THE PATH DECEMBER 2023

Student School Hours:

9:05a-3:45p

(students cannot be dropped off before 8:55a and have to be in classrooms by 9:05a)

Office Hours:

8:00a-4:00p

Dear Sun Path Families!

It was great to see many of our families at our Fall Conferences. Conferences are a great way to connect with our teachers and hear the progress your child is making. Our Spring Conference will be in March. Online sign up will be available in February. I want to thank all or our families for their support as we work together for your child(ren).

The end of November brought us some colder weather. Students go outside for recess each day for 30 minutes unless the temperature or windchill is below 0. Please have your child dressed appropriately for the weather. A warm coat, hat, and mittens are a must for this time of year. Boots and snow pants would also help keep kids warm while they are out playing. If you need help getting warm clothing, there is more information in this newsletter provided by our Social Worker, Ms. Roles.

Also in this newsletter, there is a lot of information for the upcoming month of December, including our PTO’s Bingo Night on December 7th. Bingo Night is always a fun night and well attended by our families. We asked that all students who attend are accompanied by a responsible adult.

I am looking forward to a great month of December at Sun Path.

Take Care,

Patrick Leonard

Principal

When severe weather affects the regular school day, daytime Community Education activities or classes that meet immediately after school will also be canceled. Evening activities may be held if there is significant improvement in weather conditions. In that situation, participants will be contacted by Community Education regarding class status.

CLICK HERE for more information.

CLICK HERE for access to Connected Learning Days (CoLD).

CLICK HERE for access to SABERS Boards (also known as CoLD Choice).

DECEMBER:

• 7th: PTO BINGO NIGHT, 6:00-8:00p
• 8th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
• 15th: PTO BLIZZARD OF WISHES ENDS
• 15th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
  
• 20th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
• 21st-Jan. 1st: NO SCHOOL, Enjoy Winter Break!

JANUARY:

• 1st: NO SCHOOL
• 3rd: PTO MEETING, 7:00p
• 5th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
  
• 5th: 4th Grade Field Trip to Rarig Center at the U of M, 11:15a-2:25p
• 10th: 1st Grade Field Trip to Children's Museum, 9:20a-1:30p
• 12th: 2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE
• 12th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
  
• 15th: NO SCHOOL, Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
• 19th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
• 19th: PTO MOVIE NIGHT, Grades K-2 (details to come)
• 25th: END OF QUARTER 2
• 25th: SCHOOL STORE open 8:55-9:10a
• 26th: NO SCHOOL
• 29th: START OF QUARTER 3

Each month, students at all grade levels will be learning more about a specific positive character trait. They will read a book with their class and do an activity related to this theme. Individual classrooms may also expand upon this theme on their own. All character education themes will tie back to our school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) expectations of being Respectful, Responsible, Positive, and Safe.

For the month of December, our theme is Empathy. Students will learn that empathy is when you are able to understand and care about how someone else is thinking or feeling. They will also discuss how we can practice showing empathy by:

• Paying attention to other people’s feelings
• Thinking before you speak or act
• Realizing that everyone is different and has different perspectives

We encourage you to talk more with your child about this month’s theme of Empathy. Below are some ideas for ways to continue this learning at home:

• Practice emotion identification skills: model the kinds of things you look for when figuring out how others feel, including facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and certain words.
• Model acts of empathy and compassion within the community, and involve your child whenever possible.
• Discuss differing points of view: Ask your child what are things that make them feel happy, sad, annoyed. Share some things that make you feel that way. How does understanding our different perspectives help us show empathy for one another?

If you have any additional questions about our character education programming, you can reach out to Tammy Doyle, dean of students (952-496-5899, tdoyle@shakopee.k12.mn.us) or Stephanie St Peter, school psychologist (952-496-5812, sstpeter@shakopee.k12.mn.us)

As we enter cold and flu season, please remember to notify the health office if your child tests positive for a communicable disease (examples: strep, influenza, covid, etc....). General exclusions from school include: Must be fever free (100 degrees or less) for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and 24 hours after last episode of vomiting or diarrhea. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the health office or the health services department page on the school website.

Thank you!

Sun Path School Nurses

952-496-5894

Amy Johnson

ajjohnson@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Vickie Van Heuvelen

vvanheuvelen@shakopee.k12.mn.us

In Media classes, students are currently working on some form of coding skills at each grade level!

K/1 – Students are using Code ‘n Go Mice to code their mouse to get to the cheese.

