hello Crooked Lake Families!
It has been such a fun first month of school! The media center has been busy, and we have already checked out over 2,000 books! Wow!
We have also begun Makerspace! Our Makerspace encourages students to design, experiment, build, and invent as they engage in hands-on activities. The supplies we use for Makerspace activities depend on generous donations from our Crooked Lake community. Please take a look at the list of needed supplies and consider donating. All donated supplies can be delivered at Door 1 in the box provided.
Thank you so much,
Ms. Z and Ms. Kocak
Makerspace Supply List:
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls of 75 feet or longer
- Play dough - 2 packs of the 4 or 5 color containers
- Qtips - 1 large pack of 500 counts or more
- Bird seed - 2 regular-size bags or 1 large bag
- Tissue paper - assorted colors of tissue paper
- Cardstock - white & assorted colors
- Fishing line
- Plastic stretchy string
- Hot glue sticks
- Decorative duct tape 3-6 rolls
- 2 rolls of masking tape of any color
- Home recycle products: egg cartons, toilet paper & paper towel cardboard rolls, Gatorade size bottle tops
Kristin Zelazny
Media Specialist/Core/ITT
Volunteer Voice
Crooked Lake has 121 volunteers who have donated 164 hours to our school! They have spent the month assisting teachers with projects, working with our little learners on their PIN, helping students learn routines in the lunchroom, and helping during the walk-a-thon. Thank you for everything you do for our school!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
Eveland Farms: October 12th
Eveland Farms is a fun fall fundraising night for the entire family. Hayrides, corn maze, farm animals, pumpkin picking and more! Many volunteers are needed to help make this event a success. For more details and to sign up, click Eveland Farms.
Workroom
Our teachers and support staff need help with copying, cutting, laminating, etc.For more information and to sign up, click Workroom Volunteer.
K-Skillbuilders
Kindergarten and first grade teachers are looking for volunteers to help students with supplemental reading support. This volunteer opportunity requires an online training course and weekly commitment. If you’re interested, please send an email to melissa.hayek@ahschool.com.
ALL volunteers are required to complete/update the 2023 - 2024 Crooked Lake Elementary Volunteer
Application form and Criminal History Record Release form.
Melissa Hayek
Volunteer Services Coordinator
763-506-2130
Crooked Lake PTO
2023 Soar with the Eagles Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser & Community Picnic
Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual Fall Fundraiser. It makes us happy to support our students, staff, and school in many ways with the funds raised during this event. As always, the Walk-a-Thon and Community Picnic had a large turnout and LOTS of fun was had by all. It was great to see our community spirit in action, families playing games together, dining on delicious food, and watching the kids walk lots and lots of laps to earn their colorful foot charms to add to their Eagle tag necklaces. It's always a hit to check out the Andover Fire Engine and get to meet our local ACSO officers. The CLS PTO looks forward to seeing more parents attend monthly PTO meetings. where you can hear how our fundraising efforts benefit our school community, and vote on how funds are used. We look forward to seeing you at many more events.
Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, October 17th, 6:30 PM in the Crooked Lake Media Center. FREE childcare is provided during the meeting.
Next Event: Family Night Out at Eveland Farm
What: All Crooked Lake Families are invited to a night out at Eveland Farm
When: Thursday, October 12th 4:30-6:30
Where: Eveland Family Farm, 2575 Andover Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304
Details: Don Eveland has graciously hosted Crooked Lake Elementary families every year to take over his farm, as a fundraiser for our 5th grade class.
- Meet the farm animals, go on a hayride, wander through the kids’ corn maze, roast a marshmallow on the bonfire, pick your pumpkins, and get to know other Crooked Lake families!
- Grab a bite! 5th grade will be selling hot food, drinks and treats for sale in the picnic shelter.
- The Farm will be selling a variety of homegrown decorations for fall including corn stalks, straw bales, gourds of all kinds, and pumpkins in many sizes, shapes, and colors.
Presale tickets coming soon! All proceeds from entry fees and food sales go directly towards the 5th grade to go towards the Long Lake field trip fund. We look forward to seeing you there!
Crooked Lake PTO
Angie Siddons - Chairperson
Nicole Rutt-Livgard - Co-Chairperson
Sandra Anderson - Treasurer
Jen Melsha - Board Member
Meet the PTO Board:
Community Education
Hello from Community Education! We have a variety of classes available to involve your students. Check out some of our awesome classes below!
- 10/10 Eagle Choir
- 10/10 Junior Robotics
- 10/23 Grandmasters of Chess
- 10/25 Draw Along-Fall
- 11/1 Basketball
- 11/29 Draw Along-Holiday
Register for these classes at https://ahschools.ce.eleyo.com/
See you in class!
Rachel Smith
763-506-1712
Late Arrivals & Absences
Bus Information
What if my child's bus doesn't come in the morning and/or my child doesn't get off the bus in the afternoon and I am unable to reach the school? This is rare, but if this does happen, please call your child's bus company. The bus company will assist you in the morning and also take the lead and contact you in the afternoon when they locate your child.
Kottkes' 763-755-3100
Busses: 08 68 87 501 533 535 544
First Student 763-421-3199
Bus: 301
Transportation App: FirstView
Attention Crooked Lake Families! There is an app called FirstView! This app enables families to get real-time information on regular bus routes - in the palm of your hand! Features include email, push, and text notifications of any route changes.
Simply download FirstView from your device's app store. On-screen directions walk first-time users through the easy set-up process. Choose Minnesota and then Anoka-Hennepin from the drop-down menus. After doing so, the app will direct you to A-HConnect. Log in with your parent/guardian username and password (if you've forgotten your parent/guardian username or password, please call 763-506-HELP), the app will then automatically populate your student's information.
Crooked Lake Elementary is on Facebook! Get the latest news by following:
@https://www.facebook.com/crookedlake/?ref=bookmarks
Follow Crooked Lake's PTO too at:
Crooked Lake Elementary School
2939 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW | Andover, MN 55304 | P: 763-506-2100 | F: 763-506-2103 | crookedlake@ahschools.us | Translate
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