Northpoint Elementary
January 12, 2022 Newsletter
See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
Hello Northpoint families:
Across our district, we’re working to keep learning as normal as possible despite distractions like cold weather and COVID. Our wonderful students continue to work hard and enjoy their time at school.
Along with engaging lessons provided by our teachers in the homeroom setting, our children are enjoying music, art, and physical education each week. Mr. Wallinga has just introduced the basketball unit and hockey is right around the corner! Year after year these seem to be favorites that our kids look forward to in PE.
Our children are also enjoying Northpoint’s Got Talent! We announced our round two finalists last Friday, and everyone is looking forward to seeing what is in store during the upcoming performances. Our second visit of the year to Wargo also will occur for children in the next few weeks. Please watch for information from your child’s teacher on their specific date, we want to be sure all students are dressed for this outdoor learning experience.
With the latest surge of COVID-19 cases, we’ve had some questions. Please know, we continue to follow mitigations strategies to support the health and safety of students and staff – including face masks, distancing as we are able, hand washing, cleaning, onsite testing and more.
We have no current plans to move as a school or a district to distance learning. The only way we would consider a move to distance learning is if we can’t safely staff our school. So far, we’ve been able to creatively address absences to keep learning at school. Please continue to screen for health each morning and keep kids home if they have symptoms.
Reminder that next Monday is a national holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – and there is no school on Monday.
In spite of the extreme cold we have experienced lately, I am grateful for extra minutes of daylight we are getting with each passing week. I’m personally thankful for any sign of spring, no matter how small! Thank you for your continued partnership. We are blessed to serve your children.
Judi Kahoun
Principal
COVID update: 5-day quarantine guidance
We have begun to implement 5-day quarantine guidance for those who test positive for COVID-19 and are eligible. Minnesota Department of Health has given schools the go-ahead to follow this newly updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This new guidance allows those who test positive to return five days after the positive test or the onset of symptoms if they are not experiencing symptoms. If symptoms persist, they are still required to stay at home.
The guidelines also require anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to wear a face mask in public, including at school, for 10 days following their positive test. Because masks must be removed for eating and drinking, accommodations are being made to provide anyone who returns to school under this guidance a place where they can adequately distance (at least 6 feet) from others when eating or drinking until the 10-day timeframe has passed.
Please continue to coordinate any absences related to health with the school health office.
Introduction to Westwood for 4th grade families
When students finish fourth grade at Spring Lake Park elementary schools, they transition to 5th grade at Westwood Intermediate School. Now is the time to get to know Westwood and prepare for next year.
Westwood is home to students in grades 5-8. While all under one roof, Westwood has separate programs and spaces for 5-6 intermediate students and 7-8 middle school students.
Families of fourth graders are invited to attend an Introduction to Westwood session online on Tuesday, January 25 and/or in-person on Thursday, February 10 to learn more about the school, the transition to 5th grade and to meet members of the Westwood team.
Attend a virtual session Tuesday, January 25
- Coffee and Conversations - 9 a.m. | WebEx Link
- Lunch and Learn - 1 p.m. | WebEx Link
- Dessert and Discuss - 6 p.m. | WebEx Link
The content of each presentation will be the same so families only need to attend one session. There will also be a recorded presentation available to families after these sessions with the same great information.
Attend the Westwood Welcome Thursday, February 10
Fourth grade students and their families will have an opportunity to visit Westwood in-person, 5:30-7:30 p.m. You can participate in a brief overview session or several topic-specific sessions and tour the building.
Questions? Contact the Westwood office at 763-600-5300. The Westwood team is looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2030 next fall.
SLP website disruptions resolved
Spring Lake Park Schools' website hosting service experienced worldwide disruption to services the week of January 3 due to a ransomware attack. Sporadic outages turned into major downtime throughout the week. We know this caused confusion and frustration for all who needed to access information and complete tasks on our school websites. All services have now been restored and everything is working as normal. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Nominate a teacher for the 2022 SLP Teacher of the Year
Do you know an educator who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? Nominate them by Friday, February 25 for Spring Lake Park Schools' Teacher of the Year!
Please download and complete a Nomination Form below and email or return the form to Spring Lake Park High School to the attention of Maria Ahrndt. Nominations are due by Friday, February 25, 2022.
Shark Tank - high school style
Sometimes it's hard to imagine your child making their way in the world - what will they choose? Will they be a doctor? Business person? Mechanic? Engineer? Teacher? As they make their way through Spring Lake Park Schools, there are many opportunities to explore where their interests intersect with their future path.
At Spring Lake Park High School, students in the Business and Entrepreneurship Pathway recently pitched their ideas and business plans for new apps and products to local business leaders. In the end, everyone won with real-world feedback, insights and learning.
Take a peek at a unique high school Shark Tank experiences and what might be ahead for your student.
Secure your spot for upcoming winter programming!
Last chance to sign up for Winter Community Education Programs. Many programs start week of January 24. From robotics and tennis to chess and painting, there is something great for your student to engage in this winter!
Opportunities for families
Family Snowshoeing - January 29 at Springbrook
Last call! Join us for a fun and relaxing snowshoe hike on Springbrook Nature Center trails. Register here.
Winter Seed Sowing (include seed sowing photo)
A fun activity to kick-off the gardening season, starting seeds in homemade greenhouses. We provide all of the materials for you to make n’ take up to five containers home. Seeds provided, or you can bring your own. This is a great class for a parent and child. Register here.
Opportunities for adults
Basic Home Repair-Electrical
Learn the basics of home electrical repairs and save the money and hassle of calling an electrician. In this class you will learn skills such as: proper electrical safety, wire striping, circuit testing, rewiring lamps and extension cords, and installing light fixtures/ ceiling fans. Register here.
Star Wars with North Metro TV
This class is your chance to learn how the sci-fi adventure everyone underestimated took the world by storm. Join North Metro TV Studio Manager Eric Houston for this 1-hour look behind the scenes of the entire Star Wars Saga. Register here.
Northpoint PTO Meeting
Multiage 1-2 classrooms use Chatterpix to tell a story
In reading, students were introduced to the module text "A Color Of His Own" by creating a tissue paper chameleon, then weeks later demonstrated their learning by writing an informative paragraph about how the chameleon changed and Chatterpix-ing their chameleon to read it!
- Monday, January 17 - No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Tuesday, January 25 - Introduction to Westwood Virtual Sessions (4th Grade Families)
- Thursday, February 10 - Westwood Welcome, visit in-person (4th Grade Families)
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
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