Directional coding is foundational, and sometimes students struggle with turns and learning their left from their right, but most students are finding success, or they learn to problem solve and work with their partners to complete the mouse tasks.

2/3 – Students are using Dash Robots to code their robots to accomplish different tasks.

Students use an app called “Blockly” to code their Dash robots.

4/5 – Students are using Sphero Bolts to learn compass degree headings.

Initially, students code their Sphero to go in a straight line and then branch off to coding their Spheros in a rectangle shape and then add obstacles, lights and record sounds!

Please encourage your 3-5th graders to read our Maud Hart Lovelace titles.

Once students complete reading a title, they complete a quick book review form. If students read 3/10 books, they can participate in the book voting party that will take place in March 2023! At Jackson, all students are reviewing their books using a QR code that is displayed on their classroom teacher’s wall in the classroom and on display in the Learning Commons. At SP, classroom teachers will turn in the names of their students who have completed reading at least 3 books. Grade 3 students at SP will use a QR code to report the books they have read. The MHL Voting Parties for Jackson and SP will take place in March. Date and Time to be announced!

Students in K,1, and 2 are reading the Star of the North books in their Media class.

Students will vote on their favorite of these books coming up soon in January.. Ask your child which books they have read and which is his/her favorite! ... They should be able to tell you which they like best so far: The Big Leaf Leap, Knight Owl, Blue Floats Away, John’s Turn.

Coming up in Media classes:

K/1 - Reading Around the World and Voting for our favorite Star of the North Book!

Grades 2 and 3 - Reading Around the World and Voting for our favorite SON or MHL Book!

Grades 4 and 5 - Reading Around the World and Voting for our favorite MHL Book!

Please let us know if you have any questions about Media class or books!

Mrs. Gigi Hilgers

Media Specialist Jackson and Sun Path Elementary

ghilgers@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Mrs. Kristen Klevann

Media Assistant, Sun Path Elementary

kklevann@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Abby Nemo

Jackson Media Assistant (not pictured)

anemo@shakopee.k12.mn.us

We hope our Sun Path families enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break. As we ready ourselves for winter, the PTO is still busy with some great events! First, we hope you have plans to join us on Thursday, Dec. 7 for our annual Bingo Night. This takes place right here in the Sun Path cafeteria and it's a fun night for the whole family. See the flyer below for details. Also, if you haven't grabbed a teacher's wish for our Blizzard of Wishes program, the shapes are still up in the office for a few more days. This is a great way to help our teachers during the holiday season by purchasing items they want and need for their classrooms.

As a reminder, our PTO does not meet in December. Our next meeting will be at 7 pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, in the cafeteria. Please plan to join us as we make plans for our movie nights, Spring Dance, End-of-Year Celebration, and more!

If you have any questions or would like more information on how you can become involved, email

sunpathpto@hotmail.com or find us on Facebook.

Thanks for helping us make Sun Path shine!

2023/2024 Leadership Team:

President: Erin Bryan

Vice President: Christy Congdon

Treasurer: Kristina Kimpling

Secretary: Tami Weispfenning

As we embark on a new school year filled with exciting moments, we invite you to be a part of creating lasting memories for our students by contributing to this year's yearbook. As the Committee Chair, I am thrilled to announce our initiative to collect photos throughout the year that showcase the diverse experiences and accomplishments of our Sun Path community.

Whether it's snapshots from class events, extracurricular activities, or candid moments of your child's everyday life, we want to include them all! Your contributions will help make this yearbook a cherished keepsake for everyone.

Please send your high-resolution photos to sunpathyearbook@outlook.com. To ensure the privacy and consent of all individuals involved, kindly obtain verbal permission from other parents/guardians before sharing photos that include their children.

Let's work together to capture the spirit of Sun Path and make this year's yearbook truly special. Thank you for your participation and for helping us create a treasure trove of memories that will be cherished for years to come!

Warm regards,

Taylor Raschke

Yearbook Committee Chair

Dear 5th Grade Families,

As our exceptional 5th graders prepare to spread their wings and soar into middle school, we want to celebrate their incredible journey at Sun Path in a unique way! We are excited to create a special yearbook page dedicated to showcasing their growth and accomplishments.

To make this page truly memorable, we're inviting parents/guardians to contribute baby photos of their 5th-grade stars. It's a heartwarming opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey from infancy to this significant milestone.

Please send in your child's adorable baby photo to

Thank you for helping us make this year’s yearbook truly special and sentimental!

Just a reminder, you DO NOT have to pay for school lunches or breakfasts for the 23-24 school year. The only thing you will have to pay extra for at the elementary school level is if your child wants an extra milk or gets a milk to go with their cold lunch they bring from home ($.55 for extra milk).

