Wilson Parent Newsletter
April 2018
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians/Families:
Welcome Spring! We look forward to warmer weather and more sunshine!
Diane Louris, our Master Gardener, will be retiring this year. In an effort, to keep this incredible garden program, we need volunteers. Since the garden program began in 2011, teachers continue to discover new ways to utilize the outdoor classroom. Each year students develop new skills as they learn a different plant cycle from preparing the soil, planting seeds, caring for the growing plant, to finally tasting what they have grown. Our garden program started with a vegetable garden and has grown to also include flowers for butterflies and pollinators, composting and soil studies. Teachers also use this inviting space for math, art, science and inspiring young writers. A favorite spot to visit is always the shady sunflower house planted by kindergarten students each year. New last summer was the planting of Minnesota wildflowers near the main entrance of our building. These plants and grasses will form a “living wall” to enclose our readers theater. This garden is the perfect spot to watch for returning Monarchs. First grade students will soon begin planting seeds in our indoor greenhouse and our very busy spring planting will begin. If you would like to share your love of gardening with our eager students, please consider being a Wilson garden volunteer.
All of our students will finish the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments on April 24. Thank you all for encouraging your child/children to do their best. It can be a very stressful time for both students and staff.
Please join us on April 13 for a fun night of bingo, April 19 for a Family Night and April 24 for our Spring Concert!
It is hard to believe that we have so little time left in the school year. We want our students to continue to work hard and be prepared for the next grade. Thank you again for all your support in making this year a success for our children.
Melodee Hoffner
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- April 12 ~ statewide tornado drill
- April 13 ~ PTO Bingo Night
- April 13 ~ Talent Show ~ 8:45
- April 17 ~ PTO Meeting ~ 5:00
- April 19 ~ Family Night
- April 24 ~ Spring Concert (includes 4/5 choir and grades 1 & 2)
- May 15 ~ track meet for grades 3-5, 8:30-12:30 with awards at 1:00
- May 23 ~ all city track meet, 4:30
Before School Interviews
Before School Interviews
Owatonna Public Schools is committed to creating strong student and family relationships and fostering a positive first experience. Students in grades K-5 will start next school year on Thursday, September 6 to allow time for before school interviews to take place.
Before school interviews will allow teachers to meet individually for 30-40 minutes with students and parents before the start of the school year. All kindergarten students will sign up for an individual 30-minute interview conference time on either Thursday, August 30 or Tuesday, September 4. All students, grades 1-5, will sign up for an individual 40-minute interview conference time either on Thursday, August 30, Tuesday, September 4 or Wednesday, September 5.
Students will meet one on one with their teacher for approximately 40 minutes to learn more about them and assess their reading level. Parents will complete paperwork during this time. Following the teacher meeting, students will stop at stations to complete FASTBridge reading assessment and school pictures. Students in grades 1-4 will also complete their vision and hearing screening. The teachers are looking forward to getting to know your child better at the beginning of the year.
Look for a letter to be sent to your home after August 8 with your child’s teacher name and a link to sign up online for an interview time. If you have questions signing up for a time, please contact your elementary building office.
Mel Hoffner
Wilson Elementary
507-444-8400
Trimester Two Bike Winners!
I Love to Read Month
PTO News
BINGO – April 13, 5:30-7:30 – All donations from this year's event will go towards helping fund inefficient lunch accounts for families in need. Also, we are in need of volunteers to help at Bingo night. If a sufficient amount of volunteers are not found we will need to cancel the event. Please make sure to have a background check completed with the school by contacting the office and sign up at www.signupgenius.com or email wilsonpto1@gmail.com .
We need YOU to make these events happen!
Looking for a Hassle-Free way to support Wilson School? Well look no further, Shoparoo is a free app that can be downloaded onto your smart phone. This app allows you to turn your shopping receipts into donations for our school. It’s that simple! For more information go to www.shoparoo.com and start snapping pictures of those receipts!
Next meeting is April 17, at 5:00 in the teacher’s lounge. ALL ARE WELCOME!!!
VOLUNTEERS DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME;
THEY HAVE THE HEART
Band Recruitment
Attention 4th Grade Students!
Beginning Band Registration and Information Night. Tuesday, April 3. 6:30pm. OHS Auditorium.
4th Graders—Come join the band! Are you are interested in learning how to play the Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, or Percussion? Please attend the Band Registration and Information Meeting on Tuesday, April 3 in the OHS Auditorium at 6:30 for a brief discussion and opportunity to register your son or daughter in this wonderful and exciting musical ensemble. A daily, one-hour group lesson runs August 6-24 which introduces your child to playing the instrument. The summer lessons are essential to jump-start their playing. Cost is $60.
Registration is required before trying instruments. This meeting will answer any questions you have and is the easiest and quickest way to register them into the program. If attendance on April 3rd is not possible, please pick up a registration form in the office or use the form mailed to you. Return registration form and $60 fee to your child’s school office no later than Friday, April 6 so that your child can be scheduled for the Instrument Fitting Day the following week, April 9-13.
I am looking forward to meeting YOU at the Band Registration and Information Night. Tuesday, April 3 at 6:30pm. OHS Auditorium.
Questions? Please email Holly Guenther, 5th Grade Band Instructor, hguenther@owatonna.k12.mn.us
Wilson Spring Concert
Listening Session for Multilingual Families
Update for Multilingual Families:
Multilingual families, we have much to celebrate! Please join us at Wilson on Thursday, April 5th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for a potluck “Spring Celebration and Listening Session for Multilingual families” event. We will welcome spring, celebrate a very successful ACCESS testing experience, and engage in conversation around your talented multilingual students. Please bring some food to share. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Your Wilson EL Team
Annie Erickson, Shelley Johnson, and Rachael Bird
Science/Engineering Fair
Office Information
School Hours (7:55-2:25)
325 Meadow Lane
507-444-8400 (Main Line)
507-444-8405 (Attendance Line)
Health Office Hours (7:45-2:45)
Spanish Liaison Hours (7:45-2:30)
Somali Liaison Hours (7:45-11:30 Mon/Wed), (7:45-2:30 Tues/Thur/Fri)
Reminders
- Breakfast is not served on two hour late start days.
- Please check the lost and found area as many items are there waiting to be claimed.
- Please remember to notify the office if you have a phone or address change.
Lunch Schedule
4th grade
- 11:05-11:25
5th grade
- 11:20-11:40
3rd grade
- 11:35-11:55
Kindergarten
- 11:50-12:10
2nd grade
- 12:15-12:35
1st grade
- 12:25-12:45