JUST A REMINDER ABOUT COMING FOR LUNCH:

If you plan to come for lunch please call the front desk by 10:00a. Please let us know if you will be eating here when you call so we can plan accordingly. If you are wanting to eat here please make sure you have the right amount of cash or check to give to Food Service. You can also bring in lunch from outside for your child(ren). If you forget to call ahead, that is OK....please still come and join your child(ren) for lunch.

Thank you!

The school district is hiring for multiple positions. Specifically here at Sun Path, we are hiring for Paraprofessionals, Playground Supervision, and Food Service Workers. We would love for you to be part of our team! Please click on the link below to see all the Employment Opportunities we have in the district. Thank you for considering!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Palmer is hiring for big bus drivers, small bus drivers and bus aides. A CDL is required for the driving positions and we have a paid training program to walk you through the process.

This is a part time position and hours/days are based on the school calendar. You would be joining a great team and entering a rewarding career.

Contact Palmer Bus Service at 952-445-1166 for more information.

For over 20 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn cash for their school, with products they already buy.

In the past, you would cut the little "Box Top" (see image to the side) off and bring them into school. We are asking if you have any of these still trickling around at home please send them with your child to school. They have phased this way out.

If you buy a product that has the "Box Tops" logo on it, now you can simply scan your store receipt with the Box Tops mobile app to identify participating products and instantly add cash to your school's earnings online.

Bus Riders

• Students who ride the bus will be dropped off and picked up on the lower-level.
• In the morning they depart from the bus and proceed to breakfast or the classroom.

Car Riders

Morning

• If you are dropping your child off in the morning before 9:05 AM (not before 8:55 AM), please drop them off on the lower-level. Please drop the students off before the service door driveway. Parking in front of the lower-level main door is reserved for busses.
• When dropping your child off, please pull up to the curb and have your child exit the car door (passenger’s side) next to the curb. We are trying to eliminate students in the parking lot, unless they are walking with their parent. If you choose to park and walk your child to the door, please park near the crosswalk and wait for staff to lower the flag before crossing. In the morning, the busses are also dropping off on the lower level. Please leave room for the busses to get in and out of the parking lot.
• If you are dropping your child off after 9:05 AM, Please do so on the upper level. Please walk your child into the office and the office staff will give them a pass for class.

Afternoon

• Students are picked up from school on the upper-level.
• At the end of the day, please pull up along the curb (on the upper-level) and have your child get in the car door next to the curb (passenger side). Also, as cars leave in front of you, please pull forward. Students will not be able to enter their car until they are in-between the signs that say student pick up. We want to avoid forming a second lane, because this encourages students to run between cars. For safety reasons, we do not allow people to park and cross through the pick-up line to get heir child. You MUST get in line.
• All families that have children who are car riders on a regular basis: Please get a Yellow Car Rider slip to display in your car if you do not have one already.

Walkers in the Morning

• All walkers should enter on the lower level through the playground door or the main door.
• Students should not arrive before 8:55 AM.
• Students who cross 17th Avenue will do so at the crosswalk with the help of school patrols/aides. The patrols will be out at the stop by 8:53 AM.
• Other walkers will arrive via the walking path or will cross at French Trace/Quail.
• Students will go to the classroom or breakfast when they arrive at school.
• Students who bike, must walk their bikes across the crosswalk on 17th and while on school property. Skateboards, heelies, scooters, or skates are not allowed at school.

Walkers in the Afternoon

• Students who cross 17th Ave, or use the walking path, will leave through the back door closet to the crossing(Door C) .
• Students who towards the soccor fields or path will exit out playground door(Door E).
• Students who cross or walk in the direction of French Trace will leave through the doors by the office(Door B).

Other Info:

• No students should be at school before 8:55 AM, unless arrangements have been made in advance.
• Students should be picked by 3:45 PM and no later than 3:55 PM
• All doors, except the one leading into office, will be locked at 9:05 am.
• If you change your child’s normal routine, please notify your teacher and the office.
• When picking up or dropping off your child, we ask that you leave your family pets at home.
• Please hang up your cell phone when picking up or dropping off your child.
• If you pick up your child during the day, or after school, this is done on the upper level.
• If students are dropped off after the start of the school day, parents need to sign their child in at the office (upper-level parking lot).
• If students are picked up prior to the end of the day (please notify the office prior to picking your child up), parents need to sign the students out at the office (upper-level parking lot).